bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Function by Transesophageal Echocardiography before and after Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (PBMV)- A Comparative Study
Authors: Satyendra Kumar A  , Magesh B  
Published: July 2020

Background: In the past, the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been considered to be a relatively insignificant portion of cardiac anatomy. It is now recognized that it is a structure with important pathological associations. First, thrombus has a predilection to form within the LAA in patients with non-valvar atrial fibrillation and to a lesser extent in those with mitral valve disease (both in atrial fibrillation and in sinus rhythm). Second, the use of transoesophageal echocardiography has made clear imaging of the LAA possible, so that its size, shape, flow pattern, and content can be assessed in health and disease. Subjects and Methods: This study population consisted of 40 patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis who underwent percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy in the cardiology department of GSL medical college, Rajahmundry over a time period of 1 April 2017 to 30 March2018. Patients in all age groups, with evidence of severe MS (MVA<1.0cm2) admitted in our institution, in whom PBMV was feasible were included. Those who were fulfilling the PBMV intervention criteria and those who had good results only were included. Results: Left atrial appendage late emptying velocity, LAALF: Left atrial appendage late filling velocity Spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) was present in 10 of the 40 patients before a procedure but completely disappeared (6 patients) or decreased (4 patients) after the procedure. LAALE & LAALF velocities measured by Doppler were increased significantly after PBMV and at 6 months follow up compared with baseline (P <0.001). Conclusion: Successful Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy decreases the intensity of spontaneous LA contrast, reduces the size of the LA, and improves LA and LAA function. Relief of MS may confer not only hemodynamic benefits for improvement of symptoms but also have a favorable influence on future thromboembolism.
Association between Thyroid Proﬁle and Serum Bilirubin Levels in Term Neonates on Day 3 of Life
Authors: Kadambi Prahlad , MA Ramprakash  , Soujanya Gandi , L Sushanth Prabhath Reddy  
Published: July 2020

Background: Neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia is a common clinical scenario that manifests as jaundice in the first week of life. Studies have shown that the physiological peak of serum bilirubin (SBR) levels is highest at 72 hours of life as a result of which SBR is measured at 72 hours of life routinely. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends routine screening for congenital hypothyroidism within the first week of life for all neonates. In common practice, both parameters are assessed simultaneously at 72 hours of life. This study aims to correlate thyroid Profile and serum bilirubin levels assessed in term neonates at 72 hours of life. Subjects and Methods: Our retrospective study included 105 term neonates born through cesarean-section at MMCHRI, Kanchipuram; between August 2018 and August 2019. Pre-term, neonates born to eclamptic, pre-eclamptic, diabetic, hypothyroid, Rh-incompatible mothers were excluded from the study. The data collected included Birth Weight, Gestational Age, Thyroid Profile (T3, T4, TSH), SBR (Total and Direct). Data were analyzed using SPSS v16. Results: The mean gestational age of the study population was 268.05 6.25 days, and mean birth weight was 2.997 0.36 kgs. The mean serum levels of total bilirubin were 11.36 3.52 mg/dl. The mean serum fT3, fT4, TSH levels were 8.17 23.2 pg/ml, 2.16 1.68 ng/dl and 4.07 3.4 mIU/ml respectively. A positive association was noted between serum TSH and total serum bilirubin (r= 0.176, p = 0.067) but not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our study has not shown a significant association between serum TSH and SBRT in term neonates. However, the simultaneous assessment remains practical in practice.
Learning to Teach in Higher Education for Sustainable Professional Development
Authors: Haroon Bibi , Jumani N. B. , Arouj Kehkashan 
Published: July 2020

The role of teacher in higher education is very complex. It is recognized that academicians have a greater responsibility to pursue excellence in several directions including leadership, academic management, teaching skills, pursuing scholarships, research and knowledge exchange, supervision, and many more to maintain their professional status. Academic practice is a term to encompass all these sides. The main objective of the study is to take the views of the teachers about the participation in different learning opportunities and to see their effect for sustainable professional development of university teachers. All the teachers of public sector universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi encompass the population of the study. Using purposive sampling technique, data was collected through questionnaires. Chi-square test through SPSS was applied to analyze the data. Data was presented in the form of tables, percentage with graphs and the results were interpreted accordingly.
Pakistan-United States Relations in Trump Era and FATF
Authors: Hassan Saadat , Bukhari Shahid Hussain 
Published: July 2020

