bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 on maternal healthcare in Africa and the way forward
Authors: Ameyaw Edward Kwabena , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Njue Carolyne 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The impact of COVID-19 is weighing heavily on many African countries. As of November 14th 2021, 6,109,722 cases had been recorded with 151,173 deaths and 2.5% case fatality rate. Studies reveal substantial morbidity and socioeconomic impacts when accessing quality maternal healthcare including fear of infection and the containment measures in place, including social distancing and community containment. The pandemic has put additional strain on healthcare systems that are overburdened and under-resourced even in normal times and has exposed the vulnerabilities of high-risk population groups in addressing critical healthcare concerns. This study presents a mini review of how COVID-19 has disrupted maternal healthcare in Africa, and it further proposes ways to improve the situation.

Main body
COVID-19 has disrupted antenatal, skilled birth, and postnatal family planning services. Women and girls are vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19 on several fronts and represent a group whose needs including antenatal, skilled birth, and postnatal family planning services have been disrupted, leading to unmet needs for contraception and an increase in unintended pregnancies. Restricted travel due to the fear and anxiety associated with contracting COVID-19 has resulted in delays in accessing prompt skilled care and essential healthcare services such as pregnancy care, immunisation, and nutritional supplementation. Misconceptions relating to COVID-19 have prompted concerns and created distrust in the safety of the healthcare system. Innovative measures are required to address these obstacles and ensure women are not denied access to available, accessible, acceptable, and quality maternal healthcare services in spite of COVID-19.

Conclusions
In the immediate term while physical distancing measures remain in force, deliberate effort must be made to provide evidence-based guidelines, good practice and expert advice that addresses the unique sexual and reproductive health context of African countries. Efforts to train and motivate healthcare providers to adopt online, remote approaches such as use of telemedicine, and expand the involvement of frontline maternal healthcare providers to deliver information on the availability of services through phone-based referral networks, culturally appropriate social media, community radio and folklore messaging strategies are critical to mobilise and secure community confidence in the safety of sexual and reproductive health and maternal care services.
Beyond bacterial vaginosis: vaginal lactobacilli and HIV risk
Authors: Armstrong Eric , Kaul Rupert 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHIV incidence continues to be unacceptably high in Eastern and Southern Africa, with women disproportionately affected. An increased per-contact risk of HIV acquisition among African, Caribbean, and other Black (ACB) women has been associated with the higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in these communities, wherein the vaginal microbiota is predominated by diverse pro-inflammatory anaerobic bacteria. However, while the vaginal microbiota in BV-free women is typically predominated by one of several different Lactobacillus spp., the degree of HIV protection afforded by a Lactobacillus-predominant vaginal microbiota also varies considerably. Specifically, L. crispatus is associated with an immunoregulatory genital immune environment, exclusion of BV-associated bacteria, and reduced HIV risk. In contrast, less HIV protection or exclusion of BV-associated bacteria and fewer immune benefits have been associated with L. iners—which is unfortunately the most common Lactobacillus species among ACB women. These species-specific clinical differences are underpinned by substantial genomic differences between Lactobacillus species: for instance, the much smaller genome of L. iners lacks the coding sequence for D-lactic acid dehydrogenase and cannot produce the D-lactate isomer that enhances HIV trapping in mucus but encodes for epithelial cell toxins and stress resistance proteins that may enhance bacterial survival in the context of microbiota and environmental fluctuations. While more studies are needed to elucidate whether differences in HIV protection between Lactobacillus species are due to direct genital immune effects or the exclusion of proinflammatory BV-associated bacteria, the current body of work suggests that for BV treatment to succeed as an HIV prevention strategy, it may be necessary to induce a vaginal microbiota that is predominated by specific (non-iners) Lactobacillus species.
Skulls, Tree Bark, Fossils
Authors: Zolkos Magdalena 
Published: December 2021

