bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitigating building collapse in Nigeria
Authors: Qurix Williams Barnabas , Doshu Rahila Gugule 
Published: November 2020

The past ten years (2010- 2020), an overwhelming number of buildings (forty-eight) have collapsed in Nigerian urban cities, with about 77% rise from the previous decade. To address this menace, the study aimed at exploring major causes of building collapse in Nigeria as perceived by building industry professionals, policy makers and the public; with a view of establishing effective ways for mitigation. The primary data were obtained from Questionnaires and field observations while secondary data were obtained from textbooks, Journal articles and newspapers. The results revealed that factors such as change of use for building without following professional protocols is a major cause of building collapse. Poor supervision or lack of supervision by qualified professionals; substandard materials, structural failure; government controlling agency not monitoring projects and standards are compromised, a significant amount (27.7%) of collapse cases recorded during constructions. Other factors include faulty architectural and engineering designs; clients not ready to pay for quality jobs and contractors cut corners for profit. The study recommends use of Building Information Modelling to predict behaviour of buildings under various loading and environmental conditions. Also, only certified professionals should carry out design and supervision of projects. Further research should evaluate the role of technology on existing buildings to check the level of safety for occupants’ in such buildings.
СТРУКТУРА МОДЕЛІ СУЧАСНОГО ВНУТРІШНЬОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА ЦИВІЛЬНИХ БУДІВЕЛЬ
Authors: Кисіль С. С. , Абизов В. А. , Агліуллін Р. М. 
Published: November 2020

Purpose. Establishment and development the model's structure of the modern internal environment research of civil buildings in accordance with the formation hierarchical levels of it’s constituent elements. Methodology. The study is based on systemic and environmental approaches that allow us to consider the interior space of civil buildings as a hierarchically subordinate integrity. Methods of comparative, typological analysis and experimental design are also used. Results. The modern internal environment analysis of civil buildings on the basis of systemic and environmental research approaches. The interior space’s structural model of the civil buildings has been developed in order to further identify possible changes in this system, to predict its future state, trends and development prospects. A wide range of design and artistic tasks that are in the process of solving the complex formation of civil buildings the internal environment are taken into account and its direct connection with functional, socio-economic, technical, technological and environmental issues is determined. The presented model of the civil buildings internal environment in the form of three areas: architectural − construction of a functional planning structure; design − subject content of the internal environment and artistic and aesthetic − the synthesis of arts and the use of natural elements. Scientific novelty. The structure of the model of the modern internal environment of civil buildings in accordance with the revealed hierarchical levels of formation of ther constituent parts is offered. Practical significance. The developed structure of the model of the modern interior of civil buildings will be useful for the practice of design, reconstruction, modernization of the interior space and will contribute to ensuring the artistic and aesthetic expressiveness of the internal environment of civil buildings.
АНТРОПОМОРФНІ ОБРАЗИ МАСКАРОНІВ У ЛЬВІВСЬКІЙ АРХІТЕКТУРНО-ДЕКОРАТИВНІЙ ПЛАСТИЦІ ХІХ – ПОЧАТКУ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ
Authors: Кукіль Л. Л. 
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the study is to analyze the information load and plastic solutions of the anthropomorphic mascarons on the facades of Lviv buildings of the XIX – early XX centuries. Methodology. The article uses general scientific research methods: the historical and comparative method; the method of synthesis and the art history analysis. Research results. The Lviv architectural and decorative plastics of the 19th and early 20th century is characterized by a widespread typology of the mascarons on the facades of the buildings. Various types of faces of old Lviv street, paired male and female images, which represent the unity and the harmony of two beginnings (portraits of married couples), as well as the generalized artistic images, belong to the number of the anthropomorphic maskarons of Lviv of the specified period. The article analyzes the information load and the plastic-stylistic features of various anthropomorphic maskarons of the typological group under study. The authors of the various types of old Lviv street emphasized the efforts to convey the character of the depicted faces. Their artistic expression is enhanced by some personal attributes. This applies to the paired and the generic Lviv maskarons to a lesser extent. On the basis of an art historical analysis of a number of specific samples of the anthropomorphic mascarons of Lviv of the 19th and early 20th century, a species classification of the given typological group has been developed. Scientific novelty. Detected and analyzed the information load and plastic characteristics peculiarities of the mascarons in Lviv architectural and decorative sculpture of the XIX – early XX centuries. Practical ignificance. The proposed article is part of a comprehensive study of the broad typology of the Lviv maskarons of the 19th and early 20th century. The results of the work open up some opportunities for a further research of the groups and the subgroups of the Lviv mascarons and for a detailed art historical analysis of some individual original samples of relief faces of Lviv of the studied period.
Soil Erosion and its Effects on Maize Field as Modified by Amendments in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Abdullah Al Shoumik Baig , Sanaul Islam Md. 
Published: November 2020

