Policy Discussion Document:Towards Open Data for Agricultural Transformationin Ghana

This is a summary of a policy discussion document that was prepared under the leadership of the e-Agriculture Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana. The process was facilitated by the Dutch Ministry of Land, Nature and Food Safety(LNV), with participation of national experts from Ghana, and coordinating consultants from Wageningen University Research (WeNR)and CTA, The Netherlands

Summary of policy discussion document: towards open data for agricultural transformation in Ghana

This is a summary of a policy discussion document that was prepared under the leadership of the e-Agriculture Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana. The process was facilitated by the Dutch Ministry of Land, Nature and Food Safety(LNV), with participation of national experts from Ghana, and coordinating consultants from Wageningen University Research (WeNR)and CTA, The Netherlands

A beam-beam monitoring detector for the MPD experiment at NICA

The Multi-Purpose Detector (MPD) is to be installed at the Nuclotron Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). Its main goal is to study the phase diagram of the strongly interacting matter produced in heavy-ion collisions. These studies, while providing insight into the physics of heavy-ion collisions, are relevant for improving our understanding of the evolution of the early Universe and the formation of neutron stars. In order to extend the MPD trigger capabilities, we propose to include a high granularity beam-beam monitoring detector (BE-BE) to provide a level-0 trigger signal with an expected time resolution of 30 ps. This new detector will improve the determination of the reaction plane by the MPD experiment, a key measurement for flow studies that provides physics insight into the early stages of the reaction. In this work, we use simulated Au+Au collisions at NICA energies to show the potential of such a detector to determine the event plane resolution, providing further redundancy to the detectors originally considered for this purpose namely, the Fast Forward Detector (FFD) and the Hadron Calorimeter (HCAL). We also show our results for the time resolution studies of two prototype cells carried out at the T10 beam line at the CERN PS complex.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. Updated to published version with added comments and correction

Prevalencia de secuelas en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 sobrevivientes al COVID-19

Objective: To assess whether there is an association between the prevalence of sequelae due to COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and methods: Cross-sectional analytical design. A structured questionnaire, validated by experts, was applied by telephone to patients who had been discharged for at least three months, and clinical data was obtained from their medical records. An informed consent was applied. Results: 52% were male (p=0,5); the median age was 57 years (IQR: 21), and the time between discharge and interview was 9 months. The severity of COVID-19 was: moderate 51%, severe 38%, critical 9%; diabetics 23,75% (p<0,05). An association was found between general sequelae and diabetes (OR=3,04, CI95%: 1,51-6,13, p: 0,001, RPa: 2,4), followed by cardiovascular sequelae (OR=2,91, CI95%: 1,57-5,38, p: 0,000, RPa: 2,1). Of the 57 diabetics, 85,9% had sequelae due to COVID-19; and of the 183 non-diabetics, 68,3% (p: 0,009, OR: 2,84, 95% CI: 1,26-6,38, PRc: 2,32). Conclusions: The prevalence of sequelae due to COVID-19 was higher in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients; the most frequent type of sequelae was fatigue.Objetivo: Evaluar si existe asociación entre la prevalencia de secuelas por COVID-19 y diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Material y métodos: Diseño analítico trasversal. Se aplicó por teléfono un cuestionario estructurado, validado por expertos, a pacientes con al menos tres meses de alta y se obtuvieron datos clínicos de sus historias clínicas. Se aplicó un consentimiento informado. Resultados: El 52% fueron varones (p=0,5); la mediana de edad 57 años(RIC:21), y el tiempo entre alta y entrevista fue 9 meses. La severidad de COVID-19 fue: moderado 51%, grave 38%, critico 9%; diabéticos 23,75% (p<0,05). Se halló asociación entre secuelas generales y diabetes (OR=3,04, IC95%: 1,51-6,13, p:0,001, RPa:2,4), seguida por secuelas cardiovasculares (OR=2,91, IC95%: 1,57-5,38, p:0,000, RPa:2,1). De los 57 diabéticos, 85,9% hicieron secuelas por COVID-19; y de los 183 no diabéticos, el 68,3% (p: 0,009, OR:2,84, IC95%:1,26-6,38, RPc:2,32). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de secuelas por COVID-19 fue mayor en pacientes diabéticos que en los no diabéticos; el tipo de secuelas más frecuente fue fatiga

