bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asia’s Public Debt: Will a Stabilization Period Come?
Authors: Nozdrev S.
Published: May 2022

The article discusses the main trends characterizing the development of the situation with internal and external public debt in Asia in the modern period. The leading factor in the growth of domestic debt was the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, which made the Asian states face the need to sharply increase financial support for the socio-economic sphere for an indefinite period, which leads to a revision of the upper limit of the budget deficit and a narrowing of the country’s fiscal space. There is an increasing danger of an excess of budget expenditures over income caused by the expansion of loans and guarantees to small and medium-sized businesses and support for households due to the growing wave of bankruptcies and financial insolvency. The pressure is most felt on low-income Asian countries with underdeveloped capital markets that are at high risk of a debt crisis. The article notes that after a period of external financial stability, the problem of repayment of external debt caused by the deficit of their balance of payments is again aggravated in the developing countries of Asia. Crisis phenomena in the economy impose restrictions on the volume of resources coming from outside. At the same time, the needs of developing Asian countries for an influx of international funds in connection with the repayment of previously attracted loans and debt restructuring are increasing significantly. A forecast is made that, in general, in 2022–2023, the external public debt of Asian countries will continue to increase, exacerbating the vulnerability of their economies. Some of them will have to change their development model due to increased risks – increased funding needs, foreign investor positions, exchange rate fluctuations and short maturities of liabilities requiring a reprioritization of government spending and a more efficient budget process. It is concluded that while looking for a solution to the problems of attracting new borrowings and at the same time increased debt servicing, in some cases Asian countries will inevitably face a peak in debt, the need for debt restructuring and new difficult negotiations with creditor countries.
The Signal Component in Strategies of Limited Nuclear Employment
Authors: Bogdanov K.
Published: May 2022

Concepts of limited nuclear employment are increasingly important in the current landscape of nuclear strategy. They had evolved towards the end of the Cold War, mostly in the U.S., to offer hope for a way out of the stalemate of massive nuclear exchanges. An important role among these was played by the politico-military strategy of small-scale nuclear use for signaling purposes: demonstrating to the enemy our own resolve and intra-war bargaining for an end to the conflict on favorable terms. After the end of the Cold War, declining risk of a large inter-bloc war, deep cuts of nuclear weapons, and the transformation of strategic stability toward multilateral balances have prompted the major nuclear powers to adopt and work through scenarios of limited (single, in particular) use of nuclear weapons intended to de-escalate military conflicts and restore deterrence if it fails. To that end, different nuclear powers, both official and non-official, are adopting or at least considering adoption of limited nuclear options to different extents. It leads us to more complicated strategic environment lying completely out of the scope of existing arms control framework and even its theoretical models. Such politico-military signaling strategies are based on a corpus of the Cold War theoretical experience, but are still not well grounded, demonstrating paradoxes that can cause the opposite of what was intended originally. The lack of credible and effective methods of escalation control, that has persisted since the height of the Cold War, make situation potentially volatile. It is, therefore, increasingly clear that considerations of doctrinal issues about limited scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons, especially “signal strikes”, need to be incorporated into the ongoing and prospective dialogues on strategic stability.
Pathways to research leadership for early career researchers in Africa: A potential role for African and Global Funders
Authors: Jackson J. , Neba A. , Viney C. , Mtwisha L. , de-Graft Aikins A. , Mitchell A. , Kebirungi H. , Outtara K.
Published: May 2022

Early career researchers at African universities face numerous challenges and demands within a context of minimum resources; yet on the other hand, there is significant expectation for doing excellent science that is of high quality with integrity, while aligning science with societal goals. Furthermore, there is also expectation to increase outputs, make the system more inclusive, attract international partners and contribute to the University’s global rankings. The need therefore to build research capacity, expand the number of active researchers and advance the careers of African researchers has never been more critical, particularly if continental and other global priorities are to be achieved. There is consensus that research leadership is essential to building research capacity in African universities. As a result, there have been increasing investments in building research capacity and research leadership, with initiatives ranging from the creation of north-south research partnerships across disciplines and empirical subjects, to training research leaders and university administrators in top ranking universities in Europe and North America, as well as building the capacity of funders and science systems in Africa. This article will examine the competencies required to be a research leader and the programs that are currently available that support capacity building in research leadership. In addition, it will provide perspectives on the role that global and African funders should play to advance the careers of early career researchers to transition into research leaders, foster innovation, build linkages with policy makers and promote scientific leadership in Africa.
Is democracy still relevant in South African higher education?
Authors: Waghid Y. , Davids N.
Published: May 2022

