Global Set Research Articles

Mobilizing knowledge about urban change for equity and sustainability: developing 'Change Stories', a multi-country transdisciplinary study.

Health-focused research funders increasingly support multi-country research partnerships that study health, urban development and equity in global settings. To develop new knowledge that benefits society, these grants require researchers to integrate diverse knowledges and data, and to manage research-related aspects of coloniality, such as power imbalances and epistemic injustices. We conducted research to develop a transdisciplinary study proposal with partners in multiple middle and high income countries, aiming to embed equity into the methodology and funding model. Parallel to literature review, we used participatory and social research methods to identify case study cities for our primary study and to inform our study design. We conducted semi-structured interviews with informed and consented sustainable urban development experts in the USA (n=23). We co-developed our research approach with our global advisory group (n=14) and conducted a participatory workshop (n=30) to identify case study sites, also informed by conversations with international academic experts in sustainable development (n=27). Through literature review we found that there is a need to study the contextual pre-conditions of urban transformation, the influence of coloniality on understandings of how cities can change and the failure of standard development practices to meet the needs of all residents and the planet. Through expert input and literature we found that decolonial and storytelling methods may help us show the complexities behind stories of urban transformation, particularly the role of marginalized populations in creating long-term change. There are multiple benefits of conducting research to develop an equitably designed multi-country research collaboration. We built new partnerships and co-developed our research approach, creating new understanding of diverse collaborators' disciplinary perspectives and institutional requirements. By investigating the informational needs of U.S. sustainable development actors and designing our study to meet these needs, we have increased the likelihood that our research will create impact.

Dissipativity Analysis of Memristive Inertial Competitive Neural Networks with Mixed Delays

Without altering the inertial system into the two first-order differential systems, this paper primarily works over the global exponential dissipativity (GED) of memristive inertial competitive neural networks (MICNNs) with mixed delays. For this purpose, a novel differential inequality is primarily established around the discussed system. Then, by applying the founded inequality and constructing some novel Lyapunov functionals, the GED criteria in the algebraic form and the linear matrix inequality (LMI) form are given, respectively. Furthermore, the estimation of the global exponential attractive set (GEAS) is furnished. Finally, a specific illustrative example is analyzed to check the correctness and feasibility of the obtained findings.

A global set of barley varieties shows a high diversity in starch structural properties and related gelatinisation characteristics

The gelatinisation temperature and bimodal granule size distribution of barley starch are important characteristics regarding resource efficiency and product quality in the brewing industry. In this work, the diversity in starch amylose content and granule proportions in a set of modern barley varieties (N = 23) was investigated and correlated with their starch gelatinisation behaviour. Milled barley samples had peak starch gelatinisation temperatures ranging from 60.1 to 66.5 °C. Upon separating the barley starch from the non-starch compounds, sample-dependent decreases in starch gelatinisation temperatures were observed, indicating the importance of differences in barley composition. The peak gelatinisation temperatures of milled barley and isolated barley starches were strongly correlated (r = 0.96), indicating that the behaviour of the starch population is strongly reflected in the measurements performed on milled barley. Therefore, we investigated whether amylose content or starch granule size distribution could predict the gelatinisation behaviour of the starches. Broad ranges in the small starch granule volumes (13.9–32.0 v/v%) and amylose contents (18.2–30.7 w/w%) of the barley starches were observed. For the barley samples collected in the north of the USA (N = 8), the small starch granule volumes correlated positively with the peak gelatinisation temperatures of barley starches (r = 0.90, p < 0.01). The considerable variation in starch properties described in this work highlights that, besides starch content, starch gelatinisation temperature or granule size distribution might provide brewers with useful information to optimise resource efficiency.

