bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iodine and goitrogens intakes among menopausal women in calcareous region
Authors: Mutalazimah Mutalazimah , Mardiyati Nur Lathifah , Isnaeni Farida Nur , Puspitasari Dyah Intan
Published: September 2024

Wonogiri Regency, Indonesia, is a calcareous mountainous region which has limitations in terms of iodine content in soil and water. Kismantoro is one of the Sub-districts in the regency with severe iodine deficiency. This condition is related to the intake of iodine and factors that inhibit the intake of iodine such as goitrogens. This causal-comparative study was conducted to determine the difference of iodine and goitrogenic foods intakes among menopausal women in Kismantoro Sub-district. A total of 307 menopausal women were taken randomly. Iodine intake as well as goitrogens were measured using the semi quantitative-food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). There was no difference in the percentage of recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iodine intake (p=0.857) and goitrogens intake (p=0.084) among the menopausal women, but there were differences in energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake (p<0.001) respectively. In addition, the prevalence of goiter was 10.4% which did not differ in the premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups (p=0.227). However, it was found that most menopausal women had insufficient iodine intake (71.3%) and frequent goitrogenic foods intake (68.7%). Thus, a synergistic manner between stakeholders is still needed to improve the variation of iodine food sources while consume less goitrogens in the area.
Spatial analysis and forecasting map of diarrhea incidents in Banjar District
Authors: Fakhrizal Deni , Suhartono Eko , Prihartini Nopi Stiyati , Noor Meitria Syahdatina , Syauqiah Isna
Published: September 2024

Diarrhea is a common disease in the community and can be fatal if treatment is delayed. Banjar District has recorded the highest prevalence of diarrhea in South Kalimantan for the past few years, making it one of the causes of death in toddlers. This study aims to conduct spatial analysis using Moran's I index and local indicators of spatial association (LISA). Diarrhea case predictions are made using the multiplicative decomposition time series method. The data used in this study are diarrhea case data from 20 sub-districts in Banjar District during the period 2016-2022. Although no global autocorrelation was found in Banjar District, there were two sub-districts that showed local autocorrelation. The prediction results show a decreasing trend in diarrhea cases in most sub-districts. Health interventions can be focused on areas with high risk, such as hotspot areas and areas predicted not to experience a decrease in diarrhea cases.
Supportive-educative nursing on knowledge, self-efficacy and medication compliance in pulmonary TB patients
Authors: Muhtar Muhtar , Aniharyati Aniharyati , Kurniadi Kurniadi , Kushariyadi Kushariyadi
Published: September 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) cases are very developed in Indonesia and are ranked second largest in the world with 8.5% of global cases. We aim to analyze the effect of supportive-educational nursing interventions on self-efficacy, medication adherence and knowledge of TB patients. The research design used is a quasi-experimental with control group design. The treatment group was given supportive educational nursing using pocket books and teaching aids, while the control group was given education by health workers using leaflets. This research was conducted in the Bima city area by randomly selecting pulmonary TB sufferers in seven community health centers. The sample size is calculated use the Slovin formula and get the sample size was 64 people. Wilcoxon sign rank test and mann whittney was used in this research. The Finding show that there were differences in knowledge, self-efficacy, and treatment adherence in the intervention group regarding pulmonary TB with p-values=0.000, 0.000, 0.001 respectively. Findings show that in the control and treatment post-test groups, there were differences in the variables of self-efficacy, treatment compliance and knowledge with p-values=0.001, 0.000, 0.000, respectively. The conclusion was the intervention given to the treatment group had an impact on increasing self-efficacy, pathophysiology and knowledge compared to the control group in TB patients.
Recovery, self-stigma, quality of life, and the determinants among people with schizophrenia: a systematic review
Authors: Sawab Sawab , Yusuf Ah , Fitryasari Rizki , Iswanti Dwi Indah
Published: September 2024

Recovery and quality of life for people with schizophrenia (PWS) are persisting challenges in mental health services. Therefore, this research aims to investigate factors contributing significantly to PWS recovery for quality-of-life enhancement. A comprehensive search across six databases, including Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, SpringerLink, Web of Science, and CINAHL generated 196, 122, 134, 79, 51, and 113 articles, respectively, for screening. These 695 articles focused on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in recovery, as well as comprised journal publications from 2019 to 2023 and quantitative or qualitative research published in English. A total of 22 articles that met the inclusion criteria were subject to a review process. The results showed that PWS recovery was influenced by coping strategies, illness severity, treatment compliance, hope, spirituality, social support, and partnerships, while self-stigma hindered recovery and quality of life. However, spirituality was found to significantly foster hope, self-confidence, self-control, and meaning for PWS. Health profesional played an important role in the recovery process through the establishment of partnerships, provision of coping skills, and empowerment of patients.
Analysis of risk factors and prevention strategy in accidents among coal hauling trucks: a scoping review
Authors: Adenan Adenan , Djunaidi Zulkifli
Published: September 2024

