bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost efficiency of primary health care facilities in Ghana: stochastic frontier analysis
Authors: Arhin Kwadwo , Oteng-Abayie Eric Fosu , Novignon Jacob 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPrimary health care (PHC) is a universally accepted key strategy to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) due to its potential to produce a range of economic benefits through improved health outcomes, health quality, and health system efficiency. However, little evidence exists about the cost efficiency of primary health care facilities (PHCFs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates the cost efficiency of two main types of PHCFs in Ghana that are at the forefront of delivering PHC services to a greater proportion of the population: Community Health Centers (HCs) and Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds. The dataset we used for this study included 39 HCs and 55 CHPS facilities. Furthermore, it examines the factors that influence the cost efficiency of these facilities. The study applies the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) technique to panel data. The estimated cost efficiency for HCs and CHPS is 61.6% and 85.8%, respectively. The study further revealed that facility size, medical staff density, and facility age are the main factors that explain the differences in the cost efficiency of PHCFs in Ghana. The study's policy recommendation is that the Ghana Health Service should consider utilizing modern technology such as telehealth and telemedicine to enhance access to PHC services for people living in hard-to-reach and densely populated communities. This strategic approach can significantly contribute to improving the cost-efficiency of PHCFs.
Urine on the Shelves
Authors: Warner Mark S. , von Wandruszka Ray 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTFor 15 years, the University of Idaho has conducted chemical testing of excavated materials from historical sites throughout North America. The most common artifacts tested are sealed containers. Some come from current excavations, but most are from repository shelves. The immediate purpose of the archaeochemistry work is twofold: to identify the contents of the containers for researchers and to provide training for students in analytical chemistry. After testing more than 500 items, project personnel have recognized some unexpected outcomes that have implications for institutions housing the artifacts. Specifically, tested materials identified the small, yet consistent, presence of certain artifacts that can have health implications for personnel working with the items. The article concludes with general guidance on identifying and assessing those risks.
Full envelope nonlinear flight controller design for a novel electric VTOL (eVTOL) air taxi
Authors: Suiçmez E.C. , Kutay A.T. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOn-demand urban air transportation gains popularity in recent years with the introduction of the electric VTOL (eVTOL) aircraft concept. There is an emerging interest in short/medium range eVTOL air taxi considering the critical advantages of electric propulsion (i.e. low noise and carbon emission). Using several electric propulsion systems (distributed electric propulsion (DEP)) has further advantages such as improved redundancy. However, flight controller design becomes more challenging due to highly over-actuated and coupled dynamics. This study defines and resolves flight control problems of a novel DEP eVTOL air taxi. The aircraft has a fixed-wing surface to have aerodynamically efficient cruise flight, and uses only tilting electric propulsion units to achieve full envelope flight control via pure thrust vector control. The aircraft does not have conventional control surfaces such as aileron, rudder or elevator. Using pure thrust vector control has some design benefits, but the control problem becomes more challenging due to the over-actuated and highly coupled dynamics (especially in transition flight). A preliminary flight dynamics model is obtained considering the dominant effects at hover and high-speed forward flight. Hover and forward flight models are blended to simulate the transition dynamics. Two central challenges regarding the flight control are significant nonlinearities in aircraft dynamics during the transition and proper allocation of the thrust vector control specifically in limited control authority (actuator saturation). The former challenge is resolved via designing a sensor-based incremental nonlinear dynamic inversion (INDI) controller to have a single/unified controller covering the wide flight envelope. For the latter one, an optimisation-based control allocation (CA) approach is integrated into the INDI controller. CA requires special attention due to the pure thrust vector control’s highly coupled dynamics. The controller shows satisfactory performance and disturbance rejection characteristics. Moreover, the CA plays a vital role in guaranteeing stable flight in case of severe actuator saturation.
Challenges and opportunities related to penicillin allergy in the Veterans Health Administration: a narrative review
Authors: Kouma Marcus A. , Guastadisegni Jessica M. , Yang Linda , Maxwell Daniel N. , Storey Donald F. , Arasaratnam Reuben J. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The presence of a penicillin allergy label in a patient’s medical chart is associated with negative clinical and economic outcomes. Given that less than 10% of reported reactions are truly immunoglobulin E-mediated, removal of unverified penicillin allergy labels is a public health priority and an area of ongoing implementation research. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, with almost 9 million veterans currently enrolled. However, studies analyzing the impact of the penicillin allergy label in this population are limited to single facilities and largely focus on short-term outcomes of allergy documentation correction, usage of β-lactams, and avoidance of antibiotic-related side effects. Broader, national VHA studies focusing on health outcomes and costs are lacking. As with non-VHA facilities, penicillin allergy evaluations are limited owing to the absence of formal allergy/immunology services at most VHA facilities. Pharmacy-driven screening and referral for clinic-based penicillin skin testing is a promising and frequently discussed modality in the literature, but its scalability within the VHA is not yet proven. Broader, evidence-based strategies that can be adapted to the available resources of individual VHA facilities, including those without on-site access to allergy providers, are needed.
