bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scaling Up the Primary Health Integrated Care Project for Chronic Conditions in Kenya: Study Protocol for an Implementation Research Project
Authors: Nolte Ellen , Kamano Jemima , Naanyu Violet , Etyang Anthony , Gasparrini Antonio , Hanson Kara , Koros Hillary , Mugo Richard , Murphy Adrianna , Oyando Robinson , Pliakas Triantafyllos , Were Vincent , Barasa Edwine , Perel Pablo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BackgroundAmid the rising number of people with NCDs, Kenya has invested in strengthening primary care and in efforts to expand existing service delivery platforms to integrate care for managing chronic disease. One such approach is the AMPATH model, established in 2001 in western Kenya to provide HIV treatment and control services. The model was progressively adapted and developed further to provide care for people with other chronic conditions. Building on this experience, the Primary Health Integrated Care Project for Chronic Conditions (PIC4C) was launched in 2018 to further strengthen primary care services for the prevention and control of hypertension, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer. This study seeks to understand how well PIC4C delivers on its intended aims and to inform and support scale up of the PIC4C model for integrated care for people with selected chronic conditions in Kenya.MethodsThe study is guided by a conceptual framework on implementing, sustaining and spreading innovation in health service delivery. We use a multimethod design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, involving: (1) in-depth interviews with health workers and decision-makers to explore experiences of delivering PIC4C; (2) a cross-sectional survey of patients newly diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension and in-depth interviews to understand how well PIC4C meets patients’ needs; (3) a cohort study with an interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the degree to which PIC4C leads to health benefits such as improved management of hypertension or diabetes; and (4) a cohort study of households to examine the extent to which the national hospital insurance chronic care package provides financial risk protection to people with hypertension or diabetes within PIC4C.Workshops with decision-makers and other key people at local, county, national and international levels will ensure early and wide dissemination of the findings of the work to allow for the wider scale up of this model of care.DiscussionOur study will generate new knowledge about the key mechanisms and factors that shape the successful implementation of novel ways of delivering more integrated services to better manage and support people with chronic conditions in low resource settings. It will expand understanding of intended and unintended consequences of integrating NCD management into existing care programmes. This knowledge can be leveraged to inform and improve the design and implementation of similar programmes elsewhere in Kenya and beyond.
A simple method for predicting emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using outgroups infecting non-human hosts
Authors: Katoh Kazutaka , Standley Daron M. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The ability to predict emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 would be of enormous value, as it would enable proactive design of vaccines in advance of such emergence. Based on molecular evolutionary analysis of S protein, we found a significant correspondence in the location of amino acid substitutions between SARS-CoV-2 variants recently emerging and their relatives that infected bat and pangolin before the pandemic. This observation suggests that a limited number of sites in this protein are repeatedly substituted in independent lineages of this group of viruses. It follows, therefore, that the sites of future emerging mutations in SARS-CoV-2 can be predicted by analyzing their relatives (outgroups) that have infected non-human hosts. We discuss a possible evolutionary mechanism behind these substitutions and provide a list of frequently substituted sites that potentially include future emerging variants in SARS-CoV-2.
