bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling Dynamic Behaviour of Out-Patient Department Visits at the University of Cape Coast Hospital Using Time Series Analysis
Authors: Bakr M. A. , Prah J. K. , Nkrumah K. S. , Tamag T. 
Published: February 2022

Background: Accurate and reliable forecasting of outpatient department visits enhances decision-making and planning for future healthcare demands and is the foundation for greater and better utilization of healthcare resources and increased levels of outpatient care and satisfaction. Though the literature has proposed several candidate models for predicting outpatient visits in some hospitals in Ghana, the model regulating outpatient visits at the University of Cape Coast Hospital (UCC) is unknown. There is therefore a need to determine the best model applicable to the specific case of UCC Hospital.
Aim: This study sought to determine and model the dynamics of outpatient visits in UCC Hospital and to project outpatient healthcare demands at the facility for the period July 2021 to July 2024.
Methods: This paper employed a monthly periodicity of 114-time series data sourced from District Health Information Management Systems Two (DHIMS 2) on outpatient department visits at UCC Hospital from January 2012 to June 2021. The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models which are a form of the classical Box-Jenkins approach of Time Series Analysis were used to analyse the data. Analysis was performed in EViews 12.
Results: The study results showed twenty-five non-seasonal tentative models for the hospital and ARIMA (4, 1, 4) was selected as the best fit model with a fourth-order autoregressive and moving average terms each and one order of nonseasonal differencing. Residual analysis of the fitted model indicates that the model is adequate for forecasting. The findings revealed an overall rising trend in the incidence of outpatient department visits to the hospital over the study period with an average of 6000 visits per month. This is expected to increase to over 7000 visits per month over the next three-year period of July 2021 to June 2024 according to projections.
Conclusion: The forecast of outpatient visits in this study serves as early signals to the management of the University hospital and is intended to enhance human and material resource planning and allocation for better-quality healthcare delivery.
Trachyspermum ammi Seed Ethanolic Extract Inhibits Cell Proliferation on A549 Lung Cancer Cell: An In-vitro Analysis
Authors: Akshaya A. , Raghunandhakumar S. , Ezhilarasan D. , Lakshmi T. 
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer, accounting for one in every five male cancers and one in every nine female cancers. Lung cancer treatment is dictated by the cell type of the illness, the amount to which it has spread, and the patient's general condition. It is well understood that tumours confer resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation in part due to apoptotic pathway malfunction in cancer cells.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anti proliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of Trachyspermum ammi (T.ammi) seeds against A549 adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells.
Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity and anti-cancer effects of ethanolic extract of Trachyspermum ammi (T.ammi) seeds against A549 cells were analyzed using MTT assay and morphological analysis by inverted phase contrast microscopy.
Results: The MTT assay results showed that 50% of the cell proliferation (IC50) has been inhibited upon T.ammi seed extract treatment for 24hrs incubation. The Dose-dependent studies revealed cytotoxic dose level IC50 of 50μg/ml for T.ammi seed extract on lung cancer cells. It clearly showed that the dose dependent treatments significantly (p<0.001) reduces the cell viability thereby inhibiting the cancer cell proliferation when compared and it was further confirmed with morphological evaluation with microscopic study.
Conclusion: From this study we concluded that the ethanol extract of T.ammi significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation against A549 cells and it might be a potent anti-proliferative value for further evaluation to determine the therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
Biogenesis of Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles by Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) Leaf Extract: Characterization and their Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Subramanian P. , David S. Alwin 
Published: February 2022