At least, over the past four decades post-colonial African higher education has undergone significant changes in the quest to cultivate democratic educational / pedagogical actions in universities. From its early insistence on deliberative action (Waghid 2001), more recently, it assumed the forms of both ethical pursuits (Davids and Waghid 2016) and caring (Waghid 2019). Yet, as South Africa continues its unprecedented transition into a democracy, it is becoming abundantly evident that what is needed in higher education should surpass deliberative, ethical, and caring encounters. The expectation that a democratic climate would ease the deep inequalities in higher education, would somehow set the scene for a renewal of knowledge, and restore opportunities for historically marginalised communities, lies in limbo. Instead, what we witness is the awakening of renewed resistance – this time, not against an unjust apartheid regime, but against a democracy that seems incapable of yielding to its own ideals. In this article, therefore, we argue that for higher education to enact its democratic imperative – that is, its transformative ideals, necessary not only for its own public thriving, but for its citizenship – it ought to invoke the idea of resistance (Davids and Waghid 2021).
Perlindungan Hukum Dan Keadilan Para Pihak Melalui Ex Officio Hakim Dalam Putusan Verstek Perkara Perceraian
Authors: Jamil Abdul , Nur Muliadi
Published: May 2022

The concept of a nation state with a very diverse population triggers the need for new analytical tools in religious studies. This is solely to find the legal standing element in the area of contemporary religious studies. In the context of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), the existence of Pancasila as the ideology needs to acquire its legal standing by using a certain theoretical perspective. In Islamic jurisprudence (ushul fiqh) there is knowledge of maqashid sharia which can serve as an analytical tool in conducting studies of Islamic constitutional law, including the ideology of Pancasila. This study examines 3 (three) issues: first, what is the role of maqashid sharia in religious research such as Islamic constitutional law? Second, what is the role of maqashid sharia in responding to the dynamics of Islamic constitutional law? Third, what is the perspective of maqashid sharia on the principles of Pancasila as the ground and ideology of the NKRI? By using normative juridical research method, this study concludes: first, religious research, including Islamic state administration, requires adequate theoretical tools (maqashid sharia) for it can produce findings that are in accordance with the development of the society; second, the dynamics of Islamic constitutional law is shown by the shift in the form of government from the caliphate system, to the kingdom to democracy, so that religious arguments do not direct certain forms of state and government; third, the principle of Pancasila as the basis and ideology of the NKRI has been proven to be able to unite the nation and create harmony in the midst of the diversity and plurality of the people.
Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi Hipotezinin Geçerliliği: Türkiye Üzerine Ampirik Bir Çalışma
Authors: ÖZBEK Sefa , OĞUL Bahar
Published: May 2022

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın başlıca amacı çevresel kirlilik ile gelir arasında ters-U biçiminde bir ilişkinin olduğunu savunan Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi (ÇKE) hipotezinin Türkiye’de geçerliliğini araştırmaktır. Gelir ve enerji tüketiminin karbon emisyonları üzerindeki etkisi ARDL yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Tahmin sonuçlarını doğrulamak için ayrıca FMOLS ve CCR yöntemleri kullanılmıştır.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Çalışmada söz konusu hipotez, Türkiye ekonomisine ait 1990-2018 döneminde kişi başına düşen CO2, kişi başına düşen reel gelir ve kişi başına düşen enerji tüketimi değişkenleri kullanılarak ARDL, FMOLS ve CCR yöntemleri aracılığıyla test edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Ampirik bulgular, Türkiye ekonomisinde ÇKE hipotezinin kısa ve uzun dönemde geçerli olduğunu göstermektedir. ARDL sınır testi bulgularına göre uzun dönemde reel gelir ve enerji tüketimi CO2 emisyonlarını arttırırken reel gelirin karesi CO2 emisyonlarını azaltmaktadır. Bu durum ÇKE hipotezinin geçerliliğini göstermektedir. Diğer tahminci sonuçları da benzerlik göstermekte ve sonuçların birbirini destekleyici nitelik sergilediği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Sınırlılıklar: Analize dahil edilen değişkenlere ait örneklem döneminin 2018 yılında sona ermesi araştırmanın ana sınırlılığını oluşturmaktadır.
Özgünlük/Değer: Çevresel Kuznets Eğirisi’nin geçerliliğinin güncel veri setleri kullanılarak çeşitli tahmin yöntemleri ile incelenmesi ve benzer sonuçlara ulaşılması çalışmanın temel farklılığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu yönüyle çalışmanın literatüre katkı sağlayacağı değerlendirilmektedir.
Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi Hipotezinin Farklı Gelir Düzeylerindeki Ülkeler için İncelenmesi: STIRPAT Modelinden Bulgular
Authors: TEKBAŞ Murat
Published: May 2022