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has become a modern diplomatic instrument for the United States of America to use it the way it wants for. As the U.S. led Afghan peace process embraced the victory, Washington, Afghan Taliban and Kabul government have agreed upon limited ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan soil. Pakistani authorities are equally ready to cease the movement, amid the challenges posed by the FATF, by facilitating U.S.-Taliban peace deal in Qatar on Feb 29, 2020, the biggest development happened ever in South Asian region. It happened for the first time of grinding warfare since the U.S. invasion in 2001 which is considered to be a vital step to end the insurgency altogether in the region. Pentagon finally accepted Islamabad’s stance that there is no military solution to the Afghan imbroglio. Pakistani authorities, through Afghan authorities, are said to be taking over Pakistani Taliban purportedly operating from Afghanistan. After playing a key role in brokering the said peace deal, the challenge of FATF as a diplomatic tool to pile up pressure on Islamabad to mold its role in favour of the US and the Taliban talks.
A Causal Nexus of Energy Consumption, Private Investment, Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation: Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Parveen Shabana , Ali Hazrat , Sahibzada Habib Elahi , Farooq Sohail 
Published: July 2020

The importance of private investment in the growth process of a country cannot be denied, however, its relationship with environmental degradation has not got much attention from researchers yet. The present study is an attempt to divert the attention of researchers and policy makers to the association with private investment and environmental degradation. The time series data was used from 1975 to 2017. The data was taken from WDI. To analyze the causal link among environmental degradation, private investment, energy consumption and economic growth, Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model is used. Granger causality test is employed for knowing the course of causality in the variables. The results of the VAR model suggest that if an innovation of one standard deviation occurs from outside, it takes about 12 years for CO2 emissions, 9 years for private investment, 10 years for energy consumption and about 8years for economic growth to adjust. Moreover, the results show that most of the variation in all variables is explained by their own. Granger causality test identifies four unilateral causalities in the variables running from CO2 emissions to economic growth while the consumption of energy to CO2 emissions, energy consumption to economic growth while from economic growth to private investment. The study recommends policy makers to make environmental friendly policies regarding consumption of energy, private investment and also economic growth.
The Written Discourse of Female College Students about Formal Literacy and Self: A Study Analysis
Authors: Mohsin Rabia , Sajid Muhammad Akbar 
Published: July 2020

Self is a fluid construct. Its construction and representation vary according to different contexts and other variables. Female self-construction and representation is a crucial domain which is affected by many social factors. The present research deals with construction and representation of self. The data for the present research has been collected from the 4 colleges, 2 belonging to urban area and 2 of peripheries. The participants of the research are girls of 1st year and 4th year. The present research analyses the construction and representation of self as a result of formal literacy. It also considers how formal literacy plays a role in the construction and representation of self. For the present research, the researchers have collected the data from the mentioned 4 colleges. The participants of the research are 200 female students, including 100 from 1st year and 100 from 4th year. The present research employs an amended model to analyze the data. The amended model consists of Fairclough's (2012) critical social analysis, Gee's (1999) cultural model of discourse and Street's (1984) ideological model of literacy. The data has been analyzed keeping into mind the 9 analytical devices i.e. implicature, identity, metaphor, comparisons, representations, back grounding, inclusion/exclusion, dialogically and difference. Moreover, the researchers have categorized the data into the dominant emerging themes, which have been classified and analyzed under separate headings, these dominant emerging themes are, religiosity, family background, identity (naming), desires and self, self through lexicalization, roles and relationships, conceptual metaphors and use of 1st person pronoun (I/we). The data has been analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Based on the analysis of data the findings of the research suggest that self is not an absolute term, its construction and representation keeps on changing because of different variables, one of them is formal literacy. Moreover, the study contends that construction and representation of self is an ever-ongoing process.
Reminiscência educacional: experiências Escolar dos idosos residentes em Jordão, Sobral – CE
Authors: Novaes Marcos Adriano Barbosa de , Moura Johnantan Santiago , André Amélia Soares 
Published: July 2020

