bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Alternative Products for Tomato Septoria lycopersici Control
Authors: Monteiro F. P.  , Ogoshi C.  , Mallmann G.  , Valmorbida J.  , Wamser A. F.
Published: November 2023

The septoriose (Septoria lycopersici) is an important disease in tomato production and can lead to significant losses. Although there are active ingredients registered for the control of this disease, there is little study about products with alternatives for the control of the fungus S. lycopersici. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the effect of alternative products in controlling the septoriose. The rationale for the study was to find efficient products that are less harmful to the environment. The study was conducted at the experimental station of EPAGRI in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Twelve products were tested to control Septoria: Bacillus subtilis QST 713 (274 mg/L a.i.), Bacillus subtilis QST 713 autoclaved (274 mg/L a.i.), lime sulfur (10,000 mg/L c.p.), benzalkonium chloride (250 mg/L a.i.), mixed mineral fertilizer ( 2,000 mg/L c.p.), sodium hypochlorite (320 mg/L a.i.), peracetic acid (5,440 mg/L a.i.), Bordeaux mixture (3,000 mg/L c.p.), Viçosa mixture (3,000 mg/L c.p.), Trichoderma harzianum Rifai ESALQ-1306 (600 mg/L a.i.), acibenzolar-S-methyl (25 mg/L a.i.), potassium phosphite (2,000 mg/L a.i. with 1,340 mg/L phosphorous acid) and biostimulant (200 mg/L c.p.). The doses used were based on label, previous tests in vitro and in phytotoxicity events in tomato plants. In the in vitro experiments, the products that were not able to promote the formation of an inhibition halo were: biostimulant, potassium phosphite, acibenzolar-S-methyl, Trichoderma harzianum, Viçosa mixture and Bordeaux mixture. The products B. subtilis, lime sulfur, benzalkonium chloride, mixed mineral fertilizer, peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite and autoclaved B. subtilis were able to inhibit fungal growth in vitro, forming a halo of inhibition. The chemical fungicides mancozeb + pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxad were used as a positive control. In vivo, the positive control was able to control 100% of the incidence and severity of Septoria and no symptoms were observed in the plants. For incidence, the products that controlled at least 80% of the disease were lime sulfur and mixed mineral fertilizer. When considering the disease severity, the products that controlled at least 80% of the disease were: lime sulfur, mixed mineral fertilizer, Bacillus subtilis QST713 and benzalkonium chloride. The products Bordeaux mixture, Viçosa mixture, sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid caused phytotoxicity when applied to tomato plants. Although lime sulfur has shown promise, its successive application can lead to a decrease in the photosynthetic rate.
Social Factors Contributing to Stunting for Children under Five Years: A Case of Iringa District Council, Tanzania
Authors: Galiatano Muhidin Nuru , Phillipo Frank , Nzali Agnes
Published: November 2023

This study presented the findings on the factors contributing to stunting for children under five years in Iringa District Council. This study involved four wards and two villages from each ward. The target population for this study included parents with stunted children under five years and 26 key informants. The study employed mixed approaches which involve both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, Cross-sectional research design was used. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to get parents with stunted children and key respondents. The study used both primary and secondary data to acquire intended information. Questionnaires, interview and Document review was used by a researcher. The high prevalence of stunting was revealed by this study to be influenced by social factors such as lack of nutritional knowledge, large size of household members, child characteristics, inadequate dietary intake, lack of knowledge on purse of a thousand days, poor child care practice, excessive use of alcohol, poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding of early milk were found as the key factors influencing stunting. Government could come up with innovative strategies to educate parents about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding until six months, feeding practices, purse of thousand days, and the strategies of addressing excessive use of alcohol should be implemented. The researcher suggests further research to be conducted to analyse a bigger area, also future researchers have a duty to focus on the additional indicators of stunting prevalence that could not be included owing to time and resource constraints.
Collision of Incident Electrons with Liquid Water Molecules: Study of Linear Energy Transfer (LET)
Authors: Issa Kane , Almoustapha Aboubacar , Adamou Ousmane Manga
Published: November 2023

We used GAMOS software to simulate the interaction of electrons in liquid water. In our work, the chosen parameter, the Linear Energy Transfer (LET), is studied in an energy range from 2.5 eV to 100 MeV. The results obtained were analyzed and compared with experimental data and literature. A very good agreement emerged.

