Actual Coverage Research Articles

Socioeconomic and demographic determinants of health insurance knowledge and coverage among street vendors in a North Indian city of India

AimThis study aims to examine the association of socio-economic and demographic determinants between knowledge of health insurance and actual health insurance coverage (uptake) among the street vending community in Chandigarh, India.Subject and methodsA cross-sectional survey involving 250 street vendors from North-Indian city of Chandigarh was conducted between May–June 2021. Participants were selected using simple random sampling from the list of registered street vendors under the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were employed to identify the primary determinants influencing health insurance knowledge and coverage among street vendors.ResultsThe study reveals significant positive association between education level and health insurance knowledge. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) ranged from 2.697 for street vendors with elementary education to 9.682 for those with higher educational attainment. Moreover, street vendors with relatively higher family monthly incomes exceeding INR 12000 demonstrated significantly greater knowledge of health insurance (aOR = 1.994, CI 1.007–3.949, p = 0.048). However, out of the 157 street vendors with knowledge of health insurance, only 17.19% (27) were enrolled and covered by it. Age and family size are the significant predictors of health insurance uptake, with aOR of 2.646 (CI 0.921-7.599, p = 0.071), and 0.403 (CI 0.161–1.009, p = 0.052), respectively.ConclusionEducation and monthly income were the significant factors influencing knowledge about health insurance among street vendors. At the same time, age and family size were significant predictors of the uptake of health insurance among street vendors. This study can help policymakers conduct periodical campaigns and prioritize strategies for speeding up the procedure of enrolling this vulnerable group under health insurance schemes.

Starspot Coverage on Two New K-type Low-mass Eclipsing Binaries with Radius Inflation

Utilizing data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and LAMOST, we present a photometric and spectroscopic investigation of two new K-type low-mass eclipsing binaries, TIC 56913729 and TIC 97729372. Our analysis yields masses and radii for TIC 56913729, M 1 = 0.7822 ± 0.0054M ⊙, R 1 = 0.7891 ± 0.0021R ⊙, and M 2 = 0.7532 ± 0.0052M ⊙, R 2 = 0.7648 ± 0.0021R ⊙. For TIC 97729372, the results are M 1 = 0.6410 ± 0.0058M ⊙, R 1 = 0.6537 ± 0.0069R ⊙ and M 2 = 0.6480 ± 0.0058M ⊙, R 2 = 0.6418 ± 0.0062R ⊙. In addition, by analyzing the out-of-eclipse starspot light variations, the lower limit of starspot coverage varies in different TESS sectors from 2% to 12%. We observed a clear radius inflation in the mass–radius diagram for both stars, when plotted against PARSEC and SPOT isochrones with 1 Gyr. Yet, this apparent discrepancy disappears when the comparison is made with either an older PARSEC isochrone (12 Gyr) or a SPOT isochrone (250 Myr) with high starspot coverage (F spot ∼ 85%), which is significantly higher than the typical starspot coverage deduced from light curves. Due to the lack of strong age constraints, we cannot firmly exclude that the observed radius inflation may be the result of a post-main-sequence evolutionary effect, although the spectral and kinematic properties of these stars are hardly compatible with 10–12 Myr old (Pop II) stars. It is more likely that the radius inflation is produced by the strong magnetic activity in these rapidly rotating stars, even if it is impossible to infer the actual total spot coverage, due to the age uncertainties.

An Effective and Small Sample-Size Valid Confidence Interval for Isotonic Dose–Response Curves by Inverting a Partial Likelihood Ratio Test

A dose–response curve is essential for determining the safe dosage of a drug and is widely used in bioassay and in phase 1 clinical trials. It is generally accepted that the probability of death or the probability of dose-limiting toxicity is a nondecreasing function of the dose. This article proposes and develops an effective point-wise confidence interval for an isotonic dose–response curve, a problem without a satisfactory solution so far. We show that one subset of the observations informs the lower limit while the other subset informs the upper limit. A partial likelihood ratio test using these subsets of observations is fully investigated. The resulting confidence interval is compared to three existing methods (Morris, Meyer, and Oron) in an extensive simulation study. The new method produces tight intervals while maintaining coverage. It is therefore preferred when maintaining an actual coverage probability is crucial as often in a regulatory environment. The new method extends to one-way ANOVA of a continuous response variable in a straightforward way. An R function is provided.