Powered hauling equipment is one of the most critical operational elements in the mining sector. Haulage is a significant hazard for the mining industry, accounting for over half of all mining-related fatal accidents yearly. Identifying safety risk variables is the foundation of risk assessment and accident prevention. This study aimed to identify risk variables and prevention techniques to reduce occurrences among truck drivers in coal mining. This research approach is a scoping review with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Thirty-five articles were reviewed based on the results of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using content analysis. The results show that human, environmental, machine and organizational factors contribute to the risk among truck drivers in coal mining. Safety culture, staffing and scheduling, training and education, policy and procedure implementation, and technology deployment are all part of the accident prevention plan. The central government should pay particular attention to the employment conditions of workers in cities with decreased resources and develop policies to prevent mining-related diseases in local communities.
Spatial study of the implementation of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and albendazole in an urban area
Authors: Nafilata Ikrimah , Supali Taniawati , Wahyono Tri Yunis Miko , Prihartono Nurhayati Adnan , Hikmah Kholisotul , Devi Yuli Puspita
Published: September 2024

Studies on lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Indonesia have mostly focused on the disease determinants with limited focus on spatial-based and the determinants of implementing ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and albendazole (IDA). This study aimed to identify the causes of program failure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2022 in nine urban villages with high endemic records and one sentinel village in Pekalongan City, Central Java, Indonesia. The analysis using Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS) and Pearson correlation. Slum settlements were linked to the presence of open sewers (p=0.000; r=0.974) and overcrowding (p=0.033; r=0.672), while the first round of IDA medication adherence correlated with knowledge of medication (p=0.054; r=-0.623) and willingness to take the medication in the second round (p=0.051, r=0.603). Adverse effects of the treatment are strongly correlated with drug boredom from taking medication (p=0.003; r=0.828) and assistance from health workers (p=0.027; r=0.791). We identified gaps in slum settlements, open sewers, overcrowding and medication adherence, including low knowledge of medication, unwillingness to take second-round medication, adverse effects, and boredom with taking medication. We recommend effective strategies by engaging health education between health workers, local leaders, and private sectors as key to ensuring elimination program.
Capacity strengthening of village health volunteers during and post-COVID-19: a model to prepare for emerging diseases
Authors: Nawan Punnatorn , Raksilp Monthicha , Kankarn Waratip , Songserm Nopparat
Published: September 2024

Village health volunteers (VHVs) were essential in handling during and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to develop the capacity enhancement model of VHVs in preventing COVID-19 in Thailand. The development process and data collection used 12 stakeholders and 55 VHVs, respectively. The research tools were focus group discussions and questionnaires. We employed descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative and content analysis for qualitative data. The model development was implemented in 9 processes: i) study the situation, ii) brainstorm to analyze the problems, iii) set the guidelines for model development, iv) organize training, v) review of role-based skills, vi) conduct public relations, vii) observe and follow up, viii) evaluate the operation, and ix) reflect on the results and lessons learned. After the model was developed, knowledge, attitude, and behavior in preventing COVID-19 were significantly better than before their capacity was enhanced (p<0.001). The model named “NAMKHUN Model,” which consisted of N=working as a network; A=ability to use application; M=effective management; K=up-to-date knowledge; H=having health literacy; U=having unity; and N=fast, accurate and up-to-date News). The success factor from the lesson learned was teamwork, which complements up-to-date knowledge and will create desirable skills for dealing with emerging diseases in the future.
Tokens of Reality: On the Prospective Nature of Virtual Consciousness
Authors: Hancock P.A.
Published: September 2024

This work concerns the distinction of the nature of an individual's conscious reality via the use of a “truth token.” The latter can, most readily, be represented as a unique object or bespoken pattern that is exclusively associated with that person's originating reality. It is a talisman that permits an unequivocal return to that reality upon demand. These objects, or even neurocognitive patterns, access sensory-perceptual, memorial, and/or action-based profiles to characterize their individuality and to subsequently activate their function. The advantages of, and barriers to, achieving the successful implementation of such touchstones are considered here in light of contemporary problems with verifying currently reported expressions of reality, and future challenges to unique distinctions amongst the potentialities for technologically-enabled multi-worlds.
Grey Areas in Maritime Delimitation
Authors: Gaja Giorgio
Published: September 2024

