bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Taste Perceptions of Common Pediatric Antibiotic Suspensions and Associated Prescribing Patterns in Medical Residents
Authors: Soares Neelkamal , Mitchell Rachel , McGoff Theresa , Bailey Teresa , Wellman Gregory S. 
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVE
Palatability of medication is an important factor for adherence, especially in pediatric populations that tend to use oral suspensions for antibiotic therapy. Our study is the first to evaluate the impact of taste on prescribing patterns of antibiotic suspensions. The objective was to determine if taste testing common antibiotic suspensions altered prescribing patterns of medical residents, through data extracted from the electronic health record.

METHODS
After assessing 5 “primer” tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami [savory]), residents were randomized to sample 6 antibiotic suspensions to rate their taste perception. A 12-month retrospective and prospective analysis of outpatient prescribing practices of the residents followed, and the results were compared to the resident cohort randomized to no taste test.

RESULTS
The 43 residents prescribed 207 liquid antibiotic prescriptions for 176 patients, with no difference in patient characteristics between residents in the taste test versus non–taste test group. Although amoxicillin was most preferable and amoxicillin-clavulanate least, the only significant finding was a greater prescribing rate of cefdinir among those who had tasted it and an inverse relationship between cephalexin taste preference and percentage prescribing amoxicillin in the taste group. Residents who tasted were poor in identifying primer tastes, but this did not impact prescribing patterns.

CONCLUSIONS
Among 6 commonly prescribed antibiotic suspensions, amoxicillin remains a highly preferred taste among prescribers. Interestingly, after the taste test there was a significantly greater prescribing rate of cefdinir among those who had tasted it and somewhat lower prescribing rate for amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Dexmedetomidine Versus Fentanyl for Neonates With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia
Authors: Naveed Maryam , Bondi Deborah S. , Shah Pooja A. 
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVE
Therapeutic hypothermia reduces the risk of death and major disability in neonates with moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Opioids and benzodiazepines are used to manage agitation but contribute to hemodynamic and respiratory instability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) compared with fentanyl (FENT) in neonates with HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia.

METHODS
This was a retrospective, single-center study comparing outcomes in neonates with HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia who received FENT to those who received DEX.

RESULTS
A total of 45 neonates were included (FENT, n = 19; DEX, n = 26). The DEX group had a decreased need for sedative bolus doses during therapeutic hypothermia compared with the FENT group; however, there was no difference in number of uncontrolled agitation scores or need for additional scheduled sedatives. The DEX group had a shorter time to discontinuation of sedatives after rewarming compared with the FENT group (0.52 versus 5 days, respectively; p = 0.001), shorter time to extubation after birth (3.1 versus 11.3 days, respectively; p = 0.004), and earlier time to resumption of feeds (8.5 versus 13 days, respectively; p = 0.03). A non-statistically significant reduction in seizures was noted (3 versus 7 subjects, respectively; p = 0.07). There was no difference in baseline characteristics, mortality, or adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS
The use of DEX during therapeutic hypothermia for HIE appears to provide comparable control of agitation to FENT with a reduced need for additional sedatives and may lead to an earlier time to extubation and discontinuation of sedatives.
Temporal Patterns of Abundance of Birds Along a Transect in Kings Park, Perth: A long-term study
Authors: Recher Harry F. 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACT
Frequency of occurrence data are available for birds along a transect in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia from 1928 to 2008. These data show a dynamic avifauna with about a third of the sixty-one bird species recorded declining in frequency since 1928, another third, including new colonisers, increased, while a third showed little or no change. Despite the value of these data, frequency data are a coarse measure of changes in abundance. To provide baseline data on avian abundances for monitoring long-term trends in numbers, monthly counts along the transect were made from February 1996 to October 1999, and August 2001 to February 2002, with additional opportunistic counts from 1986 to 2008. Fifty-five species were recorded between 1986 and 2008. An average of 15 to 20 species were recorded during counts with little seasonal variation. Total species abundances were greatest in winter and spring, and least in summer and autumn. The number of individuals of most species changed seasonally, due in part to variation in detectability, but birds also moved into and out of the park. The numbers of some species differed between years, and there were changes in species composition and abundance following fires that burnt the transect. Between 1986 and 2008 two species, Broad-tailed Acanthiza apicalis and Western Thornbill A. inornata, declined to extinction, with the loss of the Western Thornbill a consequence of the 1989 fire. Other species, including Black-capped Sittella Daphoenositta pileata and Yellow-rumped Thornbill A. chrysorrhoa, are in decline, with local extinction predicted by 2030. The data illustrate the importance of abundance data for long-term monitoring and the importance of Kings Park as a refuge for Perth’s birdlife.
Impact of the 2019–20 drought, heatwaves and mega-fires on Greater Gliders (Petauroides volans) in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, New South Wales
Authors: Smith Peter , Smith Judy 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACT
We have investigated the impact of the unprecedented drought, heatwaves and fires of 2019–20 on a threatened arboreal marsupial, the Greater Glider (Petauroides volans), in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, an area of over one million hectares. The study involved multiple post-fire surveys in 2020 and 2021 of 16 transects (eight burnt and eight unburnt) for which we had pre-2019 data on Greater Glider numbers. We were unable to find any gliders on two transects burnt at high to extreme severity (100% of eucalypt foliage killed in the canopy and understorey) but Greater Gliders were still present on all six transects burnt at low to moderate severity (44–77% of eucalypt foliage killed), although in significantly lower numbers (mean decline of 43% per transect). Greater Gliders feed on eucalypt leaves and their post-fire survival appears to be dependent on the presence of eucalypt trees with abundant unburnt foliage, which were absent from the more severely burnt transects. Even 17 months after the fires, Greater Gliders were still dependent on these trees, which constituted 36% of trees on low-moderate burnt transects but 77% of trees in which gliders were seen. Gliders were seen feeding on post-fire epicormic regrowth but generally avoided trees with mainly epicormic foliage, possibly because they provided insufficient protection from predators. Greater Gliders were also seriously impacted by the preceding drought and heatwaves, with patchy but significant declines on the eight unburnt transects (mean decline of 34% per transect). We measured the likely impact of the fires on Greater Glider habitat across the World Heritage Area by determining fire severity at a total of 773 precisely located points at which the species had been recorded. An extraordinary 84% of their known sites had been burnt, with 34% burnt at high-extreme severity, 50% burnt at low-moderate severity and only 16% unburnt. Combining these figures with the Greater Glider declines recorded on our transects, we estimate that the Greater Glider population of the World Heritage Area has been reduced by 61% by the extreme events of 2019–20. This is a broad extrapolation from a limited number of sites but it indicates the massive scale of the likely impacts.
Changes in Antioxidant/Pro-Oxidant Ratio of Brain Tissue Homogenates in Response to Cocos nucifera Treatment
Authors: Ilochi O. N. , Augustine C. E. , Chuemere A. N. 
Published: May 2022