The coastal soils of Bangladesh are preferentially dominated by silt content and stressed by salinity (Na+) as well as low humus content . Hence, these soils are moderately to extremely vulnerable to water erosion, which is a major form of land degradation. The aim of this study was to estimate the soil erosion rate from maize fields in the southwestern coastal region. A field experiment was conducted on maize grown field, which is nearly level, moderately saline, and silt dominated coastal land. The plots were amended with inorganic fertilizer, sieved sand, and decomposed cow dung. Each runoff plot was connected to separate reservoirs and was exposed to rainfall. From the erosive rainstorms, representative critical rainfall intensity was determined. The entrapped eroded material in the reservoirs was collected to estimate the loss of soil. The efficacy of the applied amendments was studied in terms of lowering seasonal (maize growth period) soil loss and erosion associated deterioration of relevant soil parameters. This study revealed that CRI was ≥15 mm h-1. The soil loss during the maize growth period from inorganic fertilizer, cow dung, and sand amended runoff plots were 64(±7) t ha-1 y-1, 51(±5) t ha-1 y-1, and 23(±2) t ha-1 y-1, respectively. The changes in soil properties indicated that after initial erosion, vulnerability to further erosion increased.
Diagnostic Yield of Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Children: A Three Years Experience
Authors: Joshi Binita Gurubacharya , Ghimire Madhu 
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Gastrointestinal disorders are very common in paediatric population. Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy procedures have increased dramatically worldwide and have contributed in identification of various gastrointestinal disorders along with therapeutic benefits. However, it is recently being established in paediatric population in Nepal and proper data is scarce. This study was aimed to assess upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with respect to its indications and diagnostic yield at a tertiary centre over a three years period.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study where data of all paediatric patients between the age group 0 - 15 years having various gastrointestinal problems who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from March 2013 - Feb 2016 in our centre were analysed.
Results: Among 270 patients, males comprised 60% and females comprised 40%. Age range was 0 - 15 years and majority were from the age group between 10 to 15 years (66.2%). Most common indications for endoscopy were chronic abdominal pain (58.8%), acute epigastric pain (18.5%), followed by failure to thrive (7%). Abnormal findings were detected in 250 patients (92.5%); gastroduodenitis (28.14%), antral gastritis (18.51%), erosive gastritis (15.92%), duodenitis (9.25%), hiatus hernia (7.4%), varices (5.5%) were common findings. Histopathologically, chronic gastritis and duodenitis (72%) were common findings followed by acute gastritis and giardiasis. Among 80 patients who underwent RUT, 50% each had positive and negative results.
Conclusion: Chronic abdominal pain remains common gastrointestinal problem in children. With the advent of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy various gastrointestinal problems can be identified and managed accordingly. Along with the facility of histopathology, diagnostic yield and outcome is further enhanced.
The role of indocyanine green fluorescence in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery and its imaging correlations
Authors: Shahein Mostafa , Prevedello Daniel M. , Beaumont Thomas L. , Ismail Khalid , Nouby Radwan , Palettas Marilly , Prevedello Luciano M. , Otto Bradley A. , Carrau Ricardo L. 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE
The use of endoscope-integrated indocyanine green (E-ICG) has recently been introduced in skull base surgery. The quantitative correlation between E-ICG and T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced (T1WGd) images for skull base tumors has not been previously assessed, to the authors’ knowledge. In this study, the authors investigated the indications for use and the limitations of E-ICG and sought to correlate the endoscopic fluorescence pattern with MRI contrast enhancement.

