bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health system strengthening using a Maximizing Engagement for Readiness and Impact (MERI) Approach: A community case study
Authors: Kyomuhangi Teddy , Manalili Kimberly , Kabakyenga Jerome , Turyakira Eleanor , Matovelo Dismas , Khan Sobia , Kyokushaba Clare , MacIntosh Heather , Brenner Jennifer L. 
Published: November 2022

IntroductionHealth system strengthening initiatives in low and middle-income countries are commonly hampered by limited implementation readiness. The Maximizing Engagement for Readiness and Impact (MERI) Approach uses a system “readiness” theory of change to address implementation obstacles. MERI is documented based on field experiences, incorporating best practices, and lessons learned from two decades of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) programming in East Africa.ContextThe MERI Approach is informed by four sequential and progressively larger MNCH interventions in Uganda and Tanzania. Intervention evaluations incorporating qualitative and quantitative data sources assessed health and process outcomes. Implementer, technical leader, stakeholder, and policymaker reflections on sequential experiences have enabled MERI Approach adaptation and documentation, using an implementation lens and an implementation science readiness theory of change.Key programmatic elementsThe MERI Approach comprises three core components. MERIChange Strategies (meetings, equipping, training, mentoring) describe key activity types that build general and intervention-specific capacity to maximize and sustain intervention effectiveness. The SOPETAR ProcessModel (Scan, Orient, Plan, Equip, Train, Act, Reflect) is a series of purposeful steps that, in sequence, drive each implementation level (district, health facility, community). A MERIMotivational Framework identifies foundational factors (self-reliance, collective-action, embeddedness, comprehensiveness, transparency) that motivate participants and enhance intervention adoption. Components aim to enhance implementer and system readiness while engaging broad stakeholders in capacity building activities toward health outcome goals. Activities align with government policy and programming and are embedded within existing district, health facility, and community structures.DiscussionThis case study demonstrates feasibility of the MERI Approach to support district wide MNCH programming in two low-income countries, supportive of health outcome and health system improvements. The MERI Approach has potential to engage districts, health facilities, and communities toward sustainable health outcomes, addressing intervention implementation gaps for current and emerging health needs within and beyond East Africa.
Strategies of socio-ecological transition for a sustainable urban metabolism
Authors: Padovan Dario , Cristiano Silvio , Gonella Francesco 
Published: November 2022

Urbanization plays a key role in the human activities causing and feeding climate change. At present, climate change and other environmental issues are directly or indirectly related to the metabolism of cities. However, cities may also play a central role in the fight against climate change. This is the reason why Urban Metabolism (UM) has become a powerful concept to account for and understand the way in which complex systems such as cities use and dispose of material resources, also suggesting measures to change their operational regimes. The rightsizing and optimization of UM is basically a matter of social innovation. It implies changes in the way a city collectively produces and reproduces its physical stocks and provides services to its inhabitants. This article aims at identifying strategies, scenarios, and pathways to slow down urban metabolic processes while improving their efficiency, thus managing a successful transition to an urban (more) circular economy, as well as decreasing the material intensity of the urban economy. The main objectives of the article are the following:1. The development of a renewed approach for studying Urban Metabolism based on transdisciplinary approaches and methods aimed to model metabolic agents' patterns of practices.2. The definition of urban patterns of resource use of different agents shaping urban metabolism (households, corporate agents, communities, and public authorities).3. The exploration of the main policies and administrative tools that cities use to manage environmental problems leading to different urban regulation regimes.4. A tool for generating future scenarios and roadmaps to reach a low-carbon future. This tool is crucial for engaging experts, stakeholders and the public looking for new solutions.
