bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hemisensory Syndrome: Hyperacute symptom onset and age differentiates ischemic stroke from other aetiologies
Authors: Koh Pei Xuan , Ti Joanna , Saffari Ehsan , Lim Zhen Yu Isis Claire , Tu Tianming 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: An important cause of hemisensory syndrome is ischemic stroke. However, the diagnostic yield of neuroradiological imaging on hemisensory syndrome is low. Therefore, we aim to describe patients hospitalized with isolated hemisensory syndrome, and to identify clinical features associated with an aetiology of ischemic stroke.Methods: We performed a single centre retrospective observation study, identifying patients who were hospitalised with hemisensory syndrome from October 2015 to March 2016, and whom underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain during the admission. Ischemic stroke was defined as the presence of restricted diffusion-weighted image on the MRI brain. Clinical information was analysed and compared between patients with and without stroke seen on MRI brain.Results: Clinical features associated with ischemic stroke in hospitalised patients with hemisensory syndrome include symptom onset of ≤24 hours at presentation (odds ratio 31.4, 95% CI 3.89-254.4), advanced age (odds ratio 1.14, CI 1.05-1.25) and smoking (odds ratio 7.35, 95% CI 1.20-45). Conclusion: Older patients, with a history of smoking, and who present with an acute onset of symptoms, are more likely to have ischemic stroke as the cause of their hemisensory syndrome.
Effects of effective acute anti-hypertensive therapy on ischemic stroke prognosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Zhaokai , Ma Yingxu , Huang Gan , Zhang Guogang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Although multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have been conducted on the issue of acute phase anti-hypertensive therapies for ischemic stroke (IS) patients, many studies have failed to enhance blood pressure (BP) decrease after these treatments. The effects of effective acute anti-hypertensive therapies on IS prognosis are still unclear.Methods: Published literature was systematically searched in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. Multiple RCTs that included IS patients, in which there was a significant BP decrease in the anti-hypertensive intervention group compared with the control group within 72 h after the onset of stroke, were identified. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of such therapy on the functional outcome, mortality, and multiple severe adverse events (SAEs) of IS patients.Results: Eight RCTs were included in this study, with a total of 9427 IS patients. According to this meta-analysis, with significant BP differences between the treatment and control groups within 72 h from stroke onset, effective acute anti-hypertensive therapy has a neutral effect on multiple IS prognostic factors, including functional outcome (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.93-1.13), mortality (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.89-1.35), and multiple SAEs.Conclusions: Based on current studies, effective acute anti-hypertensive therapy did not improve the prognosis of IS patients, including functional outcome, mortality, and SAEs. There is no evidence that such therapy is beneficial in clinical practice.
Efficacy and safety of erythropoietin for traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Liu Motao , Wang Amy J. , Chen Yu , Zhao Gexin , Jiang Zhifeng , Wang Xinbang , Zhang Tiansong , Sun Bomin , Williams Ziv , He Hua , Hu Kejia 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background Recent studies regarding the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been inconsistent. This study conducts a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the safety and efficacy of EPO for TBI patients at various follow-up time points. Methods A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library for RCTs studying EPO in TBI patients published through March 2019. Non-English manuscripts and non-human studies were excluded. The assessed outcomes include mortality, neurological recovery and associated adverse effects. Dichotomous variables are presented as risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of seven RCTs involving 1197 TBI patients were included in this study. Compared to the placebo arm, treatment with EPO did not improve acute hospital mortality or short-term mortality. However, there was a significant improvement in mid-term (6 months) follow-up survival rates. EPO administration was not associated with neurological function improvement. Regarding adverse effects, EPO treatment did not increase the incidence of thromboembolic events or other associated adverse events.Conclusions This meta-analysis indicates a slight mortality benefit for TBI patients treated with EPO at mid-term follow-up. EPO does not improve in-hospital mortality, nor does it increase adverse events including thrombotic, cardiovascular and other associated complications. Our analysis did not demonstrate a significant beneficial effect of EPO intervention on the recovery of neurological function. Future RCTs are required to further characterize the use of EPO in TBI.
Geospatial analysis, web-based mapping and determinants of prostate cancer incidence in Georgia counties: evidence from the 2012-2016 SEER data
Authors: Aheto Justice Moses Kwaku , Utuama Ovie A. , Dagne Getachew A. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Prostate cancer (CaP) cases are high in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, there are an estimated number of 174,650 CaP new cases in 2019. The estimated number of deaths from CaP in 2019 is 31,620, making CaP the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men with lung cancer been the first. Our goal is to estimate and map prostate cancer relative risk, with the ultimate goal of identifying counties at higher risk where interventions and further research can be targeted.Method: The 2012-2016 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data was used in this study. Analyses were conducted on 159 Georgia counties. The outcome variable is incident prostate cancer. We employed a Bayesian geospatial model to investigate both measured and unmeasured spatial risk factors for prostate cancer. We visualised the risk of prostate cancer by mapping the predicted relative risk and exceedance probabilities. We finally developed interactive web-based maps to guide optimal policy formulation and intervention strategies.Results: Number of persons above age 65 years and below poverty, higher median family income, number of foreign born and unemployed were risk factors independently associated with prostate cancer risk in the non-spatial model. Except number of foreign born, all these risk factors were also significant in the spatial model with the same direction of effects. Substantial geographical variations in prostate cancer incidence were found in the study. The predicted mean relative risk was 1.20 with a range of 0.53 to 2.92. Individuals residing in Towns, Clay, Union, Putnam, Quitman, and Greene counties were at increased risk of prostate cancer incidence while those residing in Chattahoochee were at the lowest risk of prostate cancer incidence.Conclusion: Our results can be used as an effective tool in the identification of counties that require targeted interventions and further research by program managers and policy makers as part of an overall strategy in reducing the prostate cancer burden in Georgia State and the United States as a whole.
Effects of objects and image quality on melanoma classification using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Akkoca-Gazioğlu Bilge Süheyla , Kamasak Mustafa 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer with a higher mortality compared to other types of skin cancers. Early and accurate diagnosis of melanoma has critical importance on its prognosis. Recently, deep neural network based models dominated the CAD systems for classification of the potential melanoma lesions. In clinical settings, capturing impeccable skin images is not always possible. In some cases, an external object such as a ruler is required for determination of lesion size. Sometimes, the skin images can be blurry, noisy or have low contrast. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of external objects (ruler, hair) and image quality (blur, noise, contrast) on the classification of melanoma using commonly used Convolutional Neural Network(CNN) models.Results: Performance is analyzed using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision metrics over 6 different test sets. Hair set has 89.22%, ruler set has 86% and none set has 88.81% as the best accuracy with DenseNet121 architecture. Also, DenseNet has the best average accuracy with comparing the other three models in other datasets, which are noise and blur. We find that ResNet is better for contrast dataset. We can infer that DenseNet can be used for melanoma classification with image distortions and degradations. Conclusion: In this study, we investigate the effect of ruler/hair and image blur, noise and contrast on the melanoma detection performance of four commonly used CNN models: ResNet50, DenseNet121, VGG16 and AlexNet. Melanoma images can be better recognized under contrast changes unlike the benign images, we recommend ResNet model whenever there is contrast issue. Noise significantly degrades the performance on melanoma images and the recognition rates decrease with compared to benign lesions in noisy set. DenseNet121 also works well in this set. Both classes are sensitive to blur changes and best accuracy is obtained with DenseNet model. The images contain ruler has decreased the classification accuracy and ResNet has better performance if there is ruler in an image. Hairy images have the best success rate in our system since it has the maximum number of images in total dataset. DenseNet performs better for both hairy and high quality images.
Uso de Tecnologías Digitales Disponibles para la enseñanza de la Contabilidad en Educación Media
Authors: Pinto Mailen , Durán-Aponte Emilse 
Published: June 2020

La investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar de qué forma el uso de Tecnologías Digitales Disponibles puede influir en la motivación y el rendimiento académico de la asignatura de Contabilidad, en alumnos de educación media. Participaron 59 estudiantes, 28 hombres y 31 mujeres con edades entre 14 y 15 años. Se trabajó a través de Facebook para realizar actividades síncronas a distancia para el dictado de modo semipresencial de la nombrada asignatura. Los resultados fueron comparados en alumnos que recibieron los mismos contenidos de forma presencial, a través de la técnica de análisis de diferencias de media. El rendimiento y los niveles de motivación mejoraron de forma parcial, específicamente en la atribución que hacen al tipo de asignación, lo que sugiere que los alumnos consideran que la estrategia influyó positivamente en sus resultados. Se sugiere aplicar este tipo de estrategia en otras asignaturas para lograr la motivación e interés del alumnado.
Effect of ENSO-based upstream water withdrawals for irrigation on downstream water withdrawals
Authors: Sangha Laljeet , Lamba Jasmeet , Kumar Hemendra 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
In the Southeast US, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), climate variability phenomena affect the quantity of water that is available for irrigation. The goals of this study were to determine the effect of upstream surface water withdrawals for irrigation on the quantity of water available for irrigation in downstream areas as a function of the ENSO phase and quantify the watershed area that can be irrigated using water withdrawn from streams in an ecologically sustainable manner. The study was conducted in the Swan Creek watershed (97 km2) located in Limestone County, Alabama, USA. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model was used to simulate stream flows and develop water withdrawal prescriptions. Results indicated that when simultaneous water withdrawals were made at the outlet of each subwatershed throughout the year, on average water withdrawals were sufficient to irrigate 4–16% of the area upstream of withdrawal point depending on stream order. On making sustainable withdrawals at the outlets of all subwatersheds and at the watershed outlet throughout the year, approximately 40% of the watershed area could be irrigated.
Optimization of ibuprofen degradation in water using high frequency ultrasound-assisted biological reactor
Authors: Abdelhay Arwa , Allafi Aya , Albsoul Abeer 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Ultrasound (US) is being considered as a promising emerging advanced oxidation process to degrade persistent organic-pollutants. This paper investigated the effect of several operating parameters on the degradation of a recalcitrant pharmaceutical product, namely ibuprofen (IBP), using an ultrasound-assisted biological reactor. The tested operating parameters are the power density (960, 480) W/L, US frequency (1,142, 860, 578) kHz, working volume (500, 250) mL, initial IBP concentration (30, 60) mg/L, and pH (8.2, 4). It was observed that the IBP degradation was directly influenced by the power density, and the highest degradation efficiency (99%) was obtained at 960 w/L. However, the degradation of IBP at sonication time of 120 min was found to increase from 39% to 96% while decreasing the US frequency from 1,142 to 578 kHz. The working volume had no clear effect on the IBP degradation. The optimal pH was found to be 4, which resulted in 99.5% IBP degradation efficiency after 120 min of sonication time. The degradation of IBP followed the first order kinetics. Finally, the sonically-treated water was fed to a subsequent aerobic biological reactor. The results revealed that the remaining chemical oxygen demand (COD) after sonication was lowered in the biological reactor by a percentage of 47%.
Molecular Docking and QSAR Studies of Coumarin Derivatives as NMT Inhibitors: Simple Structural Features as Potential Modulators of Antifungal Activity
Authors: Dabade Sapna Jain , Mandloi Dheeraj , Bajaj Amritlal 
Published: June 2020

