bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solar Power to Transform Food Systems and Rural Livelihoods: Evidence from a Solar-Powered Cold Storage Intervention in Nigeria
Authors: Yamauchi Futoshi , Takeshima Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn developing countries, a substantial amount of perishable and often highly nutritious commodities, such as fruits and vegetables, are lost after harvest, mainly caused by the lack of key infrastructures, such as electricity and cold chain facilities. On the other hand, the world has recently seen the potential of solar power in decarbonizing economies and transforming rural livelihoods in developing countries. A new technology, such as solar power photovoltaics, is highly divisible and, therefore, can be easily introduced to overcome the lack of sustainable electricity supply. In 2020–2021, we implemented an intervention to rebuild rural livelihoods in conflict-affected northeast Nigeria by building solar-powered cold storage facilities that can reduce food loss and increase consumption of perishable, micronutrient-rich horticulture products; increase incomes of market agents and producers; and improve employment. The intervention brought a significant increase in the number of days that horticulture products remain fresh, market sales for cold storage users, and the amount of vegetables available to the local population. Cost-benefit analysis showed a significant net economic gain in the long-run. Our example shows that a technological innovation, which overcomes the lack of an essential investment for development, can trigger economic transformation.
Summary and Conclusions
Authors: Estudillo Jonna P. , Kijima Yoko , Sonobe Tetsushi 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAgricultural development is the major driver of rural transformation in Asia, and the Green Revolution is the flagship of agricultural development. It is characterized by the continuous development of improved seed varieties and their dissemination. The Green Revolution in Asia is focused on three major staples: rice, wheat, and maize.
Toward a Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Farm Mechanization in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme
Authors: Njagi Timothy , Mano Yukichi 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGovernments in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made concerted efforts to improve farmers’ adoption of modern technologies in their farm operations to realize a rice Green Revolution, improve food security, and alleviate poverty. However, smallholder farmers’ access to farm mechanization in SSA remains constrained due to supply-side and demand-side challenges. On the supply side, the market for agricultural machinery services is often underdeveloped. On the demand side, the smallholders with inadequate knowledge of improved rice cultivation practices have limited demand for mechanized services despite increasing wage rates. This study analyzes the mechanization process of rice farmers in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya. The Mwea Irrigation Scheme is the most advanced rice production area in SSA, with farmers familiar with improved rice cultivation practices, well-functioning input credit markets, and millers adopting modern milling technologies, enabling local rice to compete with imported Asian rice. Analyzing original data collected in 2011, 2016, and 2018, we found that most farmers in Mwea implemented rotavation using tractor services provided by farmers’ cooperatives, while they implemented leveling using draft animals. Non-cooperative members reduced tractor use and adopted draft animals to implement both harrowing and leveling, implying the importance of a well-developed mechanization service market.
On local regularity estimates for fractional powers of parabolic operators with time-dependent measurable coefficients
Authors: Litsgård Malte , Nyström Kaj 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe consider fractional operators of the form $$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {H}}^s=(\partial _t -\text {div}_{x} ( A(x,t)\nabla _{x}))^s,\ (x,t)\in {\mathbb {R}}^n\times {\mathbb {R}}, \end{aligned}$$

H

s

=

(

∂
t

-

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x

(
A

(
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,
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)

∇
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,

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∈

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n

×
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,

where $$s\in (0,1)$$

s
∈
(
0
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and $$A=A(x,t)=\{A_{i,j}(x,t)\}_{i,j=1}^{n}$$

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=
A

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=
1

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is an accretive, bounded, complex, measurable, $$n\times n$$

n
×
n

-dimensional matrix valued function. We study the fractional operators $${{\mathcal {H}}}^s$$

H

s

and their relation to the initial value problem $$\begin{aligned} \begin{aligned} (\lambda ^{1-2s}\textrm{u}')'(\lambda )&=\lambda ^{1-2s}{\mathcal {H}}\textrm{u}(\lambda ), \quad \lambda \in (0, \infty ), \\ \textrm{u}(0)&= u, \end{aligned} \end{aligned}$$

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λ

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=
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in $${\mathbb {R}}_+\times {\mathbb {R}}^n\times {\mathbb {R}}$$

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+

×

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n

×
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. Exploring the relation, and making the additional assumption that $$A=A(x,t)=\{A_{i,j}(x,t)\}_{i,j=1}^{n}$$

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is real, we derive some local properties of solutions to the non-local Dirichlet problem $$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {H}}^su=(\partial _t -\text {div}_{x} ( A(x,t)\nabla _{x}))^su&=0\hbox { for}\ (x,t)\in \Omega \times J,\nonumber \\ u&=f \text{ for } (x,t)\in {\mathbb {R}}^{n+1}\setminus (\Omega \times J). \end{aligned}$$

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.

