bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal analysis of urban growth on forest and agricultural land using geospatial techniques and Shannon entropy method in the satellite town of Ethiopia, the western fringe of Addis Ababa city
Authors: Deribew Kiros Tsegay 
Published: September 2020

AbstractRapid conversion of conserved land and cropland to non-agricultural purposes is threatening the ecological areas and dominant agricultural activities that are the main sources of livelihood in urban fringe areas of Addis Ababa City. The combinations of government policy, socioeconomic, demographic dynamics, and biophysical triggers have driven such transformation. However, the recent fast urban expansion and infrastructural development could have accelerated the severity and rate at which urban growth impacts the ecosystem and fertile agricultural land. Yet, little attention is given about their impacts on forest and farming communities in the western fringe areas of Addis Ababa during the recent past. This study, therefore, aimed at quantifying and analyzing the trends of the urban growth and its impacts on flora and agricultural land in Sebeta-Awas town using an integrated GIS tool, remote sensing technique, and Shannon entropy method. Landsat TM of 1986, ETM+ of 2002, and OLI of 2019 were used to produce land use/land cover (LULC) classes. Object-based classification technique was carried out to generate the LULC and to measure the changes in the urban land-use class within the satellite town in the year 1986, 2002, and 2019. Shannon entropy method was applied to model study area’s urban sprawl, growth trend, and spatial change. Over the past three decades (1986–2019), Sebeta-Awas town has experienced severe urban sprawl following lack of proper development control and management. The annual urban growth rates of 1.2, 5.5, and ~15% for the periods of 1986, 2002, and 2019, respectively were obtained mainly at the expenses of agricultural land (25.48%) and forest land (16.6%), catalyzed urban sprawl which finally led to serious deforestation and reduction in rural farmland. The findings indicate that the average of entropy index increased from 0.02 in the year 1986 to 0.996 in the year 2019, indicating more dispersed urban growth to the outskirts, and spatially indicating anticlockwise shifting. In this regard, more than 90.2% of forest loss due to agricultural encroachment, built-up area expansion, and construction was widely observed in Sebeta and Alem Gena areas, of course, Northeast zone in this study. It is concluded that deforestation and continual evacuation of farming communities in the urban fringe areas due to rapid urban expansion in the name of investment and infrastructural development is expected to be worsened in the near future unless strong policy revision and management actions are undertaken.
Assessing the digital economy: aims, frameworks, pilots, results, and lessons
Authors: Hanna Nagy K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe article discusses the motivations for a holistic assessment of the digital economy. It outlines the pilot assessment program initiated by the World Bank Group and describes the assessment frameworks, tools, and processes deployed in selected pilot countries. It identifies the common challenges faced and lessons learned from applying these assessments in different contexts. These challenges include prioritizing digital diagnosis objectives, addressing inequality and poverty issues, securing participation and partnership of stakeholders, addressing implementation challenges, and integrating digital transformation strategy into a country development strategy. Other challenges include harnessing digital innovation and entrepreneurship, mobilizing local demand for the new technologies, engaging business in digital diagnosis, and adopting multi-disciplinary and whole-of-society approaches. The article addresses the implications of these challenges and draws broad lessons and practical recommendations for developing countries and aid agencies.
The challenges ahead for patients with feeding and eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Khosravi Mohsen 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a global pandemic only a few months after it emerged in China. Besides, this pandemic imposed adverse consequences on public health, particularly on the mental health status of individuals with serious mental illness. However, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patients with feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) are at this stage unclear. In this letter, the author seeks to acknowledge the risks of worsening FEDs during this uncertain period.
An evaluation of the Caribbean regulatory system centralized assessment process for medicines submitted 2017–2018 using the OpERA methodology
Authors: Liberti Lawrence , Extavour Rian Marie , Patel Prisha , McAuslane Neil 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
The Caribbean Regulatory System is a centralized medicine assessment procedure established to serve the needs of the Member States of the CARICOM region. In order to better understand the effectiveness and efficiency of the processes implemented by the Caribbean Regulatory System for the regulatory assessment of medicines for the region, the system has been participating in the Optimizing Efficiencies in Regulatory Agencies (OpERA) program, a multinational endeavor to characterize the assessment procedures and the corollary metrics associated with medicine review activities in regulatory agencies and regional regulatory initiatives.

Methods
The OpERA tool was used to collect process and specific milestone data for products approved by the Caribbean Regulatory System during 2017 (n = 10) and 2018 (n = 11).