Amaç: Bu çalışmada farklı gelir düzeylerine sahip ülkeler için STIRPAT çevre modeli kapsamında Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi hipotezinin test edilmesi amaçlanmaktadır.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Çalışmada, karbon emisyonu (CO2), reel GSYİH, kentleşme ve enerji yoğunluğu arasındaki ilişki 1990-2014 yılları arasındaki dönemde 27 yüksek, 24 üst orta ve 21 düşük orta gelirli ülke için panel analiz yöntemleriyle incelemiştir. Çalışmada yapılan analizlerde FMOLS ve DOLS yöntemleri ile Dumitrescu Hurlin Panel nedensellik yöntemi kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: FMOLS ve DOLS yöntemleri sonuçlarına göre yüksek ve yüksek orta gelirli ülkelerde Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi hipotezinin geçerli olduğu, düşük orta gelirli ülkelerde ise geçerli olmadığı görülmektedir. Elde edilen diğer sonuçlarda çevre kirliliği üzerinde kentleşmenin önemli bir etken olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Dumitrescu-Hurlin nedensellik testi sonuçlarına göre ise yüksek gelirli ülkelerde karbon salınımından ekonomik büyüme doğru tek yönlü, yüksek orta ve düşük orta gelirli ülkelerde ise çift yönlü nedensellik ilişkisi olduğu görülmektedir.
Sınırlılıklar: Çalışmada, Birleşmiş Milletler tarafından yapılan sınıflandırma kapsamında 27 yüksek gelirli, 24 üst orta ve 21 düşük orta gelirli olmak üzere toplam 72 ülke de (ülke listesi EK 1’de yer almaktadır).
Özgünlük/Değer: Çalışma farklı gelir gruplarında bulunan ülkelerin birlikte değerlendirilmesi ve gelir düzeyindeki farklılığın çevre üzerindeki etkisinin değerlendirilmesi açısından diğer çalışmalardan farklılaşmaktadır.
Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) as major predators of avian nest boxes
Authors: DeGregorio Brett A. , Sperry Jinelle H. , Kovar Daniel G. , Steen David A.
Published: May 2022

Bird population dynamics are strongly affected by the ability to successfully reproduce, and nest predation is the primary cause of reproductive failure for most birds. Efforts to understand nest predation and manage its effects on species of conservation concern require knowledge of the ecology of associated predator assemblages. Recently, studies using cameras to record events at nests have illuminated this previously under-studied avian life stage, but such studies have been largely limited to open-cup nests. Cavity nests may be depredated by a different suite of predators and incubating or brooding females occupying such nests may be more vulnerable to predation relative to open-cup nests. Here, we used motion-activated, infrared trail cameras to record predators of artificial nest boxes in a Pinus palustris Mill. (Longleaf Pine) forest in southern Alabama. Although Glaucomys Volans L. (Southern Flying Squirrel) have only rarely been captured on film preying on nests, we found them to be responsible for the vast majority (84%) of bird-nest depredations at nest boxes, and these depredations contributed to a surprisingly low overall rate of nest success (~20%). These results may have implications for the conservation of birds that nest in artificial cavities in Longleaf Pine forests and highlight the importance of further studies on predator assemblages and their effects on nesting birds.
Low-Sill Control Structure Gate Load Study
Authors: Sharp Jeremy A. , Bryant Duncan B. , Savant Gaurav
Published: May 2022

The effort performed here describes the process to determine the gate lifting loads at the Low-Sill Control Structure. To measure the gate loads, a 1:55 Froude-scaled model of the Low-Sill Control Structure was tested. Load cells were placed on 3 of the 11 gates. Tests evaluated the gate loads for various hydraulic heads across the structure. A total of 109 tests were conducted for 14 flows with each flow having two gate settings provided by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. The load data illustrated the potential for higher gate lifting loads (GLL) to occur at the mid-range gate opening (Go) for Gates 3 and 6. While for Gate 10, the highest GLL (452 kips, maximum load in testing) was at a Go = 4.2 ft. Conversely, for the low-flow bays, the highest load occurred at Go = 24.86 ft.
RETRACTED: Role of high-level S1PR3 in Prognostic significance and tumor microenvironment of Low-grade Glioma
Authors: Ji Peigang , Wang Liang , Zhong Ying , Xie Xuan , Chen Fan
Published: May 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
COVID-RDNet: A novel coronavirus pneumonia classification model by the mixed dataset
Authors: Fang Lingling , Wang Xin
Published: May 2022