Our contribution is that we allow for non-symmetric and time-dependent coefficients.
Characterization of various isomeric photoproducts of ergosterol and vitamin D2 generated by UV irradiation
Authors: Sommer Katrin , Hillinger Marissa , Eigenmann Andrea , Vetter Walter 
Published: December 2022

AbstractVitamin D2 is produced from its precursor ergosterol under the impact of ultraviolet (UV) light which is also commercially carried out to increase vitamin D2 contents in mushrooms (‘Novel Food’). However, this process is accompanied by the formation of various isomers that partly co-elute with the target compound and are currently difficult to analyze. For this reason, vitamin D2 and ergosterol were irradiated with the goal to generate and characterize various isomeric photoproducts with three analytical methods. High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV) was accompanied by using a chiral detector (CD) which was serially linked with the UV detector. Applied for the first time in this research area, HPLC-CD chromatograms provided complementary information which was crucial for the identification of several co-elutions that would have been overlooked without this approach. Additional information was derived from gas chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis. Diagnostic fragment ions in the GC/MS spectra allowed to distinguish four classes of tri- (n = 2), tetra-, and pentacyclic isomer groups. Despite several drawbacks of each of the applied methods, the shared evaluation allowed to characterize more than ten isomeric photoproducts of vitamin D2 including previtamin D2, lumisterol2, tachysterol2,trans-vitamin D2 isomers, and two pentacyclic isomers (suprasterols2 I and II), which were isolated and characterized by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR).
The feasibility and safety of one-shot dilatation compared to conventional sequential dilatation in tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Ghoneima Waleed , Makki Mohamed , Lotfi Mohamed Amr , Mostafa Amr , Elkady Amr , Rammah Ahmed M. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTo study the feasibility and safety of One-Shot Dilatation (OSD), versus serial sequential dilatation in tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL). One Hundred and Fifty patients were randomised into two groups; Group A (One-Shot Dilatation), Group B (Serial Dilatation). Twenty-one patients were excluded from the study. Detailed history was taken and full physical examination was performed. Pre-operative routine laboratory investigations were done. Also, non-contrast Computed Tomography of the Urinary Tract (CTUT) and plain urinary tract x-ray were done. Intra-operative assessments of dilatation, total operative, total fluoroscopy and fluoroscopy during dilatation durations were recorded, as well as estimated blood loss. Post-operatively haemoglobin, creatinine levels and CTUT were performed for all patients. Complications, as urinary leakage time, analgesic requirements and hospitalization time were measured. There were statistically significant differences in the intraoperative durations, where Group A had shorter dilatation time, fluoroscopy time during dilatation and total operative time. Group B had a higher complications rate than Group A; 37.9%, 11.3%, respectively. Also, Group B showed haemoglobin drop by 0.44 mg/dl higher than Group A. More doses of analgesia were required for Group B. Hospitalization time and rate of urinary leakage were both in favour of Group A. For patients undergoing Tubeless PCNL, we have concluded that one-shot dilatation seems to be a safer and more feasible technique than Serial dilatation.
Genetic conflicts and the case for licensed anthropomorphizing
Authors: Ågren J. Arvid , Patten Manus M. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe use of intentional language in biology is controversial. It has been commonly applied by researchers in behavioral ecology, who have not shied away from employing agential thinking or even anthropomorphisms, but has been rarer among researchers from more mechanistic corners of the discipline, such as population genetics. One research area where these traditions come into contact—and occasionally clash—is the study of genetic conflicts, and its history offers a good window to the debate over the use of intentional language in biology. We review this debate, paying particular attention to how this interaction has played out in work on genomic imprinting and sex chromosomes. In light of this, we advocate for a synthesis of the two approaches, a form of licensed anthropomorphizing. Here, agential thinking’s creative potential and its ability to identify the fulcrum of evolutionary pressure are combined with the rigidity of formal mathematical modeling.
(Seltene) infektiöse Hepatitiden als wichtige Differenzialdiagnose der unklaren Hepatopathie
Authors: Wührl Michael , Ringelhan Marc , Ehmer Ursula , Schneider Jochen , Kager Juliane , Lahmer Tobias , Schneider Anna , Weichert Wilko , Mogler Carolin 
Published: December 2022

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Die (transjuguläre) Leberbiopsie stellt einen essenziellen diagnostischen Baustein im Diagnosealgorithmus der unklaren Hepatopathie bzw. des akuten Leberversagens dar. Die Beurteilung und Auswertung erfordert eine eng verzahnte Zusammenarbeit zwischen Klinikern und Pathologen, die klinischen Umstände und die oftmals lebensbedrohlichen Komplikationen des akuten Leberversagens machen eine zeitnahe Diagnosefindung notwendig. Insbesondere seltenere infektiöse Hepatitiden werden mitunter im klinischen Kontext nicht oder nur verzögert diagnostiziert, sodass dem Pathologen hier eine maßgebliche Rolle zu Teil wird und der Patient so zeitnah einer zielgerichteten Therapie zugeführt werden kann.

Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung)
In der Leberbiopsie seltene aber teils sehr prägnante, da unbehandelt mitunter tödlich verlaufende infektiöse Ursachen des unklaren Leberversagens werden vorgestellt.

Material und Methoden
Retrospektive Fälle von Leberbiopsien bei unklarer Hepatopathie und serologisch bzw. molekularbiologisch bestätigter Infektion wurden aus der internen Falldatenbank des Instituts für Pathologie der TU München ausgewählt und hinsichtlich der histomorphologischen Diagnosekriterien der jeweiligen infektiösen Erkrankungen aufgearbeitet.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion
Im Untersuchungsgut wurden neben den klassischen viralen Hepatitiden auch seltene infektiöse Hepatitiden, ausgelöst durch Adenoviren, Herpes-simplex-Virus und Rickettsien, identifiziert. Diese Erkrankungen sind selten, aber mitunter lebensbedrohlich. Durch die Kenntnisse der histomorphologischen Veränderungen lassen sich frühzeitig die weitere Diagnostik und Therapie bahnen und somit unter Umständen lebensbedrohliche Verläufe abwenden.
Reporting quality of interventions using a wearable activity tracker to improve physical activity in patients with inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis: a systematic review
Authors: van Wissen M. A. T. , Berger M. A. M. , Schoones J. W. , Gademan M. G. J. , van den Ende C. H. M. , Vliet Vlieland T. P. M. , van Weely S. F. E. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTo assess the reporting quality of interventions aiming at promoting physical activity (PA) using a wearable activity tracker (WAT) in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) or hip/knee osteoarthritis (OA). A systematic search was performed in eight databases (including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library) for studies published between 2000 and 2022. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data on study characteristics and the reporting of the PA intervention using a WAT using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) (12 items) and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) E-Health checklist (16 items). The reporting quality of each study was expressed as a percentage of reported items of the total CERT and CONSORT E-Health (50% or less = poor; 51–79% = moderate; and 80–100% = good reporting quality). Sixteen studies were included; three involved patients with IA and 13 with OA. Reporting quality was poor in 6/16 studies and moderate in 10/16 studies, according to the CERT and poor in 8/16 and moderate in 8/16 studies following the CONSORT E-Health checklist. Poorly reported checklist items included: the description of decision rule(s) for determining progression and the starting level, the number of adverse events and how adherence or fidelity was assessed. In clinical trials on PA interventions using a WAT in patients with IA or OA, the reporting quality of delivery process is moderate to poor. The poor reporting quality of the progression and tailoring of the PA programs makes replication difficult. Improvements in reporting quality are necessary.
Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-based multimodal radiomics modeling for fibrosis detection in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ge Xin-Yue , Lan Zhong-Kai , Lan Qiao-Qing , Lin Hua-Shan , Wang Guo-Dong , Chen Jing 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Objectives
To predict kidney fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease using radiomics of two-dimensional ultrasound (B-mode) and Sound Touch Elastography (STE) images in combination with clinical features.

Methods
The Mindray Resona 7 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with SC5-1U convex array probe (bandwidth frequency of 1–5 MHz) was used to perform two-dimensional ultrasound and STE software. The severity of cortical tubulointerstitial fibrosis was divided into three grades: mild interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA), fibrotic area < 25%; moderate IFTA, fibrotic area 26–50%; and severe IFTA, fibrotic area > 50%. After extracting radiomics from B-mode and STE images in these patients, we analyzed two classification schemes: mild versus moderate-to-severe IFTA, and mild-to-moderate versus severe IFTA. A nomogram was constructed based on multiple logistic regression analyses, combining clinical and radiomics. The performance of the nomogram for differentiation was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration, and decision curves.

Results
A total of 150 patients undergoing kidney biopsy were enrolled (mild IFTA: n = 74; moderate IFTA: n = 33; severe IFTA: n = 43) and randomized into training (n = 105) and validation cohorts (n = 45). To differentiate between mild and moderate-to-severe IFTA, a nomogram incorporating STE radiomics, albumin, and estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85–0.97) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77–0.98) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Between mild-to-moderate and severe IFTA, the nomogram incorporating B-mode and STE radiomics features, age, and eGFR achieved an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89–0.98) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.70–0.95) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Finally, we performed a decision curve analysis and found that the nomogram using both radiomics and clinical features exhibited better predictability than any other model (DeLong test, p < 0.05 for the training and validation cohorts).

Conclusion
A nomogram based on two-dimensional ultrasound and STE radiomics and clinical features served as a non-invasive tool capable of differentiating kidney fibrosis of different severities.