Also the analysis of the LET curve of the medium crossed presents a maximum of 37.0626 MeV/mm corresponding to an electron energy of 102.447 eV.  For energies below this value, the energy loss is greater. On the other hand, for energies higher than this value, there is less energy loss.
Modelling the Linear and Nonlinear Effects of Malaria Risk Factors on Child Mortality
Authors: Adamu Garba Sahabi , Onwuka Gerald Ikechukwu , Wasiu Babayemi Afolabi
Published: November 2023

Generalized additive model was used to analyse data from Nigeria standard demographic and health survey (NDHS) 2018. The sample consists of 10609 children aged 6-59 months who were tested for malaria parasitemia through the rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Child mortality data was obtained by calculating the difference between the number of children ever born and the proportion of children alive during the survey. The analysis was carried out in R version 4.1.1 via mgcv package. The results obtained indicated linear and nonlinear effects of malaria risk factors on child mortality. The findings also revealed mosquito bed net usage, wealth index, maternal education, type of place of residence and malaria test outcome as significant predictors of child malaria mortality.
The Effect of Exercise on Cold-Induced Neurovegetative Dysautonomia Blindness
Authors: Naaim M. , Ztati M. , Eljamili M. , Karimi S. EL , Hattaoui M. EL
Published: November 2023

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure and maintaining homeostasis during physiological stresses. Nervous dysautonomias are often observed in patients presenting cardiovascular symptoms. Despite that, other important but less known conditions can be encountered. We report the case of a 19-year-old young man who presented for blindness occurring in the cold and improving with exercise. Investigations revealed neurovegetative dysautonomia with significant vagal hyperactivity associated with central B-sympathetic hyperactivity. Our patient received treatment based on hygienic and dietary measures with a combination of an anti-hypotensive drug such as Etilefrine. 2 months later, a re-evaluation showed a clear improvement, confirmed during the control neurovegetative exploration but also during the ophthalmological examination.
Productivity and Profitability of Sesame / Green Gram / Urdbean – Mustard Based Cropping Systems under Moisture Conservation Practices
Authors: Morya Radha , Mastkar Anjni , Morya Rahul , Bhargava Anjali , Kushwaha H. S.
Published: November 2023

A field experiments was conducted on sandy loam soil during 2016 -17 and 2017 -18 at M.G. chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) to find out the most productive and profitable mustard based cropping system under different moisture conservation practices. Treatment consisted three cropping systems viz. Sesame –mustard, green gram-mustard and urdbean –mustard and four moisture conservation practices (no irrigation, life saving irrigation, straw mulch @4 t/ha and kaolin 5% spray). Results revealed that on pooled basis of two years mulching @4 t/ha produced significantly higher grain yield of sesame (512 kg/ha), green gram (1023 kg/ha) urdbean (2349 kg/ha) and mustard (2558kg/ha) than no irrigation while numerical enhancement were recorded under life saving irrigation and kaolin 5 % spray treatment in seed yield of sesame, green gram, urdbean and mustard crop. The maximum mustard equivalent grain yield of 3759 kg/ha, system production efficiency of 33.52 kg/ha/day and system profitability of 339.00 Rs/ha/day was recorded under green gram – mustard system. Among the moisture conservation practices, straw mulch treatment had highest mustard equivalent grain yield of 4021 kg/ha, production efficiency of 35.83 kg/ha/day and system profitability (35.83 Rs/ha/day). The gross returns (Rs 182764/ha), net returns (Rs 139644/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.24) were maximized under green gram- mustard system x straw mulch @4 t/ha treatment on pooled basis.
A Comprehensive Review on Role of Bio- Regulators in the Growth and Development of Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Authors: Jain Shubham , Nidhi Nivedita , Kale Satishkumar , Rathod Manjunath , Dhurve Lalit , Mehara Halkebhaiya , Baidya Bijay Kumar , Shivani
Published: November 2023

This comprehensive review focuses on the role of bio-regulators in the growth and development of fruit and vegetable crops. Bio-regulators, also known as plant growth regulators or plant hormones, play a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes in plants, including cell division, elongation, differentiation, and fruit ripening. The review explores the major types of bio-regulators commonly used in fruit and vegetable cultivation, including auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene. It examines their functions and effects on plant growth, flowering, fruit set, fruit development, and post-harvest characteristics. The review also discusses the widespread application of bio-regulators in horticultural practices, including seed treatment, foliar application, and post-harvest treatments. It highlights the potential benefits of using bio-regulators, such as improving crop yield, enhancing fruit quality traits, delaying senescence, and reducing post-harvest losses. Moreover, the review delves into the mechanisms of action of bio-regulators at the molecular, physiological, and biochemical levels. It investigates their interactions with various plant growth processes, signaling pathways, and gene expression patterns. Furthermore, the review addresses the challenges and limitations associated with the use of bio-regulators in fruit and vegetable production, such as dosage optimization, application timing, and potential negative impacts on the environment.
Seed Quality Behaviour Variation of Moth Bean during Storage in Different Packaging
Authors: Thakur Vijaysingh , Nawalagatti C. M. , Chetti M. B. , Hilli J. S. , Patil R. V.
Published: November 2023

An experiment was carried out in order to assess the behavior of the moth bean seed quality in 4 types of packaging including cloth, gunny, HDPE, and vacuum-packed bags for 18 months. After two months of storage, the moisture content of the seeds fluctuated greatly in cloth, gunny, and HDPE bags (conventional packaging) because these materials are pervious, but the moisture content of the seeds did not vary in vacuum packed bags as the polythene bag used for the vacuum package was thicker, had a lower water vapor and oxygen transmission rate. Further, seeds in conventional packaging’s developed bruchid infestations after 4 months of storage but no infestation was found in vacuum-packed bags until 18 months. The bruchid infestation caused the germination rate of the seeds to drop to less than 20%.  In comparison to the initial state, even after 18 months of storage, there was little change in the parameters used for measuring seed quality (germination, total seedling length, seedling dry weight, moisture content, and protein content). Therefore, without the use of chemicals, moth bean seeds can be safely stored using vacuum packaging technology.
Evaluating the Behaviour of Sahiwal Calves under Azolla pinnata Feeding During the Cold Season
Authors: Bhatt Ninad , Chandra Ramesh , Kumar Suresh , Mishra Deepesh Bharat , Debbarma Asish , Rajneesh
Published: November 2023