Aims: To determine the antimicrobial activity of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) synthesized by Justicia Adhatoda leaf extract.
Study Design: Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity determination of ZrO2 NPs.
Place and Duration of Study: PG and Research Department of Chemistry, V.O.Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, India, between April 2020 and April 2021.
Methodology: Justicia adhatoda leaf extract was used to synthesize ZrO2 NPs. UV-Visible spectroscopy was used to characterize ZrO2 NPs. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the function of biomolecules in plant extract in the synthesis of ZrO2 NPs was identified. XRD was used to determine the particle size of nanparticles. ZrO2 NPs were evaluated for antimicrobial activity.
Results: The synthesis of ZrO2 NPs was clearly visible in an absorbance band at 321 nm in the UV–visible spectrum. The absorption peak of ZrO2 NPs in the FTIR was 880 cm-1, confirming the Zr–O vibrational mode in ZrO2 NPs. As evidenced by XRD measurements, the average crystallite size of ZrO2 NPs was found to be 40 nm. The biosynthesized ZrO2 NPs were found to have potent antibacterial action against Escherichia coli bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
Conclusion: ZrO2 NPs mediated by Justicia adhatoda leaf extract have demonstrated substantial antibacterial activity
Anticariogenic Activity of Copper Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Blue Tea
Authors: Devi S. Kamala , Rajasekar Arvina , Rajeshkumar S. 
Published: February 2022

Background: Nanotechnology is rapidly growing in various fields of science like medicinal, agricultural and physical and material sciences. Copper nanoparticles are particularly attractive because of copper’s high natural abundance and low cost and the practical and straightforward multiple ways of preparing copper based nanomaterials.
Aim: To assess the anticariogenic activity of copper nanoparticles synthesized using blue tea.
Materials and Methods: The blue tea powder was acquired. An aqueous extract was prepared and mixed with copper sulphate for copper nanoparticles formation and centrifuged for 10 minutes. The extract was then placed in the well cultured agar plates against C. albicans, S. mutans, S. aureus and E. faecalis and incubated for 24 hours. The zones of inhibition were then calculated.
Results: Against S. aureus, 25μl showed 10 mm of zone of inhibition, 50μl showed 10 mm of zone of inhibition and 100μl showed 12 mm of zone of inhibition. 21 mm of zone of inhibition were noted against the antibiotic. Against C. albicans, 25 μl showed 25 mm of zone of inhibition, 50 μl showed 26 mm of zone of inhibition and 100 μl showed 30 mm of zone of inhibition. 12 mm of zone of inhibition were noted against the antibiotic. Against S. mutans, 25 μl showed 10 mm of zone of inhibition, 50 μl showed 10 mm of zone of inhibition and 100 μl showed 25 mm of zone of inhibition. 21 mm of zone of inhibition were noted against the antibiotic. Against E. faecalis, 25 μl showed 10 mm of zone of inhibition, 50 μl showed 13 mm of zone of inhibition and 100 μl showed 14 mm of zone of inhibition. 37 mm of zone of inhibition were noted against the antibiotic.
Conclusion: The blue tea mediated copper nanoparticles showed anticariogenic activity against S. mutans, C. albicans, E. faecalis and S. aureus and therefore can be used for clinical application.
Guaifenesin Use in a Government Hospital in Al-Kharj
Authors: Ahmed Nehad J. , Fouda Dina I. , Foudah Ahmed I. 
Published: February 2022

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the pattern of using guaifenesin in a government hospital in Al-Kharj.
Methodology: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that was conducted in a government hospital in Al-Kharj. Prescription data was collected from outpatient electronic records.
Results: During the study period, 519 patients received guaifenesin syrup from the outpatient pharmacy of the government hospital. Most of the patients who used guaifenesin syrup were males (66.09%) and more than half of them were in the age group between 20-39 years old (55.10%). All of the prescriptions were written by residents (100%) and most of guaifenesin prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (96.15%).
Conclusion: The present study showed that guaifenesin was frequently used in Al-kharj. Additional studies are needed to describe the frequency and pattern of using guaifenesin in different settings and also to describe the pattern of using other cough/cold medications.
Length of Hospital Stay and Oseltamivir in Mild or Moderate Degree COVID-19 Patients in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Lestari Intan , Yurina Valentina , Lyrawati Diana 
Published: February 2022

