bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using a multistep approach with multidisciplinary team to increase the diagnosis rate of Lynch syndrome- associated colorectal cancer after universal screening: A single-center study in Japan
Authors: Tatsuta Kyota , Sakata Mayu , Iwaizumi Moriya , Kojima Risa , Yamanaka Katsumasa , Baba Satoshi , Suzuki Katusnori , Morita Yoshifumi , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Hiramatsu Yoshihiro , Kurachi Kiyotaka , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: October 2022

Backgrounds: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the rates of genetic counseling and genetic testing as well as the diagnosis rate of Lynch syndrome (LS)-associated colorectal cancer before and after multistep approach with multidisciplinary team in Japanese.
Methods: In September 2016, we started universal screening for LS by mismatch repair protein immunohistochemistry and prospectively collected the records. Following patient interviews, we started multistep approach with multidisciplinary team (MA) in January 2020. MA consistsof several surgeons, one genetic counselor, one medical geneticist, and several pathologists. MA is set upto compensate for patients’lack of knowledge about geneticdiseases and make case selection for elderly colorectal cancer patients with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR). MA isdesigned as a system that could be performed by a small number of medical genetic specialists. A total of 522 patients were included during the study duration, 323 and 199 patients in the pre-MA (P-MA) and MA groups, respectively.
Results: The frequency of dMMR in all patients was 10.0%. The patient interview results indicated a significant lack of patient education regarding genetic diseases. Therates of genetic counseling and genetic testing wassignificantly higher in MA group than in P-MA group (genetic counseling: MA 34.6% vs P-MA 7.7%, p = 0.04;genetic testing: MA 30.8% vs P-MA 3.8%, p = 0.02). Moreover, the diagnosis rate of LS-associated colorectal cancer was significantly higher in MA group (2.5%) than in P-MA group (0.3%) (P = 0.03). In addition, MA could be performed without problems despite the small number of medical and human genetics specialists.
Conclusions: MA has achieved appropriate pickup of suspected hereditary colorectal cancer patients and complemented the lack of knowledge about genetic diseases. The introduction of MA increased LS-associated colorectal cancer after universal screening. MA is an appropriate LS screening protocol for Japanese who lag behind in medical and human genetics education.
Nonquadratic local stabilization of T-S fuzzy systems via improved slack-variable-free relaxation technique under limited operating region
Authors: Kim Sung Hyun
Published: October 2022

This paper aims to investigate the problem of nonquadratic local stabilization and disturbance attenuation for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems under the limited operating region of premise variables. To derive less conservative local stabilization conditions, this paper first proposes a parameterized linear matrix inequality (PLMI) formulation method that enables both the nonquadratic Lyapunov function and the non-parallel distributed compensation (non-PDC) control scheme. Specifically, in the PLMI formulation, the time derivatives of fuzzy basis functions are addressed without any boundary assumptions and by avoiding excessive use of inequality constraints and slack variables. Moreover, an effective relaxation technique is proposed to obtain a finite set of LMIs from PLMIs in a less conservative way without extra slack variables. Finally, three examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Examining the Influence of Health Sector Co-ordination on the Efficiency of County Health Systems in Kenya
Authors: Nyawira Lizah , Njuguna Rebecca G , Tsofa Benjamin , Musiega Anita , Munywoki Joshua , Hanson Kara , Mulwa Andrew , Molyneux Sassy , Maina Isabel , Normand Charles , Jemutai Julie , Barasa Edwine
Published: October 2022

Background: Health systems are complex, consisting of multiple interacting structures and actors whose effective co-ordination is paramount to enhancing health system goals. Poor health sector co-ordination is a potential source of inefficiency in the health sector. We examined how the co-ordination of the health sector affects health system efficiency in Kenya.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study, collecting data at the national level and in two purposely selected counties in Kenya. We collected data using in-depth interviews (n = 36) with national and county level respondents, and document reviews. We analyzed the data using a thematic approach.
Results: The study found that while formal co-ordination structures exist in the Kenyan health system, duplication, fragmentation, and misalignment of health system functions and actor actions compromise the co-ordination of the health sector. These challenges were observed in both vertical (co-ordination within the ministry of health, and within the county departments of health, and between the national ministry of health and the county department of health) and horizontal co-ordination mechanisms (co-ordination between the ministry of health or the county department of health and non-state partners, and co-ordination among county governments). These co-ordination challenges are likely to impact on the efficiency of the Kenyan health system by increasing the transaction costs of health system functions. Inadequate co-ordination also impairs the implementation of health programmes and hence compromises health system performance.
Conclusion: The efficiency of the Kenyan health system could be enhanced by strengthening the co-ordination of the Kenyan health sector. This can be achieved by aligning and harmonizing the intergovernmental and health sector specific co-ordination mechanisms, strengthening the implementation of the Kenya health sector co-ordination framework at the county level, and enhancing donor co-ordination through common funding arrangements and the integration of vertical disease programmes with the rest of the health system. The ministry of health and county departments of health should also review internal organizational structures to enhance functional and role clarity of organizational units and staff respectively. Finally, counties should consider initiating health sector co-ordination mechanisms between counties to reduce the fragmentation of health system functions across neighboring counties.
Clinical effects of early debridement, internal fixation, and Masquelet technique for childhood chronic haematogenous osteomyelitis of long bones
Authors: Shi Jian , Qu Liang , Zhang Hu , Yang Xiaoyong , Song Muguo , Chen Xingyu , Zhou Tianhua , Zhang Xijiao , Xu Yongqing
Published: October 2022

