bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Change in depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Workneh Firehiwot , Worku Alemayehu , Assefa Nega , Berhane Yemane 
Published: April 2023

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental health problems among healthcare workers globally. However, studies from low- and middle-income countries on this matter were minimal. This study assessed the change in depression prevalence during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among healthcare providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods
We conducted surveys among healthcare workers in Addis Ababa at two-time points, September 2020 and October 2021. A total of 577 study participants were randomly selected based on registers obtained from professional associations. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing technique was used for data collection. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential factors associated with depression.

Result
The prevalence of depression among healthcare workers was 2.3% (95% CI [1.1–4.8]) in Time 1 and 6.5% (95% CI [4.1–10.1]) in Time 2; nearly a three-fold increase in Time 2 compared to Time 1. The most frequently reported symptoms at both times based on the PHQ-9 item were having poor energy, sleep problem, and anhedonia, while reported suicidal ideation was less than 5%. Depression showed a positive and significant association with a positive COVID-19 test result (AOR 7.25 95% CI [1.32–39.4]) in Time 1, and with being a female healthcare provider (AOR 3.96 95% CI [1.08–14.51]) and lack of COVID-19 related policy or guidelines at the workplace (AOR 3.22 95% CI [1.11–9.35]) in Time 2.

Conclusion
The prevalence of depression among healthcare workers tripled during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Panic reaction to positive COVID-19 test result seems to have a negative effect at the beginning while lack of disease-specific prevention guidelines and comprehensive psychological interventions for healthcare providers had an adverse effect on the mental health of health workers.
Does the combination of exercise and cognitive training improve working memory in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Yiqing , Zang Ming , Wang Biye , Guo Wei 
Published: April 2023

Background
Cognitive functioning is dependent on working memory and a decline in working memory is the main cause of cognitive aging. Many studies have suggested that physical exercise or cognitive intervention can effectively improve working memory in the elderly. However, it is still unknown whether a combination of exercise and cognitive training (CECT) is more effective than either intervention alone. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to evaluate the effect of CECT on working memory in the elderly.

Methods
The review was registered in the International Prospective Systematic Review (PROSPERO, CRD42021290138). Systematic searches were conducted on Web of Science, Elsevier Science, PubMed and Google Scholar. The data were extracted according to the PICOS framework. Comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software was used to perform the meta-analysis, moderator analysis and publication bias testing.

Results
The current meta-analysis included 21 randomized controlled trials (RCT). Results showed that CECT had a significantly greater impact on working memory in older adults compared to no intervention groups (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.14–0.44], p < 0.01), with no significant difference between CECT and exercise (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI [−0.04–0.35], p = 0.12) or cognitive intervention alone (SMD = 0.08, 95% CI [−0.13–0.30], p = 0.44). Furthermore, the positive effect of CECT was moderated by intervention frequency and cognitive state.

Conclusions
The CECT can effectively improve working memory of older adults, but the effect of CECT compared to single intervention needs to be further explored.
Choice of respiratory therapy for COVID-19 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: a retrospective case series study
Authors: Sudo Kazuki , Sawa Teiji , Kushimoto Kohsuke , Yoshii Ryogo , Yuasa Kento , Inoue Keita , Kinoshita Mao , Yamasaki Masaki , Kooguchi Kunihiko 
Published: April 2023

Background
In the treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) due to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), physicians choose respiratory management ranging from low-flow oxygen therapy to more invasive methods, depending on the severity of the patient’s symptoms. Recently, the ratio of oxygen saturation (ROX) index has been proposed as a clinical indicator to support the decision for either high-flow nasal cannulation (HFNC) or mechanical ventilation (MV). However, the reported cut-off value of the ROX index ranges widely from 2.7 to 5.9. The objective of this study was to identify indices to achieve empirical physician decisions for MV initiation, providing insights to shorten the delay from HFNC to MV. We retrospectively analyzed the ROX index 6 hours after initiating HFNC and lung infiltration volume (LIV) calculated from chest computed tomography (CT) images in COVID-19 patients with AHRF.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the data for 59 COVID-19 patients with AHRF in our facility to determine the cut-off value of the ROX index for respiratory therapeutic decisions and the significance of radiological evaluation of pneumonia severity. The physicians chose either HFNC or MV, and the outcomes were retrospectively analyzed using the ROX index for initiating HFNC. LIV was calculated using chest CT images at admission.