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 is caused by a new strain of corona virus that affect the human respiratory tract.
Aims: The aim of the study is to retrogressively review the use of antivirals on COVID-19 patients on their length of hospital stay (LoS) with mild and moderate degree of symptoms.
Study design: This cross-sectional study used medical records of confirmed COVID-19 patients, hospitalized, and achieved recovery during May-November 2020.
Place and Duration of Study: Data were collected retrospectively at a General Hospital, Deli Serdang, North Sumatera, Indonesia.
Methodology: Convenient sampling technique was used to select 185 patient’s results who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: The result showed that Oseltamivir was the only antiviral agent prescribed for COVID-19 patients. Oseltamivir was given to 80% of the patients and no antiviral agents for the rest 20%. The median LoS of COVID-19 patients with Oseltamivir was 11 days (ranged 2-34 days), whereas of those without antiviral agent was 12 days (ranged 4-29 days) at p = 0.049. Also, there were significant differences observed in group of mild and moderate degree with number of symptoms, i.e. less symptoms associated with less length of hospital stay (adjusted p=0.0003). In COVID-19 patients group with mild degree and one symptom, again, Oseltamivir treatment had shorter LoS (median 5, ranged 3-9 days) than those not on Oseltamivir treatment (median 12, ranged 6-20 days) at p = 0.0725. In moderate degree of COVID-19 patients with one symptom who were treated with Oseltamivir, LOS shortened (median 5 days) when compared to those without oseltamivir (median 12 days) (p= 0.0342).
Conclusion: In this study, the administration of oseltamivir was observed to shorten the length of stay of COVID-19 patients in the hospital.
Effect of Intracanal Cryotherapy on Surface Temperature Change in the Root Apex with Different Thickness; an Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Fatima Siddiqua , Jameel Asmat , Jouhar Rizwan , Saqib Muhammad , Ahmed Jamshed , Bokhari Syed Akhtar Hussain 
Published: February 2022

Aims: To evaluate the effect of intracanal cryotherapy on surface temperature change in the root apex with different thickness.
Study Design: Comparative Study.
Place and Duration of Study: Operative Dentistry Department: Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi, Pakistan: July 2020 till June 2021.
Materials & Methods: Sixty extracted single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into two groups: 30 each with one group consisting of teeth with ≤3 mm root thickness and another group consisting of teeth with thickness >3mm. Both groups were equally subdivided into Group A and Group B. After endodontic preparation of teeth, Group A underwent room temperature saline irrigation and Group B cold temperature saline (2.5°C) irrigation. A digital thermometer was used to measure the external root surface temperature by placing the thermocouple at 2 mm from the apex of the root’s buccal surface.
Results: Initial and final temperatures were compared using paired t-test. Independent t-test was applied to compare the final temperature between ≤3mm and >3mm thickness groups. P-value less than or equal to 5% level of significance was defined as statistically significant. In group A, An average temperature decrease of 4.4 ± 0.5°C was observed in the final temperature when thickness was ≤3mm (p=0.040) while a reduction of 2.6 ± 0.5°C was seen in the final temperature when thickness was >3mm (p=0.008). When thickness was ≤3 mm, final temperature among group A and Group B was significantly different with higher mean final temperature in Group A (p<0.001). At thickness >3mm, final temperature between Group A and Group B was different with significantly lower final temperature in Group B than Group A(p<0.001).
Conclusion: The external root surface temperature reduction was found to be inversely related to the external root thickness. Thin roots showed greater temperature reduction compared to thick roots.
Shape‐Mediated Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy and Relaxation Controls by Cobalt Ferrite Core–Shell Heterostructures for Magnetothermal Penetration Delivery
Authors: Chen Bo‐Wei , Hatamie Shadie , Chiu Hsin‐Cheng , Wei Zung‐Hang , Hu Shang‐Hsiu , Yao Da‐Jeng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSimultaneous delivery of therapeutic agents and energy by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) at targeted sites can boost cancer therapy and alleviate side effects. To achieve this goal, however, the magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) usually exhibits the unsufficient thermal efficiency due to their narrow magnetization curves. Besides, an inappropriately large administration concentration also causes health deterioration as shown in an animal model. In this study, the core–shell cube that enhances the coercivity and magnetization related to single‐compositional MNPs by elaborately tuning their interface relaxation via the magnetocrystalline and surface anisotropy is developed. Néel and Brownian relaxation can be adjusted by the particles’ structures to maximize the hyperthermia efficacy upon an alternating‐magnetic‐field (AMF). Furthermore, temozolomide and lactoferrin‐coated CoFe2O4@Fe3O4 core–shell cubes are rapidly internalized by targeting cancer cells and penetrate into tumor spheroids while subjecting to AMF. The targeted cubes with the capabilities of enhanced coercivity, AMF‐induced drug penetration into tumors, and magnetothermal ablation for cancer therapy display potentials for clinical uses.
Rub‐Resistant Antibacterial Surface Conversion Layer on Stainless Steel
Authors: Huang Haiyue , Barber Olivia Willilams , Yu Zhilong , Park Hun , Hu Xiaobing , Chen Xinqi , Chen Chun‐Hu , Hartmann Erica M. , Huang Jiaxing 
Published: February 2022