Background
Childhood chronic haematogenous osteomyelitis (CCHOM) is a severe condition in paediatric patients. The optimal timing of debridement and the subsequent method of bone reconstruction in CCHOM patients remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment efficacy of Masquelet technique with early debridement and internal fixation in CCHOM of long bones.
Methods
Between January 2016 and January 2021, a total of 21 patients (18 males, 3 females) with CCHOM of long bone were included. The mean age was 10.4 years (range, 2–18 years). All cases were treated by a two-stage surgical protocol of Masquelet technique. In the first stage, aggressive debridement, sequestrectomy, and inducing membrane by bone cement spacer were performed after definite diagnosis. In the second stage, cement spacer was removed, and autologous and allogeneic bone were grafted. Internal fixation was used for the first and/or second stage depending on stability requirements. The patients’ clinical and imaging results were retrospectively analysed.
Results
The mean follow-up was 31.7 months (range, 21–61 months). None of the patients experienced recurrence of infection. Radiographic bone union time was 4.3 months (range, 2.5–11 months). Five cases underwent re-operation due to complications such as bone resorption or refracture. By the last follow-up visit, bones had healed and all of the patients had resumed daily living and sports activities.
Conclusions
The Masquelet technique with early debridement and internal fixation is a viable surgical method for the management of large long bone defects of CCHOM patients.
PRKAA1 predicts prognosis and is associated with immune characteristics in gastric cancer
Authors: chen yongyi , Chen Siyu , Zhu Jing , Yang Shaoxue , Yu Qiong , Xu Songxiao
Published: October 2022

Purpose
PRKAA1 is the α-subunit of 5-AMP-activated protein kinase. This study aimed to investigate the role of PRKAA1 expression in multiple clinical parameters, the overall survival rate, blood indexes, and immune infiltration in gastric cancer (GC) patients.
Methods
We investigated PRKAA1 expression data of in GC patients using an ELISA, proteinatlas, ualcan, and GEPIA. PRKAA1 expression was associated with immune cell infiltration, and immune cell types were analyzed with the TIMER, DICE, and proteinatlas databases. We compared the level of PRKAA1 expression based on the clinical features of GC patients (n = 345). GC patients were divided into two groups based on PRKAA1 expression, and the lymphocyte subsets, overall survival rate, and clinical parameters were compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cell and biochemical indexes.
Results
PRKAA1 was highly expressed in the serum of GC patient compared with that of healthy individuals. GC patients with distant metastases, a later TNM stage, and stage IV in UICC exhibited higher PRKAA1 expression. PRKAA1 expression was significantly correlated with circulating T cells. The proteinatlas and DICE database results confirmed that PRKAA1 was closely associated with T cells in a single cell cluster. Furthermore, GC patients with low PRKAA1 expression had better OS rates.
Conclusion
PRKAA1 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for GC and have an association with immune infiltrates.
An exceptional infrared transient from a star engulfing a planet
Authors: De Kishalay , MacLeod Morgan , Karambelkar Viraj , Jencson Jacob , Chakrabarty Deepto , Conroy Charlie , Dekany Richard , Eilers Anna-Christina , Graham Matthew , Hillenbrand Lynne , Kara Erin , Kasliwal Mansi , Kulkarni Shri , Lau Ryan , Loeb Abraham , Masci Frank , Medford Michael , Meisner Aaron , Patel Nimesh , Quiroga-Nunez Luis , Riddle Reed , Rusholme Benjamin , Simcoe Robert , Sjouwerman Lorant , Teague Richard , Vanderburg Andrew
Published: October 2022