Results
Among the 59 patients who required high-flow oxygen therapy with HFNC at admission, 24 were later transitioned to MV; the remaining 35 patients recovered. Four of the 24 patients in the MV group died, and the ROX index values of these patients were 9.8, 7.3, 5.4, and 3.0, respectively. These index values indicated that the ROX index of half of the patients who died was higher than the reported cut-off values of the ROX index, which range from 2.7–5.99. The cut-off value of the ROX index 6 hours after the start of HFNC, which was used to classify the management of HFNC or MV as a physician’s clinical decision, was approximately 6.1. The LIV cut-off value on chest CT between HFNC and MV was 35.5%. Using both the ROX index and LIV, the cut-off classifying HFNC or MV was obtained using the equation, LIV = 4.26 × (ROX index) + 7.89. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, as an evaluation metric of the classification, improved to 0.94 with a sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.91 using both the ROX index and LIV.

Conclusion
Physicians’ empirical decisions associated with the choice of respiratory therapy for HFNC oxygen therapy or MV can be supported by the combination of the ROX index and the LIV index calculated from chest CT images.
Enzyme histochemical characterization of orbital glands in fetuses of Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Tomar Mahendra Pratap Singh , Bansal Neelam 
Published: April 2023

Background
The orbital glands, viz. lacrimal gland, superficial and deep gland of third eyelid (LG, SGT and HG), are important for normal eye functions. These glands have different functions in various animals. The information about the enzyme histochemical nature of prenatal orbital glands in Indian buffalo seems to be unavailable. Therefore, the study was planned on orbital glands of six full term recently died fetuses from animals with dystocia.

Methods
The frozen sections of all these glands were subjected to standard localization protocols for Alkaline Phosphatase (AKPase), Glucose 6 phosphatase (G-6-Pase), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Hydrogen Diaphorase (NADHD), Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Hydrogen diaphorase (NADPHD), Dihydroxy phenylalanine oxidase (DOPA-O), Tyrosinase, non-specific esterase (NSE) and Carbonic anhydrase (CAse).

Results
The results revealed a mixed spectrum of reaction for the above enzymes in LG, SGT and HG which ranged from moderate (for LDH in SGT) to intense (for most of the enzymes in all three glands). However, DOPA-O, Tyrosinase and CAse did not show any reaction. From the present study, it can be postulated that the orbital glands of fetus have a high activity of metabolism as it has many developmental and functional activities which were mediated with the higher activity of the enzymes involved.
Effect of Sowing Date and Variety on Pigeonpea Production in Nepal
Authors: Pokhrel Anil , Manandhar Sarita , Dangi Sangharsh Raj 
Published: April 2023

