bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia following mass testing and treatment in Pakro sub-district of Ghana
Authors: Ndong Ignatius Cheng , Okyere Daniel , Enos Juliana Yartey , Mensah Benedicta Ayiedu , Nyarko Alexander Kwadwo , Amambua-Ngwa Alfred , Merle Corinne Simone C. , Koram Kwadwo Ansah , Ahorlu Collins Kwadwo , Abuaku Benjamen 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: Global efforts to scale-up malaria control interventions are gaining steam. These include the use of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets, Intermittent Preventive Treatment and Test, Treat and Track (T3) using ACTs. Intermittent preventive treatment of children (IPTc) in Ghana has demonstrated a parasite load reduction of 90%. However, unanswered questions include – whether mass treatment of population sub-groups such as IPTc could be scaled-up to whole populations as in mass testing, treatment and tracking (MTTT)? What is needed to implement MTTT at scale? Can MTTT reduce asymptomatic parasitaemia levels in children under 15? And whether MTTT of populations complemented by community-based management of malaria (CBMm) using volunteers could be an effective strategy for malaria control at a lower cost.

Methods:
A population of 5,000 asymptomatic individuals in seven communities in the Pakro sub-district of Ghana participated in this study. A register was developed for each community following a census. MTTT engaged trained community-based health volunteers (CBHVs) who conducted house-to-house testing using RDTs every four months and treated positive cases with ACTs. Between interventions, CBMm was done on symptomatic cases.

Results:
MTTT Coverage was 98.8% in July 2017 and 79.3% in July 2018. Of those tested, asymptomatic infection with malaria parasites reduced from 1,795 (36.3%) in July 2017 to 1,303 (32.9%) in July 2018. Implementing MTTT significantly averted asymptomatic parasitaemia by 24% from July 2017 to July 2018 after adjusting for age, ITN use and temperature (OR=0.76, CI=0.67, 0.85 p ≤ 0.001). In comparison, treatment of symptomatic patients at the Health Centre reduced parasitaemia by 9% over the same period which was however, not statistically significant (OR=0.91, CI=0.67, 1.38 p = 0.672). A total of 223 (5.1%) cases were averted in children under 15 years (X² = 9.7, p < 0.002). An important observation was a decrease in hospital attendance, which negatively affected the internally generated funds (IGF) scheme of the participating health facilities.

