OWL-based acquisition and editing of computer-interpretable guidelines with the CompGuide editor

Computer-Interpretable Guidelines (CIGs) are the dominant medium for the delivery of clinical decision support, given the evidence-based nature of their source material. Therefore, these machine-readable versions have the ability to improve practitioner performance and conformance to standards, with availability at the point and time of care. The formalisation of Clinical Practice Guideline knowledge in a machine-readable format is a crucial task to make it suitable for the integration in Clinical Decision Support Systems. However, the current tools for this purpose reveal shortcomings with respect to their ease of use and the support offered during CIG acquisition and editing. In this work, we characterise the current landscape of CIG acquisition tools based on the properties of guideline visualisation, organisation, simplicity, automation, manipulation of knowledge elements, and guideline storage and dissemination. Additionally, we describe the CompGuide Editor, a tool for the acquisition of CIGs in the CompGuide model for Clinical Practice Guidelines that also allows the editing of previously encoded guidelines. The Editor guides the users throughout the process of guideline encoding and does not require proficiency in any programming language. The features of the CIG encoding process are revealed through a comparison with already established tools for CIG acquisition.COMPETE, Grant/Award Number: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043; FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Grant/Award Number: UID/CEC/00319/201

Evaluating climate change adaptation options in the agriculture sector: a PROMETHEE-GAIA analysis

Mitigating maladaptation and effectively managing climate risks are crucial components of strategic planning in agriculture amidst climate change. Evaluation serves as a pivotal element in this process, facilitating the identification of effective adaptation strategies tailored to local contexts. Consequently, it's imperative to thoroughly evaluate these strategies to ensure their success and resilience. The current study evaluated adaptation methods tailored to the local context in southwest Iran across three categories-crop, farm, and water management-employing Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) and the PROMETHEE-GAIA. Sensitivity analysis was performed during the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) stage to confirm the criteria weights and in the PROMETHEE to confirm the ranking. A set of eight criteria, including effectiveness/importance, affordability, institutional feasibility, technical feasibility, social feasibility, traditional acceptance, flexibility, and environment side effects (positive) were applied to evaluate the adaptation measures. Our results indicated the three highest rankings in each set of measures, as follows: i) crop management—relay intercropping, change of crop type, and mixed intercropping; ii) farm management—pest and disease management, weed control, and crop rotation; iii) water management—lining water canals or covering their earth floors with nylon, using pipes rather than open canals to transfer water to the field, and increasing the time intervals between irrigations to deal with water shortages. The outcomes underscore the urgency of formulating region-specific adaptation policies that align with local expertise and contextual needs. By prioritizing the identified effective strategies, policymakers can enhance resilience against water scarcity in southwest Iran. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of ongoing evaluation and adaptation, emphasizing the dynamic nature of climate challenges and the need for continuous refinement of adaptive policies

Advancing national greenhouse gas inventories for agriculture in developing countries : improving activity data, emission factors and software technology

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of critical congenital heart defects screening using pulse oximetry in the neonatal intensive care unit.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the implementation of early screening for critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and potential exclusion of sub-populations from universal screening.Study designProspective evaluation of CCHD screening at multiple time intervals was conducted in 21 NICUs across five states (n=4556 infants).ResultsOf the 4120 infants with complete screens, 92% did not have prenatal CHD diagnosis or echocardiography before screening, 72% were not receiving oxygen at 24 to 48 h and 56% were born ⩾2500 g. Thirty-seven infants failed screening (0.9%); none with an unsuspected CCHD. False positive rates were low for infants not receiving oxygen (0.5%) and those screened after weaning (0.6%), yet higher among infants born at <28 weeks (3.8%). Unnecessary echocardiograms were minimal (0.2%).ConclusionGiven the majority of NICU infants were ⩾2500 g, not on oxygen and not preidentified for CCHD, systematic screening at 24 to 48 h may be of benefit for early detection of CCHD with minimal burden

Just Energy Transition: Learning from the Past for a More Just and Sustainable Hydrogen Transition in West Africa

The rising demand for energy and the aim of moving away from fossil fuels and to low-carbon power have led many countries to move to alternative sources including solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, biomass, and hydrogen. Hydrogen is often considered a “missing link” in guaranteeing the energy transition, providing storage, and covering the volatility and intermittency of renewable energy generation. However, due to potential injustice with regard to the distribution of risks, benefits, and costs (i.e., in regard to competing for land use), the large-scale deployment of hydrogen is a contested policy issue. This paper draws from a historical analysis of past energy projects to contribute to a more informed policy-making process toward a more just transition to the hydrogen economy. We perform a systematic literature review to identify relevant conflict factors that can influence the outcome of hydrogen energy transition projects in selected Economic Community of West African States countries, namely Nigeria and Mali. To better address potential challenges, policymakers must not only facilitate technology development, access, and market structures for hydrogen energy policies but also focus on energy access to affected communities. Further research should monitor hydrogen implementation with a special focus on societal impacts in producing countries

An overview of a systems model of cassava and cassava pests in Africa

A systems model is described for cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, two of its introduced herbivores, the cassava green mite (CGM), Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar), sensu lato, and the cassava mealybug (CM), Phenacoccus manihoti Mat.-Ferr., the introduced CM parasitoid, Epidinocarsis lopezi (DeSantis) and coccinellid predator of the genus Hyperaspis. The systems model includes the effects of weather, soil nitrogen and water levels on the interactions of the system's components. The model simulates the distribution of developmental times of cohorts initated at the same time, as well as the number and biomass (energy) dynamics of all populations over time. Biomass acquisition and allocation at the population and organism subunit levels (e.g. leaves, fruit, ova) were also simulated. A common acquisition (i.e. functional response) submodel was used to estimate daily photosynthetic as well as nitrogen and water uptake rates in cassava, in addition to herbivory, parasitism and predation rates for the arthropod species. This paper presents an overview of the systems model. Simulation results for the plant under pest free conditions were compared to field data. In addition, the model was used to estimate tuber yield losses due to CM and CGM feeding, and to examine the beneficial effects of introduced CM natural enemies as measured by reductions in tuber yield losse

Ballistic matter waves with angular momentum: Exact solutions and applications

An alternative description of quantum scattering processes rests on inhomogeneous terms amended to the Schroedinger equation. We detail the structure of sources that give rise to multipole scattering waves of definite angular momentum, and introduce pointlike multipole sources as their limiting case. Partial wave theory is recovered for freely propagating particles. We obtain novel results for ballistic scattering in an external uniform force field, where we provide analytical solutions for both the scattering waves and the integrated particle flux. Our theory directly applies to p-wave photodetachment in an electric field. Furthermore, illustrating the effects of extended sources, we predict some properties of vortex-bearing atom laser beams outcoupled from a rotating Bose-Einstein condensate under the influence of gravity.Comment: 42 pages, 8 figures, extended version including photodetachment and semiclassical theor