Space weather observations, modeling, and alerts in support of human exploration of Mars
Authors: Green James L. , Dong Chuanfei , Hesse Michael , Young C. Alex , Airapetian Vladimir 
Published: November 2022

Space weather observations and modeling at Mars have begun but they must be significantly increased to support the future of Human Exploration on the Red Planet. A comprehensive space weather understanding of a planet without a global magnetosphere and a thin atmosphere is very different from our situation at Earth so there is substantial fundamental research remaining. It is expected that the development of suitable models will lead to a comprehensive operational Mars space weather alert (MSWA) system that would provide rapid dissemination of information to Earth controllers, astronauts in transit, and those in the exploration zone (EZ) on the surface by producing alerts that are delivered rapidly and are actionable. To illustrate the importance of such a system, we use a magnetohydrodynamic code to model an extreme Carrington-type coronal mass ejection (CME) event at Mars. The results show a significant induced surface field of nearly 3,000 nT on the dayside that could radically affect unprotected electrical systems that would dramatically impact human survival on Mars. Other associated problems include coronal mass ejection (CME) shock-driven acceleration of solar energetic particles producing large doses of ionizing radiation at the Martian surface. In summary, along with working more closely with international partners, the next Heliophysics Decadal Survey must include a new initiative to meet expected demands for space weather forecasting in support of humans living and working on the surface of Mars. It will require significant effort to coordinate NASA and the international community contributions.
A survey of organizational structure and operational practices of elite youth football academies and national federations from around the world: A performance and medical perspective
Authors: Gregson Warren , Carling Christopher , Gualtieri Antonio , O'Brien James , Reilly Patrick , Tavares Francisco , Bonanno Daniele , Lopez Emmanuel , Marques Joao , Lolli Lorenzo , Salvo Valter Di 
Published: November 2022

AimMedical and performance units are integral components of player development programmes in elite football academies. Nevertheless, the nature of the operational processes implemented by practitioners within clubs and national federations remains unexplored. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to survey elite youth professional football academies from around the world regarding the operational processes adopted by their medical and performance units.MethodsOf the 50 organizations invited, 10 national federations and 25 clubs took part in the survey resulting in a response rate of 70% (95% confidence interval, 56%−81%). The respondents represented three groups: senior club and academy management, performance, and medical staff.ResultsThe majority (60%−90%) of clubs and national federations reported strategic alignment between senior and academy medical and performance units as well as between academy medical and performance units. Survey responses indicated substantial heterogeneity in the composition and number of medical and performance professionals employed in academies. The majority of respondents agreed their medical and performance departments were effective in utilizing staff knowledge and external sources of knowledge to inform their practice (56%−80%). Performance staff (40%−50%) and physiotherapists (30%−32%) were deemed most influential in injury prevention programmes. During the return-to-play process, the influence of specific practitioners in the medical and performance units was dependent upon the phase of return-to-play. Shared decision-making was common practice amongst performance and medical staff in injury prevention and return-to-play processes. Medical and performance data were generally centralized across the first team and academy in majority (50%−72%) of clubs and national federations. Data were integrated within the same data management system to a higher degree in clubs (68%) vs. national federations (40%). Research and development activity were reported for most academies (50%−72%), and generally led by the head of performance (37%) or team doctor (21%). Research activities were largely undertaken via internal staff (~100%), academic collaborations (50%−88%) and/or external consultants and industry partnerships (77%−83%) in the national federation and clubs.ConclusionCollectively, these findings provide a detailed overview regarding key operational processes delivered by medical and performance practitioners working in elite football academies.
Fastball pitching performance only slightly decreases after mobility impediment of the pelvis and trunk—Do (catch-up) compensation strategies come into play?
