bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observation and quantification of aerosol outflow from southern Africa using spaceborne lidar
Authors: McGill Matthew J. , Swap Robert J. , Yorks John E. , Selmer Patrick A. , Piketh Stuart J. 
Published: March 2020

Biomass burning in Africa provides a prolific source of aerosols that are transported from the source region to distant areas, as far away as South America and Australia. Models have long predicted the primary outflow and transport routes. Over time, field studies have validated the basic production and dynamics that underlie these transport patterns. In more recent years, the advancement of spaceborne active remote-sensing techniques has allowed for more detailed verification of the models and, importantly, verification of the vertical distribution of the aerosols in the transport regions, particularly with respect to westerly transport over the Atlantic Ocean. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar on the International Space Station has detection sensitivity that provides observations that support long-held theories of aerosol transport from the African subcontinent over the remote Indian Ocean and as far downstream as Australia.
Significance:

Biomass burning in Africa can have impacts as far away as Australia.
Flow of aerosols from Africa towards Australia has long been postulated by transport models, but has been poorly characterised due to a lack of measurements.
The CATS instrument on the International Space Station has detection sensitivity that captures aerosol transport from Africa over the Indian Ocean to Australia.

Open data set:
https://cats.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Pleistocene large reptile tracks and probable swim traces on South Africa’s Cape south coast
Authors: Helm Charles W. , Cawthra Hayley C. , Combrink Xander , Helm Carina J.Z. , Rust Renée , Stear Willo , Van den Heever Alex 
Published: March 2020

The Cape south coast of South Africa contains a wealth of Pleistocene vertebrate trace fossil sites in aeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits. Published studies have described mammal and avian tracksites identified along this coastline. We report here on a number of Pleistocene palaeosurfaces within the Garden Route National Park that exhibit tracks of large reptiles, including probable swim traces. The tracks were probably made by more than one species, and may include a crocodylian. There are no extant reptiles in this coastal region capable of making such tracks and traces, which probably represent an indication of a previously more extensive range for the Nile crocodile and a monitor lizard. These findings demonstrate the potential for ichnology to complement the traditional body fossil record. Two Middle Stone Age stone artifacts were found embedded in one palaeosurface containing multiple reptile trackways. These discoveries have implications for the understanding of Pleistocene palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate – in an area which is important in the study of modern human origins.
Significance:

Large reptile Pleistocene fossil tracksites have recently been discovered on the Cape south coast of South Africa where there are no previous such records, and no reptiles of this size are currently found in the region.
These sites include the first reported probable reptile swim traces in Africa and one tracksite also contained two Middle Stone Age artifacts.
These discoveries have implications for Pleistocene environments and climate on the Cape south coast.
Gender pay transparency mechanisms: Future directions for South Africa
Authors: Bosch Anita , Barit Shimon 
Published: March 2020

The gender pay gap – that is, the difference in wages between men and women for the same or substantially the same work, or work of equal value – still features prominently as a stumbling block in achieving South African gender equality. If South Africa is to dislodge its stagnant gender pay gap, especially for women in the middle and upper levels of the wage distribution, pay transparency – making gender differences in wages known to employees, government and the public – can compel employers to remunerate fairly and equally. We undertook a comparison between the global and national mechanisms of gender pay transparency to propose a way forward to increase transparency in gender pay for South Africa. In addition to a discussion of existing mechanisms, a summary of the gender pay transparency mechanisms of 16 countries is provided as supplementary material to the article. We found that South Africa could strengthen legislated transparency mechanisms, especially with regard to pay reporting and pay audits, provided that sanctions are attached to non-delivery of these duties. Reigniting the debate on strengthening and improving South African legislation and interpretation of existing governance codes in relation to the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of gender pay transparency mechanisms could strengthen the existing collective bargaining framework and provide the impetus to demonstrate that South Africa sees gender equality as an achievable reality, not an improbable ideology.
Significance:

Despite the presence of constitutional rights and enabling legislation to prevent workplace gender discrimination, South Africa continues to see a stagnant median gender pay gap of between 23% and 35%.
This study provides a global analysis to reinvigorate the debate on how South Africa can strengthen transparency mechanisms to close the gender pay gap.
Legislators, activists, board members, trade unions, academics, and organisational leaders are provided with suggestions on transparency mechanisms to improve efforts towards economic gender equality for South Africa.
Tratado Prático Sobre Funções de Singularidade: Modelamento de Cargas em Vigas de Concreto Armado
Authors: Serpa Nilo 
Published: March 2020

