bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Government expenditure on human capital and growth in Namibia: a time series analysis
Authors: Shafuda Christopher P. P. , De Utpal Kumar 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAn attempt is made in this paper to examine the impacts of government spending on human capital on human development indicators like healthcare outcomes, education achievements and increase in national income in Namibia using time series data from 1980 to 2015. The analysis reveals a significant long-run inverse relationship of government spending on healthcare with fertility rate, infant mortality rate and under-5 mortality rate. However, no co-integration is observed between government spending on healthcare and life-expectancy or adult mortality rate. Also, the findings reveal a significant long-run positive relationship of government spending on education with literacy rate, net primary and gross tertiary enrolment rate. Whereas, no co-integration between government spending on education and gross enrolment rate at primary and secondary level is observed. The vector auto-regression analysis revealed significant impacts of expenditure on healthcare and education on the GDP growth in the long run through improved human resources. The results are thus in favour of continuation of expansionary government expenditure policy to achieve faster economic growth in Namibia. However, drastic changes should be adopted to improve basic education and primary healthcare in the country.
The coMforT study of a trauma-informed mindfulness intervention for women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse: a protocol for an intervention refinement and individually randomized parallel feasibility trial
Authors: Pitt Katherine , Feder Gene S , Gregory Alison , Hawcroft Claire , Kessler David , Malpass Alice , Millband Sarah , Morris Richard , Zammit Stan , Lewis Natalia V 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is common and destructive to health. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major mental health consequence of DVA. People who have experienced DVA have specific needs, arising from the repeated and complex nature of the trauma. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends more research on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for people who have experienced DVA. There is growing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions may help trauma symptoms.

Methods
Intervention refinement and randomized controlled feasibility trial. A prototype trauma-informed mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (TI-MBCT) intervention will be co-produced following qualitative interviews and consensus exercise with stakeholders. Participants in the feasibility trial will be recruited from DVA agencies in two geographical regions and randomized to receive either TI-MBCT or usual care (self-referral to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service). TI-MBCT will be delivered as a group-based eight-week program. It will not be possible to blind the participants or the assessors to the study allocation. The following factors will inform the feasibility of progressing to a fully powered trial: recruitment, retention, intervention fidelity, and the acceptability of the intervention and trial design to participants. We will also test the feasibility of measuring the following participant outcomes before and 6 months post-randomization: PTSD, dissociative symptoms, depression, anxiety, DVA re-victimization, self-compassion, and mother-reported child health. Process evaluation and economic analysis will be embedded within the feasibility trial.

Discussion
This study will lead to the development of a TI-MBCT intervention for DVA survivors with PTSD and inform the feasibility and design of a fully powered randomized controlled trial (RCT). The full trial will aim to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a TI-MBCT intervention in improving the clinically important symptoms of PTSD in DVA survivors.

Trial registration
ISRCTN, ISRCTN64458065, Registered 11 January 2019.
The impact of anti-tobacco legislation on birth weight in Peru
Authors: Mallma Patricia , Carcamo Cesar , Kaufman Jay S. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Tobacco exposure remains a significant issue for public health, especially for pregnant women. It increases the risk for premature labor, low birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA), among other effects. To reduce these risks, many countries have enacted public policies to curb tobacco exposure. Peru enacted anti-tobacco laws that forbid smoking in public places, require prevention text and images in products and publicity, along with restriction of sales to adults. We evaluated the effect of the implementation of this law on newborn outcomes: birth weight, prematurity and SGA.

Methods
This was a quasi-experimental study that utilized data from the Peruvian Live Birth Registry. Children born to mothers from urban areas were the intervention group, while children born to mothers from rural areas were considered the control group. Only singletons with information on birth weight and gestational age, born to mothers aged 12 to 49 years were included in the study. In addition, newborns with birth weights greater than + 4 standard deviations (SD) or less than − 4 SD from the gestational age-specific mean were excluded. To measure the effect of legislation on birth weight we performed a difference in differences analysis.

Results
A total of 2,029,975 births were included in the analysis. After adjusting for characteristics of the mother and the child, and contextual variables, the anti-tobacco law in Peru reduced the incidence of prematurity by 30 cases per 10,000 live births (95% CI: 19 to 42).

