bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcomes for Younger Patients with Femoral Neck Fractures
Authors: Wagner Boris C. , Oliver William M. , Bell Katrina R. , Scott Chloe E.H. , Keating John F. , White Timothy O. , Clement Nick D. , Duckworth Andrew D. 
Published: December 2024

Background:
There is a paucity of longer-term outcome data in younger adult patients who undergo fixation for an intracapsular hip fracture. The aims of this study were to evaluate the outcomes for young adult patients undergoing intracapsular hip fracture fixation and to assess factors associated with failure and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods:
From 2008 to 2018, 112 consecutive patients ≤60 years of age (mean age, 48 years [range, 20 to 60 years]; 54% male) were retrospectively identified as having undergone fixation of an intracapsular hip fracture. Displaced fractures (n = 81) were more common than nondisplaced or minimally displaced fractures (n = 31). Failure was defined as loss of fixation, nonunion, or osteonecrosis. PROMs that were assessed included the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) index and Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale.

Results:
Eighty-six patients (77%) had union without evidence of failure, and 26 patients (23%) had a failure, including loss of fixation (6 patients; 5.4%), nonunion (5 patients; 4.5%), and osteonecrosis (16 patients; 14.3%). Overall, 39 patients (35%) required secondary surgery, with hardware removal (21 patients; 18.8%) and total hip arthroplasty (21 patients; 18.8%) being the most frequent procedures. Long-term functional outcomes were obtained for 81 patients (72%) at a mean of 7 years (range, 2.8 to 12.8 years). The median OHS was 47 (interquartile range [IQR], 40-48), the median FJS was 75 (IQR, 49-85), the median EQ-5D index was 1.00 (IQR, 0.77-1.00), and the median EQ-VAS was 90 (IQR, 70-95). The mean UCLA score fell from 6.8 preinjury to 6.0 postinjury (p < 0.001). Compared with the patients who had primary union, those who had a complication had significantly lower median OHS scores (44.5 versus 47, p = 0.008), EQ-5D index scores (0.825 versus 1.00, p = 0.001), EQ-VAS scores (70 versus 90, p = 0.01), and UCLA scores (4.5 versus 6.5, p = 0.001).

Conclusions:
One in 4 young adult patients undergoing intracapsular hip fracture fixation had a failure. Failure was associated with inferior long-term function and health-related quality of life.

Level of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Desafios na Gestão de Tecnologias Sociais para Prestação de Serviços Públicos na Amazônia: Experiências do Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá
Authors: Loureiro Luiz Francisco , Corrêa Dávila Suelen Souza , Lopes Rafaela Dias , Gomes Maria Cecília Rosinski Lima 
Published: December 2024

Objetivo da pesquisa: apresentar e discutir os desafios de gestão de duas tecnologias sociais, para abastecimento de água e geração de eletricidade, testadas na região do médio rio Solimões, no estado do Amazonas.Enquadramento teórico: os conceitos de tecnologia social, bens comuns, capital social comunitário e serviços públicos formam o quadro teórico para a análise dos resultados.Metodologia: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre o Sistema de Bombeamento e Abastecimento de Água com Energia Solar e os Sistemas Fotovoltaicos Domésticos, com foco em sua gestão.Resultados: destaca a importância de aumentar a participação dos usuários para promover a sustentabilidade financeira e diminuir a concentração de responsabilidades, além de enfatizar o papel do poder público e das concessionárias para o sucesso das ações, principalmente na gestão dos recursos financeiros e no estabelecimento de redes para a sustentação e disseminação das tecnologias testadas.Originalidade: este estudo apresenta uma perspectiva sobre o envolvimento das autoridades municipais e das concessionárias na gestão dessas tecnologias sociais, alinhando a necessidade de apropriação pelos usuários com a importância de promover a adoção pelos prestadores de serviços e seus representantes.Contribuições teóricas e práticas: o estudo sintetiza as complexidades da gestão de tecnologias sociais como as duas estudadas e da promoção de serviços públicos baseados em tecnologias não convencionais em áreas rurais da Amazônia.
