Single Partner Research Articles

Active balancing control for distributed battery systems based on cooperative game theory

For the smooth integration of renewable and volatile energy sources in the electricity grid, there is a need for scalable and efficient storage systems. Stationary battery systems provide the required efficiency but lack the scalability to meet varying requirements. In this article, we present a novel distributed control approach for active balancing of battery cells facilitating a scalable and flexible battery system design. For the proposed algorithm, the topology of the underlying battery system is assumed to be not predefined and can change at runtime. In such a system, each battery cell may has its own power electronics and processing unit which are used to manage the control actions for active balancing on cell level. Thus, the battery system is objected as a multi agent system (MAS) with battery cells as agents. Each agent locally computes and optimises its own control actions in a leaderless MAS setup based on cooperative bargaining games and the Nash solution. Each cell is required to find a single partner or multiple partners to form coalitions and exchange energy for active balancing. The working principle and capability of the distributed control algorithm is evaluated by simulations and compared to a passive balancing approach and a central optimal control algorithm.

A visual opsin from jellyfish enables precise temporal control of G protein signalling

Phototransduction is mediated by distinct types of G protein cascades in different animal taxa: bilateral invertebrates typically utilise the Gαq pathway whereas vertebrates typically utilise the Gαt(i/o) pathway. By contrast, photoreceptors in jellyfish (Cnidaria) utilise the Gαs intracellular pathway, similar to olfactory transduction in mammals1. How this habitually slow pathway has adapted to support dynamic vision in jellyfish remains unknown. Here we study a light-sensing protein (rhodopsin) from the box jellyfish Carybdea rastonii and uncover a mechanism that dramatically speeds up phototransduction: an uninterrupted G protein-coupled receptor – G protein complex. Unlike known G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), this rhodopsin constitutively binds a single downstream Gαs partner to enable G-protein activation and inactivation within tens of milliseconds. We use this GPCR in a viral gene therapy to restore light responses in blind mice.

Exploring the magnetic dipole moments of {T}_{QQoverline{q}overline{s}} and {T}_{QQoverline{s}overline{s}} states in the framework of QCD light-cone sum rules

Motivated by the recent observation of the tetraquark {T}_{cc}^{+} , we investigate the magnetic dipole moments of the possible single and double strange partners, {T}_{QQoverline{q}overline{s}} and {T}_{QQoverline{s}overline{s}} , with the spin-parity JP = 1+ by means of the QCD light-cone sum rules. To this end, we model these states as diquark-antidiquark states with different organizations and interpolating currents. The results of magnetic dipole moments obtained using different diquark-antidiquark structures differ from each other, considerably. The magnetic dipole moment is the leading-order response of a bound system to a soft external magnetic field. Therefore, it provides an excellent platform for investigation of the inner structures of hadrons governed by the quark-gluon dynamics of QCD.

Half a century of evolutionary games: a synthesis of theory, application and future directions.

Half a century of evolutionary games: a synthesis of theory, application and future directions.

Partner selection method in cooperative spatial modulation (CSM) system

In this work, to achieve higher capacity, spatial modulation (SM) is utilized in a cooperative scheme in two different models of Cooperative SM, where SM is applied either at the source or the selected partner through an antenna array. A theoretical model of SM capacity is defined based on closed form lower and upper bound of the SM capacity. Based on the theoretical analysis of the channel capacity in both CSM systems the simplest and easier to implement selection criteria have been suggested to select a single partner to maximize CSM capacity. The CSM system in which SM is applied through the partner’s antenna array is providing significant enhancement over the other CSM model and cooperative multiple-input-multiple-output (CO-MIMO) networks based on multiple partners. Moreover, the system with a single randomly selected partner equipped with four antennas, behaves similarly as the best configuration of CO-MIMO based on the cooperation of four partners with the computational complexity linearly increases with the number of available partners to help. All of the theoretical findings are verified through simulation studies.