Results
The median total approval time was 57.5 days (25th/75th percentiles: 54, 60) in 2017 and 148 days (120, 163) in 2018. The median time to conduct the scientific assessment of the dossier was 37 days (24, 42) in 2017 and 66 (40, 132) days in 2018, within the target of 90 days for this activity. The time increases observed in 2018 were due to staff manpower limitations that reduced the ability of the system to conduct the timely assessment of applications. Based on these observations, recommendations to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the Caribbean Regulatory System include a commitment from Member States and partner organizations to the use of the procedure to accelerate product availability, encouraging the use of the Caribbean Regulatory System for non-generic products approved by a reference agency, ensuring the establishment of policy and legal frameworks to facilitate the rapid uptake of Caribbean Regulatory System registrations as marketing authorizations in the Member States, and maintaining the sustainability of the process through a fee-based approach.

Conclusions
The observations obtained using the OpERA methodology indicate the Caribbean Regulatory System is an effective and efficient mechanism to provide recommendations to Member States for important medicines.
Objective pathogen monitoring in nursery and finisher pigs by monthly laboratory diagnostic testing
Authors: Goecke Nicole B. , Kobberø Maja , Kusk Thomas K. , Hjulsager Charlotte K. , Pedersen Ken Steen , Kristensen Charlotte S. , Larsen Lars E. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundInfectious diseases are of great economic importance in commercial pig production, causing both clinical and subclinical disease, with influence on welfare, productivity, and antibiotic use. The causes of these diseases are often multifactorial and laboratory diagnostics are seldom routinely performed. The aim of the present study was to explore the benefits of monthly pathogen monitoring in nursery and finisher herds and to examine association between laboratory results and observed clinical signs, including coughing and diarrhoea. Three monthly samplings were conducted in three different age groups in six nursery and four finisher production units. For each unit, two pens were randomly selected in each age group and evaluated for coughing and diarrhoea events. Furthermore, faecal sock and oral fluid samples were collected in the selected pens and analysed for 18 respiratory and enteric viral and bacterial pathogens using the high-throughput real-time PCR BioMark HD platform (Fluidigm, South San Francisco, USA).ResultsIn total, 174 pens were sampled in which eight coughing events and 77 diarrhoeic events were observed. The overall findings showed that swine influenza A virus, porcine circovirus 2, porcine cytomegalovirus,Brachyspira pilosicoli,Lawsonia intracellularis,Escherichia colifimbria types F4 and F18 were found to be prevalent in several of the herds. Association between coughing events and the presence of swine influenza A virus, porcine cytomegalovirus (Cq ≤ 20) or a combination of these were found. Furthermore, an association between diarrhoeic events and the presence ofL. intracellularis(Cq ≤ 24) orB. pilosicoli(Cq ≤ 26) was found.ConclusionsThe use of high-throughput real-time PCR analysis for continuous monitoring of pathogens and thereby dynamics of infections in a pig herd, provided the veterinarian and farmer with an objective knowledge on the distribution of pathogens in the herd. In addition, the use of a high-throughput method in combination with information about clinical signs, productivity, health status and antibiotic consumption, presents a new and innovative way of diagnosing and monitoring pig herds and even to a lower cost than the traditional method.
Effect of hydro-methanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana on erythrocyte osmotic fragility and haematological parameters in acetaminophen-poisoned rats
Authors: Swem Terhemen Festus , Aba Patrick Emeka , Udem Samuel Chukwuneke 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Burkea africana is a widely used medicinal plant in folkloric medicine in many developing countries of the world. It is useful in the treatment of various ailments including hepatitis, jaundice, diarrhea, stomach aches, abscesses, oedema, epilepsy, bloody diarrhea, gonorrhea, syphilis, toothaches and poisoning. Nevertheless, there are little or no scientific evidence to substantiate this medicinal claim by traditional healers. Burkea africana stem bark was therefore, investigated for its protective or stabilizing effect on erythrocyte membrane in acetaminophen-treated rats. B. africana stem bark was extracted using 80% methanol. Erythrocyte stabilizing effect was studied using erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) test. Thirty (30) male rats were randomly assigned into five (5) groups of six (6) rats each. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal control and negative control (acetaminophen-treated group) respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with methanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana (MSBEBA) at doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively once daily for seven (7) days. Blood samples were collected from the animals in all the groups on the 8 day for evaluation of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell counts, and differential white blood cell count as well as erythrocyte osmotic fragility.

Results
The erythrocyte osmotic fragility test showed that there was a significantly (p < 0.05) low percentage hemolysis in the groups pre-treated with the extract when compared with the negative control. The percentage hemolysis was least at 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract. There was also a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell count at all the doses of the extract used. Neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased while lymphocytes were significantly increased in the groups administered MSBEBA 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight.