Building a strong collaborative biostatistics workforce: Strategies for effective intra-unit professional development activities
Authors: Taylor Sandra L. , Podolsky Robert H. , Montez-Rath Maria E. , Slade Emily 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Ongoing professional development is important for collaborative biostatisticians, as it enables them to remain current with the latest advances in statistical methodology and software, refine their analytical skills, and expand their domain knowledge, thereby facilitating their ability to contribute effectively to biomedical research. Although external opportunities for professional development, such as attending conferences and workshops, are widely recognized and valued in the field of biostatistics, there has been comparatively little attention given to internal opportunities for enhancing the skills and knowledge of biostatisticians which can be implemented with lower financial and time investment than external offerings. The purpose of this paper is to offer guidance for ongoing internal professional development activities that can be employed by collaborative biostatistics units in universities and academic medical centers to complement structured curricula and initial training. Specific examples of activities are provided so that collaborative biostatisticians and/or managers of biostatistical units can flexibly combine components to create an appropriately scaled, customized program that meets the needs of themselves or of the unit.
Epicuticular wax chemicals of Lablab purpureus subsp. bengalensis influence short-range attraction and oviposition responses in Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii
Authors: Kumbhakar Sanoj , Das Susmita , Barik Anandamay 
Published: October 2023

AbstractLablab purpureus subsp. bengalensis (Jacq.) Verdc. is an important legume of India and Africa. Both aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch and A. gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), are important herbivorous pests of this legume crop. These viviparous females lay nymphs on the leaf surface of this legume plant. Therefore, it is of considerable interest to study whether leaf surface wax chemicals (long-chain alkanes and free fatty acids) of this legume plant served as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in both females to lay nymphs. Twenty-one n-alkanes from n-C12 to n-C35 and 11 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C22:0 were identified in leaf surface waxes. Nonacosane and nonadecanoic acid were the most abundant among n-alkanes and free fatty acids, respectively. Both females were attracted towards one leaf equivalent surface wax against the control solvent (petroleum ether) in short Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. A synthetic blend of tetradecane, pentadecane, tetracosane, tridecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and heneicosanoic acid comparable to one leaf equivalent surface wax served as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in A. craccivora; whereas a synthetic blend of tetradecane, hexadecane, docosane, nonadecanoic acid, and arachidic acid comparable to one leaf equivalent surface wax acted as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in A. gossypii. These results can provide the basis for efficient pest management strategies of A. craccivora and A. gossypii against L. purpureus subsp. bengalensis using host plant leaf surface wax compounds. Further, SEM studies of antennae and forelegs of both aphids were conducted to observe sensilla structures, which help in chemoreception.
Fight and rescue or give up and flee? Behavioural responses of different ant species tending the mutualist walnut aphid Panaphis juglandis to native and exotic lady beetles
Authors: Schifani Enrico , Giannetti Daniele , Castracani Cristina , Spotti Fiorenza A. , Mori Alessandra , Grasso Donato A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMutualism between ants and honeydew-producing hemipterans is a highly successful evolutionary innovation that attains the status of ecological keystone across many terrestrial ecosystems, involving a multitude of actors through direct or cascading effects. In these relationships, ants often protect their hemipteran partners against their arthropod natural enemies, sometimes interfering with the biological control of pest species. However, the dynamics of these interactions are highly variable based on the specific identity of all the actors involved, and baseline data remain scarce. We performed a field experiment exposing colonies of the walnut aphid Panaphis juglandis attended by five European ant species (Camponotus piceus, Ca. vagus, Crematogaster scutellaris, Dolichoderus quadripunctatus, Lasius emarginatus) to a native and an exotic lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata and Harmonia axyridis), documenting the behavioural interactions between these insects and the performance of ants in the protection of the aphids. Our results reveal a significant behavioural diversity among the ant species involved, with D. quadripunctatus and L. emarginatus being the most aggressive and having the best performance as aphid defenders, and Ca. piceus being least effective and often fleeing away. Cr. scutellaris displayed a rare rescue behaviour attempting to pull away the aphids that the lady beetles grabbed. On the other hand, behavioural responses to A. bipunctata and H. axyridis were similar. Further investigations are needed to understand the eco-ethological implications of these differences, while a better understanding of ant behavioural diversity may help refine biological control strategies.