Early Health Care Seeking and Associated Factors Among Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health Facilities of Assosa Zone, Benishangul Gumuz, Western Ethiopia, 2022; Cross sectional study

Background: Majority of STIs are curable, but a number of social and behavioral factors prevent from seeking healthcare treatment timely, which increases the burden of untreated infection. Thus, activities people do when they have symptoms or suspect they have STI has a big impact on disease transmission and control. Delays in seeking treatment for STIs after symptom recognition can increase the incidence of disease. Objective: To assess the magnitude of early health care seeking and associated factors among patients with sexually transmitted infections in public health facilities of Assosa Zone, Ethiopia, 2022. Method: An institution -based cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from 416 STI patients from May 15 to July 15, 2022. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer- administered questionnaire. A systematic sampling method was used to select study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with early health-seeking. Result: From total sample patients, 404 (97.12%) were successfully interviewed. From them 40.1% [95%CI (35.4, 44.9%)] of study participants seek health care early within 7 days. secondary educational level [AOR =0.45; 95% CI (0.23,0.90)], had good knowledge about STI [AOR =2.27; 95% CI (1.28,4.02)], perceived the severity of STI [AOR=2.24; 95%CI (1.19,4.21)], those who had fear of stigma for STI [AOR=0.40;95%CI (0.24,0.66)] and had single sexual partners [AOR=2.19; 95%CI (1.20,3.99)] were significantly associated with early of health care seeking for sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: Lower than half of the study participants seek care early within seven days of onset of symptoms. Indepth health education is essential to raise awareness, avoid risky behaviors, and alter negative perceptions

Accuracy of VIA for the diagnosis of cervical cancer and associated factors among women attending cervical cancer screening at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital, southern Ethiopia: Institutional based cross sectional study.

Cervical cancer is the commonest pelvic malignancy in the world, forth among women cancers, but 2nd commonest after breast cancer in the low & middle income countries. The disease is the second common in Ethiopia, with a prevalence of 13.4% with similar impact of cancer death. The aim of this study is to know the degree of cervical cancer among the suspected, & its associated factors among the women visiting the hospital for cervical cancer & precancer screening at specific period. A five years retrospective hospital based cross sectional study was conducted. All clients who came for screening with a visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) & suspicious of cancer were included. Finally, every suspected woman with a complete chart was included. Data was coded and entered using Epi Data Version 3.1 then was exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Proportion, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the study variables. Then bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify association between independent & outcome variables. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence interval (CI) and p value (<0.05) were computed to assess the presence and degree of statistical association between dependent and independent variables. The prevalence of cervical cancer among the study women was 28%. Illiterate women suspicious with cervical cancer after positive test have five times increased odds of being diagnosed with cervical cancer than those who had formal education AOR 4.885(0.180, 0.741) 95%CI. Women with multiple sexual partners had eleven times increased odds of having cervical cancer than those with single sexual partner AOR 11.5 (1.273,24.34) 95%CI. Also, women who had referral for suspicious lesion for cervical cancer had significant association AOR 5.477(1.715-17.498) 95% CI. This study has revealed a significant proportion of cervical cancer among the participants; and the factors associated with cervical cancer were multiple sexual partners, poor educational status (Illiterate), & those referred for suspected disease.

Assessing the impact of privacy-preserving record linkage on record overlap and patient demographic and clinical characteristics in PCORnet®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.

This article describes the implementation of a privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL) solution across PCORnet®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. Using a PPRL solution from Datavant, we quantified the degree of patient overlap across the network and report a de-duplicated analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the PCORnet population. There were ∼170M patient records across the responding Network Partners, with ∼138M (81%) of those corresponding to a unique patient. 82.1% of patients were found in a single partner and 14.7% were in 2. The percentage overlap between Partners ranged between 0% and 80% with a median of 0%. Linking patients' electronic health records with claims increased disease prevalence in every clinical characteristic, ranging between 63% and 173%. The overlap between Partners was variable and depended on timeframe. However, patient data linkage changed the prevalence profile of the PCORnet patient population. This project was one of the largest linkage efforts of its kind and demonstrates the potential value of record linkage. Linkage between Partners may be most useful in cases where there is geographic proximity between Partners, an expectation that potential linkage Partners will be able to fill gaps in data, or a longer study timeframe.

