Year Of Project Research Articles

Technical-technology aspect and financial analysis of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L) flour processing agroindustry in Lampung province

Lampung Province is one of the Sumatra archipelago's fifth sweet potato-producing provinces. To provide added value and encourage the growth of agro-industry in Lampung Province, the development of sweet potato flour processing is needed. This study aims to determine the business feasibility of sweet potato flour in Lampung Province from raw materials, technical technology, and financial aspects. The research involved agencies and related institutions in Lampung Province and Lampung Tengah Regency. The research method used was a survey and interview method. The data obtained were analyzed in stages using the Exponential Comparison Method (ECM) and business feasibility analysis. The finding showed that the SP flour agro-industry is feasible to be established with a capacity of 4 tons of fresh SP as raw material in Way Pengubuan, Lampung Tengah District, Lampung Province. The project needs an initial investment capital of 3.36 billion and an annual operational capital of 14.44 billion. The project is projected to yield an NPV value of IDR. 1,320,768,285 over a 10-year business projection period, with an IRR of 21%, Net B/C of 1.11, and a PBP of 4 years and 17 days.

Differing treatment pathways for the management of hypertension: long-term clinical projections in Russia

Aim. Management of hypertension, a major cause of mortality worldwide, is difficult, with adherence a common problem. The present study aimed to estimate the long-term clinical outcomes associated with different treatment pathways in people with hypertension in Russia.Material and methods. Outcomes were projected over 10 years using a microsimulation model. Four treatment pathways (current treatment practices (CTP), single drug with dosage titration then sequential addition of other agents [start low and go slow, SLGS], free choice combination with multiple pills (FCC) and combination therapy in a single pill (SPC)) were evaluated based on the Global Burden of Disease 2017 dataset. Clinical outcomes were simulated for 1,000,000 individuals for each pathway.Results. Long-term projections associated SPC therapy with reductions in mortality (4.9%), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs, 5.2%), and incidence of complications (including chronic kidney disease, stroke and ischemic heart disease, 9.2%) versus CTP, with greater reductions in all outcomes versus SLGS and FCC. SPC was projected to save 1,193 DALYs compared with CTP over 10 years. Adherence was identified as a key driver in the analysis.Conclusion. Based on 10-year projections, combination therapies (including SPC and FCC) appear likely to reduce the burden of hypertension compared with conventional treatment options in Russia.

Influence of chlorine on co-processing of hazardous wastes in brick kilns

Brick kiln co-treatment is a novel industrial hazardous wastes (IHWs) utilization process. However, the effects of chlorine (Cl) in wastes on heavy metals (HMs) during this process are overlooked. This study investigated the stabilization/solidification (S/S) and volatilization, as well as long and short-term leaching, of HMs in Cl-containing bricks. The results indicated enhanced formations of stable mineral phases (NiFe2O4, Ni2SiO4, Cd3Al2Si3O12, CdSiO3, FeCr2O4, Cr2O3, CuFe2O4, and CuAl2O4) in bricks at a low sintering temperature (800 °C) due to the affinity between Cl and HMs. By comparing HM concentrations before and after sintering in bricks, the study observed that Cl's presence significantly elevated the volatilization rates for Cd and Cu by 30.8% and 14.2%, respectively. In contrast, the effect on volatilization for Ni and Cr was not significant. Additionally, utilizing the NEN 7375 method, the cumulative leaching rates of Ni, Cd, Cr, and Cu over a 64-day experiment under extremely acidic conditions were 0.22%, 7.18%, 0.01%, and 1.46%, respectively. Similarly, higher short-term leaching rates of Cd (4.03%) and Cu (5.73%) than those of Ni (0.94%) and Cr (0.08%) were observed. This finding might be attributed to the lower stability of the Cd and Cu solid phases under acidic environments compared to those of Ni and Cr. Surface wash-off, dissolution, and diffusion were the processes governing HM leaching from bricks. The 10-year projections revealed a minimal release of HMs during future extended leaching, implying the successful S/S of HMs. This study provides a reference for assessing the environmental impacts of brick kiln co-processing of Cl-containing IHWs.