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the feeding behaviour of Sahiwal calves raised under Azolla pinnata feeding throughout the cold season in the morning hours. Eighteen female Sahiwal calves weighing 56 kg at four months of age were used for this experiment, and they were split into three treatment groups. Treatment groups T1 and T2 received 15% and 30% of their concentrate's protein supplementation from Azolla pinnata, respectively, whereas the control group received diet that was complied with ICAR, 2013 feeding guidelines. Feeding behaviour of calves were analysed with the help of instantaneous scan sampling technique and weekly 8 hours of behaviour was recoreded ( 2 hours in a day, four times per week) in early morning hours from 09.00 to 11.00 am. Eating behaviour at 1st month of study was statistically significant in treatment groups T1 (26.5±0.29) and T2 group (26.5±0.20) as compared to control group (24.375±0.23) while numerically higher in treatment groups over the whole study period as Azolla pinnata has better mineral profiling and protein rich source, rumination time period was higher in T1 and T2 group and it might be due to the better resting behaviour in the treatment groups. However, better health status was reported in treatment groups over the control groups.  From, this study it may be concluded that Azolla pinnata feeding may acts as an alternate protein source by improving the feeding and resting behaviour without affecting the overall performance of calves.
Spectral Response at Different Water Depth Standing in the Field
Authors: Singh Satish Kumar , Parmar Bhupendra Singh , Gajendra Sachin , Patel Anurag , Kushwaha Neha
Published: November 2023

Water availability and irrigation management can be estimated in agricultural fields through observation of field water storage. In order to calculate runoff and recharge through these fields, the water depth stored in the haveli fields must meet certain requirements. Remote Sensing data obtain through Satellite in all visible and NIR region might be helpful for such requirements. An experimental study is made to assess the utility of different bands for depicting depth of storage in field. Spectral reflectance was recorded on different depth from 0 to 100 cm of water. Ground Truth Radiometer (GTR) was used to conduct the experiment. Experimental observation shows the variation in reflectance with different depth of water stored in 1 m3 ponding water. It has been observed that spectral response shows variation under different storage level and different time of observation. To minimize error on observation the readings were taken under uniform sunshine condition and wind velocity. The Radiation under wavelength 0.4 and 1.1 µm was used to collect response in reflectance from experimental fields. The increase in reflectance with was observed with decrease in water level. This could be due to visibility of bottom soil in lower depths. A comparison between experimental response data and satellite image data of indicate that there is variation on band 4 and similar trend on band 1, 2. Mixed tread was observed in band 3. A clear decrease in reflectance up to 50 percent was observed when water storage depth increase up to 90 cm but then it started increasing. Similar variation was observed for observation with a depth of more than 1 m. Satellite data is more stable as compared to GTR data.
Stability Analysis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Chauhan Pankaj , Shrivastava M. K. , Kumar Vinod , Patel Neelesh , Biswal Manoranjan
Published: November 2023

This investigation aimed to assess the interactions between G X E and identify stable genotypes for yield traits in wheat. They conducted the experiment with 30 different wheat genotypes using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications. Additionally, they planted the wheat genotypes on three different sowing dates at the ZARS farm college of Agriculture Powarkheda, JNKVV, Jabalpur during the Rabi Season of 2022-2023.The analysis of variance was performed on 13 different quantitative traits, both individually and pooled over different environmental conditions. The stability analysis, specifically for grain yield per plant, was carried out using Eberhart and Russell's model. The results showed significant variations among different genotypes and environmental conditions. This indicates that the performance of the wheat genotypes was influenced by both their genetic constitute and the specific growing conditions.The analysis revealed that the mean squares associated with both environmental factors and genotype-environment interactions (E + G x E) demonstrated significant interactions between the genotypes and environments in which they were grown. Furthermore, they found that the partitioning of G X E (linear) interactions was highly significant for grain yield per plant. This suggests that the choice of genotype can significantly impact the yield of wheat in different environmental conditions. Based on the findings, two genotypes GW 322 and MP 3336 were identified as ideal and stable genotypes for grain yield per plant. These genotypes exhibited a mean value higher than the population mean, a regression coefficient close to unity (Bi=1), and minimal deviation from regression (S2di~0). These stable genotypes can be recommended for cultivation in various seasons and different growing regions, as they are likely to consistently perform well and produce stable yields under different environmental conditions. These identified genotypes can be used to improve wheat cultivation and achieve reliable production.
Effect of Medium Type of Varieties and Organic Sources of Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Economics of Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer kabulium L.) under Bundelkhand Region
Authors: Singh Yashvant , Gangwar B. , Singh Umesh Kumar , Srivastava Hritik , Mishra Shivendra , Meenakshi Attri
Published: November 2023

Background: The present investigation entitled “Effect of medium type of varieties and organic sources of nutrients on growth, yield and economics of Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer kabulium L.) under Bundelkhand region’’ was carried out at the Organic Research Farm at Karguaji, Institute of Agricultural Sciences Bundelkhand University, Jhansi U.P. India, during Rabi season of the year 2020-21.