Esse estudo intenciona analisar aspectos como educação, trabalho, lazer e arte, a partir dos relatos de histórias de vida feitos pelos idosos da localidade Jordão situado a 17 km do Município de Sobral no estado do Ceará. Nesta perspectiva, foram utilizados como referencial teórico Sousa; Lima, 2016, Pena (2017), Fialho et al (2020) entre outros. A investigação foi realizada por meio da pesquisa bibliográfica e aplicação de entrevista semiestruturada. Por fim, as assertivas analisadas, segundo os relatos fornecidos nas entrevistas, afirmaram que as novas metodologias educacionais têm prejudicado o aprendizado no ambiente escolar. Para os anciãos, o principal motivo apontado é o desaparecimento do caráter punitivo na educação, comum no método tradicional. Todavia, mesmo considerando o conhecimento e os aspectos culturais identificáveis nos discursos dos idosos, é importante que sejam valorizadas a participação e a produtividade do aluno no decorrer do processo educacional, levando em conta aspectos individuais e coletivos.
Palavras-chave: Educação. História. Memória.
PERBANDINGAN PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS PROYEK DENGAN BERBASIS MASALAH DITINJAU DARI KEMAMPUAN PEMECAHAN MASALAH
Authors: Rumasoreng Muhammad Irfan , Khuzaini Nanang , Astuti Ani Yuli 
Published: July 2020

This research aims to: investigate in more effective between project based learning and problem based learning in terms of problem solving skills of students on the 7th grade. The research is a quasi experiment research with pre-test and post-test of non-equivalent control grup design. This study used two experimental groups. The population include all 7th grade students of SMP N 2 Nanggulan which consist of three classes. From the population, the two classes which were class VII B and class VII C is randomly as research sample. Matematics teaching in class VII B used the problem based learning and class VII C used the project based learning. The result show that: project based learning and problem based learning there has significant difference effective in terms of problem solving skills of students on the 7th grade.
Ringing Liberty's Bell: African American Women, Gender, and the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia
Authors: Council Ashley 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
Freedom was the objective for thousands of bondswomen who “bought a ticket” on the Underground Railroad, and for many, the journey culminated in the City of Brotherly Love. An abolitionist center, Philadelphia was a vital terminus on the clandestine network, with nearly 9,000 escapees arriving before 1860, including numerous black women. How did gender inform their flight to and experiences in the city? What were their experiences once they arrived and settled? What contributions did they make to Philadelphia's Underground enterprise? This article examines fugitive women who seized liberty in Philadelphia and the local women who aided freedom seekers in the era before the Civil War. It uncovers how gender influenced African American women's experiences and perspectives as dynamic participants in resisting and fleeing enslavement, in one of the most important cities in the fight for abolition.
Missing data analysis using machine learning methods to predict the performance of technical students
Authors: De Melo Junior Gilberto , Alcalá Symone G. Soares , Furriel Geovanne Pereira , Vieira Sílvio L. 
Published: July 2020