Conclusions
The reform had negligible effects on overall birth weights and on the incidence of SGA. This modest result suggests the need for a more aggressive fight against tobacco, prohibiting all types of advertising and promotion of tobacco products, among others measures.
MR diffusion versus MR perfusion in patients with ovarian tumors; how far could we get?
Authors: El Ameen Nadia F. , Eissawy Mohamed G. , Mohsen Laila Adel M. S. , Nada Omnia Mokhtar , Beshreda Gerges M. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Ovarian tumors are one of the prevalent gynecological tumors. They are the fifth commonest tumor in women. The therapeutic strategy depends on whether the tumor is benign, borderline or malignant. They always cause nonspecific symptoms at early stages and diagnosed at advanced stages. We tried to test and compare the sensitivity and accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and MR perfusion in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors among fifty patients with ovarian masses who collected after meeting the inclusion criteria depending on grayscale sonographic findings after the approval of the ethical committee of our institution. The sensitivity and accuracy of the techniques were compared.

Results
The surgical and pathological reports of our patients proved a non-tumorous lesion in three patients. They also proved benign ovarian tumors in 18/47 (38.3%) patients, borderline tumors in 4/47 (8.5%) patients and malignant ovarian tumors in 25/47 (53.2%) patients. According to conventional MRI, ovarian tumors could be diagnosed with sensitivity 92%, specificity 61.11%, PPV 76.7%, NPV 84.6% and accuracy 79.1%. DWI and MR perfusion showed the same results where they showed sensitivity 98%, specificity 83%, PPV 90%, NPV 98% and accuracy 93% with ADC cut-off value 1 × 10−3 mm2/s.

Conclusion
Diffusion-weighted imaging and MR perfusion are useful in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors with approximately the same sensitivity and positive impact on operative management.
Outcomes in Black and White Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With First-Line Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Insights From Two Large Cohorts
Authors: Bossé Dominick , Xie Wanling , Lin Xun , Simantov Ronit , Lalani Aly-Khan A. , Graham Jeffrey , Wells J. Connor , Donskov Frede , Rini Brian , Beuselinck Benoit , Alva Ajjai , Hansen Aaron , Wood Lori , Soulières Denis , Kollmannsberger Christian , Patenaude Francois , Heng Daniel Y.C. , Choueiri Toni K. , McKay Rana R. 
Published: February 2020

PURPOSE To investigate whether black race is an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS We performed a retrospective 2-cohort (International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium [IMDC] and trial-database) study of patients with mRCC treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Unmatched (UM) and matched (M) analyses accounting for imbalances in region, year of treatment, age, and sex between races were performed. Cox models adjusting for histology, number of metastatic sites, nephrectomy, and IMDC risk compared time to treatment failure (TTF; IMDC cohort), progression-free survival (PFS; trial-database cohort), and OS. RESULTS The IMDC cohort included 73 black versus 3,381 (UM) and 1,236 (M) white patients. The trial-database cohort included 21 black versus 1,040 (UM) and 431 (M) white patients. Median OS for black versus white patients was 18.5 versus 25.8 months in the IMDC group and 21.0 versus 25.6 months in the trial-database group. Differences in OS were not significant in multivariable analysis in the IMDC group (hazard ratio [HR]M, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.5; HRUM, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.4) and trial-database (HRM, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.8 to 2.7; HRUM, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.8 to 2.6) cohorts. TTF for black patients was shorter in the UM IMDC cohort (HRUM, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8; P = .003), but not in the M analysis. PFS was shorter for black patients in both analyses in the trial-database cohort (HRM, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.9; P = .002; HRUM, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.9; P = .002). CONCLUSION Black patients had more IMDC risk factors and worse outcomes with TKIs versus white patients. Race was not an independent predictor of OS. Strategies to understand biologic determinants of outcomes for minority patients are needed to optimize care.
Maternal Glucocorticoid Metabolism Across Pregnancy: A Potential Mechanism Underlying Fetal Glucocorticoid Exposure
Authors: Stoye David Q , Andrew Ruth , Grobman William A , Adam Emma K , Wadhwa Pathik D , Buss Claudia , Entringer Sonja , Miller Gregory E , Boardman James P , Seckl Jonathan R , Keenan-Devlin Lauren S , Borders Ann E B , Reynolds Rebecca M 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Context
Across pregnancy, maternal serum cortisol levels increase up to 3-fold. It is not known whether maternal peripheral cortisol metabolism and clearance change across pregnancy or influence fetal cortisol exposure and development.

