bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Land suitability analysis using a multicriteria decision‐making approach for optimal irrigation in a medium irrigation scheme in West Bengal, India
Authors: Halder Subhra , Das Subhasish , Basu Snehamanju
Published: May 2023

The present study aspires to distinguish suitable irrigation lands using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) of the Shali River basin area, which is a part of the Shali reservoir irrigation project (medium irrigation project) of West Bengal, India. Therefore, 12 factors were identified as criteria, including elevation, slope, rainfall, soil group, sand, silt, clay, nitrogen, pH, organic carbon, land use and land cover (LULC) and river distance. The results show that the Shali Basin has approximately 64% irrigation‐suitable land. The irrigational suitability reveals that the villages near the river have highly irrigation‐suitable lands. Therefore, it can be said that the distance to the river plays a major role as it determines the irrigation water availability. It is therefore advisable to install rainwater catchment structures in villages that are significantly distant from the river. This study may help farmers to select cropping patterns according to irrigation suitability and the concerned readers to understand the irrigation land suitability analysis with appropriate parameters and methods under any medium irrigation project.
Knowledge management and the revamping of economic development opportunities in the Niger Delta
Authors: Alakwe Kizito Ogedi , Ibitoye Temidayo Olugbenga
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates the centrality of knowledge management as an enabler of economic development opportunities in the Niger Delta region. Given the developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region, it is imperative that knowledge management should be harnessed as a tool for development. From the prism of PIND and leveraging a qualitative and descriptive approach, this study adopts focus group discussions and in‐depth interviews to affirm that knowledge management is an effective tool for fostering economic development. Results reveal that while information on development is not readily available to the citizens of the region, as well as a low level of awareness of developmental initiatives within local communities, the study contends that in order to stimulate economic development in the Niger Delta region, a robust knowledge management framework that takes cognisance of the innate needs of the people through citizen engagement must be instituted. Also to be considered is the literacy level, the medium of communication and the physical terrain of the region, which makes it challenging to extend developmental activities to all corners of the Niger Delta. The study, therefore, recommends the use of social media to improve information dissemination and the formation of knowledge clusters facilitated by ICT to expand the scope of operations in all local communities in the region.
Testosterone Restores Body Composition, Bone Mass, and Bone Strength Following Early Puberty Suppression in a Mouse Model Mimicking the Clinical Strategy in Trans Boys
Authors: Dubois Vanessa , Ciancia Silvia , Doms Stefanie , El Kharraz Sarah , Sommers Vera , Kim Na Ri , David Karel , Van Dijck Jolien , Valle-Tenney Roger , Maes Christa , Antonio Leen , Decallonne Brigitte , Carmeliet Geert , Claessens Frank , Cools Martine , Vanderschueren Dirk
Published: May 2023

Transgender youth increasingly present at pediatric gender services. Some of them receive long-term puberty suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) before starting gender-affirming hormones (GAH). The impact of GnRHa use started in early puberty on bone composition and bone mass accrual is unexplored. It is furthermore unclear whether subsequent GAH fully restore GnRHa effects and whether the timing of GAH introduction matters. To answer these questions, we developed a mouse model mimicking the clinical strategy applied in trans boys. Prepubertal 4-week-old female mice were treated with GnRHa alone or with GnRHa supplemented with testosterone (T) from 6 weeks (early puberty) or 8 weeks (late puberty) onward. Outcomes were analyzed at 16 weeks and compared with untreated mice of both sexes. GnRHa markedly increased total body fat mass, decreased lean body mass, and had a modest negative impact on grip strength. Both early and late T administration shaped body composition to adult male levels, whereas grip strength was restored to female values. GnRHa-treated animals showed lower trabecular bone volume and reduced cortical bone mass and strength. These changes were reversed by T to female levels (cortical bone mass and strength) irrespective of the time of administration or even fully up to adult male control values (trabecular parameters) in case of earlier T start. The lower bone mass in GnRHa-treated mice was associated with increased bone marrow adiposity, also reversed by T. In conclusion, prolonged GnRHa use started in prepubertal female mice modifies body composition toward more fat and less lean mass and impairs bone mass acquisition and strength. Subsequent T administration counteracts GnRHa impact on these parameters, shaping body composition and trabecular parameters to male values while restoring cortical bone architecture and strength up to female but not male control levels. These findings could help guide clinical strategies in transgender care. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Abstract

Prolonged puberty suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) impacts body composition and skeletal characteristics in a mouse model mimicking the clinical strategy in trans boys. Some parameters are fully reversed to control male levels by gender-affirming hormone (GAH), for trabecular bone volume upon early but not late addition, whereas other parameters including cortical bone mass and strength only reach female values, irrespective of the time of testosterone administration.
Patient‐reported ability to walk 4 m and to wash: New clinical endpoints and predictors of survival in patients with pre‐terminal cancer
Authors: Anker Markus S. , Lena Alessia , Roeland Eric J. , Porthun Jan , Schmitz Sebastian , Hadzibegovic Sara , Sikorski Philipp , Wilkenshoff Ursula , Fröhlich Ann‐Kathrin , Ramer Luisa Valentina , Rose Matthias , Eucker Jan , Rassaf Tienush , Totzeck Matthias , Lehmann Lorenz H. , von Haehling Stephan , Coats Andrew J.S. , Friede Tim , Butler Javed , Anker Stefan D. , Riess Hanno , Landmesser Ulf , Bullinger Lars , Keller Ulrich , Ahn Johann
Published: May 2023

Background

Maintaining the ability to perform self‐care is a critical goal in patients with cancer. We assessed whether the patient‐reported ability to walk 4 m and wash oneself predict survival in patients with pre‐terminal cancer.

