bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does Human Resources for Health competence and skill mix status affect compliance with healthcare quality standards among Primary Healthcare Facilities? Evidence from dispensaries in Tanzania
Authors: Mwaisengela Syabo M. , Materu Patricia A. , German Chrisogone J. , Mmbaga Issa I. , Temba Danny J. , Kiwesa Raymond R. , Mapunda Martin S. , Kinyenje Erick S. , Sirili Nathanael , Luoga Pankras W. , Ernest Simon P. , Burra Joseph M. , Hokororo Joseph C. , Kacholi Godfrey , Kapologwe Ntuli A. , Anasel Mackfallen G. , Kumalija Claud J. , Habtu Michael , Saguti Grace E , Masuma Janeth S. , Yahya Talhiya A. , Eliakimu Eliudi S. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Globally, it is known that, there is a close correlation between the concentration of qualified Human Resources for Health (HRH) and key health outcomes. Inadequate numbers with poor skill mix compromise health system functioning that negatively affect delivery of quality healthcare services.
Objective: This study aims to ascertain, effect of HRH skills and competence mix to compliance with healthcare quality standards (HCQS) among dispensaries in Tanzania.
Methods: This is a quantitative secondary data analysis using the Star Rating Assessment (SRA) data collected in the fiscal year 2017/2018. Compliance with HCQS was measured by considering service delivery areas of SRA Tool, HRH availability that estimated skill mix status were deduced by considering its recommended number as provided by staffing levels guidelines. Proportions of skill mix status and compliance with HCQS were compared by chi square test while Prevalence Ratios were estimated by Multivariate Poisson Regression with 95% Confidence Interval.
Results: This study involved 4239 dispensaries majority of which were rural located (81.2%) and public owned (83.6%). On average, 36.8% of dispensaries had skill mix while 63.2% had no skill mix. Dispensaries with skill mix were significantly more likely to comply with HCQS compared to dispensaries with no skill mix (p<0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the critical role that HRH skill mix has in ensuring adherence to HCQS. The observed challenge of HRH availability and hence skill mix should be worked on. Deliberate measures including increasing recruitment budgets and equitable distribution of available HRH should be taken to address the challenge.
The association between PM2.5 and frailty: Evidence from 122 cities in China and 7 countries in Europe
Authors: Wen Yanchao , Zhu Guiming , Cao Kexin , Liang Jie , Lu Xiangfeng , Wang Tong 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: The accelerated aging process worldwide is placing a heavy burden on countries. PM2.5 particulate matter exposure is a significant factor affecting human health and is crucial in the aging process.
Methods: We utilized data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to study the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and the frailty index. Acquire PM2.5 exposure data for China and Europe, match them according to geographic location within the database. Our study used frailty index to evaluate frailty, which comprises 29 items. We examined the association between PM2.5 and frailty index using fixed-effects regression models and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Results: We first examined the association between PM2.5 and frailty index using fixed-effects regression models, revealing a notable positive link across populations in China (coefficient = 0.0003, P = 0.0380) and Europe (Coefficient = 0.0019, P < 0.0001). This suggests that PM2.5 exposure is a significant risk factor for frailty, leading to accelerated frailty. Moreover, our MR analysis uncovered a possible causal association (OR = 1.2933，95%CI: 1.2045-1.3820, P < 0.0001) between PM2.5 exposure and the frailty index.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that long-term exposure to PM2.5 in the environment is a risk factor for physical frailty and may have a potential causal relationship. Given the rapid global aging trend, it is crucial to focus on how air pollution affects frailty and to combat its negative consequences.
Maternal Supplementation of Lonicera japonica and Scutellaria Baicalensis Mixed Extracts Improve Reproduction Performance and Metabolic Health through Modulating Gut Microbiota during Pregnancy
Authors: Wang Mu , Yin Shengnan , Cheng Jinghua , Guo Yuqiang , Lv Huiyuan , Jiang Siwen , Peng Jian , Zhou Yuanfei 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of dietary supplementation with a combination of plant extracts on performance, metabolic health, and gut microbiota of sows. One thousand and three crossbred pregnancy sows (DanBred Landrace × DanBred Yorkshire, mean parity 4.44 ± 1.84) were assigned to one of the two dietary treatments: a control group (CON, basal diet) and a Lonicera japonica and Scutellaria baicalensis mixed extracts group (LSE, basal diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg of mixed extracts). The litter performance at farrowing and weaning were measured. The plasmas samples and feces from sows were obtained on d 30 (G30 d) and 109 (G109 d) of gestation, and d 3 of lactation (L3 d).
