bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the health benefits of a mobile-based multidomain lifestyle program for older adults living in assisted living facilities
Authors: Kim Yongseop , Kim Junhyoung , Ory Marcia , Ko Myungjin 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Cognitive decline stands as a significant factor contributing to disability and dependency among older adults. Multi-domain lifestyle (MDL) interventions are widely recognized for their effectiveness in preserving cognitive functioning in older adults with dementia. However, little is known about MDL interventions using technology-based approaches in older adults residing in assisted living facilities. This qualitative study aims to explore the benefits of a mobile-based multidomain application, the Silvia Program, in enhancing the cognitive functioning of residents in assisted living facilities.
Methods
We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews to capture the health-related benefits and perspectives of the Silvia Program after a 12-week period. Ten participants (70% female; age range 66–93), all at risk of dementia (with MoCA scores between 18 and 25), were recruited from two local community assisted living facilities in the Midwestern area. Five steps of high-quality analysis of interview transcript was conducted.
Results
We identified three salient themes resulting from Silvia Program participation: (a) Cognitive benefits, (b) psychological wellbeing, (c) Health-related behavior management, (d) Technology anxiety, and (e) Content issues.
Discussion
The present study provides suggestive evidence for an overall positive effect of the use of the Silvia Program on the cognitive functioning among residents in ALFs. Practical implications and further discussion are addressed in this paper.
Dried Anaerobic Digestate From Slaughterhouse by-products: Emerging Cues for a Bio-based Fertilization
Authors: Ciurli Andrea , Biase Giampaolo Di , Rossi Mario , Grigatti Marco , Ciavatta Claudio , Cavani Luciano 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The slaughterhouse and meat industry are worldwide rapidly growing and produce billions of tonnes of organic wastes annually. These materials can be used to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion and the resulting digestate represents a potential source of organic carbon and nutrients that could be applied to the soil as organic fertilizer. The present work aims to assess the fertilizing potential of a dried anaerobic digestate (DD) produced from beef slaughtering waste. DD was characterized at the physic-chemical level, particularly focusing on macro- and micronutrient contents, potentially toxic element and organic contaminants. Then, a short-term soil incubation experiment was performed on two different soils. After the incubation, DD released 10-26% of their total nitrogen (N) and 13-16% of total phosphorus (P), depending on the soils that had different characteristics and responded differently to the treatments. However, DD had e positive effect on the principal soil fertility indicators, such as chitinase and phosphatases, stimulating the microbial activity and therefore exploiting a fertilizing potential as well as other organic fertilizers. Moreover, DD had minor effects on soil extractable carbon (Cext) suggesting the presence of recalcitrant C forms in spite of soluble C, indicating a higher stability of slaughterhouse by-products after anaerobic digestion in respect to the other organic fertilizers tested. The results obtained in this work raise the concrete possibility use DD as a bio-based fertilizer.
Improving communication strategies for vulnerable populations during health crises: Learnings from COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices study in an informal settlement in Mumbai, India
Authors: Krishnan Supriya , Spencer Jennifer , Tiwari Apurva , Das Sushmita , Waingankar Anagha , Shende Sushma , Pantvaidya Shanti , D’souza Vanessa , Fernandez Armida , Jayaraman Anuja 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic provided lessons for health policies across the globe. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of vulnerable populations in an informal settlement in Mumbai, India, during the pandemic. We discuss the viability and effectiveness of communication strategies using the results and provide suggestions for policy modifications regarding awareness generation and behavioral change during health emergencies. The study was conducted through a telephone survey among 460 respondents (233 men and 226 women) from April to May 2021. Television (94%) and family (70%) were the most common sources of information, but they were not the most trusted. Most respondents knew the causes and preventive measures of COVID-19, including vaccination. However, awareness did not always result in changes in attitudes and behavior- 66% perceived low or no risk to COVID-19, while 93% did not consider it essential to wear masks in workspaces and 78% did not sanitize hands before entering workspaces. More respondents had fears related to loss of employment (53%) than their physical (10%) or mental (4%) health. The study highlights the need for context-specific communication strategies among vulnerable populations. This includes reliable and accessible sources of information, an emphasis on information accuracy and detail, and a holistic and multidimensional approach to awareness and information sharing.