Methods

We performed a prospective observational study on 169 consecutive hospitalized patients with cancer (52% female, 64 ± 12 years) and an estimated 1–12 months prognosis at an academic, inpatient palliative care unit. Patients answered functional questions for ‘today’, ‘last week’, and ‘last month’, performed patient‐reported outcomes (PROs), and physical function assessments.

Results

Ninety‐two (54%) patients reported the ability to independently walk 4 m and 100 (59%) to wash ‘today’. The median number of days patients reported the ability to walk 4 m and wash were 6 (IQR 0–7) and 7 (0–7) days (‘last week’); and 27 (5–30) and 26 (10–30) days (‘last month’). In the last week, 32% of patients were unable to walk 4 m on every day and 10% could walk on 1–3 days; 30% were unable to wash on every day and 10% could wash on 1–3 days. In the last months, 14% of patients were unable to walk 4 m on every day and 10% could only walk on 1–10 days; 12% were unable to wash on every day and 11% could wash on 1–10 days. In patients who could walk ‘today’ average 4 m gait speed was 0.78 ± 0.28 m/s. Patients who reported impaired walking and washing experienced more symptoms (dyspnoea, exertion, and oedema) and decreased physical function (higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, and lower Karnofsky Performance Status and hand‐grip strength [unable vs. able to walk ‘today’: 205 ± 87 vs. 252 ± 78 Newton, P = 0.001; unable vs. able to wash ‘today’: 204 ± 86 vs. 250 ± 80 Newton, P = 0.001]). During the 27 months of observation, 152 (90%) patients died (median survival 46 days). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, all tested parameters were independent predictors of survival: walking 4 m ‘today’ (HR 0.63, P = 0.015), ‘last week’ (per 1 day: HR 0.93, P = 0.011), ‘last month’ (per 1 day: HR 0.98, P = 0.012), 4 m gait speed (per 1 m/s: HR 0.45, P = 0.002), and washing ‘today’ (HR 0.67, P = 0.024), ‘last week (per 1 day HR 0.94, p=0.019), and ‘last month’ (per 1 day HR 0.99, P = 0.040). Patients unable to walk and wash experienced the shortest survival and most reduced functional status.

Conclusions

In patients with pre‐terminal cancer, the self‐reported ability to walk 4 m and wash were independent predictors of survival and associated with decreased functional status.
Changes in volatile profile and related gene expression during senescence of tobacco leaves
Authors: Wen Lichao , Cao Jianmin , Li Wei , Guo Yongfeng
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Volatile organic compounds are critical for food flavor and play important roles in plant–plant interactions and plants' communications with the environment. Tobacco is well‐studied for secondary metabolism and most of the typical flavor substances in tobacco leaves are generated at the mature stage of leaf development. However, the changes in volatiles during leaf senescence are rarely studied.

RESULTS

The volatile composition of tobacco leaves at different stages of senescence was characterized for the first time. Comparative volatile profiling of tobacco leaves at different stages was performed using solid‐phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In total, 45 volatile compounds were identified and quantified, including terpenoids, green leaf volatiles (GLVs), phenylpropanoids, Maillard reaction products, esters, and alkanes. Most of the volatile compounds showed differential accumulation during leaf senescence. Some terpenoids, including neophytadiene,β‐springene, and 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one, increased significantly with the progress of leaf senescence. Hexanal and phenylacetaldehyde also showed increased accumulation in leaves during senescence. The results from gene expression profiling indicated that genes involved in metabolism of terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and GLVs were differentially expressed during leaf yellowing.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic changes in volatile compounds during tobacco leaf senescence are observed and the integration of gene‐metabolites datasets offers important readouts for the genetic control of volatile production during the process of leaf senescence. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assessment of consumers’ preference for orange‐fleshed sweet potato puree chapati: a case of rural and urban consumers in Kenya
Authors: Owuor Antonate Akinyi , Otieno David Jakinda , Okello Julius Juma , Oluoch‐Kosura Willis , Dufour Dominique
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

Orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is bio‐fortified with vitamin A precursors through breeding and is thus ideal for combating vitamin A deficiency (VAD). One of the potential mechanisms to promote the consumption of OFSP is to enhance its availability through processing into products with a longer shelf life and more desirable to consumers. However, very few farmers and agro‐processors practice value addition due to market uncertainties; there is little information on market availability for OFSP products. This study examined consumers’ preference for OFSP puree chapati in rural and urban areas of Kenya, using the contingent valuation method. Data was collected from a random sample of 411 sweet potato consumers and a double‐bounded logit model was applied to analyze consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for OFSP puree chapati.