It is well known that planets with short orbital periods (< 10 days) are common around stars like the Sun. Stars expand as they evolve, and thus we expect their close planetary companions to be engulfed. However, this phase has never been directly observed. Here, we present the discovery of ZTF SLRN-2020, a short-lived optical outburst in the Galactic disk accompanied by bright and long-lived infrared emission. The resulting light curve and spectra share striking similarities with those of red novae -- a class of eruptions now confirmed to arise from mergers of binary stars. Its exceptionally low optical luminosity (10^{35} erg/s) and radiated energy (6.5 X 10^{41} erg) point to the engulfment of a planet (of 1 - 10 Jupiter masses) by its Sun-like host star. We estimate the Galactic rate of such Sub-luminous Red Novae (SLRNe) to be $\sim 0.1 - few per year. Future Galactic plane surveys are well-poised to routinely identify them, revealing the demographics of planetary engulfment and the ultimate fate of planets in the inner Solar System.
Reflection of plane waves from the stress-free boundary surface of a microstretch elastic solid half-space containing voids
Authors: Garg Manisha , Singh Dilbag , Tomar S. K.
Published: October 2022

Reflection phenomena of coupled longitudinal/transverse waves from the stress-free boundary surface of a microstretch elastic solid half-space containing voids have been investigated. Stress-free boundary surface provided a restriction on the cross-coupling parameter between curvature tensor and voids. Using appropriate boundary conditions and Snell’s law, the formulae corresponding to various reflection coefficients and their corresponding energy ratios have been obtained. Numerical computations have been carried out for a specific model and the variation of all the reflection coefficients and corresponding energy ratios is depicted graphically against the angle of incidence. Some special cases have been reduced from the present model and discussed.
The impact of the secondary infections in ICU patients affected by COVID-19 during three different phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Murgia Federica , Fiamma Maura , Serra Silvia , Marras Giulia , Argiolas Raul , Mattana Chiara , Mattu Maria Grazia , Garau Maria Cristina , Doneddu Sonia , Olla Sabrina , Cocco Eleonora , Lorefice Lorena , Muntoni Sandro , Paffi Peppino , Porru Stefano , Abis Marta , Bellizzi Saverio , Pani Antonello , Angioi Andrea , Mussap Michele , Massidda Orietta , Carta Franco , Atzori Luigi
Published: October 2022

Purpose
Microbial secondary infections can contribute to an increase in the risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients, particularly in case of severe diseases. In this study, we collected and evaluated the clinical, laboratory and microbiological data of COVID-19 critical ill patients requiring intensive care (ICU) to evaluate the significance and the prognostic value of these parameters.
Methods
One hundred seventy-eight ICU patients with severe COVID-19, hospitalized at the S. Francesco Hospital of Nuoro (Italy) in the period from March 2020 to May 2021, were enrolled in this study. Clinical data and microbiological results were collected. Blood chemistry parameters, relative to three different time points, were analyzed through multivariate and univariate statistical approaches.
Results
Seventy-four percent of the ICU COVID-19 patients had a negative outcome, while 26% had a favorable prognosis. A correlation between the laboratory parameters and days of hospitalization of the patients was observed with significant differences between the two groups. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia were the most frequently isolated microorganisms from all clinical specimens.
Conclusions
Secondary infections play an important role in the clinical outcome. The analysis of the blood chemistry tests was found useful in monitoring the progression of COVID-19.
Sex-biased gene and microRNA expression in the developing mouse brain is associated with neurodevelopmental functions and neurological phenotypes
Authors: Szakats Susanna , McAtamney Alice , Cross Hugh , Wilson Megan J
Published: October 2022

Background: Sex differences pose a challenge and an opportunity in biomedical research. Understanding how sex chromosomes and hormones affect disease-causing mechanisms will shed light on the mechanisms underlying predominantly idiopathic sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia and autism. Gene expression is a crucial conduit for the influence of sex on developmental processes; therefore, this investigation focused on sex differences in gene expression and regulation of gene expression. Mounting interest in microRNAs (miRNAs), small, non-coding RNAs for their contribution to normal and pathological neurodevelopment prompted us to test how miRNA expression differs between the sexes in the developing brain.
Methods: High-throughput sequencing approaches were used to identify transcripts, including miRNAs, showing significantly different expression between male and female brains at day 15.5 of development (E15.5).
Results: Robust sex differences were identified for a portion of genes and miRNAs, confirming the influence of biological sex on RNA in this context. Many miRNAs showing the greatest differences between males and females have established roles in neurodevelopment, implying that sex-biased expression could drive sex differences in developmental processes. In addition to highlighting sex differences for individual miRNAs, gene ontology analysis suggests several broad categories in which sex-biased RNAs might be acting to establish sex differences in the embryonic mouse brain. Finally, mining publically available SNP data indicated that some sex-biased miRNAs reside near genomic regions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Conclusions: Together, these findings reinforce the importance of cataloguing sex differences in molecular biology research and highlight genes, miRNAs and pathways of interest that may be important for sexual differentiation of the mouse and possibly the human brain.
Effect of corrections for water vapor sensitivity of coumarin targets and for density fluctuations (WPL) on O3 fluxes measured with the eddy covariance technique
Authors: Gerosa Giacomo A. , Bignotti Laura , Marzuoli Riccardo
Published: October 2022