AbstractStudies of material objects in the field of memory studies have followed diverse epistemological and disciplinary trajectories, but their shared characteristic has been the questioning of philosophical assumptions concerning human relations with inanimate things and lower-level organic objects, such as plants, within the Aristotelian hierarchy of beings. Rather than accept at face value their categorizations as passive or deficient in comparison to the human subject, critical scholarship has reformulated the place and role of nonhuman entities in culture. This essay examines the nexus of materiality and memory in the work of the French philosopher and art historian Georges Didi-Huberman, with the focus on the questions of mnemonic affordance of things and plants. The essay proposes that Didi-Huberman’s project can be approached from the perspective of “undoing” the key binaries of Western historiography of art and material culture: surface/depth, exteriority/interiority, visibility/invisibility, and malleability/rigidity. Focusing on imaginal representations of memory objects in Didi-Huberman’s two essays Bark and Being a Skull, the essay situates these texts within the context of his philosophical reading of Aby Warburg’s iconology, and argues that Didi-Huberman’s undoing of the binaries that have traditionally structured thinking about materiality and memory could be productively approached as a philosophical project of transvaluating surface.
SAF-A promotes origin licensing and replication fork progression to ensure robust DNA replication
Authors: Connolly Caitlin , Takahashi Saori , Miura Hisashi , Hiratani Ichiro , Gilbert Nick , Donaldson Anne D. , Hiraga Shin-Ichiro 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT
The organisation of chromatin is closely intertwined with biological activities of chromosome domains, including transcription and DNA replication status. Scaffold-attachment factor A (SAF-A), also known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU), contributes to the formation of open chromatin structure. Here, we demonstrate that SAF-A promotes the normal progression of DNA replication and enables resumption of replication after inhibition. We report that cells depleted of SAF-A show reduced origin licensing in G1 phase and, consequently, reduced origin activation frequency in S phase. Replication forks also progress less consistently in cells depleted of SAF-A, contributing to reduced DNA synthesis rate. Single-cell replication timing analysis revealed two distinct effects of SAF-A depletion: first, the boundaries between early- and late-replicating domains become more blurred; and second, SAF-A depletion causes replication timing changes that tend to bring regions of discordant domain compartmentalisation and replication timing into concordance. Associated with these defects, SAF-A-depleted cells show elevated formation of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) and tend to enter quiescence. Overall, we find that SAF-A protein promotes robust DNA replication to ensure continuing cell proliferation.
The cellular basis of compensatory muscle growth in the teleostOdontesthes bonariensis
Authors: Simó Ignacio , Faggiani Mariano , Fernandez Daniel A. , Sciara Andrés A. , Arranz Silvia E. 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTThis study evaluates white muscle growth and in vivo cell proliferation during a fasting and refeeding trial, using pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) as animal model, in order to better understand the cellular basis governing catch-up growth. Experiments consisted of two groups of fish, a control group continuously fed ad libitum, and a group fasted for 2 weeks and then fed for another 2 weeks. We examined how the formation of new muscle fibers and their increase in size were related to muscle precursor cell (MPC) proliferation under both experimental conditions. During fasting, the number of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine-positive (EdU+) cells decreased along with myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) mRNA levels related to myoblast proliferation and differentiation, and the muscle stem cell marker Pax7 mRNA level increased. Analysis of myomere cross-sectional area, distribution of muscle fiber sizes and number of fibers per myomere showed that muscle hypertrophy but not hyperplasia was inhibited during fasting. Both higher igf2 mRNA level and the persistence of cell proliferation could be supporting new myofiber formation. In contrast, an exacerbated MPC proliferation occurred during catch-up growth, and this increase in cell number could be contributing to the growth of both pre-existing and newly formed small fibers. The findings that some MPCs proliferate during fasting and that muscle growth mechanisms, hyperplasia and hypertrophy are differentially regulated could help to explain why re-fed fish could grow at faster rates, and why they return to the lost growth trajectory.
Robotic Techniques in Esophagogastric Cancer Surgery: An Assessment of Short- and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kamarajah Sivesh K. , Griffiths Ewen A. , Phillips Alexander W. , Ruurda Jelle , van Hillegersberg Richard , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Markar Sheraz R. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Robotic esophagogastric cancer surgery is gaining widespread adoption. This population-based cohort study aimed to compare rates of textbook outcomes (TOs) and survival from robotic minimally invasive techniques for esophagogastric cancer.

Methods
Data from the United States National Cancer Database (NCDB) (2010–2017) were used to identify patients with non-metastatic esophageal or gastric cancer receiving open surgery (to the esophagus, n = 11,442; stomach, n = 22,183), laparoscopic surgery (to the esophagus [LAMIE], n = 4827; stomach [LAMIG], n = 6359), or robotic surgery (to the esophagus [RAMIE], n = 1657; stomach [RAMIG], n = 1718). The study defined TOs as 15 or more lymph nodes examined, margin-negative resections, hospital stay less than 21 days, no 30-day readmissions, and no 90-day mortalities. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox analyses were used to account for treatment selection bias.

Results
Patients receiving robotic surgery were more commonly treated in high-volume academic centers with advanced clinical T and N stage disease. From 2010 to 2017, TO rates increased for esophageal and gastric cancer treated via all surgical techniques. Compared with open surgery, significantly higher TO rates were associated with RAMIE (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–1.58) and RAMIG (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.17–1.45). For esophagectomy, long-term survival was associated with both TO (hazard ratio [HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.60–0.67) and RAMIE (HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.84–1.00). For gastrectomy, long-term survival was associated with TO (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.56–0.60) and both LAMIG (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.85–0.94) and RAMIG (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.81–0.96). Subset analysis in high-volume centers confirmed similar findings.