Conclusion
Methanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana had protective effect on the red blood cells and also improved haematological parameters. This indicates that Burkea africana may be useful in the treatment of disease conditions that results in hemolytic anemia by stabilizing red erythrocyte membranes and enhancing erythropoiesis.
The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in predicting mortality and morbidity in people with congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Protocol)
Authors: Wadey Curtis A. , Weston Max E. , Dorobantu Dan Mihai , Taylor Rod S. , Pieles Guido E. , Barker Alan R. , Williams Craig A. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Numerous studies have measured the prognostic associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and patient outcomes in congenital heart disease, but no systematic review has assessed these associations for all types of congenital heart disease. It is therefore a timely opportunity to syntheses all available data using a systematic review methodology. The aim of this study is to detail the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives
Within this paper we have developed a protocol for a prognostic factors systematic review and meta-analysis, to assess the role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing/cardiorespiratory fitness, in the prognosis of mortality and morbidity in congenital heart disease.

Methods
We have outlined, in detail, the process for this systematic review using the latest accepted methodological guidelines for prognostic factors research, such as the PICOTS system, CHARMS-PF data extraction, QUIPS risk of bias assessments and the prognostic GRADE guidelines (see list of abbreviations).

Conclusion
The implications of this review will aid future treatments, interventions and individual patient risk prediction. The publication of this protocol aims to improve scientific rigour by ensuring transparency in the systematic review and meta-analysis process.
Chitosan-based foliar application modulated the yield and biochemical attributes of peach (Prunus persica L.) cv. Early Grand
Authors: Sajid Muhammad , Basit Abdul , Ullah Zafar , Shah Syed Tanveer , Ullah Izhar , Mohamed Heba I. , Ullah Inayat 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Peach fruits are highly perishable leading to many pre- and post-harvest problems, which adds to the reduction in the potential yield and productivity. Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide, produced after alkaline chitin deacetylation. It is one of the most preferred biopolymers due to its biocompatibility, antioxidant, anticancer, biodegradability, antimicrobial, and non-toxic properties as well as being an economical material. A pre-harvesting experiment was carried out based on the problems of peach and the importance of chitosan.

Results
Peach trees were foliar sprayed with different concentrations of chitosan (0, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0%) at different times (30, 50, and 70 days after full bloom) to elucidate the effect of chitosan to peach yield and fruit quality. The results showed that foliar application of chitosan (1%) caused significant increases in fruit weight, volume, tree yield−1, fruit firmness, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content but caused significant decreases in total soluble solid fruit juice pH and disease incidence of peach fruit. Similarly, foliar application of chitosan after 50 days of full bloom increased fruit weight, volume, yield tree−1, firmness, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content with the number of fruit kg−1, total soluble solids, juice pH, and disease incidence as compared to other application times.

Conclusions
It is concluded that chitosan at 1% applied after 50 days of full bloom improved most of the peach attributes studied compared to the other concentrations of chitosan at 0.50 and 0.75, and control for the production of quality peach fruit.
Proximate and mineral compositions of Samia cynthia ricini and Dytiscus marginalis, commonly consumed by the Bodo tribe in Assam, India
Authors: Choudhury Kushal , Sarma Dipamani , Sapruna Pforeni Jane , Soren Amar Deep 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundEntomophagy, the consumption of insects, is a common practice among various tribal communities across the globe. Various factors such as flavour, nutrient content, availability and claimed medicinal values have contributed to the increased consumption of insects. Two commonly consumed insects among the Bodo tribe in Assam, namely,Samia cynthia riciniBoisduval, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) andDytiscus marginalisLinnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), were procured from local markets in Kokrajhar and evaluated for their proximate and mineral contents using Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) guidelines and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Both the insects are available throughout the year and are consumed on a large scale.ResultsS. cynthia ricinishowed higher contents of moisture (7.89 ± 0.020%), ash (4.10 ± 0.077%), fat (22.23 ± 0.209%) and carbohydrate (7.78 ± 0.057%) whereas higher contents of crude fibre (14.28 ± 0.102%), protein (56.37 ± 0.366%) and nitrogen (9.02 ± 0.058%) were observed inD. marginalis. The calorific value ofS. cynthia riciniwas higher with 430.19 ± 2.241 kcal whereasD. marginalisshowed a lower value of 382.58 ± 1.527 kcal.D. marginalisshowed the presence of arsenic (As) (0.014 ppm), and sodium (Na) was not detected.S. cynthia ricinidid not show the presence of As and magnesium (Mg). Lead (Pb) showed a value of 0.026 and 0.044 ppm, and cadmium (Cd) showed a value of 0.005 and 0.005 ppm inS. cynthia riciniandD. marginalisrespectively.ConclusionsBoth the studied insects showed high protein and fat contents and a high calorific value. Although the insects show the presence of several essential minerals in considerable amounts, they showed the presence of toxic heavy metals in trace amounts. Hence, their consumption must be done in a controlled manner owing to the presence of As, Pb and Cd which are capable of causing adverse reactions in its consumers.
The effect of sex on suicide risk during and after psychiatric inpatient care in 12 countries—An ecological study
Authors: Listabarth Stephan , Vyssoki Benjamin , Glahn Alexander , Gmeiner Andrea , Pruckner Nathalie , Vyssoki Sandra , Wippel Andreas , Waldhoer Thomas , König Daniel 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackground.Suicide risk in patients is markedly elevated during psychiatric inpatient care, as well as after discharge. However, it is unclear whether, and to what extent, this increased suicide risk varies between sex. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze sex differences for suicides during and after psychiatric hospitalization in various countries.Methods.National suicide mortality rates and inpatient-related suicide rates (three intervals: during psychiatric inpatient treatment, 1 month, and 1 year after discharge) from 12 countries for 2000–2016 were analyzed, and a logistic model was used to quantify the effect of sex.Results.Persons admitted to or discharged from psychiatric inpatient care exhibited significantly increased rates of suicide compared to those in the general population. Furthermore, increase of suicide risk was significantly higher for females than for males for all investigated time intervals (inpatient suicide odds ratio [OR] 1.85; suicide within 1 month after discharge—OR 1.94; suicide within 1 year after discharge—OR 2.04).Conclusion.Analysis confirmed the time during and after psychiatric inpatient care to be significantly associated with an elevated risk for suicide. Further, a significant sex effect was observed, with females in this population being at a proportionally higher risk for suicide during psychiatric inpatient treatment as well as the year following discharge. Our study implicates that more effective suicide preventive measures during inpatient stay, focusing on female patients, are needed.
Approaches to evaluate spatial and temporal variability of deep marine sediment characteristics under the impact of dense water formation events
Authors: DURRIEU de MADRON XAVIER , STABHOLZ MARION , HEIMBÜRGER-BOAVIDA LARS-ERIC , AUBERT DOMINIQUE , KERHERVÉ PHILIPPE , LUDWIG WOLFGANG 
Published: September 2020