Surveillance of Antimicrobial resistance among organism causing Bacteremia in patients admitted in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda
Authors: bazira Joel , Petra Nalumaga Pauline , Iramiot Jacob , Kuraishi Baluku , Walekhwa Abel , Derick Hope , Mugisha Lawrence 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Blood stream infections are the major cause of fevers of undetermined origin in Africa. The continuing emergence of pathogenic microorganisms that are resistant to first-line antimicrobials is a cause of increasing Anti-Microbial Resistance concern. This study aimed at understanding the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in order to serve as a quality assurance tool to determine common pathogens causing bacteremia, trends of antimicrobial resistance which will guide drug-policy decisions and facilitate rational use of drugs to prevent the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
This study analyzed results of blood cultures that were routinely taken from patients of different age groups with fever or suspicion of sepsis among patients admitted in different wards of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and transported to Mbarara University of Science and Technology, the microbiology laboratory between 2015 and 2022. Bacterial isolates of clinical significance from specimens received during the study period were recorded in WHONET (surveillance software) and exported to STATA for analysis.
Bloodstream infections were confirmed in 259 cases over the seven-year study period. Gram positive pathogens accounted for 160 (61.7%) in the confirmed infections while gram negative pathogens accounted for 99 (38.2%) of the cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most isolated pathogen accounting for 57.1% (n=148) of the blood stream infections. Both the Gram positive and gram negative bacteria demonstrated increasing resistance towards among Ceftriaxone and Ampicillin. Using advanced information technology to study antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of resistant bacteria in blood culture isolates will be useful in directing empiric antibiotic therapy of severe sepsis in Uganda because laboratory data being will be collected and analyzed rapidly.
Regional Variation in Phragmites australis Reproductive Traits and Seedling Performance in North America
Authors: Lee Sean , McCormick Melissa K. , Mozdzer Thomas J. , Clay Keith , Farrer Emily C. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Seedling recruitment is an important mode of spread utilized by many invasive plants. In widespread invasive plants, regional variation in the rates of seedling recruitment can contribute to differences in invasion intensity across regions. In this study we examined regional variation in reproductive traits and seedling performance in a cosmopolitan invasive wetland grass, Phragmites australis. We tested whether nitrogen levels and regions with different histories and intensities of invasion would affect reproductive traits and seedling performance. We sampled invasive Phragmites inflorescences from 34 populations across three regions in North America: The Northeast (oldest most intense invasion), the Midwest (recent intense invasion), and Southeast (recent sparse invasion). We hypothesized that Northeast Phragmites populations would have the highest reproductive output and seedling performance, and that populations experiencing high nitrogen pollution would have higher reproductive output and seedling performance under high nitrogen conditions. We found that populations in the Northeast had the highest inflorescence mass, as expected. We also found that despite sparse distribution of Phragmites in the Southeast, populations from the Southeast displayed a high potential for sexual reproduction. However, increasing watershed-level nitrogen decreased percent seed germination in Southeastern populations, suggesting that Southeastern populations are sensitive to rising nitrogen levels. While elevated nitrogen increased belowground growth in Southeastern Phragmites seedlings, elevated nitrogen decreased belowground growth in Midwestern seedlings. These results suggest that the southeastern region of North America may become the next invasion front of Phragmites, warranting more research into the possible management of Phragmites spread in the region.
Hydro-Morphometric Analysis for Flood Potential Assessment in Swarna Watershed, Karnataka, India- Implication on Coastal Water Conservation and Protection
Authors: T Nagamani K , N Bhagwat T 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

A thorough understanding of mountain hydrological processes and a careful assessment of the hydrological characteristics of coastal watersheds are essential for managing floods effectively. This work uses RS and GIS approaches to analyze hydro-morphometric aspects in the Swarna watershed. Gaining important insights into flood zone assessment through the integration of innovative techniques is essential for addressing the challenges posed by climate change in the management of water resources. Finding the highest priority sub-watersheds based on morphometric traits, flood potential indicators, and land use/land cover (LULC) analysis is the main goal of the current study. This all-inclusive approach prioritizes and classifies the detected sub-watersheds by considering thirteen different morphometric characteristics, such as linear, areal, and relief measurements. Further, to improve the ranking process, the current study also incorporates nine LULC features and two indicators of flood potential. Following these extensive evaluations, three groupings of significance—high, moderate, and low—have been established for the sub-watersheds. Within high-priority sub-watersheds, SW5 and SW6 are designated as low flood risk and high groundwater recharge, while SW1 and SW2 are designated as high-risk flood zones and low groundwater recharge areas. These developments present significant opportunities for decision-makers, providing them with a strong foundation for formulating and implementing efficient watershed management plans. Interdisciplinary approaches play a critical role in properly integrating techniques for groundwater recharge and surface water harvesting into flood management plans. Techniques including artificial recharge structures, check dams, and rainwater harvesting systems merged smoothly with conventional flood protection strategies. The long-term welfare of coastal communities is secured by implementing these strategies, which not only reduce the risk of flooding but also improve water supply and ecosystem sustainability.