METHODS
Following IRB approval, 20 patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery between June 2017 and August 2018 were enrolled in the study. Tumor fluorescence was measured using a blue color value and blood fluorescence as a control. Signal intensities (SIs) of tumor T1WGd images were measured and the internal carotid artery (ICA) SI was used as a control. For pituitary adenoma, the pituitary gland fluorescence was also measured. The relationships between ICG fluorescence and MRI enhancement measurements were analyzed.

RESULTS
Data showed that in pituitary adenoma there was a strong correlation between the ratios of gland/blood fluorescence to gland/ICA SI (n = 8; r = 0.92; p = 0.001) and tumor/blood fluorescence to tumor/ICA SI (n = 9; r = 0.82; p = 0.006). In other pathologies there was a strong correlation between the ratios of tumor/blood fluorescence and tumor/ICA SI (n = 9; r = 0.74; p = 0.022). The ICG fluorescence allowed perfusion assessment of the pituitary gland as well as of the nasoseptal flaps. Visualization of the surrounding vasculature was also feasible.

CONCLUSIONS
Defining the indications and understanding the limitations are critical for the effective use of E-ICG. Tumor fluorescence seems to correlate with preoperative MRI contrast enhancement.
Predicting the consistency of intracranial meningiomas using apparent diffusion coefficient maps derived from preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging
Authors: Miyoshi Kenya , Wada Tsukasa , Uwano Ikuko , Sasaki Makoto , Saura Hiroaki , Fujiwara Shunrou , Takahashi Fumiaki , Tsushima Eiki , Ogasawara Kuniaki 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE
The consistency of meningiomas is a critical factor affecting the difficulty of resection, operative complications, and operative time. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and is calculated using two optimized b values. While the results of comparisons between the standard ADC and the consistency of meningiomas vary, the shifted ADC has been reported to be strongly correlated with liver stiffness. The purpose of the present prospective cohort study was to determine whether preoperative standard and shifted ADC maps predict the consistency of intracranial meningiomas.

METHODS
Standard (b values 0 and 1000 sec/mm2) and shifted (b values 200 and 1500 sec/mm2) ADC maps were calculated using preoperative DWI in patients undergoing resection of intracranial meningiomas. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed within the tumor on standard and shifted ADC maps and registered on the navigation system. Tumor tissue located at the registered ROI was resected through craniotomy, and its stiffness was measured using a durometer. The cutoff point lying closest to the upper left corner of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was determined for the detection of tumor stiffness such that an ultrasonic aspirator or scissors was always required for resection. Each tumor tissue sample with stiffness greater than or equal to or less than this cutoff point was defined as hard or soft tumor, respectively.

RESULTS
For 76 ROIs obtained from 25 patients studied, significant negative correlations were observed between stiffness and the standard ADC (ρ = −0.465, p < 0.01) and the shifted ADC (ρ = −0.490, p < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve for detecting hard tumor (stiffness ≥ 20.8 kPa) did not differ between the standard ADC (0.820) and the shifted ADC (0.847) (p = 0.39). The positive predictive value (PPV) for the combination of a low standard ADC and a low shifted ADC for detecting hard tumor was 89%. The PPV for the combination of a high standard ADC and a high shifted ADC for detecting soft tumor (stiffness < 20.8 kPa) was 81%.