Palavras-chave: abastecimento de água, energia fotovoltaica, comunidades rurais, gestão comunitária.
Integrative Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Time-Course Multi-Omics Data withMINT-DE
Authors: Xue Hao , Delbare Sofie , Wells Martin , Basu Sumanta , Clark Andrew 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Time-course multi-omics experiments have been highly informative for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationships between molecules in a biological process, especially if the different profiles are obtained from the same samples. A fundamental step in analyzing time-course multi-omics data involves selecting a short list of genes or gene regions (''sites'') that warrant further study. Two important criteria for site selection are the magnitude of change and the temporal dynamic consistency. However, existing methods only consider one of these criteria, while neglecting the other.
Reliability of the Ethiopian Health Workers’ Cultural Competence Scale: Expert Ratings and Relationship Analysis as Initial Evidence of Validity
Authors: Moges Belay , Semela Tesfaye 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Scholars are conducting studies on health workers’ cultural competence (CC) assessments, which they believe will improve health service quality and patient satisfaction. The lack of empirical evidence on how to measure the CC of Ethiopian health workers has made studies on adapting, developing, and validating CC tools a priority.
Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the reliability and content validity of an initial Amharic version of the Ethiopian Health Workers’ CC Scale (EHWCCS).
Methodology: To develop the EHWCCS, an initial pool of 130 items, 57 items adapted from six existing CC tools for health professional target groups and 73 generated items were compiled and administered for item clarity and relevant ratings by five experts. Then, 83 EHWCCS items that passed expert ratings were administered to 51 convenient health workers at Dilla University Hospital to rate five response options between strongly disagree and strongly agree. Five items and seven participants were eliminated, and 44 participants responded to 78 EHWCCS items on three sub-scales; cultural knowledge (CK), cultural skill (CSK) and cultural attitude (CA) reliability were computed using Cronbach’s alpha.
Results: The reliability of the EHWCCS was .96 for the full scale. The three sub-scales included .86 for 19 CK items, .92 for 37 CA items, and .87 for 22 CSK items. These sub-scales had significantly greater correlations with each other and with the full-scale EHWCCS. Therefore, the Cronbach’s alpha values for the overall scale and the sub-scales obtained were excellent, and similar results were expected.
Development and Evaluation of a Training Program for Implementation of Velopharyngeal MRI in the Clinical Setting
Authors: Snodgrass Taylor D. , Perry Jamie L. , Sitzman Thomas J. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Many craniofacial teams are interested in using velopharyngeal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinically for surgical planning for management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). However, many teams report training and resources are barriers that prevent them from implementing MRI.
Objective: (1) To describe a training program for implementation of velopharyngeal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the clinical setting, (2) to assess the effectiveness of the training program, and (3) to identify factors associated with successful implementation of velopharyngeal MRI.
Materials and methods: Eleven metropolitan-based hospitals with craniofacial clinics participated in a prospective observational study. From these 11 hospitals, 53 patients with VPI completed a velopharyngeal MRI. A training program was created and modified while launching velopharyngeal MRI at each hospital. The main outcome measures were: (1) Overall success rate of velopharyngeal MRI, (2) number of MRIs to achieve competence, and (3) success rate with velopharyngeal MRI after achieving competence.
Results: Key components of the training program included: delivery of MRI scan parameters; roundtable discussion of process for patient preparation and scan execution; test MRI scans; feedback from velopharyngeal MRI experts; and availability of brief references to review immediately before the MRI. 10 of the 11 hospitals achieved competence. The overall success rate was 81%, which improved to 89% after hospitals achieved competence. It took hospitals an average of 1.5 MRI scans to achieve competence (range: 1-3 MRI scans). Factors associated with successful implementation of velopharyngeal MRI were having a speech-language pathologist present for the MRI, having consistent MRI staff, and having previous experience with velopharyngeal MRI.