The effects of plants extracts of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on Varroa destractor (Acarina: Varroidae) and Nosema ceranae (Dissociodihaplophasida: Nosematidae) in adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Sarhangzadeh Keikhosrow , Yakhchali Mohammad , Moradi Mostafa 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Varroa destructor is one of the important mites of the Western honey bees in Iran and throughout the world. Nosema ceranae is also cause of decreasing honey bee colony population. Herbal extracts are applicable replacement for chemical compounds in order to control bee mites and microsporidian agents. The aim of this study was to determine effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of thyme and lavender in infected adult worker bees with V. destructor and N. ceranae. Hydro-alcoholic extracts and doses consisting of 2% thyme (2g/100ml) and 2% lavender (2g/100ml) were prepared and employed in treatment groups with three replicates. Dead mites were collected at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours and efficacy was measured. Twenty examined adult bees were collected at 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours and spores’ reduction were determined. The highest mortality effects of plant extracts of thyme and lavender on V. destructor was 81% and 76% at 48h, respectively. The extracts had significant association with mortality of V. destructor and their efficacies were comparable to Apistan. Decreasing of number of N. ceranae spores was significant in comparing with each plant extracts and their efficacies were comparable to fumagilin. Nosema spores' reduction in bees was 4–5 fold less after extract treatment. The plant extract of thyme had higher antimicrosporidian activity against N. ceranae than lavender and inhibited the development of Nosema spores after 72h of treatment. It is concluded that the extract plants might be applicable alternative compounds in V. destructor and N. ceranae control in bees' colonies.
ThyroNet-X4 Genesis: An Advanced Deep Learning Model for Auxiliary Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules' Malignancy
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Niu Yupeng , Liu Hongli , Tian Fa , Zhang Qiang , Wang Yimeng , Wang Yeju , Li Yijia 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are common endocrine disorders, and the discrimination between benign and malignant nodules is crucial for treatment decisions. Traditional ultrasound diagnosis relies on the experience of physicians, which may pose risks of misdiagnosis. In this study, we propose a novel deep learning model, ThyroNet-X4 Genesis, for the automatic classification of thyroid nodules' malignancy. This model is based on the ResNet module, which optimizes computational efficiency and enhances feature extraction capabilities by introducing grouped convolution and increasing the convolution kernel size, thus extracting features and classifying nodules in ultrasound images. We obtained data from publicly available medical imaging databases for internal training and validation and used ultrasound images collected from HanZhong Central Hospital as an external validation set to evaluate the model's generalization ability and practical application value.ThyroNet-X4 Genesis achieved training and validation accuracies of 85.55% and 71.70%, respectively, on the internal validation set, with a testing accuracy of 67.02% on the external validation set, outperforming other mainstream comparative models, indicating its good performance in actual clinical applications. The development of this model showcases the potential of deep learning in thyroid imaging analysis, providing valuable references for future development of high-performance medical diagnostic models.
Construction Algorithm of Non-degenerate Complex Domain Chaotic System with Application on PRNG
Authors: Dai Xu , Wang Xiaotong , Han Haotong , Wang Erfu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Based on the theory of eigenvalue estimation, this paper proposes a construction algorithm for N-dimensional discrete non-degenerate chaotic system defined in complex domain. Through theoretical analysis, it's proved that the system constructed by the algorithm not only exhibits non-degenerate properties in complex domain, but also maintains non-degeneracy for its real and imaginary components. In order to verify the effectiveness and feasibility, the example of a three-dimensional discrete complex domain chaotic system is taken. The dynamic properties of this system is thoroughly analyzed including the chaotic generation mechanism, Lyapunov exponents (LEs), chaotic phase diagram and sequence statistical characteristics. The algorithm reversely manages the positional relationship between the Gerschgorin disk of the coefficient matrix and the unit circle, ensuring all eigenvalues fall within the desired range. Subsequently, a non-degenerate chaotic system is constructed in which all LEs are positive. Finally, the algorithm is applied to a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG), and various indicators are experimentally analyzed. The results demonstrate that the constructed PRNG exhibits favorable statistical characteristics and is excellent for application in secure communication.
A retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 5700 reported medication incidents in residential aged care
Authors: Silva S. Sandun M. , Wabe Nasir , Raban Magdalena Z. , Nguyen Amy D. , Huang Guogui , Xu Ying , Mercado Crisostomo , Firempong Desiree C. , Westbrook Johanna I. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Problems with medication management are consistently identified as key concerns for the quality of residential aged care (RAC). Incident reports can provide valuable information on key issues related to medication management; however, few studies have explored medication incidents in residential aged care (RAC) settings. Therefore, this study investigates the characteristics of medication incidents at different stages of medication management and identifies risk factors associated with incidents.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medication incidence data from 25 RAC facilities in New South Wales, Australia. All medication incidents reported between 1st July 2014 and 31st August 2021 relating to 5709 aged care residents aged ≥ 65 years were included. The outcome measure was the medication incidence rate (IR), quantified as the number of medication incidents per 1000 resident days. A multilevel Poisson regression model was performed to identify risk factors associated with exposure to medication incidents.