Ozone vertical fluxes above land surfaces are commonly measured with the eddy covariance (EC) technique which requires non-conventional ozone fast analyzer mostly based on a chemiluminescence reaction of ozone with a reagent, either gaseous or solid. Currently, the most adopted reagent for this kind of O3 analyzers is a coumarin-47 solid dye absorbed on silica gel targets. However, ozone-induced chemiluminescence of coumarin-47 is enhanced by the presence of water vapor in the air sample. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the magnitude of the corrections to the ozone flux measurements due to coumarin-47 sensitivity to water vapor fluctuations, performed above a forest ecosystem from 2013 and 2020, and the combined effect with the WPL correction, another well-established correction for density fluctuations related to water vapor and sensible heat fluxes.
Results confirm that water vapor sensitivity correction for the chemiluminescence reaction between coumarine-47 and ozone is quite small and negligible in most of the environmental conditions. On the contrary, WPL correction is almost one order of magnitude greater than the former correction. The combination of the two corrections results, on average, in a 6.6% reduction of the absolute value of the uncorrected ozone fluxes. Since the combined effect of the two corrections can be remarkable depending on the seasonal period of measurements, both corrections to the measured ozone fluxes are recommended, as well as the indication of their application in the published works.
A study of the prevalence of COVID-19 among students of the Syrian Private University.
Authors: Tahlo Dlsher , Suliman Muhammed , Hussam
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an airway infection caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) that was first detected in Wuhan, China in December. 2019.

Materials and Methods

An Observational Study, Cross-Sectional Study. This study targeted students of the Faculty of Human Medicine at the Syrian Private University. Where the sample was chosen randomly, and about (567) students were selected, where a paper questionnaire was distributed to the students to fill out the information.

Results and Discussion

By studying the relationship between the patient's symptoms and the patient's gender, we found statistically significant relationships between these two variables. As for the rest of the symptoms, the ratios between the sexes converged, and thus we did not find those statistical relationships. As for studying the relationship between the presence of symptoms and smoking in the patient, we found a statistically significant relationship between the increased incidence of symptoms and smoking in the patient. By studying the relationship between sex and taking the vaccine and the preventive measures followed, we did not find a relationship between any of them, as the ratios of males and females were equal in relation to taking the vaccine, and they converged in following the preventive measures. As for the study of the relationship between taking the vaccine and the number of times of infection with the Coronavirus, we found a statistically significant relationship between these two variables, with a p value of 0.0111.

Recommendations

The most important objectives of the studies were to conduct awareness campaigns among students about the extent of the harm of smoking and its negative impact on infection with the Corona virus. And conduct awareness campaigns about the importance of the vaccine to reduce the severity of infection and protect against it in the future.
Identification and Analysis of Molecular Pathways and Key Candidate Biomarkers in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Kumari Aditi Stuti
Published: October 2022

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a Grade IV malignant primary tumor present in the central nervous system. Despite advancements in treatments, it has a poor prognosis as the median survival is 14-15 months. The goal of this study was to identify the candidate biomarkers as well as the functional pathways regulated in GBM. The dataset (GSE100675) accessed included 3 glioblastoma tissues, 3 paired tissues, and 3 normal tissues. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using GEO2R, which found a total of 1,609 DEGs (916 downregulated and 693 upregulated). A gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis was done with the DEGs. The KEGG pathway analysis was then utilized in constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, identifying the genes of interest. The interaction network was then put into Cytoscape and 10 hub genes were identified. To ensure reliability of the research, those hub genes were put in GEPIA, and the data was compared for consistency of the research, with the regulation of all 10 hub genes matching that of a larger dataset. Kaplan-Meier analysis was done on the hub genes, which demonstrated that an upregulation in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was associated with lower survival. Study shows that STAT3 gene may be a key factor in the progression of GBM, being crucial in cell proliferation. In conclusion, STAT3, along with the molecular pathways identified, may be used as a potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarker and can be used to further our understanding of GBM.
Quantifying microstructures of Earth materials using higher-order spatial correlations and deep generative adversarial networks
Authors: Amiri Hamed , Vasconcelos Ivan , Jiao Yang , Chen Pei-En , Plumper Oliver
Published: October 2022