Results
Supplementation of LSE increased (P < 0.05) the numbers of total born, litter weight and average pig weight on day 21 of lactation, average daily feed intake, and survival rate of piglets during lactation. Compared to CON, LSE group reduced (P < 0.05) interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in the feces and plasmas on G109 d, while increased (P < 0.05) interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration on G109 d and on L3 d. Supplementation of LSE had lower (P < 0.05) plasmas reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels on G30 d and on L3 d, and had a reducing tendency (P = 0.07) for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations and a trend toward increased (P = 0.08) value of homeostatic model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS) of sow plasmas on G109 d. In addition, supplementation of LSE increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and decreased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes on G109 d. The abundance of Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, UCG_002, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Escherichia_Shigella, un_f__Christensenellaceae, Bacteroides, and Terrisporobacter were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the LSE diet group. The abundance of Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, UCG_002 and un_f__Ruminococcaceae were positively correlated with plasma IL-10 (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with plasma IL-6 and TBARS levels.
Conclusions
Dietary supplementation with LSE diet during gestation improved reproduction performance and health of sows, which might be associated with changes of gut microbiota.
Economic Resilience in Brazil: A Sectoral and Systemic Perspective
Authors: Perobelli Fernando , Arcanjo Gabriel Marcos , Vale Vinicius de Almeida 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the resilience of the Brazilian economy from a systemic perspective, considering its sectoral composition and interconnections during the recessionary period of 2014 and 2015. To achieve this, it proposes the use of input-output methodology to construct a sectoral typology based on indicators of production, employment, and income. This approach provides a broader and more detailed understanding of the implications of sectoral dynamics for economic resilience. This work contributes to the literature by creating a kaleidoscopic view of Brazilian economic resilience, exploring its sectoral dynamics. The proposed indicators, grounded in conceptual and empirical literature on resilience, play a crucial role in characterizing the sectors' linkage power, allowing for references to stages involving resilience such as recovery and structural reorientation. The results indicate that sectors with lower resilience capacity have a higher share of value added, a common pattern in developing economies like Brazil. Furthermore, the decomposition of linkage power reveals that sectors located in the lower quartile of the typology exhibit lower intersectoral linkage capacity compared to those above the average distribution. This configuration highlights that, regardless of the context analyzed, whether in periods of crisis or economic stability, a production structure predominantly composed of trade and services sectors plays a central role in economic resilience. However, the effectiveness of these sectors in promoting both recovery and structural reorientation in terms of production, employment, and income partly reflects the fragility of Brazilian economic resilience.
Climate systems behind the observed singularities of the very intense tropical cyclone FREDDY
Authors: Ussalu Jone Lucas Medja , Manjate Guelso Mauro Armando 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The very Intense Tropical Cyclone (ITC) FREDDY has broken many records in the climatology of Tropical Cyclones in Mozambique in recent years. It has been unique regarding the lifetime, the travelled distance, the trajectory and the number of landfalls. This research aims to examine the atmospheric conditions or systems behind all observed singularities. Data from the fifth generation of atmospheric reanalysis (ERA5) provided by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) were used to achieve this purpose. We have used hourly data of different climate variables, such as, sea surface temperatures (SSTs), mean sea level pressure (SLP), wind, and relative humidity, to identify and characterize different climate systems, synchronized with the manifestation of FREDDY. In general, results indicate that FREDDY’s lifetime was influenced by the combination of two factors, the warm waters from the Southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO), whose SSTs varied from 27 oC to 32 oC, and the southern subtropical High Pressure Systems (HPS), enhancing moisture to the cyclone in the continent through its confluent winds at low levels. On the other hand, the Subtropical Jet Streams (SJS) had contributed to its singular trajectory, leading to multiple landfalls. The upper Trough and upper Ridge associated with the SJS, positioned respectively over the Austral Africa and southern Madagascar, had determined the back-and-forth movement of FREDDY through the Mozambique Channel, hitting both countries, Mozambique and Madagascar. These findings provide important clues that may help the cyclone monitoring at national and regional levels, and anticipate necessary actions to minimize its negative impacts.