Being there: A scoping review on psychosocial challenges faced by adolescents during bereavement in the Southern African Development Community

Background information: Bereavement enhances adolescent’s chances of suffering from psychosocial problems globally and adolescents in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are not an exception. Due to the mourning condition, some of the adolescents become susceptible to multiple mental disorders, stigmatization and social rejection leading to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as substance abuse. Purpose: This study aimed to synthesize the existing literature on the psychological challenges faced by adolescents during bereavement in SADC. Methods: We opted for a scoping review due to its ability to rapidly map the existing literature sourced from international databases (JSTOR, and PubMed), local databases (Sabinet African Journal) and performed hand-search using Google Scholar. We made use of operators and techniques such as Boolean operators, truncations and MeSH terms. The inclusion of the study was limited to adolescents aged 10–26 years within SADC, primary studies (qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods) and a 10-year projection of studies conducted from 2013 to 2023 in SADC. Results: The findings of the study revealed that adolescents in SADC experience feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, anger, grief overload, suicidal thoughts, shock and confusion as a result of bereavement. They are also battling with poor academic performance and abuse due to being socially stigmatized and rejected. To cope with this ordeal, some of the adolescents’ resort to dropping out of school, social isolation and substance abuse. Conclusions and recommendations: Our research has revealed that bereavement in adolescents is closely linked with psychological challenges. In addition to psychological distress, our research has unveiled profound social challenges faced by bereaved adolescents. Adolescents frequently encounter the risk of abuse within their families and experience financial hardships following the loss of loved ones. Thus, recommends a constructive active plan for offering support services to bereaved adolescents and, the adoption and promotion of bereavement programs within families, communities and social welfare centres to address risk factors of maladaptive coping.

Alternative Energy Options for a Thai Durian Farm: Feasibility Study and Experiments for the Combination of Solar Photovoltaics and Repurposed Lithium-Ion Batteries

This research examines the viability of incorporating a second-life lithium-ion battery energy storage system with a solar photovoltaic power source to facilitate energy acquisition in two irrigation scenarios at a durian farm located in Thailand. The first option entails selecting the battery with suitable dimensions to effectively harness solar energy following morning irrigation, while the second option involves sizing the battery specifically for storing solar energy solely for the purpose of powering the motor pump. This study conducts an analysis on the degradation of the battery, focusing on the influence of specific environmental conditions and its specification. The degradation analysis employs polynomial functions as an alternative to exponential semi-empirical stress models for fitting stress models. This approach demonstrates a robust fit, as evidenced by a high R-squared value of approximately 1. The economic analysis considers various factors, including solar irradiance derating factors, battery deterioration rate, and photovoltaic power ratings for all scenarios. The sensitivity analysis evaluates the variations in irradiance and costs associated with the battery. When solar radiation levels surpass 500 W/m2 and the cost of the battery remains below $100/kWh, the estimated payback period is approximately 5 years over the duration of the 10-year project lifespan.

A FAIR Data Ecosystem for Science of Science.

This poster discusses Automated Research Workflows (ARWs) in the context of a FAIR data ecosystem for the science of science research. We offer a conceptual discussion from the point of view of information science and technology using several cases of "data problems" in the science of science research to illustrate the characteristics and expectations for designers and developers of a FAIR data ecosystem. Drawing from a 10-year data science project developing GenBank metadata workflows, we incorporate the ideas of ARWs into the FAIR data ecosystem discussion to set a broader context and increase generalizability. Researchers can use these as a guide for their data science projects to automate research workflows in the science of science domain and beyond.