Key to most subsurface processes is to determine how structural and topological features at small length scales, i.e., the microstructure, control the effective and macroscopic properties of earth materials. Recent progress in imaging technology has enabled us to visualise and characterise microstructures at different length scales and dimensions. However, one limitation of these technologies is the trade-off between resolution and sample size (or representativeness). A promising approach to this problem is image reconstruction which aims to generate statistically equivalent microstructure but at a larger scale and/or additional dimension. In this work, a generative adversarial network (GAN), trained with Wasserstein-loss and gradient penalty, is used to reconstruct two-dimensional images of two hydrothermally rock samples with varying degrees of complexity. Moreover, we employ multi-point spatial correlation functions - known as statistical microstructural descriptors (SMDs) to evaluate the reconstruction performance of our GAN and show that it can reconstruct higher-order, spatially-correlated patterns of complex earth materials, capturing underlying structural and morphological properties. Comparing our results with a stochastic reconstruction method based on a two-point correlation function, we show the importance of coupling training/assessment of GANs with higher-order SMDs, especially in the case of complex microstructures.
In-Situ Quality Assessment and Control in Additive Manufacturing Processes Using Laser Surface Profilometer and Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: akhavan javid , Lyu Jiaqi , Manoochehri Souran
Published: October 2022

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has become one of the most popular manufacturing techniques in various fields. Their layer-by-layer printing process allows an easier fabrication of complex geometries. However, the quality and accuracy of fabricated artifacts in these techniques have low repeatability. In the era of Industry 4.0 by using the emerging sensory and data processing capabilities such as Laser Surface Profilometer (LSP) and Deep Learning (DL), it is possible to improve the repeatability and quality of AM processes. This work presents an in-situ quality assessment and improvement using LSP for data acquisition and DL for data processing and decision making. The utilized LSP module generates a point cloud dataset containing information about the top surface geometry and quality. Once the point cloud data is preprocessed, an improved deep Hybrid Convolutional Auto-Encoder decoder (HCAE) model is used to perform the artifact's quality measurement and statistical representation. The HCAE model's statistical representation is comprised of 9*9 segments, each including four channels with the segment's probability to contain one of four labels, 1) Under-printed region, 2) Normally printed region, 3) Over-printed region, 4) Empty region. This data structure plays a significant role in determining the commands needed to optimize the fabrication process. The implemented HCAE model's accuracy and repeatability were measured by a multi-label multi-output metric developed in this study. The assessments made by HCAE are then used to perform an in-situ process adjustment by manipulating the future layer's fabrication through the G-code modification. By adjusting the machine's print speed and feedrate, the control algorithm exploits the next layer deposition, segment by segment. The algorithm is then tested with two manually defected settings, one part with severe under extrusion and one with over extrusion parameters. Both test artifacts' quality advanced significantly and converged to an acceptable state by four iterations.
Designing embedded retaining walls relying on the Generalized Coefficient of Earth Pressure and the elastic beam theory
Authors: Pantelidis Lysandros
Published: October 2022

Intermediate values of earth pressure occur if the wall movements are insufficient to mobilize the active or passive limiting values. These values are of particular importance for designing embedded retaining walls, due to their flexible nature. The methods included in a standard are supposed to reflect the best (current) practice, however, the empirical methods included in EN1997-1:2004 and prEN1997-3:2022 are far from being considered reliable. Very recently, the author proposed a continuum mechanics approach for deriving earth pressure coefficients for any soil state between the at-rest state and the active or passive state, applicable to cohesive-frictional soils and both horizontal and vertical pseudo-static conditions. The same method also provides analytical expression for the calculation of the required wall movement (at any depth) for the mobilization of the active or passive failure state. In the present paper the author suggests a new, fully analytical method for designing embedded retaining walls, combining the aforementioned method with the well-known elastic beam theory. An application example is given indicating remarkable agreement with the finite element method, while when the proposed method is followed, more stable results are returned.
Combatting Over-Specialization Bias in Growing Chemical Databases
Authors: Dost Katharina , Pullar-Strecker Zac , Brydon Liam , Zhang Kunyang , Hafner Jasmin , Riddle Patricia J , Wicker Jörg S
Published: October 2022