Aims: An unsuitable sowing time and selection of inappropriate variety were the main yield limiting factors in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) cultivation. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of sowing dates on growth and yield of pigeonpea varieties.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in spit plot design.
Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was conducted at the Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP), Khajura, Banke, Nepal in two consecutive years, 2020/21 and 2021/22.
Methodology: The experiment consisted five sowing dates treatments viz., 2nd July, 17th July, 1st August, 16th August and 31st August as the main-factor and two promising varieties viz., ICPL-88039 and MA-6 as the sub-factor, with three replications.
Results: Both the sowing time and variety significantly influenced all the tested growth and yield parameters of pigeonpea at one percent significance level. Early sowing (2nd July) recorded longer days to flowering and maturity and taller plants that affected the yield. Pigeonpea produced the highest (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield (1482 kg/ha), while seeded on 2nd July. Moreover, the pigeonpea sown on 2nd to 17th July produced 36% more seed yield than sown on 1st to 31st August. Similarly, a promising variety of pigeonpea MA-6 (1028 kg/ha) produced significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield compared to the variety ICPL-88039 (888 kg/ha).
Conclusion: The study identified the 2nd July as the most appropriate time of sowing and the MA-6 as a high yielding variety of pigeonpea for the study area in Mid-Western Terai Region of Nepal.
Pectinase Production from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Using Orange Peels and Maize Cobs as Substrate for Solid-State Fermentation
Authors: Haske M. S. , Iliyasu M. Y. , Abdulrahman A. , Sani S. M. , Inusa T. , Isma’il S. , Umar R. D. , Kabeer Z. M. , Tahir H. , Agbo E. B. 
Published: April 2023

Background of the Study: Degradation of wastes especially fruit waste is important because these wastes accumulate in the environment. The fruit wastes can be used to biosynthesize pectinase enzyme at a cheaper rate due its numerous industrial applications. The ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to degrade these wastes to produce pectinase enzyme was exploited.
Aim: The aim of this study is to isolate and characterize Saccharomyces cerevisiae and study the optimal conditions needed for pectinase production on the orange peel with maize cobs and study the effectiveness of the enzymes produced in the extraction of orange juice.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria, between August to September 2021.
Methodology: Soil samples from the orange seller stand was collected, serial dilution method was used to reduce the solution to a more usable concentration, and the samples were streaked on Yeast Peptone Dextrose Agar (YPDA). The plates were incubated for 3 to 9 days at 28+- oC. The isolated yeast was identified based on the morphological and biochemical test, the isolates were inoculated on the prepared fermentation media under different optimal conditions. The crude enzyme were extracted, and the extracts were tested for pectinase activity using the dinitrosalicylic reagent (DNS) method for the presence of reducing sugar. The resulting pectinase was determined to effectively extract juice from orange mash.
Results: Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed relatively pectinase hydrolysis using orange peels and maize cobs as substrate by solid-state fermentation under predetermined optimum fermentation conditions. Optimization for the pectinase production was done by altering the conditions for the production medium. Pectinase activity of (2.81 + 2.31 ug/ml) was observed at 72hr of incubation at 35oC.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that orange peel and maize cob can be successfully used to induce the production of pectinase using Saccharomyces cerevisiae under solid-state fermentation.
Transition Zone Analysis in Oil Reservoirs with Mixed or Preferential Water Wettability
Authors: Dutu Ionut , Stoianovici Doru , Chis Timur , Bârsan Doru , Sulaiman Dzaiy 
Published: April 2023

