bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postnatal Experiences of Teenage Mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Twintoh Reuben Foster , Amu Hubert , Kruh Vivian , Korsah Kwaku-Kissah , Esia-Donkoh Kobina , Darteh Eugene Koffour Marfo 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background.
Teenage childbirth is an issue of social and public health concern in Ghana, with high prevalence in some regions, including the Central Region. There is a dire need to understand the experiences of teenagers beyond pregnancies to facilitate comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and service provision. We explored the postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in five communities in the Central Region of Ghana.
Methods.
We adopted a descriptive phenomenological design. Using in-depth interview guides and pictorial diaries/guides, 30 teenage mothers who had given birth less than two years before our study, were recruited. Data were analysed thematically using a systematic qualitative-oriented text analysis with QSR NVivo 12 Pro software.
Results.
Teenage mothers experienced medical-related conditions such as postpartum haemorrhage, preterm births, and low birth weight of their babies. Socio-cultural, psychological, and economic-related experiences were also observed. Teenage mothers were inexperienced and lacked financial support after childbirth. They often depended on the microsystem consisting of the family, friends, and the children’s fathers as major coping strategies to enable them and their babies to survive, develop, and become healthy and happy in life.
Conclusions.
Teenage mothers are confronted with challenges that require the assistance of actors within the microsystem to address. We recommend that stakeholders including healthcare professionals, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and parents be sensitive to the postnatal challenges faced by teenage mothers so that they can work at providing the necessary skills and support to enable them to cope better with motherhood.
Assessing heating efficiencies of PVPylated divalent metal-doped MFe2O4 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia
Authors: El-Boubbou Kheireddine , Lemine O. Mohamed , Algessair Saja , Madkhali Nawal , Al-Najar Basma , Ali Rizwan 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
There is an incessant demand to keep improving on the heating responses of polymeric magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under magnetic excitation, particularly in their pursuit to be utilized for clinical hyperthermia applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of a panel of PVP-coated metal-doped MFe2O4 (M ≅ Co, Ni, Mn, Zn) MNPs prepared via the Ko-precipitation Hydrolytic Basic (KHB) methodology and assess their magnetic and self-heating abilities. The physiochemical, structural, morphological, compositional, and magnetic properties of the doped MNPs were fully characterized using various spectroscopic techniques mainly TEM, XRD, FTIR, and VSM. The obtained MNPs exhibited stabilized quasi-spherical sized particles (10–15 nm), well-crystallized cubic inverse spinel phases, high saturation magnetizations (26–81 emu/g) and ferromagnetic behavior. In response to alternating magnetic field (AMF), distinctive heating responses of these doped ferrite NPs were attained. Heating efficacies and specific absorption rate (SAR) values as functions of concentration, frequency, and amplitude were systematically investigated. The highest heating performance was observed for PVP-NiFe2O4 followed by PVP-CoFe2O4 and the least for PVP-Zn-doped and Mn-doped MNPs (SAR values Ni > Co > Zn > Mn). Finally, cytotoxicity assay was conducted on aqueous dispersions of the doped ferrite NPs, proving their biocompatibility and low toxicity. Our results strongly suggest that the PVPylated metal-doped ferrite NPs prepared here, particularly Ni- and Co-doped MNPs, are promising vehicles for potential combined magnetically-triggered biomedical hyperthermia applications.
Metanalysis of Controlled Studies Comparing Biologic and Synthetic Unabsorbable Mesh in Contaminated Fields
Authors: CARVALHO ALVARO COTA , GARCIA DIEGO PAIM DE CARVALHO 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In 2019, approximately U$9.7 billion were invested in abdominal wall surgery in the United States. Additionally, opting for a biological mesh can increase the cost by more than $8,000 per surgery when compared to a polypropylene mesh. Knowing that, we conducted a meta-analysis evaluating controlled studies comparing biological and synthetic unabsorbable implanted on contaminated environments, with the primary outcome being Surgical Site Infection (SSI) and assessing other outcomes such as hernia recurrence, rehospitalization or reoperation, mesh removal, and hospitalization length of stay. Our systematic search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane in accordance with the PRSIMA guidelines, searching for controlled studies comparing the use of biologic mesh against synthetic polypropylene mesh in patients with Center of Disease Control infected site classification (CDC) class II or higher. We found 1036 studies, 20 were selected for full text review and 9 were included of comparative analysis of outcomes. Our analysis indicated a higher risk of SSI development in patients with biological mesh compared to synthetic mesh (P < 0.00001) and higher risk of hernia recurrence (P < 0.0001). Also, we did not observe apparently benefit for the biological mesh group in terms of reoperation (P = 0.54) or mesh removal (P = 0.92). Patients that were submitted to biological mesh implant had higher hospital length of stay (P = 0.004) and higher occurrence of intrabdominal infection (P = 0.05). Hence, we did not observe superiority in the use of biological mesh in contaminated environments concerning key post-operative complications. Moreover, the use of synthetic polypropylene mesh reduces the incidence of hernia recurrence with a lower risk SSI.