Conclusions: The training program led to successful implementation of velopharyngeal MRI. Hospitals benefited from having resources that were friendly to use during real-time data collection. The use of consistent MRI staff and/or a speech-language pathologist present during the MRI may improve velopharyngeal MRI scan success.
Chicken feather dissolution to obtain keratin
Authors:   Vahidesadat Zebhi-Ashkezari1, Fazaelipoor Mohammad Hassan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The dissolution of chicken feathers was investigated for the purpose of reducing solid waste and obtaining keratin. For the first part, the effects of sodium sulfite (0.05–0.3 M), urea (0–4 M), temperature (50–85 °C), and incubation time (2–4 h) on feather dissolution were investigated via a factorial design. Another factorial design was applied to investigate the effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0–0.02 M), and lower ranges of urea (0.5–2 M), and incubation time (0.5–2 h) on feather dissolution. Keratin was precipitated from the solutions by ammonium sulfate and characterized via FTIR and SDS‒PAGE methods. The results of the first part demonstrated the feasibility of feather dissolution in the presence of sodium sulfite, and the effectiveness of urea and temperature on feather dissolution. For this part, a maximum feather dissolution of 45.35% was obtained with sodium sulfite and urea concentrations of 0.05 M and 4 M, respectively, at 85 °C for 4 hours. The results of the second part revealed a positive effect of SDS on feather dissolution. A maximum feather dissolution of 57.63% was obtained with sodium sulfite, urea, and SDS concentrations of 0.05 M, 2 M, and 0.02 M, respectively, at 85 °C for 2 hours. FTIR analysis confirmed the keratinous nature of the precipitated protein, and SDS‒PAGE revealed that the mass of the protein molecules was less than 15 kDa. This work confirms the feasibility of chemical dissolution of chicken feathers to obtain keratin as a useful product.
Co-occurrence of Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence against Women and Experiencing Violence in Childhood in Refugee Settlements in Uganda
Authors: Odwe George , Onyango Francis , Muthuri Stella , Kisaakye Peter , Habteyesus Dagim , Seruwagi Gloria , Wado Yohannes Dibaba , Bacha Yadeta , Wandera Bonnie , Kabiru Caroline W. , Undie Chi-Chi 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and violence against children (VAC) frequently co-occur within the same households. However, little is known about the co-occurrence of witnessing IPVAW and experiencing VAC in humanitarian settings. We examined the prevalence of witnessing IPVAW, and its association with a) experiencing physical and emotional VAC perpetrated by a caregiver; b) experiencing sexual violence by any perpetrator; and c) the endorsement of norms justifying IPVAW among children and young people aged 13-24 years in Uganda refugee settlements.
Methods: We analyzed data from the first-ever Ugandan Humanitarian Violence against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS) conducted from March to April 2022, involving 1,338 females and 927 males aged 13-24 years. Analyses used cross-tabulation with a chi-square test and estimation of a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results: The prevalence of witnessing IPVAW was higher among males (30.5%) than females (19.0%). For both females and males, witnessing IPVAW was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting experiencing physical (Females: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6-6.2 vs Males: AOR 4.1, 95% CI: 1.9-8.2), and emotional VAC perpetrated by a caregiver (Females: AOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.8-4.4 vs Males: AOR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.2) compared to those who did not witness IPVAW. Unlike females, witnessing IPVAW among males significantly increased the odds of experiencing sexual violence by any perpetrator for males (AOR= 3.1; 95% CI=2.1-4.7), and endorsing norms justify IPVAW (AOR= 2.9; 95% CI=1.4-5.9) compared to those who never witnessed IPVAW.
Conclusion: Coupled with the endorsement of IPVAW, the co-occurrence of IPVAW and caregiver-perpetrated VAC is common among children and young people in refugee settlements in Uganda. These findings underscore the need to synergize gender-based violence and child protection sectors and develop prevention and response programming around intersecting IPVAW and VAC risk factors within homes in refugee settlements and similar settings.
