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Background: Digital public health (DiPH) interventions may help us tackle substantial public health challenges and reach historically underserved populations, in addition to presenting valuable opportunities to improve and complement existing services. However, DiPH interventions are often triggered through technological advancements and opportunities rather than public health needs. To develop and evaluate interventions designed to serve public health needs, a comprehensive framework is needed that systematically covers all aspects with relevance for public health. This includes considering the complexity of the technology, the context in which the technology is supposed to operate, its implementation, and its effects on public health, including ethical, legal, and social aspects. Objective: We aimed to develop such a DiPH framework with a comprehensive list of core principles to be considered throughout the development and evaluation process of any DiPH intervention. Methods: The resulting digital public health framework (DigiPHrame) was based on a scoping review of existing digital health and public health frameworks. After extracting all assessment criteria from these frameworks, we clustered the criteria. During a series of multidisciplinary meetings with experts from the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health, we restructured each domain to represent the complexity of DiPH. In this paper, we used a COVID-19 contact–tracing app as a use case to illustrate how DigiPHrame may be applied to assess DiPH interventions. Results: The current version of DigiPHrame consists of 182 questions nested under 12 domains. Domain 1 describes the current status of health needs and existing interventions; domains 2 and 3, the DiPH technology under assessment and aspects related to human-computer interaction, respectively; domains 4 and 5, structural and process aspects, respectively; and domains 6-12, contextual conditions and the outcomes of the DiPH intervention from broad perspectives. In the CWA use case, a number of questions relevant during its development but also important for assessors once the CWA was available were highlighted. Conclusions: DigiPHrame is a comprehensive framework for the development and assessment of digital technologies designed for public health purposes. It is a living framework and will, therefore, be updated regularly and as new public health needs and technological advancements emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Public Health Forum is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Public Health Forum is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main purpose of this experimental study was to determine the differential impact that a CO2 penalty, a CO2 incentive and information regarding the future fuel costs of a motor vehicle will have on South African consumers' behaviour when they choose new motor vehicles. The results of the experiment did not find any statistically significant proof that either a CO2 penalty or a CO2 incentive is likely to influence consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient motor vehicles. An information policy that provides consumers with the estimated future fuel costs of motor vehicles also has no meaningful influence. The combination of the information policy with either a CO2 penalty or CO2 incentive also has no meaningful influence. Finally, this study provides statistical evidence that the importance of the fuel economy of a motor vehicle and the consumer's attitude regarding the protection of the environment can both have a meaningful influence on a consumer's choice of motor vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-guided transfusion algorithms in cardiac surgery have been proven to be successful in reducing blood loss in randomized controlled trials. Using an institutional hemostasis registry of patients in cardiac surgery (HEROES-CS), the authors hypothesized that the use of ROTEM-guided transfusion algorithms would save blood products and overall costs in cardiac surgery in every day practice. Design Observational, prospective open cohort database. Setting Single-center academic hospital. Participants Cardiac surgery patients. Interventions Implementation of ROTEM-guided bleeding management. Measurements and Main Results A classical-guided algorithm and a ROTEM-guided algorithm were used for patient blood management in 2 cohorts. Primary outcome was the use and amount of blood products and hemostatic medication. Secondary outcomes were amount of rethoracotomies, length of stay, and 30-day mortality. Finally, costs and savings were calculated. The classical-guided cohort comprised 204 patients, and ROTEM-guided cohort comprised 151 patients. Baseline characteristics showed excellent similarities after propensity score matching of 202 patients. Blood loss was lower after ROTEM guidance (p < 0.001). Absolute risk reduction was 17% for red blood cells (p = 0.024), 12% for fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.019), and 4% for thrombocyte concentrates (p = 0.582). More tranexamic acid was given, but not more fibrinogen concentrate, while desmopressin was given less often. Hospital length of stay was reduced by an overall median of 2 and a mean of 4 days (p < 0.001). Mortality and rethoracotomy rates were not affected. Potential savings were about €4,800 ($5,630) per patient. Conclusions Implementation of a ROTEM-guided transfusion algorithm in cardiac surgery patients reduced the use of blood products and hemostatic medication, hereby saving