bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineered Wood Products as a Sustainable Construction Material: A Review
Authors: Yadav Ranjana , Kumar Jitendra 
Published: September 2021

Engineered wood products are considered as best building materials due to environmentally friendly. Huge change to the way in which wood has been utilized in primary application of construction in the course of the most recent 25 years are in light of decreased admittance to high strength timber from growth forests, and the turn of events and creation of various new design of manufactured wood products. Engineered wood products are available in different variety of sizes and measurements like laminated veneer lumber, glued laminated timber, finger jointed lumber, oriental strand board etc. It is utilized for rooftop and floor sheathing, solid structure, beams and the hull of boats. This review objectively explores not only the environmental aspects of the use of different engineered wood composites as a building material, but also their economic aspects, to understand their effect on sustainability.
On the rational solutions of y^2 =x^3 + k^{6n+3}
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Sharma Richa , Bhatter Sanjay ,   Department of Mathematics, Malaviya National Institute of Technology
Published: September 2021

We consider a family of elliptic curves E(k^{6n+3}) : y^2 = x^3 + k^{6n+3} for some integers k and n ≥ 0 and prove that their rank is zero and the torsion part is isomorphic to Z_2. This is an extension of a recent work of Wu and Qin [14].
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Association with Some Selected Medicinal Plants
Authors: Abdullahi R. , Kwari J. S. , Zubairu A. M. 
Published: September 2021

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are group of fungi of the order Glomales that form symbiotic association with plant roots and enhance the uptake of nutrients, and improve plant growth and yield. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheres of some commonly grown medicinal plants in Maiduguri viz; Aloe vera, Mentha, Cymbopogon citrates and Ocimum gratissimum. The results revealed all the plants have formed mycorrhiza symbiosis. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores from five genera (Glomus, Acaulospora, Dentiscutata, Scutellispora and Gigaspora were isolated and identified. Cymbopogon citrates significantly recorded the highest total AMF spore counts (90±4.17) while Aloe vera recorded the least (54±2.28). Amongst the five mycorrhiza genus Glomus species were comparatively higher under all plant species, while, Dentiscutata and Gigaspora had the lowest spore counts. Highest percent root colonization (72±4.23%) was recorded under Cymbopogon citrates and Aloe vera recorded the least (55.5 ±2.41%). The study confirmed mycorrhiza association with all the plants, however, AMF spore counts diversity varies with plant species. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could be inoculated to soils with scanty or ineffective spores for enhanced plant nutrition and growth of medicinal plants.
Cryopreservation of Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) Embryogenic Calli by V Cryo-plate Method
Authors: Muralikrishna Kilingar Subrahmanya , Sajini Kalathil Kundanchery , Kavya Pulikuthi , Prakash Krishna , Sabana Abdulla Abdulla , Rajesh Muliyar Krishna , Karun Anitha 
Published: September 2021

Aims: Arecanut, a perennial palm species of Arecaceae family, has huge commercial value, and is grown mainly for its masticatory nuts. The ever-increasing demand for uniform quality plantlets from growers necessitates putting in place In vitro mass multiplication and other crop improvement programmes. The present study was carried out to standardize the procedure for cryopreservation of embryogenic calli of arecanut, derived from immature inflorescence cultures, by vitrification based cryo-plate technique.
Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kerala, India during 2019.
Methodology: The embryogenic calli were precultured in Eeuwen's Y3 basal medium supplemented with sucrose (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 M) for three days. Explants were affixed on cryo-plates and later dehydrated using plant vitrification solution 3 (PVS3) for 30 min. Cryoplates were inserted in cryovials and cryopreserved. Explants with no cryostorage served as control. Explants were rewarmed quickly in a water bath (40ºC) for 2 min and treated with unloading solution and cultured on recovery medium.
Results: The results showed 8-10 % recovery of embryogenic calli that resulted in normal plantlet production. The clonal fidelity studies, using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) marker, showed no variation of cryopreserved calli in comparison to the original calli.
Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrated the successful use of vitrification (V) cryo-plate technique in cryopreservation of embryogenic calli of arecanut. With better recovery percentage, the optimal concentration of sucrose in the preculture medium was found to be 0.3 M. Desiccation in PVS3 solution for 30 min had no adverse effect.
Antibacterial Activity of Sida acuta Burm (Malvaceae) Crude Extracts on Clinical and Typed Enteric Bacteria
Authors: Bodunrin Opeyemi Dorcas , Dada Ebenezer Olayemi 
Published: September 2021