Results
A total of 5708 medication incidents were reported. The overall medication IR was 1.81 per 1000 resident days (95% CI 1.76, 1.86). Of 5709 residents, 35% (n = 2,016) had at least one recorded medication incident, of which 1,095 had more than one. The majority of the incidents were associated with medication administration (3023 incidents, 53%), followed by supply (n = 1546, 27%) and monitoring the response to the medication (n = 548, 9.6%). The outcome of the incident on residents was reported in 5165 (90%) incidents, with 724 (14%) requiring the resident to be monitored by the hospital, general practitioner (GP), or staff. Respite admissions were associated with a higher risk of medication incidents compared with permanent admissions (rate ratio (RR) = 1.908, 95% CI 1.646, 2.211, p < 0.01). Residents with Parkinson’s disease had a 1.5-fold greater risk of a medication incident (RR = 1.586, 95% CI 1.318, 1.908) compared to other residents. The administration of more than five medications (polypharmacy) was associated with an increased risk of medication incidents (RR = 2.019, 95% CI 1.930, 2.111).
Conclusion
Medication incidents affected more than one-third of older adults in RAC facilities. Improvement strategies should focus on medication administration, supply and monitoring, with particular attention given to respite residents and those with multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Preparation and electrochemical properties of MoS 2 / CNTs nanomaterials
Authors: Zhou Meipan , Wei Zhiqiang , Zhang Huining , Bai Jinglong , Zhao Jiwei , Ding Meijie 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

MoS2 is a fascinating two-dimensional material with a range of remarkable properties. The structure of this composite material comprises a layer of molybdenum atoms sandwiched between two layers of sulfur atoms，which imparts several remarkable properties to the material, including exceptional chemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and a large specific surface area. This article describes the successful synthesis of MoS2 and MoS2/CNTs (carbon nanotube) nanocomposites via a hydrothermal method, the introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) significantly enhancing specific surface area and improving electrical conductivity. At a current density of 1 A g-1, the MoS2/CNTs composite exhibited a specific capacity of 108.8 m Ah g-1. Following 5000 cycles with a current density of 10 A g-1, the material retained 74.49% of its capacity and nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. The hybrid supercapacitor, denoted as MC2//AC, exhibited a specific capacity of 90.44 m Ah g-1 at a moderate current density of 1 A g-1. Even after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g-1, the capacity retention remained at 66.46%. At a power density of 799.27 W kg-1, the energy density reached 41.88 Wh kg-1. The result of research shows that the MoS2/CNTs nanocomposites display outstanding electrochemical performance, making them promising electrode materials in energy storage applications.
Enhancing Individual Task Performance and Productivity: An Ethnographic Observational Study of Supported Employment Among Social Services Clients in Finland
Authors: Juvonen-Posti Pirjo , Vuorento Mirkka 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the various aspects of employees' work environment, including their job characteristics; the level of support provided by supervisors, job coaches and coworkers; and their perceptions of job performance and productivity from the perspectives of both employees and supervisors in the context of sustainable employability in supported employment interventions. This study was part of the Finnish Work Ability Programme Evaluation Study (2020–2024).
Methods:
This study is theoretically informed by the concepts of specific work ability and sustainable employability, as well as how health affects productivity at the task level—approach. The research is based on qualitative data obtained through ethnographic fieldwork, nonparticipating observing with interaction at work, which includes observing employed individuals in their workplaces. Additionally, we recoded discussions, took photos at work, and conducted interviews with supervisors and job coaches.
Results:
The main findings were that persons with disability or decreased work ability were employed in precarious low-productivity work, with limited opportunities for more sustainable employment. Several means from public employment services to decrease the employer's personnel costs were used. The supervisors appeared to have a strong grasp of each employee's task-specific productivity level. Supervisors had to adapt their usual tasks to provide extra support for employees, often focusing more on work performance. The role of coworkers and the work community as whole was also important. The personal support of job coaches during the employment phase was crucial, but their role in the workplace was unclear, especially to employers.
Conclusions:
To strengthen sustainable careers, the matching of jobs and individuals should be promoted through closer and productivity-oriented cooperation with employers and work communities in vocational rehabilitation and re-employment. The chosen qualitative research strategy, ethnographic fieldwork at work and multiperspective data collection provided new interpretations of the possibilities for sustainable employability using the Supported Employment method. From the perspectives of both enabling prolonged working careers for employees and providing a clear understanding of task-performance-based productivity to employers, there is a need for more microlevel data on what happens in work and workplaces, particularly the social mechanisms through which results are achieved.