“It was protected, except, it wasn’t [with] a condom": a mixed-methods study of BBVs/STIs protective practices among International University Students in Sydney, Australia

BackgroundA number of previous sex-related studies among international students in Australia and other Western societies may be limited by conflating students from conservative and non-conservative sexual backgrounds. Such conflation leads to situations where nuances and complexities around sex-related experiences are lost or, at most, tangentially investigated. To address this research problem, this study used a mixed-methods design to examine protective practices against blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections (BBVs/STIs) among Sydney-based East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students.MethodsThis mixed-methods study generated quantitative data using anonymous online survey (n = 149), and qualitative data through in-depth interviews (n = 20). The main recruitment strategy involved advertising the study through paper and electronic flyers. Quantitative data were analysed using logistic regression, while interviews data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsSelf-reported BBVs/STIs protective practices in the last 12 months include abstinence (28.7%), consistent condom use (19.9%), occasional condom use (18.7%), single partner fidelity (25.1%), other strategies (1.8%), and nothing (5.8%). Further, findings from the bivariate analysis showed higher BBVs/STIs prevention knowledge, lower acculturation into Australian sexual culture, greater access to sexual health information, less conservative sexual norms, greater emotional social support and older age were significantly associated with increased protective practices. Variables significant at bivariate level were entered into a logistic regression. The model was statistically significant, (X2(6) = 31.33, p < 0.01) and explained 33.1% of the variance in BBVs/STIs protective practices. However, only acculturation to sexual norms in Australia (OR = 0.883, 95% CI = 0.820–0.952) was found to be independent predictor of BBVs/STIs protective practices.The results of the study based on the quantitative data, indicated condom use (consistent and occasional) was the most reported BBVs/STIs protective behaviour among sexually active participants. Therefore, interviews data was used to explore condom-use motives and practices. The interviews results showed participants primary concern as regards condom use was around pregnancy and not BBVs/STIs. Thus, some participants described safe sex largely as contraception, with BBVs/STIs constituting a secondary concern or no concern at all.ConclusionsBased on the results of this study, tailored sexual health interventions for international students; which incorporate strategies for modifying perceived sexual norms in Australia, are advocated. In addition, this study recommends sexual health interventions that promote dual protection of condoms for both contraception and BBVs/STIs.

Using the Evaluating Devices Using Claims and RegisTry Data (EDUCATe) Plan within the Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION) to Analyze the Long-Term Outcomes following Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Implanted devices undergo clinical trials to assess their safety and effectiveness. However, pivotal device trials are limited in their follow-up while postmarket surveillance may incompletely capture late failure. Linking clinical trials to Medicare claims can address these limitations. This study matched patients from investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical trials for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) to Medicare claims-based registry data to compare long-term device outcomes between the 2 sources. Patient-level data from 2 industry-sponsored IDE trials of EVAR devices was provided by a single industry partner. Trial data were matched at the patient level to data from the Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION), a registry that is a part of the Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization. The primary outcomes analyzed were survival and freedom from aneurysm-related reintervention. Of 159 clinical trial patients, 134 were eligible for claims-based matching and 115 (85.5%) were successfully matched to VISION registry data. For the matched cohort, the Kaplan-Meier estimated survival was 94.8% at 1year, 82.6% at 3years, and 68.1% at 5years. Estimates for freedom from reintervention were 90% at 1year, 82.4% at 3years, and 78.1% at 5years. The estimates for survival were nearly identical between the clinical trial data and that found in the VISION data (log-rank P=0.89). Freedom from reintervention was similar between the groups, with IDE trial reported freedom from reintervention of 87.3% and 73.3%, compared to VISION of 92.6% and 83% at 1 and 5years, respectively (log-rank P=0.13). Clinical trial patients who undergo EVAR can be successfully matched to claims-based registry data to improve long-term device surveillance and outcomes reporting. Claims-based results agreed well with IDE trial results for patients through 5years, supporting the accuracy of claims-based data for longer-term surveillance. Linking clinical trial and claims-based registry data can lead to robust device monitoring.