Methods: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three organic sources of nutrients such as, Farm yard manure, Vermicompost and Poultry manure and comprising three varieties viz Pusa-1053, Shubhra and Ujjaval replicated thrice. All the organic sources and sowing methods significantly influence the all parameters like growth parameters viz., plant height, root length, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches per plant at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing and at maturity, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight and dry root weight per plan, crop growth rate g/m2 /day-1 and moisture % were noticed at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing.

Results: The nutrients management through organic source and different varieties significantly influenced the entire yield attributes viz, number of pod plant-1, pod weight plant-1, grain weight plant-1 and 100 seed weight were recorded with V1- PUSA-1053 and Nutrient sources M2- Vermicompost while M1- FYM and V2- Shubhra variety recorded lowest in all the parameters. Maximum seed yield per hector were also obtained through higher seed yield (25.43 kg/ha) was recorded in variety 1– (Pusa 1053) and higher seed yield (22.12 kg/ha) was found in M2 (Vermicompost application), respectively. From the present investigation, it can be concluded that above nutrients management through organic manures (vermicompost) and varieties PUSA-1053 resulted in better growth, higher yield attributes and better yield besides enhanced soil health as evident by post-harvest soil fertility status. It can be suggested as a cost effective combination for getting higher yield with greater quality of kabuli chickpea on organic farming system for the farmer’s Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
Examining the Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management and Vermicompost on Mustard Growth and Nutrient Composition
Authors: Singh Vikram , Verma Preety , Khaiper Mamta , Kaur Karamjeet
Published: November 2023

This study examines the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the growth attributes and nutrient composition of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), a vital rabi season oilseed crop in India. Nine different treatment combinations were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design at Agronomy Research Farm. The treatments included various combinations of chemical fertilizers, vermicompost, sulfur, and zinc. The results indicate that the application of INM significantly influenced various growth parameters, including plant height and dry matter accumulation. Treatment T4 (75% RDF +Vermicompost@ 4t ha-1 + S @ 20kg ha-1) demonstrated the highest plant height and dry matter accumulation at different stages of growth. Additionally, seed yield, stover yield, and biological yield were positively impacted by INM, with T4 exhibiting the highest seed yield. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of INM in enhancing the overall quality of Indian mustard. The application of these nutrient management practices not only led to increased seed yield but also improved the nutrient composition of the crop. The findings underscore the potential of INM as a sustainable approach to optimize crop productivity and improve food security in India. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for farmers, agricultural practitioners, and policymakers, offering a promising strategy for enhancing oilseed production and contributing to the agricultural economy of India. The positive outcomes of this study support the adoption of INM practices to ensure sustainable and productive mustard cultivation in the region.
Agro-morphological Characterization of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes
Authors: Chauhan Pankaj , Kumar Vinod , Shrivastava M. K. , Patel Neelesh , Biswal Manoranjan , Mate Hemendra
Published: November 2023

The study was conducted in field conditions that suitable to typical growth and all trait expression. A set of 30 wheat genotypes was evaluated for 10 agro-morphological traits in the rabi season 2022-2023. The experiment followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications and along with three different date of sowing. For the present study data was recorded on the basis of DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) guidelines. Phenotypic assessment revealed variability in different morphological traits like Plant growth habit, Foliage colour, Flag leaf length, Flag leaf width, Ear time of emergence, Ear Shape, Ear Density, Ear colour, Grain colour and Grain shape. Most of the morphological traits found an adequate level of variability.These established descriptors serve as valuable markers for characterizing the wheat, facilitating genotypes utilization and conservation efforts.
Development of a Low-cost IoT-based Remote Sensing Device for Real-time Atmospheric Data Acquisition and Weather Monitoring
Authors: Ukim Akanimo Jimmy , Asuquo Philip Michael , Samuel Aneke Chikezie , Antigha Bassey , Ewa Imoh
Published: November 2023