Conclusion:
This study has demonstrated that implementing MTTT was feasible and could reduce prevalence of malaria asymptomatic parasitaemia in children under 15 years of age. Furthermore, the use of CBHVs could ensure high coverage at lower cost.
Evaluation of the reporting quality of observational studies in Master of Public Health’s dissertations in China: a systematic review
Authors: Dai ShuangYang , Zhou Xiaobin , Xu Hong , Li Beibei , Zhang JinGao 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Backgrounds Master of public health (MPH) plays an important role in Chinese medical education, and the dissertations is an important part of MPH education. In MPH dissertations, most are observational studies. Compared with randomized controlled trial (RCT), observational studies are more prone to information bias. So, the reporting of the observational studies should be transparent and standard. But, no research on evaluating the reporting quality of the MPH dissertation has been found. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in the Wanfang database from January 1, 2014 to May 31, 2019. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observation Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement was adopted to evaluate the reporting quality of the selected studies. Results The median of compliance with STROBE statement of 165 articles was 67.82%. The mean (standard deviation) of STROBE score was 14.3 (1.91). Five items/sub-items were 100% reported: background, objectives, study design, report numbers of individuals at each stage, and key result. Fifteen items/sub-items were reported by 75% or more. Reporting of methods and results was often omitted: missing data (12.73%), sensitivity analyses (3.03%), flow diagram (15.15%), and absolute risk (0%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that funding support (OR=13.98, 95% CI=4.37-44.70) and more published papers during postgraduate period (OR=2.77, 95% CI=1.02-7.54) were related to high reporting quality. Conclusion In short, the reporting quality of observational studies in MPH’s dissertations in China is suboptimal. However, it’s necessary to improve the reporting of method and results sections. We recommend that authors should be stricter to adhere STROBE statement when conducting observational studies.
Food Insecurity among Senior Citizens in High Out-migration Areas: Evidence from Western Nepal
Authors: Singh Devendra Raj , Ghimire Saruna , Jeffers Eva M , Singh Sunita , Nath Dhirendra , Szabo Sylvia 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, in particular in low and middle-income countries. Nepal, a low-income country, is undergoing rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions with a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food security status among Nepali senior citizens are still unknown. This study aims to fill this gap focusing on the elderly populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. The study also aims to assess the potential impact of adult child migration on the food security status of the left behind elderly parents. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by means of logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity, in senior citizens’ households, was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24- 0.98) had lower odds of being food insecure and households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.65) had two times higher odds of being food insecure. Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.37) and involved in agriculture (AOR= 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.99) or business (AOR= 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with migration status of adult children, household income and ethnicity. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on the households with elderly citizens and integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.
Comparison of Postoperative Pain between Patients who underwent Primary and Repeated Caesarean Section: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Duan Guangyou , Yang Guiying , Peng Jing , Duan Zhenxin , Li Jie , Tang Xianglong , Li Hong 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: The presences of differences in post-operative pain are unclear between the primipara who underwent a primary cesarean section and multipara who underwent first repeat cesarean section. The study aimed to explore the possible difference in postoperative pain between primipara and multipara.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out, and only women who underwent cesarean deliveries under spinal anesthesia were included. Postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed for all subjects with 0.2 mg/kg hydromorphone and 4 mg/kg flurbiprofen, and the pump was programmed as 2.0 mL/h background infusion, and loading dose of 1 mL with a lockout period of 15 min. Postoperative incision and visceral pain intensity were evaluated using visual analogue scale, and inadequate analgesia was defined as visual analogue scale ≥40 during the postoperative 48 hours. Additionally, the patients’ pain statuses on postoperative week 1 and week 4 were also assessed during follow-up via telephone.
Results: From January to May 2017, a total of 168 patients (67 primipara and 101 multipara) were included. The relative risk for multipara to experience inadequate analgesia on incision pain was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.25 to 0.74) compared to primipara. In patients under 30 years old, inadequate analgesia on visceral pain in the multipara was higher than that on the primipara (RR, 3.56 [1.05 to 12.04], P=0.025). There was no significant difference in the combined incidence of inadequate analgesia in both types of pain between the multipara and primipara (33.7%vs.40.2%, P=0.381). No difference was found in PCIA consumption between two groups. (111.1 ± 36.0mL vs. 110.9 ± 37.3mL, P=0.979) Additionally, a significantly higher incidence of pain at 4 weeks after the surgery was noted in the primipara compared to the multipara (62.2%vs.37.7%, P=0.011).
Conclusions: Multipara who underwent first repeat cesarean section have lower risk to experience inadequate analgesia on incision pain during the first 48 hours after surgery compared to primipara. While multipara under 30 years may be more prone to experiencing postoperative inadequate analgesia on visceral pain.
Trail Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03009955, Date registered: December 30, 2016.
CUTseq is a versatile method for preparing multiplexed DNA sequencing libraries from low-input samples
Authors: Zhang Xiaolu , Garnerone Silvano , Simonetti Michele , Harbers Luuk , Nicoś Marcin , Mirzazadeh Reza , Venesio Tiziana , Sapino Anna , Hartman Johan , Marchiò Caterina , Bienko Magda , Crosetto Nicola 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Current multiplexing strategies for massively parallel sequencing of genomic DNA mainly rely on library indexing in the final steps of library preparation. This procedure is costly and time-consuming because a single library must be produced separately for each sample. Furthermore, library preparation is challenging in the case of low-input fixed samples, such as DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Here, we describe CUTseq, a method that uses restriction enzymes and in vitro transcription to barcode and amplify genomic DNA prior to library construction. We thoroughly validate CUTseq and demonstrate its applicability to both genome and exome sequencing, enabling multi-region genome profiling within single stained FFPE tissue sections, to assess intratumor heterogeneity at high spatial resolution. In conclusion, CUTseq is a versatile and cost-effective method for multiplexed DNA sequencing library preparation that can find numerous applications in research and diagnostics.
Can Management Practices Enhance Corn Productivity in a Rye Cover Crop System?
Authors: Patel Swetabh , Sawyer John E. , Lundvall John P. 
Published: October 2019

Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crops (RCC) have good potential to take up residual NO3 between grain crops and reduce loss to surface waters. However, studies in Iowa have shown a 6% corn (Zea mays L.) yield reduction in no‐till when grown following a RCC. The objective of this research was to study tillage and starter N agronomic practices that have potential to improve corn yield in a RCC system. This study was conducted at four sites from 2014–2016 with corn grown in rotation with soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merr.]. Treatments included rye aerial broadcast into soybean before leaf drop and no RCC, tillage or no‐till, and starter N fertilizer (34 kg N ha−1) or no starter. The main fertilizer N was sidedressed. The aerial rye sowing, especially with dry fall conditions and planned RCC termination in the spring at 15–20 cm height, resulted in non‐uniform RCC stand with low biomass and N content (range 6–36 kg N ha−1). However, the profile soil NO3–N at rye termination was decreased, approximately the same amount as the RCC aboveground N content. The V6 stage corn height and V10 stage canopy sensing indexes increased with tillage and starter. Overall, corn yield was reduced with the RCC (0.2 Mg ha−1), tillage increased yield (3%), but starter N did not increase yield despite consistent increased early corn growth. If soil erosion potential is low, springtime tillage would be a practice to help improve corn early growth and yield in a RCC system.Core Ideas

