bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Delineation and Mapping of Ground Water Quality in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu Using GIS Techniques
Authors: Devi K. Chitra , Baskar M. , Jagadeeswaran R. , Meena S. , Dhanushkodi V. , Rathika S. 
Published: September 2023

Agriculture relies heavily on irrigation especially with groundwater which is a significant source in many countries. However, excessive use of groundwater can lead to a decrease in groundwater levels and cause scarcity of water. Irrigation requires good-quality water which is governed by dissolved ions. The groundwater quality is greatly influenced by global population growth, climate change and human activities including mining, agriculture, industrial effluents, seawater intrusion, household usage, etc., A study was conducted to evaluate the quality of groundwater for agriculture in various blocks of Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu. The sampling was done during March 2023 and about one hundred and fifty groundwater samples were collected from different blocks of the Kanchipuram district viz., Sriperumbudur(32 Nos), Kundrathur (28 Nos), Walajabad (34 Nos), Uthiramerur (29 Nos) and Kanchipuram (27 Nos). The physio-chemical (pH and EC) and chemical characteristics of the groundwater samples, including the cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+, as well as the anions CO32-, HCO3-, Cl-, and SO42-, were analyzed and the resulting properties were computed (SAR and RSC). The pH and EC values ranged from 3.29 to 8.49 and 0.09 to 5.22 dS m-1, respectively. The Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) ranged from nil to 32 meq L-1, while the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) ranged from 0.19 to 34.78 mmol L-1. According to the CSSRI, Karnal Water Quality Classification about 38 percent of the samples falls in the good quality category, alkali water was about 57.33 percent and Saline water was 4.67 percent in Kanchipuram district. The Good quality water was dominant in Uthiramerur block followed by the Sriperumbudur block. The Saline and Alkali water was dominant in Sriperumbudur and Kanchipuram blocks respectively.
Effect of Nano Fertilizers on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Microbiology of Kharif Sorghum
Authors: Chinnappa S. A. , Krishnamurthy D. , Ajayakumar M. Y. , Ramesha Y. M. , Ravi S. 
Published: September 2023

Aims: Foliar nutrition is aimed to eliminate the problems of fixation and immobilization of nutrients. Hence, foliar nutrition is being recognized as a significant way of fertilizing modern agriculture, especially under rainfed conditions. Nano fertilizers because of smaller size and higher surface area are efficient as compared to conventional and produce better results when used in combined form.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete block design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted in medium black soils at Agricultural Research Station, Hagari, during Kharif 2022.
Methodology: There were ten treatment combinations, consisting of different doses of RDF (50 % RNP, 75 % RNP and 100 % RDF and absolute control) with different doses of nano urea and Dap sprayed at 30 and 45 DAS for CSH-16 hybrid of sorghum.
Results: Application of 75% RNP as basal + nano urea & DAP spray @ 1.5 ml l-1 each at 30 and 45 DAS recorded significantly higher number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index. It also produced higher earhead length (35.9 cm), number of grains earhead-1 (2207), grain weight (57 g plant-1) and test weight (29.3 g 1000 grains-1). Nutrient content and uptake also showed higher values for the same treatment along with the nutrient use efficiency indices. Whereas, significant reduction in soil microbes was noticed by the application of treatment.
Conclusion: Combined application of conventional and nano fertilizers helped to increase growth, growth attributes like number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, yield attributes, nutrient content, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of sorghum.
