bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives: Strategies and Mechanisms for Promoting Public Health in Jordan University College of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
Authors: Msambali Irene Matern , Mwonge Lazaro Athanas 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
Our study explored the strategies and mechanisms Jordan University College (JUCo) employed in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, to promote public health through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. With the growing recognition of the role businesses play in societal well-being, CSR has gained prominence as a tool for addressing public health challenges. This study examined JUCo's CSR activities, their impact on public health, and the underlying strategies and mechanisms that contribute to their effectiveness.
Methods
Data collection involved a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and document analysis.
Results
The findings highlight the various CSR initiatives implemented by JUCo, such as health education programs, infrastructure development, and community engagement. Moreover, the study reveals the key strategies and mechanisms utilized, including partnerships with stakeholders, strategic planning, resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation.
Conclusion
The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of CSR initiatives for promoting public health in educational institutions like JUCo.
Isoflurane anesthesia decreases excitability of inhibitory neurons in the basolateral amygdala leading to anxiety-like behavior in aged mice
Authors: Li Mengyuan , Zhang Ruijiao , Wu Shiyin , Cheng Liqin , Fu Huan , Qu Liangchao. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objective: To explore the role of inhibitory neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in anxiety-like behaviors in aged mice after isoflurane anesthesia.
Methods: Thirteen-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into a control group and an isoflurane anesthesia group with 15 mice in each group. An aged mouse model receiving isoflurane anesthesia was established, and behavioral tests were performed using the elevated plus maze and the open field test. The states of BLA excitatory neurons and inhibitory neurons were recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and further inhibition of BLA excitatory neuron excitability was observed by giving 20 ng/mL diazepam to see the state of inhibitory neurons.
Results: Behavioral testing showed that aged mice in the isoflurane anesthesia group showed significant anxiety-like behavior, spending more time in the closed arm, showing more wall climbing behavior, and covering more distance. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording showed that the excitability of BLA excitatory neurons was significantly increased after isoflurane anesthesia (the resting potential and input resistance were significantly higher, the action potential threshold was lower, and the number of action potentials emitted was significantly increased), while the excitability of inhibitory neurons was significantly reduced (the resting potential and input resistance were significantly lower than those in the control group, the action potential threshold was significantly higher, and the number of action potentials emitted was significantly fewer). After giving diazepam, the excitability of BLA inhibitory neurons was significantly increased, while the excitability of excitatory neurons reduced significantly.
Conclusion: Anxiety-like behavior occurs in aged mice after receiving isoflurane anesthesia, and may be caused by a decrease in the excitability of inhibitory neurons in the BLA area of aged mice after isoflurane anesthesia, leading to an increase in excitatory neuronal activity, and ultimately exhibiting anxiety-like behaviors.
Looking at pregnancy terminations from the opposite side: the perspective of healthcare professionals
Authors: Akpınar Arzu , Turgut Yasemin , Yangın Hatice 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
It is already known that the woman and the family can be affected in various ways psychologically and physiologically during the termination of pregnancy, but the healthcare professionals who manage the process can also be affected while being effective on the process. We aimed to determine the opinions and experiences of the healthcare professionals regarding pregnancy terminations with this qualitative study.
Methods
A hermeneutic phenomenological design was used in this qualitative study. Data collection were obtained through face-to-face and individual in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide between December 2018 - April 2019. The sample of the study consisted of 26 participants from different professions who have encountered pregnancy termination process.
Results
Data were grouped under two themes with seven three sub-themes. First theme about how health professionals were affected by the process has been defined as ''How are healthcare professionals affected during the termination process?''. Second theme about how they acted in the process has been defined as ''What do healthcare professionals do in the termination process?''.
Conclusions
As a result of our study, it was determined that health professionals working on pregnancy termination were adversely affected and had problems while giving care. In order to prevent adverse effects on healthcare professionals, some facilitator methods are needed to strengthen prevention strategies and facilitate the process for them.
Relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life in pregnant women: the mediating effect of pregnancy anxiety
Authors: Chen Yujia , Zhao Jing , Zheng Jin , Zou Zhijie , Chen Xiaoli 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Oral health is an important public health issue. Many studies have explored the relationship between mental health and oral health-related quality of life. However, no studies have explored the relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life in pregnant women. However, several studies have shown that pregnancy anxiety is associated with fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of childbirth and pregnant women's oral health-related quality of life and explore the mediating role of pregnancy anxiety.
Methods
This study is a cross-sectional design. The cross-sectional data from 478 pregnant women were included. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the sample characteristics. Multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life. PROCESS software was used to analyze the mediating effect of pregnancy anxiety.