This article considers some recent jurisprudence in maritime boundary delimitation that results in the creation of ‘grey areas’. Such grey areas have generated uncertainty in practice, specifically concerning claims to entitlements and the rights that States may exercise in such areas. The article reviews the two Bay of Bengal cases (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea 2012 and the Annex VII Tribunal 2014) and two cases before the International Court of Justice (Somalia v. Kenya 2021; Nicaragua v. Colombia 2023), indicating the need for delimitation of maritime areas and legal rights to reflect the ‘physical reality at the time of delimitation’.
Introduction and Evaluation of Moringa oleifera (Lam) Growth in Two Districts of Bale Zone, Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele Wondmagegn , Mengistu Bikila , Abebe Hirpha
Published: September 2024

Moringa oleifera is one of the most important plants which has to be introduced, conserved and promoted for its social, economic and environmental benefits. Study was conducted aimed to introduce M. oleifera through evaluating its growth performance under the field condition of mid-altitude areas of Bale, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid-out using randomized complete block design with three replications on two locations. In the study the necessary plant growth traits namely survival rate, plant height and diameters (at breast height and root collar) were collected and analyzed by Genstat software. As to results except survival rate other growth performance traits of the studied species were statistically influenced by location in the subsequent years of monitoring period. With this, the mean value of survival rate recorded at Dello-menna was > 80% whereas at Goro it was < 80% throughout the years of study period. For plant height the recorded mean values were found between 65 cm to 370.30 cm and 58.30 to 296.70 cm range in the respective Dello-menna and Goro sites. Breast height diameter ranged from 0.747 cm to 6.533cm at Goro site and from 1.00 cm to 8.983cm at Dello-menna. In terms of root collar diameter, the values ranged from 1.933 cm to 9.867 cm and from 1.410 cm to 4.592 cm at Dello-menna and Goro sites, respectively. The values pointed that M. oleifera had showed a promising growth and development over both locations with relatively the higher performance at Dello-menna site than Goro. Therefore, the species could be demonstrated, promoted and scaled-up to the farming community of Dello-menna, Goro and other areas with similar agro-ecology. However, the nutritive value of the species in response to the studied locations has remained the focus of future research area.
Identifying Limiting Nutrients for Wheat Production Through Omission Plot Experiment on Nitisols of East Gojjam Zone, North Western Ethiopia
Authors: Getinet Habetamu , Abera Kasaye , Lulie Belsti
Published: September 2024

A field experiment was conducted to identify the most yield limiting nutrients for wheat yield on Nitisols of D/Eliase District North western Ethiopia during 2021/22 main cropping season. The experiments were laid out in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) each with three replications. The treatments were control, NP, PKSZnB (-N), NKSZnB (-P), NPSZnB (-K), NPKZnB (-S), NPKSZn (-B), NPKSB (-Zn) and full fertilization (+NPKSZnB). The available data were collected and subjected to ANOVA using SAS 9.3 software. The LSD test was used to separate means at 5% level of significance. According to the results obtained, considerable reduced in plant height, spike length, grain and biomass yield was recorded due to omission of N and P nutrients compared with fully fertilized plots. The highest yield reduction was recorded due to omission of N followed by P in the study district. The highest grain yield of wheat (2835.20kgha-1) was measured from recommended NP fertilized plots while the lowest grain yields (357.50kgha-1 and 545.90kgha-1) were obtained from the control and N omitted plots respectively. Therefore, N and P were found to be the most yield limiting nutrients for wheat production indicating that the inherent N and P supplying capacity of soil is very low. Thus, N and P nutrients should be applied in optimum dose for efficient nutrient uptake which ultimately increases wheat productivity. The highest agronomic efficiency (19.08 kg grain/kg nutrient applied) was recorded from plots treated with recommended NP fertilizer. In addition the highest profits realized with application of recommended NP fertilizer compared with other treatments The economics of wheat cultivation therefore indicates that omission of (-N) and (-P) nutrients results in losses. Omission of nitrogen (-N) followed by omission of phosphorus (-P) has more impact on wheat yield and profits in the study area.
Effect of Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) on the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Aranyaprathet Hospital, Sakeaw Province, Thailand
Authors: Pattanapisansak Teerapon
Published: September 2024