costs. Reductions in mortality and rethoracotomy rates could not be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Navel’ sweet orange [ Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] fruit are characterized by the presence of a secondary fruitlet (navel) located inside the stylar-end of the primary fruit. Fruit with large navel-end openings have increased susceptibility to develop navel-end fruit splitting and navel-end rot. Furthermore, large navel-end openings can provide refuge for insect pests including mealybugs. Foliar application of the plant growth regulator and synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) during flowering time reduces the size of the navel, as well as that of the navel-end opening. The objective of this study was to determine if the closing of the navel-end opening by foliar application of 2,4-D could reduce the susceptibility of ‘Navel’ sweet orange fruit to mealybug [ Planococcus citri (Risso)] infestation, Alternaria [ Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl] infection and the subsequent development of Alternaria black core rot (ABCR). Foliar application of 2,4-D at full bloom (FB) increased the percentage of fruit with fully closed navel-ends significantly. These results concur with previous research and were consistent across different production areas, cultivars and seasons, irrespective of the concentration and formulation of 2,4-D used. Apart from two anomalies, all 2,4-D treatments at FB resulted in a lower percentage of mealybug infested fruit at time of harvest and significantly reduced the percentage of fruit infected with ABCR. A combination treatment of 10 mg L −1 2,4-D and 0.20 mL L −1 tebuconazole applied at FB was most successful in reducing ABCR infection and therefore provides a novel control method for black core rot in ‘Navel’ sweet orange fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a stubble-borne disease of global concern and a known yield-limiting factor in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Disease management options is limited, with a focus on crop rotation and tillage, the effect of which has not yet been quantified locally. Crop rotation and tillage practices were, therefore, investigated in two wheat production areas of the Western Cape over two years (2020 and 2021) to determine its effects on FCR disease- and agronomic parameters of wheat. Crop rotation with non-host crops, including annual medics (Medicago spp.), canola (Brassica napus) and lupin (Lupinus spp.) significantly reduced FCR disease incidence and severity, while increasing grain yield and quality over the two-year study period. Significant negative correlations (P < 0.05) were established between FCR disease incidence and – severity with grain yield and – quality. Tillage practices were comprised of conventional tillage (deep soil disturbance with a plough), minimum tillage (shallow tine tillage), no tillage (no primary soil disturbance, tine planter) and zero tillage (no primary soil disturbance, disc planter). Zero tillage decreased FCR incidence and disease severity, without impeding wheat grain yield and quality. Better soil water conservation later in the season, along with shallower seeding depth in zero tillage, contributed to FCR disease management. Crop rotation with non-host crops, combined with zero tillage can, therefore, be integral to FCR disease management strategies. • Fusarium crown rot (FCR) threatens of wheat production in conservation agriculture systems. • Effects of crop rotation and tillage practices on FCR disease parameters were investigated. • Fusarium crown rot decreased wheat grain yield and quality. • Crop rotation and zero tillage decreased FCR disease incidence and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethics has been identified as a key element in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) since its conception. However, ethical issues are still not frequently addressed explicitly in HTA. Several valuable reasons have been identified. The basis of the article is the claim that ethics is often not part of HTA for "epistemological reasons". Hence, the main aim of the contribution is to explore in more details and emphasize them by using the fact/value dichotomy. Our conclusion is that current HTA configuration is predominantly based on the comparison among objective and empirically testable "facts", whilst ethics is not empirically testable. In this sense, there is a sort of "epistemological gap", which can explain why it is so difficult to integrate ethics in HTA. We suggest that the epistemological differences among the various domains of HTA are addressed more explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aim Distraction osteogenesis is an effective treatment modality for the correction of craniofacial deformities. The cost of these devices is significant and may preclude routine use of these distractors in developing countries. Hence, distraction osteogenesis was performed using medical equipment that was readily available in any hospital at minimal cost. Patients and methods From 2008 to 2013, a retrospective study was performed on infants and neonates who underwent primary distraction for craniofacial abnormalities. Midface or mandibular distraction was performed because of respiratory impairment and/or globe exposure. The apparatus used included Steinmann pins, stainless steel wires, attachment bolts, orthopaedic pulleys, string and intravenous bags for weights. For midface distraction, a transzygomatic pin was inserted, and a transmandibular pin or a cerclage wire was inserted into the