bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prática de pilates na prevenção de quedas no idoso: uma revisão baseada na evidência
Authors: Malhão Diana , Pereira Mariana , Carlos Sara , Cardoso Ana , Navega Ana Rita , Gomes Emanuela 
Published: December 2024

Introdução: As quedas representam uma das principais causas de morbimortalidade nos idosos, tendo um impacto negativo na sua qualidade de vida e autonomia funcional. O exercício físico que visa a melhoria do equilíbrio tem sido considerado como uma componente essencial na prevenção das mesmas. Neste contexto, a prática de Pilates surge como um método bem tolerado por idosos, focando-se na melhoria da postura, equilíbrio e mobilidade. Esta revisão sistemática pretende avaliar o efeito da prática de Pilates na prevenção de quedas nos idosos. Métodos: Métodos: Pesquisa de meta-análises, revisões sistemáticas normas de orientação e ensaios clínicos randomizados nas bases de dados MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Trip Medical Database e Scopus, publicados nos últimos dez anos, sem restrição de idioma. Resultados: Foram obtidos 284 artigos na totalidade, dos quais foram selecionados 5 de acordo com os critérios de inclusão: uma revisão sistemática, três ensaios clínicos aleatorizados e uma guideline. Conclusão: Apesar da evidência disponível ser ainda limitada, os estudos abordados nesta revisão demonstram que a prática de Pilates parece ser eficaz na prevenção de quedas, melhorando o equilíbrio, a postura e a mobilidade funcional. Contudo, considera-se pertinente a realização de maior número de estudos e com período temporal mais alargado de forma a ser possível estabelecer com maior clareza os benefícios desta prática a longo prazo.
Evaluating Dynamics of Carbon Pools Resulting from Redistribution Among Biomass Components Following Wildfires in Aberdare Afromontane Forests, Kenya
Authors: Kigomo John N. , Obwoyere Gilbert , Kirui Bernard 
Published: December 2024

East African Afromontane Forests are among the carbon-rich ecosystems but their stability is mainly compromised due to seasonal wildfires. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the impacts of wildfires on various carbon pools and (2) to evaluate carbon stock redistributions among biomass components after wildfires within Aberdare Afromontane Forest ranges, The study was conducted in nine sites that experienced wildfires in 2022 within two months after the fire occurrence. A total of 35 concentric plots of 15m radius distributed in high severity (12), low (9) and unburnt areas (14) were used. Our findings indicated that the mean carbon stock for all biomass components assessed changed from 96.4 tons C ha-1 to 46.6 tons C ha-1 due to wildfires. Most carbon stock losses were derived from litter and herbs biomass components with a combustion of 97% and 86% respectively. Further, course wood debris and dead standing trees increased with increasing wildfire severity while standing live trees and soil organic carbon decreased with increasing fire severity. Carbon redistribution from live-standing trees to dead lying and standing trees after wildfires were mainly from young small trees. This study indicates that future forest stock will have an impact on the carbon budget if urgent measures are not put in place to control and manage wildfires. The findings of this study suggest the inclusion of wildfire assessment attributes within the national forest inventory framework to assist in accounting for losses due to disturbances. Our findings can support improvement in reporting Kenya’s carbon emission factors from land use. The study recommends periodical monitoring to evaluate long-term post-fire carbon dynamics.
Prevalence and Determinants of Depression Among University Students: Case Study, Technical University of Mombasa
Authors: Otieno Dianah , Adem Aggrey , Mumbe Beatrice , Otieno Arnold , Kamande Brian , Otieno Mishael , Mwilu Nicholas 
Published: December 2024

