bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contraceptive Usage Status and its Associated Factors among Adolescents in the Kwahu South District, Eastern Region of Ghana
Authors: Akomaning Edwin , Dzantor Edem Kojo , Tettey Etornam Abla , Abangbila Francisca , Mohammed Adam , Eunice Appau-Duah , Dapomaa Asante Emmanuela 
Published: April 2022

Unwanted pregnancies account for roughly 30% of all pregnancies in Ghana. Availability of contraceptives and usage is essential to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 3.7 which calls for universal access to contraception for use by people of all ages by 2030. The study aims to assess contraceptive usage and associated factors among adolescents in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Adolescents were drawn using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were run and results were presented in tables and graphs. The statistically significant p-value was pegged at less than 0.05.
Almost all (97.9%) respondents have heard of contraceptives with the media being the common source of information (52.5%). The male condom (57.6%), oral pills (53.5%) and the female condom (46.9%) were the commonly known contraceptives. The majority (77.1%) knew where to get contraceptives. Common sources of contraceptives included the pharmacy (57.3%) and hospitals (37.2%). Significant differences exist between usage of contraceptives and age(p<0.001), religion (p= 0.042) and having a partner(p<0.001). Age (18 years) (AOR= 3.01, 95%CI (1.17-7.73)) and having a partner (AOR= 0.05, 95%CI (0.02-0.14)) were positively associated with current contraceptive use.
Targeted public health interventions in the form of education and promotion are desirable to create awareness among adolescents who do not know about contraceptives and improve understanding of the safety of other contraceptive methods aside from male condoms and oral pills.
Molecular Identification of Bacillus Species during Spontaneous Fermentation of Lima Bean Flour (Phaseolus lunatus)
Authors: Patrick N’zi Kouadio , Constant Attchelouwa Kouadio , Florent N’guessan Kouadio , Tano Kablan 
Published: April 2022

Aims: Bacillus species is used as starter culture to improve quality of the fermented product. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify Bacillus species during the spontaneous fermentation of Phaseolus lunatus with prospective selection as starter cultures.
Study Design: Spontaneous fermentation of Phaseolus lunatus flour was allowed to proceed at ambient temperature (29±2°C) for three days under anaerobic condition.
Methodology: The Bacillus counts were determined and 100 isolates were identified by PCR and the sequencing of 16S rDNA domain.
Results: In unfermented sample the Bacillus count was 3.14 log CFU/mL. During fermentation the count being between 2.68 and 2.88 log CFU/mL. Based on PCR and the sequencing of 16S rDNA domain, Bacillus isolates were assigned to four species Bacillus sp, Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacillus agri and Bacillus xiamensisis. Bacillus spp, Bacillus subtillis and Bacillus cereus were detected at all the fermentation times. Their frequencies were between 14.29 and 45.83%, 25 and 35.71%, 25 and 50% respectively.
Conclusion: Among these species Bacillus subtillis could be used as starter culture to improve quality of the fermented product.
Expression Assessment of Some Immunity-related Genes in Buffalo Infected with Endometritis
Authors: Othman Othman E. , Taha Dalia A. , Hassan Nagwa A. , Mahfouz Eman R. 
Published: April 2022

Background and Aim: Despite the economic importance of buffalo as a main source of milk and meat, only little attention has been directed to its immune and reproductive performance. The early diagnosis of subclinical endometritis may reduce the economic loss of buffalo’s production. The difference in expression profiles of immunity-related genes has an important role in the early detection of subclinical endometritis. This study aimed to assess the expression of five immunity-related genes: TGFBR1, PTGER2, PTGER4, HP and CXCL5 in endometritis-infected buffaloes.
Materials and Methods: Total RNA was extracted from 120 buffalo uterine samples; 60 infected with endometritis and 60 healthy ones. Qt-PCR was performed on cDNA synthesized from extracted RNA using Sybr green and GAPDH as a house-keeping gene.
Results: The results showed the up-regulation of two tested genes; TGFBR1 and CXCL5 in endometritis-infected buffalo compared to healthy animals by 7.9 and 4.3 folds, respectively at a significance level of p<0.05. The other three tested genes; PTGER2, PTGER4 and HP were down-regulated in buffalo during endometritis infection at different levels; PTGER2 and HP (0.6 folds, p<0.05) and PTGER4 (0.4 fold, p= 0.2).
Conclusions: It is to be concluded that the assessment of expression of inflammation-related immunity genes may have an effective role on the detection of endometritis infection in buffalo during its early stages and this early diagnosis can reduce the economic loss of buffalo production and reproduction.
Knowledge of Occupational Hazards and Safety Practice among Abattoir Workers of Katagum Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Authors: Maigoro Aliyu Muhammad , Usman Usman Sunusi , Ibrahim Abdullahi Adam , Kabir Adamu Mohammed 
Published: April 2022