Due to the diversity and complexity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medical imaging plays an increasingly important role. The CT images have good timeliness and positive sensitivity, but the price is relatively expensive. Conversely, X-ray images have the characteristics of fast imaging speed and less radiation damage to the human body. To ensure the authenticity and effectiveness of the proposed network in detecting negative and positive COVID-19, a mixed dataset is created through public X-ray and CT images. To solve the problem of feature similarity between the lung diseases and the COVID-19, the extracted features are enhanced by an adaptive region enhancement algorithm. Besides, the depth network based on the residual blocks and the Dense blocks is trained and tested. The residual blocks effectively improve the accuracy of the model and the non-linear COVID-19 features are obtained by cross-layer link. The Dense blocks effectively improve the robustness of the model by connecting local and abstract information. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, AUC, and accuracy can reach 0.99 on the mixed X-ray and CT dataset. The proposed COVID-RDNet model has good negative and positive COVID-19 classification performance, which can assist doctors to judge the infection status of patients.
Correlation between dimensions of brain metastases and therapeutic results after stereotactic radiosurgery.
Authors: Neto Eliseu Becco , Bastos Dhiego Chaves de Almeida , Figueiredo Eberval Gadelha , Filho Francisco de Assis de Souza , de Souza Rodrigo Becco , Prabhu Sujit S
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective therapeutic method to treat brain metastases (BM). A current debate considers BM dimension as an important issue regarding SRS therapeutic result. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dimensional progression of BM after SRS and identify factors related to patients and BM leading to local recurrence.METHODS: Patients eligible for this study were those with BM from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had been consecutively treated with SRS in 2010-2015. The dimensions of BM were measured by volume and greater diameter by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in T1-weighted contrast weighting using the Elements software (Brainlab). Dimensional data of BM were collected before the performance of SRS and after performing them during the follow-up of outpatients. After identifying the dimensions of BM in time progression, lesions that presented therapeutic success (reduction of BM dimensions) and local recurrence (growth of BM after SRS) were identified. Next, statistical evaluations were performed by statistical analysis at 12 months, considering epidemiological features presented by patients as well as topographic characteristics and radiological aspects of BM. RESULTS: There was no correlation, after 12 months of the performance of SRS, between initial volume of BM and local recurrence. The results obtained identify a non-cystic BM, and brain left sided BM as elements related to higher progression free survival after 12 months of SRS.CONCLUSION: Considering therapeutics in patients presenting BM, the correlation between initial volume and failure within 12 months after SRS had no statistical significance, BM located on the right side of the brain showed therapeutic fail within 12 months after SRS. Longer time of observation may be useful to confirm such results.
A moonlighting protein secreted by a nasal microbiome fortifies the innate host defense against bacterial and viral infections
Authors: Kim Gwanghee , Lee Yoojin , Lee Kang-Mu , You Jin Sun , Hwang Wontae , Hwang Jeewon , Kim Hwa Yong , Kim Jieun , Jo Ara , Park In Ho , Ali Mohammed , Kim Jongsun , Shin Jeon-Soo , Kwon Ho-Keun , Kim Hyun Jik , Yoon Sang Sun
Published: May 2022

Background: Evidence suggests that the human respiratory tract, as with the gastrointestinal tract, has evolved to its current state in association with commensal microbes. However, little is known as how the airway microbiome affected airway immune development. Here, we uncover a previously unidentified mode of interaction between host airway immunity and a unique strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a predominant species of the nasal microbiome. Results: Intranasal inoculation of S. epidermidis AIT01 accompanied the active recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes into mouse lungs on the murine model. The recruitment of the immune cells resulted in the complete protection of the murine host against Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection. Interestingly, an AIT01-secreted protein identified as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a well-known bacterial moonlighting protein, mediated this protective effect. Intranasal delivery of the purified protein conferred significant resistance against other additional airway infections of Gram-negative pathogens or influenza A virus. Moreover, single cell RNA-seq analysis using mouse lung cells revealed that transcription of genes involved in cytokine production, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and immune cell migration was considerably upregulated in neutrophils and monocytes in response to the treatment with the protein. Conclusions: Our results illustrate how an indigenous nasal microbe and its secretory protein can extensively instigate an innate immune defense. We also suggest a promising prophylactic option for airway infections in the era of global pandemics. Keywords: Staphylococcus epidermidis, human nasal microbiome, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), innate immune defense
Improvement of Heterogeneous AdaBoost Algorithm by Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm
Authors: far zahra rahimi
Published: May 2022

Due to its various uses in different areas, machine learning has become one of the most popular fields of artificial intelligence. It can be certainly said that data classification by trained machine vision algorithms is currently used as a model in most of software types. It is obvious that the variety of methods for modeling the samples leads to different percentages of accurate detection in the data of a shared dataset. The higher is this percentage, the more valid will be the proposed method. The output of classification algorithms may cause a large extent of interference in detection. This interference can be due to the noisy data or the samples that are less frequently observed in data training phase. To boost the output of this method, we use meta-heuristic algorithms that boost the improperly-classified samples by determining the error level in predetermined assumptions. One of these methods is AdaBoost that is characterized by the major deficiency of lack of noise sensitivity and overfitting. Based on the proposed method, we can decrease the noise sensitivity and improve the overfitting problem in less frequent data by using the ant colony optimization algorithm; so that the probability of improper classification of the outliers is significantly reduced.
GPX4 suppresses ferroptosis to promote malignant progression of endometrial carcinoma via transcriptional activation by ELK1
Authors: Wei Sitian , Yu Zhicheng , Shi Rui , An Lanfen , Zhang Qi , Zhang Qian , Zhang Tangansu , Zhang Jun , Wang Hongbo
Published: May 2022

BackgroundGlutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a key protein that inhibits ferroptosis. However, its biological regulation and mechanism in endometrial cancer (EC) have not been reported in detail. MethodsThe expression of GPX4 in EC tissues was determined by TCGA databases, qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effects of GPX4 on EC cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis were studied in vivo and in vitro. In addition, ETS Transcription Factor ELK1 (ELK1) was identified by bioinformatics methods, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the association between ELK1 and GPX4 expression. ResultsThe expression of GPX4 was significantly up-regulated in EC tissues and cell lines. Silencing GPX4 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration ability, induced apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle of Ishikawa and KLE cells. Knockdown of GPX4 accumulated intracellular ferrous iron and ROS, disrupted MMP, and increased MDA levels. The xenograft tumor model also showed that GPX4 knockdown markedly reduced tumor growth in mice. Mechanically, ELK1 could bind to the promoter of GPX4 to promote its transcription. In addition, the expression of ELK1 in EC was positively correlated with GPX4. Rescue experiments confirmed that GPX4 knockdown could reverse the strengthens of cell proliferation and migration ability and the lower level of Fe2+ and MDA caused by upregulating ELK1. ConclusionThe results of the present study suggest that ELK1 / GPX4 axis plays an important role in the progress of EC by promoting the malignant biological behavior and inducing ferroptosis of EC cells, which provides evidence for investigating the potential therapeutic strategies of endometrial cancer.
Assessment of the Exposure to Selected Smoke Constituents in Adult Smokers Using In-market Heated Tobacco Products: A Randomized, Controlled Study
Authors: Yuki Dai , Kikuchi Akira , Suzuki Takuya , Sakaguchi Chikako , Huangfu Danting , Nagata Yasufumi , Kakehi Aoi
Published: May 2022

The objectives of this clinical study were to demonstrate a reduction in exposure to selected harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in Japanese healthy adult smokers who switched to four in-market heated tobacco products. Ninety smokers were randomly assigned for five days to one of four groups who switched to one of the commercially available heated tobacco products, a group who continued to smoke their own brand of combustible cigarettes (CC), or a group who stopped smoking (SS). Fifteen biomarkers of exposure (BoE) to 14 HPHCs and pyrene were measured at baseline, Day 3 and Day 5 under clinical confinement. Product consumption, nicotine uptake and subjective effects were also measured before and after product switching. On Day 5, significant reductions in most BoE relative to the CC group were observed after switching to heated tobacco products. No changes in BoE were observed between baseline and Day 5 in the CC group. Significantly, the magnitude of the reduction in exposure to most of the selected HPHCs observed in the heated tobacco product groups was close to that observed in the SS group.
Investigating the influence of institutions, politics, organizations, and governance on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia, Canada: A jurisdictional case study protocol
Authors: Brubacher Laura Jane , Hasan Md Zabir , Sri Veena , Keidar Shelly , Wu Austin , Cheng Michael , Lovato Chris Y , Berman Peter
Published: May 2022

Background:Research on public health responses to COVID-19 globally has largely focused on understanding the virus’ epidemiology, identifying interventions to curb transmission, and assessing the impact of interventions on outcomes. Only recently have studies begun to situate their findings within the institutional, political, or organizational contexts of jurisdictions. Within British Columbia (BC), Canada, the COVID-19 response in early 2020 was deemed highly coordinated and effective overall; however, little is understood as to how these ‘upstream’ factors influenced policy decisions.Methods:Using a conceptual framework we developed, we are conducting a multidisciplinary jurisdictional case study to explore the influence of institutional (I), political (P), organizational (O), and governance (G) factors on BC’s COVID-19 public health response in 2020-2021. A document review (e.g. policy documents, media reports) is being used to: (1) characterize relevant institutional and political factors in BC; (2) identify key policy decisions in BC’s epidemic progression; (3) create an organizational map of BC’s public health system structure; and (4) identify key informants for interviews. Quantitative data (e.g. COVID-19 case, hospitalization, death counts) from publicly accessible sources will be used to construct BC’s epidemic curve. Key informant interviews (n = 15-20) will explore governance processes in the COVID-19 response and triangulate data from prior procedures. Qualitative data will be analyzed using a hybrid deductive-inductive coding approach and framework analysis. By integrating all of the data streams, our aim is to explore decision-making processes, identify how IPOG factors influenced policy decisions, and underscore implications for decision-making in public health crises in the BC context, and elsewhere. Knowledge users within the jurisdiction will be consulted to construct recommendations for future planning and preparedness.Discussion:As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, governments have initiated ‘post-mortem’ examinations of their policies to identify lessons learned. Our conceptual framework articulates how interrelations between IPOG contextual factors might be applied to such analysis. Through this jurisdictional case study, we aim to contribute findings to strengthen governmental responses and improve preparedness for future health crises. This protocol can be adapted to and applied in other jurisdictions, across sub-national jurisdictions, and internationally.
Widespread sampling bias in atmospheric data
Authors: Kowalski Andrew , Ojeda Matilde García-Valdecasas
Published: May 2022