The Rise of the ‘Impenetrable Hedge’: African Intermediaries and the Legacy of Colonial Wars in Northern Ghana, 1896–1920
Authors: Cristofaro Domenico 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis article sheds light on the effects that the unrest created by early twentieth-century colonial wars had on the increasing power of African colonial intermediaries in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. By managing interpretation processes as well as developing a monopoly on the use of violence, interpreters, soldiers, clerks, and chiefs created what the officers called an ‘impenetrable hedge’. Analyzing how these different figures deployed their power, the article argues that there was historical continuity in the formation of the intermediaries and the methods employed by them between the years of the colonial wars and the later British administration. Despite their institutional role, however, precariousness remained a central facet of these agents’ experiences. The article shows that they were continually challenged at a grassroots level, and suggests that it was only through the use of coercion that they were able to maintain their position.
Flattening the curve: COVID-19 induced a decrease in arousal for positive and an increase in arousal for negative words
Authors: Popović Stijačić Milica , Mišić Ksenija , Filipović Đurđević Dušica 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this study, we compared affective ratings of emotional valence and arousal for 882 Serbian words at three points in time: before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2018), during the COVID-19 lockdown (2020), and after the government measures were abandoned (2022). We did not observe a significant change in average valence or arousal ratings across time points. A more detailed look into the data revealed the change in arousal that was different across the valence values. An increase in their linear correlations and a decrease in the nonlinearity of the GAMM smooth demonstrated that, upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, emotionally negative words elicited higher arousal ratings, whereas emotionally positive words elicited lower arousal ratings. It revealed that our participants became more sensitive to the negative content and less sensitive to the positive content. Our results add to the findings, which showed that the relationship between emotional valence and arousal is a function of contextual factors, which primarily influence the arousal of words.
A Millennial‐Scale Oscillation in Latitudinal Temperature Gradients Along the Western North Atlantic During the Mid‐Holocene
Authors: Shuman Bryan N. , Stefanescu Ioana C. , Grigg Laurie D. , Foster David R. , Oswald W. Wyatt 
Published: October 2023

AbstractChanges in vegetation in North America indicate Holocene shifts in the latitudinal temperature gradient along the western margin of the North Atlantic. Tree taxa such as oak (Quercus) and birch (Betula) experienced opposing directions of change across different latitudes consistent with changes in temperature gradient steepness. Pollen‐inferred temperatures from 34 sites quantify the gradient changes and reconstruct a long‐term northward steepening in summer and southward steepening in winter. From 4.8 to 3.8 ka, an oscillation in tree distributions interrupted the long‐term trends as a steep temperature gradient developed north of 43.5°N. The shift likely limited cold outbreaks to the south, producing anomalously high summer temperatures at 42–43.5°N, and enabling a northward expansion of oak forests. The forest and temperature gradient changes appear consistent with orbital and ice sheet forcing as well as millennial variability in the North Atlantic pressure field analogous to the North Atlantic Oscillation on interannual time scales.
Emergence of the Loa Mantle Component in the Hawaiian Islands Based on the Geochemistry of Kauaʻi Shield‐Stage Basalts
Authors: Williamson Nicole M. B. , Weis Dominique , Scoates James S. , Garcia Michael O. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractKauaʻi shield‐stage lavas are central to understanding the origin of the distinct Kea and Loa Hawaiian geochemical trends in Hawaiian basalts. These trends reflect two geochemically distinct sides in the Hawaiian plume, with Loa to the southwest and Kea to the northeast. The geochemistry and Sr‐Nd‐Hf isotopic compositions of shield‐stage lavas from Kauaʻi show a transition from Kea to Loa across the island with the Loa mantle source becoming dominant as the volcano grew. This geochemical transition is gradual from west to east Kauaʻi and supports the hypothesis that the Kauaʻi volcano sampled both sides of the bilateral Hawaiian plume, a phenomenon that is unusual for a Hawaiian volcano. Notably, Kauaʻi marks the arrival of progressively larger volumes of Loa compositions within the Hawaiian mantle plume. The new data from Kauaʻi, combined with an updated and comprehensive database of Hawaiian shield‐stage major element oxides, trace element concentrations, and isotopic compositions normalized to the same standard values, allows for the Pb‐Sr‐Nd‐Hf isotopic compositions of the Average Loa (‘ALOA’) common geochemical component to be estimated. Despite the bilateral Loa‐Kea geochemical trend beginning at Molokaʻi, Loa compositions dominate the erupted volume of Hawaiian volcanoes younger than 3 Ma, validating the volumetric importance of the Loa source in the lower mantle portion of the Hawaiian plume.
Acoustic Waves From a Distant Explosion Recorded on a Continuously Ascending Balloon in the Middle Stratosphere
Authors: Popenhagen S. K. , Bowman D. C. , Zeiler C. , Garcés M. A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA helium‐filled mylar balloon carrying a smartphone and infrasound sensors ascended to a stratospheric height of 35 km over the surface detonation of a chemical explosive, with a total acoustic propagation distance of 127 km. The smartphone was configured to collect multi‐modal data at high rates from internal sensors. Analysis of the data shows successful collection of the explosion signal by both the smartphone's microphone and its accelerometers, the first from an ascending balloon. Comparison of the acoustic signal with that collected by other infrasound sensors, both airborne and ground‐based, provides insight into the possibilities and limitations of collecting acoustic data from the stratosphere.