Conclusion
Despite potentially adverse learning curve effects and more advanced tumor stages captured during the study period, both RAMIE and RAMIG performed in mostly high-volume centers were associated with improved TO and long-term survival. Therefore, consideration for wider adoption but a well-designed phase 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT) is required for a full evaluation of the benefits conferred by robotic techniques for esophageal and gastric cancers.
Practices, awareness, and perception towards home-based COVID-19 management among the general population in south India
Authors: Joseph Nitin , Singh Vijay Pratap , Murthy Impana Venkatesha , Raman Vishaan , Banihatti Nagaraj Meera , Shetty Rahul Vishwanath , Sai Vemuri Krishna , Shreedhara Shruthi , Manja Maranakatte Shridhar Sumukha 
Published: December 2021

Background: Most patients with COVID-19 experience mild illness which can be managed in a home environment. This study was done to assess the perception, awareness and practices regarding home-based management of COVID-19 among the general population in India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in May and June 2021. Data were collected using a Google Form. Results: Mean age of the 294 participants was 36.6 ± 12.1 years. Of these participants, 45 (15.3%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 anytime in the past. Among them, 37 (82.2%) underwent home-based management for COVID-19. Monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation was performed just once a day by 15.2% and 5.9% of COVID-19 patients respectively. Self-medication was practiced by 11 (29.7%) patients. Disposable face masks were worn by 23 (62.2%) patients beyond eight hours of continuous usage. The disposable type of face mask was not discarded despite becoming wet and cloth masks were worn by eight (21.6%) patients. Disposable gloves were only worn by 14 (37.8%) care providers of COVID-19 patients. As many as 10 (27%) patients were tested for COVID-19 after completion of home isolation. Awareness of all mild symptoms and signs of the disease were known to only 19 (6.5%) participants. Normal oxygen saturation in the blood was known to 40 (13.6%) participants. Just six (2%) participants were aware of the correct duration of home isolation in a symptomatic patient with COVID-19. The recommended duration of hand washing with soap and water was known to 102 (34.7%) participants. As many as 17.4% and 32.7% participants were not confident in using thermometer and pulse oximeter respectively. Conclusion: Practices, awareness and perception regarding certain essential measures in COVID-19 home management were found lacking among a number of participants. These need to be addressed by suitable training programs among the general population.
Sagittal balance: from theory to clinical practice
Authors: Cirillo Totera Juan I. , Fleiderman Valenzuela José G. , Garrido Arancibia Jorge A. , Pantoja Contreras Samuel T. , Beaulieu Lalanne Lyonel , Alvarez-Lemos Facundo L. 
Published: December 2021

Adequate sagittal balance (SB) is essential to maintain an upright, efficient, and painless posture. It has been shown that sagittal profile alterations affect quality of life of patients with a similar or even greater impact than chronic disease.
Evaluation of the SB has gained much relevance in recent years, with recognition of its importance in the evaluation of spinal pathology.
This review summarizes the basic principles of SB, aiming to obtain a practical, simple and understandable evaluation of the sagittal profile of a patient.
SB is a dynamic process that involves a varying degree of energy expenditure. Distinguishing between a balanced, compensated imbalance or decompensated imbalanced patient, is relevant to diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1193-1202. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210062
Design and Performance Assessment of Dual-Speed Axial Threshing and Separation for Paddy Rice Combines
Authors: Tian Quan Li , Feng Xin , Wang Zhiming , Zhang Zhengzhong , Xiong Yongsen 
Published: December 2021

HighlightsDual-speed axial threshing and separation was designed to improve performance.Loosely connected grains were removed firstly for reducing opportunity for breakage.Machine is complex but a lower effective cylinder speed can reach a good performance.Reasonable feed rate and concave clearance could maintain quality and throughput.ABSTRACT. This research was conducted to assess the performance of a combine, model number 4LZ-4.0 under different threshing functional parameters such as speed of high/low speed cylinder, cylinder-concave clearance and linear speed of concave sieve. An indoor experiment was conducted using the dual-speed axial threshing and separation. These functional parameters were set at five levels. The responses were obtained in terms of broken rate, impurity rate and loss rate. Multi-objective variable optimization was performed using Design-Expert 6.0.10 software. Analysis of variance was done to determine the significant effects of the factor variations on the response values. Design-Expert 6.0.10 software was used to present response surface graphs that were used to describe the variations of the responses as the factors changed from one level to the other. Results showed that with an increase in speed of high/low speed cylinder from 15.42/18.50-22.92/27.50m/s, the percentage of broken rate increased significantly from 0.15% to 1.13%, respectively. At cylinder speeds of 15.42/18.50m/s and 22.92/27.50 m/s rpm, the impurity rate increased from 0.31% to 1.62%, respectively. It was also realized that varying the speed of high/low speed cylinder had a significant effect on the broken rate and impurity rate. The impurity rate increased with an increase in Linear speed of concave sieve from 0.40 to 1.60 m/s, the percentage of impurity rate increased significantly from 0.31% to 1.62% respectively. However, the lowest impurity rate was obtained at an average linear speed of concave sieve of 0.99 m/s. Furthermore, it was realized that increasing the cylinder-concave clearance from 16 to 30 mm, equally increased the percentage of loss rate from 1.78% to 2.93%. From the results obtained, it was suggested that operating the threshing cylinder at a speed of high/low speed cylinder of 18.31/21.97 m/s, cylinder-concave clearance of 22.60 mm and linear velocity of rotary concave of 0.99 m/s, gave a better performance of the machine. Keywords: Axial threshing and separation, Cylinder-concave clearance, Dual-speed, Functional parameters, Linear speed of concave sieve, Speed of high/low speed cylinder.
Thermophysical Properties of Baled Switchgrass
Authors: Schiavone Drew F , Montross Michael D 
Published: December 2021

HighlightsThermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of baled switchgrass were measured with a dual thermal probe.Specific heat of baled switchgrass was estimated based on other thermophysical parameters.Thermophysical parameters were modeled as functions of the material properties using multiple regression.Anisotropism was observed with different heat transfer rates occurring in each directional orientation.Abstract.Although the thermophysical properties of baled biomass play a critical role in developing postharvest quality models, these parameters have not been investigated for many bulk agricultural feedstocks including switchgrass. In this study, a dual thermal probe, consisting of a thermal conductivity probe and separate thermal diffusivity probe, was used to determine the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat of lab-scale rectangular bales of switchgrass (~10.16 × 10.16 × 30.48 cm). Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat ranged from 1.04E-2 to 6.10E-2 W m-1 °C-1, 0.863E-7 to 2.284E-7 m2 s-1, and 0.40 to 2.51 kJ kg-1 °C-1, respectively, depending on temperature (20.3°C, 30.2°C, and 40.1°C), moisture content (11.4%, 20.8%, 29.0%, and 42.3% on a wet basis), bulk density (157.2, 172.4, 197.2, and 230.1 kg m-3) and directional orientation (lateral or transverse). The results of this study promote a practical understanding of heat transfer within baled switchgrass while defining the dynamic relationship to material properties through multiple regression analysis. Anisotropism between the lateral and transverse bale orientations was observed with different heat transfer rates observed in both directional orientations. This anisotropism was attributed to the unique physical composition of the bulk material in the axial direction of bale compression (i.e., variation in porosity, discontinuous porous cavities, and material heterogeneity) compared to the composition of continuous stem material forming a layered flake of the rectangular bale. Keywords: Biomass, Bioprocessing, High solids, Thermal conductivity, Thermal diffusivity.
Design and Experiment of Stubble Chopping and Scattering Device Based on 2BMFJ-12 No-tillage Precision Planter
Authors: Hou Shouyin , Zhu Yifan , Zhu Xiaoxin , Fu Chuang , Ji Wenyi , Chen Haitao 
Published: December 2021

HighlightsA stubble chopping and scattering device based on 2BMFJ-12 no-tillage precision planter was modelled and developed.The optimal working parameters were obtained through theoretical analysis, flow field simulation, field test, and optimization combination test,The device improves the straw chopping and scattering ability of no-tillage planter.Technical support is provided for the development of conservation tillage equipment.Abstract.Aiming at the problems of poor stubble chopping quality of 2BMFJ-12 no-tillage precision planter, leading to slow stubble degradation rate, inconsistent seedlings emergence, and partial surface exposure, affecting tillage and crop yield at seedling stage, the stubble chopping and dispersal device was designed. The theoretical analysis of the corn stubble picking and chopping processes was carried out. The flow field characteristics in the volute were simulated by SolidWorks Flow Simulation. The main parameters and value range affecting the working performance of the device were determined. The orthogonal experiment method of three factors and three levels was used to carry out the field experiment with the angle of broken cutter, the rotation speed of cutter shaft and the inclination angle of negative pressure blade as the experiment factors, and the qualified broken rate, the uneven coverage, the scattering distance and the power consumption as the evaluation indexes. The variance analysis and optimization of the experiment results were carried out by Design-Expert 6.0.10. The optimized combination of parameters is that when the inclination angle of the chopping knife is -10.5°, the rotational speed of the knife shaft is 1120 r·min-1, and the inclination angle of the negative pressure blade is -15°, the qualified rate of chopping is greater than 93.01%, the coverage unevenness is less than 17.11%, the scattering distance is greater than 6.80 m, and the power consumption is less than 6.79 kW. The research results provide technical support for 2BMFJ no-tillage precision planter to improve stubble chopping and covering quality. Keywords: Corn stubble, No-tillage sowing, Scattering distance, Stubble broken, Uniform coverage.