RESULTS

Consumers were willing to pay a price of Kenya shillings (KES) 19 (USD 0.14) and 35 (USD 0.26) for OFSP puree chapati in Homa Bay and Nairobi counties, respectively. The presence of children under 5 years in a household, consumers’ awareness of OFSP products and benefits of consuming OFSP, and level of education had a positive and significant influence on WTP for OFSP puree chapati in both regions.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that consumers exhibited a positive preference for OFSP puree chapati. In order to increase the consumption of OFSP and its value‐added products, it is important to promote consumer awareness of OFSP puree chapati and other such nutritious products through cooking demonstrations and other nudging approaches using attractive illustrations and social media platforms that engage mothers and care‐givers of children under 5 years old as well as the youth. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Toward Highly Matching the Dura Mater: A Polyurethane Integrating Biocompatible, Leak‐Proof, and Self‐Healing Properties
Authors: Chen Pandi , Li Fenglong , Wang Guyue , Ying Binbin , Chen Chao , Tian Ying , Chen Maosong , Lee Kyung Jin , Ying Wu Bin , Zhu Jin
Published: May 2023

The dura mater is the final barrier against cerebrospinal fluid leakage and plays a crucial role in protecting and supporting the brain and spinal cord. Head trauma, tumor resection and other traumas damage it, requiring artificial dura mater for repair.  However, surgical tears are often unavoidable. To address these issues, the ideal artificial dura mater should have biocompatibility, anti‐leakage, and self‐healing properties. Herein, this work has used biocompatible polycaprolactone diol as the soft segment and introduced dynamic disulfide bonds into the hard segment, achieving a multifunctional polyurethane (LSPU‐2), which integrated the above mentioned properties required in surgery. In particular, LSPU‐2 matches the mechanical properties of the dura mater and the biocompatibility tests with neuronal cells demonstrate extremely low cytotoxicity and do not cause any negative skin lesions. In addition, the anti‐leakage properties of the LSPU‐2 are confirmed by the water permeability tester and the 900 mm H2O static pressure test with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Due to the disulfide bond exchange and molecular chain mobility, LSPU‐2 could be completely self‐healed within 115 min at human body temperature. Thus, LSPU‐2 comprises one of the most promising potential artificial dura materials, which is essential for the advancement of artificial dura mater and brain surgery.
Consequences of the additional presence of MC carbides on the behavior in oxidation at 1000°C of a cast Cantor high entropy alloy
Authors: Berthod Patrice
Published: May 2023

MC carbides can be successfully obtained in grain boundaries of some high entropy alloys of the Cantor type, to significantly improve their mechanical properties at high temperatures. They can also not be neutral for oxidation behavior. To explore their possible influence in this field, an equimolar CoNiFeMnCr reference alloy and two versions containing TaC or HfC carbides were prepared by casting and exposed to air at 1000°C. Their oxidation behaviors were studied by the analysis of mass gain kinetics measured in thermobalance and the characterization of the oxidation states of samples exposed in the furnace at the same temperature. The metallographic results show that, for all alloys, Mn is more involved in oxidation than Cr. The formation of a mixed oxide of these two elements is much less protective than chromia, as a result, mass gain much faster than chromia‐forming alloys. The presence of HfC carbides deteriorates again the oxidation behavior, in contrast with TaC which stays neutral in this field. From this point of view as well as for the mechanical one, TaC is to be preferred to HfC for strengthening the Cantor alloy.
Cerium lactate as green corrosion inhibitor of AA2024 alloy
Authors: Simović Anđela R. , Radojković Bojana M. , Jegdić Bore V. , Milojević Milica , Bajat Jelena B.
Published: May 2023

This paper evaluated the inhibitory effect of Ce‐chloride and Na‐lactate mixture on the AA2024 aluminum alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was applied for testing the general corrosion resistance, while potentiodynamic polarization measurement was applied for determining the alloy pitting corrosion resistance in NaCl and inhibitive solutions. The presence of cerium on the cathodic intermetallic particles was confirmed by scanning electron microscope/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis. The mixture of Ce‐chloride and Na‐lactate was a more effective corrosion inhibitor than Ce‐chloride alone. The inhibitors mixture is a mixed‐type corrosion inhibitor with a higher influence on slowing down the cathodic reaction of oxygen reduction. The adsorption of the inhibitor, the presence of cerium in different oxidation states (Ce3+ and Ce4+), and lactate anion (C–C/C–H, C–OH, C═O, and O–C═O group) were confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. A mechanism of inhibitor adsorption on the surface of AA2024 alloy in NaCl solution was proposed.
Side Chain Engineering of Amphiphilic Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Biofilm Ablation
Authors: Jinghan Ren , Zhanshuo Cao , Minghui Wang , Dong Gao , Chengfen Xing
Published: May 2023