Authors: Leenen A. J. R. , Trigt Bart van , Hoozemans M. J. M. , Veeger H. E. J. 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundBaseball pitching performance can be mechanically explained by the summation of speed principle and the principle of optimal coordination of partial momenta. Impeding optimal energy generation or transfer by or between the pelvis and trunk segments could provide valuable insight into possible compensation or catch-up mechanisms that may manifest themselves based on these principles.AimThe aim of the present study was to explore the effects of experimentally impeding the mobility of and between the pelvis and trunk segments (1) on ball speed and mechanical peak joint power, and (2) on mechanical peak load of the elbow and shoulder joints at maximal external rotation (MER) during fastball pitching.MethodsEleven elite baseball pitchers (mean age 17.4, SD 2.2 years; mean pitching experience 8.9, SD 3.0 years) were instructed to throw at least 15 fastballs as fast and accurately as possible under two conditions. One condition involved impeding the mobility of the pelvis and trunk segments to hamper their ability to rotate independently, which consequently should affect the separation time, defined as the time interval between the pelvis and trunk peak angular velocities. In the other condition, pitchers threw unimpeded. Ball speed, mechanical peak joint power and peak net moment of the elbow and shoulder at MER were compared between conditions using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).ResultsIn the impeded pitching condition, the mean difference of the separation time was 12.4 milliseconds [95% CI (4.0, 20.7)] and for ball speed 0.6 mph [95% CI (0.2, 0.9)] lower compared to the unimpeded condition. Only the peak pelvic angular velocity, in addition to the trunk, upper arm and forearm, was 45 deg/s [95% CI (24, 66)] higher impeded condition. The mean differences of the joint power and net moments at the shoulder and elbow did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionIn elite adolescent baseball, the observed pitching performance after experimentally impeding pelvic and trunk mobility undermines a potential distal catch-up strategy based on the summation of speed principle. The increased peak pelvic angular velocity may indicate a compensation strategy following the optimal coordination of partial momenta principle to practically maintain pitching performance.
Understanding long-term continence rates after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy – one-year follow-up on “Cognitive ability as a non-modifiable risk factor for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence”
Authors: Reichert Mathias , Ploeger Hannah Maria , Uhlig Annemarie , Strauss Arne , Henniges Philipp , Trojan Lutz , Mohr Mirjam Naomi 
Published: November 2022

PurposeTo evaluate long-term continence rates (12 months) in patients after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in relation to their cognitive ability (CoAb), which proved to be a predictor for early post-prostatectomy incontinence.Material &amp; MethodsThis is the 12-month follow-up evaluation of our previously published observational single-center, prospective evaluation of 84 patients who underwent RALP as treatment of their localized prostate cancer between 07/2020 and 03/2021. Post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) was measured by asking patients about their 24 h pad usage, whereby 0 pads were considered continent and ≥1 pad was considered incontinent. CoAb was evaluated by performing the Mini-Mental State Examination prior to surgery. Possible predictors for PPI were evaluated using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analyses identified early incontinence status and nerve sparing (NS) as independent predictors for PPI after 12 months, resulting in a 5.69 times higher risk for PPI when the loss of urine was between 10 and 50 ml during the early performed pad test (one day after catheter removal) compared to 0–1 ml loss of urine [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33–28.30, p = 0.024] and a 6.77 times higher risk for PPI, respectively, when only unilateral NS was performed compared to bilateral NS (95% CI: 1.79–30.89, p = 0.007). CoAb lost its predictive value for long-term PPI (p = 0.44).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that PPI is a dynamic, rather than a static condition with a dynamically changing pathophysiology within the first 12 months after RALP. Coping methods and therapies should adapt to this circumstance.