Background: Predicting in advance the behavior of new chemical compounds can support the design process of new products by directing the research towards the most promising candidates and ruling out others. Such predictive models can be data-driven using Machine Learning or based on researchers' experience and depend on the collection of past results. In either case: models (or researchers) can only make reliable assumptions on compounds that are similar to what they have seen before. Therefore, consequent usage of these predictive models shapes the dataset and causes a continuous specialization shrinking the applicability domain of all trained models on this dataset in the future, and increasingly harming model-based exploration of the space.
Proposed Solution: In this paper, we propose CANCELS (CounterActiNg Compound spEciaLization biaS), a technique that helps to break the dataset specialization spiral. Aiming for a smooth distribution of the compounds in the dataset, we identify areas in the space that fall short and suggest additional experiments that help bridge the gap. Thereby, we generally improve the dataset quality in an entirely unsupervised manner and create awareness of potential flaws in the data. CANCELS does not aim to cover the entire compound space and hence retains a desirable degree of specialization to a specified research domain.
Results: An extensive set of experiments on the use-case of biodegradation pathway prediction not only reveals that the bias spiral can indeed be observed but also that CANCELS produces meaningful results. Additionally, we demonstrate that mitigating the observed bias is crucial as it cannot only intervene with the continuous specialization process, but also significantly improves a predictor's performance while reducing the amount of required experiments. Overall, we believe that CANCELS can support researchers in their experimentation process to not only better understand their data and potential flaws, but also to grow the dataset in a sustainable way. All code is available under github.com/KatDost/Cancels.
Is There a Role for Prophylactic Antibiotics Post Pediatric Pyeloplasty?
Authors: Sheth Kunj , Puttman Kathleen , Nichols Paige , King Jordon , Zhu Huirong , Ryan Sheila , Wang Ming-Hsien
Published: October 2022

Purpose: The use of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics in pediatric upper urinary tract reconstruction remains controversial. In this study, we elected to examine if low dose antibiotics (Abx) post pediatric dismember pyeloplasty reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in our institution. As a secondary outcome, in patients who present with post op febrile UTIs, additional analysis was performed to better quantify which patient population benefits the most from low dose Abx.
Methods: Institutional review board approval (IRB) was obtained. A retrospective study was performed in patients who underwent dismember pyeloplasty (2011-2017) at our institution. Patients with prior history of urologic interventions or other abnormalities of the genitourinary tract were excluded. Demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, insurance status), prior history of culture proven UTIs, surgical details (administration of perioperative antibiotics), and postoperative outcomes, including any readmission 30 days post repair, any urine samples, and culture results were collected.
Results: 209 patients (149 boys, 60 girls) met our inclusion criteria. The average age was 6 years (range: 2 months-18 years). 160 patients (77%) underwent robotic-assisted pyeloplasty. Thirty-one patients underwent open repair (15%). 176 (84%) had an indwelling ureteral stent. Eleven patients (5%) had a culture-proven febrile UTI within 30-days postoperatively. No significant differences were seen in postoperative complications or incidence of UTIs when comparing surgical approaches, ureteral stent, or the use of prophylactic post-operative Abx. Secondary review of patients with post-operative febrile UTIs noted younger age (2.8 v. 6.2 years, p = 0.02) and positive intraoperative urine culture (p = 0.01) as significant risk factors.
Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative UTIs in our cohort is relatively low. There is a higher incidence of febrile UTIs in patients less than 3 years old and those with positive intraoperative urine culture. The use of prophylactic Abx in patients post dismember pyeloplasty did not appear to affect the incidence of febrile culture proven UTIs, however, might be important in younger patients pre-potty training.
The Experiences and Needs of Early Childhood Special Education Teachers for the Organizational Culture of Early Childhood Special Education Institutions
Authors:   Korean Journal Of Early Childhood Special Education, Hong Eun Suk , Park Gye Shin , Kim Hyun Sook
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences and needs of early childhood special education teachers for the organizational culture of early childhood special education institutions. A focus group interview was conducted with 11 early childhood special education teachers working for special classes in kindergarten and special education kindergartens. As a result of the study, 3 themes, 11 subcategories, and 30 main concepts were derived. Specific research results are as follows. First, early childhood special education teachers presented four types of organizational culture experiences according to the differences in the method of pursuing values and flexibility of institutions. In other words, it is a relationship-oriented culture, a performance-oriented culture, a hierarchy-oriented culture, and a chaotic organizational culture that is difficult to be explained by the preceding three models. Second, early childhood special education teachers presented negative experiences with respect to organizational fairness such as mutual fairness, procedural fairness, and distribution fairness. Third, early childhood special education teachers said that it is necessary to make an active effort on their own to realize the unique identity of early childhood special education teacher along with the improvement of democratic and organizational culture. In addition, they emphasized the need for awareness-raising training for institutional members and securing fairness in the promotion system for early childhood special education teacher. Based on the results of this study, future improvement plans for the organizational culture of early childhood special education institutions were suggested.
A Grounded Theory Approach on the Transition Experience of Families of Young Children with Special Needs into Inclusive Classrooms of Elementary Schools
Authors:   Korean Journal Of Early Childhood Special Education, Lee Eun-Jin , Jo Hyun-Geun
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of families of young children with special needs in the transition process into inclusive classrooms of elementary schools. As for this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with five primary caregivers of 1st grade children entered into an inclusive class of elementary schools. The collected data were analyzed according to the procedures of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding using the grounded theory approach suggested by Strauss and Corbin(1990). The findings are as follows. First, as a result of open coding, it was analyzed into 171 concepts, 45 subcategories, and 20 upper categories. Second, according to the paradigm model of axis coding, the central phenomena were the decision and preparation for the transfer of elementary school and the parent's request to transfer elementary school as a decision to move into and inclusive class of the elementary school. Third, as a result of selective coding, the core category was derived as ‘trusting and supporting the independence of children in school-age'. Then, a situational model was presented by synthesizing the research results. Finally, a follow-up study related to the successful preparation and implementation for transition to the inclusive class of elementary school was suggested and discussed.
Navigating through the O(N) archipelago
Authors: Sirois Benoit
Published: October 2022