Importance From Thailand, has standardized therapeutic drugs of Calcium channel blockers (CCB) in reduce the progression of chronic renal failure in diabetic and hypertension that is advantages for use in patients. However, use of Amlodipine that is more accessible and also a drug used by all community hospitals to treat patients, inexpensive and highly effective. Objective To study effective of Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB) on kidney function (eGFR), urinary protein creatinine and sugar blood level. Design, Setting, and Participants This study is retrospective cohort study by study in patients with diabetic nephropathy. By study in patients with diabetes nephropathy with stage 3 or higher and receiving Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB). Exposures Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB) in reducing the complications of diabetic nephropathy which is consistent with Strategy No.2 Providing quality and excellent health services. And literature reviews in Thailand have not found empirical evidence that mean Calcium Channel can reduce the complications of diabetic nephropathy. Main Outcomes and Measures The effectiveness of Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB) increases the complications of diabetic nephropathy. Results In volunteer, female patient proportion was 69.0%. Average age was 69.3 (± 9.69), minimum age is 40 years, maximum age is 97 years. Most patients were between 60-79 years, follow by 40-59 years follow by16.8% and more than 80 years 16.1%. In congenital disease, kidney disease, kidney failure, diabetes and hypertension are 100%, follow by 24% obesity and 0.2% cancer. The effect of Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB) on kidney function (eGFR), urine microalbumin and creatinine when compare with use drug CCB 2 groups including Amlodipine and Amlodipine+enalapril/losartan/valsartan. Found that volunteer that received CCB drug compare with month 3 and 12, the level of eGFR decreases (t=1.085) and Urine Microalbumin increases (t=1.496) by statistically significance (P = 0.002) and Dihydropyridine Calcium channel blockers (CCB) on Fasting blood sugar compares with month 3 and 12, Fasting blood sugar (t = 0.566) and HbA1C (t=0.677) was typically decreased significantly (P < 0.005). Conclusions and Relevance Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) was decline kidney function (decrease eGFR) and CCB leads to the decrease of eGFR and provides monitoring of CCB use, as this may lead to the decrease of kidney function.
Affirmative Action in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Teshome Samson
Published: September 2024

This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on affirmative action in higher education. In the literature search, the researcher used different electronic databases. The databases used were ERIC, JSTOR, Willey, and Google Scholar. Search terms were formulated and applied to the online databases. A total of 80 study articles were identified, and 15 studies were included in the study after applying inclusion, exclusion, and quality assessment criteria. Research questions guided the review process. PICO was used to formulate the research questions. The paper was prepared using the planning, protocol, extraction, analysis, and reporting stages. This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria and used Zotero for reference management. The study revealed that affirmative action is provided to promote equity and access for minority and historically discriminated subgroups who wish to participate in higher education. Affirmative action is a controversial issue in higher education. Research on the effects of affirmative action in higher education has resulted in mixed outcomes. Researchers in the study of affirmative action in higher education used various research methods. The systematic literature review conducted also showed that there are still gaps in affirmative action research in higher education. To this effect, further study could be done in the future on the impact of affirmative action on students’ performance and attainment, the impact of affirmative action on labor market outcomes and earnings, and graduate rates of beneficiaries. Finally, it is uncertain what the future holds for affirmative action.
Agronomic Evaluation of Common Bean and Tef (Eragrostis tef) Varieties in Double Cropping System
Authors: Mola Hailu
Published: September 2024

Double-cropping cereals with legumes is a usual practice by smallholder farmers in southern Ethiopia. However, crop compatibility and sequencing are the major problems for their soil fertility and profitability. Thus, it was useful to conduct experiments on double cropping systems that enable the farmers more profitable on small land to reduce crop failure with current climate change. Thus, an experiment was done to evaluate the effects of the common bean as double cropping on the productivity of tef and to evaluate the economic and technical compatibility of common bean-tef in a double cropping combination to improve production at Wondo Genete district during the cropping season of 2021 using RCBD design. The experiment consisting of twelve treatments including three common bean and three tef varieties was sowed as the preceding and succeeding crop respectively and three sole tef variety to see the compatibility of common bean and tef varieties. The preceding crops showed a non-significant difference in days to maturity, seed per pod, and hundred seed weight, but the biomass and grain yield of Remeda were significantly higher than Awash-2 however, it had no significant yield difference with Hawassa Dume. The variance analysis showed that all the growth and yield parameters of tef were significant such as days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, number of tillers per plant, tiller number, and grain yield (p<0.05). However, the yield parameters like dry biomass, straw yield, and toughened seed weight for tef had no significant difference.
Impacts of Diseases and Pests on Forage Crop Production and Management Systems: A Review
Authors: Aleme Melkam , Mengistu Gezahegn
Published: September 2024