<p>Present treatise deals with applications of singularity functions from a broad perspective in civil engineering, extending its use to hyperstatics, and deepening mathematical questions little explored before. The content is presented through examples discussed in detail, giving to the reader a clear and objective reading. Original mathematical formulations are developed, such as the Macaulay-Serpa series. The treatise is extended to the calculation of hyperstatic porticoes and to the modeling of triangular loads. In this context, the theory appears as an important instrument for the analysis of ruptures in reinforced concrete beams. For the accomplishment of this treatise, an exhaustive search of bibliographical references was made, showing that the existent literature on the subject, mostly of foreign origin, is quite limited.</p><p class="-1"><strong>Key words: </strong>Singularity functions, reinforced concrete, hyperstatics, discontinuous loading, elastic curve.</p><p class="-1">==================================================================================== </p><p>O presente tratado versa sobre aplicações das funções de singularidade numa ampla perspectiva da engenharia civil, estendendo seu uso à hiperestática e aprofundando questões matemáticas pouco exploradas anteriormente. O conteúdo é apresentado através de exemplos discutidos em detalhes, proporcionando ao leitor uma leitura clara e objetiva. Formulações matemáticas originais são desenvolvidas, como a série Macaulay-Serpa. O tratado é estendido ao cálculo de pórticos hiperestáticos e à modelagem de cargas triangulares. Nesse contexto, a teoria aparece como um instrumento importante para a análise de rupturas em vigas de concreto armado. Para a realização deste tratado, foi feita uma busca exaustiva das referências bibliográficas, mostrando que a literatura existente sobre o assunto, principalmente de origem estrangeira, é bastante limitada.</p><p class="-1"><strong>Palavras-Chave: </strong>Funções de singularidade, concreto armado, hiperestática, carga descontínua, curva elástica. </p>
Can an abts antioxidant test be performed without a spectrophotometer?
Authors: AKAR Zeynep , ARSLAN BURNAZ Nesibe 
Published: March 2020

ABTS• + (2,2-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radical scavenging assay is widely used to determine the antioxidant activity of natural and synthetic substances. As other antioxidant activity determination methods, a spectrophotometer device is needed to determine the numerical value of the color formed in ABTS method. Therefore, the dependence on the device is disadvantageous due to especially the high cost and restriction of workspace. To overcome this disadvantage, a new colorimetric method in the determination of antioxidant activity for ABTS method was developed with the help of a scanner device and free software (Image J). Mixtures (plant extracts and antioxidant standards) in this new colorimetric method were prepared as in the spectrophotometric method and, after the incubation period, each of these reagent mixtures was dropped onto the thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate. Then the colors that appeared on the thin layer chromatography were transferred to the computer with the help of a scanner and CSC50 values (the color value of the antioxidant concentration required to scavenge 50% of the ABTS radical in the test solution using Image J software) were measured with free software of Image J. The same measurements were performed simultaneously on the spectrophotometer. The results of both methods were compared. There was a strong correlation between the new colorimetric method and the spectrophotometric method for ABTS. Thus, the new colorimetric method for the ABTS test has become easily applicable since no spectrophotometer device is needed and in all environments.
La reformulación de la política exterior argentina en el gobierno de Macri: el difícil equilibrio entre los cambios globales y las crisis domésticas (2015–2018)
Authors: Palacio Priscila 
Published: March 2020

<p>El trabajo analiza la política exterior de Macri, argumentando que factores domésticos conllevaron a cambiar el posicionamiento internacional que había adoptado Argentina con C. Kirchner. Pero los cambios globales parecen imponer un pragmatismo que contradice el idealismo macrista a la vez que la crisis de la economía argentina dificultó consolidar el nuevo paradigma. El marco de análisis es el realismo clásico, incorporando el rol de los factores domésticos en la política mundial (Gilpin 1981). El estudio principia con un planteo teórico; luego se exponen acontecimientos mundiales que denotan un auge del proteccionismo en el siglo XXI. Finalmente, se analiza la política exterior de Macri, destacando las restricciones que impuso la economía doméstica.</p>
How has GIRFEC Affected Multi-Agency Working in the Assessment Process?
Authors: Rasheed Hanin 
Published: March 2020