Examining Knowledge, Attitudes, And Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice Among Nursing Students: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alruwaili Abeer N. , ABUADAS Fuad H. , Alruwaili Majed M. , ALSADAAN Nourah A. , BAGHDADI Nadiah A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: Integrating evidence-based practice (EBP) into nursing professionals' everyday routines can enhance both the practice environment and patient outcomes. It was suggested that an effective implementation of EBP would be improved by organizational support and an EBP culture.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the self-perceived evidence-based practice competencies and organizational readiness for evidence-based practice adoption among nursing students in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. A convenience sample of 183 undergraduate nursing students were selected from three governmental Saudi universities from June to August 2023. A self-reported, three-part online survey was utilized and included: demographic questionnaire, the Student Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (S-EBPQ), and Organizational Culture and Readiness for School-wide Integration of Evidence-based Practice (OCRSIEP-E). Participants were encouraged to share survey invitations with their peers in other nursing departments within the university, utilizing various social media platforms to maximize response rates.
Findings: The findings revealed that a majority of participants demonstrated satisfactory EBP knowledge (54.6%) and maintained positive attitudes toward EBP (64.5%). However, notable deficiencies were identified, with a percentage of students reporting inadequate knowledge (13.7%), skills (19.7-23%), and harboring negative attitudes (35.5%). Noteworthy trends emerged, indicating that female students and those actively engaged in research activities exhibited superior EBP knowledge and skills. Furthermore, nursing students exhibit varying levels of agreement on organizational support for EBP, with mean scores of 3.49, 3.59, and 3.47 for culture-supporting EBP teaching, resource availability, and provision of EBP mentors, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings reveal a reasonably positive EBP outlook among students but also some persisting gaps in knowledge, critical appraisal skills, and organizational support requiring addressable. While students generally have satisfactory foundations, targeted interventions are warranted to further strengthen competencies and actualize the strategic paradigm shift toward evidence-based nursing.
Synthesis of isomers of Brussonol, Przewalskine E and Euolutchuol E
Authors: Zong Wenjing , Zhang Jing 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The isomers of Brussonol, Przewalskine E, and Euolutchuol E were successfully synthesized through a synthetic route that involved tandem [5+2]/[4+2] cycloadditions to construct the full-carbon skeleton of icetexane diterpenes in a single step. Additionally, the Barton-McCombie reaction was utilized to eliminate the oxygen at the C 20 position, followed by the oxidation and aromatization of the C ring induced by SeO 2. This efficient and straightforward synthetic route paved the way for further activity research on these three natural product isomers.
Supervision of Experimental Autonomous PV System Performance at the Mediterranean site
Authors: saheb djohra , Azibi lilia , Aichoun fateh , Hatem djedjiga , mehareb fateh , koussa assia , belhaouas nasreddine 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The Mediterranean region, known for its abundant solar resources, presents a prime opportunity for optimizing photovoltaic (PV) systems. This study centers on monitoring the performance of an experimental autonomous PV system at a Mediterranean site. It involves monitoring environmental factors such as solar radiation, temperature, and humidity, as well as electrical parameters including battery characteristics, PV current, and voltage and load consumption. By analyzing these factors and their impact on PV performance, this research identifies key parameters crucial for enhancing energy production efficiency. The insights gained contribute to the advancement of PV technology and offer valuable guidance for deploying efficient solar energy solutions in the Mediterranean and similar climates.
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation in Genetic Algorithm Optimization: A Novel Selection Operator
Authors: Dalkılıç Şahin Burak , Özgür Atilla , Erdem Hamit 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The effectiveness of genetic algorithms (GA) is dependent on the selection of operators utilized. A multitude of researchers have proposed a variety of operators with the aim of improving the performance of GA. The results demonstrate that achieving optimal outcomes necessitates a balance between exploration and exploitation. In this paper, we put forward a novel selection operator with the objective of improving the equilibrium between exploration and exploitation. Moreover, a comparative analysis is conducted with the existing operator in the literature in terms of convergence rate on a total of 30 distinct travelling salesman problems, 11 of which are symmetric and 19 of which are asymmetric. Finally, the statistical merit of the proposed operator is demonstrated through the use of a critical difference diagram (CD). The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed method is more effective than those presented in the existing literature.