A forage crop diseases and pests incidences identification and management system is precondition for the viewpoint of ecological and environmental protection to address the issues of numerous types of forage crop disease and pests-control, and management for easy identification. The incidence of diseases and pests reduces the productivity of forage crops causing significant financial losses, and decrease feed production. This review paper is aimed to illustrate the common diseases and pests in forage crop production and management and indicated the way forward. The application of chemical pesticides used to control the diseases and pests could affect plants, soil, and wildlife as well as human wellbeing. In the next years, there will undoubtedly be a greater need for high-quality feed production as people become more conscious of illnesses and pests. When preparing forage this way, less non-organic items are used. Based on recommendations, chemical pesticides and fertilizers will be essential. In order to minimize the impact of disease and insect infestations on productivity, bio-management of disease and insect pests in fodder crops the following year will surely be crucial. Therefore, several management strategies offer effective and environmentally sound affordable defense. Against foliar diseases, nematode-caused root knot disease, and soil-borne and insect forage crop pests. These disease and pest management systems allowed indispensable contributions in forage genetic resource conservation.
Debt and the Excess Value of Diversified Firms: Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Ibekwe Ibeawuchi , Siliya Pedkuna
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between debt and the value and excess value of diversified firms in Nigeria. This is against the background that there is no consensus on the factors that distinguish value-creating from value-destroying diversified firms. Data were collected from the annual reports of 62 diversified firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange between 2008 and 2018. The multilevel generalized method of moments technique in the REndo package in the R Statistical Package was used to test the hypotheses. There is a significant positive relationship between debt and diversified firms’ value and excess value. The study and its findings are significant in several ways. First, no study has examined the relationship between debt and the value and excess value of diversified firms in the Nigerian context, and the few relevant studies have been in the context of developed countries. Second, it contributes to the literature on the valuation implications of firm diversification by providing some insight into the diversification discount often documented in the literature. These findings suggest that diversified firms’ failure to use the debt capacity that diversification creates is one reason some experience valuation discount. Third, the study employs the multilevel GMM analytical technique to control for endogeneity in the absence of valid instrumental variables. This technique has not been used in the diversification literature. The implication of the findings is that diversified firms should use the debt capacity that diversification provides to invest in positive net present value projects. The use of debt also adds a layer of corporate governance required in an environment of increased complexity and opacity associated with diversification. Increased investment in positive NPV projects and improved corporate governance through increased use of debt will enhance firm performance and value. The increased valuation of diversified firms due to debt increases the ability of diversified firms to play their developmental role in society. Investors would also benefit more from investing in diversified firms with higher debt ratios than those with lower debt ratios, all things being equal.
Production and Optimization of Wine from Mixed (Banana and Watermelon) Fruits Using Sacchromys Crevice
Authors: Yeshaneh Asmarech , Atnafu Temesgen
Published: September 2024

Winemaking is one of the most ancient technologies and is now one of the most commercially prosperous biotechnological processes. Fruits are one of the most important foods of mankind. They are important for the maintenance of health and improving the quality of our diet. Fruit juices are fermented to produce wine, an alcoholic beverage containing 8 to 11 percent alcohol and 2 to 3 percent sugar with energy values ranging between 70 and 90 kcal per 100ml. Due to the release of amino acids and other nutrients from yeast during fermentation, fruit wines are nutritive and tastier. For this reason, the conversion of fruits to value-added products like wine is very essential. This work aimed to produce and optimize mixed fruit (Banana and Watermelon) wine using saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proximate composition of banana with74 ± 00 of moisture content, 0.33 ± 00 of ash content, 0.23 ± 0.01 crude fat content, 1.65 ± 0.05 crude fiber content, 1.2 ± 0.1 protein content and 22.59% carbohydrate content and 91.5±1.5 moisture content, 0.49 ± 0.017ash content, 0.25 ± 0.01crude fat content, 0.6 ± 0.05 crude fiber content, 0.46 ± 0.02 crude protein content and 6.75% of carbohydrate content watermelon fruit were used for wine production. Primary and secondary fermentation of the fruits lasted for 9 and 21 days respectively, pH, titrable acidity, specific gravity and, total soluble solids (brix) were determined before and after fermentation using standard procedures. The specific gravity of the wine was observed to reduce drastically as the fermentation progressed. The pH of the fruit must decrease from 3 to 2.89 and 4 to 3.2 in different percentage of mixture and titrable acidity also increased 0.67- 0.92 in 75B:25Wm, 0.64 -0.9 in 50B:50Wm, and 0.63-0.89 in 25B:75Wm after fermentation. The highest percentages of alcohol content (9.5) was observed in 75B to 25Wm mixed fruit wine in pH 4 and inoculum size 5, and sensory evaluation revealed that the attributes of the wine were acceptable to the majority of the respondents. This study showed that acceptable wine can be produced from mixed fruits banana and watermelon using yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Nursing Education: Insights from Student Nurses at the National University of Lesotho
Authors: Molefi Molefi , Mamello Mpemi , Phiri Letuka , Mahlelehlele Bokang , Nthabane Titi
Published: September 2024