Establishment of minimally invasive ventral hernia repair with extraperitoneal mesh placement in a primary care hospital using the robotic platform
Authors: Bauer Katrin , Heinzelmann Frank , Vogel Robert , Büchler Peter , Mück Björn 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundThe progressive availability of robotic surgical systems opens new perspectives in abdominal wall surgery due to excellent visibility and dexterity of instruments. While complex hernias until today were treated primarily through an open access, we evaluated if this promising technology is suitable for treating the entire spectrum of a hernia center, including complex hernias.Material/methodsIn 2017, minimally invasive hernia surgery with extraperitoneal mesh placement was started in Kempten hospital. Since 2019, a Da Vinci X system has been available for this purpose. In order to observe the process of transition we retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent ventral hernia repair in the department of general and visceral surgery at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 and were indicated for mesh implantation.ResultsIn 2016, the percentage of minimally invasive procedures was 37.3%. In all of these cases an intraperitoneal mesh was implanted into the abdominal cavity. Open surgery was performed in 62.7%, of which an a retromuscular mesh was implanted in 75.7%, an intraperitoneal mesh in 21.6%, and an onlay mesh in 2.7%. In 2020, minimally invasive surgery accounted for 87.5%, of which 85.7% were performed robotically and 14.3 laparoscopically. In 94.3% of these minimally invasively treated patients the mesh was implanted in extraperitoneal position (75.8% in retromuscular and 24.2% in preperitoneal position). The percentage of complex hernias increased from 20.3% to 35.0% during the same period.ConclusionThe majority of ventral hernia procedures can be performed safely using the robot in a minimally invasive technique with extraperitoneal mesh placement without leading to an increase in complications. Robotically-assisted hernia repair is a promising new technique that is also practical for complex hernias.
Optimization of the Selected Parameters of Single-Family House Components with the Estimation of Their Contribution to Energy Saving
Authors: Jezierski Walery , Sadowska Beata 
Published: November 2022

Knowledge of the influence of factors determining energy consumption in buildings is very important for the possibility of effective energy saving. This article describes the results of an original study on the analysis of the annual energy demand for heating (QH;nd), cooling (QC;nd), and annual usable energy demand (QH/C;nd = QH;nd + QC;nd) assumed as objective functions of a designed single-family building, which can be classified as a typical representative of currently built houses in Poland. It was assumed that the object of study was located in the climatic conditions of north-eastern Poland. The study takes into consideration three groups of selected parameters: architectural/spatial, structural, and physical properties of windows. The research was carried out in a single-family building, as energy consumption in residential buildings accounts for a significant part of the total energy consumption in buildings. In the group of architectural/spatial parameters, the height of rooms in the building (h) and the window area change coefficient (k) were taken into consideration. The design parameters pertained to the solutions of building components: the density of the material of the inner layer of the external walls (ρ1), the density of the material of internal walls (ρ2), and the thickness of internal walls (d). In the third group of parameters, the heat transfer coefficient of the glazing (Ug) and the total solar transmittance of the glazing (g) were considered. Deterministic mathematical models of these dependencies were developed on the basis of the results of a computational experiment, obtained by performing a simulation with the use of the DesignBuilder software, based on the EnergyPlus computational engine. The models allowed the authors to estimate the degree and nature of the influence of the examined factors on the building’s energy demand. As a result of the optimization of parameters according to the energy criterion, the contribution of each of the three groups of parameters to energy saving was determined. Deterministic numerical optimization using MATLAB was applied. It turned out that the factors from the first group played the most important role in energy savings (40.0%), and the factors from the third group contributed slightly less (25.7%). The contribution of the characteristics from the second group was 4.2% of the total value of energy saving. This information can be useful to scientists, as well as engineers and policymakers, in making correct decisions when designing new residential buildings.