The Impact of Improved Lid of Underground Tanks “Tanka” On Breeding of An. Stephensi In Western Rajasthan, India
Authors: Singh Himmat , Gupta Sanjeev Kumar , Vikram Kumar , Saxena Rekha , Sharma Amit 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Western Rajasthan of India has a typical desert climate. Until the introduction of canal water irrigation system, malaria was an unstable and seasonal occurrence. Due to scarcity of water, community practiced to have one large underground tank (locally known as Tanka) in their house to store water for long term use. Anopheles stephensi, one of the major malaria vectors, breeds in these "Tankas” if not properly covered and harbor a vector population throughout the year. Methods: Two villages Ajasar (intervention) and Tota (control) with similar ecological features were selected for the study. A pre-assessment was carried out in both villages to assess lids of Tankas, their breeding profile and the adult mosquito density. Awareness of community about malaria and mosquitoes was also assessed during pre-assessment period. In intervention village, lids were replaced with improved polyvinyl lids that were mosquito proof and last longer than conventional lids. Fitness of the lids, was assessed after one year. Entomological assessment was carried out in both intervention and non-intervention villages. The level of awareness of community was assessed both during pre and post intervention.Results : During the pre-assessment, Anopheles breeding was found in 22.1% (58/262) of Tankas of intervention village and 27.1% (19/70) of Tankas of control village. Tankas with iron lids were mainly positive in the intervention village (48.3%) and the control village (42.1%). In intervention village, 200 lids were replaced, and zero positivity was achieved. Before intervention, the species composition of An. stephensi was 46% in intervention and 55% in control village. Per Man Hour Density (PMHD) of An. stephensi was significantly reduced to 0.55 (94.95%) and 0.22 (97.8%) in post-intervention and follow-up, respectively in intervention village. Discussion: The adult density of An. stephensi was reduced significantly (97.8%) in intervention village. Breeding in underground tankas was completely checked in intervention village as compared to the control, where no such substantial reduction was observed. The awareness level of the community was also improved due to their involvement in the study.Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the small changes and interventions to reduce mosquitogenic conditions can be cost effective and long-lasting which may be helpful in control of malaria.
Incidence of emergency neurosurgical TBI procedures: A population-based study
Authors: Tverdal Cathrine , Aarhus Mads , Rønning Pål , Skaansar Ola , Skogen Karoline , Andelic Nada , Helseth Eirik 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
The rates of emergency neurosurgery in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients vary between populations and trauma centers. In planning acute TBI treatment, knowledge about rates and incidence of emergency neurosurgery at the population level is of importance. This study aimed to present incidence rates and patient characteristics for the most common TBI-related emergency neurosurgical procedures.
Methods
Oslo University Hospital is the only trauma center with neurosurgical services in Southeast Norway, which has a population of 3 million. We extracted prospectively collected registry data from the Oslo TBI Registry – Neurosurgery over a five-year period (2015–2019). For age-adjusted incidence according to the direct method, we used the 2013 European standard population (ESP) and 2000–2025 WHO World standard population distributions. We conducted multivariate logistic regression models to assess variables associated with emergency neurosurgical procedures.
Results
A total of 2151 patients with pathological head CT scans were included. One or more emergency neurosurgical procedure was performed in 27% of patients. The crude incidence was 3.9/100 000 person-years. The age-adjusted incidences in the standard population for Europe and the world were 4.0/100 00 and 3.3/100 000, respectively. The most frequent emergency neurosurgical procedure was the insertion of an intracranial pressure monitor, followed by evacuation of the mass lesion. Male sex, road traffic accidents, severe injury (low GCS) and CT characteristics such as midline shift and compressed/absent basal cisterns were significantly associated with an increased probability of emergency neurosurgery, while older age was associated with a decreased probability.
Conclusions
The incidence of emergency neurosurgery in the general population is low and reflects neurosurgery procedures performed in patients with severe injuries. Hence, emergency neurosurgery for TBIs should be centralized to major trauma centers.
Constructing a Gas Explosion Inversion Model in a Straight Roadway Using GA-BP Neural Network
Authors: Tan Bo , Zhang Heyu , Cheng Gang , Liu Yanling , Zhang Xuedong 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
When the location and intensity of the source of the explosion is determined, the severity and impact of the explosion can be analyzed and predicted, such as the overpressure, temperature, and toxic gas propagation. In order to provide the theory of emergency rescue work, improve rescue efficiency, to protect the safety of rescue personnel. In addition, to determine the gas explosion source location and intensity of the accident investigation also has an important role, on the one hand,it helps to determine the accident-related responsible person, on the other hand,it also can more accurately judge the nature of the accident and the cause of the explosion, summarize the accident experience, for the future prevention of such accidents provide guidance experience. Therefore, the location and intensity of the source of the explosion through the field data inversion is of great significance. Based on Genetic Algorithm (GA, and similarly hereinafter) to improve the back propagation(BP) neural network theory, the use of the method through the gas explosion experiments and simulation of overpressure data inversion of roadway gas explosion source location and intensity, the establishment of roadway gas explosion disaster inversion model for emergency rescue and accident investigation to provide data support.