Depression is a significant global mental health issue that affects countless individuals annually and can lead to severe consequences, including suicide. One area that has seen an increase in mental health concerns is among public university students, with many struggling with depression-related challenges and even dropping out of school. Unfortunately, there have been several reports of suicide among university students in the mainstream media. To better understand the situation, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression among Technical University of Mombasa students and identify the risk factors that contribute to this condition. The study surveyed 390 students using structured questionnaires, with depression as the dependent variable and family, school, environment, and economic factors as the independent variables. Through the use of the chi-square test of independence and multiple linear regression model, the study found that 57.7% of students experienced depression, with students in year four and above being more likely to be affected than those in lower years. The study found that family, school, environment, and economic factors significantly influence depression among students, with 34.2% of the variations in depression explained by these factors. Family, school, environmental, and economic factors were found to increase depression levels by 23.8%, 12.7%, 10.6%, and 17.7%, respectively. Based on these results, the study recommended establishing peer counselling programs, raising awareness of mental health issues, creating online platforms for students to share their concerns, promoting participation in extracurricular activities, and incorporating mental health education into the university curriculum. These recommendations aim to address the rising cases of depression and promote the overall well-being of students in public universities in Kenya.
Determinants of Examination Malpractices Among Kenyan Public Universities
Authors: Adem Aggrey , Onger Nicholas , Omito Lucky , Ongaki Lightfill , Wasonga Godwin , Achieng’ Meroline , Nyamusi Dorca 
Published: December 2024

Examination malpractice is a major problem in many universities in Kenya and world over. Many students have been expelled or suspended, leading to either delayed graduation or non-completion of their courses altogether. This study sought to determine the factors influencing examination malpractice among Kenyan university students. Cross-sectional study design and cluster sampling were adopted. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data and data was collected from four public universities. The dependent variable was examination malpractice, while school, home, course and student factors were independent variables. Multiple linear regression was used to fit a model between examination malpractice as the dependent variable and school, home, course and student factors as the independent variables. The data collected were cleaned, coded, captured and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results obtained showed that the prevalence of examination malpractice in Kenyan Public Universities is 56.2%. It was further noted that significant relationships exist between school factors and examination malpractice, home factors and examination malpractice, course factors and examination malpractice and student factors and examination malpractice. This study recommends that universities need to strengthen their guidance and counseling units and the parents and guardians need to regularly monitor the academic progress of their children.
Exploring Risk Factors and Assessing the Effectiveness of Intravenous Iron Sucrose versus Oral Ferrous Fumarate for Pregnancy-Related Anemia
Authors: Allah Rakha Rabbia , Tahir Haleema , Ahmad Aftab , Yasin Muhammad 
Published: December 2024

Background: Anemia associated to pregnancy, which is defined by low hemoglobin levels or inadequate red blood cells, is a serious worldwide health issue that affects the prognosis of both mothers and fetuses. Due to food habits, healthcare access issues, and socioeconomic differences, anemia during pregnancy is very common in Pakistan.
Objective: The aim of the study was to identify risk variables linked to anemia in expectant mothers and assess the effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose against oral ferrous fumarate in the management of iron deficient anemia during pregnancy.
Methodology: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to October 2023 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat, Pakistan. 120 pregnant women made up the final cohort, which was split evenly between Group B (intravenous) and Group A (oral). Group B had intravenous iron sucrose therapy, whereas Group A got oral ferrous fumarate. Serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels were assessed during the course of the 4-week follow-up assessments. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, which showed continuous variables as mean and standard deviation and categorical data as frequency and percentage. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered noteworthy.
Results: Group A's mean hemoglobin rose from 86.49 g/dL to 102.97 g/dL (T-Value: 4.45, P-Value: 0.017), and serum ferritin increased from 8.19 ng/ml to 56.62 ng/ml (T-Value: 11.05, P-Value: 0.029). Similarly, Group B showed significant improvements, with hemoglobin increasing from 82.87 g/dL to 118.41 g/dL (T-Value: 5.26, P-Value: 0.001) and serum ferritin surging from 9.84 ng/ml to 109.85 ng/ml (T-Value: 7.37, P-Value: 0.001). Significant risk factors identified included poor nutrition (51.67%, n=62), multi-parity (59.17%, n=71), lack of antenatal care (67.50%, n=81), and lower socio-economic status (57.50%, n=69).
Conclusion: Intravenous iron sucrose is more effective than oral ferrous fumarate in increasing maternal iron stores, with a notable advantage in terms of fewer side effects.
A comparative study of DNA barcoding markers for Bamboo
Authors: Awaliah Seli Rizqi , Polosoro Aqwin 
Published: December 2024