mandible through the symphysis or body of the mandible and connected to the pulley system. Results Distraction osteogenesis was performed on five patients – three mandibular distractions (Pierre Robin sequence) and two transfacial distractions (Apert syndrome/Pfeiffer syndrome type III). The mean age, duration of distraction and duration of consolidation at the time of distraction was 60.5 days, 18.6 days and 16.4 days, respectively. The mean length of distraction achieved was 12 mm. Common complications observed were pin loosening, pressure necrosis of the skin and uneven pull. A major disadvantage was the longer hospital stay required. Conclusion The African method of distraction is effective, easy and cost effective and could be used in third-world hospitals where surgical expertise or expensive distraction sets are not freely available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FitTrack Index is a web-based programme developed in South Africa and widely used by athletes to indicate their fitness. A need exists for a self-managed, noninvasive tool to evaluate and categorise health-related fitness in different population groups. The aim of this study was to compare the FitTrack Index with a reliable measure of cardio-respiratory fitness as indicated by maximal oxygen uptake (direct VO2max). Methods & results: During a 12-week cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study the direct laboratory tested VO2max indicated a moderate to strong correlation with the FitTrack Index (Spearman's rho = 0.439, p = 0.089 at baseline; Spearman's rho = 0.853, p < 0.001 after 12 weeks). Conclusions: These results suggest that the web-based FitTrack Index may be considered an appropriate tool to evaluate exercise capacity and cardiovascular fitness in healthy individuals following an aerobic training programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An hourly infection model was used for a risk assessment of citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa . The infection model contained a temperature-moisture response function and also included functions to simulate ascospore release and dispersal of pycnidiospores. A validation data set of 18 locations from South Africa and Australia was developed based on locations with known citrus black spot prevalence. An additional 67 sites from Europe and the United States with unknown prevalence were also identified. The model was run for each location with 9 years of hourly weather data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) database. The infection scores for the sites with known prevalence where ranked and a threshold for suitability in a given year was derived from the average score of the lowest ranked moderate prevalence site. The results of the simulation confirm that locations in Florida were high risk while most locations in California and Europe were not at risk. The European location with the highest risk score was Andravida, Greece which had 67% of years suitable for ascosporic infection but only 11% of years were suitable for pycnidiosporic infection. There were six other sites in Europe that had frequency of years suitable for ascosporic infection greater than 22% including Pontecagnano, Italy; Kekrya, Greece; Reggio Calabria, Italy; Cozzo Spadaro, Italy; Messina, Italy; and Siracusa, Italy. Of these six sites only Reggio Calabria had a frequency of years suitable for pycnidiosporic infection greater than 0%. These six sites are predicted to have prevalence similar or less than Messina, South Africa, i.e. low and occasional. Other sites in Europe would best be described as likely to have no prevalence based on very low simulated scores for both spore types. Although Andravida had a similar risk of infection to moderate locations in South Africa there was a difference in the seasonality of infection periods. The ascosporic infection period score was similar between the two sites, but Andravida had a much lower pycnidiosporic infection score in the middle of the period of fruit susceptibility than Addo, South Africa. In Europe favorable climatic conditions are discontinuous, i.e., there is a low frequency of suitable seasons. This raises doubts about the ability of the pathogen to persist at a location and cause disease loss when favorable seasons reoccur. These results suggest that Europe is less suitable for CBS than suggested by an earlier study produced by the European Food Safety Authority using a similar model. The findings from our model simulations suggest that only a few isolated locations in the extreme south of Europe are likely to have a low to marginal risk of P. citricarpa establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In the present study, the authors have investigated whether rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) could predict thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia in cardiac surgery using the clot amplitude after 5 minutes (A5). Another parameter, PLTEM, in which the contribution of fibrinogen is eliminated by subtracting a fibrin-specific ROTEM test (FIBTEM) from an extrinsically-activated ROTEM test (EXTEM), was investigated. Furthermore, the turnaround time of ROTEM was compared to conventional laboratory tests. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Single academic medical center. Participants: Ninety-seven patients undergoing cardiac surgery between July 2011 until August 2012. Interventions: The correlations between EXTEM/FIBTEM A5, A10, and maximal clot formation (MCF), EXTEM/PLTEM (A5/A10, and MCF) and platelet count, and FIBTEM (A5/A10, and MCF) and fibrinogen were evaluated using the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and receiver-operating characteristic curves. Turnaround times of ROTEM tests and conventional laboratory tests were assessed in the central laboratory. Measurements and Main Results: EXTEM A5 and FIBTEM A5 showed an excellent correlation with A10 (R:0.99/1.00) and MCF (R:0.97/0.99). The correlation between EXTEM A5 and platelet count (R:0.74) was comparable with the correlation of A10 (R:0.73) and MCF (R:0.70) with platelet count. FIBTEM A5 predicted fibrinogen levels (R:0.87) as well as A10 (R:0.86) and MCF (R:0.87). PLTEM A5 (R:0.85) correlated better with platelet count than EXTEM A5 (R:0.74; p = 0.04) and showed significantly better area under the curve values than EXTEM for predicting thrombocytopenia (A5 p = 0.012, A10 p = 0.019). Turnaround time for ROTEM tests, 12 minutes, was comparable with emergency requests for platelet count, 13 minutes, and shorter than emergency requests for fibrinogen levels, 37 minutes. Conclusions: Implementation of PLTEM and FIBTEM A5 in ROTEM-guided transfusion protocols may improve transfusion management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Inadequate disease control on citrus foliage and fruit is often attributed to insufficient fungicide spray deposition on target surfaces. This study describes a novel spray deposition assessment protocol and determines deposition benchmarks indicative of the biological effectiveness for better interpretation of spray deposition results. Suitability of a yellow fluorescent pigment as tracer for copper oxychloride deposition was demonstrated through its similar particle concentration and size. Spray deposition assessment of spray targets, which were sprayed with a mixture that included the fluorescent pigment, involved photomacrography of whole leaf or fruit surfaces, followed by digital image analyses. This protocol proved to be very accurate in determining the quantity and quality of deposition. To determine deposition benchmarks, detached young ‘Nova’ mandarin leaves were sprayed with copper oxychloride and fluorescent pigment at different concentrations (0.1–2 times the recommended concentration) and spray deposition assessed. Subsequently, leaves were spray inoculated with a spore suspension of Alternaria alternata [causal agent of Alternaria brown spot (ABS) of mandarins], moist-incubated for c. 48 h and symptom expression rated. A very good linear relationship was found between fungicide concentration, leaf area covered by fluorescent pigment particles (%FPC) (r = 0.879) and Cu residue analysis (r = 0.992). A von Bertalanffy growth curve best fitted the relation between ABS control and deposition quantity (%FPC) data (91% of the percentage variance accounted for) with a good correlation between observed and predicted values (r = 0.825). Benchmarks for 50% and 75% disease control were calculated as 2.07 %FPC and 4.14 %FPC, respectively. These corresponded with Cu residue levels of 59.4 and 91.0 mg kg−1, respectively. These FPC benchmarks can be used to evaluate spray technology research, specifically for control of ABS and similar citrus fruit and foliar diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents the study which examined the effectiveness of the topical product Advantix, which contains a combination of imidacloprid and permethrin, in preventing the transmission of the bacterium Ehrlichia canis to dogs by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Based on the results, Advantix is effected in preventing the transmission and protecting the dogs against the disease monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Abstract: High volumes of copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide and copper oxychloride were sprayed under natural conditions onto mature orange trees to compare the retention on citrus leaves and fruit over a period of 56 days by means of copper residue analyses and a spray deposition assessment protocol using fluorometry, photomacrography and digital image analyses. Rainfall and increase in fruit size were also recorded to determine if it had an influence on weathering of copper residues. Initial retention following application of the different fungicides differed on Valencia leaves and fruit: applications with cuprous oxide retained significantly more copper residue and fluorescent pigment, while copper hydroxide retained higher copper and pigment levels on Navel leaves and fruit. Nonetheless, persistence of copper residues deposited by the three copper fungicide formulations was similar and decreased at the same tempo during both seasons; initially a fast reduction (48 and 60% for year one and two respectively) in residue during the first 14 days followed by a more gradual decline (41 and 24% for year one and two respectively) from 14 to 56 days. The loss of copper residues was attributed to weathering (days after treatment), fruit growth and cumulative rainfall as these factors were inversely correlated with copper residue levels (Pearson''s r = −0.840, −0.722 and −0.733 respectively). A 76% and 90% correlation was observed between the copper residue analyzed and the quantitative fluorescent pigment measurements on mature leaves and fruit, respectively; showing that fruit is more reliable for fluorometry analyses and that this technique proved to be an effective tool for spray deposition and persistence assessment of copper fungicides. All copper formulations tested at these registered rates at 35-day spray intervals were effective in controlling Guignardia citricarpa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]