Assessing socio-cultural barriers related to induced abortion and reproductive health among married women in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Tomar Pratibha , Pathak Praveen Kumar , Bhakuni Kalpana 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In the Global South, a disproportionate number of young married women who have unwanted and mistimed pregnancies, undergo unsafe abortion practices, leading to a heightened burden of maternal and infant deaths in developing countries. Unsafe abortion practices are frequently associated with limited contraceptive methods with a skewed focus on female sterilisation, a high unmet need for contraception, poor quality of sexual and reproductive health care services, low male involvement in reproductive health matters, and widespread gender discrimination against girls and women, which limit their access to quality health care services. The present qualitative study attempts to examine the practice of induce abortion at the village as well as assess the socio-structural barriers lead to the poor sexual and reproductive health in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. The study underlines the lived experience and process of decision-making related to induced abortion, and the intertwined family, social and healthcare-associated challenges faced by young married women in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Evidence from the study suggests that inability to use safe contraception methods, unsupportive behaviour of the spouse towards childcare, financial hardship, lack of accessibility and affordability of contraception methods, lesser decision-making power, and social norms and customs appeared to pose critical barriers to safe abortion practices among young married women. Findings from the study also highlight an abysmal dearth of access to safe, affordable and quality abortion care services in rural Uttar Pradesh. The study emphasized individual and community-level perspectives on young married women’s or married couples’ decisions regarding induced abortion in rural Uttar Pradesh, besides highlighting various forms of social stigma, discrimination and health-related complications faced by them. This calls for program managers and policy makers to increase investments in high-quality comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and to revitalize efforts for greater male involvement in reproductive health matters, so as to ensure safe pregnancy and child health experiences in the Indian context.
Improved Differentiation of Cavernous Malformation and Acute Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage on CT Using an AI Algorithm
Authors: Kim Jung Youn , Choi Hye Jeong , Kim Sang Heum , Ju Hwangseon 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the utility of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm in differentiating between cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) and acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage (AIH) on brain computed tomography (CT).
A retrospective, multireader, randomized study was conducted to validate the performance of an AI algorithm (SK Inc. C&C Medical Insight+ Brain Hemorrhage) in differentiating AIH from CCM on brain CT. CT images of CM and AIH (< 3cm) were identified from the database. Six blinded reviewers, including two neuroradiologists, two radiology residents, and two emergency department physicians, evaluated CT images from 288 patients (CCM, n = 173; AIH, n = 115) with and without AI assistance, comparing diagnostic performance.
Brain CT interpretation with AI assistance resulted in significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than without (86.92% vs. 79.86%, p < 0.001). Radiology residents and emergency department physicians showed significantly improved accuracy of CT interpretation with AI assistance than without (84.21% vs 75.35%, 80.73% vs. 72.57%; respectively, p < 0.05). Neuroradiologists showed a trend of higher accuracy with AI assistance in the interpretation but lacked statistical significance (95.83% vs. 91.67%).
The use of an AI algorithm can enhance the differentiation of AIH from CCM in brain CT interpretation, particularly for nonexperts in neuroradiology.
The Effect of Sleep on the Association Between Built Environment and Good Health Status
Authors: Seo Bojung , Nan Hongmei , Monahan Patrick O , Duszynski Thomas J. , Thompson Walter R. , Zollinger Terrell W. , Han Jiali 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction:
Sleep quantity of city residents and environmental assets that support physical activity may jointly improve residents’ general health. Sufficient sleep also may mediate the effect of activity-related environmental factors on the general health. However, evidence regarding such associations is lacking. Thus, we aimed to investigate the moderating and mediating effects of sleep duration of residents on the association between environmental factors and general health status of city residents.
Methods
Our panel study used 2018/2019, 2021 to 2022 American Fitness Index® data for the 100 most populated US cities. Study outcome was good health status and exposures were environmental factors – percent of parks within a 10-minute walk, Walk Score®, Bike Score®, Complete Streets policy. Sleeping 7 + hours/day was used as a potential mediator or moderator. For analyses, we adopted crude and multivariable-adjusted linear mixed models.