The knowledge of basic meteorological parameters is needful in terms of understanding the atmospheric behavior for a given period and consequently also for creating the weather forecast. In this study, an IOT based atmospheric weather data acquisition device is designed to ease and improve on the current measuring technique of acquiring Temperature, Pressure, and Relative Humidity measurement at different altitude levels. This design aims at solving the problem of inadequate atmospheric data by monitoring atmospheric weather conditions using sensors while the microcontroller processes the data collected and relays it to the user. This research was carried out at the University of Uyo, between September 2021 and January, 2023. Taking cognizance of the fact that weather forecasting is of great relevance in our world, this system has been designed using a BME280 module for the atmospheric parameters capturing, an ESP8266 as the microcontroller for Data processing, and a wireless module for processing and transfer of the data from the BME module, a NEO6M GPS module for longitude and latitude, a Li-ion cell to power the components and then a TP4056 circuit to recharge the Li-ion cell. A web server application known as Thingspeak.com was incorporated to help the user interact and access the acquired data to make for ease of understanding and real-time logging of the data obtained. The device successfully transmitted real-time weather data of the target atmospheric parameters captured by it to its users remotely. The results prove that this device is optimally effective and viable for capturing atmospheric parameters for real-time monitoring purposes. This work is relevant in the weather forecasting sector, agricultural sector, as well as to individuals who may have need of gathering information about the atmosphere for proactive planning of daily activities.
Land Use Change Detection and Evaluation in a Watershed: The Implications for Ofu River Water Quality in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
Authors: Daniel Simon , Ojochenemi Idoko , Ukoje Lawrence Nwaune , Simon Idenyi , Ajogwu Abraham Samuel
Published: November 2023

This paper examined visible land use changes in Ofu River watershed. Supervised and unsupervised classification of land use types were adopted. Geographical Information System (GIS) software, ArcGIS was used handling and analyzing geographic information by visualizing land use change characteristics or spatio-temporal variability of land use in the study area. The results shows built-up in 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2030 projection were analyzed to be (18.931km2, 30.891km2,  81.280km2 and 112.455km2) respectively, water body (7.491km2, 7.491km2, 7.450km2 and 7.428km2), wetlands (105.637km2, 81.713km2, 61.590km2 and 39.564k2), scattered agriculture (1381.057km2, 1,460.415km2, 1,58.560km2 and 1,662.313km2) and vegetated land (415.428km2, 348.033km2, 209.660km2 and 106.783km2) respectively. Tested hypothesis revealed that p< .05. This study recommends proper monitoring of land uses and workable land use policies be put in place in the study area.
Application of a Web-Based Landslide Mitigation Information System (Sensor-Ku) in Kalongan Village Semarang, Central Java
Authors: Putri Zahra Yulia , Anjani Salsa Bella , Pevi Alika , Zeva Dilean , Wahyuningtyas Sri Hapsari , Hapsari Aprelia Dwi , Pantiawati Ika , Cherlyawati Hugi , Isworo Slamet
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Kalongan is one of the villages in Ungaran District with a potential landslide risk of 2% of its territory. Landslides occur along roadways and in residential areas, endangering the environment and damaging the infrastructure. A web-based early warning system application is the Landslide Early Warning System (Sensor-Ku) which is applied at the research location. This study intends to detect and provide real-time information on the likelihood of landslides, specifically to the people of Kalongan Village.

Methods: This research creates a web-based monitoring and early warning system, as well as its implementation on an experimental microservice architecture, to provide landslide risk mitigation information to Kalongan residents.

Results: According to the research, the landslide early warning system (LEWS) provides a solution by integrating many modules, such as recording dynamic variability, handling multi-scale data sets, extracting important trigger information about the onset of potential landslides, and broadcasting multi-level data. warning. This research also combines a real-time landslide early warning system. 

Conclusion: The Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) Program is effective in reducing the risk of landslides. Some of the issues found when running the program include the costs of maintaining the landslide early warning equipment, which must be managed by the Kalongan village community.
Public Spending and Economic Growth in Nigeria: Assessing Recurrent Expenditure’s Neutrality and Monetary Policy Interaction
Authors: Udonwa Ubong Ekerete , Effiong Ubong Edem
Published: November 2023

In this study, we explored the influence of public spending on economic growth in Nigeria by testing the neutrality/non-neutrality of recurrent expenditure, as well as checking for the effect of interaction of the two expenditure components with monetary policy (interest rate) to see how they would influence economic growth. Data which covers the period 1981 to 2021 were analyzed using the technique of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model which was selected based on the fact that our variables were stationary at mixed order of levels and first difference. From the ARDL bounds test, the study revealed that there is a long-run relationship among the variables in the model which prompts the estimation of the error correction model. From the result, the findings suggest that recurrent expenditure exerts a positive and significant effect on economic growth, thereby signifying the non-neutrality of the recurrent expenditure component on economic growth. Further, the interactive terms indicates that an interaction of recurrent expenditure and interest rate on economic growth generated a negative effect though its one-period lag yields a positive and significant effect. Also, the long-run result indicates that recurrent expenditure yielded a positive but insignificant effect, thereby indicating the validity of the recurrent expenditure in the long-run. This is further confirmed as it exerted a negative but insignificant effect on economic growth when interacted with monetary policy. The policy implication of the findings centres on the fact that recurrent expenditure can only be non-neutral in influencing the macroeconomy just in the short-run.
Cardiovascular Outcomes of α-Blockers vs 5-α Reductase Inhibitors for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Zhang Jiandong , Latour Chase D. , Olawore Oluwasolape , Pate Virginia , Friedlander David F. , Stürmer Til , Jonsson Funk Michele , Jensen Brian C.
Published: November 2023

Importance

The most prescribed class of medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is α-blockers (ABs). However, the cardiovascular safety profile of these medications among patients with BPH is not well understood.