Biofilm recalcitrance, which enables bacteria to survive deep within the body under antimicrobial treatment, leading to persistent infections by reducing the penetration of antimicrobials, remains a major challenge in the antibacterial field. Conjugated polymer‐based nanoparticles with near‐infrared (NIR) photo responsiveness have emerged as a promising class of photothermal agents for biofilm ablation. However, the development of CPNs has been limited due to dissociation of the nanoparticles synthesized through nanoprecipitation. In this study, surface‐functionalized amphiphilic conjugated polymer‐based nanoparticles with photothermal conversion capacity for pH‐responsive targeting of bacteria are developed. The pH‐sensitive properties of the nanoparticles promote their adhesion to negatively charged bacterial surfaces, resulting in accumulation in biofilms. This accumulation enhances the ablation efficiency of biofilms under the synergistic photothermal effect. The method of constructing functional amphiphilic conjugated polymer‐based nanoparticles is simple to operate and can be used universally, providing a potential design option for biocompatible light‐responsive nanoparticles for in vivo applications.
Strongly unfoldable, splitting and bounding
Authors: Bağ Ömer Faruk , Fischer Vera
Published: May 2023

Assuming , we show that generalized eventually narrow sequences on a strongly inaccessible cardinal κ are preserved under a one step iteration of the Hechler forcing for adding a dominating κ‐real. Moreover, we show that if κ is strongly unfoldable, and λ is a regular cardinal such that , then there is a set generic extension in which .
Well‐posedness and dynamics for the von Karman equation with memory and nonlinear time‐varying delay
Authors: Cui Xiaona , Li Ke
Published: May 2023

This paper is concerned with mathematical analysis for the viscoelastic von Karman equation with memory and time‐varying delay. Based on the existence and uniqueness of the strong solution established by Galerkin method, the finite dimensional global attractor for the system without time‐varying delay has been shown by using the quasi‐stability theory. The difficulties for our desired well‐posedness are the limiting of fourth‐order derivative terms and the von Karman bracket term, which need some delicate estimates to achieve. The key point for the dynamics is to obtain the quasi‐stability for gradient system, which needs the higher regularity of trajectory especially the von Karman bracket.
On stabilization of an axially moving string with a tip mass subject to an unbounded disturbance
Authors: Kelleche Abdelkarim , Saedpanah Fardin , Abdallaoui Athmane
Published: May 2023

This paper deals with the stabilization problem of an axially moving string with a tip mass attached at the free end and subject to an external disturbance. The disturbance here is not uniformly bounded, and it is assumed to be exponentially increasing. First, the tip mass equation is designed under a boundary controller. By using this equation, the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) technique is applied to design a disturbance observer, and it is shown that the observer can be estimated exponentially. Then, the closed‐loop system is formulated and the well‐posedness of the model is proved in the framework of the semigroup theory. The stability of the closed‐loop system is then proved by means of the multiplier technique, where the energy system converges to equilibrium with an exponential manner. The efficiency of the obtained results is verified through numerical simulations.
Weak and strong stability of the inverse Sturm‐Liouville problem
Authors: Guo Yan , Ma Li‐Jie , Xu Xiao‐Chuan , An Qi
Published: May 2023

In this work, we study the stability of the inverse Sturm‐Liouville problem with the Neumann boundary condition at the left ending point and the Robin boundary condition at the right ending point. We estimate the difference of two potentials in the sense of weakness and
‐norm, in terms of the difference of two spectra. Since the Neumann boundary condition may become the Robin boundary condition after small perturbation of the spectra, our stability results also include this situation.
Semilocal and local convergence of multistep iterative compositions for nonlinear models
Authors: Behl Ramandeep , Argyros I.K. , Mallawi F.
Published: May 2023

Single‐step compositions have been used extensively to develop sequences converging to a solution of an abstract equation provided that certain conditions hold on the initial data. For elevating the convergence order
and the efficiency of these compositions, multistep compositions have been developed by numerous authors. In either case, the convergence order has been established by employing Taylor series expansions. Moreover, the presence of derivatives of higher order is assumed not on such compositions. But, these compositions may converge even if these high‐order derivatives do not exist. That is why a process is developed that shows the convergence of these compositions by relying only on the operator and the first derivatives, which are actually involved on these compositions. Hence, the applicability of iterative compositions is extended. The process is applied to a certain
‐step composition. We can also adopt our approach on other existing compositions with the help of inverse linear operators in a similar fashion. Numerical experiments further illuminate the results.
Towards quantitative digital subtraction perfusion angiography: An animal study
Authors: Su Ruisheng , van der Sluijs P. Matthijs , Bobi Joaquim , Taha Aladdin , van Beusekom Heleen M. M. , van der Lugt Aad , Niessen Wiro J. , Ruijters Danny , van Walsum Theo
Published: May 2023

Background

X‐ray digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the imaging modality for peri‐procedural guidance and treatment evaluation in (neuro‐) vascular interventions. Perfusion image construction from DSA, as a means of quantitatively depicting cerebral hemodynamics, has been shown feasible. However, the quantitative property of perfusion DSA has not been well studied.