Air’s compressibility practically precludes unbiased atmospheric sampling because warmer air, occupying more specific volume at equal pressure, is more likely to be measured. Weighted statistics are required to compensate for the effects of sampling bias on statistical moments of state and flow variables. These effects occur from the microscale to the global scale, at which uncorrected sampling bias causes underestimation of both global warming and its statistical certainty.
The association of chronotype, sleep duration and trajectories of health-risk behaviors among college students: a cohort study
Authors: Wang Chenfang , Tao Shuman , Li Tingting , Xie Yang , Wu Xiaoyan , Tao Fangbiao
Published: May 2022

Purpose: To describe the trajectories of health-risk behaviors (HRBs) among college students through four consecutive surveys and explore the relationship between chronotype, sleep duration and different trajectories of HRBs.Methods: We used a data sample of 1,042 college students from the College Student Behavior and Health Cohort Study. Students reported sleep parameters, including chronotype (Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5, MEQ-5) and sleep duration. The behavior scale was used to evaluate four HRBs (smoking, alcohol use, low physical activity, smartphone addiction). The latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to estimate the trajectory of self-reported HRBs. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to study whether sleep parameters (chronotype and sleep duration) correlated with HRBs' trajectories.Results: Four unique trajectories of behaviors were identified: unhealthy group (7.4%), increasing group (21.3%), decreasing group (10.3%) and healthy group (61.0%). Compared with the normal sleep, results from logistic regression analyses indicated that long sleep (>9 h) was associated with the decreasing group and the unhealthy group(p<0.05), while short sleep (<7 h) was associated with the increasing group and the unhealthy group(p<0.05). Compared with the M-types, the E-types were positively correlated with the unhealthy group, the increasing group, and the decreasing group (p<0.05).Conclusion: E-types and aberrant sleep duration (short and long sleep duration) were significantly associated with the trajectory of HRBs. Findings underscore the need for targeted screening and prevention of modifiable sleep behaviors with the aim of improving HRBs in college students.
Factors predicting the duration required to control infection in pyogenic spondylitis: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Takahashi Takuya , Inose Hiroyuki , Yoshii Toshitaka , Hirai Takashi , Matsukura Yu , Egawa Satoru , Kobayashi Yutaka , Utagawa Kurando , Hashimoto Jun , Takahashi Kunihiko , Okawa Atsushi
Published: May 2022

BackgroundTreatment for pyogenic spondylitis tends to be prolonged in controlling the infection; however, few reports have examined the factors associated with the duration required to control infection. We analyzed a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent surgery for pyogenic spondylitis to identify predictors associated with the duration required to control infection in pyogenic spondylitis.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study. We investigated 60 patients who underwent surgery for pyogenic spondylitis in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital in Japan. We evaluated the significance of various factors on predicting the duration required to control infection in pyogenic spondylitis using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.ResultsUnivariate Cox regression analysis showed that body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), modified Glasgow prognostic score, CRP-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Kulowski classification, magnetic resonance imaging stage, number of infected vertebral bodies, and psoas abscess were significantly associated with the duration required to control infection. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a longer duration from the first visit to the operation, higher CRP levels, and more infected vertebral bodies were independent factors associated with the duration required to control an infection. The cutoff value for CRP in predicting prolonged control of infection was 7.87 and the number of vertebrae was 3.ConclusionsWe found that a long duration from the first visit to the operation, a high CRP level, and multiple infected vertebral bodies were significantly associated with the longer duration required to control an infection in pyogenic spondylitis. These findings could help in identifying patients who pose a higher risk of requiring a prolonged period to control the infection in pyogenic spondylitis.
Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and BCG vaccine cross-protection in the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in eastern Africa
Authors: Kilonzo Chelsea Mbeke , Wamalwa Mark , Whegang Solange Youdom , Tonnang Henri E.Z.
Published: May 2022

Objective: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still affecting African countries. The pandemic presents challenges on how to measure governmental, and community responses to the crisis. Beyond health risks, the socio-economic implications of the pandemic motivated us to examine the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of BCG vaccination and NPIs enforced on COVID-19 case-death-recovery counts weighted by age-structured population in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda.We applied a semi-mechanistic Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) combined with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation to the age-structured pandemic data obtained from the target countries. Results: The estimated mean effective reproductive number (Rt) for COVID-19 was 2.50 (C1:1.99 - 5.95), 3.51 (CI:2.28 - 7.28) and 3.53 (CI:2.97 - 5.60) in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda respectively. Our results indicate that NPIs, lockdowns, and curfews had a large effect on reducing Rt. Current interventions have been effective in reducing Rt and thereby achieve control of the epidemic. Beyond age-structure and NPIs, we found no significant association between COVID-19 and BCG vaccine-induced protection. Continued interventions should be strengthened to control transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Knowledge and awareness about and use of iodised salt among students in Germany and Greece
Authors: Heimberg Katharina , Martin Annett , Ehlers Anke , Weißenborn Anke , Hirsch-Ernst Karen Ildico , Weikert Cornelia , Nagl Britta , Katsioulis Antonios , Kontopoulou Lamprini , Marakis Georgios
Published: May 2022