Experimental Study on the Troperty Degradation and Failure Mech- Anism of Weakly Cemented Sandstone Under Dry-wet Cycles
Authors: Song Zhaoyang , Tan Jie , Liu Zhiqiang , Sun Lihui , Ning Fangbo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Taking the weakly cemented sandstone of Erdos, China, as the research object, the evolution law between the relative stress of weakly cemented sandstone and the multiparameters of the acoustic emission under different dry-wet cycles was explored, and the critical failure identification mode of weakly cemented sandstone under dry-wet cycles was established. The results show that as the number of dry-wet cycles increases, the wave velocity loss rate gradually increases. Overall, the longitudinal wave loss rate is larger than the shear wave loss rate, indicating that the longitudinal wave is more sensitive to the degradation of weakly cemented sandstone. With an increase in the number of dry-wet cycles, the fracture crack is mainly caused by the main crack penetration failure, and the secondary crack is significantly reduced. The fractal dimension decreases with an increase in the dry-wet cycles and reaches its maximum at 0 dry-wet cycles, which means that 0 dry-wet cycles witness the most complex morphology of fractures within the weakly cemented sandstone. This finding indicates that the dry-wet cycle inhibits the generation and expansion of fractures. The event rate appears to be close to 0 before the rupture, and then the platform oscillates, followed by a sudden increase. The acoustic emission b-value is relatively high during the initial stage and then decreases, which is the initial damage process. The elastoplastic phase rises again, the peak stage decreases rapidly, and the weakly cemented sandstone undergoes unstable damage. The change in the acoustic emission entropy value is exactly the opposite of the b-value change law. When the weakly cemented sandstone reaches the critical failure state under different dry-wet cycles, the relative stress value is 95%. The test results provide new methods and a basis for the damage evolution mechanism and fracture prediction of weakly cemented sandstone under dry-wet cycles.
The CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 Axis Regulates Age-Related Alterations in ADSCs&nbsp;
Authors: Li Keya , Shi Guiying , Lei Xuepei , Huang Yiying , Li Xinyue , Bai Lin , Qin Chuan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background and ObjectivesAdipose-tissue derived stem cells (ADSCs) autologous transplantation have been a promising strategy for aging-related disorder. But the relationship between ADSCs senescence and organismal aging were still no consistent conclusions. Toward this end, we analyzed the senescence properties of ADSCs from different age donors to furthermore understand the differences of cells between young and senile donors and verify the influence of organismal aging on the proliferation and function of ADSCs in vitro, providing the theoretical basis for the clinical application of autologous ADSCs transplantation.Methods and ResultsWe detected the characteristics, function, gene expression, apoptosis, cell cycle, SA-β-gal staining, and transcription features of ADSCs from 1-month mice and 20-month mice. ADSCs from old donors had some senescence-associated changes with less ability to proliferation than ADSCs from 1-month mice. Differentiation ability, cell surface markers, and SA-β-Gal staining did not differ across donor age, while cells exhibit a more remarkable age-related changes through continuous passages. According to the results of transcriptome analysis, the CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 axis and Hippo signaling pathway would be considered as its possible mechanisms. ConclusionsOur study reveals that ADSCs from old donors have some age-related alterations. The CCL7-CCL2-CCR2 which lies behind this change would be a potential target for gene therapy to reduce harmful effects of ADSCs from old donors. To make autologous transplantation work better, we would recommend that ADSCs should be cryopreserved in youth with minimum number of passages.