Dense shelf water cascading and open-ocean convection frequently occurs in the Gulf of Lions, northwestern Mediterranean Sea. These intense dense water formation events are capable of supplying large amounts of particulate matter as well as remobilizing and dispersing local sediments and, therefore, are thought to leave an imprint on superficial deposits. Here, we compared the spatial variability of the superficial sediment composition (grain size, organic parameters, and metals) at different scales (from decimetric to kilometric) on the continental slope and rise with the temporal variability linked to the occurrence of intense dense water formation events. The spatial and temporal variability of the geochemical composition of deep sediments was assessed using multivariate and geostatistical analysis. The results indicate that, on the outer reach of the Cap de Creus Canyon, where both processes interact, no clear relation was found between the temporal variability of the superficial sediment and the deep-water formation events, and that the small-scale spatial variability of the sediment is masking the temporal variability. Measurements across the southern slope indicate the presence of a somehow distinct geochemical signature that likely results from the influence of recurrent intense, dense water formation events as well as an unabating bottom trawling activity.
The Capacity of the European Union to Finance Public Policies: Multi-Annual Financial Frameworks in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Oikonomou Giorgio , Natsios Elias , Kazantzis Konstandinos 
Published: September 2020

This paper aims at examining the fi scal capacity of the EU by focusing on the Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs). Taking into consideration the policy areas fi nanced by the EU budget, the analysis draws on the MFFs 2007-2013 and 2014-2020, and compares them with the proposed by the Commission MFF 2021-2027. The main objective is to shed light on the evolution of the MFFs by utilizing empirical data, fi nancial reports, and other policy papers. Drawing on the historical institutionalism literature, the main hypothesis is that the evolution of the MFFs follows an incremental path, and no substantial change whatsoever is observed with regard to the fi scal capacity of the EU; however, the ongoing negotiations with regard to the MFF 2021-2027 can be considered as critical, due to the fact that they can produce punctuated dynamics and discontinuities, thus change, with regard to the available financial resources for specific policy fields.
The enforcement of statewide mask wearing mandates to prevent COVID-19 in the US: an overview
Authors: Jacobs Philip , Ohinmaa Arvi P. 
Published: September 2020

Face masks have become the bulwark of COVID-19 prevention in the US. Between 10 April and 1 August, 2020, 33 state governors issued orders requiring businesses to require their customers and employees to wear face masks, and persons outdoors who could not social distance to do the same. We documented the policies and enforcement actions for these policies in each of the states. We used governors’ orders and journalists’ news reports as our sources. Our results show that the states used a variety of state and local (county and municipality) agencies to enforce business prevention behaviors and primarily local law enforcement agencies to enforce outside mask-wearing behaviours. In particular, law enforcement officers demonstrated a strong preference for educating non-mask wearers, and indicated a reluctance to resort to civil penalties that were enacted in the state orders. Businesses expressed a preference to have government agencies enforce non-mask wearing behaviours. But there was also a widespread reluctance on the part of local law enforcement to resort to legal remedies.