Objective

To compare the safety of ABs vs 5-α reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) for risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This active comparator, new-user cohort study was conducted using insurance claims data from a 20% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2007 to 2019 to evaluate the 1-year risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Males aged 66 to 90 years were indexed into the cohort at new use of an AB or 5-ARI. Twelve months of continuous enrollment and at least 1 diagnosis code for BPH within 12 months prior to initiation were required. Data were analyzed from January 2007 through December 2019.

Exposures

Exposure was defined by a qualifying prescription fill for an AB or 5-ARI after at least 12 months without a prescription for these drug classes.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Follow-up began at a qualified refill for the study drug. Primary study outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure (HF), composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; hospitalization for stroke, myocardial infarction, or death), composite MACE or hospitalization for HF, and death. Inverse probability of treatment and censoring-weighted 1-year risks, risk ratios (RRs), and risk differences (RDs) were estimated for each outcome.

Results

Among 189 868 older adult males, there were 163 829 patients initiating ABs (mean [SD] age, 74.6 [6.2] years; 579 American Indian or Alaska Native [0.4%], 5890 Asian or Pacific Islander [3.6%], 9179 Black [5.6%], 10 610 Hispanic [6.5%], and 133 510 non-Hispanic White [81.5%]) and 26 039 patients initiating 5-ARIs (mean [SD] age, 75.3 [6.4] years; 76 American Indian or Alaska Native [0.3%], 827 Asian or Pacific Islander [3.2%], 1339 Black [5.1%], 1656 Hispanic [6.4%], and 21 605 non-Hispanic White [83.0%]). ABs compared with 5-ARIs were associated with an increased 1-year risk of MACE (8.95% [95% CI, 8.81%-9.09%] vs 8.32% [95% CI, 7.92%-8.72%]; RR = 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.13]; RD per 1000 individuals = 6.26 [95% CI, 2.15-10.37]), composite MACE and HF (RR = 1.07; [95% CI, 1.03-1.12]; RD per 1000 individuals = 7.40 [95% CI, 2.88-11.93 ]), and death (RR = 1.07; [95% CI, 1.01-1.14]; RD per 1000 individuals = 3.85 [95% CI, 0.40-7.29]). There was no difference in risk for HF hospitalization alone.

Conclusions and Relevance

These results suggest that ABs may be associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes compared with 5-ARIs. If replicated with more detailed confounder data, these results may have important public health implications given these medications’ widespread use.
Severe Respiratory Disease Among Children With and Without Medical Complexity During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Belza Christina , Pullenayegum Eleanor , Nelson Katherine E. , Aoyama Kazuyoshi , Fu Longdi , Buchanan Francine , Diaz Sanober , Goldberg Ori , Guttmann Astrid , Hepburn Charlotte Moore , Mahant Sanjay , Martens Rachel , Nathwani Apsara , Saunders Natasha R. , Cohen Eyal
Published: November 2023

Importance

Severe respiratory disease declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, partially due to decreased circulation of respiratory pathogens. However, the outcomes of children with higher risk have not been described using population-based data.

Objective

To compare respiratory-related hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and mortality during the pandemic vs prepandemic, among children with medical complexity (CMC) and without medical complexity (non-CMC).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based repeated cross-sectional study used Canadian health administrative data of children aged younger than 18 years in community and pediatric hospitals during a pandemic period (April 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022) compared with a 3-year prepandemic period (April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020). The pandemic period was analyzed separately for year 1 (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021) and year 2 (April 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022). Statistical analysis was performed from October 2022 to April 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Respiratory-related hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and mortality before and during the pandemic among CMC and non-CMC.

Results

A total of 139 078 respiratory hospitalizations (29 461 respiratory hospitalizations for CMC and 109 617 for non-CMC) occurred during the study period. Among CMC, there were fewer respiratory hospitalizations in both 2020 (rate ratio [RR], 0.44 [95% CI, 0.42-0.46]) and 2021 (RR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.51-0.62]) compared with the prepandemic period. Among non-CMC, there was an even larger relative reduction in respiratory hospitalizations in 2020 (RR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.17-0.19]) and a similar reduction in 2021 (RR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.54-0.56]), compared with the prepandemic period. Reductions in ICU admissions for respiratory illness followed a similar pattern for CMC (2020: RR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.53-0.59]; 2021: RR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.63-0.70]) and non-CMC (2020: RR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.20-0.24]; RR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.61-0.69]). In-hospital mortality for these conditions decreased among CMC in both 2020 (RR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.51-0.77]) and 2021 (RR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.59-0.87]).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cross-sectional study found a substantial decrease in severe respiratory disease resulting in hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and mortality during the first 2 years of the pandemic compared with the 3 prepandemic years. These findings suggest that future evaluations of the effect of public health interventions aimed at reducing circulating respiratory pathogens during nonpandemic periods of increased respiratory illness may be warranted.
“Consumed by creed”: Obsessive‐compulsive symptoms underpin ideological obsession and support for political violence
Authors: Adam‐Troian Jais , Bélanger Jocelyn J.
Published: November 2023