The Bambusoideae subfamily, a significant group within the Poaceae family, contains diverse genera with complex taxonomic relationships. This study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity within the bamboo, focusing on the utility of DNA barcoding markers, i.e., ITS2, matK, and rbcL, in bamboo species identification. By analyzing sequence data from these markers, phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum likelihood method to infer evolutionary relationships among species. The results showed that ITS provides the highest resolution for species-level identification, distinguishing closely related species more effectively than matK and rbcL. While matK demonstrated robust genus-level classification, rbcL was limited by its high conservation, making it more suitable for broader taxonomic groupings. These findings contribute to a better understanding of bamboo taxonomy and highlight the importance of marker selection based on the taxonomic resolution required. The study also emphasizes the complementary use of these markers to provide a comprehensive view of bamboo phylogenetics.

Keywords: Bamboo taxonomy, DNA barcoding, ITS2, matK, rbcL
Frequency and Associated Factors of Cor-Pulmonale among Asthma Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Pervez Naveed , khan Gohar Ali , Khan Samiullah , Khan Radhia , Khan Jalil 
Published: December 2024

Background: Cor pulmonale, a severe complication of poorly controlled asthma, may involve both adults and children, significantly worsens patient outcomes but remains under-recognized. Its impact on quality of life a survival underscores the need for data on the frequency and risk factors; this study addresses a critical gap aiming to guide early detection and better management strategies.
Objective: The current study was conducted to explore the Frequency of Cor-Pulmonale among asthma patients at a tertiary care hospital
Material and Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology, Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital (KGN), MTI Bannu, a tertiary care Hospital from August 2022 to January 2023. Patients presented with asthma for the last year aged 16-60 years were included in the study while those having existing cardiac diseases were excluded from the study. Cor-Pulmonale data was collected by operational definitions and annotated by the researcher on specifically created Proforma. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 20. After the stratification chi-square test was applied, p =0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 134 patients enrolled in the study, 26.1% (29) were found to have cor pulmonale. The mean age of the participants was 37.22±13.29 years. The majority of the participants were male (71.6%) 55.9% were under 40 years of age and 59 (44.0%) patients were above 40 years of age. A family history of asthma was present in 20.1% of cases. Stratification analysis revealed no significant association between cor pulmonale and age, gender, family history, or asthma duration (p >0.05).
Conclusion: These findings highlight the notable frequency of cor pulmonale among asthma patients, especially in male and younger populations, irrespective of demographic and clinical characteristics
Keywords: Cor-Pulmonale, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, cardiopulmonary complications
Genre et corps dans 'Crépuscule du tourment' de Léonora Miano : entre fiction et frictions
Authors: Molina Romero Mª Carmen 
Published: December 2024