Purpose

To comparatively study the independence of deconvolution‐based perfusion DSA with respect to varying injection protocols, as well as its sensitivity to alterations in brain conditions.

Methods

We developed a deconvolution‐based algorithm to compute perfusion parametric images from DSA, including cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), time to maximum (Tmax), and mean transit time (MTT) and applied it to DSA sequences obtained from two swine models. We also extracted the time intensity curve (TIC)‐derived parameters, that is, area under the curve (AUC), peak concentration of the curve, and the time to peak (TTP) from these sequences. Deconvolution‐based parameters were quantitatively compared to TIC‐derived parameters in terms of consistency upon variations in injection profile and time resolution of DSA, as well as sensitivity to alterations of cerebral condition.

Results

Comparing to TIC‐derived parameters, the standard deviation (SD) of deconvolution‐based parameters (normalized with respect to the mean) are two to five times smaller, indicating that they are more consistent across different injection protocols and time resolutions. Upon ischemic stroke induced in a swine model, the sensitivities of deconvolution‐based parameters are equal to, if not higher than, those of TIC‐derived parameters.

Conclusions

In comparison to TIC‐derived parameters, deconvolution‐based perfusion imaging in DSA shows significantly higher quantitative reliability against variations in injection protocols across different time resolutions, and is sensitive to alterations in cerebral hemodynamics. The quantitative nature of perfusion angiography may allow for objective treatment assessment in neurovascular interventions.
Perspectives of nurses regarding pain assessment and management during routine infant vaccination in Ghana
Authors: Annan Emma , Ramukumba Tendani S. , Stevens Bonnie J.
Published: May 2023

Aim

To explore the perspectives of nurses regarding pain and its management during routine infant vaccination at the Child Welfare Clinics in Ghana.

Design

Qualitative descriptive design.

Methods

Qualitative in depth, in‐person interviews using a semistructured interview guide were conducted with 19 Registered Nurses who were were purposively sampled from three selected Child Welfare Clinics in hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, The Tesch cotent analysis procedure was followed for the analysis of interview data.

Results

Nurses were aware that the injections they give infants are painful. They described how infants exhibit certain behaviours to express pain. Although nurses support infant pain management during vaccination, they rarely use evidenced‐based pain interventions.
Validation and psychometric properties of the Persian version of the MISSCARE survey
Authors: Rahimi Shoeleh , Ebadi Abbas , Khankeh Hamid Reza , Eghbali Mohammad , Sharifi Azam , Mohammadian Batol , Lotfi Mohammad Sajjad
Published: May 2023

Aim

To conduct, translate, and psychometric evaluation of the MISSCARE‐Persian Survey.

Design

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Iran in February–June 2021.

Methods

The translation of the MISSCARE Survey was accomplished according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Construct validity was performed by (N = 300) exploratory factor analysis and confirmation. To assess the reliability, internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and relative stability was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The study adhered to COSMIN guidelines.

Results

The exploratory factor analysis, which resulted in the identification of three factors in the second part of the tool, explained 79.6% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the model's good fit of information. The reliability of the first and second parts of the tool was 0.912 and 0.901, respectively. Additionally, the ICC was found to be 0.687 for the first and 0.706 for the second part of the tool.
Prognostic Value of Tumor Multifocality in Pediatric Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Real‐Life Multicentric Study
Authors: Xu Yangmengyuan , Shi Lei , Wu Jie , Li Huilan , Wang Yu , Liu Bin
Published: May 2023

Objective

To investigate the association of multifocality with clinical outcomes in pediatric papillary thyroid cancer.

Study Design

Multicenter retrospective study of prospectively collected data.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Methods

This study included patients 18 years or younger who underwent total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) between 2005 and 2020 at 3 tertiary adult and pediatric hospitals in China. For disease‐free survival (DFS), events were defined as persistent and/or recurrent diseases. The primary outcome was the association of tumor multifocality and DFS, assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

One hundred and seventy‐three patients (median age 16 years [range, 5‐18 years]) were recruited. Multifocal diseases were seen in 59 patients (34.1%). After a median follow‐up of 57 (range, 12‐193 months) months, 63 (36.4%) patients had persistent diseases. There was a significant association between tumor multifocality and decreased DFS on univariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.90, p = .01), yet it was nonsignificant after multivariate adjustment (HR = 1.20, p = .55). In a subgroup analysis of 132 pediatric patients with clinically M0 PTC, neither unadjusted HR (2.21, p = .06) nor adjusted HR (1.70, p = .27) of multifocal PTC was significantly higher in comparison to unifocal PTC.