The Effect of Vegetation Ecological Restoration by Integrating Multispectral Remote Sensing and Laser Point Cloud Monitoring Technology.

This research aims to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of vegetation ecological restoration by integrating Multispectral Remote Sensing (MRS) and laser point cloud (LPC) monitoring technologies. Traditional vegetation restoration monitoring methods often face challenges of inaccurate data and insufficient coverage, and the use of MRS or LPC techniques alone has its limitations. Therefore, to more accurately monitor the vegetation restoration status, this study proposes a new monitoring method that combines the advantages of the large-scale coverage of MRS technology and the high-precision three-dimensional structural data analysis capability of LPC technology. This new method was applied in the Daqing oilfield area of China, aiming to provide effective ecological restoration assessment methods through the precise monitoring and analysis of regional vegetation growth and coverage. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between the vegetation humidity index and vegetation growth in the Daqing oilfield in 2023. The estimated monitoring effect of the research method could reach over 90%, and the coverage area of hydrangea restoration in the monitoring year increased by 7509 km2. The research technology was closer to the actual coverage situation. The simulation image showed that the vegetation coverage in the area has significantly improved after returning farmland to forests. Therefore, the technical methods used can effectively monitor the ecological restoration of vegetation, which has great research significance for both vegetation restoration and monitoring.

Measles surveillance data analysis and serological survey in Quzhou, China, 2014-2024: an assessment of progress toward measles elimination.

Measles is a disease that can be eliminated through vaccination. In recent years, measles incidence and mortality have been greatly reduced. Analyze measles surveillance data from 2014 to 2023 and measles seroepidemiological characteristics of healthy populations in 2024 to assess progress toward measles elimination. A total of 35 measles cases were reported in the surveillance system from 2014-2023 in Quzhou, with an average annual incidence of 1.6/1 million. Since 2019, the incidence of measles has been lower than 0.5/1 million. A serological survey of 257 healthy people showed that the positive rate of measles IgG antibody was 90.3%, and the immunity of all age groups except 0-5 years old was lower than 95%, which did not reach the threshold of 95% herd immunity required for eliminating measles. Although the incidence of measles in Quzhou is low, the immunity of healthy people to measles infection is insufficient. Measles is still in the control phase, not in the elimination phase. Inadequate immunity in the population may be due to the failure to achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage and low immunogenicity of the vaccine. Recommends that the quality of routine immunization data be assessed and monitored to verify reported vaccination coverage; at the same time, improve vaccination services and optimize vaccination policies to increase actual vaccination coverage. In addition, it is recommended to adjust the MMR immunization strategy, changing the time of the first MMR vaccination from 8 months of age to 12-15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.

New methods and applications of structural dynamics modeling for railway freight liquid tank

As railway freight technology advances towards heavy-load, high-speed capabilities, the design of liquid tank products is evolving to prioritize high load capacity, lightweight, high-strength materials, low structural rigidity, and thin-walled construction. These changes result in pronounced nonlinear low-frequency vibrations during rail operation. Addressing these complex liquid-solid coupled vibrations requires accurate dynamic modeling of the structural system. This paper introduces a novel dynamic modeling method for liquid tank products based on acousto-elastic coupling. This approach considers the swaying of the free liquid surface and liquid-solid interactions, enabling precise characterization of these dynamics in a unified model. Specifically, it tackles the challenge of uneven node swaying forces caused by non-uniform liquid surface meshing, presenting a technique and program to adjust swaying recovery forces based on nodes’ actual coverage area. This method’s liquid sway frequency calculations showed a 10% precision increase over traditional methods, more accurately reflecting liquid vibration states. The paper applies these techniques to a single tank container and an LNG tank container on a flatbed trailer. Through theoretical, simulation, and experimental comparisons, the model’s accuracy and reasonableness were validated. This low-dimensionality, high-precision dynamic model is universally applicable, especially valuable in modeling complex engineering structures.