Long-Term Effects of Dietary Modifications on Renal Outcomes in Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis investigated the long-term efficacy of dietary modifications on renal outcomes in individuals with diabetes. We systematically reviewed six studies, focusing on the impact of specific dietary components, including protein and salt intake and the use of nutraceuticals such as ketoacids, across global settings, including Poland, Nigeria, Taiwan, Italy, Austria, and Japan. The studies varied in design, ranging from observational to randomized controlled trials. The sample sizes and study durations ranged from 28 to 6,213 participants and 28 days to 5 years. Our analysis revealed that dietary protein restriction generally stabilized and improved renal function. However, the response to protein restriction varied, suggesting the need for personalized dietary management strategies. Furthermore, reducing salt intake was consistently beneficial, aligning with its known effects on lowering blood pressure and reducing proteinuria. Nutraceuticals, especially ketoacids, showed their potential as supplements for renal diet management. These findings supported the integration of nutraceuticals into dietary plans to enhance renal outcomes without compromising nutritional status. Thus, our meta-analysis demonstrated the importance of tailored dietary interventions in managing renal outcomes in individuals with diabetes and suggested that personalized nutrition, which considers individual dietary needs and kidney disease stage, should be a fundamental component of comprehensive CKD management.

An updated review on significance of PGPR-induced plant signalling and stress management in advancing sustainable agriculture

Traditional agriculture relies heavily on chemical inputs, which pose significant threats to the environment and deplete natural resources. The environmental challenges posed by chemical-based agriculture and emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable alternatives in the face of climate change. Acknowledging the detrimental impact of environmental stressors on global agriculture sets the stage for exploration of PGPR as a promising solution. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as a sustainable alternative, fostering plant development, and enhancing stress resilience. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying signalling pathways and stress management mechanisms is essential to maximizing their potential. Plant health has been demonstrated, nutrient uptake has improved, and environmental stress has been reduced with the help of PGPR. Identifying the specific plant signalling pathways that are impacted by PGPR and comprehending their function in stress mitigation are critical to creating efficient and sustainable farming practises. Utilizing PGPR-mediated stress control may reduce the need for chemical inputs, encouraging environmentally friendly farming methods. By creating genetically engineered crops with increased stress tolerance, the knowledge gathered in this review can help ensure food security in the face of climate change. The signalling pathways involved, the processes underpinning PGPR-plant interactions, and the responses of plants to diverse stressors when PGPR is present have been explored. This review offers helpful insights into the intricate link between PGPR and plants, putting light on the uncertainties that beg for additional research by critically analysing the present literature and highlighting knowledge gaps.

Spatio-temporal trajectory data modeling for fishing gear classification

International Organizations urge the protection of our oceans and their ecosystems due to their immeasurable importance to humankind. Since illegal fishing activities, commonly known as IUU fishing, cause irreparable damage to these ecosystems, concerned organisms are pushing to detect and combat IUU fishing practices. The automatic identification system allows to locate the position and trajectory of fishing vessels. In this study we address the task of detecting vessels’ fishing gears based on the trajectory behavior defined by GPS position data, a useful task to prevent the proliferation of IUU fishing practices. We present a new database including trajectories that span 7 different fishing gears and analyze these as in a time sequence analysis problem. We leverage from feature extraction techniques from the online signature verification domain to model vessel trajectories, and extract relevant information in the form of both local and global feature sets. We show how, based on these sets of features, the kinematics of vessels according to different fishing gears can be effectively classified using common supervised learning algorithms with accuracies up to 90%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$90\\%$$\\end{document}. Furthermore, motivated by the concerns raised by several organizations on the adverse impact of bottom trawling on marine biodiversity, we present a binary classification experiment in which we were able to distinguish this kind of fishing gear with an accuracy of 99%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$99\\%$$\\end{document}. We also illustrate in an ablation study the relevance of factors such as data availability and the sampling period to perform fishing gear classification. Compared to existing works, we highlight these factors, especially the importance of using sampling periods in the order of minutes instead of hours.

Nursing and midwifery students’ ethical views on the acceptability of using AI machine translation software to write university assignments: A deficit-oriented or translanguaging perspective?

This paper focuses on tertiary English as an additional language (EAL) students' ethical choices, and the factors impacting on them, when deciding whether to engage with artificially-intelligent (AI) machine translation (MT) tools for the writing of university assignments. It also investigates how student responses align with either deficit-oriented or translanguaging theoretical perspectives. Via semi-structured interviews, the voices of 23 EAL nursing and midwifery students indicate an array of ethical positions which are based on three key areas of consideration: 1) ownership of language and ideas; 2) fairness and respect; and 3) personal growth. The study highlights the scalar, strategic and dynamic nature of students’ ethical decisions and shows that questions of ethicality tap into individual, social and institutional constructs of fairness and respect, skills recognition, lifelong learning and language dominion. The findings also indicate that discussions of fairness should focus not only on differences between non-EAL and EAL students, but also inequalities within EAL cohorts. Student responses provide evidence of both deficit-oriented and translanguaging perspectives. The researchers call for universities to create clear policies concerning use of MT that recognise the levels of reflection that students engage in when writing their assignments and value the full linguistic repertoires that students bring to global educational settings.