Background: Globally, student frustration and attrition rates are declining, underscoring the importance of investigating the academic and interpersonal challenges that students face after their first year. Objectives: exploring the experiences of National University of Lesotho student nurses on their course of education. Method: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used to conduct research at the National University of Lesotho. Data was collected using an unstructured interview guide in two focus groups comprising all student nurses who are enrolled in the nursing and midwifery programme from their second year into the programme. This study employed a stratified random sampling procedure to select its respondents. This study made use of thematic analysis. Results: The results demonstrated clinical weariness caused by a severe workload. The tasks and responsibilities assigned to the students, which they consider to be the duties of registered nurses, frequently leave them feeling overburdened. Variations in clinical supervision experiences include negligence; some experience sexual abuse; and some students find the clinical setting quite unpleasant and inappropriate. On the other hand, students expressed that they are empowered by the current nursing curriculum to face the clinical challenges. Conclusion: Despite appreciating the faculty's supportive and inspiring environment, students had conflicting emotions about the instructional approaches and learning environments. There were variations in both instructional quality and clinical supervision.
The Status of Beekeeping in Simada District, Amhara, Ethiopia, with Its Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Tsegaw Tadesse , Ayenalem Tessema , Tsegaye Agazhe
Published: September 2024

The study was designed to assess the existing beekeeping practices, constraints, and potential of honeybee production in Simada district. The study was carried out in four proportionally selected kebeles of highland, midland, and lowland agro-ecology. Accordingly, a total sample size of 146 beekeepers, depending on their potential, was interviewed using a structured and semi-structured questionnaire. A semi-structured questionnaire, field observation, and focal group discussion were employed to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The majority of beekeepers in the district are mail-headed, and the majority can read and write. Beekeepers practiced three hive types but mostly used traditional hives. The majority of honeybee colonies are found in midland agro-ecology, but they are not significantly different (P<0.05). About 57.5% of beekeepers obtain their colony through buying, and their colony increases through reproductive swarming. Beekeepers construct both traditional and top-bar hives from the surrounding available material. Frame hives were obtained from GOs on a credit basis. Beekeepers indicated that the majority of honey was harvested in October and November. The second minor harvesting period was from May to June, which depends on the nature of the yearly rainfall conditions. As the respondent's described, they stored honey below one year in a plastic jar, clay jar, and plastic sack when plenty of products were obtained and for medicinal value, unless they used honey during harvesting as a source of income. Predators and pests are major constraints on honey bee production, followed by pesticides and herbicides in the study area. Other identified beekeeping constraints were shown in relative order of importance: drought, death of colony, lack of water, migration, and disease are some of the problems that hinder productivity. Honeybees required feed supplementation during the dry season; about 28% of beekeepers fed their colonies with higher supplements made from February to April. The commonly used supplements were peas and bean flour (Shiro), barley flour (Besso), sugar, honey, and others, including Niger.
Public Health Professionals’ Perspectives on Research Utilization in Nigerian Health Systems
Authors: Avwerhota Michael , Daniel Ebenezer , Avwerhota Oladayo , Popoola Israel , Popoola Taiwo , Ogun Adebanke , Bello Ahmed , Tomori Michael , Salami Aisha , Ekwuluo Celestine , Alewi Olukayode , Janet Aremu
Published: September 2024

The integration of research evidence into healthcare decision-making is essential for improving health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. This study investigates the perspectives of public health professionals on research utilization within the Nigerian health system, identifying barriers and facilitators to the application of evidence-based practices. Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive design, data were collected from public health professionals and policymakers through a structured questionnaire distributed via Google Survey. The findings reveal a significant gap in the dissemination and utilization of research findings, with many professionals unaware of existing systems to facilitate this process. Despite recognizing the importance of research utilization for enhancing health and quality of life, barriers such as limited access to quality research publications and inadequate collaboration between researchers and policymakers impede effective implementation. Capacity-building initiatives, such as workshops and continuous professional development programs, were identified as key facilitators for promoting evidence-based practices. The study underscores the need for improved communication and tailored dissemination strategies to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that findings are accessible and applicable to the specific needs of different professional groups. These results align with existing literature that highlights the crucial role of evidence-based practice in public health and the necessity of robust dissemination and implementation frameworks. Addressing these barriers and leveraging facilitators can significantly enhance the utilization of research findings, leading to better health outcomes and more effective healthcare policies in Nigeria.
The Relationship Between Freshman Adult Attachment and Sense of Life Meaning in University: Mediated by Perceived Social Support
Authors: Feng Jie , Xiao Qian , Mao Xiaoqing , Li Yalan
Published: September 2024