A Bayesian Network approach to study the relationships between several neuromuscular performance measures and dynamic postural control in futsal players

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between several parameters of neuromuscular performance with dynamic postural control using a Bayesian Network Classifiers (BN) based analysis. Methods: The y-balance test (measure of dynamic postural control), isokinetic (concentric and eccentric) knee flexion and extension strength, isometric hip abduction and adduction strength, lower extremity joint range of motion (ROM) and core stability were assessed in 44 elite male futsal players. A feature selection process was carried out before building a BN (using the Tabu search algorithm) for each leg. The BN models built were used to make belief updating processes to study the individual and concurrent contributions of the selected parameters of neuromuscular performance on dynamic postural control. Results: The BNs generated using the selected features by the algorithms correlation attribute evaluator and chi squared reported the highest evaluation criteria (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]) for the dominant (AUC = 0.899) and non-dominant (AUC = 0.879) legs, respectively. Conclusions: The BNs demonstrated that performance achieved in the y-balance test appears to be widely influenced by hip and knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion ROM measures in the sagittal plane, as well as by measures of static but mainly dynamic core stability in the frontal plane. Therefore, training interventions aimed at improving or maintaining dynamic postural control in elite male futsal players should include, among other things, exercises that produce ROM scores equal or higher than 127º of hip flexion, 132.5º of knee flexion as well as 34º and 30.5º of ankle dorsiflexion with the knee flexed and extended, respectively. Likewise, these training interventions should also include exercises to maintain or improve both the static and dynamic (medial-lateral plane) core stability so that futsal players can achieve medial radial error values lower than 6.69 and 8.79 mm, respectively

Tumour Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor and Phosphorylated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression Are Additive Prognostic Markers for Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND: In cultured prostate cancer cells, down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in mediating the antiproliferative effect of the endogenous cannabinoid (CB) ligand anandamide. Using a well-characterised cohort of prostate cancer patients, we have previously reported that expression levels of phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR-IR) and CB(1) receptor (CB(1)IR) in tumour tissue at diagnosis are markers of disease-specific survival, but it is not known whether the two markers interact in terms of their influence on disease severity at diagnosis and disease outcome. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data from a cohort of 419 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer at transurethral resection for voiding difficulties was used. Scores for both tumour CB(1)IR and pEGFR-IR were available in the database. Of these, 235 had been followed by expectancy until the appearance of metastases. For patients scored for both parameters, Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses using optimal cut-off scores indicated that the two measures provided additional diagnostic information not only to each other, but to that provided by the tumour stage and the Gleason score. When the cases were divided into subgroups on the basis of these cut-off scores, the patients with both CB(1)IR and pEGFR-IR scores above their cut-off had a poorer disease-specific survival and showed a more severe pathology at diagnosis than patients with high pEGFR-IR scores but with CB(1)IR scores below the cut-off. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data indicate that a high tumour CB(1) receptor expression at diagnosis augments the deleterious effects of a high pEGFR expression upon disease-specific survival

Validez e invarianza factorial de una medida breve de Satisfacción con la Vida Familiar

RESUMEN Se examinó la estructura factorial, la confiabilidad, la validez convergente y discriminante, y la invarianza factorial por sexo, de la Satisfaction with Family Life Scale (SWFLS). Los participantes fueron 804 estudiantes de primaria y secundaria de escuelas privadas de Lima, con un promedio de edad de 13.5 años (DE = 1.6). Los resultados confirman la estructura unidimensional de la escala (χ2 = 3.49, df = 5, p = 0.63; χ2/df = 0.69; GFI = 0.998; CFI = 1; NFI = 0.998; RMSEA = 0 [IC90% 0, 0.038] y SRMR = 0.007), la invarianza factorial por sexo y una consistencia interna adecuada (α = 0.84; ω = 0.84; H = 0.85). Se obtuvieron evidencias satisfactorias de validez convergente y discriminante de las SWFLS con medidas de funcionalidad familiar, bienestar subjetivo y depresión. En conclusión, la SWFLS presenta excelentes propiedades psicométricas para medir la satisfacción con la vida familiar en escolares limeños. Palabras clave análisis factorial confirmatorio; invarianza factorial; satisfacción con la vida familiar; escolares peruanos. ABSTRACT We examined the factor structure, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and factorial invariance by sex of the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale (SWFLS). The participants were 804 primary and secondary students from private schools in Lima, with an average age of 13.5 years (SD = 1.6). The results confirm the one-dimensional structure of the scale (χ2 = 3.49, df = 5, p = 0.63, χ2/df = 0.69, GFI = 0.998, CFI = 1, NFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0 [IC90% 0, 0.038], and SRMR = 0.007), factorial invariance by sex and adequate internal consistency (α = 0.84; ω = 0.84; H = 0.85). Satisfactory evidence of convergent and discriminant validity of the SWFLS was obtained with measures of family functionality, subjective well-being and depression. In conclusion, the SWFLS presents excellent psychometric properties to measure satisfaction with family life in Lima schoolchildren. Keywords confirmatory factor analysis; factorial invariance; satisfaction with family life; Peruvian schoolchildren