Information Systems based Working Model for the Assessment of Program Learning Outcomes in measuring the Quality in Higher Education
Authors: Naim Arshi , Alnfiai Mrim M. , Almalki Nabil Sharaf 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Information Systems (IS) is an integral part of all disciplines for effective and seamless operations. This research paper shows the applications of IS based models in education and accreditation. Assessment of Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) is one of the methods to demonstrate the quality in higher education (H.E.) and key factor for successful accreditation from specific organizations. PLO is calculated by measuring the course learning outcomes (CLO) for all the modules in the program. Each CLO identifies key performance indicators (KPIs) for different assessments and measures through the students’ performances. We have developed an IS based model that works on excel program to calculate the PLO automatically just by including the values of a student's score in a specific assessment. This model facilitated the teachers and quality units in the measure of PLO accurately while creating data visualizations and presenting charts for the outcomes. The application is applied in one of the business modules in the University of Gulf to show the working model in the assessment of PLO. The IS-based model for assessing Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) at the University of Gulf automated the calculation process using Excel, ensuring accurate and efficient measurement of student performance. It enhanced data visualization with charts and graphs, facilitating clear presentation and analysis. Applied to a business module, the model demonstrated practical utility and supported accreditation efforts by providing reliable PLO assessments.
Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Ischemic Heart Disease attributable to air pollution from 1990 to 2030
Authors: Li Tian , Li Jingyi , Li Ming , Wang Zhijun 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Over the period 1990-2021, this study analyzes the global distribution and changes in the burden of ischemic heart disease due to air pollution. According to global disease burden data from 204 countries and regions between 1990 and 2021, this study analyzes ischemic heart disease (IHD) deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to air pollution. The global burden of IHD attributable to air pollution has generally decreased over the past 30 years, with estimated annual percentage changes of -1.37 (-1.46, -1.28) for age-standardized mortality rates and -1.31 (-1.4, -1.22) for age-standardized DALYs. In higher-earning countries, burden levels are declining, while in North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia, burden levels are increasing. In terms of age-standardized DALYs rates（ASDRs）, men have a higher burden than women, with those aged 50-75 experiencing the greatest burden. There is a nonlinear, inverted V-shaped relationship between sociodemographic index and ASDRs for IHD.The global burden, as well as the burden in the five SDI regions, is projected to continue declining over the next decade.As a result of air pollution, many countries and regions have experienced a decrease in the burden of IHD in the past 30 years.However, in some low-income nations, particularly among men and populations between middle age and old age, the burden remains severe.Focusing on targeted populations is crucial to mitigate the burden of IHD, particularly in areas where mortality and disease burden are increasing.
Enhanced Classification of Tinnitus Patients Using EEG Microstates and Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Raeisi Zahra , Lashaki Reza Ahmadi , Sharafkhani Fahimeh , Roshanzamir Amirsadegh , Najafzadeh Hossein 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Objective:
This study aims to deepen the understanding and classification of tinnitus through a comprehensive analysis of EEG signals utilizing innovative microstate analysis techniques and cutting-edge machine learning approaches.
Methods:
EEG data were meticulously collected from 16 healthy individuals and 20 tinnitus patients, segmented into five frequency sub-bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) and categorized into four distinct microstate configurations (4-state, 5-state, 6-state, 7-state). Advanced feature extraction techniques were employed to analyze microstate duration, occurrence, coverage, global field power (GFP), and transition probabilities. A diverse array of classifiers was utilized, including traditional models (SVM, DT, RF), deep learning models (DNN, CNN), and pre-trained architectures (VGG16, ResNet50, Xception). Notably, a novel feature-to-image transformation method was integrated to enhance the interpretability of the microstate data.
Results:
The DNN classifier achieved the highest accuracy of 97.49% in the beta sub-band, employing a 5-state configuration alongside GFP_TC features. Tinnitus patients demonstrated increased activation in the alpha frequency band and exhibited more dispersed microstate distributions, indicating significant alterations in neural dynamics. Additionally, a detailed numerical analysis of transition matrices revealed reduced self-transition probabilities and heightened transitions between states in tinnitus patients, exemplified by a drop from 0.88 to 0.72 in the Delta band for state A. Furthermore, the SVM classifier, when paired with ResNet50 and Xception, reached perfect performance metrics, achieving accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC AUC all equal to 1 across all microstates.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that microstate analysis, when integrated with advanced machine learning methodologies, serves as a powerful tool for enhancing the diagnosis and comprehension of tinnitus. The high classification accuracies, coupled with detailed microstate assessments, reveal significant neural dynamics differences between tinnitus patients and healthy controls, offering promising implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Evaluation of Patient Morbidity and Root Coverage Outcomes of Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access versus Coronally Advanced Flap in Treating Gingival Recession in Esthetic Zone, Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Fayez Aly , Shalaby Hany K. Mohamed , Gouda Inas Ibrahim Aly 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate and compare Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA) technique,with connective tissue graft; versus Coronally Advanced Flap (CAF) technique;with connective tissue graft, in treating gingival recession in esthetic zone.