Analysis of Parent Offspring Regression of Selected Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L]. Walp.) Agronomic Traits in Phosphorus Limiting Soil
Authors: Chikalipa Emmanuel , Tembo Langa 
Published: September 2023

Cowpea is a significant grain legume pulse, vegetable, and fodder crop. However, due to biotic and abiotic stresses, yields have been consistently low. Phosphorus (P) deficiency-related yield losses are one of the major abiotic stresses. The objectives therefore were i) to evaluate the mean performance response of selected cowpea traits across genotypes in optimum and P- limiting soil media and ii) to determine the cowpea heritability response of agronomic traits in P-limiting soil. Twenty cowpea genotypes comprising of 12 F1 crosses and eight progenitors were evaluated at the University of Zambia Greenhouse in Lusaka, using a completely randomized design with three replications and two-level sets of phosphorus (i.e. 0 kg P2O5 and 60 kg P2O5). The 60 kg P2O5 level set was used as a control. The results showed that the mean performance across genotypes for all measured traits was higher in control experiment at an applied rate of 60kg P2O5/ha than at applied rate of 0Kg P2O5/ha experimental sets. Significant better performances were obtained with plant height, shoot biomass, plant biomass and yield measured traits. The narrow sense heritability for measured traits ranged from 11- 35 % and 12 - 72% for 0 Kg P2O5 and 60 Kg P2O5 experimental set respectively. The highest narrow sense heritability scores in experimental set were pod length (h2= 0.35) and root biomass (h2= 0.28) while in the control set the variable yield (h2= 0.72) had the highest score. This implies that the identified trait (pod length) with high narrow sense heritability in P-limiting soil can initially be used to aid in selecting for high performing genotypes in P limiting soil. However, this should be supplemented by yield response especially in late generation selection (F5 onwards).
Determination of Plasmodial Species Prevalence among Patients Received at Cotonou Boni Clinic during Rainy Season in the Year 2022
Authors: Tokponnon Filémon , Osse Razak , Egui Jean Gille , Houndjo Gylchrist , Dabou Zoulkifilou Sare , Houessinon Festus , Yerima Idayath Gounou , Fanou Brice , Akogbeto Martin 
Published: September 2023

Aims: Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted by bites from infected female anopheles. It is a preventable and treatable illness. It remains a recurring disease among public health diseases that exposes many people to a risk of infection, including children under the age of 05 in Benin.
Methods: To determine the prevalence of malaria and different plasmodial species at the Dr Pierre BONI Clinic, we performed venous and capillary samples on 731 patients for the realization of thick drops and blood smears between June and July 2022.
Results: Three plasmodial species were identified in 228 patients (31%) as malaria of the 731 patients included in the study with 3 species of plasmodium found: Plasmodium falciparum (95.5%), Plasmodium malariae (2.85%), Plasmodium ovale (1.65%). Mixed or double species was also recorded in some patients: Plasmodium falciparum+ Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium falciparum+ Plasmodium ovale. The majority of patients have the presence of trophozoites at Plasmodium falciparum, 95.5%. The parasitic density of P. falciparum is higher than that of P. malariae and that of P. ovale.
Conclusion: Although evaluated during a period of low transmission, malaria remains a real public health problem. The distribution of the disease is closely related to the presence in the blood of plasmodial species.
Optimization of Some Fermentation Conditions for Bioethanol Production from Yam Peels (Dioscorea rotundata) Using Box-Behnken Design (BBD)
Authors: Saulawa Zeenat Ibrahim , Nura Lawal , Bala Muntari , Imam Abdullahi Abdulkadir 
Published: September 2023

Aim: The aim of this research was to optimize the production of bioethanol from a select second generation feedstock (yam peels).
Methodology: Bioethanol was produced from yam peels using Box Behnken Design (BBD). The independent variables selected for optimization of bioethanol yield were; fermentation temperature (˚C), fermentation time (hours) and yeast concentration (%w/v). A set of 17 experiments were considered by design expert software. All experiments were run in triplicates. Test for bioethanol was carried out using acidified potassium dichromate method and absorbance was taken using a spectrophotometer at 600nm.
Results: From the experiments carried out above, the optimum conditions under which the highest bioethanol (yield%) was produced were a fermentation temperature of 30̊C, yeast concentration of 5.50%w/v and fermentation time of 96hours under which a bioethanol yield of 45.79% was produced.
Conclusion: Yam peels may therefore have the potentials to serve as substrates for bioethanol production rather than using food crops such as sugarcane juice and cassava flesh which may lead to food shortages and crisis especially is developing countries such as Nigeria.