AN INTEGRATED MACHINE LEARNING-PROBABILISTIC APPROACH TO PREDICT BEACH VOLUME CHANGE

In the DataBeach study a machine learning model was developed with the aim to improve the efficiency and sustainability of design of soft coastal defense projects. A morphological model based on machine learning was trained and tested to predict beach volume changes with significantly reduced computational time compared to traditional process-based models. The machine learning model was then applied, combined with a ‘penalty function’ for inclusion of morphological feedback, to predict beach volume changes for the study area of approximately 2 km alongshore and on a 10-year project timescale. In order to run many different scenarios for the 10-year prediction, a probabilistic methodology was developed to take into account the uncertainties in this time period. The machine learning-based model provides great benefits for probabilistic simulations, due to the lower computational time, compared to process-based numerical models such as XBeach, and a flexible way in which it can incorporate measurement data. The performance of the tested machine learning models was comparable to that of the short term volume predictions of XBeach. Comparison of 10-year predicted volume changes using the machine learning model and measured beach topography (LiDAR) showed good agreement between measured and predicted volume changes for the dry beach area (when accounting for nourishments), but overestimation in the beach volume change predictions for the intertidal beach. These differences are partially attributed to the poor performance on XBeach for long term, normal wave conditions, which are an important factor in the intertidal area.

Trends and projections in surgical stabilization of glenohumeral instability in the United States from 2009 to 2030: rise of the Latarjet procedure and fall of open Bankart repair.

Advances in surgical techniques have improved the ability to address recurrent glenohumeral instability via arthroscopic capsulolabral repair and bone-restoring procedures such as the Latarjet procedure. Given the paucity of studies analyzing temporal trends in the surgical management of glenohumeral instability, the purpose of this study was to assess trends in the treatment of anterior, posterior, and multidirectional instability over a 10-year period and model projections to 2030. Using the IBM Watson MarketScan national database, we identified all patients who underwent glenohumeral instability procedures from 2009 to 2018. Procedures were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes for open Bankart, Latarjet, anterior bone block, posterior bone block, multidirectional capsular shift, and arthroscopic Bankart procedures. Sample weights provided by the database were used to calculate national estimates. US Census Bureau annual population data were used to calculate incidence. Future projections to 2030 were modeled using Poisson and linear regression. There were an estimated 446,072 glenohumeral instability cases from 2009 to 2018. The per capita incidence (per 100,000) remained constant, from 14.8 in 2009 to 14.5 in 2018. Arthroscopic Bankart procedures comprised the highest number of procedures throughout the study period, accounting for 89% of all procedures in 2009 and 93% in 2018. The number of open Bankart procedures decreased by 65% from 2009 to 2018, whereas the number of Latarjet procedures showed a 250% increase over the same period. Patient demographics did not change over the study period, and male patients aged 18-25 years comprised the largest demographic group undergoing anterior instability procedures. Multidirectional instability procedures exhibited the least pronounced sex differences. Future modeling from 2018 to 2030 projected a continued steady rise in arthroscopic Bankart procedures (from 40,000 to 49,000 cases/yr), rapid growth in Latarjet procedures (from 1370 to 4300 cases/yr), and continued decline in open Bankart procedures (from 1000 to 250 cases/yr). Arthroscopic Bankart repair continues to be the most common glenohumeral instability procedure in the United States. From 2009 to 2018, the incidence of open Bankart procedures declined whereas the incidence of Latarjet procedures markedly increased. Future projections to 2030 mirrored these findings. These data may provide an enhanced understanding of the evolution of surgical treatment of glenohumeral instability within the United States, laying the foundation for continued prospective studies into the appropriate indications and advancements in surgical techniques.

Cat: Empirical modelling of Felis catus population dynamics in the UK.