Conclusion

In this highly selective surgical pediatric patient cohort with PTC, tumor multifocality was not an independent risk factor for decreased DFS.
“I can't escape!”: Avoidantly attached individuals' conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction before and during the COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: Bretaña Ione , Alonso‐Arbiol Itziar , Kittel Kristel , Ubillos‐Landa Silvia
Published: May 2023

Increased time spent together and the lockdown resulting from the COVID‐19 pandemic may have created new scenarios for marital conflict. We analyzed how home confinement affects avoidantly attached individuals': (a) resolution strategies to cope with couple conflict, (b) perception of partner's resolution strategies, and (c) overall relationship satisfaction. The sample comprised 549 individuals, divided into two subsamples: (a) the confined group, individuals confined with their partners (n = 275); and (b) the comparison group, coupled individuals from a dataset collected before the pandemic (n = 274). Results indicate that the proposed model works in different contexts (non‐confinement and confinement situations), but there are some significant differences in the magnitude of some of the relationships between the variables, being stronger in the confinement group than in the comparison group. In the confined group, in individuals with avoidant attachment, withdrawal was associated with lower relationship satisfaction and a higher demand partner perceived to a higher extent than in the comparison group. This might explain the lower satisfaction with the relationship of the confined group. The different conflict resolution strategies of the couple mediated between avoidant attachment and relationship satisfaction in both groups (confined and comparison). It is concluded that individuals' attachment orientation is a key factor in how individuals experienced their close relationships during the confinement.
Motivation and hesitation of healthcare workers to work during the H1N1 influenza and COVID‐19 pandemics: An exploratory single‐centered repeated cross‐sectional study
Authors: Imai Hissei , Fukushima Haruko , Miyakoshi Chisato , Matsuishi Kunitaka
Published: May 2023

Aim

Pandemics of life‐threatening viruses have detrimental impacts on the motivation of healthcare workers to work. However, no study has examined this impact during different pandemics with the same setting and design. This study aimed to reveal similarities and differences in factors associated with willingness and hesitation to work between two recent pandemics, H1N1 influenza and COVID‐19, in the same hospital, using the same questionnaire.

Methods

Healthcare workers in one hospital in Japan completed a questionnaire on basic characteristics and stress‐related questions during the H1N1 influenza (n = 1061) and the COVID‐19 (n = 1111) pandemics. Logistic regressions were performed to ascertain the effect of personal characteristics and stress‐related questions on the likelihood that employees showed strong or weak motivation or hesitation to work.

Results

The feeling of being protected by the hospital was the only factor that significantly decreased hesitation and increased motivation to work, and females felt significantly more hesitation to work than males did in both pandemics.

Conclusions

Hospital managers and government officers should focus on increasing organizational support and caring for female workers to maintain healthcare workers' motivation to work during future pandemics.
Multidimensional poverty in South‐West Nigeria: Empirical insights from a household survey in Osun State
Authors: Oyebamiji Oluwaseun A. , Khan Mohsin
Published: May 2023

By employing Alkire and Foster's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and the Foster‐Greer‐Thorbecke methods of measuring poverty, this paper ascertained both monetary and multidimensional poverty among rural households in South‐West Nigeria. Overall, 50.3% and 40.1% of households were found to be unidimensionally and multidimensionally poor, respectively. The results also revealed that living standards are the highest contributor towards the MPI, followed by access to the internet and education. A probit analysis shows that female‐headed households and those headed by Muslims and particularly the Yoruba tribe are highly affected by poverty. Also, a household head's education, age, and income as well as a household's size significantly contribute to MPI, calling policymakers to prioritize the equal provision of health, education, and internet facilities in rural areas.
Land quality, income, and poverty among rural households in the North Central Region, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Yen H. T. , Tran Tuyen Q. , Hoang Dung T. , Tran Thu M. T. , Nguyen Trung T.
Published: May 2023

While the role of agricultural land size in rural Vietnam is well established for rural livelihoods, no evidence for the importance of land quality has been provided thus far in the literature. In the current study of the North Central Region of Vietnam, we examine how land quality affects crop income, total income, and poverty using secondary data from a sample of 2,468 households. In particular, we used an instrumental variable method to address the potential endogeneity of land quality. We provide the first evidence that land quality increases local household income and the likelihood of escaping poverty. The finding is robust even after accounting for the endogeneity of land quality and controlling for various important household characteristics. Notably, we show the mechanism by which land quality positively affects income and poverty reduction through its positive effect on crop income. Also, our study reveals that land fragmentation is negatively linked with land quality. This could be explained by the fact that fragmented land receives less investment (e.g., fertilizers or irrigation), resulting in lower land quality. The study offers a useful implication that reducing fragmentation may help local households invest more in land, thereby increasing crop income, which in turn improves their economic well‐being.
The effect of plasma‐activated water in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Gromova Barbora , Konecna Barbora , Suchonova Maria , Pasztor Slavomir , Celec Peter , Tothova Lubomira , Lichvar Michal , Budis Jaroslav , Radvanszky Jan , Rusnakova Diana , Szemes Tomas , Machala Zdenko , Gardlik Roman
Published: May 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders with complex pathogenesis, including oxidative stress and microbial dysbiosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of intracolonic administration of plasma‐activated water (PAW) on the oxidative status and gut microbiota diversity in the colon of healthy mice and mice with IBD. Interestingly, PAW increased oxidative stress markers in the colon tissue, and this effect was more pronounced in IBD mice. Our results show that PAW increases microbial diversity in a healthy gut and decreases it in an inflamed gut. We conclude that the effect of PAW is bidirectional and depends on the underlying condition. Our findings do not support the proposed therapeutic potential of PAW in IBD.
Impact of a computerized physician order entry system on medication safety in pediatrics—The AVOID study
Authors: Wimmer Stefan , Toni Irmgard , Botzenhardt Sebastian , Trollmann Regina , Rascher Wolfgang , Neubert Antje
Published: May 2023

Background

One of the most critical steps in the medication process on pediatric wards is the medical prescription. This study aims to investigate the impact of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system on Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) and potentially harmful ADEs (pot ADEs) in comparison with paper‐based documentation in a general pediatric ward at a German University hospital.