A novel method for finding allowed regions in the space of CFT-data,
coined navigator method, was recently proposed in [1]. Its efficacy was
demonstrated in the simplest example possible, i.e. that of the
mixed-correlator study of the 3D Ising Model. In this paper, we would
like to show that the navigator method may also be applied to the study
of the family of dd-dimensional
O(N)O(N)
models. We will aim to follow these models in the
(d,N)(d,N)
plane. We will see that the ``sailing’’ from island to island can be
understood in the context of the navigator as a parametric optimization
problem, and we will exploit this fact to implement a simple and
effective path-following algorithm. By sailing with the navigator
through the (d,N)(d,N)
plane, we will provide estimates of the scaling dimensions
(\Delta_{\phi},\Delta_{s},\Delta_{t})(Δϕ,Δs,Δt)
in the entire range (d,N) \in [3,4] \times [1,3](d,N)∈[3,4]×[1,3].
We will show that to our level of precision, we cannot see the
non-unitary nature of the O(N)O(N)
models due to the fractional values of dd
or NN
in this range. We will also study the limit
N \to 1N→1,
and see that we cannot find any solution to the unitary mixed-correlator
crossing equations below N=1N=1.
Applied aspects of time series models for predicting residential property prices in Bulgaria
Authors: Iliychovski Svetoslav , Filipova Teodora , Petrova Mariana
Published: October 2022

Accurate housing price forecasts play a critical role in balancing supply and demand in the residential real estate market, as well as in achieving the goals of various stakeholders – buyers, investors, construction contractors, public administration, real estate agencies, special investment purpose companies, etc. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between specific predictors and build a suitable model for forecasting housing prices in Bulgaria. In this regard, a study was conducted on transactions with residential real estate in the city of Sofia for the period from the first quarter of 2016 to the fourth quarter of 2021. The ARIMA model is used in the development to predict the values of the variables. Eight models are tested for the researched factors (24 in total). On this basis, the price per square meter of residential property was predicted, including estimated values from the ARIMA model for the parameters involved in the regression equation. The result showed that there is a strong relationship between the analyzed predictors and the studied variable – price per square meter of housing. The tested models are adequate and the statistical requirements for forecasting the prices of residential properties in Bulgaria are complied.
Personal agency and entrepreneurial intentions among business students
Authors: Koutsogianni Evangelia , Stavroulakis Dimitrios , Chalikias Miltiadis , Sahinidis Alexandros
Published: October 2022

Entrepreneurship literature refers to entrepreneurial activity as an agency and has established intention as the most critical antecedent of entrepreneurial behavior. The study investigates the relationship between personal agency and entrepreneurial intention using a sample of students considering their entry into employment. The study draws on an agency theory that incorporates actors’ temporal orientations. Since intention can be regarded as a possible manifestation of one’s agentic perceptions, introducing the notion of time in the study of intention would provide additional insight into the entrepreneurial intention process. A moderated mediation model was applied, and survey data of 537 business students attending a Greek public university were used. The findings indicated that students’ perceptions of agentic capacities stimulate their entrepreneurial intention. Specifically, emancipation, defined as one’s present judgment of having the capacity to construct courses of action in relation to career matters, explains further the development of self-reported intentions by affecting perceived behavioral control and individual attitudes; this variable has a more significant influence. The findings also indicated that future orientation, defined as one’s perceptions of having the capacity for long-term planning, influences the effect of emancipation on entrepreneurial intention by making positive attitudes toward entrepreneurship more salient.
Acknowledgment This paper was financially supported by the Special Account for Research Grants, University of West Attica.
GENDER ANALYSIS AND COVID-19: A CASE STUDY OF ECONOMIC (IN)EQUALITY
Authors:   University ‘’Haxhi Zeka’’, Pec/Pejë, Republic of Kosovo, A. Dzogovic Suada , Beqiri Theranda ,   University ‘’Haxhi Zeka’’, Pec/Pejë, Republic of Kosovo
Published: October 2022