Results
Our findings showed that most large cities whose residents slept longer had better baseline health and improvement in the general health status of their residents over time. Sufficient daily sleep showed a moderating effect on the association between environmental indicators and general health status. In the cities with higher percent of sufficient daily sleep, the magnitudes of the positive associations were increased, implying synergistic interactions between sufficient daily sleep and better environmental factors on good health status. However, no mediating effect of sufficient daily sleep was observed on the association between environmental indicators and good health status.
Conclusion
Our findings suggested a synergistic interaction effect between sufficient daily sleep and physical activity-related environmental factors on good health status. However, sleep duration was not found to be a mediator of the association between environmental indicators and good health status.
Do different vegetation types in green spaces affect human health? A comparison of summer and winter data
Authors: Duan Yifan , Bai Hua , yang Le , Li Shuhua 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Based on the perceptions of participants in winter and summer, the effects of different vegetation structures within landscapes (single-layer woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands, tree-grass composite woodland, and single-layer grassland) and concrete squares without plants were investigated, and the skin conductivity level (SCL) and environmental perception recovery score (PRS) associated with landscape types were calculated. The results indicated that: (1) The seasonal differences in landscape perception significantly affected participants' PRS but had no effect on their SCL scores; (2) Viewing and experiencing single-layer and tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands in summer and single-layer woodland in winter improved participants' environmental perceptions; (3) The restorative effects of the four plant communities (and concrete squares without plants) were ranked in the following order: single-layer woodland > tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands > single-layer grassland > tree-grass composite woodland and concrete squares without plants. These results indicate that seasonal experiences in the natural environment cannot be substituted for each other. Therefore, it is recommended that specific plant species be chosen carefully for landscapes based on seasonal differences. Evergreen single-layer woodland vegetation types should be considered for use in winter urban landscapes. These results provide a scientific basis for future evaluations of landscape perception and preferences.
Geotechnical Behavior of Soil-electric Arc Furnace Slag Mixtures Under Carbonation
Authors: RODRIGUES KLAUS , Silva Taciano da , Pitanga Heraldo , Rodrigues Mateus , Pedroti Leonardo 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Although the treatment of soils with lime-based materials is used in many earthworks projects, there are only a few studies that deal with the quantification of their carbonation.The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of carbonation in mixtures between two samples of tropical soils and Electric Arc Furnace Slag (EAFS) in terms of Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), mini-CBR index, mini-CBR expansion, and Resilient Modulus (RM) properties. Four types of curing were used: (1) conventional sealed curing in a humid chamber; (2) conventional sealed curing in a humid chamber followed by unsealed curing with exposure to air; (3) conventional sealed curing in a humid chamber followed by unsealed curing in an accelerated carbonation chamber. In addition, tests were performed to determine the carbonation depth by spraying phenolphthalein, pH, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the results of the soil-EAFS were better than those of the soil samples not stabilized for all the curing processes analyzed. In the curing processes (1), the formation of calcium aluminum silicate hydrate structures (CASH) was found to improve the mechanical behavior of soil-EAFS mixtures. The formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was observed in curing processes (2) and (3), which significantly improved the mechanical properties. Thus, the carbonation process increases the strength and stiffness of the soil-EAFS mixtures, which guarantees the durability of these mixtures over the years.
Enhancing Gain and Isolation of a Quad-Element MIMO Antenna Array Design for 5G Sub-6 GHz Applications Assisted with Characteristic Mode Analysis
Authors: Khan Rabia , Sethi Waleed Tariq , Malik Waqar Ahmad , Jan Latif , Tehseen M.Mustafa , Almuhlafi Ali , Himdi Mohamed 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This paper presents a novel quad-element array with multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) designed for 5th generation sub-6 GHz applications. The MIMO system achieves a wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and high isolation among its components, representing significant advancements in sub-6 GHz antenna applications. The radiating element, an elliptical resonator with a circular slot, is fed by a 50 Ω, achieves a broad characteristic bandwidth from 3.7 to 5.7 GHz with a gain of 1.81 dBi. Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) was employed to elucidate the evolution phases of this design. The quad-element MIMO antenna array maintains a compact size and broadband characteristics by arranging mirrored elements on the same ground plane. Implemented on a cost-effective FR-4 substrate measuring 44 × 44 x 1.6 mm3, the recommended MIMO antenna array, enhanced with a partial ground plane having a vertical strip, yields a realized gain of 3.01 dBi and a radiation efficiency of 71% in the 5G sub-6 GHz band. Noteworthy properties include high isolation, diversity gain (DG), and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), verifying the appropriateness of the suggested MIMO scheme for 5G transmission and reception in sub-6 GHz applications.