Crépuscule du tourment, de l’écrivaine franco-camerounaise Léonora Miano, nous offre un riche terrain d’analyse du corps et du genre féminin au croisement des actuels enjeux de la femme africaine et afrodescendante, en contexte francophone. À quatre voix, les narratrices égrènent les f(r)ictions de leurs cor(p)sages, à travers leurs vécus de corps-mémoire, de corps-désirant, de corps-social ou de corps-maternel. Avec ce quatrain textuel, Miano célèbre une poétique de la relation hors lisières, permettant le contact et la perméabilité, sans catégories, déconstruisant les « plis » corporels acquis par atavisme.
Deep learning‐based auto‐segmentation of clinical target volumes for radiotherapy treatment of cervical cancer
Authors: Ma Chen‐Ying , Zhou Ju‐Ying , Xu Xiao‐Ting , Guo Jian , Han Miao‐Fei , Gao Yao‐Zong , Du Hui , Stahl Johannes N. , Maltz Jonathan S. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectivesBecause radiotherapy is indispensible for treating cervical cancer, it is critical to accurately and efficiently delineate the radiation targets. We evaluated a deep learning (DL)‐based auto‐segmentation algorithm for automatic contouring of clinical target volumes (CTVs) in cervical cancers.MethodsComputed tomography (CT) datasets from 535 cervical cancers treated with definitive or postoperative radiotherapy were collected. A DL tool based on VB‐Net was developed to delineate CTVs of the pelvic lymph drainage area (dCTV1) and parametrial area (dCTV2) in the definitive radiotherapy group. The training/validation/test number is 157/20/23. CTV of the pelvic lymph drainage area (pCTV1) was delineated in the postoperative radiotherapy group. The training/validation/test number is 272/30/33. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean surface distance (MSD), and Hausdorff distance (HD) were used to evaluate the contouring accuracy. Contouring times were recorded for efficiency comparison.ResultsThe mean DSC, MSD, and HD values for our DL‐based tool were 0.88/1.32 mm/21.60 mm for dCTV1, 0.70/2.42 mm/22.44 mm for dCTV2, and 0.86/1.15 mm/20.78 mm for pCTV1. Only minor modifications were needed for 63.5% of auto‐segmentations to meet the clinical requirements. The contouring accuracy of the DL‐based tool was comparable to that of senior radiation oncologists and was superior to that of junior/intermediate radiation oncologists. Additionally, DL assistance improved the performance of junior radiation oncologists for dCTV2 and pCTV1 contouring (mean DSC increases: 0.20 for dCTV2, 0.03 for pCTV1; mean contouring time decrease: 9.8 min for dCTV2, 28.9 min for pCTV1).ConclusionsDL‐based auto‐segmentation improves CTV contouring accuracy, reduces contouring time, and improves clinical efficiency for treating cervical cancer.
Ion‐Conductive Polytitanosiloxane Networks Enable a Robust Solid‐Electrolyte Interface for Long‐Cycling Lithium Metal Anodes
Authors: Zhong Yuan , Huang Peng , Yan Wen , Su Zhong , Sun Chuang , Xing Yimin , Lai Chao 
Published: November 2021

AbstractDespite a high‐energy density and low reduction potential, the use of Li metal batteries is hampered by their insufficient electrochemical sustainability, which mainly stems from the lack of a reliable solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI). In this study, a robust SEI connected by polytitanosiloxane (PTS) is constructed via the in situ condensation reaction between tetraethyl orthosilicate/tetraethyl orthotitanate (TEOS/TEOT) electrolyte additives and the Li anode. In PTS, the Si‒O‒Si bonds, which have a low ion diffusion barrier, can provide an Li+ transport pathway to ensure regular Li deposition. Moreover, the 3D crosslinked PTS skeleton with strong Si‒O‒Ti linkages relieves the strain of volume variations and maintains the integrity of the SEI under Li stripping/plating cycles. The resulting Li|LiFePO4 cell with TEOS/TEOT electrolyte additives exhibits ultra‐stable cycling performance over 3000 cycles with an extremely low capacity decay rate of 0.008% per cycle. This study of the TEOS/TEOT as synergetic electrolyte additives offers a new method for regulating the interfacial properties of Li anodes.
Engineering Tissues of the Central Nervous System: Interfacing Conductive Biomaterials with Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Bierman‐Duquette Rebecca D. , Safarians Gevick , Huang Joyce , Rajput Bushra , Chen Jessica Y. , Wang Ze Zhong , Seidlits Stephanie K. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractConductive biomaterials provide an important control for engineering neural tissues, where electrical stimulation can potentially direct neural stem/progenitor cell (NS/PC) maturation into functional neuronal networks. It is anticipated that stem cell‐based therapies to repair damaged central nervous system (CNS) tissues and ex vivo, “tissue chip” models of the CNS and its pathologies will each benefit from the development of biocompatible, biodegradable, and conductive biomaterials. Here, technological advances in conductive biomaterials are reviewed over the past two decades that may facilitate the development of engineered tissues with integrated physiological and electrical functionalities. First, one briefly introduces NS/PCs of the CNS. Then, the significance of incorporating microenvironmental cues, to which NS/PCs are naturally programmed to respond, into biomaterial scaffolds is discussed with a focus on electrical cues. Next, practical design considerations for conductive biomaterials are discussed followed by a review of studies evaluating how conductive biomaterials can be engineered to control NS/PC behavior by mimicking specific functionalities in the CNS microenvironment. Finally, steps researchers can take to move NS/PC‐interfacing, conductive materials closer to clinical translation are discussed.
Recent Advances in Electrolytes for “Beyond Aqueous” Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lv Yanqun , Xiao Ying , Ma Longtao , Zhi Chunyi , Chen Shimou 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWith the growing demands for large‐scale energy storage, Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) with distinct advantages, including resource abundance, low‐cost, high‐safety, and acceptable energy density, are considered as potential substitutes for Li‐ion batteries. Although numerous efforts are devoted to design and develop high performance cathodes and aqueous electrolytes for ZIBs, many challenges, such as hydrogen evolution reaction, water evaporation, and liquid leakage, have greatly hindered the development of aqueous ZIBs. Developing “beyond aqueous” electrolytes can be able to avoid these issues due to the absence of water, which are beneficial for the achieving of highly efficient ZIBs. In this review, the recent development of the “beyond aqueous” electrolytes, including conventional organic electrolytes, ionic liquid, all‐solid‐state, quasi‐solid‐state electrolytes, and deep eutectic electrolytes are presented. The critical issues and the corresponding strategies of the designing of “beyond aqueous” electrolytes for ZIBs are also summarized.
Solvent‐Assisted 4D Programming and Reprogramming of Liquid Crystalline Organogels
Authors: Jin Binjie , Liu Jiaqi , Shi Yunpeng , Chen Guancong , Zhao Qian , Yang Shu 
Published: November 2021