AbstractStainless steels are widely used in hospitals and public transportation vehicles as one of the most common touch surfaces. Retrofitting stainless steel surfaces with an antimicrobial layer can bring potential public health benefits by reducing the ability of inanimate objects, or fomites, to transmit infections. Here, a facile surface conversion reaction between stainless steel and a solution of KMnO4 and CuSO4 is reported, which leads to a conformal and robust oxyhydroxide layer. Microscopy observations show that the layer is amorphous, continuous, and pinhole‐free with a thickness of only 10–15 nm. The coating adheres strongly to stainless steel and can resist rubbing in simulated friction tests, which is attributed to its intermixing with the substrate without forming a sharp interface. Cu ions incorporated into the surface layer can be released into water droplets deposited on the surface and induce antimicrobial activities against bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14) after 30 min of contact.
Oxygen Vacancy Transition in HfOx‐Based Flexible, Robust, and Synaptic Bi‐Layer Memristor for Neuromorphic and Wearable Applications
Authors: Saleem Aftab , Kumar Dayanand , Singh Amit , Rajasekaran Sailesh , Tseng Tseung‐Yuen 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this work, a reliable bilayer flexible memristor is demonstrated using TaOx/HfOx Bi‐layer (BL) to mimic synaptic characteristics by using oxygen concentration engineering in the oxide layers. Due to low Gibbs free energy of TaOx layer and stable properties of the single layer memristor, TaOx is inserted in the HfOx‐based memristor for making the BL flexible device. Such device exhibits stable gradual switching behavior with low set/reset voltages (1 V/−1 V) and multilevel cell characteristic making it favorable for synaptic application. The presence of oxide layers and change in oxygen vacancy concentration in two layers are examined by transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Further, the device shows potentiation and depression epochs for more than 10 000 pulses and switching up to bending radius of 4 mm for 1000 bending cycles. The device mimics biological synaptic time‐dependent plasticity (STDP) operation when presynaptic and postsynaptic pulses are applied on top and bottom electrodes, respectively. The relationship between nonlinearity coefficient and control parameters in STDP is derived and established. It achieves more that 96% accuracy only after 20 iterations for neuromorphic application when a system of 2500 synapses incorporating 50 × 50 pixel image for recognition is deployed.
The Role of Electrolyte Composition in Enabling Li Metal‐Iron Fluoride Full‐Cell Batteries
Authors: Wygant Bryan R. , Merrill Laura C. , Harrison Katharine L. , Talin A. Alec , Ashby David S. , Lambert Timothy N. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractFeF3 conversion cathodes, paired with Li metal, are promising for use in next‐generation secondary batteries and offer a remarkable theoretical energy density of 1947 Wh kg−1 compared to 690 Wh kg−1 for LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4; however, many successful studies on FeF3 cathodes are performed in cells with a large (>90‐fold) excess of Li that disguises the effects of tested variables on the anode and decreases the practical energy density of the battery. Herein, it is demonstrated that for full‐cell compatibility, the electrolyte must produce both a protective solid‐electrolyte interphase and cathode‐electrolyte interphase and that an electrolyte composed of 1:1.3:3 (m/m) LiFSI, 1,2‐dimethoxyethane, and 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl‐2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyl ether fulfills both these requirements. This work demonstrates the importance of verifying electrode level solutions on the full‐cell level when developing new battery chemistries and represents the first full cell demonstration of a Li/FeF3 cell, with both limited Li and high capacity FeF3 utilization.
The Intriguing Landscape of Single‐Cell Protein Analysis
Authors: Xie Haiyang , Ding Xianting 
Published: February 2022