Domestic cats are popular companion animals, however not all live in human homes and many cats live within shelters or as free-roaming, unowned- feral or stray cats. Cats can transition between these subpopulations, but the influence of this connectivity on overall population dynamics, and the effectiveness of management interventions, remain poorly understood. We developed a UK-focused multistate Matrix Population Model (MPM), combining multiple life history parameters into an integrated model of cat demography and population dynamics. The model characterises cats according to their age, subpopulation and reproductive status, resulting in a 28-state model. We account for density-dependence, seasonality and uncertainty in our modelled projections. Through simulations, we examine the model by testing the effect of different female owned-cat neutering scenarios over a 10-year projection timespan. We also use the model to identify the vital rates to which total population growth is most sensitive. The current model framework demonstrates that increased prevalence of neutering within the owned cat subpopulation influences the population dynamics of all subpopulations. Further simulations find that neutering owned cats younger is sufficient to reduce overall population growth rate, regardless of the overall neutering prevalence. Population growth rate is most influenced by owned cat survival and fecundity. Owned cats, which made up the majority of our modelled population, have the most influence on overall population dynamics, followed by stray, feral and then shelter cats. Due to the importance of owned-cat parameters within the current model framework, we find cat population dynamics are most sensitive to shifts in owned cat husbandry. Our results provide a first evaluation of the demography of the domestic cat population in the UK and provide the first structured population model of its kind, thus contributing to a wider understanding of the importance of modelling connectivity between subpopulations. Through example scenarios we highlight the importance of studying domestic cat populations in their entirety to better understand factors influencing their dynamics and to guide management planning. The model provides a theoretical framework for further development, tailoring to specific geographies and experimental investigation of management interventions.

Poster 201: Trends and Projections in Surgical Stabilization of Glenohumeral Instability in the United States from 2009 to 2030: Rise of the Latarjet and Fall of the Open Bankart

Objectives: Advances in surgical techniques have improved the ability to addressrecurrent glenohumeral instability via arthroscopic capsulolabral repair and bonerestoring procedures such as Latarjet. Given the paucity of studies analyzing temporaltrends in surgical management of glenohumeral instability, the purpose of this studywas to assess trends in treatment of anterior, posterior, and multidirectional instabilityover a 10-year period and model projections to 2030. Methods: Using IBM Watson Marketscan national database, all patients thatunderwent glenohumeral instability procedures from 2009 to 2018 were identified.Procedures were identified using common procedural terminology (CPT) codes foropen Bankart Repair, Latarjet, anterior bone block, posterior bone block,multidirectional capsular shift, and arthroscopic Bankart procedures. Sample weightsprovided by the database were utilized to calculate national estimates. The UnitedStates (U.S.) Census Bureau annual population data were utilized for calculatingincidence. Future projections to 2030 were modeled using Poisson and linearregression. Results: There were an estimated 446,072 glenohumeral instability cases from 2009-2018. Per capita (per 100,000) incidence remained constant, from 14.8 in 2009 to 14.5in 2018. Arthroscopic Bankart comprised the highest number of procedures throughoutthe study period, accounting for 89% of all procedures in 2009 and 93% in 2018. OpenBankart procedures decreased by 65% from 2009 to 2018, while there was a 250%increase in Latarjet procedures over the same period. Patient demographics did notchange over the study period, and males aged 18-25 comprised the largestdemographic group undergoing anterior instability procedures. Multidirectionalinstability procedures exhibited the least pronounced gender differences. Futuremodeling from 2018-2030 projected continued steady rise in arthroscopic Bankart(40,000-49,000 case/yr), rapid growth in Latarjet (1370-4300 cases/yr), and continueddecline in open Bankart (1000-250 cases/yr) procedures. Conclusions: Arthroscopic Bankart continues to be the most common glenohumeralinstability procedure in the U.S. From 2009 to 2018, incidence of open Bankartprocedures declined while Latarjet procedures markedly increased. Future projectionsto 2030 mirrored these findings. These data may provide an enhanced understandingof the evolution of surgical treatment of glenohumeral instability within the U.S. layingthe foundation for continued prospective studies into the appropriate indications andadvancements in surgical techniques. [Table: see text][Table: see text]

Water Consumption and Utilization of Various Sectors in Basco, Batanes, Philippines