Patients and Methods: Thirty patients, with Miller class I or class II gingival recession, were included in the current study, with age range from 18 to 55 years. Defects were treated using either VISTA combined with connective tissue graft technique, or CAF combined with connective tissue technique. Post-operative discomfort was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess patient morbidity. At baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months, clinical parameters were assessed; Probing Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Gingival recession Height (GH), Keratinized Tissue Height (KTH), while Complete and Mean Root Coverage (CRC, MRC) were recorded after nine months.
Results: The present study revealed that VISTA showed higher significant difference in pain.VISTA also showed a more reduction in PD, CAL, GH as well as KTH than that of CAF with no significant difference between either of the groups.
Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that both techniques allow improvement in root coverage with no significant differences between them, while VISTA technique showed more pain scores by the VAS than that of CAF technique.
Multi-physics coupled Simulation of the Thermal-pressure Characteristics of Hybrid TIG-MIG Arc
Authors: Zong Ran , Li Yinghao , Zhang Yujiao , Li Jiaquan , Liu Quanrong , Wu Hongyan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

A multi-physics coupled numerical model for the hybrid tungsten inert gas (TIG)-metal inert gas (MIG) arc (HTM arc) was established to investigate the arc behaviors in a simplified case without considering the droplet. The distribution of current density, temperature, electromagnetic force, velocity and pressure were analyzed in detail. The results indicated that a direct current path was established between the welding wire and the tungsten electrode, resulting in the merging of the original MIG and TIG arcs, which coupled to form the hybrid HTM arc. The electromagnetic repulsion force generated by the reverse current caused the original arcs to deflect along the welding direction, and the shape of the HTM arc was bimodal distribution. Compared with traditional single arc, the thermal influence range of the HTM arc on the workpiece surface expanded both along and perpendicular to the welding direction, reducing the temperature gradient and the cooling rate of molten metal behind the arc, which was beneficial to filling the weld toe. As the TIG current increased, the potential difference between the welding wire and tungsten electrode increased, which led to an augmentation in the current flux between them. This, in turn, diminished the electromagnetic force, thereby reducing the plasma velocity and weakening the arc pressure acting on the molten pool. The above thermal-pressure characteristics of HTM arc were beneficial to suppressing the occurrence of undercut and humping defects in high-speed welding, achieving high-quality and high-efficiency welding.
Relationship between Workplace Psychological Violence and Turnover Intention among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taizhou, China
Authors: Shi Huanhuan , Tung Tao-Hsin , Yu Jia-Meng , Yang Yu-Pei , Wu Wei-Dan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Nurses face one of the highest risks of workplace psychological violence. However, limited research has explored the correlation between psychological workplace bullying and turnover intentions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of workplace psychological violence and its relationship with clinical nurses’ turnover intentions.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1047 clinical nurses at Taizhou Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, from September 16 to 30, 2024. Our questionnaires recorded information on demographic characteristics, belongingness scale-clinical placement experience (BES-CPE), competency inventory for registered nurses (CIRN), work autonomy, perceived organizational support (SPOS), workplace psychological violence behaviors (WPVB), and turnover intention. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with turnover intention among nurses.
Results
Mean scores ± SD for BES-CPE, CIRN, work autonomy, SPOS, and turnover intention were 138.05 ± 14.28, 97.35 ± 14.52, 56.33 ± 8.55, 57.90 ± 9.03, and 7.26 ± 3.45, respectively. Nurses with moderate (39.6%) and high WPVB (64.3%) reported significantly higher turnover intentions than those with low WPVB (25.1%). Turnover intentions were also influenced by WPVB in relation to age, education level, professional title, total service time, marital status, and monthly income (P < 0.01 for all interactions).
Conclusions
In China, workplace psychological violence is associated with turnover intentions among nurses. Both personal and professional factors had interactive effects on workplace psychological violence and turnover intention. Improving workplace conditions for all staff may reduce psychological violence and associated turnover intentions.