Defining the transition zone in clastic oil formations with mixed or water-preferential wettability is useful in estimating the initial oil resource, locating production and injection wells, choosing drilling intervals, predicting water intrusion into production wells, and modeling the reservoir for simulation purposes.
The purpose of this article is to define the initial distribution of water in oil reservoirs and especially the knowledge of the transition zone, presenting theoretical concepts and practical methods for planning the necessary experiments and interpreting the data collected to define this part of the oil structure. The article presents the theoretical elements of the methods of obtaining and using capillary pressure curves, data on interfacial tension and contact angle. The dynamics of the saturation state during oil reservoir formation and the most optimal method for determining fluid contacts and free water levels are also described.
Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system
Authors: Mackay‐Smith Thomas H. , López Ignacio F. , Burkitt Lucy L. , Reid Janet I. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSilvopastoral systems have great potential for forming multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of economic and environmental benefits to pastoral land. However, pasture production–diversity relationships in silvopastures require further exploration.This study measures how pasture functional group production, pasture species diversity and pasture functional diversity (FD) are impacted by trees in a novel native silvopastoral system in New Zealand hill country with kānuka (Kunzeaspp.).Silvopastoral trees facilitated the growth of fast‐growing competitor functional groups (Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerataand high fertility annuals:Bromus hordeaceusandCritesion murinum), because of positive impacts on soil fertility, organic matter and porosity.Shannon diversity, species richness and species evenness were significantly less in the more productive pastoral environment under the trees, but functional richness, functional evenness and functional dispersion were similar between kānuka pasture and open pasture.These results show that silvopastures can increase pasture production by promoting the growth of competitive pasture functional groups, and that reduced species diversity under silvopastoral trees does not necessarily impact FD in the context of production. Moreover, species indices overestimated diversity reductions under the trees compared to functional indices. Thus, considering FD in silvopastoral systems is integral for not misinterpreting diversity outcomes.
Insights into the Efficiency Improvement for CZTSSe Solar Cells with over 12% Efficiency via Ga Incorporation
Authors: Zhao Xiangyun , Pan Yining , Chen Wangxian , Yang Wentong , Zeng Qiang , Li Linhong , Liao Xiang , Zhang Zongliang , Liu Siliang , Lai Yanqing , Liu Fangyang 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSuppressing the band tailing and nonradiative recombination caused by massive defects and defect clusters is crucial for mitigating open‐circuit voltage (Voc) deficit and improving the device performance of CZTSSe thin film solar cells. Cation substitution is one of the most commonly used strategies to address the above issues. The latest world record efficiency of 13.0% is obtained through this strategy (Ag substitution for Cu). Nevertheless, the importance of the approach to implementing metallic ion doping is easily overlooked by researchers. Here, different approaches are adopted to realize Ga doping and the differences in the efficacy and mechanism are thoroughly investigated. It is found that the secondary phase easily emerged when the physical‐based method is employed, and thus challenging to regulate the doping effect. In the case of the chemical‐based method, Ga doping can enlarge the depletion region widthand lower the defect activation energyand Urbach energy. Furthermore, GaSn defects located at grain boundaries can expand the energy band bending between GBs and grain interiors (GIs), thereby suppressing the deep defect states and nonradiative recombination. Consequently, power conversion efficiency as high as 12.12% with a Voc of 522 mV is achieved at 2% Ga doping.
Solid‐State Quad‐Nanopore Array for High‐Resolution Single‐Molecule Analysis and Discrimination
Authors: Hu Rui , Zhu Rui , Wei Guanghao , Wang Zhan , Gu Zhi‐Yuan , Wanunu Meni , Zhao Qing 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe ability to detect and distinguish biomolecules at the single‐molecule level is at the forefront of today's biomedicine and analytical chemistry research. Increasing the dwell time of individual biomolecules in the sensing spot can greatly enhance the sensitivity of single‐molecule methods. This is particularly important in solid‐state nanopore sensing, where the detection of small molecules is often limited by the transit dwell time and insufficient temporal resolution. Here, a quad‐nanopore is introduced, a square array of four nanopores (with a space interval of 30–50 nm) to improve the detection sensitivity through electric field manipulation in the access region. It is shown that dwell times of short DNA strands (200 bp) are prolonged in quad‐nanopores as compared to single nanopores of the same diameter. The dependence of dwell times on the quad‐pore spacing is investigated and it is found that the “retarding effect” increases with decreasing space intervals. Furthermore, ultra‐short DNA (50 bp) detection is demonstrated using a 10 nm diameter quad‐nanopore array, which is hardly detected by a single nanopore. Finally, the general utility of quad‐nanopores has been verified by successful discrimination of two kinds of small molecules, metal‐organic cage and bovine serum albumin (BSA).
Bioinspired Self‐Standing, Self‐Floating 3D Solar Evaporators Breaking the Trade‐Off between Salt Cycle and Heat Localization for Continuous Seawater Desalination
Authors: Liu Huawen , Chen Bichi , Chen Yilin , Zhou Mengnan , Tian Fangwei , Li Yaozong , Jiang Junjie , Zhai Wentao 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFacing the global water shortage challenge, solar‐driven desalination is considered a sustainable technology to obtain freshwater from seawater. However, the trade‐off between the salt cycle and heat localization of existing solar evaporators (SE) hinders its further practical applications. Here, inspired by water hyacinth, a self‐standing and self‐floating 3D SE with adiabatic foam particles and aligned water channels is built through a continuous directional freeze‐casting technique. With the help of the heat insulation effect of foam particles and the efficient water transport of aligned water channels, this new SE can cut off the heat transfer from the top photothermal area to the bulk water without affecting the water supply, breaking the long‐standing trade‐off between salt cycle and heat localization of traditional SEs. Additionally, its self‐standing and self‐floating features can reduce human maintenance. Its large exposure height can increase evaporation area and collect environmental energy, breaking the long‐standing limitation of solar‐to‐vapor efficiency of conventional SEs. With the novel structure employed, an evaporation flux of 2.25 kg m−2 h−1, and apparent solar‐to‐vapor efficiency of 136.7% are achieved under 1 sun illumination. This work demonstrates a new evaporator structure, and also provides a key insight into the structural design of next‐generation salt‐tolerant and high‐efficiency SEs.
PbZrO3‐Based Anti‐Ferroelectric Thin Films for High‐Performance Energy Storage: A Review
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Yang Fei , Yu Kexin , Zhang Bihui , Chen Jingyao , Shi Yujia , Yang Peifan , He Lifang , Li Haonan , Liu Rui , Li Xiaofang , Hu Yanchun , Shang Jun , Yin Shaoqian 
Published: April 2023