O aprendizado de máquina (ML) tornou-se uma tecnologia emergente capaz de resolver problemas em muitas áreas, incluindo educação, medicina, robótica e aeroespacial. O ML é um campo específico de inteligência artificial que projeta modelos computacionais capazes de aprender com os dados. No entanto, para desenvolver um modelo de ML, é necessário garantir a qualidade dos dados, pois os dados do mundo real são incompletos, ruídosos e inconsistentes. Este artigo avalia métodos avançados de tratamento de dados ausentes usando algoritmos ML para classificar o desempenho de estudantes do ensino médio do Instituto Federal de Goiânia como no Brasil. O objetivo é fornecer uma ferramenta computacional eficiente para auxiliar o desempenho educacional que permite aos educadores verificar a tendência do aluno a reprovar. Os resultados indicam que o método de ignorar e descartar supera outros métodos de tratamento de dados ausentes. Além disso, os testes revelam que a Otimização Mínima Sequencial, Redes Neurais e Bagging superam os outros algoritmos de ML, como Naive Bayes e Árvore de Decisão, em termos de precisão de classificação.
A data mining approach for prediction of quality attributes in Palmer mango from images
Authors: Reis Daniele Silva , Neto Rosalvo Ferreira de Oliveira , Costa Josenara Daiane de Souza , Neto Acácio Figueiredo , Costa Marylia De Sousa 
Published: July 2020

The monitoring of quality attributes such as, total soluble solids (TSS), mass, acidity and firmness are essential for a better postharvest conservation of mango.
This work proposes a non destructive approach for prediction of those quality attributes using digital images. The proposed approach is composed by three stages: 1) specification of the sampling parameters of mango, 2) identification of digital images pre-processing techniques and 3) utilization of the Random Forest technique as estimator of the quality attributes. In order to validate the proposed approach, a study comparing its performance with models found in literature was carried out. The study used two metrics of performance evaluation: the correlation coefficient (R) and the root mean square error (RMSE). In order to compare the differences of performance between the proposed approach and approaches found in literature, a paired t-student’s hypothesis test was carried out. Results show that the proposed approach has a superior performance regarding the existing ones, with confidence level of 95%.
Bruck conjecture and certain solution of some differential equation.
Authors: Ahamed Molla Basir 
Published: July 2020

We investigate on the famous Br$ \ddot{u} $ck conjecture further, and improved some of the existing results by extending them up to a differential monomial $ M[f] $ sharing small function with certain power of $ f^{d_M} $ of a meromorphic function. We have found the class of the meromorphic function satisfying the relation $ f^{d_M}\equiv M[f] $. For the generalizing our main results further up to a differential polynomial $ P[f] $, some relevant questions finally have been posed for further study in this direction.
Spatial navigation: Cognitive variables involved in route retracing among an elderly population
Authors: Jacob Christel , Rainville Constant , Trognon Alain , Fescharek Reinhard , Baumann Cédric , Clerc‐Urmes Isabelle , Rivasseau Jonveaux Thérèse 
Published: July 2020