Methods

A prospective pre–post study was conducted. All patients aged 17 years or younger were observed during the study periods (5 months pre‐ and postimplementation). Issues Regarding Medication (IRM) were identified by intensive chart review. Events were assessed regarding causality (WHO), severity (WHO; Dean & Barber for MEs), and preventability (Shumock) and classified into (pot) ADEs, (pot) Medication errors (ME), Adverse drug Reactions (ADR), and Other incidents (OI) accordingly.

Results

Total of 333 patients with medication were included in the paper‐based prescribing cohort (phase I) and 320 patients with medication in the electronic prescribing cohort (phase II). In each cohort, patients received a median number of four different drugs (IQR 5 and IQR 4). A total of 3966 IRM was observed. During the hospitalization, 2.7% (n = 9) patients in phase I and 2.8% (n = 9) in phase II experienced an ADE. Potentially harmful MEs were less often observed in the cohort with electronic prescribing (n = 228 vs. n = 562). The mean number per patient significantly decreased from 1.69 to 0.71 (p < .01).

Conclusion

The implementation of a CPOE system resulted in a reduction of issues regarding medication, particularly MEs with the potential to harm patients decreased significantly.
Exploring Australian pharmacists' views toward reducing the risk of medicines‐related harm in aged care residents
Authors: Ali Sheraz , Curtain Colin M. , Peterson Gregory M. , Salahudeen Mohammed S.
Published: May 2023

Medicines‐related harm is common in older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Pharmacists offering services in the aged care sector may play a key role in reducing medicines‐related injury. This study aimed to explore Australian pharmacists' views toward reducing the risk of medicines‐related harm in older residents. Qualitative, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 Pharmacists across Australia providing services (e.g., through the provision of medication reviews, supplying medications, or being an embedded pharmacist) to RACFs identified via convenience sampling. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis using an inductive approach. Medicines‐related harm was thought to occur due to polypharmacy, inappropriate medicines, anticholinergic activity, sedative load, and lack of reconciliation of medicines. Pharmacists reported that strong relationships, education of all stakeholders, and funding for pharmacists were facilitators in reducing medicines‐related harm. Pharmacists stated that renal impairment, frailty, staff non‐engagement, staff burnout, family pressure, and underfunding were barriers to reducing medicines‐related harm. Additionally, the participants suggested pharmacist education, experience, and mentoring improve aged care interactions. Pharmacists believed that the irrational use of medicines increases harm in aged care residents, and medicines‐specific (e.g., sedative load) and patient‐specific risk factors (e.g., renal impairment) are associated with injuries in residents. To reduce medicines‐related harm, the participants highlighted the need for increased funding for pharmacists, improving all stakeholders' awareness about medicines‐associated harms through education, and ensuring collaboration between healthcare professionals caring for older residents.
Population pharmacokinetic analysis of sparsentan in healthy volunteers and patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Wada Russell , Kleijn Huub Jan , Zhang Lu , Chen Shang‐Chiung
Published: May 2023

Sparsentan is a single‐molecule dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist (DEARA) currently under investigation as a treatment for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). A population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed to characterize the PKs of sparsentan and to evaluate the impact of FSGS disease characteristics and co‐medications as covariates on sparsentan PKs. Blood samples were collected from 236 healthy volunteers, 16 subjects with hepatic impairment, and 194 primary and genetic FSGS patients enrolled in nine studies ranging from phase I to phase III. Sparsentan plasma concentrations were determined using validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with a lower limit of quantitation of 2 ng/mL. Modeling was conducted with the first‐order conditional estimation with η–ϵ interaction (FOCE‐1) method in NONMEM. A total of 20 covariates were tested using a univariate forward addition and stepwise backward elimination analysis with significance level of p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively. A two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and an absorption lag time with proportional plus additive residual error (2 ng/mL) described sparsentan PKs. A 32% increase of clearance due to CYP3A auto‐induction occurred at steady‐state. Covariates retained in the final model included formulation, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitor co‐administration, sex, race, creatinine clearance, and serum alkaline phosphatase. Moderate and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors comedications increased area under the concentration‐time curve by 31.4% and 191.3%, respectively. This population PK model of sparsentan suggests that dose adjustments may be warranted for patients taking moderate and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors concomitantly, but other covariates analyzed may not require dose adjustments.
Visualization of Macroscopic Ising Superconducting State in Superconductor‐Graphene Junctions
Authors: Chen Yaoyao , Zhang Yu , Huang Ze‐Ping , Jia Liang‐Guang , Liu Li‐Wei , Yang Hui‐Xia , Zhang Teng , He Lin , Zhou Jia‐Dong , Huang Yuan , Li Yuan‐Chang , Liu Hai‐Wen , Gao Hong‐Jun , Wang Ye‐Liang
Published: May 2023