Radicalization is a process by which individuals are introduced to an ideological belief system that encourages political, religious, or social change through the use of violence. Here we formulate an obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) model of radicalization that links obsessive passion (OP; one of the best predictors of radical intentions) to a larger body of clinical research. The model's central tenet is that individual differences in OCD symptom severity could shape radical intentions via their influence on OP. Across four ideological samples in the United States (Environmental activists, Republicans, Democrats, and Muslims, Ntotal = 1114), we found direct effects between OCD symptom severity and radical intentions, as well as indirect effects of OCD on radical intentions via OP. Even after controlling for potential individual difference and clinical confounds (e.g., adverse childhood experiences, loss of significance, and substance abuse), these relationships remained robust, implying that OCD plays a significant role in the formation of violent ideological intentions and opening new avenues for the treatment and prevention of violent extremism. We discuss the implications of conceptualizing radicalization as an OCD‐like disorder with compulsive violent tendencies and ideology‐related concerns.
Validation of the geometric equivalent field concept in total scatter factor calculations, for half‐, quarter‐ and off‐isocenter asymmetric square fields
Authors: Hmodi Mohammad Samir , Nahili Majeda , Tsalafoutas Ioannis A. , Saad Bassam , Hasan Ali , Anjak Ousamah , Shamout Karlos
Published: November 2023

Objective

Monitor unit (MU) verification for any symmetric or asymmetric field is performed using a total scatter factor (Scp), that is calculated based on the geometric equivalent square field (GESF) concept. In this study, we measured the Scp of various asymmetric square fields (ASFs) and their respective GESFs.

Methods

Square half‐fields (SHFs), square quarter‐fields (SQFs) and square off‐isocenter fields (SOFs), with sizes ranging from 3×3 cm2 to 20×20 cm2 were created, by varying the collimator jaws of two Varian iX Linacs (6/18 and 6/23 MV). A semi‐flex ion chamber was used to measure Scp at a depth of 10 cm within a water phantom, at the effective field center (EFC) of all ASFs, and at the isocenter (IC) of their respective GESFs. The later Scp values were corrected by the off‐axis ratio [OAR(r)] of the 40×40 cm2 field size, where r is the distance between EFC and IC.

Results

The results show that the Scp (EFC) is independent of the type of the ASF (SHF, SQF, or SOF) and no significant difference exists between the 18 and 23 MV beams. Compared with the Scp (IC), the Scp (EFC) increased with increasing r, by up to 2% and 4% for 18/23 and 6 MV, respectively.

Conclusions

The GESF concept provides acceptable accuracy (< 2%) for the calculation of Scp of the ASFs used in most clinical situations (except from SOF with EFC at large r), and thus can be used in MU verification calculations.
Investigating the role of imaging factors in the variability of CT‐based texture analysis metrics
Authors: Varghese Bino Abel , Cen Steven Yong , Jensen Kristin , Levy Joshua , Andersen Hilde Kjernlie , Schulz Anselm , Lei Xiaomeng , Duddalwar Vinay Anant , Goodenough David John
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study assesses the robustness of first‐order radiomic texture features namely interquartile range (IQR), coefficient of variation (CV) and standard deviation (SD) derived from computed tomography (CT) images by varying dose, reconstruction algorithms and slice thickness using scans of a uniform water phantom, a commercial anthropomorphic liver phantom, and a human liver in‐vivo.

Materials and Methods

Scans were acquired on a 16 cm detector GE Revolution Apex Edition CT scanner with variations across three different nominal slice thicknesses: 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 mm, three different dose levels: CTDIvol of 13.86 mGy for the standard dose, 40% reduced dose and 60% reduced dose and two different reconstruction algorithms: a deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR‐high) algorithm and a hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm ASiR‐V50% (AV50) were explored, varying one at a time. To assess the effect of non‐linear modifications of images by AV50 and DLIR‐high, images of the water phantom were also reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP). Quantitative measures of IQR, CV and SD were extracted from twelve pre‐selected, circular (1 cm diameter) regions of interest (ROIs) capturing different texture patterns across all scans.

Results

Across all scans, imaging, and reconstruction settings, CV, IQR and SD were observed to increase with reduction in dose and slice thickness. An exception to this observation was found when using FBP reconstruction. Lower values of CV, IQR and SD were observed in DLIR‐high reconstructions compared to AV50 and FBP. The Poisson statistics were more stringently noted in FBP than DLIR‐high and AV50, due to the non‐linear nature of the latter two algorithms.