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial activity of Sida acuta crude extracts on some enteric bacteria.
Study Design: Experimental design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at The Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria.
Methodology: Ethanol and cold water were used as extracting solvents. The phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of the crude plant extracts were carried out using standard techniques. The clinical and typed bacteria isolates used are Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella dysenteriae. Commercial antibiotics were used as positive reference to compare the sensitivity of the bacterial strains.
Results: The results of qualitative phytochemical screening of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of S. acuta revealed the presence of alkaloids; tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phlobatanin, and terpenoid. Quantitative result showed that alkaloids and terpenoids were significantly (p ≥ 0.05.) higher in ethanol (9.41±0.06) and 7.66±0.06) compared to aqueous extract (6.61±0.05 and 5.55±0.05). The ethanol extract showed highest inhibitory effect (32.00±1.00) on clinical S. dysentariae and typed S. typhimurium at 200mg/ml. Highest inhibition observed for the aqueous extract at 200mg/ml was (24.67±1.03) and (24.33±1.03) for clinical S. typhimurium and E. coli respectively. The antibiotics sensitivity test showed that only ofloxacin was effective against the enteric bacterial isolates.
Conclusion: Findings from this study revealed the potency of Sida acuta, as herbal candidate for the treatment of human enteric bacteria especially on S. dysentariae, S. typhimurium and E. coli at 200mg/ml which validates the antibacterial potency of Sida acuta and its potential as an herbal candidate for treating human enteric bacterial infections.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Selected Aspects of Extension Approaches Across Different Agro Ecological Zones
Authors: Ochola Washington , Orinda Mary 
Published: September 2021

Aims: Understanding how different agricultural organisations implement extension approaches across different Agricultural Ecological Zones is very critical for the success and impact in agricultural sector. This paper therefore assessed the effect of Agro-Ecological Zones on implementation of agricultural extension approaches to provide an insight into how to improve dissemination of improved technologies.
Study Design: A cross-sectional survey combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies was used.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in six counties of western Kenya: Nyamira, Kisii, Homa-bay, Migori, Kisumu, and Siaya counties. The study was conducted between September to December 2019.
Methodology: 12 agricultural institutions within the study area were sampled. A multi stage random sampling technique was used to identify 492 respondents comprising; 12 head of agriculture in the institutions, 120 extension personnel and 360 household heads across different Agricultural Ecological Zones (AEZs). Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The inferential statistics were set at the 0.05 level for significance. Kruskal Wallis test and Dunn-Bonferroni Post Hoc test were used to test significant differences on the implementation aspects of the extension approaches across the different AEZs.
Results: Climatic conditions, average age, land size, and value of household assets as factors of AEZs influenced how various aspects of agricultural extension approaches were implemented. Level of implementation of aspects influenced uptake of agricultural technologies. Kruskal Wallis test result (H (5) = 126.679, p value < 0.001) indicated that there were significant differences in the level at which smallholder farmers improved their agricultural practices in different AEZs.
Conclusion: For effective dissemination of agricultural technologies, farmer situation, specifically agro ecological zone must be taken into consideration when recommending extension dissemination approaches to be used. Multivariate analysis needs to be done to inform how to implement various aspects of extension approaches to achieve optimum results in terms of farmer behaviour change.
Evaluation of the Cold Chain Expanded Program on Immunization at Governmental and Private Health Care Centers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alqahtani Abdulrahman Hussain , Alsaleh Suhair , Almana Abdulaziz 
Published: September 2021

Objective: Vaccine storage is essential to ensure optimal vaccine effectiveness. Cold chain is a series of storage and transport links, designed to keep the vaccine at the correct temperature till it reaches the user. To evaluate the Cold Chain Expanded Program on Immunization at Governmental and Private Health Care Centers in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2021 in government and private primary health care centers of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were included. Data collection was carried out using standardized check list developed by Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) and World Health Organization (WHO). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 (C) and IBM SPSS 26 (IBM Inc.)
Results: The results showed that the mean score of Room and Refrigerator Elements for governmental PHCs was 8.8(±0.82), while it was 8.3(±1.86) for private PHCs. The mean temperature monitoring device score for government PHCs was 4.0 (0.0), and the 3.65 (±0.92) for PHCs centers. The mean temperature chart (record keeping) score for governmental PHCs was 2.55(±0.5) and 1.8(±1.2) for private PHCs. The mean maintenance and operations score for governmental PHCs was 4.6 (±0.49), while it was 4.1 (±0.84) for private PHCs. The mean scores of all cold chain components differed significantly between government and private facilities (p=0.000).
Conclusion: Our study highlights the cold chain management programs Saudi Arabia. More importantly governmental PHC centers in the current settings comply with the standards to the guidelines, provided by Saudi Ministry of Health and WHO, was observed, in comparison to private PHC centers.
Effect of Daclatasvir and Sofosbuvir Therapy on Serum Levels of Angiogenic Factors: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hamdy Eman M. , Shebl Nashwa A. , Mostafa Tarek M. 
Published: September 2021