Relationships of stomatal morphology to the environment across plant communities
Authors: Liu Congcong , Sack Lawren , Li Ying , Zhang Jiahui , Yu Kailiang , Zhang Qiongyu , He Nianpeng , Yu Guirui 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe relationship between stomatal traits and environmental drivers across plant communities has important implications for ecosystem carbon and water fluxes, but it has remained unclear. Here, we measure the stomatal morphology of 4492 species-site combinations in 340 vegetation plots across China and calculate their community-weighted values for mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. We demonstrate a trade-off between stomatal density and size at the community level. The community-weighted mean and variance of stomatal density are mainly associated with precipitation, while that of stomatal size is mainly associated with temperature, and the skewness and kurtosis of stomatal traits are less related to climatic and soil variables. Beyond mean climate variables, stomatal trait moments also vary with climatic seasonality and extreme conditions. Our findings extend the knowledge of stomatal trait–environment relationships to the ecosystem scale, with applications in predicting future water and carbon cycles.
Adenosine A1 receptors of the medullary solitary tract arbitrate the nicotine counteraction of neuroinflammation and cardiovascular dysfunction in septic rats
Authors: El-Naggar Amany E. , Helmy Mai M. , El-Gowilly Sahar M. , El-Mas Mahmoud M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe cholinergic pathway plays a crucial role in improving inflammatory end-organ damage. Given the interplay between cholinergic and adenosinergic neurotransmission, we tested the hypothesis that central adenosine A1 receptors (A1ARs) modulate the nicotine counteraction of cardiovascular and inflammatory insults induced by sepsis in rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) 24-h before cardiovascular measurements. Nicotine (25–100 µg/kg i.v.) dose-dependently reversed septic manifestations of hypotension and impaired heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac sympathovagal balance. Like nicotine, intracisternal (i.c.) administration of N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, A1AR agonist) to CLP rats increased indices of HRV and sympathovagal balance. Moreover, greater surges in these parameters were noted upon simultaneous nicotine/CPA administration. The favorable influences of nicotine on blood pressure and HRV in sepsis were diminished after central blockade of A1ARs by i.c. 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). Molecular studies revealed that (i) septic rises in myocardial and brainstem nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) NFκB expression were abrogated by nicotine and largely reinstated after blockade of A1ARs, and (ii) A1AR expression in the same areas was reduced by DPCPX. It is concluded that myocardial and medullary A1ARs facilitate the cholinergic counteraction of cardiac and neuroinflammation induced by sepsis and interrelated cardiomyopathic and neuropathic hitches.
Structural characterization, biofunctionality, and environmental factors impacting rheological properties of exopolysaccharide produced by probiotic Lactococcus lactis C15
Authors: Bamigbade Gafar , Ali Abdelmoneim H. , Subhash Athira , Tamiello-Rosa Camila , Al Qudsi Farah R. , Esposito Gennaro , Hamed Fathalla , Liu Shao-Quan , Gan Ren-You , Abu-Jdayil Basim , Ayyash Mutamed 
Published: October 2023

AbstractExopolysaccharides (EPSs) possess distinctive rheological and physicochemical properties and innovative functionality. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical, bioactive, and rheological properties of an EPS secreted by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis C15. EPS-C15 was found to have an average molecular weight of 8.8 × 105 Da and was identified as a hetero-EPS composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose, and glucose with a molar ratio of 2.0:2.7:1.0:21.3, respectively. The particle size and zeta potential represented 311.2 nm and − 12.44 mV, respectively. FITR exhibited that EPS-C15 possessed a typical polysaccharide structure. NMR displayed that EPS-C15 structure is → 3)α-d-Glcvi (1 → 3)α-d-Xylv (1 → 6)α-d-Glciv(1 → 4)α-d-Glc(1 → 3)β-d-Man(1 → 2)α-d-Glci(1 → . EPS-C15 scavenged DPPH and ABTS free radicals with 50.3% and 46.4% capacities, respectively. Results show that the antiproliferative activities of EPS-C15 revealed inhibitions of 49.7% and 88.1% against MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. EPS-C15 has antibacterial properties that inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (29.45%), Salmonella typhimurium (29.83%), Listeria monocytogenes (30.33%), and E. coli O157:H7 (33.57%). The viscosity of EPS-C15 decreased as the shear rate increased. The rheological properties of the EPS-C15 were affected by changes in pH levels and the addition of salts. EPS-C15 is a promising biomaterial that has potential applications in various industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.