Increasing population and growing commercial and business establishment translate to rising demand for water. Water is a finite resource needing proper management to continuously provide humans’ basic needs. In the Philippines, the most populated municipality in the northernmost island province, Basco, Batanes, is highly dependent on Racuaranum Spring within Mt. Iraya watershed as its source of water. The municipality faces challenges with its water resource management coupled with the growing water demand from households, commercial establishments, institutions, and tourism. The water utilization of these sectors were recorded and a 10-year projection of their demand and supply were plotted. Sectoral survey, focus group discussion, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis were employed to assess their water consumption and utilization. The households extract water for general use from groundwater and from the watershed. The other sectors mostly sourced their water through the Basco Waterworks System (BWWS). With the growing number of water consumers, the demand-supply projection showed a high-water demand in the domestic and commercial sectors surpassing actual and potential supply. To address this, the study suggested enactment of municipal ordinances on proper water resource management and service facilities taking into consideration its growing commercial sector, including but not limited to its tourism industry.

Experiencia para la actualización continua del plan de estudio de Bibliotecología y Gestión de la Información, de la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información de la Universidad Nacional en 2022

An investigation was carried out with the objective of defining the main national and international trends in the labor market for the continuous updating of the current study plan, contributing to the graduation of the graduates of the career as part of the research project Continuous updating of the career of Library Science and Information Management of the National University linked to the Program of Quality Assurance and continuous improvement of the Library Science and Information Management career of the National University of the School of Library Science, Documentation and Information (EBDI) of the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. This descriptive academic exercise was carried out with a mixed approach considering the following variables: main labor trends at the national level, main labor trends at the international level, current professional profile and a 10-year projection, current occupational profile and a projection to 10 years. This implied the treatment of a variety of kinds of information sources and the application of a series of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and instruments for the

Economic–Financial Assessment of Seawater Desalination Plants in Northern Chile to Reduce Hydric Scarcity and a Proposal for the Environmental and Sustainable Use of Brine Waste by Cultivating the Microalga Dunaliella salina to Produce β-Carotene

Climate change and global warming generate serious consequences and disturbances by drastically modifying historical temperature and precipitation patterns. Water scarcity is one of the most revealing phenomena of these instabilities. This transdisciplinary bibliometric and economic–financial research focuses on analyzing two aspects: first, the feasibility of implementing seawater desalination plants as a solution to water scarcity in northern Chile. Investment and amortization costs of the desalination plants were determined (NPV-IRR-IRP). NPV showed a positive value indicating a recovery of the initial investment and a surplus over profitability. The IRR was higher than the discount rate calculated for NPV, which showed that the investment project was accepted. The IRP indicated that the initial investment of the plant would be recovered in 3.7 years. Second, an innovative and environmentally sustainable solution to the brine (NaCl) waste generated by desalination plants is proposed through the cultivation of Dunaliella salina microalgae tolerant to high brine concentrations to produce β-carotene. The analyzed desalination plants and the sustainable use of brine residues offer interesting economic perspectives to a 10-year projection establishing a surplus over profitability. The SWOT analysis estimates an excellent production of β-carotene through the microalgae and alternatives to the problem of sea pollution by concentrated brine waste.

Integrating health systems for children and young people in out of home care: Challenging the nature of siloed service delivery in rural Australia.

The purpose of this paper is to report on enablers and barriers during the first 2 years of the health systems integration project that included the implementation of a health navigator role. The project aims to improve health outcomes for children and young people residing in out of home care in rural Australia with a health navigator co-located between child protection practitioners and community health services clinicians. Rural Northwest Victoria. Sunraysia Community Health Services and the Department of Health and Human Services. The qualitative design of the project evaluation involved semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence analysis. Analyses of interviews and documentary data demonstrate the challenging nature of siloed service delivery in rural Australia, particularly during a time that comprised multiple interruptions due to COVID-19. A limited synergy between organisational priorities and reporting systems hindered project progress. The lack of a shared definition of 'health' challenged the effective collaboration between health clinicians and child protection practitioners and the role of the health navigator. The health navigator raising health awareness through project involvement, training and sector-wide stakeholder engagement resulted in a slow but steady process of increased prioritisation of health care, increased health literacy among the child protection workforce, and broadening participation of area-based stakeholders, but did not translate to increased access to health plans for children. Integrating health systems across multiple sites with support of a health navigator revealed difficulties, particularly during COVID-19. The first phase of the project demonstrated the value of shared governance and partnerships as an imperative foundation for fundamental change. Relationships strengthened throughout the project, leading to a better understanding of area-based strengths, which in turn supports improved pathways to health care for children and young people in OOHC within rural communities and driving the subsequent phases of the 10-year project.