Automatic Tolerance Selection for Approximate Bayesian Computation
Authors: Karabatsos George 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) can provide inferences from the (approximate) posterior distribution based on intractable likelihoods. The quality of ABC inferences relies on the choice of tolerance for the distance between the observed data summary statistics, and the pseudo-data summary statistics simulated from the likelihood, used within the context of an algorithm which samples from the approximate posterior. However, the ABC literature does not provide an automatic method to select the best tolerance level for the given dataset at hand, and in ABC practice finding the best tolerance level can be time consuming. This note introduces a fast automatic estimator of the tolerance, based on the parametric bootstrap. After the tolerance estimate is calculated, it can then be input into any suitable importance sampling or MCMC algorithm to approximate from the target approximate posterior distribution. This tolerance estimator is illustrated through ABC analyses of simulated and real datasets involving several intractable likelihood models. This includes the analysis of a real 23,000-node network dataset involving stochastic search model selection.
Cervicovaginal COVID-19 Positivity: A Pilot Study
Authors: Çiplak Barış , Şimşek Yavuz , Kara Mustafa , Akyol Rukiye , Hizmali Lokman , Akça Veysel , Sayhan Işıl , Sezgin Fikriye Milletli , Şahin Yahya , Eroğlu Sercan , Dağli Selda Songur , Çelik Fatma , Köylü Zeynep 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Purpose: ACE 2 RNA expression has been detected in organs of the female reproductive tract, suggesting that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could potentially infect female reproductive organs. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the cervicovaginal fluid.Materials and Methods: Our study included 31 female patients aged 18–65 years. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA was investigated by RT-PCR in two separate cervicovaginal swab samples collected from patients 14 days apart. Viral RNA was extracted using viral nucleic acid buffer (vNAT) solution, and SARS-COV-2 RNA was analyzed using Bio-speedy SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kits in Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM device.Results: The first and second cervical swab samples were collected from 22 of 31 patients 14 days apart. The first cervical swab sample was collected from 9 patients; however, the second swab sample could not be collected after 14 days. SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in 100% of a total of 53 cervicovaginal swab samples collected. Moreover, the SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in the nasopharyngeal swab of babies after delivery in three pregnant women.Conclusion: Negative SARS-COV-2 RNA results in cervicovaginal swab samples suggest that there is no sexual transmission of COVID-19 and no vertical transmission during pregnancy. However, the number of studies conducted on this subject and the sample size examined are still insufficient.
Kinetics of killing and mode of action of Cinnamomum impressicostatum crude stem – bark extract on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Buru Ayuba Sunday , Neela Vasanthakumari , Mohandas Kavitha , Pichika Mallikarjuna Rao 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background This study evaluated the mode of action of Cinnamomum impressicostatum on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices used by mankind to enhance the flavour of his cuisine. In addition, cinnamon contains medicinally important essential oils in its leaves, stems, twigs, fruits and inner and outer bark. Many species of cinnamon are widely used in traditional medicinal systems around the world for the treatment of a wide variety of infectious diseases including tuberculosis and salmonellosis.Methods The crude stem – bark water extract of C.impressicostatum was generated using sequential soxhlet extraction. The antibacterial activity of the extract was investigated by performing broth microdilution assays and determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). A time kill study was performed to determine the killing efficiency of the extract. Potential bacteriolytic activity of the extract against MRSA was evaluated. Potential summative or synergistic killing effects of the extract when supplemented with 7.5% NaCl was also determined. Leakage of intracellular cytoplasmic components through the bacterial plasma membrane was analysed by determining absorbance at 260 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to study the damaging effects of the extract on the cell wall of MRSA.Results The Soxhlet crude water extract of C.impressicostatum stem - bark recorded the highest zone of inhibition (i.e. 21.0  1.4 mm) in disk diffusion assays. Its Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against MRSA was 19.5 g mL-1 and its Minimum Bactericidal Concentration was 39.0 g mL-1 . The combinatorial effect of the extract supplemented with 7.5% NaCl resulted in a marked decrease in bacterial growth suggesting enhanced killing with the use of NaCl that may be summative or synergistic in nature. Evidence suggests that treatment with the crude extract causes cytoplasmic leakage, possibly by damage to the bacterial cell wall or cytoplasmic membrane. This was substantiated by post treatment scanning electron microscopic analysis which revealed alterations in cell wall topology, possible damage to the bacterial cell wall and plasma membrane and the presence of vast amounts of cellular debris.Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the killing efficacy of C.impressicostatum stem - bark extract against MRSA is enhanced by NaCl and that treatment with the plant extract induces gross and irreversible cellular damage eventually leading to bacteriolysis. The bioactive compound(s) contained in the plant extract thus show immense potential for development into efficacious antibacterial drugs.