8.D. Scientific session: Equitable Immunization: Leveraging Prisons for Vaccination Equity in Europe

Abstract Addressing low vaccine coverage is a pressing public health concern in Europe, where pockets of unvaccinated individuals persist despite ongoing efforts. The European region sees an estimated 1.4 million individuals detained on any given day, with a significantly higher number passing through prisons annually due to high turnover rates. Those experiencing incarceration often come from socially marginalized and disadvantaged groups, facing a multitude of health challenges including non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, mental illness, cognitive disabilities, and substance dependence. Despite their elevated health needs, individuals in prison frequently encounter barriers to accessing healthcare services, including preventive measures such as vaccination. Available but limited data suggest that individuals entering the prison system are often under-immunized, particularly against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), influenza, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and pneumococci. Unfortunately, vaccination services within prisons are often insufficient, typically being provided according to national schedules or in response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). It’s crucial to distinguish between the availability of vaccination services and actual coverage, as the modalities of vaccination offerings vary across the region. While individuals in prison are recognized as a target group for HBV vaccination, the methods of offering vaccines may differ based on factors such as age or risk group. Nevertheless, systematic implementation of HBV vaccination in prisons has shown clear benefits for both incarcerated individuals and the wider community. Given the significance of vaccinations in preventing diseases like HBV and human papillomavirus (HPV), which are linked to cancer, initiatives like the Europe Beating Cancer Plan and the European Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancer emphasize their importance. Prisons can serve as a strategic point for delivering comprehensive healthcare and vaccination services to incarcerated individuals, yet routine data on vaccination coverage at entry and uptake during incarceration are often lacking, hindering effective health planning. To address this public health challenge, the ‘Reaching the hard-to-reach: Increasing access and vaccine uptake among prison population in Europe’ (RISE-Vac) project consortium has been formed. This collaborative effort brings together diverse expertise and established networks in the field of prison health, reflecting the varied epidemiological and structural landscapes across Europe. The objective of this workshop is to showcase recent research findings, evidence-based practices, and policy recommendations aimed at enhancing vaccination equity in the European region. By sharing insights and best practices, we aim to bolster efforts to improve vaccine access and uptake among incarcerated populations, ultimately contributing to broader public health goals. Key messages • Prison health is public health: vaccination services in prison are essential to achieve immunization targets in Europe. • Maximizing inter-sectoral collaboration is crucial for bridging the gap in vaccination access and uptake among people living in prison in Europe.

Are some neutral liners more neutral than others? An ex vivo morphological analysis of acetabular liners classified as "neutral".

In contemporary total hip replacement (THR), dislocation is one of the most common complications. At our institution, the cause of an increase in the dislocation rate was recently reported to be reduced head coverage of a newly introduced neutral liner. We therefore aimed to ascertain whether differences exist in articulating head coverage between the various neutral liners used in contemporary THR. A secondary aim was to utilize coverage measurements to develop a new liner coverage classification. The articulating head coverage of 25 modular neutral polyethylene liners used in 6 uncemented cup designs from 4 major manufacturers was evaluated. The measurements were performed in a metrology laboratory and a mathematical model was developed to calculate coverage of the articulating surfaces. Further, 1 "elevated rim" liner and 1 "face changing liner" were included to develop a new liner coverage classification. The articulating head coverage among the studied liners ranged from 167.7° to 194.8°, corresponding to a variation of 27.1°. The variations with different cup and head sizes within each design were smaller (from 1.0° to 5.6°) than those between different designs. Each of the liner designs offered distinct coverage, even though they were all classified as neutral. Based on measurements, a set of descriptive parameters to discriminate different liners in terms of coverage was created. We showed that all neutral liners are not equal - instead, they clearly varied in terms of their actual coverage design. We suggest our set of descriptive parameters called "hemispheric coverage index values" be used in discriminating the differences in liner coverage.

Installation of Public Access Defibrillators for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests: Identifying Suitable Locations by Using a Geographic Information System.

Survival following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depends on prompt defibrillation. Despite the efforts made to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in crowded areas, their usage rate remains suboptimal. This study evaluated the efficiency of installing AEDs at key landmarks in Taoyuan City to enhance accessibility and usage. This retrospective cohort study analyzed nontraumatic public out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in Taoyuan City from 2017 to 2021, using data from the Taoyuan Fire Department and a regional registry. AED data were collected for 1163 devices. A geographic information system mapped target locations within the city, and real-world walking routes were examined to assess coverage. The primary outcome was actual coverage and the coverage efficiency ratio, calculated as the actual coverage divided by the number of facilities at a location. The coverage efficiency ratio compared the coverage efficiency of target locations with existing public access defibrillators (PADs). Top locations for superior coverage in both downtown and outside downtown areas were bus stops and convenience stores (7-Eleven and FamilyMart), which outperformed existing PADs. Convenience stores had a higher coverage efficiency ratio than the public service sector. Bus stops showed high AED usage rates before ambulance arrival. The current PAD locations in Taoyuan City offer limited coverage, which highlights the need for strategically installed AEDs, particularly in convenience stores. Policymakers should consider using the cultural relevance and accessibility of convenience stores, particularly 7-Eleven branches, to enhance AED usage rates.