Key Points
• Radiomics calculated based on the ultrasound imaging may be used to predict the severities of kidney fibrosis.
• Radiomics may be used to identify clinical features associated with the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in patients with CKD.
• Non-invasive ultrasound imaging-based radiomics method with accuracy aids in detecting renal fibrosis with different IFTA severities.
Long-term analysis of chronic pain associated with lower extremity injuries
Authors: Rauer Thomas , Friedl Eva , Gamble Jamison G. , Zelle Boris A. , Pape Hans-Christoph , Pfeifer Roman 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Introduction
The main objective of this study is to examine chronic pain and limping in relation to lower extremity and pelvic fracture location in addition to fracture combinations if multiple fractures are present on the same leg that have not been previously reported. We hypothesize that fracture pattern and location of lower extremity and pelvis fractures of multiple injured patients influence their long-term pain outcome.

Materials and methods
Retrospective cohort study. Patients with treated multiple lower limb and pelvic fractures at a level 1 trauma center and followed up for at least 10 years postinjury were assessed. Lower leg pain subdivided into persistent, load-dependent and intermittent pain, as well as limping were recorded by using self-administered patient questionnaires and standardized physical examinations performed by a trauma surgeon. Descriptive statistics were used to present comparative measurements between groups.

Results
Fifty-seven percent of patients (n = 301) showed chronic lower limb pain 10 years postinjury. Ten percent of all patients with chronic pain displayed persistent pain, and here the most common fracture combination was tibial shaft fractures in combination with femoral shaft or proximal tibial fractures (13%). One hundred fifty-one patients reported load-dependent pain, with the most common fracture combinations being fractures of the foot in combination with femoral shaft fractures or distal tibial fractures (11%). One hundred twenty patients reported intermittent pain, with the most common fracture combinations involving the shaft of the tibia with either the femoral shaft or distal tibia (9%). Two hundred fifteen patients showed a persistent limp, and here the most common fractures were fractures of the femoral shaft (19%), tibial shaft (17%), and pelvis (15%).

Conclusions
In multiple injured patients with lower extremity injuries, the combination of fractures and their location are critical factors in long-term outcome. Patients with chronic persistent or load-dependent pain often had underlying femoral shaft fractures in combination with joint fractures.
Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 ameliorates bacterial vaginosis by inhibiting biofilm formation and epithelial cell adhesion of Gardnerella vaginalis
Authors: Kim Joo Yun , Moon Eun Chae , Kim Ju-Yeon , Kim Hyeon Ji , Heo Keon , Shim Jae-Jung , Lee Jung-Lyoul 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBacterial vaginosis (BV) is caused by a microbial imbalance in the vaginal ecosystem, which causes genital discomfort and a variety of potential complications in women. This study validated the potential of Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 as a probiotic to benefit vaginal health. In vivo, HY7801 reduced the number of Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the vagina of GV-induced BV mice and ameliorated vaginal histological changes. In vitro, HY7801 exhibited positive resistance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, showed excellent adherence ability to the female genital epithelium, and had high lactic acid and H2O2 production capacity. Furthermore, it was found that HY7801 can alleviate BV because it can suppress the expression of virulence factor genes of GV involved in epithelial cell adhesion and biofilm formation along with antibacterial activity against GV. These results indicate that HY7801 can be used as a promising probiotic strain for the maintenance of a healthy vaginal physiological state.
Passive Treatment of Circumneutral Mine Drainage from the St. Louis Mine Tunnel, Rico, CO: Part 1—Case Study: Characteristics of the Mine Drainage
Authors: Moore Terry J. , Riese Arthur C. , Lewis-Russ Anne , Jonas James P. , Johnson Brian S. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis publication is a case study of the seasonal variability of mine water drainage from the Saint Louis Tunnel (SLT) at the inactive Rico-Argentine mine site located in southwestern Colorado. It is an introductory paper for the two passive water treatment system technology evaluations contained in this issue. Mine water chemistry changes from baseflow to a snowmelt runoff event (SMRE) where snowmelt runoff follows preferential migration pathways to flush acidic weathering products from the upper mine workings to the SLT. Baseflow mine drainage is characterized as circumneutral, with Zn, Cd, Mn, and Ni concentrations primarily in the dissolved form. Dissolved Zn, Mn, Fe, and potentially Cd illustrate equilibrium with carbonate minerals. Total concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb, and As are primarily in the suspended form and suggest sorption to Fe oxides. Mine water chemistry during the SMRE reflects mixing of circumneutral baseflow waters with more acidic waters flushing the upper mine workings. Geothermal activity provides for a consistently warm mine water discharge from the SLT. The two seasons that provide the most challenge to passive water treatment of SLT mine drainage are the SMRE period and the low flow stage of the Dolores River. Mine water flow and chemistry during SMRE are highly correlated with Dolores River flow and this site conceptual model was and will be used to assist in pilot project evaluation, water treatment system design, monitoring system design, a seasonal compliance approach, and water management.