New Cancer Diagnoses Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Decker Kathleen M. , Feely Allison , Bucher Oliver , Czaykowski Piotr , Hebbard Pamela , Kim Julian O. , Pitz Marshall , Singh Harminder , Thiessen Maclean , Lambert Pascal 
Published: September 2023

ImportanceDisruptions to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to missed cancer diagnoses. It is critical to evaluate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and cancer incidence to address public and patient anxiety, inform recovery efforts, and identify strategies to reduce the system’s vulnerability to future disruptions.ObjectiveTo examine the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and cancer incidence in Manitoba, Canada.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA population-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using data from the Manitoba Cancer Registry and an interrupted time-series analysis. All individuals diagnosed with cancer in Manitoba, Canada, from January 1, 2015, until December 31, 2021, were included. Individuals diagnosed with breast, colon, rectal, or lung cancer were grouped by age as follows: younger than 50 years, 50 to 74 years, and 75 years and older.ExposuresCOVID-19 pandemic.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAge-standardized cancer incidence rates and the estimated cumulative difference between the number of cases in the absence of COVID-19 and observed (fitted) number of cancer cases.ResultsA total of 48 378 individuals were included. The median (IQR) age at diagnosis was 68 (59-77) years and 23 972 participants (49.6%) were female. In April 2020, there was a 23% decrease in overall cancer incidence. Cancer incidence decreased by 46% for breast, 35% for colon, 47% for rectal, 50% for head and neck, 65% for melanoma, and 33% for endocrine cancer diagnoses and increased by 12% for hematological cancer diagnoses and 8% for diagnoses of cancers with an unknown primary site. Lung cancer incidence remained stable until December 2020 when it decreased by 11%. Brain and central nervous system and urinary cancer diagnoses decreased consistently over time from April 2020 to December 2021 by 26% and 12%, respectively. No association was observed with gynecologic (1% increase), other digestive (1% decrease), or pancreatic (7% increase) cancer incidence. As of December 2021, Manitoba had an estimated deficit of 692 (5.3%) cancers. The largest estimated deficits were for breast (273 cases, 14.1% deficit), colon (133 cases, 12.2% deficit), and lung cancers (132 cases, 7.6% deficit).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an initial decrease in cancer diagnosis incidence followed by a recovery for most cancer sites. However, the cumulative deficit for some cancers with high fatality needs immediate attention.
Salivary Epigenetic Measures of Body Mass Index and Social Determinants of Health Across Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Raffington Laurel , Schneper Lisa , Mallard Travis , Fisher Jonah , Vinnik Liza , Hollis-Hansen Kelseanna , Notterman Daniel A. , Tucker-Drob Elliot M. , Mitchell Colter , Harden K. Paige 
Published: September 2023

ImportanceChildren who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are at increased risk for high body mass index (BMI) and multiple diseases in adulthood. The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis proposes that early life conditions affect later-life health in a manner that is only partially modifiable by later-life experiences.ObjectiveTo examine whether epigenetic measures of BMI developed in adults are valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and if they are sensitive to early life social determinants of health.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis population-based study of over 3200 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years included data from 2 demographically diverse US pediatric cohort studies that combine longitudinal and twin study designs. Analyses were conducted from 2021 to 2022.ExposuresSocioeconomic status, marginalized groups.Main Outcome and MeasureSalivary epigenetic BMI, BMI. Analyses were conducted to validate the use of saliva epigenetic BMI as a potential biomarker of child BMI and to examine associations between epigenetic BMI and social determinants of health.ResultsSalivary epigenetic BMI was calculated from 2 cohorts: (1) 1183 individuals aged 8 to 18 years (609 female [51%]; mean age, 13.4 years) from the Texas Twin Project and (2) 2020 children (1011 female [50%]) measured at 9 years of age and 15 years of age from the Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study. Salivary epigenetic BMI was associated with children’s BMI (r = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.31-0.40 to r = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.42-0.59). Longitudinal analysis found that epigenetic BMI was highly stable across adolescence but remained both a leading and lagging indicator of BMI change. Twin analyses showed that epigenetic BMI captured differences in BMI between monozygotic twins. Moreover, children from more disadvantaged socioeconomic status (b = −0.13 to −0.15 across samples) and marginalized racial and ethnic groups (b = 0.08-0.34 across samples) had higher epigenetic BMI, even when controlling for concurrent BMI, pubertal development, and tobacco exposure. Socioeconomic status at birth relative to concurrent socioeconomic status best predicted epigenetic BMI in childhood and adolescence (b = −0.15; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.09).Conclusion and RelevanceThis study demonstrated that epigenetic measures of BMI calculated from pediatric saliva samples were valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and may be associated with early-life social inequalities. The findings are in line with the hypothesis that early-life conditions are especially important factors in epigenetic regulation of later-life health. Research showing that health later in life is linked to early-life conditions has important implications for the development of early-life interventions that could significantly extend healthy life span.