Vibrator Rack Pose Estimation for Monitoring the Vibration Quality of Concrete Using Improved YOLOv8-Pose and Vanishing Points

Monitoring the actual vibration coverage is critical for preventing over- or under-vibration and ensuring concrete’s strength. However, the current manual methods and sensor techniques fail to meet the requirements of on-site construction. Consequently, this study proposes a novel approach for estimating the pose of concrete vibrator racks. This method integrates the Linear Spatial Kernel Aggregation (LSKA) module into the You Only Look Once (YOLO) framework to accurately detect the keypoints of the rack and then employs the vanishing point theorem to estimate the rotation angle of the rack without any 3D datasets. The method enables the monitoring of the vibration impact range for each vibrator’s activity and is applicable to various camera positions. Given that measuring the rotation angle of a rack in reality poses is challenging, this study proposes employing a simulation environment to validate both the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the improved YOLOv8-Pose achieved a 1.4% increase in accuracy compared with YOLOv8-Pose, and the proposed method monitored the rotation angle with an average error of 6.97° while maintaining a working efficiency of over 35 frames per second. This methodology was successfully implemented at a construction site for a high-arch dam project in China.

Enhancing Coffee Agroforestry Systems Suitability Using Geospatial Analysis and Sentinel Satellite Data in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia.

The Gedeo zone agroforestry systems are the main source of Ethiopia's coffee beans. However, land-use and suitability analyses are not well documented due to complex topography, heterogeneous agroforestry, and lack of information. This research aimed to map the coffee coverage and identify land suitability for coffee plantations using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. Remote sensing classifiers often confuse agroforestry and plantations like coffee cover with forest cover because of their similar spectral signatures. Mapping shaded coffee in Gedeo agroforestry using optical or multispectral remote sensing is challenging. To address this, the study identified and mapped coffee coverage from Sentinel-1 data with a decibel (dB) value matched to actual coffee coverage. The actual field data were overlaid on Sentinel-1, which was used to extract the raster value. Pre-processing, classification, standardization, and reclassification of thematic layers were performed to find potential areas for coffee plantation. Hierarchy levels of the main criteria were formed based on climatological, edaphological, physiographic, and socioeconomic factors. These criteria were divided into 14 sub-criteria, reclassified based on their impact on coffee growing, with their relative weights derived using AHP. From the total study area of 1356.2 km2, the mapped coffee coverage is 583 km2. The outcome of the final computed factor weight indicated that average annual temperature and mean annual rainfall are the primary factors, followed by annual mean maximum temperature, elevation, annual mean minimum temperature, soil pH, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), soil texture, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), slope, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), aspect, distance to roads, and distance to water, respectively. The identified coffee plantation potential land suitability reveals unsuitable (413 km2), sub-suitable (596.1 km2), and suitable (347.1 km2) areas. This study provides comprehensive spatial details for Ethiopian cultivators, government officials, and agricultural extension specialists to select optimal coffee farming locations, enhancing food security and economic prosperity.

Three-dimensional assessment of subchondral arc and hip joint coverage angles in the asymptomatic young adult hip.