Objective: This study revealed the effect of Cocos nucifera juice on antioxidant/pro-oxidant ratio in brain tissue homogenates of wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: 40 male wistar rats were collected and randomly selected into 4 groups. Treatment protocols were; i-normal saline, ii-3ml C. nucifera juice, iii-6ml C.nucifera juice, iv-9ml C. nucifera juice. The study period lasted for 42 days. Brain tissue homogenate was prepared and biochemical analysis for antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); pro-oxidant biomarkers hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and nitric oxide (NO) were assayed for.
Results: The result showed that there was an increase in antioxidants concentration and a simultaneous decrease in pro-oxidant species generation as the dose of treatment was increased. The ratio of antioxidants to pro-oxidants showed a direct proportionality to the treatment dose.
Conclusion: C. nucifera juice has the ability to improve the level of production or synthesis of the assayed antioxidant enzymes and also has the efficacy to suppress pro-oxidant specie generation.
Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Trade Facilitation on China's Foreign Trade- based on Panel Data Analysis of Countries along the Belt and Road
Authors: Pengli Tang , Jifeng Zhang , Xinyue Yu 
Published: May 2022

Since China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, new changes have taken place in China's economic and trade relations with countries along the routes. China has helped countries along the routes improve their economic and trade conditions through various diplomatic means. However, in recent years, the rise of trade protectionism, mainly in the United States, has made China's foreign exchanges, cooperation and trade difficult, making trade facilitation conditions appear particularly important in the complicated international competition. Therefore, I start from this initiative to explore the impact of trade facilitation on China's trade.
This paper selects 41 trade-related indicators from the World Economic Forum, and classifies all indicators into four first-level indicators: transportation infrastructure, government regulation, financial services and e-commerce. Then principal component analysis is used to concentrate and determine the weight of all indicators, among which the weight of transportation infrastructure is the highest. Then, trade facilitation in countries along the BELT and Road Initiative from 2007 to 2017 was measured and presented numerically. Then, other trade-related indirect factors were added, and panel data were used to build a multiple linear regression model to analyze the relationship between the level of trade facilitation of each country and the volume of trade between China and the country. Through collecting, sorting out and empirical analysis of the data, it is concluded that the level of trade facilitation measured in this paper has obvious regional distribution characteristics. On the whole, the level of trade facilitation in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe is higher. At the same time, there is a positive correlation between the trade facilitation level of the host country and the trade volume between China and the host country. Finally, some policy suggestions are put forward based on relevant results.
Occupational Health and Safety Practices among Sanitation Workers in a Public University in Ghana: A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Botchwey Charles Owusu-Aduomi , Kesseh Dennis , Baidoo Michael Afari , Boateng Agartha Afful , Boakye Dorothy Serwaa 
Published: May 2022