Results
A significant direct effect between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life has been indicated (β = 0.107, SE = 0.019, 95% CI (0.002,0.076)), and the direct effect accounted for 60% of the total effect. Pregnancy anxiety partially mediated between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life (β = 0.072, SE = 0.030, 95% CI (0.015, 0.131)), and the indirect effect accounted for 40% of the total effect.
Conclusions
Pregnancy anxiety mediates the relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life in pregnant women. Therefore, attention should be paid to maternal fear of childbirth and pregnancy anxiety to improve pregnant women's oral health-related quality of life.
HBV-miR-3 is closely related to HBV replication and strongly predictive of HBeAg seroconversion in PegIFN-α treated patients
Authors: Xu Zhenyu , Xu Yun , Wu Zhenyu , wang Sujuan , Zhang Min , Jiang Yongfang , Gong Guozhong 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background: HBV-miR-3 is encoded by HBV and takes part in pathogenesis of HBV-related liver disease. Whether HBV-miR-3 has relationship with HBV replication and is predictive of PegIFN-α treatment response is still unknown.
Methods: HBV-miR-3 quantification is based on qRT-PCR. The relationship of HBV-miR-3 and HBV replication, and predictive value of HBV-miR-3 are evaluated in a cohort of 650 HBeAg positive patients from a multi-center, randomized phase III clinical trial for the study of PegIFN-a2b.
Results: HBV-miR-3 is significantly positive related to HBVDNA, HBVpgRNA, HBeAg and HBsAg at baseline and all the different time points during PegIFN-α treatment. Both univariate regression analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed HBV-miR-3 is a predictor of HBeAg seroconversion in the patients treated with PegIFN-α at weeks of 0, 12, and 24. 70.0% of patients with HBV-miR-3＜3log at week 12 achieved HBeAg seroconversion, otherwise HBV-miR-3＞6log at week 12, no patient obtained. HBeAg seroconversion. Conbination of HBV-miR-3 and HBeAg is more strongly predictive of HBeAg seroconversion (83.64%) and obtained better AUC (0.784) at week 12
Conclusions: HBV-miR-3 is an indicator of HBV replication and positively related to HBV replication. HBV-miR-3 is a potential, novel and early predictor of HBeAg seroconversion in the patients treated with PegIFN-α.
Health literacy, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and public stigma among general citizens of Japan: an online cross-sectional survey
Authors: Togari Taisuke , Abe Sakurako , Inoue Yoji 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to clarify the relationship between health literacy, knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and public stigma toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in the general Japanese population.
Methods
We conducted an online cross-sectional survey targeting adults (age range: 20 s to 60 s) from among the 2.2 million registrants in Rakuten Insight from September 20 to 25, 2019. Stratified randomized sampling was performed by region, sex, and age. The study participants were 2,500 heterosexual HIV-negative adults with no acquaintances who were PLWH. Among these participants, 232 who provided incomplete responses were excluded, leaving 2,268 eligible for analysis (effective response rate: 90.7%).
Results
Models were compared using structural equation modeling for the relationship between health literacy (16-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey), basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS, public stigma toward HIV/AIDS, and social distance. The results indicated that health literacy scores mediated public stigma and were associated with social distance (standardized coefficient of indirect effect: –.157, p < .001). Knowledge of HIV/AIDS also affected social distance through public stigma (standardized coefficient of indirect effect: –.082, p < .001). The model fit was as follows: Tucker–Lewis index = 0.90, comparative fit index = 0.91, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.058.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that health literacy not only maintains and promotes individual health but also has the potential to reduce stigma toward HIV/AIDS and is more closely associated with less public stigma toward HIV/AIDS than knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Ecological dynamics of moa extinctions reveal convergent refugia that today harbor flightless birds.
Authors: Tomlinson Sean , Lomolino Mark , Wood Jamie , Anderson Atholl , Brown Stuart , Haythorne Sean , Perry George , Wilmshurst Janet , Austin Jeremy , Fordham Damien 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Human settlement of islands across the Pacific Ocean was followed by waves of faunal extinctions that occurred so rapidly that their dynamics are difficult to reconstruct in space and time. These extinctions included large, wingless birds endemic to New Zealand called moa. We reconstructed the range and extinction dynamics of six genetically distinct species of moa across New Zealand at a fine spatiotemporal resolution, using hundreds of thousands of process-explicit simulations of climate-human-moa interactions, which were validated against inferences of occurrence and demographic change from an extensive fossil record. This statistical-simulation analysis revealed important interspecific differences in the ecological and demographic attributes of moa that influenced the timing and pace of their geographic and demographic declines following colonization of New Zealand by Polynesians. Despite these interspecific differences in extinction dynamics, the spatial patterns of geographic range collapse of moa species were similar. The final populations of all moa species persisted in suboptimal habitats in cold, mountainous areas that were generally last and least impacted by people. These isolated refugia for the last populations of moa continue to serve as sanctuaries for New Zealand’s remaining flightless birds, providing novel insights for conserving endemic species in the face of current and future threats.