The primary objective of this study was to develop a custom algorithm to assess three-dimensional (3D) acetabular coverage of the femoral head based on surface models generated from computed tomography (CT) imaging. The secondary objective was to apply this algorithm to asymptomatic young adult hip joints to assess the regional 3D acetabular coverage variability and understand how these novel 3D metrics relate to traditional two-dimensional (2D) radiographic measurements of coverage. The algorithm developed automatically identifies the lateral- and medial-most edges of the acetabular lunate at one-degree intervals around the acetabular rim based on local radius of curvature. The acetabular edges and the center of a best-fit sphere to the femoral head are then used to compute the mean 3D subchondral arc angles and hip joint coverage angles in five acetabular octants. This algorithm was applied to hip models generated from pelvis/hip CT imaging or abdomen/pelvis CT angiograms of 50 patients between 17 and 25 years of age who had no history of congenital or developmental hip pathology, neuromuscular conditions, or bilateral pelvic and/or femoral fractures. Corresponding 2D acetabular coverage measures of lateral center edge angle (LCEA) and acetabular arc angle (AAA) were assessed on the patients' clinical or digitally reconstructed radiographs. The 3D subchondral arc angle in the superior region (58.0 [54.6-64.8] degrees) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than all other acetabular subregions. The 3D hip joint coverage angle in the superior region (26.2 [20.7-28.5] degrees) was also significantly higher (p < 0.001) than all other acetabular subregions. 3D superior hip joint coverage angle demonstrated the strongest correlation with 2D LCEA (r = 0.649, p < 0.001), while 3D superior-anterior subchondral arc angle demonstrated the strongest correlation with 2D AAA (r = 0.718, p < 0.001). The 3D coverage metrics in the remaining acetabular regions did not strongly correlate with typical 2D radiographic measures. The discrepancy between standard 2D measures of radiographic acetabular coverage and actual 3D coverage identified on advanced imaging indicates potential discord between anatomic coverage and the standard clinical measures of coverage on 2D imaging. As 2D measurement of acetabular coverage is increasingly used to guide surgical decision-making to address acetabular deformities, this work would suggest that 3D measures of acetabular coverage may be important to help discriminate local coverage deficiencies, avoid inconsistencies resulting from differences in radiographic measurement techniques, and provide a better understanding of acetabular coverage in the hip joint, potentially altering surgical planning and guiding surgical technique.

Does Gen-AI have a role in public affairs education? Let’s ask ChatGPT

The academic literature has expanded significantly in recent times to consider how Gen-AI is transforming the learning process. However, there still remain gaps in the literature, first in applying selected individual Gen-AI applications to classroom learning, and second in focusing upon specific uses in public administration education. In addressing this gap, this research uses a sequence of assignment scenarios to examine how Gen-AI may be integrated into pedagogical approaches and align with course learning objectives. Using the Gen-AI application ChatGPT– which is a popular choice for students to consult for course assignments– an examination of results generated from program queries point toward both opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of teaching (instructors) and learning (students). The below discussion contributes to the literature by first developing three assignment scenarios (linked to learning objectives) to explore the utility of Gen-AI in the learning process, and second discusses various teaching and learning benefits and challenges which are premised on the need for moderation and carefully planned usage of Gen-AI technology in the classroom. This blending of pedagogical theory and practice suggests a need for instructors to teach students about the implications of technology usage and assignment originality in unison with the actual topical coverage of the content that is being presented.

Migrant workers’ perception and awareness of health insurance coverage in Brunei Darussalam

BackgroundMigrant workers are recognized as a vulnerable group of population in the context of accessibility to healthcare services as they are likely to experience multiple challenges and barriers. This study aimed to assess the awareness and perceived knowledge on health insurance coverage among documented migrant workers in Brunei Darussalam.MethodsThis cross-sectional, interviewer-administered study used a pre-designed questionnaire on migrant workers attending the Foreign Worker Health Screening Centre from June until September 2019. Data were analyzed for association between perceived insurance status on health-seeking behavior.ResultsThe study obtained responses from 469 documented migrant workers (93.8%). 75.1% reported being aware of and having health insurance coverage; and of these, 57.1% were aware of the type of health insurance cover they had. 45.5% and 50.6% had poor knowledge whether their health insurance covered for hospitalization or outpatient expenses, respectively. No significant association was found between the migrant workers’ perceived status of insurance and not seeking medical care due to financial barriers (p > 0.05).ConclusionsA high proportion of documented migrant workers in Brunei Darussalam reported knowledge of having health insurance; however, there was lack of awareness on its actual coverage. By including migrants’ health in a nation’s healthcare governance, the health rights of migrant workers can be addressed thus aiming to achieve universal health coverage for all individuals.