Are Generative Pretrained Transformer 4 Responses to Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Clinical Scenarios Universal? An International Review.

There is increasing interest in applying artificial intelligence chatbots like generative pretrained transformer 4 (GPT-4) in the medical field. This study aimed to explore the universality of GPT-4 responses to simulated clinical scenarios of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) across diverse global settings. Seventeen international experts with more than 15 years of experience in pediatric orthopaedics were selected for the evaluation panel. Eight simulated DDH clinical scenarios were created, covering 4 key areas: (1) initial evaluation and diagnosis, (2) initial examination and treatment, (3) nursing care and follow-up, and (4) prognosis and rehabilitation planning. Each scenario was completed independently in a new GPT-4 session. Interrater reliability was assessed using Fleiss kappa, and the quality, relevance, and applicability of GPT-4 responses were analyzed using median scores and interquartile ranges. Following scoring, experts met in ZOOM sessions to generate Regional Consensus Assessment Scores, which were intended to represent a consistent regional assessment of the use of the GPT-4 in pediatric orthopaedic care. GPT-4's responses to the 8 clinical DDH scenarios received performance scores ranging from 44.3% to 98.9% of the 88-point maximum. The Fleiss kappa statistic of 0.113 ( P = 0.001) indicated low agreement among experts in their ratings. When assessing the responses' quality, relevance, and applicability, the median scores were 3, with interquartile ranges of 3 to 4, 3 to 4, and 2 to 3, respectively. Significant differences were noted in the prognosis and rehabilitation domain scores ( P < 0.05 for all). Regional consensus scores were 75 for Africa, 74 for Asia, 73 for India, 80 for Europe, and 65 for North America, with the Kruskal-Wallis test highlighting significant disparities between these regions ( P = 0.034). This study demonstrates the promise of GPT-4 in pediatric orthopaedic care, particularly in supporting preliminary DDH assessments and guiding treatment strategies for specialist care. However, effective integration of GPT-4 into clinical practice will require adaptation to specific regional health care contexts, highlighting the importance of a nuanced approach to health technology adaptation. Level IV.

Knowledge Management Capabilities on the Performance of Startup Companies: Evidence from Startups in Kerala

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to point out the importance of knowledge management in startup companies. For this, four knowledge management processes—knowledge acquisition, conversion, application, and protection—that may have an impact on startup companies' performance are closely examined.  Design, Methodology, and Approach: The empirical research was conducted by participating 250 startup companies that are registered in the Kerala startup mission from 2015 to 2020, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to determine the relationship between the knowledge management process and startup performance.  Findings: The study supports the resource-based view theory by stating that knowledge management is essential for newly established ventures. It has been found that both knowledge conversion and protection play significant roles in the performance of startup companies. While acquisition and application are insignificant.  Social Implication: This study has several implications, one of which is that institutions and government bodies should focus on implementing knowledge management strategies.  Research Limitation: The study has some drawbacks, including the fact that it only included 250 startup companies from Kerala and had a limited sample size. Therefore, generalizations in a global setting are challenging. Second, other intangible assets that fall beyond the scope of the study also have an impact on how well startup businesses perform.  Originality or Value: The study gives startup founders insight into how knowledge management is important at each stage of their firm's life cycle and affects their ability to raise startup funding.Paper Type: Research Paper

Implementation challenges in preeclampsia care: perspectives from health care professionals in urban Uganda

