bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity and Community Structure of Arboreal Foraging Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) and Host Plants in Douala, Littoral-Cameroon
Authors: Kayoum Yomon Abdel , Boris Fouelifack-Nintidem , Agrippine Yetchom-Fondjo Jeanne , Junior Tsekane Sedrick , Babell Ngamaleu-Siewe , Laure Kenne Edith , Mohammadou Moukhtar , Kenne Martin 
Published: May 2023

Aims: Mealybugs are protected on plants by ants for honeydew. They were identified and assemblages were characterized in Douala suburbs (Littoral-Cameroon).
Study Design: Basic information is needed on pest’s occurrence for the pest control strategies. We determined host plants and characterized the community structure of mealybugs and foraging ants.
Place and Duration of Study: Field investigations were conducted from March to August 2020 in Douala suburbs in 16 transects (10x1,260 m each) and 126 quadrats (10x10m each).
Methodology: Stems, the underside of leaves, flower buds and fruits were inspected on weeds, plant bases and canopy of trees. Mealybugs and ants were captured. When the plant was highly infested, the average number of insects was determined on 10 randomly chosen plant organs. Abundances were noted and captured specimens were stored in vials containing 70° alcohol, identified to the species level and the community structure was characterized.
Results: A total of 24,640 specimens belonged to 23 families, 54 genera and 85 species were collected in this research. A low species richness, low diversity and low dominance were detected. Assemblage of foraging ants in Yassa functioned according to the brokend-stick model. Scale insects in Ngoma functioned according to Motomura’s model. Assemblages of host plants in Lendi, Yassa, global host plants, global scale insects, foraging ants in Lendi and the global settlement, functioned according to the lognormal model. Host plants in Ngoma, scale insects in Yassa, and foraging ants in Ngoma functioned according to Zipf’s model while Zipf-Mandelbrot was adapted to scale insects in Lendi suggesting that these communities had sufficient time to develop a complex network of information close to natural environments and presented a fairly regeneration force.
Conclusion: Due to the abundance pest insects, resources are available and once they will be well developed; they will cause plant pathologies and yield loss.
A Case Series on COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM): Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in India
Authors: Govindaswamy Aishwarya , Sridharan Sowmya , Savio Raymond Dominic , Nambi Senthur , Rajendran Adhithyan 
Published: May 2023

Aim: During the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic, a life threatening fungal infection, mucormycosis have been detected in patients post COVID 19 disease. Commonly known as the ‘black fungus’ can causes tissue necrosis, inflammation and necrosis of the head and neck regions, paranasal sinuses, facial bones, orbits and it can also cause intracranial spread. In the current study we describe a series of cases of COVID 19 associated mucormycosis (CAM), the clinical presentations, risk factors, diagnosis, management and follow up experience from a tertiary care centre in India.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted over a period of one year (April 2021 to April 2022) at our tertiary care centre. The diagnosis of COVID 19 was done by RT PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). The diagnosis of Mucormycosis was done by Histopathology and fungal cultures. The demographic details of the patients were retrieved from the medical records.
Results: In the present study we report four cases of Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis, three cases of Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis, two cases of Pulmonary Mucormycosis and one case of Disseminated Mucormycosis. All the patients had undergone extensive surgical debridement and received Liposomal Amphotericin B as initial antifungal medication and Posaconazole or Isavuconazole as step down therapy. Six patients responded to treatment while four patients did not have a favorable outcome and succumbed to the illness.
Conclusion: Mucormycosis is a deadly disease with high mortality and morbidity if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Factors like poor control of blood sugars, inadvertent use of corticosteroids, immune dysfunction due to COVID 19 can result in poor outcome of the disease despite aggressive treatment interventions.
Ethnopharmacological Characteristics of Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb. (Myristicaceae), a Plant Used in the Traditional Treatment of Viral and Parasitic Diseases
Authors: Bene Kouadio , Azokou Alain , Kouame Kouassi Bernadin , Fah Monh Alice , Traore Inna Tata , Koné Mamidou Witabouna 
Published: May 2023