Genetic analyses provide new insight on the mating strategies of the American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger)

Avian mating strategies play a vital role in the demographic and genetic dynamics of a species and understanding avian reproductive tactics is important to conservation, population management and restoration. Classifications of avian mating strategies have historically been based on direct physical observations and tend to be rigid population‐level generalizations that overlook the variations inherent in most ecological systems. Based on limited empirical field observations, the American Black Swift Cypseloides niger borealis is considered to be a socially monogamous species with pair bonds lasting for many years. To test this hypothesis, we collected genomic DNA samples from banded swifts from six American Black Swift colonies in the western United States from 2004 to 2019 and isolated and developed primers for highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and used them to genotype our samples. Our parentage analysis revealed that sampled females never mated with the same male in subsequent years, suggesting that they are not sexually monogamous with a single partner for many years as previously hypothesized.

Keep talking: (Mis)understanding the hedonic trajectory of conversation.

People regularly interact with new acquaintances, yet little research has examined the hedonic dynamics of these conversations or the extent to which people are aware of them. Five preregistered laboratory experiments (N = 1,093 participants, including 966 spoken conversations) address these gaps. We find that people misunderstand the hedonic trajectory of conversation: After enjoying the initial minutes of conversation with a new acquaintance, participants expected their enjoyment to decline as their conversations continued, but experienced stable or increasing enjoyment in reality. This miscalibration arose at least partly because participants underestimated how much they would have to discuss. Thus, instructing participants to mentally simulate the conversation in detail drew their attention to the conversation material they could discuss and helped to calibrate their enjoyment predictions. When left uncorrected, misunderstanding the hedonic trajectory of conversation can undermine well-being. In one study, participants preferred to spend less time in conversation and more time alone than was optimal for their enjoyment-a finding that emerged even among participants who reported wanting to enjoy themselves. Throughout our experiments we assessed various conversational contexts (including whether participants had one long conversation with a single partner or several short conversations with different partners), and features of conversation (including participants' perceived and actual interest in talking to each other, fatigue, and the intimacy of conversation), thus shining novel light on conversational dynamics more broadly. People hold incorrect assumptions about how social interaction changes over time and, consequently, may avoid longer-lasting conversations that would forge closer connections. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Does Context and Adversity Shape Sexual Behavior in Youth? Findings from Two Representative Samples of Puerto Rican Youth.

Sexual risk behaviors often co-occur. Understanding the heterogeneity in patterns of sexual behavior among youth and how context of majority and minoritized status may be related to these behaviors can inform targeted STIs/HIV interventions. Data are from the Boricua Youth Study, a longitudinal study of two probability samples of Puerto Rican youth recruited in the South Bronx (SBx) and the metropolitan area in Puerto Rico (PR). We identified patterns of sexual behaviors among young adults (ages 15-24) with sexual experience (N = 1,203) using latent class analysis. Analyses examined context differences and the prospective relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (childhood maltreatment/violence, family/parental dysfunction) and patterns of sexual behaviors (age at first sex, number of sex partners, sex with a high-risk partner, condom use, sex while intoxicated, oral sex, anal sex). We identified five classes of sexual behaviors: (1) currently inactive (16.51%); (2) single partner, low activity (13.49%); (3) single partner, inconsistent condom use (32.19%); (4) single partner, sex without a condom (27.65%); and (5) multirisk (10.16%). Young adults from the SBx (minoritized context), those who identified as male, and those with higher child maltreatment/violence ACEs were more likely to be in the multi-risk class relative to the single partner, inconsistent condom use class. Those from the SBx were also more likely to be in the single partner, sex without condom class, relative to the single partner, inconsistent condom use class. Differences in young adults' patterns of sexual behaviors between the two contexts, one representing the minoritized context (SBx) contrasted to the majority context (PR), were not explained by ACEs. Findings highlight the heterogeneity in the patterns of sexual behaviors among Puerto Rican young adults as well as how such patterns vary based on sociocultural contexts. Exposure to child maltreatment/violence ACEs was related to the riskier patterns; however, they did not explain why riskier patterns of sexual behaviors were found in the SBx compared to PR. Results underscore the need for tailored interventions and more in-depth examination of differences across contexts.

The Role of HIV Partner Services in the Modern Biomedical HIV Prevention Era: A Network Modeling Study.