CONCLUSIONS
A combination of standard and shifted ADC maps derived from preoperative DWI can be used to predict the consistency of intracranial meningiomas.
Finite element modeling to compare craniocervical motion in two age-matched pediatric patients without or with Down syndrome: implications for the role of bony geometry in craniocervical junction instability
Authors: Astin J. Harley , Wilkerson Christopher G. , Dailey Andrew T. , Ellis Benjamin J. , Brockmeyer Douglas L. 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVEInstability of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) is a well-known finding in patients with Down syndrome (DS); however, the relative contributions of bony morphology versus ligamentous laxity responsible for abnormal CCJ motion are unknown. Using finite element modeling, the authors of this study attempted to quantify those relative differences.METHODSTwo CCJ finite element models were created for age-matched pediatric patients, a patient with DS and a control without DS. Soft tissues and ligamentous structures were added based on bony landmarks from the CT scans. Ligament stiffness values were assigned using published adult ligament stiffness properties. Range of motion (ROM) testing determined that model behavior most closely matched pediatric cadaveric data when ligament stiffness values were scaled down to 25% of those found in adults. These values, along with those assigned to the other soft-tissue materials, were identical for each model to ensure that the only variable between the two was the bone morphology. The finite element models were then subjected to three types of simulations to assess ROM, anterior-posterior (AP) translation displacement, and axial tension.RESULTSThe DS model exhibited more laxity than the normal model at all levels for all of the cardinal ROMs and AP translation. For the CCJ, the flexion-extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, and AP translation values predicted by the DS model were 40.7%, 52.1%, 26.1%, and 39.8% higher, respectively, than those for the normal model. When simulating axial tension, the soft-tissue structural stiffness values predicted by the DS and normal models were nearly identical.CONCLUSIONSThe increased laxity exhibited by the DS model in the cardinal ROMs and AP translation, along with the nearly identical soft-tissue structural stiffness values exhibited in axial tension, calls into question the previously held notion that ligamentous laxity is the sole explanation for craniocervical instability in DS.
Long-term radiographic outcomes of expandable versus static cages in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Authors: Chang Chih-Chang , Chou Dean , Pennicooke Brenton , Rivera Joshua , Tan Lee A. , Berven Sigurd , Mummaneni Praveen V. 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVEPotential advantages of using expandable versus static cages during transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are not fully established. The authors aimed to compare the long-term radiographic outcomes of expandable versus static TLIF cages.METHODSA retrospective review of 1- and 2-level TLIFs over a 10-year period with expandable and static cages was performed at the University of California, San Francisco. Patients with posterior column osteotomy (PCO) were subdivided. Fusion assessment, cage subsidence, anterior and posterior disc height, foraminal dimensions, pelvic incidence (PI), segmental lordosis (SL), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis mismatch (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were assessed.RESULTSA consecutive series of 178 patients (with a total of 210 levels) who underwent TLIF using either static (148 levels) or expandable cages (62 levels) was reviewed. The mean patient age was 60.3 ± 11.5 years and 62.8 ± 14.1 years for the static and expandable cage groups, respectively. The mean follow-up was 42.9 ± 29.4 months for the static cage group and 27.6 ± 14.1 months for the expandable cage group. Within the 1-level TLIF group, the SL and PI-LL improved with statistical significance regardless of whether PCO was performed; however, the static group with PCOs also had statistically significant improvement in LL and SVA. The expandable cage with PCO subgroup had significant improvement in SL only. All of the foraminal parameters improved with statistical significance, regardless of the type of cages used; however, the expandable cage group had greater improvement in disc height restoration. The incidence of cage subsidence was higher in the expandable group (19.7% vs 5.4%, p = 0.0017). Within the expandable group, the unilateral facetectomy-only subgroup had a 5.6 times higher subsidence rate than the PCO subgroup (26.8% vs 4.8%, p = 0.04). Four expandable cages collapsed over time.CONCLUSIONSExpandable TLIF cages may initially restore disc height better than static cages, but they also have higher rates of subsidence. Unilateral facetectomy alone may result in more subsidence with expandable cages than using bilateral PCO, potentially because of insufficient facet release. Although expandable cages may have more power to induce lordosis and restore disc height than static cages, subsidence and endplate violation may negate any significant gains compared to static cages.