BackgroundSub-Saharan Africa bears the burden of 70% of maternal deaths worldwide, of which ∼10% are attributable to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, primarily complications of pre-eclampsia. In other global settings, outcomes of pregnancies affected by pre-eclampsia are improved with timely and effective medical care. Objectives(s)We aimed to explore the perspectives of local healthcare professionals on how pre-eclampsia care is currently delivered in the study setting and what challenges they experience in providing prompt and safe care. We identified specific objectives of exploring stakeholder perceptions of (i) recognising pre-eclampsia and (ii) timely intervention when pre-eclampsia is diagnosed. We also explored the wider system factors, e.g. cultural, financial, and logistic challenges that healthcare professionals perceived affected their ability to deliver optimal pre-eclampsia care. Study designIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals and stakeholders. The findings were analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsThirty-three participants contributed to the study including doctors and midwives with varying degree of clinical experience and external stakeholders. Five key themes emerged; delayed patient presentation, recognising the unwell patient with pre-eclampsia, the challenges of the existing triage system, stakeholder disconnect, and ways of learning from each other Healthcare professionals referenced an important psychosocial perspective associated with pre-eclampsia in the study setting, which may influence the likelihood of seeking care through traditional healers rather than hospital-based routes. ConclusionsWe identify the key barriers to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes of pre-eclampsia, described at both institutional level and within the wider setting. The study provides invaluable contextual information that suggests a systems-based approach to healthcare quality improvement may be effective in reducing rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Truth and tradition: Bishop Mouneer Hanna Anis and the ongoing construction of Egyptian Anglican Orthodoxy

ABSTRACT This article explores Bishop Mouneer Hanna Anis’ role in the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA). Noting how Anis draws legitimacy from his position as the first Anglican Archbishop of the newly created Province of Alexandria, it examines his highlighting of the importance of North Africa, especially Egypt, in addressing contemporary challenges within the Global South. The article reflects on the innovative nature of Anis’ strategies in constructing a new narrative of Egyptian Anglican Orthodoxy. It describes Anis’ use of Thomas Oden’s historical analysis of the importance of early African contexts on the shaping of mature Christian tradition. And it notes the emphasis Anis places on Athanasius of Alexandria in constructing his narrative. By introducing several of Anis’ recent publications, the article also draws attention to key discussions (and disagreements) on the nature of the relationship between scripture and tradition within contemporary Global South settings.

Building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity through China’s Six Global Initiatives

ABSTRACT The article has its roots in the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, a Chinese innovation aimed at realizing the development and prosperity of human societies. This concept rests on an exploration, based in Marxism and sinicized Marxism, of how world history has evolved, and embodies six global initiatives as fundamental measures to respond to the real needs of world development at the current stage. Specifically, the Belt and Road Initiative, based on a new pattern of cooperation, strives to build a new model of common prosperity in both economic and cultural terms for countries around the world. The Global Development Initiative aims to upgrade the development agenda and formulate new guidelines for the common socio-economic development of all countries. The Global Security Initiative seeks to eliminate the old-style mentality formed by the zero-sum game thinking of the Cold War epoch, and to formulate a new conception of shared security for the international community. The Global Civilization Initiative sets out to disprove the myths of Western civilization and to develop a new concept of mutual learning between civilizations, while the Global AI Governance Initiative aims to build consensus and on that basis, to shape the common governance of scientific and technological progress.

Recognition Strategy and Performance of Non-Teaching Staff at University of Eldoret in Kenya

Non-academic staff contribute significantly to the effective functioning of universities across the globe, supporting the institution's mission of education, research, and service to society. Their roles are diverse and essential, helping to create a supportive and conducive environment for academic excellence and student success. Their performance is aligned with broader national development priorities and the global agenda set forth by the SDGs. Their contributions are essential for advancing education, fostering innovation, promoting sustainable development, and building inclusive societies. By recognizing and supporting the role of non-academic staff, governments and institutions can better harness their potential to contribute to positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes. By facilitating access to quality education, they help build the knowledge and skills necessary for individuals to participate effectively in society and contribute to economic development. Unlike academic staff, whose work is more closely tied to research and teaching, the roles of non-academic staff, may not always be as directly connected to the core mission of the institution. This disconnect has led to several challenges that demotivate the work of non-teaching staffs. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which employee recognition strategy has influenced the performance of non-academic staff in the UOE, in Kenya. The study based on a quantitative research approach and underpinned by Maslow Theory of Motivation. The researcher used a correlational research design to establish the relationship between the study variables. The target population of this study comprised all the 208 permanent non-teaching staff in the university of Eldoret from which 137 were picked as sample size of the study Yamane formula. Stratified random sampling and simple random samplings were used to select respondents for the study. The study used structured self-administered questionnaires as its main primary data collection tool. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics included percentages, frequencies, mean and standard deviation. Inferentially, regression analysis was applied to get the changes in dependent variable caused by the influence of independent variables. Analyzed data was presented in form of tables, suitable graphs based on the APA format. The study results revealed that there was positive linear effect of influence of recognition on employee’s performance (β1=0.798, p=0.000 &lt; 0.05). The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between recognition and performance of non-academic staff in the University of Eldoret.