Background: Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb. (Myristicaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional Ivorian medicine. A recent ethnobotanical survey has discovered Pycnanthus angolensis in the traditional treatment of viral and parasitic diseases.
Aim: The present study aims to highlight the distinctive ethnopharmacological characteristics of Pycnanthus angolensis.
Methods: The aim was to identify some groups of chemical compounds by thin layer chromatography, to assay some minerals and finally to characterise the specific anatomical and micrographic features of the plant.
Results: Terpenes and sterols, saponosides, flavonoids and tannins are the main phytocompounds revealed. Magnesium with 621.3 mg/100 g dry matter is the most abundant mineral. Anatomical sections and plant powder revealed starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals, secretory pockets and tector hairs that are responsible for the formation of various biological substances in the plant.
Conclusion: These results add to the data on Pycnanthus angolensis, a taxon much used in traditional Ivorian medicine for the treatment of antiparasitic and antiviral diseases.
Evaluation of Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L.) on the Basis of Physiological and Morphological Traits
Authors: Singh Saurabh , Singh A. K. , Singh Shraddha , Singh Alok Kumar 
Published: May 2023

The investigation entitled “Evaluation of rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) on the basis of physiological and morphological traits” was conducted during the Kharif season, 2019-2020 at the field of Student’s Instruction Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya. Nine elite rice genotypes were shown in RBD with three replications, and morphological data were recorded. i.e., Plant height (cm), tiller number per plant, ear bearing tillers per plant, dry weight per plant(g), number of grains/plant, test weight(g), grain yield per plant. The plant height was, plant dry weight and number of tillers per plant obtained maximum in Sambha Sub-1 in comparison to other genotypes.
Effect of Low Cost Storage Structure on Shelf Life and Quality of Onion Genotypes
Authors: Kumar Hitesh , Dhankhar S. K. 
Published: May 2023

The effect of fully ventilated storage structure on shelf-life and quality of onion genotypes was studied at CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment was conducted in a single factor with one level with three replications. The lowest physiological weight losses % was recorded (7.19%) at 30 days and (14.81%) at 120 days in Hisar onion-4 and there was no seen sprouting up to 60 days in all the genotypes after storage and then after start gradually sprouting in the bulbs in storage. lowest sprouting % was recorded from 90 days and 120 days (2.16% and 3.65%) in Hisar onion-4 respectively. Minimum rotting % was recorded in Hisar Onion-4 and Hisar Onion-7 and total minimum losses were recorded in Hisar Onion-4 and Hisar Onion-7 among the genotypes in storage. Minimum total losses was recorded in best check Hisar Onion-4 closely followed by genotype Hisar Onion-7 during storage.
Knowledge and Management of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Case Study at Sekyere Afram Plains District of Ashanti Region, Ghana
Authors: Gyaase Philip , Lindsay Michael Kobina , Acheampong Emmanuel Boateng , Sampson David Ben 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: The goal of the study was to assess the knowledge and management of Buruli ulcer disease in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of Ashanti Region.
Methods: The study used a quantitative study type and cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 251 comprising Buruli Ulcer (BU) patients, health workers and community members as study population. The study used a structured questionnaire for the primary data. The questionnaire was used because the respondents were literates and could read and respond to the items without difficulty. Data collected were edited and coded and statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 software. Inferential and Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to describe the study variables. Chi-square (p-values) was used and the data were analyzed in Tables with significance level set at 0.05.
Results: The results revealed that the patient’s knowledge, about BU was 61.9% which was statistically significant (p-value= <0.001). It also revealed association between knowledge on Buruli ulcer and demographic characteristics of respondents (p-value =<0.001). Relatively colossal number of respondents (81.0%) revealed that they were not an active member of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Conclusion: The study concludes that if health workers are trained on BU and more education is given to the community members on Buruli ulcer disease, their health seeking behaviour would be improved to reduce complications associated with Buruli ulcer disease in the District. The study recommends that Ghana Health Service (GHS) should organize training and refresher courses for health care workers to increase their knowledge on Buruli ulcer.
An Overview of COVID-19 and Its Progression in Ghana
Authors: Apenteng John Antwi , Korsah Samuel , Tagoe Miriam , Sarfo Anthony 
Published: May 2023