College freshmen are at the beginning of the critical period of establishing their outlook on life and values, so it is very important to guide and educate them correctly on the meaning of life and values. Many psychological problems and suicidal behaviors of college students are related to the lack of life meaning. This study mainly discusses the relationship between adult attachment, understanding of social support and sense of life meaning of college freshmen. Using the sense of life meaning scale, intimate relationship experience scale and perceptive social support scale, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1069 freshmen. SPSS software was used for correlation analysis, and Process macro was used to test the mediating effect of perceptive social support. The results show that: (1) There are significant correlations among adult attachment, understanding of social support and sense of meaning in life; (2) Understand that social support plays a partial mediating role between adult attachment and sense of meaning in life. These results indicate that the attachment of college freshmen adults can affect their sense of life meaning directly and indirectly through the influence of social support. The results of this study have some implications for practice: On the one hand, the family should pay attention to the cultivation of safe parent-child attachment relationship and environment; On the other hand, colleges and universities should give full and good social support to college freshmen, and set up education or group counseling activities on the sense of meaning of life.
Ferrostatin-1 ameliorates Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)-induced ovarian toxicity by inhibiting ferroptosis
Authors: Zhang Lu , Dong Zhe , Jiang Fan , Huang Huaju , Ding Hui , Liu Meimei
Published: September 2024

Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (CDDP), while widely utilized in tumor therapy, results in toxic side effects that patients find intolerable. The specific mechanism by which CDDP inflicts ovarian damage remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the involvement of ferrostatin-1 (FER-1) and ferroptosis in CDDP-induced ovarian toxicity. This study established models of CDDP-induced injury in granulosa cells (GCs) and rat model of premature ovarian failure (POF). CCK-8 assessed the effects of CDDP and FER-1 on GC viability. FerroOrange and Mito-FerroGreen, DCFH-DA and MitoSox-Red, Rhodamine 123 and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measured Fe2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential and the mitochondrial morphology in GC cells, respectively. Serum hormone levels; organ indices; malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione analyses; and western blotting were performed to examine ferroptosis's role in vitro. Molecular docking simulation was evaluated the interaction between FER-1 and GPX4 or FER-1 and NRF2. Molecular docking simulations were conducted to evaluate the interactions between FER-1 and GPX4, as well as FER-1 and NRF2. The findings revealed that CDDP-induced ovarian toxicity involved iron accumulation, increased ROS accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to endocrine disruption and tissue damage in rats. These changes correlated with NRF2, HO-1, and GPX4 levels. However, FER-1 decreased the extent of ferroptosis. Thus, ferroptosis appears to be a crucial mechanism of CDDP-induced ovarian injury, with GPX4 as potential protective targets.
Distinguishing word identity and sequence context in DNA language models
Authors: Sanabria Melissa , Hirsch Jonas , Poetsch Anna R.
Published: September 2024

Transformer-based large language models (LLMs) are very suited for biological sequence data, because of analogies to natural language. Complex relationships can be learned, because a concept of "words" can be generated through tokenization. Training the models with masked token prediction, they learn both token sequence identity and larger sequence context. We developed methodology to interrogate model learning, which is both relevant for the interpretability of the model and to evaluate its potential for specific tasks. We used DNABERT, a DNA language model trained on the human genome with overlapping k-mers as tokens. To gain insight into the model′s learning, we interrogated how the model performs predictions, extracted token embeddings, and defined a fine-tuning benchmarking task to predict the next tokens of different sizes without overlaps. This task evaluates foundation models without interrogating specific genome biology, it does not depend on tokenization strategies, vocabulary size, the dictionary, or the number of training parameters. Lastly, there is no leakage of information from token identity into the prediction task, which makes it particularly useful to evaluate the learning of sequence context. We discovered that the model with overlapping k-mers struggles to learn larger sequence context. Instead, the learned embeddings largely represent token sequence. Still, good performance is achieved for genome-biology-inspired fine-tuning tasks. Models with overlapping tokens may be used for tasks where a larger sequence context is of less relevance, but the token sequence directly represents the desired learning features. This emphasizes the need to interrogate knowledge representation in biological LLMs.
scBubbletree: computational approach for visualization of single cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Kitanovski Simo , Cao Yingying , Ttoouli Dimitris , Farahpour Farnoush , Wang Jun , Hoffmann Daniel
Published: September 2024

Background

Visualization approaches transform high-dimensional data from single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiments into two-dimensional plots that are used for analysis of cell relationships, and as a means of reporting biological insights. Yet, many standard approaches generate visuals that suffer from overplotting, lack of quantitative information, and distort global and local properties of biological patterns relative to the original high-dimensional space.