A cereal rye cover crop preceding corn can result in reduced grain yield.
Rye cover crop did not affect corn plant population.
Starter N improved early corn growth but not grain yield.
Corn yield was 1.6% reduced with the rye cover crop, but tillage improved yield by 3%.
Mean Performance and Stability in Multi‐Environment Trials II: Selection Based on Multiple Traits
Authors: Olivoto Tiago , Lúcio Alessandro D. C. , da Silva José A. G. , Sari Bruno G. , Diel Maria I. 
Published: October 2019

Modeling the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) and quantifying genotypic stability are crucial steps for selecting/recommending genotypes in multi‐environment trials (METs). The efficiency in selection/recommendation could be greater if based on multiple traits, but identifying genotypes that combine high performance and stability across many traits has been a difficult task. In this study, we propose a multi‐trait stability index (MTSI) for simultaneous selection considering mean performance and stability (MPE) in the analysis of METs using both fixed and mixed‐effect models. Data from an MET where 14 traits were assessed in 22 genotypes ofAvena sativaL. were used to illustrate the application of the method. The genotypic stability was quantified for each trait using the weighted average of absolute scores from the singular value decomposition of the matrix of best linear unbiased predictions for the GEI effects generated by an linear mixed‐effect model (WAASB) index (lower is better). A superiority index, WAASBY (higher is better) was calculated to consider the MPE. The selection differential for the WAASBY index ranged from 9.7 to 44.6%. Positive selection differential (1.75% ≤ selection differential ≤ 17.8%) were observed for trait means that wanted to increase and negative (–11.7%) for one variable that wanted to reduce. The negative selection differential observed for WAASB (–63% ≤ selection differential ≤ −12%) suggested that the selected genotypes were more stable. The MTSI should be useful for breeders and agronomists who desire a selection for MPE based on multiple traits because it provides a robust and easy‐to‐handle selection process, accounting for the correlation structure of the traits. The application of the MTSI in future studies is facilitated by a step‐by‐step guide and an R package containing useful functions.Core IdeasThe genotypic stability was quantified in multi‐environment trials (MET) using mixed models.A superiority index that allows weighting between mean performance and stability was used.A multi‐trait stability index (MTSI) for identifying superior genotypes in MET was proposed.Using a real dataset from a MET, stable and high‐performance genotypes were identified.The MTSI should facilitate the genotype selection in a multi‐trait framework.
Provitamin A Maize Hybrid Response to Drought, Heat, Low Nitrogen, and Low Phosphorous Stress
Authors: Manjeru Pepukai , van Biljon Angeline , MacRobert John , Labuschagne Maryke 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTVitamin A deficiency is rampant in Africa. High provitamin A maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds have been developed by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, but the inbred lines do not have the abiotic stress tolerance levels needed for production in sub‐Saharan Africa. In this study, 30 hybrids obtained from crosses of 22 provitamin A and five yellow elite inbred lines from the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project were evaluated with four local check hybrids (two white and two yellow) and a Zambian orange hybrid. Evaluation was done under drought, a combination of drought and heat, low N, low P, random drought stress, and optimum conditions for two seasons. Yield was reduced by 43.27, 79.55, 68.42, and 44.27% under random drought stress, managed drought stress, a combination of drought and heat stress, and low N stress, respectively. Sixteen hybrids performed better than four checks under managed drought stress. One hybrid ranked in the top 10 hybrids in all the test environments. The β‐carotene concentration of hybrids was in the expected range (4.29–12.55 μg g−1) for the first‐generation medium to high provitamin A maize genotypes, but on average, drought and low N stress reduced β‐carotene by >60%. However, some hybrids retained a high percentage of β‐carotene under stress conditions. Sufficient variability for yield and β‐carotene content was demonstrated in the hybrids to allow for effective selection.
“Natural Evaporation from Open Water, Bare Soil and Grass” by Harold L. Penman, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (1948) A193:120–146
Authors: Sinclair Thomas R. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTThis article is part of a series of brief commentaries to highlight papers that have resulted in important and distinctly new perspectives in crop science. A criterion for selection of papers is that they must have been published at least 20 yr ago to allow for a long‐range perspective in assessment of the papers. The current article briefly reviews the paper by Harold L. Penman published in 1948 that offered an original analysis of approaches to estimate evaporation from natural surfaces. He developed two approaches: one based on a sink strength model, and the second on an energy balance model. He compared the predictions of these approaches to his experimental observations of evaporation from open water, bare soil, and grass. He found each of the models did well (r ≈ 0.8) in predicting open water evaporation. The evaporation from bare soil and grass was less than that from the open water, and the predicted evaporation amounts were variable even when normalized by open water evaporation. Even though Penman warned that aspects of the approaches were empirical, the energy balance model remains a mainstay in predicting crop water loss.
Trans Situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives
Authors: Riordan Erin Coulter , Nabhan Gary Paul 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTIn the face of unprecedented climatic disasters, social conflict, and political uncertainty, integrating in situ and ex situ strategies may become increasingly necessary to effectively conserve crop wild relatives (CWR). We introduce the concept of trans situ conservation to safeguard CWR genetic diversity and accessibility for crop improvement. Building on initiatives to combine in situ protection with ex situ backup in genebanks, trans situ conservation dynamically integrates multiple in situ and ex situ measures, from conservation to research to education, spanning local to global scales. Two important features emerge from a trans situ approach. First, integrating in situ and ex situ studies of CWR genetic diversity, adaptation, and ecological interactions can lead to advances in crop improvement and in situ management. Second, the complementarity, redundancy, and synergy gained through trans situ conservation buffer climatic, economic, political, and institutional instabilities. Focusing on a case study in the United States–Mexico desert borderlands, we evaluate three components of trans situ conservation: in situ protection on working and public lands; seed and living plant collections in local and regional botanical gardens, arboreta, and nurseries; and genebank accessions in the USDA National Plant Germplasm System. We discuss gaps, tensions, and synergies that emerge when coordinating these three components and offer the conservation of the wild chile [Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum (Dunal) Heiser & Pickersgill] in southern Arizona as an example of concerted in situ and ex situ research integrated in a trans situ framework
An analysis of the effects of pressure-assisted osmotic backwashing on the high recovery reverse osmosis system
Authors: Yaranal Naveenkumar Ashok , Kumari Sneha , Narayanasamy Selvaraju , Subbiah Senthilmurugan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe low cost simplified method for implementation of pressure-assisted osmotic (PAO) backwash (BW) for spiral wound reverse osmosis (RO) membrane module is presented in this work. The effect of membrane design and an operating parameter concerning the efficiency of PAO membrane BW is analyzed. The following design and operating parameters are considered in this study: (i) spacer thickness, (ii) dimension of the permeate channel, (iii) number of leaves, and (iv) BW water pressure. The performance of PAO BW with respect to membrane cleaning efficiency is analyzed for three different high recovery RO systems by purifying 1,500 liters of water. The membrane cleaning efficiency is measured by examining the rate of permeate quality and quantity decline using ASTM D4516 method. Finally, to quantify the membrane fouling with respect to different high recovery configurations, the thickness, and composition of foulants present in the used membrane's surface are measured by using field emission scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM-EDX). The result concludes that the RO membrane operated at high recovery with PAO BW is found to have less fouling deposits than membrane without PAO BW.
Model of efficiency assessment of diagnostic tools of onboard equipment
Authors: Rozenberg E. N. , Korovin A. S. , Penkova N. G. 
Published: October 2019