Aim: This study investigated the knowledge of occupational hazard and safety practice, and also determines the relationship between knowledge of occupational hazard and safety practice among abattoir workers in Katagum LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study design was used for the study.
Methodology: A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 165 eligible respondents comprising all people working in the selected abattoirs in Katagum LGA. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the participants for the study. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between knowledge of occupational hazards and safety practice.
Results: The results show that 55(36.2%) of the respondents were between the ages of 30-39, majority of the respondents 148(97.4%) were male. 146 (96.0%) of the abattoir workers revealed that there are hazards associated with their work. Cut/injuries were known by most of the respondents 128(84.2%). About one-fifth 18 (11.8%) of the respondents have poor knowledge, 75 (49.3%) have fair knowledge, while 59 (38.8%) have good knowledge of occupational hazards. About 35.5% of the respondents used Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing their duty. The statistical computation for Pearson correlation coefficient (with r value of 0.138) shows that there is positive relationship between knowledge of occupational hazard and safety practice.
Conclusion: In conclusion, majority of the respondents reported that there are hazards associated with their work, have good knowledge of occupational hazards, and high level of personal hygiene practice. But the use of PPE (especially apron, face mask, hand gloves and safety boots) was very low among the respondents. Thus, we recommended that the use of PPE and other preventive measures should be strongly encouraged as well as routine medical examination/checkup of abattoir workers in Katagum LGA of Bauchi State. Ante mortem and post mortem inspection on all animals should be carry-out before and after slaughter.
Predictive Factors for the Severity of Procedure-Associated Pain in Infertile Women Undergoing Hysterosalpingography in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria
Authors: Oriji P. C. , Kiridi E. K. , Abasi I. J. , Ubom A. E. , Ugwoegbu J. U. 
Published: April 2022

Background: Hysterosalpingography is the most commonly used investigative modality for the evaluation of tubal patency. It is cheap, readily available and reliable. However, its main drawback is associated pain.
Objective: To determine the predictive factors for the severity of procedure-associated pain in infertile women undergoing hysterosalpingography.
Materials and Methods: This prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the infertility clinics and radiology departments of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, both in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, between July, 2021 and February, 2022. Hysterosalpingography was done after written informed consent by the patient. The Visual Analogue Scale and Numerical Rating Scale were used to grade pain levels during and after the procedure, respectively. Data were analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions for Windows®, version 25. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. Student’s t-test was used to compare sample means, and Chi-square, for testing associations.
Results: The odds of experiencing pain increased with increasing age (Crude OR = 3.48 – 5.34; p = < 0.05). Women with tertiary level of education were three times more likely to report pain (Crude OR = 3.58; p = 0.029) than those with primary level of education. Parity (ꭓ2 = 19.85; p – 0.001), type of infertility (ꭓ2 = 5.93; p = 0.015) and duration of infertility (ꭓ2 = 11.08; p = 0.004) had significant relationships with the severity of pain perception. Dysmenorrhoea (Crude OR = 1.99; p = 0.001) was also significantly associated with pain perception. Pain was two times more likely to be experienced by women with abnormal hysterosalpingography findings.
Conclusion: Our study established that the predictors of pain perception in hysterosalpingography were age, level of education, duration of marriage, duration of infertility, parity, number of children, type of infertility, dysmenorrhoea and abnormal findings on hysterosalpingography.
Numerical Investigation of Sloshing Characteristics in Long Moving Vessels with Embedded Concave Rigid-ring Baffle in Gravity Environment
Authors: Adebayo Matthew , A. Dare Ademola , A. O. Salau Tajudeen 
Published: April 2022