Conclusion

Variation in image noise due to dose reduction algorithms, tube current, and slice thickness show a consistent trend across phantom and patient scans. Prospective evaluation across multiple centers, scanners and imaging protocols is needed for establishing quality assurance standards of radiomics.
Effects of Humidity on Tribological Properties of 8YSZ/C Coating Designed by the Combination of Thermal Spraying and Hydrothermal Reaction
Authors: Deng Wen , Zhang Chuanyun , Guo Junde , Zhang Jingjing
Published: November 2023

Thermal spraying ceramic coatings have been widely used to prevent wear damage. However, the poor lubricating ability seriously restricted their application. In this article, zirconia stabilized by 8 wt% yttria (8YSZ)‐C composite coating is prepared with the combination of in‐situ synthesis carbon microspheres in the pores of as‐sprayed 8YSZ coating by hydrothermal reaction. The chemical constituents and morphologies of the synthesized powders and the composite coatings are analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure and tribological behaviors of the composite coating are studied by SEM, TEM. and Raman analysis. The influence of humidity on the structural evolution of carbon microspheres during sliding wear process is discussed. The results show that the synthetic C powders exhibit a typical spherical structure. Meanwhile, carbon microspheres adhere to the pores of the 8YSZ coating. The friction and wear experiments in different humidity show that the re‐graphitization of amorphous carbon becomes extremely obvious with the increase of humidity. Under the 80% humidity, an ordered graphene nanoscroll structure is formed, resulting in the optimization of the tribological properties. Furthermore, the friction coefficient of composite coating is reduced to 0.18, and its wear rate is about 1 times lower than that of under the 10% humidity.
A Novel Self‐Pumping Janus Dressing for Promoting Wound Immunomodulation and Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Zhou Lubin , Liu Fan , You Junyuan , Zhou Bo , Guo Wenlai , Qu Wenrui , Ren Xiuyan , Gao Guanghui
Published: November 2023

Self‐pumping dressings become one of the optimal solutions for the controlled management of chronic diabetic wound exudate and wound healing. However, present self‐pumping dressings are not only prone to breakage of the loose hydrophobic layer but also have cumbersome and complicated preparation steps, which hinder the application of self‐pumping dressings in diabetic wound treatment. Herein, a novel self‐pumping structure of superabsorbent Janus dressing is designed to improve the strength of the hydrophobic layer and promote diabetic wound healing. The Janus dressing consists of a hydrophobic layer with a drainage agent (drainage layer) and a fluffy 3D nanofiber cotton (absorbent layer). Regardless of the thickness of the drainage layer, the drainage agent in the drainage layer provides the fluid to penetrate the drainage layer to the absorbent layer for unidirectional fluid draining. In design proof, the superabsorbent Janus dressing provides unidirectional drainage of inflammatory exudate and regulation of macrophage polarization, resulting in faster diabetic wound healing than single‐layer dressings. Thus, the Janus dressing demonstrates important clinical implications to offer a novel design and preparation strategy for accelerating diabetic wound healing.
Energy Band Engineering Guided Design of Bidirectional Catalyst for Reversible Li–CO2 Batteries
Authors: Lu Bingyi , Wu Xinru , Xiao Xiao , Chen Biao , Zeng Weihao , Liu Yingqi , Lao Zhoujie , Zeng Xian‐Xiang , Zhou Guangmin , Yang Jinlong
Published: November 2023

Li–CO2 batteries arouse great interest in the context of carbon neutralization, but their practicability is severely hindered by the sluggish CO2 redox reaction kinetics at the cathode, which brings about formidable challenges such as high overpotential and low Coulombic efficiency. For the complex multi‐electron transfer process, the design of catalysts at the molecular or atomic level and the understanding of the relationship between electron state and performance are essential for the CO2 redox. However, little attention is paid to it. In this work, using Co3S4 as a model system, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the adjusted d‐band and p‐band centers of Co3S4 with the introduction of Cu and sulfur vacancies are hybridized between CO2 and Li species, respectively, which is conducive to the adsorption of reactants and the decomposition of Li2CO3, and the experimental results further verify the effectiveness of energy band engineering. As a result, a highly efficient bidirectional catalyst is produced and shows an ultra‐small voltage gap of 0.73 V and marvelous Coulombic efficiency of 92.6%, surpassing those of previous catalysts under similar conditions. This work presents an effective catalyst design and affords new insight into the high‐performance cathode catalyst materials for Li–CO2 batteries.
Multi‐Level Optical Switching by Amorphization in Single‐ and Multi‐Phase Change Material Structures
Authors: Wredh Simon , Wang Yunzheng , Yang Joel K.W. , Simpson Robert E.
Published: November 2023

The optical properties of phase‐change materials (PCMs) can be tuned to multiple levels by controlling the transition between their amorphous and crystalline phases. In multi‐material PCM structures, the number of discrete reflectance levels can be increased according to the number of PCM layers. However, the effect of increasing the number of layers on quenching and reversibility has not been thoroughly studied. In this work, the phase‐change physics and thermal conditions required for reversible switching of single and multi‐material PCM switches are discussed based on thermo‐optical phase‐change models and laser switching experiments. By using nanosecond laser pulses, 16 different reflectance levels in Ge2Sb2Te5 are demonstrated via amorphization. Furthermore, a multi‐material switch based on Ge2Sb2Te5 and GeTe with four discrete reflectance levels is experimentally proven with a reversible multi‐level response. The results and design principles presented herein will impact active photonics applications that rely on dynamic multi‐level operation, such as optical computing, beam steering, and next‐generation display technologies.