Effects of soil physicochemical environment on the plasticity of root growth and land productivity in maize soybean relay strip intercropping system
Authors: Peng Xinyue , Ren Junbo , Chen Ping , Yang Lida , Luo Kai , Yuan Xiaoting , Lin Ping , Fu Zhidan , Li Yiling , Yang Wenyu , Yong Taiwen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
[Aims]Soil is a key foundation of crop root growth. There are interactions between root system and soil with affected in multiple ways. In order to further explore the response of root distribution and morphology to soil physical and chemical environment under maize (Zea mays L.) soybean (Glycine Max L. Merr.) relay strip intercropping (MS). [Methods]Experiment was carried out to examine the effects of nitrogen application and interspecific distances on root system and soil environment in MS. The 2 N application levels referred to as no N application (NN) and conventional N application (CN) were paired with different interspecific distance, including 30 cm, 45 cm, 60 cm (MS30, MS45, MS60), and 100 cm of monoculture maize and soybean (MM/SS100). [Results]The results demonstrated that, MS45 increased the distribution of soil aggregates (> 2mm) near the crop roots and maize soil nutrients status, which increased by 20.26% and 15.57%. Meanwhile, MS reduced soil bulk density, increased soil porosity and improved soil oxygen content. The optimization of soil environment further promoted root growth and distribution. The MS45 had the best result with root development and the land equivalent ratio was 1.87, which improved the land utilization rate. [Conclusions]Relay intercropped soybean with maize in interspecific row spacing of 45 cm, reshapes root architecture and optimizes root spatial distribution of crops to achieve greater land productivity.
Applications of Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid Under Saline Soil Conditions to Improve Growth and Yield in Barley
Authors: Alsudays Ibtisam Mohammed , Alshammary Fowzia Hamdan , Alabdallah Nadiyah M. , Alatawi Aishah , Alwutayd Khairiah Mubarak , Alharbi Maha Mohammed , Alghanem Suliman M. S. , Alzuaibr Fahad Mohammed , Gharib Hany S. , Awad-Allah Mamdouh M. A. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Enriching the soil with organic matter such as humic acid and fulvic acid to increase its content of available nutrients, improve the chemical properties of the soil and increase plant growth as well as grain yield. Under saline soil conditions a field experiment was carried out for studied the effects of treatment by twelve combinations from adding of humic acid (HA) or fulvic acid (FA) or without adding (control), with four ratios of recommended dose (RDP) of phosphorus fertilizer on some agronomic traits, grain yield, and nutrients uptake in barley, to appraise the beneficial effects of these combinations to improve plant growth, N, P, and K uptake, grain yield, and its components under salinity stress.
Results
The findings exposed that the treatments HA + 100% RDP (T1), HA + 75% RDP (T2), FA + 100% RDP (T5), HA + 50% RDP (T3), and FA + 75% RDP (T6), improved number of spikes/plant, 1000-grain weight, grain yield/ha, harvest index, the amount of uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) in straw and grain. The increase percentage 64.69, 56.77, 49.83, 49.17, and 44.22% in the first season, and 64.08, 56.63, 49.19, 48.87, and 43.69% in the second season, for grain yield over the control. Meanwhile, the increase was 22.30, 16.42, 11.27, 10.78, and 7.11% in the first season, and 22.17, 16.63, 11.08, 10.84, and 6.99% in the second season, for grain yield compared with the recommended dose. Therefore, it is recommended to treat the soil with humic acid or foliar application the plants with fulvic acid in addition to phosphate fertilizer with one of the following treatments: HA + 100% RDP (T1), HA + 75% RDP (T2), FA + 100% RDP (T5), HA + 50% RDP (T3), and FA + 75% RDP (T6) under salinity conditions.
Conclusions
The result of the use of organic amendments was an increase in the tolerance of barley plant to salinity stress, which was evident from the improvement in the different traits that occurred after the treatment using treatments that included organic amendments (humic acid or fulvic acid).
The persistence and effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the risk of clinical sequelae one year after COVID-19 infection: a territory-wide cohort study in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Ian , Lam Ivan Chun Hang , Zhang Ran , Man Kenneth , Wong Carlos King Ho , Chui Celine Sze Ling , Lai Francisco , Li Xue , Chan Esther Wai Yin , Lau Chak-Sing , Wan Eric Yuk Fai 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Introduction
The persistence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) and the protection against such risk conferred by COVID-19 vaccination on the risk of remains largely unknown. This study evaluated the progressive risk of PASC one year after infection and comparing the risk and its persistence between patients of different COVID-19 vaccination status.