IFRS adoption and the value-relevance of financial statements figures in Nigeria

Research Question: Has IFRS adoption improved the value-relevance of financial statement figures in Nigeria? Motivation: The informativeness of the reported earnings, book values, and cash flows depends on the accounting standards used in preparing the financial statements. IFRS is a global set of accounting standards that tries to improve the relevance of accounting figures by recommending more realistic measurement and recognition criteria and increasing the level of disclosure of relevant information. Idea: The value relevance of accounting figures in predicting stock prices is widely acknowledged. However, this study tests whether IFRS adoption significantly improves this value-relevance by increasing the degree of correlation between accounting figures and stock prices in Nigeria. Data: The data were collected from the Bloomberg market data terminal and Datastream financial database. A sample of 85 listed companies was selected. The sample period was from 2007 to 2016. Tools: The study applied the Ohlson model (using fixed and random-effect models) along with the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors (DKSE) and Panel-corrected standard errors (PCSE) to anticipate autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence biases. The Ohlson model was estimated separately for the pre- and post-IFRS adoption periods to detect changes in value relevance. The interactions of the IFRS dummy with earnings, book values, and cash flows were also estimated separately to detect the significance of IFRS interaction with the accounting figures. Findings: The results showed an overall increase in value-relevance by comparing adjusted R2s across the pre- and post-IFRS adoption period. Also, the interactions of IFRS with earnings, book value, and cash flows were all significant. Contribution: The study contributes to the existing literature by including cash flow in the value-relevance test in Nigeria and by applying estimation techniques that control for possible estimation biases. The authors recommend that investors pay more attention to these accounting figures under the IFRS regime when making investment decisions.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake: evidence from a vulnerable global South setting

ObjectiveStudies are paying increasing attention to complex social determinants in explaining the variation in the rates COVID-19 vaccine uptake. This study examines the influence of various individual, contextual, and vaccine-related factors on COVID-19 vaccine uptake behaviour in a resource-scarce and vulnerable setting using a quantitative research approach. Using a multi-staged cluster sampling approach, 408 individuals from 204 households in Cape Coast, Ghana’s tourism hub, were surveyed. Probit and logistic regression models were estimated to test the vaccine-related factors.ResultsA significant difference is observed between wait time and vaccination status (χ2 = 21.17; p = 0.000). Moreover, age and religion, as controlled variables, equally played significant roles in influencing the adoption of the vaccine. Other factors encompass the perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, the perceived benefits of the vaccine in relation to its side effects, and the level of trust individuals have in the concern of vaccine producers for their health. These findings call for targeted campaigns by the Ministry of Health, health facilities and other institutions promoting the COVID-19 vaccine. These actors should emphasize the benefits of vaccination, prioritize trust-building initiatives, and provide clear guidance on vaccination schedules, and manage waiting time.

Exploring Channel-Aware Typical Features for Out-of-Distribution Detection

Detecting out-of-distribution (OOD) data is essential to ensure the reliability of machine learning models when deployed in real-world scenarios. Different from most previous test-time OOD detection methods that focus on designing OOD scores, we delve into the challenges in OOD detection from the perspective of typicality and regard the feature’s high-probability region as the feature’s typical set. However, the existing typical-feature-based OOD detection method implies an assumption: the proportion of typical feature sets for each channel is fixed. According to our experimental analysis, each channel contributes differently to OOD detection. Adopting a fixed proportion for all channels results in several channels losing too many typical features or incorporating too many abnormal features, resulting in low performance. Therefore, exploring the channel-aware typical features is crucial to better-separating ID and OOD data. Driven by this insight, we propose expLoring channel-Aware tyPical featureS (LAPS). Firstly, LAPS obtains the channel-aware typical set by calibrating the channel-level typical set with the global typical set from the mean and standard deviation. Then, LAPS rectifies the features into channel-aware typical sets to obtain channel-aware typical features. Finally, LAPS leverages the channel-aware typical features to calculate the energy score for OOD detection. Theoretical and visual analyses verify that LAPS achieves a better bias-variance trade-off. Experiments verify the effectiveness and generalization of LAPS under different architectures and OOD scores.