AbstractProfiling protein expression at single‐cell resolution is essential for fundamental biological research (such as cell differentiation and tumor microenvironmental examination) and clinical precision medicine where only a limited number of primary cells are permitted. With the recent advances in engineering, chemistry, and biology, single‐cell protein analysis methods are developed rapidly, which enable high‐throughput and multiplexed protein measurements in thousands of individual cells. In combination with single cell RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry, single‐cell multi‐omics analysis can simultaneously measure multiple modalities including mRNAs, proteins, and metabolites in single cells, and obtain a more comprehensive exploration of cellular signaling processes, such as DNA modifications, chromatin accessibility, protein abundance, and gene perturbation. Here, the recent progress and applications of single‐cell protein analysis technologies in the last decade are summarized. Current limitations, challenges, and possible future directions in this field are also discussed.
Flexible Platform Oriented: Unipolar‐Type Hybrid Dual‐Channel Scalable Field‐Effect Phototransistors Array Based on Tellurium Nanowires and Tellurium‐Film with Highly Linear Photoresponsivity
Authors: Naqi Muhammad , Choi Kyung Hwan , Cho Yongin , Rho Hyun Yeol , Cho Haewon , Pujar Pavan , liu Na , Kim Hyun‐Suk , Choi Jae‐Young , Kim Sunkook 
Published: February 2022

AbstractHere, a novel method is introduced to synthesize the uniform hybrid structure of tellurium nanowires (TeNWs) and tellurium‐film (Te‐film) for flexible field‐effect transistor (FET) array device to exhibit excellent electrical, mechanical, and optical performance. To fabricate such a device, all the processes are performed at low temperatures (< 100 °C) with easy processing methods. The uniformity of the hybrid structure of TeNWs/Te‐film is confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy with a comparison of the bare TeNWs‐film. Electrical properties of the TeNWs/Te‐based FET device exhibits high mobility of 5.35 cm2 V−1 s−1 and on/off ratio of >104 along with stable and uniform results of the transistor array device, which consists of 50 devices. The optical properties show highly linear photodetection behavior in terms of threshold voltage shift, responsivity, sensitivity, photocurrent, detectivity, and time‐domain behavior. Also, the various stability tests are performed to confirm the consistency of the device in terms of positive bias stress, negative bias stress, positive bias illumination stress, long‐term stability response (up to 60 days), mechanical bending stress, and the results reveal a constant and consistent behavior of the device, which can be attributed to enable wide range applications in the field of electronics devices.
Effect of LED light on the growth and physiological indices of blueberry
Authors: Zhang Dong , Liu Yongqiang , Ni Chenyu , Chen Jianjun 
Published: February 2022

AbstractLight‐emitting diode (LED) is a recent type of light source characterized by low energy consumption and high photoelectric conversion efficiency and can be used in modern smart agriculture. However, there are few published studies on the use of LED light, especially on blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), despite its importance in boosting the economies of many countries. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the effects of light quality on blueberry seedling tissue cultures morphological and physiological parameters with emphasis on the influence of different light wavelengths. In the research, we used white light (i.e., fluorescent lamp) and four treatments of composite LED light (blue wavelength [B]/red wavelength [R] = 1:2 [1B2R], B/R = 1:4 [1B4R], B/R = 2:1 [2B1R], B/R = 4:1 [4B1R]). The results showed that: the number of leaves, stem, and fresh weight increased when exposed to 2B1R; stem length, thickness, and fresh weight were higher in the 1B2R treatment; chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were enhanced under treatment 1B2R; soluble sugar, anthocyanin, and proline were greater when exposed to 2B1R; soluble protein was higher with 1B4R; and malondialdehyde increased in the 4B1R treatment. Overall, it can be said that 1B2R LED lights enhanced the selected parameters in blueberry seedlings and can be used as the main light source in the cultivation of blueberry factory seedlings.