AbstractEncoding molecular ordering during liquid crystalline network (LCN) formation endows preprogrammed but fixed shape morphing in response to external stimuli. The incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds enables shape reprogramming but also permanently alters the network structures. Here, an entropic approach that can program complex shapes via directed solvent evaporation from an isotropic LCN organogel is discoursed. Different shapes can be erased and reprogrammed from the same LCN on demand depending on the modes of deformation of the organogel during solvent evaporation. The ability to decouple network synthesis and molecular alignment relaxes the requirements to LCN chemistry and alignment methods, allowing for the realization of a variety of origami/kirigami structures and 4D shape morphing of LCNs printed from the digital light processing technique with unattainable spatial and temporal controls.
Amphiphilic Bottlebrush Polymeric Binders for High‐Mass‐Loading Cathodes in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kim Nag‐Young , Moon Junsoo , Ryou Myeong‐Hwa , Kim Seung‐Hyeok , Kim Jung‐Hui , Kim Ju‐Myung , Bang Joona , Lee Sang‐Young 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn contrast to noteworthy advancements in cathode active materials for lithium‐ion batteries, the development of cathode binders has been relatively slow. This issue is more serious for high‐mass‐loading cathodes, which are preferentially used as a facile approach to enable high‐energy‐density Li‐ion batteries. Here, amphiphilic bottlebrush polymers (BBPs) are designed as a new class of cathode binder material. Using poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) as a sidechain, BBPs are synthesized through ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. The BBPs are amphiphilic in nature owing to the hydrophilic PAA sidechains and hydrophobic polynorbornene (PNB) backbones. The PNB backbone allows process compatibility with nonaqueous solvent‐based commercial cathode fabrication, while the PAA sidechain provides strong adhesion between cathode active layers and metallic current collectors. Moreover, the PAA sidechain simultaneously chelates transition metal ions dissolved from cathode active materials (LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NCM811)) particles which are chosen as a model material. Driven by the well‐balanced amphiphilicity and bottlebrush‐based structural uniqueness of the BBP binder, the resulting NCM811 cathode exhibits uniform electron/ion conduction networks and dimensional stability. Notably, a high‐mass‐loading (27 mg cm−2, corresponding to 5.2 mAh cm−2) NCM811 cathode with stable cyclability is achieved with an extremely low content (1 wt%) of the BBP binder.