This research focuses on the progression of the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana, measures put in place to fight the pandemic and evaluation of Ghana’s response in terms of both containing the pandemic and mitigating the social and economic effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Methods: The study mainly assessed the COVID-19 situation in Ghana within the period of March 2020 to MAY 2021. Data from reputable sources; Ministry of Health, Goggle scholar, Ghana Health Service, CDC, WHO, WTTC and online news articles were retrieved and assessed in quarterly basis. The results were further tabulated and graphically represented using Microsoft Excel application.
Results: A total of 94011 cases were recorded by the end of the of May 2021; first quarter of the second year. The highest number of active cases (11897), deaths (295) and critical cases (280) recorded were from December 2020 to February 2021. In the first quarter, the infection rate recorded was 3.77% which increased to 16.10% in the second quarter. However, with reinforcement of the COVID-19 protocol there was a significant decrease in infection rate in the final quarter for the studies; from March to May 2021 (3.60%).
Conclusion: Actions adopted by the Ghanaian government so far in handling the pandemic have generated significant achievements. It is however recommended that more control measures such as mass vaccination, mass testing and contact tracing will help track the infection and further reduce the rate of infection.
Decreased Mood Correlated with Decreased Exercise Adherence and Increased Pain
Authors: Hui Timothy , West Arielle , Gorham Jamin , Woldebirhan Yordanos , Subramanian Subu 
Published: May 2023

Background: A home exercise program is an important part of recovery from musculoskeletal injuries and can improve pain, quality of life, and self-efficacy. However, there are often challenges with patient adherence and measuring compliance. Mood and pain can have a positive and negative affect on a patient’s adherence and performance. Digital health, such as Recupe, provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between pain, mood, and exercise adherence outside the clinic.
Methods: A total of 864 subjects were retrospectively analyzed to assess mood and reps completed per session, mood and time spent exercising per session, and mood and pain level. Mood was measured using three categories: “Happy,” “Neutral,” and “Sad.” Pain was measured using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) of 0-10.
Results: The subject population included 331 males, 359 females, and 174 not stated. The average reps completed per session was 218.2 (130.0) for the “Happy” group, 163.3 (101.4) for the “Neutral” group, and 140.0 (95.7) for the “Sad” group with p-values <0.0001 between all groups. The average time spent exercising per session were 29.54 minutes (24.63) for the “Happy” group, 21.80 minutes (18.30) for the “Neutral” group, and 22.31 minutes (21.23) for the “Sad” group with p-values <0.0001 between all groups. Lastly, the average pain level for each mood was 1.93 (1.69) for the “Happy” group, 4.4 (1.82) for the “Neutral” group, and 6.1 (2.00) for the “Sad” group with p-values <0.0001 between all groups.
Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between mood, reported pain levels, and adherence to the patients’ exercise programs. Patients who report higher pain levels, simultaneously report more depressed moods and demonstrate decreased exercise times and repetition counts. Yet, while this correlation is clear, the causation factor is not known and requires more research. Clinicians should look to observe this pattern in patients to possibly improve recovery.
Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis or Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease: Clinical Experiences in North Africa
Authors: Selma M. Ben , Yahia W. Ben , Hassine I. Ben , Guiga A. , Abid M. , Anoun J. , Abdelkader A. Ben , Fredj F. Ben , Ghannouchi N. , Hachfi W. 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease or Kikuchi disease (KD) or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is an uncommon disease more frequent in Asia. It is diagnosed with lymph node histopathological findings.
Objective: To perform a systematic review of Kikuchi’s disease (KD) cases and describe clinical manifestations and associated etiology in the Tunisian population.
Methods: We conducted a multicentric descriptive study collecting patients with histologically proven KD. Clinical data, laboratory results, histopathologic examination, associated pathologies, and patient evolution were included.
Results: The search included 9 patients. They were 7 women and 2 males with a median age of 45 years old [24-72]. Common clinical manifestations were fever (n=8) and arthralgia (n=7). Lymph nodes mainly were bilateral (n=8), multiple (n=9), and in the cervical region (n=8) and axillary area (n=6). Laboratory results showed inflammatory syndrome and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Areas of necrosis, karyorrhectic debris, and accumulation of histiocytes were specific histologic findings noted for all patients. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus was associated with KD in 2 patients and with Sjögren disease in one of them. Other associated pathologies were Lymphohistiocytic activation syndrome, lymphocytic meningitis, sepsis from a urinary tract infection, and idiopathic interstitial lung disease. Corticosteroids were prescribed in 4 cases. The other 5 cases had spontaneous regression of symptoms. The outcomes were favorable with recovery in 3 cases. Five patients developed Hodgkin lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and lupus nephropathy after KD diagnosis.
Conclusions: KD is exceptional in North Africa. The study noted the same clinical and histological findings in the literature. SLE was the most associated pathology. No ethnic variability was detected.
Design and Implementation of an IOT Based Smart Home Monitoring and Control System Using NodeMCU
Authors: Aminu Muhammad , Yerima Ali , Salisu Abubakar , Adamu Abbas 
Published: May 2023