HIV partner services can accelerate the use of antiretroviral-based HIV prevention tools (antiretroviral therapy [ART] and preexposure prophylaxis [PrEP]), but its population impact on long-term HIV incidence reduction is challenging to quantify with traditional partner services metrics of partner identified or HIV screened. Understanding the role of partner services within the portfolio of HIV prevention interventions, including using it to efficiently deliver antiretrovirals, is needed to achieve HIV prevention targets. We used a stochastic network model of HIV/sexually transmitted infection transmission for men who have sex with men, calibrated to surveillance-based estimates in the Atlanta area, a jurisdiction with high HIV burden and suboptimal partner services uptake. Model scenarios varied successful delivery of partner services cascade steps (newly diagnosed "index" patient and partner identification, partner HIV screening, and linkage or reengagement of partners in PrEP or ART care) individually and jointly. At current levels observed in Atlanta, removal of HIV partner services had minimal impact on 10-year cumulative HIV incidence, as did improving a single partner services step while holding the others constant. These changes did not sufficiently impact overall PrEP or ART coverage to reduce HIV transmission. If all index patients and partners were identified, maximizing partner HIV screening, partner PrEP provision, partner ART linkage, and partner ART reengagement would avert 6%, 11%, 5%, and 18% of infections, respectively. Realistic improvements in partner identification and service delivery were estimated to avert 2% to 8% of infections, depending on the combination of improvements. Achieving optimal HIV prevention with partner services depends on pairing improvements in index patient and partner identification with maximal delivery of HIV screening, ART, and PrEP to partners if indicated. Improving the identification steps without improvement to antiretroviral service delivery steps, or vice versa, is projected to result in negligible population HIV prevention benefit.

Degree of involvement in supply chain system development and relational performance: A potential dark side in supply chain relationships

Supply chain partners are increasingly relying on interorganizational information systems (IIS) to improve efficiency in their business activities. While such efforts are expected to create value for each supply chain member and the entire supply chain, the literature reports contradictory results on how the value created by IIS is distributed across supply chain members. Addressing this gap, this study investigates how a supply chain member’s degree of involvement in the IIS development process is linked to the resulting value distribution using data collected from 184 supply chain managers. The results suggest that if a single supply chain partner leads the supply chain system development process, this leader receives the stronger performance benefit from IIS competency, creating a potential ethical hazard as this benefit is unlikely to be announced openly. Similarly, firms that adopt industry standards for IIS, benefit more from IIS competency than those who build the systems together with a partner.

416.5: Pregnancy-Induced Sensitization in Female Transplant Candidates: HLA-Specific Memory B Cells and Paternal HLA Epitope Mismatch

Background: Access to kidney transplantation (KT) may be limited by HLA antibodies (HLA-Ab) induced by sensitizing events. Pregnancy is a frequent sensitizing event in female candidates, through which they are exposed to foreign paternal HLA antigens. Consequently, they can generate specific HLA-Ab and memory B cells (mBc), which can be re-stimulated upon antigen reencounter after KT. We aimed to study the existence of mBc able to produce specific HLA-Ab against paternal antigens in female KT candidates sensitised by previous pregnancies, to compare them with HLA-Ab found in their serum and to analyse these HLA-Ab in the context of the molecular HLA mismatch between mother and father. Methods: We selected 8 HLA sensitised women awaiting KT with at least one successful pregnancy from a single partner, detectable serum HLA-Ab (MFI≥1000) and available paternal DNA for full HLA typing. All women and their partners were typed by next-generation sequencing for HLA–A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQB1/A1, DPB1. To study mBc, we used peripheral blood mononuclear cells cryopreserved before KT and cultured them with a polyclonal stimulation cocktail consisting of a toll-like receptor agonist and an interleukin for ten days. We examined concentrated culture supernatants (SN) derived from activated mBc, purified IgG and identified HLA-Abs using single antigen beads on Luminex®. Then, we compared the HLA-Ab profiles of SN and serum. We also studied the paternal molecular HLA mismatch with HLAMatchmaker® software. Results: After 10-day polyclonal stimulation, mBc increased from 29.9% (day 0) to 65.3% (day- 10), and antibody-secreting cells (ASC) from 0.1% (day-0) to 29.4% (day-10) (Figure 1). SAB analysis revealed 211 HLA-Abs in serum and 116 in SN: 98/211 (46,5%) HLA-Ab were serum-exclusive (79,6% class I and 20,4% class II) and only 3/116 (2,3%) HLA-Ab were SN-exclusive, all class II. Finally, we found 113/327 (34,6%) HLA-Ab shared by serum and SN: 65/113 (57,5%) class I and 48/113 (42,5%) class II.Pregnancy-Induced Antibodies (PIA) were present in serum in 6/8 women (21 HLA-Abs: 10 class I, 11 class II) and in 4/8 women in SN (8 HLA-Abs: 2 class I, 6 class II). The HLAMatchmaker analysis showed that those specific HLA-ab were reactive against incompatible paternal epitopes: in 3/6 women for class I & 3/6 women for class II in serum; in 2/4 women for class I & 3/4 women for class II in SN (Table 1).Conclusion: We describe the study of the memory B cell compartment and the HLA-Abs produced with Luminex technology in KT female candidates with previous pregnancies. We found that the HLA-Abs secreted by memory B cells followed a restricted pattern compared with serum HLA-Ab. The study of paternal HLA molecular mismatch explains many of these HLA-Abs decades after pregnancies. The entire value of this tool for risk stratification in HLA-sensitised patients awaiting TK is currently a matter of study.