Graphene‐based two‐dimensional van der Waals Josephson junctions with superconductors are hopeful for realizing versatile quantum devices. However, research on the junctions with Ising superconductors in atomic‐layer transition metal dichalcogenides, whose superconductivity is resilient to strong in‐plane magnetic fields, has remained elusive. Here the scanning tunneling microscopy study of Ising superconductivity in single‐layer (SL) NbSe2 island and its long‐range proximity effect to the adjacent graphene with high spatial and energy resolution is reported. It is found that SL NbSe2 island manifests as an Ising superconductor while the island area is larger than about 800 nm2. Moreover, the superconducting proximity effect from the NbSe2 island generates a superconducting gap in graphene, which can extend to over several tens of nanometers without obvious decay. Such a long‐range proximity effect makes the intrinsically non‐superconducting graphene as a superconductor. More intriguingly, such a superconducting gap can survive under strong in‐plane magnetic fields, following the Ising behavior of that in SL NbSe2. This work reveals a brand‐new macroscopic Ising superconducting regime, opening perspectives for superconductor‐based quantum devices with outstanding functionality.
Using the Features of Written Compositions to Understand Reading Comprehension
Authors: Zagata Elizabeth , Kearns Devin , Truckenmiller Adrea J. , Zhao Zichen
Published: May 2023

The current study is an exploration of the association between the characteristics of students' written compositions and their reading comprehension performance. We address the empirical question about the degree to which writing is predictive of reading comprehension by comparing the utility of several popular written composition metrics. These include the 6+1 Trait® Model of Writing, a metric from curriculum‐based measurement in written expression, Coh‐Metrix, and automated counts of word features. The dependent variable for all data analytic models was the reading comprehension score (RC score) from the FAIR‐FS. First, we conducted two random forest regressions, one containing the reading skills, namely, scores on the vocabulary, syntax, word recognition, and reading fluency tasks on the FAIR‐FS and the other containing these reading skills in addition to all of the writing scores calculated from the written composition task. Second, we use the importance indices from the random forest regression to select skills to include in an explanatory regression model. In addition to finding that the writing related skills added to the importance, we further found that the most important skills in the random forest regression were reading‐related followed by the various instantiations of curriculum‐based measures, number of morphemes, and incidence of gerund density. These signify a unique contribution between curriculum‐based measures and reading comprehension when accounting for comprehension‐related reading skills thus furthering our understanding of the interdependency between the components of writing and reading.
The person‐time ratio distribution for the exact monitoring of adverse events: Historical vs surveillance Poisson data
Authors: Silva Ivair R. , Montalban Joselito
Published: May 2023

In the postmarket drug and vaccine safety surveillance, when the number of adverse events follows a Poisson distribution, the ratio between the exposed and the unexposed person‐time information is the random variable that governs the decision rule about the safety of the drug or vaccine. The probability distribution function of such a ratio is derived in this paper. Exact point and interval estimators for the relative risk are discussed as well as statistical hypothesis testing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that provides an unbiased estimator for the relative risk based on the person‐time ratio. The applicability of this new distribution is illustrated through a real data analysis aimed to detect increased risk of occurrence of Myocarditis/Pericarditis following mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination in Manitoba, Canada.
The Potential of C‐Glycosylflavonoids as α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors Determined by Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and IC50 Studies
Authors: Sadeghi Morteza , Shakouri Khomartash Mehdi , Taslimi Parham
Published: May 2023

Inhibition of intestinal α‐glucosidase (αGS), a crucial enzyme in carbohydrate digestion, is an effective therapeutic approach for diabetes mellitus treatment. The C‐glycosylflavonoids (CGFs) are natural compounds with antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti‐inflammatory activities. The present work seeks an alternative compound among CGFs that can control the blood glucose level by inhibiting αGS enzyme activity. Therefore, ten CGFs were selected and carried out the docking to αGS. The docking outcomes proposed that among selected CGFs, the orientin compound can successfully interact with the key residues of Asp215, Glu277, Asp352, Arg442, and Arg446. Of them, the orientin compound with docking energy of −6.11 Kcal/mol, was subsequently subjected to molecular dynamics simulation (MDs), and in vitro investigation. MDs results indicated that orientin formed a stable complex with αGS enzyme. We also performed molecular mechanics generalized Born and surface area (MM/GBSA) free energy calculation manner on all chosen CGFs along with miglitol as reference. The IC50 value of orientin for αGS inhibition with competitive mode was found to be 0.13 mg/ml. The results highlight that orientin can be considered as a possible compound in treating DM via αGS inhibition. However, further in vitro and in vivo analyses are required to confirm this claim.