Síndromes muy poco frecuentes.

Dismorfología, Citogenética y Clínica: Resultados de estudios sobre los datos del ECEMCAs in previous years, six new syndromes have been selected to be included in this section, aimed to make easier the recognition of syndromes with low-frequency by paediatricians and first health care physicians, particularly those of rural areas. In this Boletín, the following syndromes are included: Megalencephaly-Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita syndrome, Van der Woude syndrome, Hay Wells syndrome, Zellweger syndrome, Jeune syndrome and Laurin-Sandrow syndrome. For each syndrome, the most important clinical characteristics, and the present knowledge on their causal factors and mechanisms involved are sumarized.N

Adjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib for patients with resected BRAF-mutated melanoma: DESCRIBE-AD real-world retrospective observational study

BRAF and MEK inhibitor, dabrafenib plus trametinib, adjuvant therapy is effective for high-risk resected melanoma patients with BRAF-V600 mutations. However, real-world evidence is limited. We aimed to determine the feasibility of this therapy in routine clinical practice. DESCRIBE-AD, a retrospective observational study, collected real-world data from 25 hospitals in Spain. Histologically confirmed and resected BRAF-mutated melanoma patients aged & GE;18 years who were previously treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib adjuvant therapy, were included. The primary objectives were treatment discontinuation rate and time to discontinuation. The secondary objectives included safety and efficacy. From October 2020 to March 2021, 65 patients were included. Dabrafenib and trametinib discontinuation rate due to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of any grade was 9%. Other reasons for discontinuation included patients' decisions (6%), physician decisions (6%), unrelated adverse events (3%), disease progression (5%), and others (5%). The median time to treatment discontinuation was 9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5-11]. G3-4 TRAEs occurred in 21.5% of patients, the most common being pyrexia (3%), asthenia (3%), and diarrhoea (3%). Unscheduled hospitalisations and clinical tests occurred in 6 and 22% of patients, respectively. After 20-month median follow-up (95% CI, 18-22), 9% of patients had exitus due to disease progression, with a 12-month relapse-free survival and overall survival rates of 95.3% and 100%, respectively. Dabrafenib and trametinib adjuvant therapy proved effective for melanoma patients in a real-world setting, with a manageable toxicity profile. Toxicity frequencies were low leading to low incidence of unscheduled medical visits, tests, and treatment discontinuations

How natural capital delivers ecosystem services: a typology derived from a systematic review

There is no unified evidence base to help decision-makers understand how the multiple components of natural capital interact to deliver ecosystem services. We systematically reviewed 780 papers, recording how natural capital attributes (29 biotic attributes and 11 abiotic factors) affect the delivery of 13 ecosystem services. We develop a simple typology based on the observation that five main attribute groups influence the capacity of natural capital to provide ecosystem services, related to: A) the physical amount of vegetation cover; B) presence of suitable habitat to support species or functional groups that provide a service; C) characteristics of particular species or functional groups; D) physical and biological diversity; and E) abiotic factors that interact with the biotic factors in groups A–D. ‘Bundles’ of services can be identified that are governed by different attribute groups. Management aimed at maximising only one service often has negative impacts on other services and on biological and physical diversity. Sustainable ecosystem management should aim to maintain healthy, diverse and resilient ecosystems that can deliver a wide range of ecosystem services in the long term. This can maximise the synergies and minimise the trade-offs between ecosystem services and is also compatible with the aim of conserving biodiversity