AbstractEnergy storage capacitors occupy a large proportion in the pulse power equipment, and they play an important role nowadays. In recent years, anti‐ferroelectric materials have attracted increasing attention of researchers due to their high energy storage density. Compared with the lead‐free anti‐ferroelectric materials, PbZrO3 (PZ)‐based anti‐ferroelectric films are defined as promising electrical energy storage devices for pulsed power systems due to their ultrahigh energy storage density. During the past decade, numerous studies have been reported to develop high‐performance PZ‐based anti‐ferroelectric thin films for electrical energy storage applications. This review focuses on the recent progress of PZ‐based anti‐ferroelectric films for energy storage, and provides various ways, such as element modification (replacing of one element in the ABO3 structure by another element), composite materials (adding secondary phase into PZ films to form composite films), and process improvement (such as the tuning of different bottom electrodes), to improve their energy storage density. Finally, the problems and future development directions of the PZ‐based films are raised.
Flexible Thermoelectrics Based on Plastic Inorganic Semiconductors
Authors: Chen Kang , Wang Longlu , Luo Zhongzhong , Xu Xiuwen , Li Yang , Liu Shujuan , Zhao Qiang 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFlexible thermoelectrics, including flexible thermoelectric materials and devices, can generate electricity by utilizing the small temperature difference between the human body and surrounding environment, exhibiting great potential for the continuous powering of wearable devices. It has long been assumed that inorganic thermoelectric materials are usually brittle at room temperature except for size‐induced flexibility. Until recently, this perception has been overturned by the discovery of inorganic semiconductors with intrinsic plastic deformability. Herein, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the recently burgeoning plastic inorganic semiconductors in thermoelectrics. First the requirements to thermoelectric materials are introduced by flexible thermoelectrics. Then, the mechanical properties and potential plastic deformation mechanisms at the atomic level of plastic inorganic semiconductors are systematically summarized. Subsequently, the optimization strategies for the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of plastic inorganic semiconductors, such as doping and alloying, are summarized. Furthermore, the advantages of plastic inorganic semiconductors in flexible thermoelectric devices and their potential applications in wearable electronic devices are also highlighted. Finally, the current challenges are presented and future directions are predicted, including high‐throughput screening methods for plastic inorganic semiconductor materials and the development and application of flexible inorganic thermoelectric materials.