Long-term Economic Effects of Aridification on the GDPs of Africa and Asia
Authors: Malpede Maurizio , Percoco Marco 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We examine the effects of human-induced desertification on economic growth by exploiting a 56 km-by-56 km grid-cell global dataset on the annual frequency from 1990–2015. We find that areas that experienced large soil aridification are associated with a reduction in GDP per capita. Our results indicate that from 1990–2015, aridification reduced the GDPs of African and Asian countries by 12% and 2.7%, respectively. Our estimates are robust to adding higher-order terms of geo-climatic variables and controlling for country-specific linear trends, which allows us to project future costs of desertification. Our findings show that desertification will generate losses in GDP growth by 16% and 6.7% in Africa and Asia, respectively.
Effects of sporadic transthyretin amyloidosis frequently on the gallbladder and the correlation between amyloid deposition in the gallbladder and heart
Authors: Ichimata Shojiro , Hata Yukiko , Nishida Naoki 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinicopathological features of cholecystic ATTR deposition in patients with cardiac involvement, investigate the correlation of amyloid deposition severity in the gallbladder and the heart, and compare its prevalence in the gallbladder and other organs. Fifty patients with sporadic ATTR amyloidosis were identified. Of these, we evaluated 15 patients who underwent gallbladder sampling accurately. Among 10 patients (67%) with cholecystic deposition, six exhibited detectable deposition in the hematoxylin and eosin-stained specimens, and all of them displayed obstructive vascular deposition (VD). The severity of gall bladder VD was statistically correlated with that of cardiac VD and atrial interstitial deposition (ID). Additionally, all patients exhibiting cholecystic ID displayed severe ventricular and atrial IDs. In visceral organs excluding the heart, amyloid deposition was commonly observed in the lungs (93%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (47%‒80%), liver (60%), and periosteal tissues (53%). The involvement of gallbladder was prevalent and comparable to that of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the severity of cholecystic deposition was correlated with that of cardiac deposition. Therefore, pathologists should be aware that sporadic ATTR amyloidosis is a common condition and should not be overlooked.
Multivariate Outlier Detection by Using Two-Dimensional Correlation
Authors: Dikbas Fatih 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The accuracy of descriptive statistics might be influenced by the existence of outliers in data sets. An observation which might not be considered as an outlier in the univariate case might be a multivariate outlier. Therefore, determination of outliers might make multivariate analysis more robust by providing an opportunity for making required corrections before modelling studies. This paper presents the implementation of the two-dimensional correlation method in the determination of multivariate outliers among the observations of six precipitation stations in Turkey. The two-dimensional correlation method considers the averages of the parts of the whole series instead of the average of the whole series and enables determination of the location of the outlier in the compared series. The obtained results point out that an outlier analysis for hydrologic variables should consider the two-directional behavior and the presented two-dimensional correlation method proves to be a strong alternative to be used in outlier and irregularity detection studies even with a limited number of available data. The 2DCorr software used in the study is freely provided as a supplementary material.