This paper presents the design and implementation of an IoT-based smart home monitoring and control system using a NodeMCU firmware and prototyping board. The system allows the user to remotely control electrical appliances through a web-based user interface dashboard. The system uses sensors DHT11 to monitor the temperature and humidity of the home and MQ 2 to monitor the air quality and alerts the user in case smoke or fire is detected. Various HTML scripts are executed to develop a web-based dashboard interface where the user interacts with the system. When connected to the internet, the system generates an IP address that is used to assess the web page for monitoring and control of various house appliances. A maximum coverage range of up to 42.05 meters indoors was achieved by the system using the onboard Wi-Fi module on the NodeMCU. In addition, a correlation was observed between the Wi-Fi coverage distance and the response time to a command signal from the web-based dashboard. The system provides energy efficiency, home security, and centralized remote control of appliances thereby minimizing human efforts and energy losses and providing a friendly and secure home.
Biochemical Constituents and Anticancer Activities of the Essential Oils of Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause
Authors: Ayodele Oluwatosin T. , Olaoluwa Olaoluwa O. , Aiyelaagbe Olapeju O. , Guido Flamini , Ogbole Omonike O. , Akinleye Toluwanimi E. , Adeniji Adekunle J. 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: The Increase in cancer deaths has raised concerns among scientists to research on prospective anticancer agents. Lannea egregia was selected for this research because it has been identified to have ethnobotanical claims in relation to the cure of cancer in South-West Nigeria.
Aims: To analyze the chemical constituents and determine the anticancer properties of the essential oils obtained from Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause Leaf, twig and stem-bark.
Study Design: This study was designed to assay the chemical constituents of Lannea egregia and based on the ethnobotanical claims, the anticancer activities of this plant was studied.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, Dipartmento di Farmacia, Via Bonanno 6, Universita di Pisa and University of Ibadan and Department of Virology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. July 2018- April 2021.
Methodology: Essential oils (EOs) from leaf, twig and stem-bark of Lannea egregia were extracted by hydro-distillation. Chemical compositions were characterized using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Cytotoxicity screenings of EOs were determined on human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), using MTT [3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] cell viability assay.
Results: Leaf, twig and stem-bark EOs gave good yields of 0.12%, 0.43% and 0.33%, respectively.
Fifty-five, thirty-three and thirty-eight compounds were identified in leaf, twig and stem-bark EOs, accounting for 99.1%, 97.8% and 95.8% of them. Most abundant compound in leaf, stem-bark and twig EOs was β-caryophellene (28.2, 23.4 and 13.2%, respectively).
Leaf EO displayed strong cytotoxicity against RD and MCF-7, with 50% cytotoxicity (CC50) of 1.69 and 15.81µg/ml, respectively. Twig EO exhibited good selectivity with selectivity index of 24.8 and 10.8 for RD and MCF-7, respectively.
Conclusion: Results showed that EOs have good anticancer properties.
Linagliptin in Combination with Emblica officinalis Gaertn Improves Glycemic Control through Alleviating Dyslipidemia and Oxidative Stress on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Khanam Khadiza , Rajia Sultana , Kamal A. H. M. Mostofa , Jahan Md. Sarwar , Rahman Md. Aziz Abdur , Alam A. H. M. Khurshid , Rashid Mamunur 
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Diabetes is a complex chronic metabolic disorder. Today, many diabetes patients are known to supplement their standard therapies with herbal medications that have antidiabetic characteristics. The purpose of the study was to examine the fixed dose combination of linagliptin and Emblica officinalis Gaertn (aq FE) for its hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties.
Methods: Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg b.w.) was administered intraperitoneally to Wister albino rats to cause diabetes. Linagliptin (5 mg/ 70kg b.w), aqueous fruit extract of Emblica officinalis Gaertn (200 mg/kg b.w.) and fixed dose combination therapy of linagliptin (2.5 mg /70kg b.w) with aqueous fruit extract of Emblica officinalis Gaertn (100 mg/kg b.w) were administered orally once daily for four weeks. After that fasting blood glucose level (FBG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured in serum with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Typical procedures were used to measure the antioxidant activity by the estimation of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.
Results: The combination therapy significantly (p<0.05) reduced the FBG, TC, TG, LDL level in compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.05). Significant (p<0.05) increased of HDL was also observed. The antioxidant activity significantly increased after the administration of fixed dose combination therapy in compared to diabetic control group. These alterations were vastly superior to those of linagliptin with Emblica officinalis Gaertn (aqFE) monotherapy.
Conclusion: This study suggests that the fixed dose combination therapy of linagliptin and Emblica officinalis Gaertn (aq FE) might be potent on antihyperglycemic antidyslipidemic and antioxidative effect.
Eosinophilic Oesophagitis in Patients Presenting with Dysphagia: A Retrospective Study from a Single Tertiary Care Centre in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Jawa Hani A. , Bahurmuz Razan Abdulhakim , Bokhari Raneem Abdullah , Alhazmi Duaa Jamil , Saeed Afnan Bakur , Halawani Lamis Khalid , Mosli Mahmoud Hisham , Qari Yousef A. , Bokhary Rana Y. , Alfawaz Mohammed 
Published: May 2023