This paper provides an overview and critical review of the question of whether and to what extent has the coronavirus pandemic affected the economic situation of women. The case study in Bosnia and Herzegovina identified the key concepts that will guide our analysis and interpretation. Based on our experiences, we examine and investigate the economic and social status of women in general, and then monitor economic and social parameters during the coronavirus pandemic, to answer the key question- whether the pandemic caused more damage to men or women in economic terms, did it emphasize and deepen the existing gender gap in economic and social terms, or did it improve the position of women, which we consider less likely. This is a predominantly quantitative approach, given that we collected, compared, and analyzed various statistical data from the census, statistics from labor and employment agencies on the labor market, and similar. Using the compilation method we collected all relevant statistical data for research, and then relied on content analysis and comparison to draw key conclusions. Also, using the compilation method we collected various media reports related to the topic. Where there was a need for additional sources we used the interview as a qualitative method, where we relied on the experience of employment agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations dealing with gender equality issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though numerous studies have shown that the Covid-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women, our research confirms that official statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not reveal that women are significantly more economically affected than men. The expressiveness of women affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the impact on their economic status was also given through regression analysis and its results. Taking into account only R Square and its indicator of 48%, which is not negligible, it shows the economic position of women before the coronavirus, but certainly during the pandemic. However, given that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic risk improving existing gender inequalities, we also seek to remind the relevant institutions of their commitment to addressing gender inequalities in all aspects of society and achieving these goals more quickly through a gender-sensitive approach. This, therefore, further opens up opportunities for gender equality, the effectiveness of sustainable development goals, and the empowerment of women in all aspects of social, political, cultural, and economic life.
EDUCATIONAL MODELS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION
Authors:   Faculty of Law, University “Haxhi Zeka”, Pejë, Kosovo, Krasniqi Armand , Sojeva Diamanta ,   Faculty of Law, University “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the manuscript is limited exclusively to assessing the role and legal nature of the international contract for the avoidance of double taxation. The subject of the analysis of this paper is the avoidance of the phenomenon of double international taxation through the conclusion and ratification of specific international contracts. These contracts, especially for countries claiming EU membership, should be established through the harmonization of tax legislation and recognized practices of EU member states. Based on the reports of the Western Balkan countries, there is an intensification of energies and strategies for EU membership. Kosovo and other countries in this area have signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). This fact has increased the turnover of people and businesses in Western Europe. Challenges in the future are the problems in the field of numerous techniques and methodologies related to the drafting of contracts because countries outside the EU are applying non-unified standards regarding the avoidance of double taxation. Nowadays, this topic has aroused interest in the tax system of Kosovo, having in consideration its commitment to full membership in international integration.
EDUCATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF ONLINE BANKING ADOPTION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors:   Finance Department, Jarvis Consulting Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Smajic Nesiba , Djedovic Irfan ,   Department of International Business, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mekic Ensar ,   Department of International Business, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Published: October 2022

This study aims to empirically investigate the determinants of online banking adoption in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The data presented in this paper was collected via a survey from 321 randomly selected banking users in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework to test the constructs and their ability to predict consumers’ behavioral intentions. All gathered data was processed and analyzed using the AMOS software version 24. We performed the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for path analysis to estimate the strength of the hypothesized relationships among the determinants. The findings indicate a significant impact of Attitude, Perceived Usefulness, and Perceived Ease of Use on consumers’ Intention to Use online banking services. Further, the research has proven that Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use impact consumers’ Attitudes toward online banking adoption. The path analysis result suggests that Perceived Usefulness strongly mediates the relationship between Perceived Ease of Use and Attitude.
Penerapan Discovery Learning untuk Menanamkan Karakter Kewirausahaan Mahasiswa pada Mata Kuliah Manajemen Ritel
Authors:   Prodi Diploma III Manajemen, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Jl Kaliurang KM. 14,5, Yogyakarta 55584, Indonesia, Maisaroh Maisaroh
Published: October 2022

Penelitian ini adalah pengembangan metode pembelajaran melalui tindakan kelas. Mata kuliah yang diampu adalah Manajemen Ritel, dengan menggunakan metode pembelajaran discovery learning. Metode discovery learning dalam penelitian ini kemudian dijabarkan dalam penggunaan teknik pembelajaran yang mengintegrasikan tiga teknik sekaligus, yaitu magang industri, bedah kasus, dan diskusi kelompok. Berdasarkan hasil capaian dan keluaran proses pembelajaran, dapat disimpulkan metode ini memberikan dampak positif dalam membangun karakter kewirausahaan mahasiswa. Di sisi lain, produktifitas dosen juga tergambar dalam capaian keluaran berupa ketersedian RPS, RPP magang, handout, serta SOP magang. Selain itu, ada peningkatan kinerja dosen berdasarkan penilaian mahasiswa. Ini mencerminkan bahwa metode discovery learning memberikan dampak positif dalam proses pembelajaran, baik bagi mahasiswa maupun dosen.