The method for evaluating the coverage rate of roadside monitoring cameras in road areas

Accurately assessing the coverage rate of roadside monitoring cameras in road areas is crucial for intelligent transportation systems and road risk assessment. This paper presents a new method that uses Carsim software to simulate different camera tilt angles and road geometry conditions to evaluate the coverage area of roadside monitoring cameras. By adjusting the camera tilt angles and the curve radius of the road, the coverage effect under different conditions is analyzed, and affine transformation is used to calculate the actual coverage area. The research results show that this method can effectively fit the road area, providing theoretical support for the deployment of monitoring cameras in traffic.

The effects of variability in catch effort on the precision of statistical population reconstruction

Statistical population reconstruction (SPR) models have emerged as a robust and versatile framework for estimating the demographic dynamics of harvested wildlife populations using commonly collected age‐at‐harvest and catch‐effort data. Although numerous studies have suggested that higher interannual variability in catch effort may improve the accuracy and precision of reconstructed estimates, particularly in the absence of auxiliary data on annual abundance or survival, the extent and magnitude of these effects has not been explored. We examined the influence of catch‐effort variability, as measured by the ratio between years of highest and lowest effort, on the relative absolute deviation of reconstructed estimates of population abundance, as well as on the actual percent coverage and width of the corresponding confidence intervals. We used a Monte Carlo simulation to generate catch‐effort data with different levels of variability for populations experiencing a wide range of demographic and harvest conditions. For similar amounts of age‐at‐harvest data, using catch‐effort data with higher interannual variability resulted in reconstructed estimates of annual abundance that had significantly lower deviations from reality, better coverage, and narrower confidence intervals (as measured by the margin of error). These improvements were consistent and linear at low to medium levels of catch‐effort variability, but leveled off and became substantially less pronounced at higher levels. We found that the inclusion of auxiliary data largely mediated this relationship, although higher catch‐effort variability still resulted in more accurate and precise estimates of annual abundance even when these data were included. Our research highlights the need to include a thorough investigation of the available catch‐effort data alongside the established practices of assessing the number of years of available data, the average number of animals harvested each year, and the availability of auxiliary data from radio‐telemetry studies or other sources.

Effects of Climatic Disturbance on the Trade-Off between the Vegetation Pattern and Water Balance Based on a Novel Model and Accurately Remotely Sensed Data in a Semiarid Basin

Vegetation is a natural link between the atmosphere, soil, and water, and it significantly influences hydrological processes in the context of climate change. Under global warming, vegetation greening significantly aggravates the water conflicts between vegetation water use and water resources in water bodies in arid and semiarid regions. This study established an improved eco-hydrological coupled model with related accurately remotely sensed hydrological data (precipitation and soil moisture levels taken every 3 j with multiply verification) on a large spatio-temporal scale to determine the optimal vegetation coverage (M*), which explored the trade-off relationship between the water supply, based on hydrological balance processes, and the water demand, based on vegetation transpiration under the impact of climate change, in a semiarid basin. Results showed that the average annual actual vegetation coverage (M) in the Hailar River Basin from 1982 to 2012 was 0.62, and that the average optimal vegetation coverage (M*) was 0.56. In 67.23% of the region, M* was lower than M, which aggravated the water stress problem in the Hailar River Basin. By identifying the sensitivity of M* to vegetation characteristics and meteorological parameters, relevant suggestions for vegetation-type planting were proposed. Additionally, we also analyzed the dynamic threshold of vegetation under different climatic conditions, and we found that M was lower than M* under only four of the twenty-eight climatic conditions considered (rainfall increase by 10%, 20%, and 30% with no change in temperature, and rainfall increase by 20% with a temperature increase of 1 °C), thereby meeting the system equilibrium state under the condition of sustainable development. This study revealed the dynamic relationship between vegetation and hydrological processes under the effects of climate change and provided reliable recommendations to support vegetation management and ecological restoration in river basins. The remote sensing data help us to extend the model in a semiarid basin due to its accuracy.