Background and Study Aims: Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly common cause of dysphagia in many Western countries, especially in young adults; however, the prevalence of EoE in Middle Eastern countries remains unknown. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of EoE in Saudi patients presenting with dysphagia. Additionally, we aimed to assess the practice pattern of physicians with respect to evaluating these patients.
Patients and Methods: We performed aretrospective review of all adolescent and adult patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the assessment of dysphagia. Demographic data and endoscopic and histologic findings were reviewed. The primary outcome was the prevalence of biopsy proven EoE, defined as 15 or more eosinophils per high power field (≥15eos/hpf) in patients presenting with dysphagia. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of endoscopic features suggestive of EoE and the physician’s judgement about the need for oesophageal biopsies to diagnose EoE.
Results: A total of138 patients were identified and reviewed. The mean age was 50.7 years; 43.5% were males and 56.5% were female. Endoscopy revealed normal oesophageal mucosa in 52.9% of the patients. White plaques were reported in 4.3%, linear furrows in 2.9% and multiple rings (trachealization) in 2.2% of patients. Oesophageal biopsies were obtained from 20.3% of all patients to rule out EoE, this included 7.1% of those with normal appearance of the oesophageal mucosa. Only two patients (1.4%) with biopsy proven EoE were identified from this cohort; both were young adults.
Conclusions: Failure to perform oesophageal biopsies in patients presenting with dysphagia as per international guidelines could explainthe low prevalence of EoE observed in this population. Alternatively, the prevalence of EoE may be lower than expected in the Middle Eastern countries. Large prospective studies are necessary to accurately assess the prevalence of EoE in Middle Eastern countries.