Adsorption of organic solvent vapours on pristine and doped few-layer graphene nanoflakes
Authors: Kupreenko Stepan , Stolbov Dmitry , Chernyak Sergei , Maslakov Konstantin , Strokova Natalia , Levin Mikhail , Arkhipova Ekaterina , Ivanov Anton , Savilov Serguei 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Heterosubstitution is widely used to control the surface properties of graphene materials. The knowledge of the mechanism of organic solvent vapour sorption on doped graphene materials is necessary for development of air purification technologies, volatile organic compounds sensors, metal-free catalysis and for many other applications. The effect of N, S and Si doping and oxidative functionalization of few-layer graphene nanoflakes on the adsorption of organic solvent vapours was measured. The nanoflakes were also analyzed by TEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and low-temperature nitrogen physisorption. Special attention was paid to the dependence of the isosteric heat of adsorption on the surface coverage for various adsorbate-adsorbent pairs, which carry information about the energy inhomogeneity of the surface, the hierarchy of adsorbate-adsorbate, adsorbate-basal plane and adsorbate-functional groups interactions, and the mechanism of adsorption. This dependence for the hexane sorption can be used to detect hydrophilic groups on the surface, and to compare the degree of curvature of graphene layers in different heterosubstituted graphene materials.
Thermally activated static friction explains earthquakes interactions
Authors: weiss Jerome , Marsan David 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Unlike e.g. meteorological hazards, tectonic earthquakes remain hardly predictable, reinforcing their deadly character. This is related to a strong time asymmetry, with few and nonsystematic foreshocks sometimes preceding large earthquakes, while aftershocks are ubiquitous and have been known for a long time. However, 130 years after Omori, the physical origin of this time asymmetry and of aftershocks remains highly debated. Slider-blocks models have been proposed to explain earthquakes physics and statistics. If these models can reproduce a Gutenberg-Richer distribution of slip magnitudes, they are unable to simulate aftershocks and time asymmetry except if introducing viscous relaxation in a deterministic way. Here, we model earthquake interactions and natural seismicity from a minimal number of fundamental mechanisms, namely elastic stress transfer and reaction rate theory applied to the simplest form of static friction. This allows introducing temperature in a physically meaningful way, and to strikingly reproduce many aspects of seismicity and earthquake interactions, including time asymmetry.
Early blight infection and the influence of biocontrol agents on wild potato relatives: Implications for integrated pest management (IPM) in potato
Authors: Lankinen Åsa , Andersen Christian B. , Mostafanezhad Hadis , De Pasqual Chiara , Hederström Veronica , Stridh Linnea J. , Liljeroth Erland , Grenville-Briggs Laura 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an important tool for sustainable crop production. IPM includes a diversity of methods, e.g. the use of biological control agents (BCAs) for disease control or growth promotion. While there is an increasing interest in the use of BCAs, less is known about their environmental costs and benefits on wild species, such as wild crop relatives. For example, a BCA may have the positive effect of controlling disease in wild relatives, but could also have the negative effect of growth promotion on wild relatives that act as weeds. In this study we investigated if three wild potato relatives – the perennial climber Solanum dulcamara, and the annual weeds S. nigrum and S. physalifolium – could be infected by Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early potato blight in Sweden, and studied how two BCAs, Pythium oligandrum (a lab strain) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Serenade®), affected the disease and growth promotion in a series of greenhouse and field experiments. Our studies confirmed the semantic knowledge that A. solani can infect all three wild species, in particular the two annual species often growing as weeds in potato fields. We also found a disease controlling effect of B. amyloliquefaciens, but not P. oligandrum, in the greenhouse. Some growth effects were found for both BCAs, but whether these were positive or negative varied with trait, plant species and genotypes. In conclusion, BCAs can confer both environmental costs and benefits on wild plants, which should be taken into consideration for development of sustainable agriculture.