Implementation of the vaccination program in Guinea-Bissau: Coverage and missed opportunities for BCG at birth

BackgroundThe Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is recommended at birth in Guinea-Bissau but often given with delay. Delays are not evident in routine coverage estimates since coverage is measured by 12 months of age. Studies show that BCG protects against other infections than tuberculosis and lowers neonatal mortality. Hence, the timing of BCG is important since the children should benefit from these non-specific effects as early as possible. MethodsUsing data from a nationally representative health and demographic surveillance system in Guinea-Bissau, we assessed BCG coverage at birth (within the first 3 days of life), 1 month, and 12 months for children born in 2013–19. We measured the proportion of children who had a documented health system contact within the first 3 days of life, thus an opportunity for BCG at birth, and whether the opportunities were utilized. In binomial regression models, we investigated factors associated with missed opportunities for vaccination. ResultsAmong the 22,178 children only 19 % were vaccinated at birth. By 1 month and 12 months, BCG coverages were 64 % and 93 %. The timeliness of BCG improved over time, with coverage at birth increasing from 16 % in 2013 to 25 % in 2019 and 1-month coverage from 63 % in 2013 to 75 % in 2019. If all vaccination opportunities had been utilized, the BCG coverage at birth could have reached 45 % (in the 1-month cohort) instead of the actual coverage of 19 %, as only 40 % of the vaccination opportunities were utilized. Region of residence was associated with having a missed opportunity for vaccination. ConclusionThe high coverage estimates at 12 months falsely imply that the vaccine is being administered according to the recommended schedule. Our findings suggest that early coverage could be markedly improved by ensuring that children are vaccinated at their first contact with the health system.

Reprint of: Out-of-sample tests for conditional quantile coverage: An application to Growth-at-Risk

This paper proposes tests for out-of-sample comparisons of interval forecasts based on parametric conditional quantile models. The tests rank the distance between actual and nominal conditional coverage with respect to the set of conditioning variables from all models, for a given loss function. We propose a pairwise test to compare two models for a single predictive interval. The set-up is then extended to a comparison across multiple models and/or intervals. The limiting distribution varies depending on whether models are strictly non-nested or overlapping. In the latter case, degeneracy may occur. We establish the asymptotic validity of wild bootstrap based critical values across all cases. An empirical application to Growth-at-Risk (GaR) uncovers situations in which a richer set of financial indicators are found to outperform a commonly-used benchmark model when predicting downside risk to economic activity.

Методика расчета эффективности профилактических осмотров и диспансеризации определённых групп взрослого населения при выявлении злокачественных новообразований.

One of the objectives of the Federal Project «Fighting Cancer» is to achieve «The proportion of malignant neoplasms detected at early stages, Percentage.» One method to achieve the set goals is to improve the efficiency of preventive medical examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups. The study aims to provide a methodological rationale for calculating the efficiency indicators of preventive medical examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups in terms of detecting malignant neoplasms. Materials and methods. For conducting the study, we used normative legal documents regulating the procedures for conducting preventive medical examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups, as well as industry-specific statistical report forms № 131/o «Information on conducting preventive medical examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups» from 11 subjects of the Northwestern Federal District for the period 2017–2022. Results. According to the analysis of the indicator «The share of residents of the Russian Federation subjects undergoing PME (Preventive Medical Examination) and SCS (Screening for Certain Groups) compared to the number of residents fitting the criteria for PME and SCS», this indicator has practically not changed over the period from 2017 to 2022, being 0,41 in 2017 and 0,42 in 2022. The coverage by preventive examinations and screenings of certain population groups in the Russian Federation subject in the Northwestern Federal District from 2017 to 2022 decreased from 0,92 to 0,75 of what was due. When calculating the actual coverage by preventive examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups in the Northwestern Federal District, the indicator slightly decreased from 0,37 in 2017 to 0,32 in 2022. The «overall» contribution of preventive medical examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups in the Northwestern Federal District slightly increased from 0,11% in 2017 to 0,14% in 2022. When analysing the «crude» index of the contribution of PME and SCS in detecting malignant neoplasms from 2017 to 2022, an increase from 3,34% to 7,6% is noted. The standardised contribution of preventive examinations and screenings of certain adult population groups to the diagnosis of breast cancer malignant neoplasms increased from 3,7% in 2017 to 8,5%, and the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of colon, rectum, and anal canal (C18-C20) for the same period increased from 4% to 7,9%. Conclusion. Regardless of which indicator is used to calculate the efficiency of conducted preventive measures, manual data entry and the formation of statistical forms 131/o must be stopped. Manual data entry can lead to data distortion and introduce significant fluctuations in indicators when comparing the same indicator among different subjects of the Russian Federation.