Abstract 3942: Mailed at-home self-sampling for HPV testing increases screening participation among under-screened patients in a U.S. safety net health system: Results of the PRESTIS trial

Abstract Background: In global settings, self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is associated with a pooled 2-fold increase in cervical cancer screening participation over usual care among underscreened persons. The Prospective Evaluation of Self-Testing to Increase Screening (PRESTIS) Trial is the first pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) in the U.S. to evaluate the effectiveness of mailed at-home self-sampling for HPV testing in a safety net health system setting. Safety net systems provide care to medically underserved individuals at elevated cervical cancer risk. We hypothesized that patients who were mailed a self-sampling kit would have greater screening participation compared with those receiving usual care; and that patient navigation, a patient-centered intervention to address barriers to care, would further increase participation. Methods: PRESTIS is a three-arm pragmatic RCT of n=2,270 patients in a U.S. safety net health system who are under-screened for cervical cancer (i.e., no Pap in 3.5 years or Pap/HPV co-test in 5.5 years). Eligible participants were identified through the electronic health record (EHR) and randomized to arms: 1) telephone recall to provider-performed screening (usual care); 2) telephone recall + mailed self-sampling kit for HPV testing; or 3) telephone recall + mailed self-sampling kit + telephone-based patient navigation. Self-sampled swabs were tested for high-risk (HR)-HPV. HR-HPV+ patients were navigated to clinical follow-up. The primary outcome, incidence of screening participation, was ascertained by EHR review at 6 months post-randomization and defined as return of a completed kit or attendance for provider-performed screening. Results: Participants were enrolled 02/2020-08/2023. Primary outcomes have been ascertained for n=2,115 participants. Participants were predominantly Hispanic/Latina (68.6%); 53.4% indicated Spanish as primary language; and 60.3% were uninsured. Mean age was 47.9 years (SD: 10.4 years); median time since last screening test was 9.5 years (range: 1.6-21.7 years). In intent-to-treat analyses, screening participation was 15.3% (95% CI 13.0% - 17.9%) in Arm 1; 44.0% (40.4% - 47.6%) in Arm 2; and 51.4% (47.7% - 55.0%) in Arm 3. Relative incidence of screening in Arms 2 and 3 versus Arm 1 was 2.90 (2.42 - 3.47) and 3.36 (2.82 - 4.01), respectively. Relative incidence of screening in Arm 3 versus Arm 2 was 1.16 (1.04 - 1.29). Conclusion: Compared with usual care, mailed at-home self-sampling increased screening participation among an under-screened population by almost three-fold when used alone and over 3.3-fold when combined with telephone-based patient navigation. After FDA approval, self-sampling for HR-HPV testing has the potential to dramatically increase participation in cervical cancer screening in underserved populations. Citation Format: Jane R. Montealegre, Elizabeth Y. Chiao, Matthew L. Anderson, Susan G. Hilsenbeck, Shaun Bulsara, Susan L. Parker, Maria Daheri, Trisha L. Amboree, Kathleen M. Schmeler, Maria L. Jibaja-Weiss, Mohammad Zare, Ashish A. Deshmukh, Michael E. Scheurer. Mailed at-home self-sampling for HPV testing increases screening participation among under-screened patients in a U.S. safety net health system: Results of the PRESTIS trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3942.