Background: Satisfactory sanitation, together with decent hygiene and safe water, are central to good health and a bedrock of social and economic growth. If we are not able to safeguard the lives of those who protect us, then is palpable that our lives are also at stake exclusively in a period where there are so many genetic adversaries to combat so as to maintain, inspire and protect the lives of the individuals. To shield ourselves from environmental diseases, the welfare of sanitary workers is of overriding prominence.
Aim: The study aimed at reconnoitering occupational health and safety practices of sanitation workers of University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) Ghana.
Place and Duration of Study: The study took place at University of Education, Winneba campus in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana, between May, 2021 and January, 2022.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design in investigating occupational health and safety (OHS) practices among sanitation workers in UEW. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit the respondents for the study with a focus group discussion guide and in-depth interview guide as the main instruments for data collection. Data were analysed qualitatively using the content analysis technique.
Results: The findings of the study revealed four indices that embodied and affected the working conditions of sanitation workers. These included: occupational stress; hazardous conditions; remuneration; and job security. Again, it was also revealed that there was inadequate personal protective equipment (PPEs) supplied by the university management and poor use of PPEs with the most used PPEs being nose masks by the sanitation workers as a result of the enforcement of Covid-19 protocols. Major challenges faced by the sanitation workers in adhering to OHS practices were found to be poor remuneration, inadequate tools/equipment, poor supervision, unfavourable weather condition and abuse as well as assault.
Conclusion: The well-being of every individual matters, if there is a poor condition of service and poor adherence to OHS practices by sanitary workers in an institution of higher education then worse cases or scenarios may be bound to happen elsewhere. There is therefore the need for relevant stakeholders to stand and advocate for proper formulation and enforcement of OHS protocols as well as ensuring good working conditions for all.
Sero-Epidemiology of Transfusion Transmissible Hepatitis B, C and E among Blood Donors in Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Fasakin K. A. , Muhibi M. A. , Ibijola A. A. , Ajayi O. D. , Onyema M. I. , Obazee Y. , Adeniyi A. A. , Ajetunmobi W. A. , Adebara I. O. , Adebayo A. , Okunlola A. I. , Yusuf M. , Awoyinka B. S. , Ajetunmobi O. A. , Bakare A. , Adeyemo O. T. , Adewara O. E. , Anyahara N. , Onyema C. E. , Bolaji O. B. , Ayankunle O. M. , Aduloju O. P. , Ogundare E. O. , Babatola A. O. , Adefisan A. S. , Olofinbiyi B. A. , Jeremiah Z. A. 
Published: May 2022

Background: Transfusion transmissible hepatitis (TTH) is a global health problem and the incriminating agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) continue to pose serious threats to blood safety. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HEV and relate the outcomes with blood donation type, age and gender and confirm any significant associations.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV were determined with Diaspot and Lab Acon immunochromatographic ELISA-based test devices. Antibodies to HEV were first determined with Biopanda lateral flow device followed by ELISA assay for sero-reactive HEV immunoglobulins M and immunoglobulin G (IgM and IgG) antibodies.
Results: A total of 370 prospective blood donors between 18 and 55 years old (mean 31.2 ± 7.6 years) who presented for blood donation at FETHI Blood Bank were screened. Overall male: female ratio was 7:1. Cummulative hepatitis seroprevalence of 8.1% was found mainly among the replacement blood donors (RBD) and consist of 4.3%, 1.6%, 1.1%, 0.8% and 0.3% serologic evidence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, HEV IgM, both HEV IgM & HEV IgG, and HEV IgG antibodies. Blood donors aged 18 – 45 years were most affected with evident significant association between the age group of donors and TTH seroprevalence. Cummulative hepatitis seroprevalence was 0% among voluntary blood donors, and 9.1% and 0.3% among the male and female RBD respectively. There was significant association between the pathogens and RBD, though the association with male gender was clinically but not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The high transfusion transmissible hepatitis seroprevalence among RBD called for promoting voluntary donations. Comparable prevalence of HEV antibodies with that of HCV called for its inclusion in the TTIs screening algorithm to ascertain optimal blood safety in Nigeria.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) as a Novel Marker in Correlation with Its Serum Level to Predict Multiple Myeloma Patients' Outcome
Authors: Sallam Nashwa Saad Mohammed Abdeen , Morad Heba Ahmed , Eid Manal Abd El-Wahed , El-Gamal Basma Mostafa , Tawfik Hesham Ahmed 
Published: May 2022