Three-Layered Complex Interactions among Capsidless (+)ssRNA Yadokariviruses, dsRNA Viruses, and a Fungus.

ABSTRACTWe have previously discovered a virus neo-lifestyle exhibited by a capsidless positive-sense (+), single-stranded (ss) RNA virus YkV1 (family Yadokariviridae) and an unrelated double-stranded (ds) RNA virus YnV1 (proposed family “Yadonushiviridae”) in a phytopathogenic ascomycete, Rosellinia necatrix. YkV1 has been proposed to replicate in the capsid provided by YnV1 as if it were a dsRNA virus and enhance YnV1 replication in return. Recently, viruses related to YkV1 (yadokariviruses) have been isolated from diverse ascomycetous fungi. However, it remains obscure whether such viruses generally show the YkV1-like lifestyle. Here, we identified partner viruses for three distinct yadokariviruses, YkV3, YkV4a, and YkV4b, isolated from R. necatrix that were coinfected with multiple dsRNA viruses phylogenetically distantly related to YnV1. We first established transformants of R. necatrix carrying single yadokarivirus cDNAs and fused them with infectants by single partner candidate dsRNA viruses. Consequently, YkV3 and YkV4s replicated only in the presence of RnMBV3 (family Megabirnaviridae) and RnMTV1 (proposed family “Megatotiviridae”), respectively. The partners were mutually interchangeable between the two YkV4 strains and three RnMTV1 strains but not between other combinations involving YkV1 or YkV3. In contrast to YkV1 enhancing YnV1 accumulation, YkV4s reduced RnMTV1 accumulation to different degrees according to strains. Interestingly, YkV4 rescued the host R. necatrix from impaired growth induced by RnMTV1. YkV3 exerted no apparent effect on its partner (RnMBV3) or host fungus. Overall, we revealed that while yadokariviruses generally require partner dsRNA viruses for replication, each yadokarivirus partners with a different dsRNA virus species in the three diverse families and shows a distinct symbiotic relation in a fungus.

Risk factors associated with a high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe.

BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where the health infrastructure is often poor. Despite having a number of interventions in Beitbridge (such as the 24-h wellness centre), Zimbabwe, the incidence and prevalence of STIs is increasing.ObjectivesThis study, therefore, aims to assess the risk factors associated with the high incidence of STIs in urban Beitbridge.MethodA case-control study was conducted on 30 respondents who had suffered from STIs (selected from the registers at Beitbridge hospital and followed up) and 90 respondents who had not suffered from STIs (from the community) who resided in Beitbridge for at least 6 months and this excluded all those who were in transit. The factors contributing to the high incidence of STIs were identified using a pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire in conjunction with a Likert scale to establish the attitudes and risk behaviours of the respondents on STIs.ResultsA significant association was observed between high STI incidences and the nature of occupation (odds ration [OR]: 3.8), area of residence (OR: 2.78), number of sexual partners (OR: 7.56), payment demanded for sex (OR 22), condom use (OR: 3.7), alcohol use (OR: 2.86), and suspicion that partners had other sexual companions (OR: 15.5). Furthermore, a larger proportion of controls were knowledgeable on STIs as compared to the cases who participated in the study.ConclusionThere is a need to develop awareness strategies that foster safe sexual practices, particularly among populations who do not choose abstinence or a single sexual partner lifestyle.