The Wavelength Papers

Abstract What remains of the North American avant-garde of the 1960s and ‘70s? Certainly many more films than filmmakers, but a paper trail as well. Housed in museums, university libraries, film archives, and personal collections across the United States and Canada, a decentralized and ever-expanding set of documents and ephemera is shaping and informing numerous research-based projects in curation, academic scholarship, and film restoration. And yet, in contrast to this contemporary trend, the collected papers of Michael Snow at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto have yet to be explored in depth. A notable exception is Elizabeth Legge's monograph on Snow's Wavelength (1967), which cites some of the notes he kept during the film's conceptualization and production.2 Because the analysis of those notes was not one of Legge's primary objectives, however, her book reproduces only three of the pages in Snow's Wavelength file. The occasion of Snow's recent passing will doubtless be met by various forms of retrospection, and this small contribution to that extended moment of reflection makes available in print a greater number of the Wavelength files than have previously been published. They represent a rare instance of a canonical avant-garde film's being accompanied by a significant corpus of scribblings, illustrations, and diagrams. This selection, comprising twenty-four pages taken from the filmmaker's unbound notes, introduces some of the themes and questions that Snow was putting to paper during the project's year of gestation. Below, I offer a few remarks on those pages. They are admittedly somewhat arbitrary, but they are intended to bring to light some of the archive's lesser-known revelations.

Revolutionary material with enormous opportunities for printed electronics

Funded by the European Commission in 2013, the Graphene Flagship is a €1 billion, 10-year project that exists to research graphene and bring graphene innovation out of the lab and into commercial applications. Drawing together diverse competencies from nearly 170 academic and industrial partners in 22 countries, the Graphene Flagship facilitates cooperation between its partners, accelerating the timeline for industry acceptance of graphene technologies

Leveling Up the Access to Radiation Therapy in Latin America: Economic Analysis of Investment, Equity, and Inclusion Opportunities Up to 2030

Latin America faces a shortage in radiation therapy (RT) units and qualified personnel for timely and high-quality treatment of patients with cancer. Investing in equitable and inclusive access to RT over the next decade would prevent thousands of deaths. Measuring the investment gap and payoff is necessary for stakeholder discussions and capacity planning efforts. Data were collected from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Directory of Radiotherapy Centers, industry stakeholders, and individual surveys sent to national scientific societies. Nationwide data on available devices and personnel were compiled. The 10 most common cancers in 2020 with RT indication and their respective incidence rates were considered for gap calculations. The gross 2-year financial return on investment was calculated based on an average monthly salary across Latin America. A 10-year cost projection was calculated according to the estimated population dynamics for the period until 2030. Eleven countries were included in the study, accounting for 557,213,447 people in 2020 and 561 RT facilities. Approximately 1,065,684 new cancer cases were diagnosed, and a mean density of 768,469 (standard deviation ±392,778) people per available unit was found. By projecting the currently available treatment fractions to determine those required in 2030, it was found that 62.3% and 130.8% increases in external beam RT and brachytherapy units are needed from the baseline, respectively. An overall regional investment of approximately United States (US) $349,650,480 in 2020 would have covered the existing demand. An investment of US $872,889,949 will be necessary by 2030, with the expectation of a 2-year posttreatment gross return on investment of more than US $2.1 billion from patients treated in 2030 only. Investment in RT services is lagging in Latin America in terms of the population's needs. An accelerated outlay could save additional lives during the next decade, create a self-sustaining system, and reduce region-wide inequities in cancer care access. Cash flow analyses are warranted to tailor precise national-level intervention strategies.

Time series models show comparable projection performance with joinpoint regression: A comparison using historical cancer data from World Health Organization.