Association Between Dialysis Facility Ownership and Mortality Risk in Children With Kidney Failure
Authors: Ku Elaine , McCulloch Charles E. , Bicki Alexandra , Lin Feng , Lopez Isabelle , Furth Susan L. , Warady Bradley A. , Grimes Barbara A. , Amaral Sandra 
Published: September 2023

ImportanceIn adults, treatment at profit dialysis facilities has been associated with a higher risk of death.ObjectiveTo determine whether profit status of dialysis facilities is associated with the risk of death in children with kidney failure treated with dialysis and whether any such association is mediated by differences in access to transplant.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study reviewed US Renal Data System records of 15 359 children who began receiving dialysis for kidney failure between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019, in US dialysis facilities. The data analysis was performed between May 2, 2022, and June 15, 2023.ExposureTime-updated profit status of dialysis facilities.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAdjusted Fine-Gray models were used to determine the association of time-updated profit status of dialysis facilities with risk of death, treating kidney transplant as a competing risk. Cox proportional hazards regression models were also used to determine time-updated profit status with risk of death regardless of transplant status.ResultsThe final cohort included 8465 boys (55.3%) and 6832 girls (44.7%) (median [IQR] age, 12 [3-15] years). During a median follow-up of 1.4 (IQR, 0.6-2.7) years, with censoring at transplant, the incidence of death was higher at profit vs nonprofit facilities (7.03 vs 4.06 per 100 person-years, respectively). Children treated at profit facilities had a 2.07-fold (95% CI, 1.83-2.35) higher risk of death compared with children at nonprofit facilities in adjusted analyses accounting for the competing risk of transplant. When follow-up was extended regardless of transplant status, the risk of death remained higher for children treated in profit facilities (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.35-1.61). Lower access to transplant in profit facilities mediated 67% of the association between facility profit status and risk of death (95% CI, 45%-100%).Conclusions and RelevanceGiven the higher risk of death associated with profit dialysis facilities that is partially mediated by lower access to transplant, the study’s findings indicate a need to identify root causes and targeted interventions that can improve mortality outcomes for children treated in these facilities.
Reference Range of Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels That Can Reduce Odds of Active Lupus and Prevent Flares
Authors: Garg Shivani , Chewning Betty , Hutson Paul , Astor Brad C. , Bartels Christie M. 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveRecent data show that lower hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) doses are associated with a two‐ to six‐fold higher risk of lupus flares. Thus, establishing an effective reference range of HCQ blood levels with upper and lower bounds for efficacy may support individualizing HCQ dosing to prevent flares.MethodsHCQ levels in whole blood and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) were measured during the baseline visit and again during a standard of care routine follow‐up visit. Active cross‐sectional lupus at baseline was defined as SLEDAI ≥6; a within subject flare was defined as a subsequent three‐point increase in SLEDAI with clinical symptoms requiring therapy change. We examined associations between active lupus and HCQ blood levels at baseline and flares and HCQ levels during 6 to 12–month routine lupus follow‐up visits using mixed regression analysis.ResultsAmong 158 baseline patient visits, 19% had active lupus. Odds of active lupus were 71% lower in patients with levels within a 750 to 1,200 ng/mL range (adjusted odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.08–0.96). Using convenience sampling strategy during a pandemic, we longitudinally followed 42 patients. Among those patients, 17% flared during their follow‐up visit. Maintaining HCQ levels within 750 to 1,200 ng/mL reduced the odds of a flare by 26% over a nine‐month median follow‐up.ConclusionAn effective reference range of HCQ blood levels, 750 to 1,200 ng/mL, was associated with 71% lower odds of active lupus, and maintaining levels within this range reduced odds of flares by 26%. These findings could guide clinicians to individualize HCQ doses to maintain HCQ levels within this range to maximize efficacy.image