Flat Rigid–ring Baffle [1] (FRB) is a common slosh suppression device in Long Moving Vessel (LMV) to mitigate against oscillation-induced instability due to sloshing of its content but, its relative low performance is unacceptable for desirable safety standard thus, necessitating continuous efforts to investigate other baffle configurations. Investigation of Concave Baffles of varying geometries was carried out and analysed with the ANSYS/CFX [2] and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Results were post-processed with the help of Mat lab [3-5] in a gravity milieu. This work was therefore designed to study the sloshing characteristics of Water-Carrying Cylindrical (WCC) tank equipped with three baffles. Model governing equations based on conservation of mass and momentum were developed and solved using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) technique. The model was used to evaluate Damping Ratio (DR) from Mile's equation [1] at 72, 66 and 59 percent standard positions, in a 75 percent filled WCC tank with slenderness ratio of 1.5 excited at a frequency of 2 Hz. The investigated baffles were Concave Rigid-ring Baffle-1 (CARB1) 0.02 m pitch, Concave Rigid-ring Baffle-2 (CARB2) 0.04 m pitch and Flat Rigid-ring Baffle, FRB (control). Data were presented in term of non dimensional DR and as the main performance index. Numerical results were obtained and compared with FRB results also obtained numerically. The results showed that, the concave baffles exhibited [better damping characteristics at 72 and 59 percent water-filled positions of the cylinder which mostly the critical states hence, Concave-Rigid-ring Baffle have better damping effectiveness than Flat-Rigid-ring Baffle.
Factors Affecting Age of Onset of Menopause
Authors: Memon Erum , Jitendra Shahani Mala , Ullah Khan Zia , Liaquat Farah , Iqbal Asma , Khalid Sumiyya 
Published: April 2022

Background: Menopause is a natural process, occurring in women that marks the end of fertility among women. It is characterized by a cessation of menstruation, decline in ovarian activity and disturbances in periods along with vaginal dryness, mood swings and hot flashes. The age of menopause ranges in between 40 to 55 years. Although there are many factors affecting the age of menopause onset like metabolic syndrome, cytotoxic drugs, but there is no general agreement on them.
Objectives: To explore the factors affecting age of onset of menopause among Pakistani women.
Methodology: This cross-sectional-observation study was conducted on 139 women (aged at or above 40 years) presenting to the Outpatient Department of Obstetrics – Gynecology at Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi – Pakistan from Nov 2020 to May 2021. Data was collected using a structured interview-based questionnaire containing inquiries pertaining to basic biodata, sociodemographic details, menstrual history, and probable factors affecting age of onset of menopause. Chi-square test was applied to check the association between the different factors and age of menopause.
Results: The mean age of the participants was found to be 43.23 ± 4.11 SD years, while the mean age of onset of menopause was recorded to be 49.21 ± 3.83 SD years. The associations between the marital status, body mass index, use of OCP and socio-economic factors with age of onset of menopause, were found to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: Menopausal age not only reflects the end of fertility era but also of aging as well. Age of menopause significantly effects physical and psychological health of women and is considered as a very important event in women’s lives. Controllable factors like obesity, tobacco use, use of OCP plays a significant role in age of onset of natural menopause.
Long‐Cycling Sulfide‐Based All‐Solid‐State Batteries Enabled by Electrochemo‐Mechanically Stable Electrodes
Authors: Cao Daxian , Sun Xiao , Li Yejing , Anderson Alexander , Lu Wenquan , Zhu Hongli 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe anode plays a critical role relating to the energy density in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASLBs). Silicon (Si) and lithium (Li) metal are two of the most attractive anodes because of their ultrahigh theoretical capacities. However, most investigations focus on Li metal, leaving the great potential of Si underrated. This work investigates the stability, processability, and cost of Si anodes in ASLBs and compares them with Li metal. Moreover, single‐crystal LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 is stabilized with lithium silicate (Li2SiOx) through a scalable sol–gel method. ASLBs with a cell‐level energy density of 285 Wh kg−1 are obtained by sandwiching the Si anode, the thin sulfide solid‐state electrolyte membrane, and the interface stabilized LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2. The full cell delivers a high capacity of 145 mAh g−1 at C/3 and maintains stability for 1000 cycles. This work inspires commercialization of ASLBs on a large scale with exciting manufacturing lines for large‐scale, safe, and economical energy storage.
Reversible and Remote Thermoregulation of a Recyclable DNAzyme/pNIPAM Microgel Catalyst Formed via a Microfluidic Device
Authors: Xu Xinran , He Ping‐Ping , Du Xiaoxue , Guo Weiwei 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe regulation of the catalytic activities of DNAzymes is of great significance for their biosensing and biomedical applications. Herein, thermoregulation of the catalytic activity of DNAzyme is achieved through the immobilization of DNAzymes into the crosslinked polymeric matrix of poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) microgels prepared with a microfluidic device. At a temperature lower than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAM, the immobilized DNAzymes exhibit lower catalytic performance due to the restricted entry of DNA substrates into the polymeric networks; while at a temperature higher than the LCST, the hydrophilic DNAzyme structures are exposed to exhibit high catalytic activity due to the shrinking of the pNIPAM networks. Results show a more than 60% of increase in catalytic activity by raising the temperature from 29 to 34 °C and reversible regulation of the DNAzyme catalytic activity is achieved by cyclic raising and lowering of the solution temperature. Through a simple heating‐centrifugation process, the DNAzyme/pNIPAM microgels can be recycled for further applications. Moreover, by introducing photothermal MXene nanosheets, the remote control of the catalytic activity of the DNAzyme by near‐infrared light irradiation is achieved. These DNAzyme/pNIPAM microgels as low‐cost, stable, reversible, and recyclable biocatalyst may have potential in biosensing and biomedical applications.
Highly Synergistic Co3+ and Pyridinic‐N‐Rich Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Ultra‐Low Energy‐Driven Effective Hydrogen Production and Urea Oxidation
Authors: Selvam Sathish Panneer , Cho Sungbo 
Published: April 2022