BackgroundCancer is one of the major causes of death and the projection of cancer incidences is essential for future healthcare resources planning. Joinpoint regression and average annual percentage change (AAPC) are common approaches for cancer projection, while time series models, traditional ways of trend analysis in statistics, were considered less popular. This study aims to compare these projection methods on seven types of cancers in 31 geographical jurisdictions.MethodsUsing data from 66 cancer registries in the World Health Organization, projection models by joinpoint regression, AAPC, and autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (ARIMAX) were constructed based on 20 years of cancer incidences. The rest of the data upon 20-years of record were used to validate the primary outcomes, namely, 3, 5, and 10-year projections. Weighted averages of mean-square-errors and of percentage errors on predictions were used to quantify the accuracy of the projection results.ResultsAmong 66 jurisdictions and seven selected cancers, ARIMAX gave the best 5 and 10-year projections for most of the scenarios. When the ten-year projection was concerned, ARIMAX resulted in a mean-square-error (or percentage error) of 2.7% (or 7.2%), compared with 3.3% (or 15.2%) by joinpoint regression and 7.8% (or 15.0%) by AAPC. All the three methods were unable to give reasonable projections for prostate cancer incidence in the US.ConclusionARIMAX outperformed the joinpoint regression and AAPC approaches by showing promising accuracy and robustness in projecting cancer incidence rates. In the future, developments in projection models and better applications could promise to improve our ability to understand the trend of disease development, design the intervention strategies, and build proactive public health system.

Short-, Mid-, and Long-Term Epidemiological and Economic Effects of the World Bank Loan Project on Schistosomiasis Control in the People's Republic of China.

It is widely acknowledged that the 10-year World Bank Loan Project (WBLP) on schistosomiasis control in the People's Republic of China played an important role in raising the public and political profile of schistosomiasis, particularly regarding its prevention, control, and elimination. The WBLP adopted large-scale administration of praziquantel as the main control measure. At the end of the 10-year project in 2001, data from high-, medium-, and low-endemic areas suggested that the infection rates of both humans and domestic animals had fallen to the expected levels. However, major floods in the Yangtze River basin, coupled with reduced funding for schistosomiasis control, resulted in a rebound of the disease in endemic areas. Since 2005, a steady decline in infection rates was observed and it was hypothesized that the experiences and technological advances accumulated during the WBLP played a role. Nonetheless, relatively little is known about the long-term effects of the WBLP on schistosomiasis, particularly management mechanisms, technological innovations, epidemiological changes, and long-term economic impact. To fill these gaps, we systematically searched the literature for articles in English and Chinese on the WBLP on schistosomiasis from 1 January 1992 to 30 July 2022. Relevant studies were analyzed for short-, mid-, and long-term epidemiological and economic effects of the WBLP on schistosomiasis prevention, control, and elimination. Overall, 81 articles met our inclusion criteria, of which 17 were related to management mechanism reform, 20 pertained to technological innovation, and 44 examined epidemiological changes and economic effects. Most papers documented the WBLP as a positive contribution to schistosomiasis prevention and control in the People's Republic of China. Regarding the long-term effects, there was a significant contribution to the national schistosomiasis control and elimination programme in terms of renewed management mechanisms, talent development, and technological innovation. In conclusion, the WBLP contributed to enhanced control of schistosomiasis and shaped the ultimate response towards schistosomiasis elimination in the People's Republic of China. Experiences and lessons learned might guide schistosomiasis control and elimination elsewhere.

Frost index value in Serbia from 2014 to 2020

Over time, the pavement structure deteriorates. Factors that contribute to the deterioration of the pavement structure are traffic load, material properties and climate influences. Low temperatures lead to freezing of water and the appearance of ice lenses, which raises pavement structure. It is necessary to check the resistance of the pavement structure to the harmful effects of frost. This paper presents the calculation of the frost index value for six meteorological stations in Serbia for the period from 2014 to 2020. Relevant frost index value for the 20-year and 10-year project period are also given.