Background:Treatments of fungal diseases, including Candidiasis, remain not up to scratch in spite of the mounting catalog of synthetic antifungal agents. These have served as the impetus for investigating new antifungal agents based on natural products. Consequently, genetic algorithm-multiple linear regression (GA-MLR) based QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) studies of coumarin analogues along with molecular docking were carried out.Methods:Coumarin analogues with their MIC values were used to generate the training and test sets of compounds for QSAR models development; the analogues were also docked into the binding pocket of NMT (MyristoylCoA: protein N-myristoyltransferase).Results and Discussion:The statistical parameters for internal and external validation of QSAR analysis (R2= 0.830, Q2= 0.758, R2Pred= 0.610 and R2m overall= 0.683 ), Y Randomization, Ridge trace, VIF, tolerance and model criteria of Golbraikh and Tropsha data illustrate the robustness of the best proposed QSAR model. Most of the analogues bind to the electrostatic, hydrophobic clamp and display hydrogen bonding with amino acid residues of NMT. Interestingly, the most active coumarin analogue (MolDock score of -189.257) was docked deeply within the binding pocket of NMT, thereby displaying hydrogen bonding with Tyr107, Leu451, Leu450, Gln226, Cys393 and Leu394 amino acid residues.Conclusion:The combinations of descriptors from various descriptor subsets in QSAR analysis have highlighted the role of atomic properties such as polarizability and atomic van der Waals volume to explain the inhibitory activity. The models and related information may pave the way for important insight into the designing of putative NMT inhibitors for Candida albicans.
Structural and Morphological Changes in the Liver Due to Intestinal Endotoxins
Authors: Malev Alexander L. , Zakharova Anna N. , Kaliberdenko Vitalii B. , Fominykh Tatyana A. , Kulanthaivel Shanmugaraj , Balasundaram Keerthanaa 
Published: June 2020