Characterizing developing executive functions in the first 1000 days in South Africa and Malawi: The Khula Study

The term ‘executive functions’ (EFs) refers to a set of skills that support flexible control over thought and action. Classic EFs (working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility) do not show measurable stable function until after the third year of life and continue to develop into early adulthood. However, even at the earliest ages, these EFs are shown to have value for predicting school readiness and academic achievement. They continue to have predictive value for success, mental health, and general well-being across the lifespan including in ageing populations. As such, understanding the developing brain and cognitive developmental dynamics that set the stage for the development of EFs, in the first three years of life, is crucial for developing programming that supports healthy EFs development. The goal of this manuscript is to describe the goals, hypotheses, participant populations, and methodology of the Khula Study. Khula is a multi-modal multi-site longitudinal birth cohort study designed to characterise emerging EFs in the first 1000 days of life in global majority settings. Most research to date has been conducted in highincome countries rather than low- and middle-income countries that comprise most of the world’s child population. We assert that understanding and supporting EF development has global importance, but this must be done with the understanding that EFs are skills that develop within the context of adaptation to one’s environment. As such, the Khula Study aims to understand which EF influences are common across cultures but also which are culture specific. We will address these questions by incorporating data from South Africa and Malawi to understand influences on EF development and outcomes for children living in these contexts. We enrolled 394 mothers (84% antenatally) from Gugulethu in Cape Town, South Africa and 507 mothers (42% antenatally) from Blantyre, Malawi.

Abstract P295: Climate-related Heat Exposure And Cardiovascular Health: A Global Scoping Review

Introduction: Numerous studies across the world have characterized the effect of extreme heat exposure on cardiovascular health (CVH) using myriad data sources and methodologies. Here we review these studies and synthesize their methodological approaches and findings to identify common clinical factors associated with CVH following extreme heat exposure. Similarities and differences across the different global settings are identified and discussed. Hypothesis: CVH is modulated by the exacerbation of clinical cardiovascular health factors due to extreme heat, which will vary according to the study population’s climatological setting. Methods: Embase (Elsevier), MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science (Clarivate), and Scopus (Elsevier) were searched from date of inception until March 1, 2023 to locate English language literature on heat exposure in relation to cardiovascular vulnerability. Records were collated, deduplicated and screened. Eligibility for full text inclusion was determined as any article with a measured exposure of climate-related heat and an associated clinical outcome, thus excluding review papers and abstracts. Results: 13,136 records were initially identified of which 341 were determined eligible for full text review. 284 papers were excluded during full text review, yielding 57 papers for the final analysis representing 22 unique country study locations. 34 papers focused on CV-related mortality, 21 focused on CV-related morbidity, and 2 papers assessed both. The most common study type was observational (30), followed by case-crossover (18) and time series (5). A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) with a quasi-Poisson regression was the most common analytical methodology with usage in 19 studies. Studies done in Asia more frequently utilized the DLNM methodology while others used generalized additive models and conditional logistic regression. Lag patterns followed a “J” shape with the greatest risk for CVH following extreme heat events occurring at lag days 0-3 and lags 0-21. 97% (33/34) of mortality studies found a significant association with heat, with an excess risk of 6-80% for every 1°C above their respective extreme heat threshold, which was defined as the 99 th percentile of daily T mean in 32% (18/57) of papers. A greater risk of hospitalization and mortality for the elderly was reported across all studies, and women were found to be at greater risk than men for stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic), circulatory disease, and mortality. The risk of myocardial infarction hospitalizations and MI-related mortality was inconsistent across studies. Conclusion: CVH is associated with extreme heat, with variations observed across different global environments. More work on this topic is crucial for informing public health policies and strategies aimed at reducing the burden of heat-induced cardiovascular vulnerability.

The Chile is my uncle: Spicy kinship between humans and more-than-humans in the Sikkimese Himalayas

The eastern Himalayan red and green round chiles, known as akubari in the Sikkimese Bhutia Lhokyed language and dalle khorsani in Nepali language, have recently become popular commodities across India. However, they are not only commodities. This article contributes to Indigenous and posthuman approaches to food studies by interrogating the ways that akubari function as kin in rural west Sikkimese cultural contexts. Akubari is a grown from the land and seen as a family member that provides nourishment, sustenance, healing, and flavor for human and more-than-human beings in the region. Even the name “akubari” invokes kinship as a spicy uncle. This article draws on ethnographic research from west Sikkim, local medical and folklore traditions, and textual research into Buddhist and Indigenous ritual texts to demonstrate the many layers of being that akubari invokes beyond its status as a commodity. This demonstrates how local ways of knowing food contribute to food sovereignty in Himalayan, Northeast Indian, and global settings.