GIRFEC approach was carried out in this research in order to test the effectiveness, durability and strength along with its shortcomings, which works for the betterment of children and youth of Scotland (Government of Scotland, 2015). The study carried out by the author is to understand the interpretation and calculations of the multiple agencies that work for this cause.The existences of these agencies is not a new thing in Scottish environment and with the participation of parents and these agencies, the researcher found that for many years now, working of the agencies together in order to support team work had been encouraged. As the collaboration of the parents and multiple agencies has its perks and showed better results over the years, there were many researches that showed that in some agencies, they lacked team work and they were not compatible and because of that it resulted into deaths of many children across the UK (Hammond et al., 2010; Laming, 2003; Lord, 2009, Department for Education, 2010). Researcher in the current study focal point revolved around the idea of how the agencies carried out their investigations and if it had shown any better results for the parents and their children.
Consumer Attitude toward Fast Food Consumption: A Study on University Students in Dhaka City
Authors: Akhter Mst. Momena 
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to analyze the attitude of the university students regarding fast food consumption in Dhaka city. For the purpose of the study the data were collected from both the private and public universities and the sample size was 360. Factor analysis was conducted to recognize to preference factors of the students regarding their fast food consumption. Results show that 94.2% of the respondents like fast food and 48.10% of them make one to three visits in a month. The study reveals that the most obvious reason for taking fast food is for the sake of convenience. They also give importance to taste, price, food quality, atmosphere, payment method, service quality, location, and atmosphere of the restaurants that help the students to get pleasure and socialize with their classmates. Data suggest that students frequently consume fast food and are willing to give time, effort and price to eat at their favorite restaurant.
Follow up of growth, development and clinical outcome in neonates discharged from the NICU of tertiary care hospital in central India
Authors: C. Prithvichandra K. , Ghanghoriya Pawan K. 
Published: March 2020

Background: To assess the growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of all newborn discharged from the NICU of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur on follow up for 6 months.Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of 200 high risk newborn discharged from NICU. Babies were called for follow up at 1 month, 2 months, 4 month and 6 months of corrected age and detailed information was taken regarding NICU stay and morbidity with the help of data available from discharge card. Anthropometric parameters like weight, length, and head circumference were noted. Suitable screening tests like denver’s developmental screening test for Indian infants (DDSTII) for NDD (neurodevelopmental delay) and Amiel Tison scoring for tone assessment was done.Results: Among the 200 NICU graduates chosen, 40 lost during follow up. The neurodevelopmental delay in this study was 31.3%. Authors also analysed NDD according to gestational age wise groups. NDD in pre-terms was 39.6%. The developmental delay was more in babies with neonatal sepsis, perinatal asphyxia, prematurity, RDS, NEC etc.Conclusions: The morbidities like severe perinatal asphyxia, hypoglycaemia, seizures, shock, hypoxia, hypothermia, low gestational age have direct association with NDD.
Comparison of neonatal electroencephalogram changes in three month old neonates with seizure in Bu-Ali Hospital of Ardabil city, Iran 2017
Authors: Ahmadabadi Farzad , Mirzarahimi Mehrdad , Babaei Masoumeh , Dardashti Sanaz Karimi 
Published: March 2020

Background: The prevalence of neonatal seizure in term neonates is 3 per 1000 births, but in preterm newborns is 50 per 1000 births. Babies who have seizures are at high risk of death or neurological disabilities. Seizure is often the first sign of neonatal dysfunction and may be effective in long-term prognosis. EEG is the only available method for the diagnosis of seizures in neonates. Therefore, authors compared EEG changes in the first EEG infant seizure with 3 months of age in newborns who referred to the Aristotelian hospital in Bouali Hospital.Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive analytical method. In this study, neonates referred to Ardabil Booali Hospital, EEG, were screened for seizure and EEG was monitored 3 months later and the results were evaluated. Finally, all the data were entered into the SPSS-24 statistical analysis program and authors analyzed the data according to the type of variables by statistical tests.Results: In this study, 50 neonates with seizure were enrolled in this study, 70% of which had an average age of 14.92 days. 80% of infants were born at the time of term. The average birth weight was 3.208 kg. 6.2% of infants had abnormal CT scan findings, with an IVH infant and one baby showing brain edema. In this study, only 14% of neonates with abnormal brain strain were observed in the neonatal period and near the seizure. However, after 3 months, 40% of infants experienced abnormal brain stroke findings. Among the changes in EEG with age (p=0.173), gestational age (p=0.616), gender (p=0.176), seizure (p=0.145), neonatal hypoglycemia (p=0.594), hypocalcaemia (p=0.607) no statistic was found.Conclusions: The results of this study showed that a small percentage of neonates had abnormal EEG in the neonate, but after 3 months of seizure, the larger percentage of them found abnormal EEG.
A prospective study of inflammatory biomarkers in neonatal sepsis at a tertiary level hospital
Authors: Paimode Sandeep D. , Sharma Kuldeep Kumar , Kour Navjot 
Published: March 2020