Functional Characterization of TetR-like Transcriptional Regulator PA3973 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kotecka Karolina , Kawalek Adam , Modrzejewska-Balcerek Magdalena , Gawor Jan , Zuchniewicz Karolina , Gromadka Robert , Bartosik Aneta Agnieszka 
Published: November 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human opportunistic pathogen, is a common cause of nosocomial infections. Its ability to survive under different conditions relies on a complex regulatory network engaging transcriptional regulators controlling metabolic pathways and capabilities to efficiently use the available resources. P. aeruginosa PA3973 encodes an uncharacterized TetR family transcriptional regulator. In this study, we applied a transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq), genome-wide identification of binding sites using ChIP-seq, as well as the phenotype analyses to unravel the biological role of PA3973. Transcriptional profiling of P. aeruginosa PAO1161 overexpressing PA3973 showed changes in the mRNA level of 648 genes. Concomitantly, ChIP-seq analysis identified more than 300 PA3973 binding sites in the P. aeruginosa genome. A 13 bp sequence motif was indicated as the binding site of PA3973. The PA3973 regulon encompasses the PA3972-PA3971 genes encoding a probable acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and a thioesterase. In vitro analysis showed PA3973 binding to PA3973p. Accordingly, the lack of PA3973 triggered increased expression of PA3972 and PA3971. The ∆PA3972-71 PAO1161 strain demonstrated impaired growth in the presence of stress-inducing agents hydroxylamine or hydroxyurea, thus suggesting the role of PA3972-71 in pathogen survival upon stress. Overall our results showed that TetR-type transcriptional regulator PA3973 has multiple binding sites in the P. aeruginosa genome and influences the expression of diverse genes, including PA3972-PA3971, encoding proteins with a proposed role in stress response.
Maillard de Tournon: The First Papal Legate to China (1702–1710) and His Unknown Manuscripts
Authors: Zhang Rui 
Published: November 2022

The Istoria della spedizione del Cardinale Carlo Tommaso Maillard de’ Tournon is a collection of manuscripts produced for and circulated within the Roman Curia in the early 18th century. It contains letters and reports from Maillard de Tournon, the first papal legate to China, and records his mission and the early efforts of the Holy See to establish direct contact with the Qing court, bypassing the patronage system and locally entrenched religious orders (the Jesuits in particular). For various reasons, these manuscripts were never fully published and, in spite of their interest, remain relatively unknown to scholars. This article introduces these manuscripts, edited by Giovanni Giacomo Fatinelli, procurator of Maillard de Tournon in Rome, and demonstrates their value in allowing a greater understanding of the relationship between the Holy See and China, as well as the general relationship between the Holy See and Catholic missionaries throughout the world.
Predicting Effluent Quality in Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Shallow and Deep Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Jafar Raed , Awad Adel , Jafar Kamel , Shahrour Isam 
Published: November 2022

This research focuses on applying artificial neural networks with nonlinear transformation (ANNs) models to predict the performance of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processes. The paper presents a novel machine learning (ML)-based approach for predicting effluent quality in WWTPs through explaining the relationships between the multiple influent and effluent pollution variables of an existing WWTP. We developed AI models such as feed-forward neural network (FFNN) and random forest (RF) as well as deep learning methods such as convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), and pre-train stacked auto-encoder (SAE) in order to avoid various shortcomings of conventional mechanistic models. The developed models focus on providing an adaptive, functional, and alternative methodology for modeling the performance of the WWTP. They are based on pollution data collected over three years. It includes chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), phosphates (PO₄−3), and nitrates (NO₃−), as well as auxiliary indicators including the temperature (T), degree of acidity or alkalinity (pH), electric conductivity (EC), and the total dissolved solids (TDS). The paper presents the results of using SNN- and DNN-based models to predict the effluent concentrations. Our results show that SNN can predict plant performance with a correlation coefficient (R) up to 88%, 90%, 93%, and 96% for the single models COD, BOD5, NO₃−, and PO₄−3, respectively, and up to 88%, 96%, and 93% for the ensemble models (BOD5 and COD), (PO₄−3 and NO₃−), and (COD, BOD5, NO₃−, PO₄−3), respectively. The results also show that the two-hidden-layers model outperforms the one-hidden-layer model (SNN). Moreover, increasing the input parameters improves the performance of models with one and two hidden layers. We applied DNN (CNN, RNN, SAE) with three, four, and five hidden layers for WWTP modeling, but due to the small datasets, it gave a low performance and accuracy. In sum, this paper shows that SNN (one and two hidden layers) and the random forest (RF) machine learning technique provide effective modeling of the WWTP process and could be used in the WWTP management.