Capturing Patient Value in an Economic Evaluation
Authors: Koster Fiona , Kok Marc R. , Lopes Barreto Deirisa , Weel‐Koenders Angelique E.A.M. 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveEconomic evaluations predominantly use generic outcomes, such as the Euro Quality of Life‐5 Dimension (EQ‐5D), to assess health status. However, because of the generic nature, they are less suitable to capture the quality of life of patients with specific conditions. Given the transition to patient‐centered (remote) care delivery, this study aims to evaluate the possibility of using disease‐specific measures in a cost‐effectiveness analysis.MethodsA real‐life cohort from Maasstad Hospital (2020–2021) in the Netherlands, with 772 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was used to assess the cost‐effectiveness of electronic consultations (e‐consultations) compared with face‐to‐face consultations. The Incremental Cost‐Effectiveness Ratio (ICER), based on the generic EQ‐5D, was compared with ICER's based on RA‐specific measures: the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) and Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index (HAQ‐DI). To compare the cost‐effectiveness of these different measures, HAQ‐DI and RAID were expressed in quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) via estimated conversion equations.ResultsDisease‐specific patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) offer a promising alternative for traditional measures in economic evaluations, capturing patient‐relevant domains more comprehensively. Because PROMs are increasingly applied in clinical practice, the next step entails modeling of an RA patient‐wide conversion equation to implement PROMs in economic evaluations.ConclusionThe conventional ICER (eg, EQ‐5D) indicates that e‐consultations are cost‐effective with cost savings of −€161,000 per QALY gained for a prevalent RA cohort treated in a secondary trainee hospital. RA‐specific measures show similar results, with ICERs of −€163,000 per HAQ‐DI (QALY) and −€223,000 per RAID (QALY) gained. RA‐specific measures capture patient‐relevant domains and offer the opportunity to improve the assessment and treatment of the disease impact.
Comorbidities in Early Psoriatic Arthritis: Data From the Metabolic Disturbances in Psoriatic Arthritis Cohort Study
Authors: Ishchenko Alla , Pazmino Sofia , Neerinckx Barbara , Lories Rik , de Vlam Kurt 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of comorbidities and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (RFs) in treatment‐naive patients with early psoriatic arthritis (ePsA) and to identify factors that contribute to metabolic burden in ePsA.MethodsThis was an observational longitudinal multicenter cohort study. Clinical and demographic characteristics, CV RFs, and comorbidities were compared in patients newly diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and sex‐ and age‐matched controls. In patients with PsA, comorbidities were reevaluated after one year's follow‐up because the disease activity changed.ResultsSixty‐seven patients with ePsA and 61 healthy volunteers were included. The rate of comorbidities was similar in patients with ePsA and in healthy controls; 82.1% of patients with ePsA had CV RFs at baseline as compared with 62.3% of healthy volunteers (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.0). Patients with ePsA had higher odds of having multiple (two or more) comorbidities (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.0) and multiple CV RFs (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.2) than the controls. Comorbidities or CV RFs in patients with ePsA were not influenced by duration of skin psoriasis. Dyslipidemia was the most prevalent comorbidity in the PsA cohort (64.2% vs 39.3% in controls; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.5). Patients with ePsA had, on average, above normal body mass index (mean ± SD 28.82 ± 4.5) and a higher rate of obesity (40.3% vs 18.3% in controls; OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2). After 1 year, although disease activity scores improved, the proportion of patients with comorbidities and CV RFs did not increase or drop.ConclusionOur data imply that patients with PsA already have higher comorbidities and CV burden at early stages of the disease, suggesting that these are not only a consequence of long‐lasting disease and chronic systemic inflammation.