Background
Iodine is an essential trace element, which is important for human metabolism, growth and mental development. Iodine deficiency may still occur in Europe and the use of iodised salt is an effective measure to enhance iodine intake. Knowledge and awareness about the importance of iodine in nutrition and health can have a positive impact on the use of iodised salt. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge about and use of iodised salt among university students in two European countries.
Methods
Data from two countries (Germany and Greece) were extracted from a multi-centre cross-sectional survey, conducted among non-nutrition science/non-medical students from October 2018 to April 2019.
Results
Among the 359 participants in Germany (35% females, median age: 22 years) and the 403 participants in Greece (51% females, median age: 21 years), 41% and 37%, respectively, reported use of iodised salt at home. Users and non-users did not differ by age, gender and Body Mass Index or general interest in nutrition in both cohorts. However, those who had a better knowledge about iodine and (iodised) salt or had previously attended nutrition classes were more likely to report iodised salt usage.
Conclusion
The results suggest that strengthening the imparting of nutritional information and additional education of young adults are needed and may improve knowledge about and usage of iodised salt.
Comparison of Canonical Correlation and Partial Least Squares analyses of simulated and empirical data
Authors: McIntosh Anthony Randal
Published: May 2022

BackgroundWith the availability of large datasets containing multiple measures, there has been a renewed interest in applying multivariate statistical analysis. Two methods, Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) have been used most frequently given their historical links to classic statistical modelling of the dimensions that relate to two data blocks. Though similar in the decomposition of the cross-block structure, there are important differences in specific steps. In this paper, we apply the most general form of CCA and PLS to three simulated and two empirical datasets, all having large sample sizes on the order of n=10,000. We take successively smaller subsamples of these data to evaluate sensitivity, reliability, and reproducibility. ResultsIn null data having no correlation within or between blocks, both methods showed equivalent false positive rates regardless of sample size. Both methods also showed equivalent detection in data with weak but reliable effects until sample sizes drop below n=50. In the case of strong effects, both methods showed similar performance unless the correlations of items within one data block were high. In these instances, the reproducibility in CCA declined. This was ameliorated if a principal components analysis (PCA) was performed on a data block and the component scores used to calculate the cross-block matrix. For PLS, the results were reproducible across sample sizes for strong and moderate cross-block effects, regardless of the within-block correlations, but show lower detectability at small sample sizes (n=20). ConclusionsThe general outcome of our examination gives three messages. First, for data with low within and high between block structure, CCA and PLS give comparable results, with equivalent sensitivity and false positive rate. Second, if there are high correlations within either block, this can compromise the reliability of CCA results. This can be remedied with PCA before cross-block calculation. However, this assumes that the PCA structure is stable for a given sample. Third, statistical significance by null hypothesis testing does not guarantee that the results are reproducible, even with large sample sizes. This final outcome suggests that researchers should routinely assess both statistical significance and reproducibility for their data.
Targeting Nucleolin Improves Sensitivity to Chemotherapy in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Chen Yanxin , Wu Zhengjun , Wang Lingyan , Lin Minhui , Jiang Peifang , Wen Jingjing , Li Jiazheng , Hong Yunda , Zheng Xiaoyun , Yang Xiaozhu , Zheng Jing , Gale Robert Peter , Yang Ting , Hu Jianda
Published: May 2022

Most acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients are treated with chemotherapy as primary care. Although treatment response is usually positive, resistance and relapse often occur through unclear mechanisms. Here, we presented clinical and experimental evidence that overexpression of nucleolin (NCL), a multifunctional nucleolar protein, is linked to drug resistance in ALL. By analyzing our patient specimens and an existing database, a strong correlation between the abundance of nucleolin and disease relapse/poor survival was observed. Altering the NCL expression resulted in changes in drug sensitivity in cell lines. High levels of nucleolin could up-regulate components of the ATP-binding cassette transporters via the activation of the ERK pathway, which resulted in a decrease in drug accumulation inside the cells. NCL protein was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm and membrane in ALL cells compared with cell nuclei of normal cells. Moreover, targeting NCL with AS1411, a nucleolin-binding oligonucleotide aptamer, drastically increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in cells/patients derived xenograft mice and extended survival of the diseased mice. Our results indicated that NCL could be a prognostic marker and provided initial preclinical evidence that inhibiting nucleolin expression could enhance drug sensitivity during ALL chemotherapy.
Strong historical earthquakes and their relationships with the Tan-Lu fault system and modern seismicity in eastern China
Authors: Wang Jian , Main Ian G.
Published: May 2022