Method
A retrospective territory-wide cohort study was conducted using electronic medical record from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA) database. 1,166,987 patients with COVID-19 between April 1st and 2020 and October 31st, 2022 aged 18 or above, stratified into unvaccinated or in-completely vaccinated (received ≤ 1 dose), fully vaccinated (2 doses) and received booster (≥ 3 doses) of BioNtech or CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines and non-COVID-19 controls matched by the exact birth-year and sex. Covariates between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 controls were adjusted using propensity score-based inverse probability treatment weighting. The hazard ratio of evidence based list of reported clinical sequelae, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality between participants with a confirmed COVID-19 infection and their matched controls at three-monthly interval up to one year of COVID-19 infection were estimated using Cox proportional regression model.
Results
A progressive reduction in risk of all-cause mortality was observed over one year between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 controls [0-30d: HR16·00 (95%CI 15·35 to 16·67); 31-90d: 3·76 (3·58 to 3·95); 91-180d: 2·17 (2·06 to 2·28); 181-270d: 1·85 (1·75 to 1·95); 271-365d: 2·01 (1·87 to 2·16)]. Patients with complete vaccination or have received booster dose incurred a lower risk of PASC including major cardiovascular diseases [dose ≤ 1: 1·69 (1·51,1·89); dose = 2: 1·04 (0·92,1·17); dose ≥ 3: 1·06 (0·95 to 1·18)], and all-cause mortality [dose ≤ 1: 3·76 (3·58 to 3·95); dose = 2: 1·39 (1·29 to 1·50); dose ≥ 3: 1·08 (0·96 to 1·22)] than un-vaccinated or patients with in-complete vaccination 30–90 days after infection. Completely vaccinated and patients with booster dose of vaccines did not incur significant higher risk of PASC from 271 and 91 days of infection onwards, respectively, whilst un-vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated patients continued to incur a greater risk of PASC including major cardiovascular diseases [1·27(1·10 to 1·46)] and all-cause mortality [2·01(1·87 to 2·16)] for up to a year.
Conclusion
The study findings reported a progressive reduction in risk of PASC following COVID-19 infection over a year and provided real-world evidence supporting the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of PASC and its persistence following infection.
Ciliary muscles contraction leads to axial length extension —— The possible initiating factor for myopia
Authors: Zhou Peng , Wang Dan-Dan , Fan Lei , Yang Lin , Zhao Ming-Wei 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the underlying factors driving the onset of myopia, specifically the role of the ciliary muscle’s contraction in the elongation of the axial length of the eye. The retrospective study was conducted utilizing data from three ophthalmic centers in Shanghai and Beijing. Both Chinese and Caucasian children were involved. The axial length of the subjects’ eyes was measured in both relaxed and contracted state of the ciliary muscle. A comprehensive mechanical model was also developed to observe the influence of ciliary muscle contraction on the axial length. This study included a sample of 198 right eyes of 198 myopic children. Of these, 97 were male and 101 were female, 126 were of Chinese ethnicity and 72 were Caucasian. The age of onset for myopia ranged from 5.9 to 16.9 years old. The axial length of the eye decreased 0.028 ± 0.007mm following dilation, indicating relaxation of the ciliary muscle (t paired student = 15.16, p = 6.72 x 10− 35). In contrast, ciliary muscle contraction resulted in an increase in axial length. Considering proportionality, a significant 90.4% (179 eyes) exhibited a reduced axial length, while a minor 9.6% (19 eyes) demonstrated an increase post-mydriasis. Finite element modeling demonstrated that muscle contraction caused a tension force that transmits towards the posterior pole of the eye, causing it to extend posteriorly. The contraction of the ciliary muscle leads to an extension of the axial length. This could potentially be the initiating factor for myopia.
Functional characterization of the dimeric form of PDGF-derived fusion peptide fabricated based on theoretical arguments
Authors: Ardebili Maryam sadeghi - , Hasannia Sadegh , Dabirmanesh Bahareh , Khavari-Nejad Ramazan Ali 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
A skin wound leads to the loss of skin integrity and the influx of pathogens into the tissue. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are cytokines released from alpha granules during the wound healing and interact with their cell surface receptors and activate signals involved in chemotaxis, growth, proliferation, and differentiation pathways. Due to the low stability of growth factors (GFs), a new peptide-derived PDGF-BB was designed, expressed in the Shuffle strain of E. coli and purified by Ni-NTA agarose affinity column chromatography. The effect of fusion peptide was then evaluated on L929 fibroblast cells and animal models with skin lesions. In vitro studies showed that the peptide lead to an increase in the migration of fibroblast cells in the scratch assay. Its positive effect on wound healing was also observed in the skin-injured rats after 3, 7, and 12 days. A significant rise in neutrophils and granular tissue formation, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen formation was exhibited on the third day of treatment when compared to the control group. The results showed that, despite reducing PDGF size, the fusion peptide was able to maintain at least some of the known functions attributed to full-length PDGF and showed positive results in wound healing.