SummaryThe cognitive processes involved in route retracing are not well known. This study aims to highlight them in an elderly population in which contradictory results have been obtained, certain studies showing specific difficulties for route retracing, others not. Thirty‐nine elderly subjects performed a route‐learning task (forward‐backward) in a garden, then completed spatial knowledge tasks and standardised cognitive tests. Results show four factors that were predictive of route retracing performance: route repetition, the pointing task, and two standardised cognitive tests, one assessing spatial working memory, and another global cognitive efficiency. According to these results, route retracing involves route and survey knowledge (i.e., egocentric and allocentric strategy), and the integration of forward‐backward perspectives is underpinned by the spatial working memory. Moreover, the subjects did not make more errors in route retracing than in the route repetition task, suggesting that a real environment could compensate for a failing allocentric strategy.
Machine Learning‐Assisted Evaluation of Circulating DNA Quantitative Analysis for Cancer Screening
Authors: Tanos Rita , Tosato Guillaume , Otandault Amaelle , Al Amir Dache Zahra , Pique Lasorsa Laurence , Tousch Geoffroy , El Messaoudi Safia , Meddeb Romain , Diab Assaf Mona , Ychou Marc , Du Manoir Stanislas , Pezet Denis , Gagnière Johan , Colombo Pierre‐Emmanuel , Jacot William , Assénat Eric , Dupuy Marie , Adenis Antoine , Mazard Thibault , Mollevi Caroline , Sayagués José María , Colinge Jacques , Thierry Alain R. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWhile the utility of circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in cancer screening and early detection have recently been investigated by testing genetic and epigenetic alterations, here, an original approach by examining cfDNA quantitative and structural features is developed. First, the potential of cfDNA quantitative and structural parameters is independently demonstrated in cell culture, murine, and human plasma models. Subsequently, these variables are evaluated in a large retrospective cohort of 289 healthy individuals and 983 patients with various cancer types; after age resampling, this evaluation is done independently and the variables are combined using a machine learning approach. Implementation of a decision tree prediction model for the detection and classification of healthy and cancer patients shows unprecedented performance for 0, I, and II colorectal cancer stages (specificity, 0.89 and sensitivity, 0.72). Consequently, the methodological proof of concept of using both quantitative and structural biomarkers, and classification with a machine learning method are highlighted, as an efficient strategy for cancer screening. It is foreseen that the classification rate may even be improved by the addition of such biomarkers to fragmentomics, methylation, or the detection of genetic alterations. The optimization of such a multianalyte strategy with this machine learning method is therefore warranted.
Stiffness of HIV‐1 Mimicking Polymer Nanoparticles Modulates Ganglioside‐Mediated Cellular Uptake and Trafficking
Authors: Eshaghi Behnaz , Alsharif Nourin , An Xingda , Akiyama Hisashi , Brown Keith A. , Gummuluru Suryaram , Reinhard Björn M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe monosialodihexosylganglioside, GM3, and its binding to CD169 (Siglec‐1) have been indicated as key factors in the glycoprotein‐independent sequestration of the human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) in virus‐containing compartments (VCCs) in myeloid cells. Here, lipid‐wrapped polymer nanoparticles (NPs) are applied as a virus‐mimicking model to characterize the effect of core stiffness on NP uptake and intracellular fate triggered by GM3‐CD169 binding in macrophages. GM3‐functionalized lipid‐wrapped NPs are assembled with poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid (PLGA) as well as with low and high molecular weight polylactic acid (PLAlMW and PLAhMW) cores. The NPs have an average diameter of 146 ± 17 nm and comparable surface properties defined by the self‐assembled lipid layer. Due to differences in the glass transition temperature, the Young's modulus (E) differs substantially under physiological conditions between PLGA (EPLGA = 60 ± 32 MPa), PLAlMW (EPLAlMW = 86 ± 25 MPa), and PLAhMW (EPLAhMW = 1.41 ± 0.67 GPa) NPs. Only the stiff GM3‐presenting PLAhMW NPs but not the softer PLGA or PLAlMW NPs avoid a lysosomal pathway and localize in tetraspanin (CD9)‐positive compartments that resemble VCCs. These observations suggest that GM3‐CD169‐induced sequestration of NPs in nonlysosomal compartments is not entirely determined by ligand–receptor interactions but also depends on core stiffness.
Understanding the Capacity Fading Mechanisms of O3‐Type Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 Cathode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yu Tae‐Yeon , Ryu Hoon‐Hee , Han Geumjae , Sun Yang‐Kook 
Published: July 2020

AbstractA spherical O3‐type Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 cathode, composed of compactly‐packed nanosized primary particles, is synthesized by the coprecipitation method to examine its capacity fading mechanism. The electrochemical performance cycled at different upper cut‐off voltages demonstrate that the P3′ to O3′ phase transition above 3.6 V is primarily responsible for the loss of the structural stability of the O3‐type Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 cathode. The capacity retention is greatly improved by avoiding the P3′ to O3′ phase transition, and 94.2% and 90.7% of the initial capacities (108.9 mAh g−1 at 3.35 V and 125.4 mAh g−1 at 3.58 V) are retained after 100 cycles. During cycling at 4.0 V, rapid capacity fading (75.5% of 147.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) is observed. The poor Na+ ion intercalation stability is directly attributed to the extent of microcracks caused by the abrupt change in the lattice structure. Microcracks traversing the entire secondary particle compromise the mechanical integrity of the cathode and accelerate electrolyte infiltration into the particle interior, causing the subsequent degradation of the exposed internal surfaces. Thus, suppressing microcracks in secondary particles is one of the key challenges for improving the cycling stability of hierarchical structured O3‐type Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 cathodes.