The largest earthquake (M8½) in eastern China occurred near Tangcheng in 1668. Six M≥6 earthquakes occurred in this region in historical time. We re-examine the primary historical archives from this region, adding independent constraints such as maps of active faults, local topography, intensity attenuation laws for China, and relevant administrative practices in archiving data, to reassess source parameters (epicenter, magnitude, or maximum intensity). We use the seismic density index - a measure of the clustering of seismicity weighted by source magnitude – to identify candidate zones of present-day clustering of seismicity than may represent a long-term memory of past historical events in an intraplate setting. We update at least one of the source parameters for four of the seven events. The main shock and two aftershocks of the 1668-1672 M8½ Tancheng earthquake sequence locate along the strike of the Tan-Lu fault zone, each associated with significant and contiguous seismic density anomalies whose elliptical contours are elongated along its strike. A third major aftershock (M≈6) in this sequence locates some 200 km away from the fault zone. Six of the seven historical events have seismic density anomalies that cannot be explained by aftershocks of modern seismicity (M≤5.3), and hence are candidate zones for long-lived aftershock sequences. In contrast, there are no significant seismic density anomalies along the section of Tan-Lu fault south of Suqian, despite palaeo-seismic evidence for a M8½ earthquake around 6280 B.C, providing an upper bound to long-term memory of great earthquakes in this region.
Risk factors and practices contributing to sepsis in neonates admitted at a Children’s Hospital in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mathela Sikhethiwe Kate , Mapfumo Cladnos , Mzingwane Mayibongwe Louis
Published: May 2022

Background
Neonatal sepsis is a public health issue that consistently emerges as one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and practices contributing to neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted at a Children’s Hospital in Bulawayo Zimbabwe.
Methods
A cross sectional study was conducted at a children’s hospital in Bulawayo Zimbabwe between September and October 2018. A total of 98 mothers of sick new-borns admitted in the children’s hospital and 36 health workers were recruited for the study. The mothers’ demographic characteristics, antenatal history, birth circumstances, and new-born practices were used to predict factors associated with neonatal sepsis risk using odds ratios and regression logistics. Qualitative data from health providers were transcribed, coded, analyzed into themes and triangulated with the information from the questionnaire.
Results
There were 40 (40.8%) new-borns clinically confirmed to have neonatal sepsis. The majority of sepsis cases (60%) were amongst neonates with low birth weight. Poor hand hygiene, application of substances including cow dung and breast milk for cord care and using information from other sources other than health care workers were the variables found to be associated with neonatal sepsis. Being a young mother (15–20 years) and experiencing some pregnancy related problems before or during delivery were also found to be significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. Problems highlighted by health care workers included shortage of medical sundries in the children’s hospital, infection control training programs not being attended by all personnel and poor hand washing and hygiene practices due to inadequate facilities
Conclusions
There was high prevalence of clinically confirmed neonatal sepsis among neonates admitted with suspected sepsis. Neonatal sepsis was associated with a variety of factors which included neonatal factors such as low birth weight; maternal factors such as age of the mother, attendance of antenatal clinic and practices associated with hygiene and cord care. Health facility related factors that are linked to infection control such as provision of adequate hand hygiene facilities, medical sundries and disinfectants and adequate training may also be associated with neonatal sepsis
Using Anthropometric measurements for Gestational Age Assessment in Sudanese Preterm Infants
Authors: Hamdan Alaa Hassan Yousif , Zakaria Faiza , Ali Muhammad Mustafa , Umer Muhammed
Published: May 2022

Background:South Asia, accounts for 60% of preterm births worldwide. To provide vital care and prevent complications that arise with preterm births, accurate determination of gestational age is important. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study at Maternity Hospital in Sudan, to evaluate the use of anthropometric measurements (head-circumference and crown-heel-length) for Gestational age assessment. Our sample included preterm babies over a period of six months. Neonatal anthropometry measurements, and Gestational age assessment was done within 48 hours of birth. Variables were summarized using descriptive statistics and the strength of association was determined through correlation analysis. Linear regression equations were derived to estimate gestational age using head circumference and crown heel length.
Leptin gene variants rs7799039 and rs2167270 and elevated serum levels of adiponectin predispose Iranians to Behçet's disease
Authors: Kahmini Fatemeh Rezaei , Gholijani Nasser , Amirghofran Zahra , Daryabor Gholamreza
Published: May 2022

Background: Behçet's Disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Adipokines due to their roles in the regulation of immune responses might be important in the induction and progression of BD. Subjects and methods: This case-control study included 340 patients with BD and 310 healthy controls. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in adiponectin (rs266729 and rs1501299) and leptin (rs7799039 and rs2167270) genes were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and serum levels of adipokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: A higher frequency of leptin rs7799039 GG, AG, and AG+GG genotypes and G allele was revealed in patients. Besides, patients had more leptin rs2167270 AG and AG+AA genotypes and A allele. Furthermore, rs2167270 AA genotype and A allele were more frequently seen in total and female patients who had genital aphthous. Patients had significantly more serum levels of adiponectin while those with genital aphthous had significantly more leptin levels. No significant association was observed between adiponectin SNPs and the frequency of BD.Conclusion: Our findings indicated that leptin gene polymorphisms might predispose individuals to BD. Besides, elevated serum levels of adiponectin might promote the pathogenesis of BD.