AbstractMetal–organic framework (MOF)‐derived electrocatalysts exhibit enhanced electrochemical water splitting with significant durability. However, they cannot drive the required current density at a lower overpotential (η) compared to other benchmark catalysts. To overcome the lack of efficient catalytic activity, Co3O4‐embedded nitrogen‐doped carbon (NC) is fabricated on NiO nanosheets derived from an in situ synthesized Co MOF with an electrodeposited (Ni(OH)2) layer. The electrocatalyst developed herein comprises many Co3+, Ni3+, and pyridinic‐N‐exposed active centers and exhibits an excellent synergistic effect between the metal oxide–NC–metal oxide, facilitating a highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Owing to the highly intimate contact between the electrocatalyst layers, rapid electron transfer occurs and a current density of 10 mA cm‐2 is produced in the HER and OER at η of 73 and 110 mV, respectively, with excellent mass activity and high turnover frequency. However, urea‐assisted water electrolysis achieves current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm‐2 at cell voltages of just 1.31 and 1.49 V, respectively, for the two‐electrode‐based system, with an extremely stable durability of 212 h (1.49 V). Co3O4@NC/NiO ∥ Co3O4@NC/NiO has a considerably better urea electrolysis performance than other benchmark electrocatalysts.
Recent Advances in Bismuth‐Based Solar Cells: Fundamentals, Fabrication, and Optimization Strategies
Authors: He Zhangwei , Gong Yongshuai , Tan Zhan'ao 
Published: April 2022