Results

We present scBubbletree, a new, scalable method for visualization of scRNA-seq data. The method identifies clusters of cells of similar transcriptomes and visualizes such clusters as “bubbles” at the tips of dendrograms (bubble trees), corresponding to quantitative summaries of cluster properties and relationships. scBubbletree stacks bubble trees with further cluster-associated information in a visually easily accessible way, thus facilitating quantitative assessment and biological interpretation of scRNA-seq data. We demonstrate this with large scRNA-seq data sets, including one with over 1.2 million cells.

Conclusions

To facilitate coherent quantification and visualization of scRNA-seq data we developed the R-package scBubbletree, which is freely available as part of the Bioconductor repository at: https://bioconductor.org/packages/scBubbletree/
Centering the role of community health workers in social risk screening, referral, and follow-up within the primary care setting
Authors: Larson Emily K. , Ingram Maia , Dougherty Erin , Velasco Maria , Guzman Vanessa , Jackson Azel , Patel Kiran , Carvajal Scott C. , Wilkinson-Lee Ada M.
Published: September 2024

Background

Community health workers (CHWs) remain an underutilized resource in social risk diagnostics in the primary care setting. This process evaluation study seeks to assess the role of CHWs in social risk screening, referral, and follow-up through process mapping to identify barriers to the process for future quality improvement efforts.

Methods

Researchers at the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) engaged with two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in two of Arizona’s major urban areas to evaluate their internal processes for social risk screening and intervention. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to direct a process mapping exercise to visually describe the workflow, gaps, and barriers to identifying and addressing social risk.

Results

The process unveiled key areas for health system improvements in the community setting, the organizational setting, and in the implementation of social risk screening, referral, and follow-up. Further, process maps highlight the potential resources needed for effective CHW integration to address social risk in the primary care setting.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the importance of organizational tools, such as process mapping, to assist primary care settings in evaluating internal processes for quality improvement in addressing social risk and in effectively integrating the CHW workforce. Subsequent research will evaluate rates of social risk screening, referral, and follow-up within all of Arizona’s FQHCs and propose models for CHW integration to address social risk in primary care and strengthen social risk screening reach and effectiveness.
Coronavirus disease-19 vaccine uptake, willingness for vaccination, and associated Factors among chronic follow patients attending in the two comprehensive specialized hospitals of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Authors: Tegegne Dessie , Kebede Mulu , Biresaw Henok , Andargie Astewle , Ewunetu Mengistu , Dessie Getenet
Published: September 2024

Background

Even though the disease has spread throughout the world, with millions killed, global COVID-19 vaccination coverage remains low, particularly in developing countries. However, epidemiological data is lacking in the area. Hence, this study aimed to assess COVID-19 uptake, willingness for vaccination, and associated factors.

Method

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2022, among patients attending chronic follow-up clinics in the two comprehensive specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar. The total sample size was 423. Participants were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Data was gathered using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. A descriptive analysis was performed. A binary logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between variables. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the multi-variable logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant.

Results

The analysis included 400 out of 423 participants, representing a 95% response rate. The COVID-19 vaccination uptake was 46.8%, while the acceptance was 60.5%. About 56% and 68% of the respondents had good knowledge and a favorable attitude, respectively. Elderly people were 2.7 times more likely to be vaccinated. Similarly, urban residents were 3.94 times more vaccinated. The probability of being vaccinated among respondents with good knowledge and favorable attitudes was 70% and 79%, respectively. The willingness for vaccination increased among those individuals with favorable attitudes (AOR: 1.82). Urban people were less likely to accept vaccination (AOR: 0.46). Some participants misunderstood that vaccination may aggravate their disease condition.

Conclusion

The overall COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance for vaccination were low compared to what was estimated by the WHO. Age, residence, knowledge, and attitude were associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance of vaccination. Besides, there was a high level of rumor about the status of the vaccine and risk factors. Hence, special emphasis is warranted to deliver centrally trusted information. Moreover, further nationwide studies are warranted in the future.