Quantitative assessment of soil acidification in four Chinese forests affected by nitrogen deposition
Authors: Fujii Kazumichi , Zheng Jinsen , Zhou Zhang , Fang Yunting 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Aims Nitrogen (N) deposition increases risks of accelerating soil acidification, but its impact could vary depending on acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) and clay mineralogy. We analyzed effects of N deposition on acidification in four forest soils that differed in parent materials.
Methods We developed the method for assessing contribution of external proton input, N transformation, and plant uptake to soil acidification quantitatively in forest soils derived from loess (Qipanshan in Shenyang Liaoning), sandstone (Dinghushan in Zhaoqing Guangdong), granite, and basalt (Jianfengling in Hainan). We further estimated the acidity required for soil pH decreases using ANC (sum of cations) to predict soil pH change in forests affected by N deposition.
Results N deposition contributed 30%, 45%, and 4% of the total proton generation through nitrification in the Qipanshan, Dinghushan, and Jianfengling soils, respectively. Heavy N deposition (50 kg N ha-1 yr-1) also increased acidification through net cation accumulation in growing plant biomass (3.0 kmolc ha−1 yr−1) in Dinghushan, where soil pH decreased by 1 unit in 30 years. Acidity could account for 56% of exchangeable Al accumulation (268 kmolc ha−1), but not for depletion of ANC or total base reserves in the Dinghushan soil. Proton generation associated with N deposition was smaller for the depletion of ANC or total base reserves required for soil pH decrease in Qipanshan and Jianfengling.
Conclusion We found quantitatively that acidification progressed through increased nitrification and plant productivity in the forest soil due to chronic N deposition and low ANC and basic cation reserves derived from sandstone.
Cobalt-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Alkynyl Sulfides with Unactivated Chlorosilanes
Authors: Huang Liangbin , Xing Donghui , Liu Jinlin , Cai Dingxin , Huang Bin , Jiang Huanfeng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Herein, we disclose a highly efficient cobalt-catalyzed cross-electrophile alkynylation of a broad range of unactivated chlorosilanes with alkynyl sulfides. Strategically, employing stable and easily synthesized alkynyl sulfides as alkynyl precursors allows access to various alkynylsilanes in good to excellent yields. Notably, this method avoids the utilization of strong bases, noble metal catalysts, high temperature and forcing reaction conditions, thus presents apparent advantages, such as broad substrate scope (72 examples, up to 97% yield), high Csp-S chemo-selectivity and excellent functional group compatibility (Ar-X, X = Cl, Br, I, OTf, OTs). Moreover, the utilities of this method are also illustrated by downstream transformations and late-stage modification of structurally complex natural products and pharmaceuticals. Mechanistic studies elucidated that the cobalt catalyst initially reacted with alkynyl sulfides, and the activation of chlorosilanes occurred via an SN2 process instead of a radical pathway.
Nursing Doctoral Students’ Experiences of the Courses and Comprehensive Examinations in China: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Liu Kehan , Huang Chongmei , Wang Honghong , Tang Siyuan , Liu Minhui 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background
Understanding the experiences of doctoral students regarding courses and comprehensive examinations is crucial to enhance the quality of doctoral programs. Scarce information is available on the experiences of nursing doctoral students on the courses and comprehensive examinations in China. The purpose of this study was to understand the nursing doctoral students’ experiences on courses and comprehensive examinations of the doctoral program at Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, and propose improvements.
Design:
A convergent parallel mixed methods design adhering to EQUATOR guidelines for Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study.
Methods
A total of 20 doctoral students were recruited through purposive sampling in September 2022 from the Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University. They completed the self-designed questionnaire on demographic data, course, and comprehensive examination evaluations and participated in focus groups. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were recorded and transcribed for content analysis.
Results
Regarding course experience, doctoral students preferred in-person lectures (80%) and group discussions (60%) for specialized compulsory courses. They were satisfied with the course novelty (85%), difficulty (75%), and practicality (85%), and half of the students found the credit allocation reasonable. The qualitative findings revealed their preference for appropriate and mixed teaching methods, more interdisciplinary courses, statistics, and inter-school collaborative courses, accessible Nursing Philosophy and Theory courses, and higher proportion of compulsory course credits. Regarding comprehensive examination experience, only 20% considered it necessary, and qualitative data revealed that they prefer more distinctive and effective contents; moreover, students were confused about the purpose of comprehensive examinations. The triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data demonstrated relative convergence.
Conclusions
These findings illustrated nursing doctoral students' experiences on courses and comprehensive examinations and provide suggestions on improving the courses and comprehensive examinations in China and possibly in the world. This study contributes to improving the quality of nursing doctoral programs in China and can serve as valuable guidance for nursing doctoral programs with similar educational environment around the world that are undergoing course and comprehensive examination reform.