Open Innovation moves in SMEs: How European SMEs place their bets?

Although Open Innovation (OI) may be a source of opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), it also represents risks. How SMEs manage the balance between potential benefits and associated risks remains an overlooked topic in the literature. In parallel, recognizing the need for a more fine-grained level of analysis, we introduce the concept of OI moves to disentangle the OI projects of SMEs. An ‘OI move’ is defined as the set of managerial decisions and actions that are executed to reach specific innovation outputs in the framework of a collaboration with a single partner that is conducted as a part of an OI project. An OI move consist of the combination of two building blocks: a) the type of partner chosen to innovate with - ‘who is the SME innovating with’ and b) the exploitation mode - ‘who is exploiting the result’. Using the OI move as the level of the present analysis, we argue that different OI moves have the potential of delivering different benefits, but they also represent different levels of risk. To that end, the aim of our research is to explore how SMEs weigh benefits and risks at the level of OI move.On the basis of a unique data set of 106 in-depth case studies of innovation projects carried out by innovative SMEs located in Europe, 500 OI moves were identified. Clustering the extracted OI moves based on a typology formed by the combination of the type of partners and the exploitation mode revealed: a) benefits sought, b) risks encountered c) the type of partnership chosen.Findings of the study rely on the attention-based view of the firm as it provides an interesting lens through which OI is executed. Three main findings derive from the study. First, an SME initiates an OI move not only on the basis of the potential economic return. Albeit, it is the ‘attention capital’ required to create and capture value that is the SMEs' starting point in considering an OI partnership. Second, we find a ‘paradox’: SMEs tend to practice OI because they lack resources, but it is precisely the lack of resources that makes them reluctant to enter into attention-intensive OI partnerships even if return can be substantial. Third, OI moves involving communities and crowds are a ‘new playing field’ for SMEs. Because of their novelty, SMEs are reluctant to initiate such an OI move even though case-based evidence in our research demonstrates that SMEs using such collaborative forms can be quite successful.

Vaginal Candidiasis Caused by Candida Non Albicans: Epidemiological and Mycological Aspects at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville

Introduction: Vaginal candidiasis is a mycosis caused by a yeast of the genus Candida. Candida albicans was for a long time the first etiology of these mycoses. However, in recent years, an increasing involvement of non-albicans Candida species has been observed. Objective: To describe the epidemiological and mycological aspects of vaginal candidiasis due to Candida non albicans in women who have performed an analysis of the vaginal sample in the Parasitology Mycology laboratory of the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. Patients, Materials And Method: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from July to October 2019 (i.e. 3 months). It concerned all the patients received at the Parasitology-mycology and parasitic immunology laboratory of the CHUB for an analysis of the vaginal sample. The diagnosis was made after direct examination and culture of samples on Sabouraud Chloramphenicol medium with and without Actidione*. The filamentation test on calf serum and the study of the biochemical characteristics of the yeast colonies using the API candida strips from Biomérieux were carried out for each positive culture. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi-info 7.2.2.6 softwares. Results: The frequency of Candida non albicans yeast infection was 64.7%. The median age of patients with Candida non albicans vaginal candidiasis was 35.5 years (25.0 years - 47.0 years) with extremes of 18 and 59 years old. The age group between 18 and 40 was the most represented (68.2%). These were women with secondary education (n=12 ; 54.5%), with a notion of a single sexual partner (n=17 ; 77.3%), pregnant (n=6 ; 27, 3%). In 22.7% there was poor faecal hygiene. The main reasons for taking the samples were… and the non-albicans Candida species were represented by Candida glabrata (36.4%), Candida tropicalis (18.2%), Candida krusei (13.6%), Candida famata (13.6%), Candida parapsilosis (9.1%) and Candida spp (4.6%). Analytical Study Conclusion: Candida non albicansremains the common fungus in our context with a predominance of Candida glabrata. Age, poor faecal hygiene could have a link with the occurrence of these fungal infections, hence the importance of good awareness and systematic research in young women.