Neurosurgical versus endovascular treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: a multicenter study of 195 patients
Authors: Takai Keisuke , Endo Toshiki , Yasuhara Takao , Seki Toshitaka , Watanabe Kei , Tanaka Yuki , Kurokawa Ryu , Kanaya Hideaki , Honda Fumiaki , Itabashi Takashi , Ishikawa Osamu , Murata Hidetoshi , Tanaka Takahiro , Nishimura Yusuke , Eguchi Kaoru , Takami Toshihiro , Watanabe Yusuke , Nishida Takeo , Hiramatsu Masafumi , Ohtonari Tatsuya , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Mitsuhara Takafumi , Matsui Seishi , Uchikado Hisaaki , Hattori Gohsuke , Yamahata Hitoshi , Taniguchi Makoto 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the present study was to compare the treatment success rates of primary neurosurgical and endovascular treatments in patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs).METHODSData from 199 consecutive patients with thoracic and lumbosacral spinal dAVFs were collected from 18 centers. Angiographic and clinical findings, the rate of initial treatment failure or recurrence by procedures, risk factors for treatment failure, complications, and neurological outcomes were statistically analyzed.RESULTSSpinal dAVFs were frequently detected in the thoracic region (81%), fed by a single feeder (86%), and shunted into an intradural vein via the dura mater. The fistulous connection between the feeder(s) and intradural vein was located at a single spinal level in 195 patients (98%) and at 2 independent levels in 4 patients (2%). Among the neurosurgical (n = 145), and endovascular (n = 50) treatment groups of single dAVFs (n = 195), the rate of initial treatment failure or recurrence was significantly higher in the index endovascular treatment group (0.68% and 36%). A multivariate analysis identified endovascular treatment as an independent risk factor with significantly higher odds of initial treatment failure or recurrence (OR 69; 95% CI 8.7–546). The rate of complications did not significantly differ between the two treatment groups (4.1% for neurosurgical vs 4.0% for endovascular treatment). With a median follow-up of 26 months, improvements of ≥ 1 point in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and Aminoff-Logue gait and Aminoff-Logue micturition grades were observed in 111 (56%), 121 (61%), and 79 (40%) patients, respectively. Independent risk factors for lack of improvement in the Aminoff-Logue gait grades were multiple treatments due to initial treatment failure or recurrence (OR 3.1) and symptom duration (OR 1.02).CONCLUSIONSBased on data obtained from the largest and most recently assessed multicenter cohort, the present study shows that primary neurosurgery is superior to endovascular treatment for the complete obliteration of spinal dAVFs by a single procedure.
Superselective pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling in patients with meningioma: utility in prediction of feeding arteries and preoperative embolization feasibility
Authors: Yoo Dong Hyun , Sohn Chul-Ho , Cho Young Dae , Kang Hyun-Seung , Park Chul-Kee , Kim Jin Wook , Kim Jae Hyoung 
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE
Superselective pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (ss-pCASL) is an MRI technique in which individual vessels are labeled to trace their perfusion territories. In this study, the authors assessed its merit in defining feeding vessels and gauging preoperative embolization feasibility for patients with meningioma, using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference method.

METHODS
Thirty-one consecutive patients with meningiomas were prospectively recruited, each undergoing DSA (and embolization, if feasible) before resection. All ss-pCASL imaging studies were performed 1 day prior to DSA. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed ss-pCASL images, rating the contribution of each labeled vessel to tumor blood supply as none, minor, or major. Two neuroradiologists also gauged the feasibility of embolization in each patient, based on ss-pCASL images. Interobserver and intermodality agreement were determined using Cohen’s kappa statistic. The diagnostic performance of ss-pCASL was assessed in terms of discerning tumor blood supply and the potential for embolization.

RESULTS
Interobserver agreement in the rating of blood supply by ss-pCASL was very good (κ = 0.817, 95% CI 0.771–0.863), and intermodality agreement (consensus ss-pCASL readings vs DSA findings) was good (κ = 0.688, 95% CI 0.632–0.744). In delineating tumor blood supply, ss-pCASL showed high sensitivity (87.1%) and specificity (87.2%). The positive and negative predictive values for embolization feasibility were 85.2% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
In patients with meningiomas, feeding vessels are reliably predicted by ss-pCASL. This noninvasive approach, involving no iodinated contrast or radiation exposure, is particularly beneficial if there are no prospects of embolization.