AbstractSolar cells are star technologies in the utilization of renewable energy and have experienced tremendous development in the past few decades. Eco‐friendly processing technologies and materials to reduce the negative impacts and extend the lifetime of photovoltaics are becoming a very attractive research area. Bismuth triiodide, with its appropriate structure and suitable optoelectronic properties, has proved to be a low‐toxic and stable material for optoelectronic devices, and the best‐reported power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are 1.50% for solar cells with BiI3 as photoactive layers and 5.56% for BiI3 based perovskite solar cells. Further developments in film fabrication and morphological control are necessary to improve the PCEs of bismuth‐based solar cells. In this review, the electronic structures and optical properties of bismuth halides materials are introduced to reveal their potential in solar cells. Then, different fabrication techniques including solvent engineering, solvent annealing, thermal engineering, and vapor phase fabrication are discussed. More importantly, the absorber layer optimization strategies and the interface engineering are summarized to improve performance of BiI3 solar cells. In the end, the challenges of BiI3 based solar cells and future research directions are discussed.
Potent Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 Efficacy of COVID‐19 Hyperimmune Globulin from Vaccine‐Immunized Plasma
Authors: Yu Ding , Li Yu‐Feng , Liang Hong , Wu Jun‐Zheng , Hu Yong , Peng Yan , Li Tao‐Jing , Hou Ji‐Feng , Huang Wei‐Jin , Guan Li‐Dong , Han Ren , Xing Yan‐Tao , Zhang Yong , Liu Jia , Feng Lu , Li Chun‐Yan , Liang Xiao‐Long , Ding Ya‐Ling , Zhou Zhi‐Jun , Ji De‐Ming , Wang Fei‐Fei , Yu Jian‐Hong , Deng Kun , Xia Dong‐Mei , Dong De‐Mei , Hu Heng‐Rui , Liu Ya‐Jie , Fu Dao‐Xing , He Yan‐Lin , Zhou Dong‐Bo , Yang Hui‐Chuan , Jia Rui , Ke Chang‐Wen , Du Tao , Xie Yong , Zhou Rong , Li Ce‐Sheng , Wang Man‐Li , Yang Xiao‐Ming 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remains a global public health threat. Hence, more effective and specific antivirals are urgently needed. Here, COVID‐19 hyperimmune globulin (COVID‐HIG), a passive immunotherapy, is prepared from the plasma of healthy donors vaccinated with BBIBP‐CorV (Sinopharm COVID‐19 vaccine). COVID‐HIG shows high‐affinity binding to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike (S) protein, the receptor‐binding domain (RBD), the N‐terminal domain of the S protein, and the nucleocapsid protein; and blocks RBD binding to human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). Pseudotyped and authentic virus‐based assays show that COVID‐HIG displays broad‐spectrum neutralization effects on a wide variety of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants, including D614G, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Kappa (B.1.617.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529) in vitro. However, a significant reduction in the neutralization titer is detected against Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants. Additionally, assessments of the prophylactic and treatment efficacy of COVID‐HIG in an Adv5‐hACE2‐transduced IFNAR−/− mouse model of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection show significantly reduced weight loss, lung viral loads, and lung pathological injury. Moreover, COVID‐HIG exhibits neutralization potency similar to that of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 hyperimmune globulin from pooled convalescent plasma. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of COVID‐HIG against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and provide reference for subsequent clinical trials.
Genetic Deficiency of MicroRNA‐15a/16‐1 Confers Resistance to Neuropathological Damage and Cognitive Dysfunction in Experimental Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Zhou Chao , Sun Ping , Xu Yang , Chen Yuang , Huang Yixian , Hamblin Milton H. , Foley Lesley , Hitchens T. Kevin , Li Song , Yin Ke‐Jie 
Published: April 2022

AbstractChronic cerebral hypoperfusion‐derived brain damage contributes to the progression of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Cumulative evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRs) are emerging as novel therapeutic targets for CNS disorders. In this study, it is sought to determine the regulatory role of miR‐15a/16‐1 in VCID. It is found that miR‐15a/16‐1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit less cognitive and sensorimotor deficits following VCID. Genetic deficiency of miR‐15a/16‐1 in VCID mice also mitigate myelin degeneration, axonal injury, and neuronal loss. Mechanistically, miR‐15a/16‐1 binds to the 3’‐UTR of AKT3 and IL‐10RA. Genetic deletion of miR‐15a/16‐1 increases AKT3 and IL‐10RA expression in VCID brains, and intranasal delivery of AKT3 and IL‐10RA siRNA‐loaded nanoparticles partially reduce brain protection and cognitive recovery in miR‐15a/16‐1 KO mice after VCID. In conclusion, the miR‐15a/16‐1‐IL/10RA/AKT3 axis plays a critical role in regulating vascular brain damage and cognitive decline after VCID. Targeting miR‐15a/16‐1 is a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of VCID.