The Aim of this paper is to show that the development, deployment of new diagnostic tools and improvement of the existing diagnostic tools in onboard equipment enables better operational characteristics and reduced probability of transition of intelligent railway systems into a forbidden state. Method. In the context of intelligent railway systems, the construction of the analytical model of probability evaluation is of principal interest due to the feasibility of demonstrating the factors that are taken into consideration by such a model. Forbidden events that cause inoperability of intelligent railway systems are random; they can be represented as a random process. A random process of system development, transition from an allowed state into a forbidden state, system state changes in time can be described with a semi-Markovian process. When assessing the probability of system transition into a forbidden state, the question arises as to the selection of a method of calculation. The paper shows the feasibility of representation and solution of a semi-Markovian model with the help of a coupled graph model [3, 5] that has a high level of visualization and is a well-formalized method of identification of the probability of a system’s transition into a forbidden state. The set of system states and their connections are represented with a directed state graph with defined topological concepts [3]. In order to identify the effect of the introduction of new diagnostic tools and improvement of the existing diagnostic tools in onboard equipment on the probability of transition of intelligent railway systems into a forbidden state, the authors use the theorem of identification of the probability of system’s transition from the initial unhazardous state into a hazardous state and set forth the formula to calculate this probability. Results. The graph method implemented in this paper shows that the use of additional diagnostic tools reduces more than twice the probability of a system’s transition into a forbidden state, i.e. a state when the failure will not be detected by the inbuilt or additional diagnostic tools.