Background: Direct-acting antiviral agents therapy is considered a breakthrough in hepatology due to high rates of sustained virologic response in all patients including those with decompensated cirrhosis. However, impact of Direct-acting antiviral agents-induced sustained virologic response on hepatocellular carcinoma development remains conflicting.
Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the change in circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1, the main angiogenic factors involved in hepatocarcinogenesis process, in cirrhotic patients achieved sustained virologic response after Direct-acting antiviral agents therapy.
Study Design: This was a prospective, single-center, cohort study.
Place and Duration of Study: Patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of National Liver Institute, which considered a tertiary referral center in Menoufia University, Egypt (September 2018 to February 2019).
Methodology: Forty-five decompensated cirrhotic hepatitis C virus infected patients with no history of hepatocellular carcinoma participated in the study. All patients received 60mg oral daclatasvir and 400mg oral sofosbuvir once daily for 12 or 24 weeks with or without ribavirin. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 were measured at baseline and 12 weeks after the end of therapy.
Results: The median serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor showed a non-statistically significant increase (from 1123 ng/L to 1269 ng/L, P = 0.126). But, transforming growth factor-β1 median serum levels exhibited a non-statistically significant reduction (from 13.22 ng/ml to 12.44 ng/ml, P = 0.163) 12 weeks after treatment.
Conclusion: Our findings show direct-acting antiviral agents therapy do not affect vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 serum levels. But, a larger scale prospective cohort study on an extended follow-up period is recommended.
Anti-Atherosclerosis and Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Flavonoid Isorhamnetin Isolated from the Bark of Cordia dichotoma L
Authors: Ali Syed Salman , Asif Mohammad , Khan Najam Ali 
Published: September 2021

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic and anti-hypertensive ability of isolated Isorhamnetin from the bark of Cordia dichotoma L.
Study design: Experimental study
Place and Duration of Study: The extraction and isolation of bark of Cordia dichotoma L bark (ACDL) was done at Biosapience lab, Bhopal, India. Anti-atherosclerotic activity was done at IFTM University, Moradabad, India. Anti-hypertensive activity was done at BilwalMedchem and Research Laboratory, Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur, India. All the studies was conducted from 2015 to 2021 depending upon the availability of resources.
Methodology: Column chromatography was done for Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of successive alcoholic extract of Cordia dichotoma L bark (ACDL), followed by successive fractionation using benzene, n-butanol, and acetone. Eluents with similar Rf values were pooled and underwent flavonoid test. Only a single eluents that passed the test was underwent purification. The crystallized powder obtained underwent UV, FTIR, Mass, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analysis for structural identification.
The evaluation of anti-atherosclerotic activity of isolated Isorhamnetin from bark extract of plant C. dichotoma L was done in high fat induced atherosclerosis rats. The seven groups of Wistar rats were taken and each group containing six rats. To evaluate the anti-hypertensive activity of the plant extract, L-NAME induced hypertension model was used.
Results: The structural identification and confirmation of flavonoid Isorhamnetin was analyzed by characterizations of isolated product. Lipid, lipoprotein profile and body weight were determined in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis rats. Isorhamnetin isolated from bark of C. dichotoma L produced a significant and dose-dependent anti-atherosclerotic activity in terms of reduction in low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), Total cholesterol (TC), and Triglyceride (TG) level; and elevation of high density lipoprotein (HDL). Isorhamnetin isolated from the bark of plant C. dichotoma L reduced the elevated arterial pressure of L-NAME induced hypertensive rat significantly to the level of normotensive animal group. The isolated Isorhamnetin have shown its potential as an efficient source for the treatment of hypertension.
Conclusion: The present study has identified the isolation and characterization of isorhamnetin flavonoid from bark of plant C. dichotoma L. This study also provides evidences of anti-atherosclerotic and antihypertensive effects of C. dichotoma L.
Variation in Emergency Department Physician Admitting Practices and Subsequent Mortality
Authors: Coussens Stephen , Ly Dan P. 
Published: December 2024