Objectives
The primary study objective was to compare maternal urinary glucocorticoid metabolites, as markers of cortisol metabolism and clearance, between the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Secondary objectives were to test associations of total maternal urinary glucocorticoid excretion, with maternal serum cortisol levels and offspring birth weight z score.

Design, Participants, and Setting
A total of 151 women with singleton pregnancies, recruited from prenatal clinic at the Pittsburgh site of the Measurement of Maternal Stress (MOMS) study, had 24-hour urine collections during both the second and third trimesters.

Results
Between the second and third trimester, total urinary glucocorticoid excretion increased (ratio of geometric means [RGM] 1.37, 95% CI 1.22-1.52, P &lt; .001), and there was an increase in calculated 5β-reductase compared to 5α-reductase activity (RGM 3.41, 95% CI 3.04-3.83, P &lt; .001). During the third trimester total urinary glucocorticoid excretion and serum cortisol were negatively correlated (r = –0.179, P = .029). Mean total urinary glucocorticoid excretion across both trimesters and offspring birth weight z score were positively associated (β = 0.314, P = .001).

Conclusions
The estimated activity of maternal enzymes responsible for cortisol metabolism change between the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, maternal peripheral metabolism and clearance of cortisol may serve as a novel mechanism affecting fetal cortisol exposure and growth.
Small indeterminate superficial soft tissue masses: relationship between depth and histological grade
Authors: Khoo Michael , Pressney Ian , Gerrand Craig , Saifuddin Asif 
Published: February 2020

Objective:
To determine whether the location of a small, indeterminate soft tissue mass within the subcutaneous compartment is related to its histological grade.

Methods:
All Sarcoma Service referrals over a 12 month period of small (&lt;3 cm) superficial soft tissue masses, indeterminate by MRI evaluation which subsequently underwent primary excision biopsy were included. Lesions were categorised by their anatomical location in the subcutaneous compartment. Histopathological diagnoses were categorized according to12 WHO 2013. χ2 statistical analysis was performed to determine the relationship between lesion depth and histological grade.

Results:
The study included 43 patients, mean age 42 years (range 15–71 years). Within the subcutaneous compartment, 16 lesions were categorized as superficial, 9 lesions central and 18 lesions deep, of which 9 were non-neoplastic, 29 benign, 1 intermediate-grade and 4 malignant. Location in the deep aspect of the subcutaneous compartment was associated with a higher risk of intermediate or malignant histology (p = 0.02).

Conclusion:
The location of a small, indeterminate soft tissue mass within the subcutaneous compartment may be an indicator of histological aggressiveness. Lesions in the deep subcutaneous compartment are more likely to be intermediate-grade/malignant lesions. Therefore, if considering excision biopsy as definitive treatment, a wider margin may be appropriate.

Advances in knowledge:
Small, indeterminate soft tissue masses can be aggressive and the anatomical depth within the subcutaneous tissue may be a potential indicator of histological aggressiveness.
Οι νοητικές αναπαραστάσεις των μαθητών της ΣΤ΄ τάξης του δημοτικού σχολείου για την έννοια του κυττάρου
Authors: Δημοπούλου Ιωάννα Δημήτριος , Φρούντα Μαρία 
Published: February 2020