Background: Sepsis in neonates is a syndrome which is characterized clinically by systemic symptoms or signs of infection and associated with bacteremia in the first 28 days of life. More than 40% of under-five deaths globally occur in the neonatal period, resulting in 3.1 million newborn deaths each year. Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early diagnostic tool for neonatal sepsis.Methods: Present prospective cross- sectional observational study was conducted at NICU of Base hospital, Delhi Cantonment from 1st Dec 2016 to Jan 31st, 2018. Universal sampling technique was followed. SPSS version 21 was used for statistical analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant.Results: Out of the total 440 cases, 63% were males while rest 37% were females. Mean gestation age and birth weight of the babies was 35.6 weeks and 2.13 Kg respectively. Raised/ decreased Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) and raised pro calcitonin levels were seen in 23% and 19.8% cases respectively.Conclusions: These results indicated that the sensitivity of procalcitonin was higher than TLC for the diagnosis of culture proven neonatal sepsis. Hence, PCT is a more sensitive and useful biomarker for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
Diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction targeting insertion sequence IS1081 for the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis
Authors: Firoz Shehraz , Bhatt Sonia 
Published: March 2020

Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PCR targeting IS1081in diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis and compare the results with MGIT culture.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of pediatrics, S.N. medical college, Agra. 100 subjects (28 pulmonary 72 extra pulmonary) were registered in study. The specimens obtained from these cases were subjected to Ziehl–Neelsen staining (ZN), MGIT 960 TB culture and PCR targeting insertion sequence IS1081. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of PCR were calculated in pulmonary and extra pulmonary specimens. The results of PCR IS1081 were compared to MGIT culture.Results: Microscopy with ZN staining was positive in 12 (12%) samples. MGIT culture was positive in 44% samples with maximum positivity in sputum (70%). PCR IS1081 has shown 93.3% sensitivity in pulmonary tuberculosis, while PCR IS1081 has shown 93.1% sensitivity in extra pulmonary tuberculosis. In diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis PCR IS1081 was found to be statistically significant (p value <0.05) as compared with MGIT culture. Result was statistically significant (p value <0.05) in CSF samples only.Conclusions: The study concluded that the PCR targeting sequence IS1081 technique is the most sensitive technique for a quick identification of MTB in pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis.
Compliance with 14 day zinc therapy for acute diarrhoea: a prospective observational study
Authors: Veerapandiyan Ajayprakash , Pandit Deepti , Sridharan Sujatha , Umadevi L. 
Published: March 2020

Background: Acute diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality in young children. The effective implementation of provision of zinc in addition to low osmolarity ORS remains very poor.Methods: A prospective observational study was done to determine compliance with zinc therapy on 103 children aged between two months to five years with acute gastroenteritis. They were started on WHO ORS and zinc in the form of syrup (20 mg/day in those >6 months of age and 10mg/day in those <6 months of age) and advised to continue for 14 days. Further episodes of diarrhea was considered as the primary outcome variable. Number of days zinc taken was considered as the primary explanatory variable. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age was 19.49±14.41 months. The compliance to complete 14-day zinc therapy was 62.14%. The mean number of days zinc was taken was 11.28±3.81 days. In 11.65% of participants, there was further episodes of diarrhea. The main reasons for discontinuation were diarrhea stopped (45%), Ignorance (37.5%), URI (12.5%).Conclusions: Findings indicate that the syrup formulation is acceptable, but further efforts are required to enhance adherence. These findings also highlight the importance of guiding in ensuring adherence to zinc duration while also addressing the tendency of caregivers to terminate treatment once a child appears to have recovered from an acute diarrheal episode.
Haematological profile and its outcome in different species of malaria: a two year study
Authors: Gangaram Usham , Dorasanamma Malli , Sarikonda Giri Raju , Ramya Tupili 
Published: March 2020

Background: Malaria is a major health problem in many parts of India and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, which is also one of the endemic areas for malaria. Several factors have been attributed to increased morbidity and mortality in malaria especially with altered hematological and coagulation parameters playing an important role. The aim of present study was to study the hematological and coagulation abnormalities that correspond to severity and the final outcome.Methods: The present study was carried out on 100 patients admitted during the period of November 2016 to October 2018 at Narayana Medical College and hospital, Nellore. All of these patients were confirmed by Peripheral Smear or MPQBC or Antigen Assay followed by detailed clinical history, physical examination and investigated with hematological and coagulation parameters. Then subsequently required routine and special investigation which was followed by monitoring the outcome of the patients with respect to morbidity and mortality.Results: Out of 100 patients 20 patients had severe anemia (Hb% <7 gm%) and most of them patients were falciparum and mixed infection cases. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 63% of the patients and severe thrombocytopenia (<50,000 mm3) was seen in 12% of the patients. PT and APTT were increased in 18% and 13% of the cases respectively. BT was increased in 5% of the cases. None of the patients expired in this study.Conclusions: severe anemia is a poor prognostic factor and has adverse outcome. Thrombocytopenia, increased PT, APTT does not have any correlation to mortality.