ImportanceAn emergency department (ED) physician’s decision to admit a patient to the hospital plays a pivotal role in determining the type and intensity of care that patient will receive. ED physicians vary widely in their propensity to admit patients to the hospital, but it is unknown whether higher admission propensities result in lower subsequent mortality rates.ObjectiveTo measure the variation in ED physicians’ admission propensities and estimate their association with patients’ subsequent mortality rates.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study used nationwide Veterans Affairs electronic health record data from January 2011 to December 2019, comparing physicians practicing within the same ED. The study population was composed of patients visiting the ED with 1 of the 3 most frequent chief complaints in US EDs (chest pain, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain). The data analyses were performed from May 2022 to October 2024.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcomes were variation in physicians’ adjusted admission rates, short inpatient stays (&amp;lt;24 hours), and 30-day mortality.ResultsThe study population included 2098 physicians seeing 2 137 681 patient visits across 105 EDs. The mean (SD) patient age was 63 (15) years, and 9.8% of patients were female. The mean admission rate was 41.2%, and the mean 30-day mortality rate was 2.5%. Physicians’ adjusted admission rates varied greatly within the same ED (eg, for chest pain: 90th percentile of physicians, 56.6% admitted vs 10th percentile, 32.6% admitted; difference, 24.0 percentage points), despite finding no association between these adjusted admission rates and patients’ prior health status as measured by their Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score before the ED visit. However, patients admitted by physicians with higher admission rates were more likely to be discharged within 24 hours (eg, 31.0% vs 24.8%, respectively), while patients of physicians with higher admission rates had subsequent mortality rates that were no less than those of patients of physicians with lower admission rates.Conclusions and RelevanceThis cross-sectional study demonstrated that ED physicians vary widely in their admission propensity, despite seeing patients with similar prior health status. The results suggest that patients treated by physicians with higher admission propensities are more likely to be discharged after only a short inpatient stay and experience no reduction in subsequent mortality rates.
Dental Clinic Deserts in the US: Spatial Accessibility Analysis
Authors: Rahman Md. Shahinoor , Blossom Jeffrey C. , Kawachi Ichiro , Tipirneni Renuka , Elani Hawazin W. 
Published: December 2024

IMPORTANCELittle is known about the spatial accessibility to dental clinics across the US.OBJECTIVETo map the spatial accessibility of dental clinics nationally and to examine the characteristics of counties and US Census block groups with dental care shortage areas.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSCross-sectional study of US dental clinics in 2023 using data from the IQVIA national practitioners’ database, which includes 205 762 active dentists. Data were analyzed from November 2023 to April 2024.EXPOSURESSocioeconomic characteristics of block groups and counties including rurality, area deprivation, racial and ethnic segregation, and uninsured population.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESEnhanced 2-step floating catchment area method with a 30-minute drive time impedance was used to calculate the accessibility score to dental clinics at the block group level. The outcomes were dental clinic shortage areas and inequality in access to dental clinics.RESULTSNearly 1.7 million people in the US (0.5%) lacked access to dental clinics within a 30-minute drive. This included 0.9 million male (52.2%), 1.2 million White (71.0%), 52 636 Black (3.0%), and 176 885 Hispanic (10.2%) individuals. Approximately 24.7 million people (7.5%) lived in dental care shortage areas (defined as &amp;lt;1 dentist per 5000 population). There was a significant difference in spatial accessibility scores between rural and urban areas, with 1 dentist for every 3850 people in rural areas and 1 dentist for every 1470 people in urban areas. Additionally, there were 387 counties with significant disparities in access to dental clinics. Rural block groups (23.9 percentage points [pp]; 95% CI, 23.6-24.3), block groups with higher levels of Black (1.5 pp; 95% CI, 1.3-1.7) and Hispanic (4.5 pp; 95% CI, 4.3-4.8) segregation, and block groups with the highest levels of area deprivation (5.5 pp; 95% CI, 5.1-5.9) were more likely to experience dental care shortages compared with urban block groups and those with lower levels of segregation and area deprivation. Moreover, rural counties (11.3 pp; 95% CI, 8.9-13.7), counties with a high uninsured population (3.0 pp; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4), and counties with high levels of deprivation (5.8 pp; 95% CI, 2.1-9.5) were more likely to have inequality in access to dental clinics.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn this cross-sectional study of US dental clinics, there was geographic shortage and maldistribution of the dental workforce. These findings can support dental workforce planning efforts at the federal and state levels to encourage dentists to practice in underserved areas to reduce disparities in access to dental care.