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM) producing monoclonal proteins and inducing specific organ and tissue damage. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and serum level of B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and its prognostic value in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.
Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 60 patients who were classified into two equal groups including group I (MM patients) which was newly diagnosed as MM and group II (healthy Control) which healthy individuals served as control.
Results: There was a statistically significant increase in MM patients than control group levels were increased in MM patients. Plasma cell percentage in BM aspiration was a statistically significant increase in MM patients. As regarding serum BCMA, there was a statistically significant increase in MM patients than the control group. There was a significantly positive correlation between serum BCMA and its surface expression with plasma cells in BM, CD138 expression in a biopsy, creatinine, B2 microglobulin, LDH, ESR, and total calcium. There was no correlation between BCMA level and age, hemoglobin, WBCs, and platelets count. Serum BCMA and BCMA expression showed a significant correlation with the clinical status of the patients' group, patients with complete response showed a lower level of serum BCMA and lower expression of surface BCMA and longer OS and DFS while patients with failure of CR relapsed group showed a higher level of serum BCMA and higher expression of surface BCMA and shorter OS and DFS.
Conclusions: Important role of BCMA expression and its serum level in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, as the BCMA level in serum significantly elevated in MM patients compared with the control group. Moreover, serum BCMA level and its surface expression are positively correlated with plasma cell percentage in BM aspirate, CD 138 expression in BM biopsy, M protein, and B2 macroglobulin.
Psychosocial Correlates of Depression among Apprentice Artisans in Nigeria
Authors: Foluke Onisile Deborah , Olutope Akinnawo Ebenezer , Chinonye Akpunne Bede , Busayo Bello Ibukunoluwa , Oluwasanmi Kumuyi Daniel , Jacob Akinniyi Rotimi 
Published: May 2022

Depression is a leading cause of disability among the working population. This study assesses self-esteem and depression as psychosocial correlates of depression among Nigerian apprentice artisans. The research method adopted for this quantitative research was a cross-sectional design. A total number of five-hundred and seventeen (N=517) male automobile apprentice artisans were selected using a multistage sampling which included a purposive sampling procedure to select the local Government Area for the study, and simple balloting was adopted to select the six LGAs out of the thirty under the three senatorial districts in Osun state, Nigeria. The instruments adopted for this study are Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), Burnout Questionaire (BQ) and depression scale for apprentice (Apprentice Depression Scale). The hypotheses were formulated using a correlation matrix and hierarchical multiple regression. The hypothesis were tested to find out the significant influence of burnout and self-esteem on depression among apprentice artisans in Osun state .The study established that burnout and self-esteem significantly predict depression among apprentice artisans in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.
Evaluation of the Effect of Date Palm [Phoenix dactylifera] Fruit Extract on Methotrexate-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Azubuike N. C. , Opoh C. C. 
Published: May 2022

Background: Phoenix dactylifera L. in the Palmae family (Arecaceae) is commonly known as Date palm. Its fruit is popularly consumed as food and also used as a herbal remedy for fertility enhancing effects in males.
Aim: The present study was designed to explore the effect of P. dactylifera fruit extract (PDFE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced reproductive toxicity in male rat models.
Study Design: An experimental study which lasted for 19 days.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Animal House, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, between April 2019 and November 2019.
Methodology: Sixteen (16) rats were divided into four groups (n=4) namely: Normal control (NC), MTX control, MTX+200mg/kg PDFE and MTX+400mg/kg PDFE. PDFE was administered by oral gavage, once daily, for 10 days. MTX injection (20mg/kg i.p.) was administered to rats in the three test groups on the fifth day. All the rats were sacrificed on Day 11 and the testes and epididymides of all rats were excised and histologically processed for light microscopical examination. Caudal epididymal sperm concentration was also determined.
Results: MTX induced a marked depletion and degeneration of spermatogenic series in the testicular tissues of MTX-control rats whereas PDFE treatment offered some cyto-architectural preservation in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, a decreased number of spermatozoa within the lumen of epididymal tubules was observed with MTX treatment compared to the normal control and PDFE-treated rats. Treatment with PDFE caused a slight improvement in caudal epididymal sperm concentration although not statistically significant (p>0.05) when compared with the controls.
Conclusion: Data from the present study has revealed that oral treatment with P. dactylifera fruit extracts ameliorates the deleterious effects of methotrexate-induced reproductive toxicity in rats.