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση των νοητικών αναπαραστάσεων των μαθητών της ΣΤ΄ τάξης δημοτικού σχετικά με την έννοια του κυττάρου. Συγκεκριμένα, στόχος είναι να διερευνηθεί αν οι μαθητές αντιλαμβάνονται το κύτταρο ως δομική μονάδα όλων των οργανισμών μετά από τη διδασκαλία του αντίστοιχου κεφαλαίου στο μάθημα «Φυσικά – Ερευνώ και Ανακαλύπτω». Για τον σκοπό αυτό, διεξήχθη έρευνα τον Απρίλιο του 2017 σε δύο δημόσια δημοτικά σχολεία. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτέλεσαν 90 μαθητές που είχαν διδαχθεί την αντίστοιχη ενότητα 4 μήνες πριν. Οι μαθητές συμπλήρωσαν ερωτηματολόγιο, αποτελούμενο από ερωτήσεις κλειστού και ανοιχτού τύπου. Τα αποτελέσματα μετά την ανάλυση των δεδομένων, έδειξαν ότι η πλειονότητα των μαθητών παρουσιάζει αδυναμία κατανόησης του κυττάρου ως δομικής μονάδας όλων των ζωντανών οργανισμών. Επιπλέον, οι μαθητές δυσκολεύονται να αντιληφθούν ότι ένα κύτταρο μπορεί να υπάρχει αυτόνομα ως μονοκύτταρος οργανισμός. Τέλος, έγινε σύγκριση των ευρημάτων της εν λόγω έρευνας με ανάλογα ευρήματα άλλων σχετικών ερευνών.
Some Aspects of the Process of Increasing the Level of Competitiveness of Graduates in the Labour Market
Authors: Sharonov M. , Sharonova V. 
Published: February 2020

The relevance and novelty of the work lies in its innovative approach to the interdisciplinary use of the factor as the tool of realization of the process of convergence, interpenetration and interconnection of disciplines with a view to producing competitive specialists with higher education with the necessary level of professional skills demanded on the labour market.
Purpose: proposal for the development of modern technologies for the introduction of interdisciplinary connections in the learning process in universities. Materials and methods: theoretical and practical developments on the basis of Academy of Public Administration and Russian University of cooperation. The result of the work: formation of certain amendments to the approximate educational programs using the interdisciplinary factor.
13 J direct-liquid-cooled solid-state disk laser with an unstable cavity
Authors: Ye Zhibin , Huge Jile , Deng Xiaolei , Jiang Shu , Wu Fei , Fang Jianwen , Wu Pinghui 
Published: February 2020

A 13 J direct-liquid-cooled solid-state disk laser with an unstable cavity is developed and demonstrated in this paper. The output energy of the resonant cavity is first analyzed according to the gain level in a stable cavity. At the optimum gain level, a magnification of 1.3 in the unstable cavity is achieved. Experimentally, a concave-convex mirror is used as the cavity mirror. At a magnification of 1.3, a repetition frequency of 100 Hz, and a pulse width of 350 µs, a single-pulse energy output of 13.2 J is obtained, corresponding to an optical-optical efficiency of 22% and a slope efficiency of 27.6%. The

x

-axis beam quality factor

β

is 4.7, and the

y

-axis beam quality factor

β

is 16.6.
Precise 3D particle localization over large axial ranges using secondary astigmatism
Authors: Zhou Yongzhuang , Carles Guillem 
Published: February 2020

We propose an analytical pupil phase function employing cropped secondary astigmatism for extended-depth nanoscale 3D-localization microscopy. The function provides high localization precision in all three dimensions, which can be maintained over extended axial ranges, customizable up to two orders of magnitude relative to the conventional, diffraction-limited imaging. This enables, for example, capturing nanoscale dynamics within a whole cell. The flexibility and simplicity in the implementation of the proposed phase function make its adoption in localization-based microscopy attractive. We demonstrate and validate its application to real-time imaging of 3D fluid flow over a depth of 40 µm with a numerical aperture of 0.8.
Compact all-fiber light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy for gas sensing
Authors: Hu Lien , Zheng Chuantao , Zhang Yu , Zheng Jie , Wang Yiding , Tittel Frank K. 
Published: February 2020

To overcome the limitations of size, optical alignment, and integration into photonic circuits in previous light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) using free-space optics, a compact all-fiber LITES was proposed for gas sensing. A hollow-core photonic crystal fiber was employed as a waveguide and a microcapillary gas cell simultaneously. A single-mode fiber (SMF) tip was employed to guide light on the quartz tuning fork (QTF) surface. The distance between the SMF tip and the QTF, and the light excitation position on the QTF’s surface were optimized experimentally. The detection performance of the all-fiber LITES was evaluated by detecting methane, and a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of

9.66

×

10

−
9

c
m

−
1

⋅

W

H
z

−
1

/

2

was realized at a 1 atm pressure and an environmental temperature of

∼

297

K

. The combination of fiber sensing and LITES allows a class of LITES sensors with compact size and potential for long-distance and multi-point sensing.
Tight focusing of a cylindrical vector beam by a hyperbolic secant gradient index lens
Authors: Stafeev Sergey S. , Kozlova Elena S. , Nalimov Anton G. , Kotlyar Victor V. 
Published: February 2020

In this Letter, we investigate the tight focusing of a second-order cylindrical vector beam by a hyperbolic secant gradient index lens with a thickness of 10 µm, a radius of 9.43 µm, and a refractive index on the axis of 3.47 (silicon). It is shown that the lens forms the reverse energy flow near its shadow surface. Moreover, it was obtained that the spherical hole in the center of the shadow plane with a diameter of 0.3 µm allows us to localize the direct energy flow inside the lens material and with the reverse energy flow in an area of free space.
Fully reversible spectral compression of arbitrary pulsed data signals
Authors: Romero Cortés Luis , Maram Reza , Azaña José 
Published: February 2020

Data signals consisting of arbitrarily modulated sequences of pulses are extensively used for processing and communication applications. The spectral extent of such signals is determined by the bandwidth of the individual pulses in the sequence, which imposes a fundamental limit to the maximum amount of information that can be transmitted or processed per time period. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate that the frequency spectrum occupied by a data-modulated pulse sequence can be significantly compressed to well below the individual pulse bandwidth while still maintaining the temporal duration of the pulses in the sequence and without losing any of the information carried by the signal. The proposed method involves fully reversible linear transformations of the data signal along the time and frequency domains. We demonstrate successful pulse-shape-preserving spectral compression and subsequent full waveform and information recovery of a

∼
10

Gb
/
s

optical pulse sequence, modulated by an arbitrary data pattern, liberating over 60% of its bandwidth. These findings should prove useful for applications in signal processing, communications, and others.
Práticas de Alfabetização na Perspectiva do Letramento / Literacy Practices from the Literacy Perspective
Authors: Ferreira Waleika Da Cruz , Araújo Espedito Fidelis de , Oliveira José Oreste de , Moura Francisco Marcôncio Targino de 
Published: February 2020

O presente trabalho apresenta uma discussão sobre a temática alfabetização e letramento. Fundamenta-se na perspectiva da teoria construtivista e do alfabetizar letrando onde se aproxima do processo natural do desenvolvimento psicológico da criança. Analisa e faz uma reflexão teórica em torno das práticas pedagógicas dos professores. Amplia essa reflexão com recomendações a respeito do alfabetizar na perspectiva do letramento. A temática busca investigar diferentes concepções baseadas em discussões de diferentes autores (SOARES, 2003; KRAMER, 1998; FRANCHI, 2012; FERREIRO, 2010) sobre práticas de alfabetização. Isto porque com o desenvolvimento da sociedade contemporânea apenas o acesso ao mecanismo da escrita não é suficiente para que o indivíduo participe da sociedade; é preciso, além de ser alfabetizado, saber fazer uso da leitura e da escrita nos contextos sociais em que está inserido.
DIALEKTIKA TAFSIR DAN KEMAJUAN PENGETAHUAN DALAM TRANSPLANTASI ORGAN BABI PADA MANUSIA
Authors: Nurmansyah Ihsan 
Published: February 2020

The advancement of knowledge and technology presents its own challenges to Muslims’ socio-religious life. One of them is the progress in the medical field regarding organ transplants of animals to humans. Religious problems arise when animals used in transplantation are those that are deemed unlawful (haram) by Islamic texts. On the one hand, organ transplants provide benefits for humanity, but on the other, donors of transplants are unlawful animals. This paper examines the lawfulness of using the body parts of pigs, whose unlawfulness is stated in many verses of the Qur'an. This study uses a contextual interpretation introduced by Abdullah Saeed. Based on contextual considerations, this study concludes that QS. al-Baqarah: 173, QS. al-Maidah: 3, QS. al-Anam: 145 and QS. an-Nahl: 115 prohibit pork for consumption. The commentators of the Qur’an have differences of opinion concerning the uses of pigs beyond consumption. This paper suggests that using the body parts of pigs is legitimate. This is reinforced by QS. al-Baqarah: 173 which explains an emergency context. Pigs do not belong to the category of najis ‘aini, which allows it to be transplanted into the human body. However, some conditions need to be fulfilled for transplantation. The transplantation permitted if these is not rise risk of further to harm and a recommendation from the doctor about the patient's condition.