Background:
Under normal physiological conditions, endotoxin (ET) released during
self-renewal of the colibacillus pool is an obligate stimulus for the formation of the immune system
and homeostasis of the body. Violation of the barrier function of the intestinal wall and the mechanisms
of neutralization of endotoxin lead to systemic endotoxemia of intestinal origin. Its development
is facilitated by stress, intoxication, a decrease in nonspecific resistance of the body, as well
as damage to the intestinal mucosa and dysbiosis, where the mucous membrane is more vulnerable
and permeable to endotoxin.

Purpose of the Research:
The aim of this study is to compare and assess the severity and nature of
hepatocyte damage from endotoxin exposure and the degree of manifestation of stress due to oxidation,
to determine the characteristics of structural changes in hepatocytes and to assess the oxidation
stress during endotoxin intoxication in the experiment with biochemical markers.

Materials and Methods:
The experiments were conducted on 40 non-linear rats, divided into two
groups of 20 animals. Group 1 animals received intraperitoneal injections of ET of Escherichia coli
drug (Sigma USA K-235) for seven days at a rate of 0.1 mg/kg of the body weight. Animals of the
second group served as the control group. Character and stage of liver damage were studied using
morphological methods, including electron and light microscopy. In studying oxidizing stress, biochemical
methods were used to define the changes, such as conjugated dienes and dienketones,
spontaneous oxidizing modification of proteins.

Results and Conclusion:
1. The severity and depth of morphological changes in the liver during endotoxin
intoxication were correlated with the dynamics of the content of lipid oxidation products
(CD and DK, MDA) and proteins. There was a tendency for a more significant increase in the
oxidative modification of proteins in serum. This confirms the data on the primary damage of proteins
by free radicals. 2. When exposed to intestinal microflora endotoxin, pronounced dyscirculatory
changes, fatty and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes with signs of toxic damage to their nuclei
were determined, but at the same time, the increased hyperplastic activity of sinusoidal cells remained
associated with the effects of endotoxin. These changes are associated with both the direct
toxic effect of endotoxin, and the effects of oxidative stress, in which endotoxin is a potent inducer.
Artificial Intelligence for Decision-Makers
Authors: Elliot Viktor H. , Paananen Mari , Staron Miroslaw 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
We propose an exercise with the purpose of providing a basic understanding of key concepts within AI and extending the understanding of AI beyond mathematics. The exercise allows participants to carry out analysis based on accounting data using visualization tools as well as to develop their own machine learning algorithms that can mimic their decisions. Finally, we also problematize the use of AI in decision-making, with such aspects as biases in data and/or ethical concerns.
JEL Classifications: A29; C44; C45; D81; M41.
Comparative Study of Mamdani-type and Sugeno-type Fuzzy Inference Systems for Coupled Water Tank
Authors: Mudia Halim 
Published: June 2020

The level and flow control in tanks are the heart of all chemical engineering system. The control of liquid level in tanks and flow between tanks is a basic problem in the process industries. Many times the liquids will be processed by chemical or mixing treatment in the tanks, but always the level of fluid in the tanks must be controlled and the flow between tanks must be regulated in presence of non-linearity. Threfore, in this paper will use fuzzy inference systems to control of level 2 are developed using Mamdani-type and Sugeno-type fuzzy models. The outcome obtained by two fuzzy inference systems is evaluated. This paper summarizes the essential variation among the Mamdani-type and Sugeno-type fuzzy inference systems with setpoint of level is 10 centimeter. Matlab fuzzy logic toolbox is used for the simulation of both the models. This also confirms which one is a superior choice of the two fuzzy inference systems to control of level 2 in tank 2. The results show madani-type fuzzy inference system is superior as compared to sugeno-type fuzzy inference system.
The role of drug use in the spread and course of HIV-infection: a comprehensive view of the situation
Authors: Belyakov N. A. , Rassokhin V. V. , Simakina O. E. , Ogurtsova S. V. , Khalezova N. B. 
Published: June 2020

Intention. To conduct an analysis of HIV infections spread among drug users and subsequently show how HIV spreads in the society under interaction of drug addicts with other people.Methodology. An analysis of studies related to the area of research made by leading scientists in the field of epidemiology, infectology, narcology, psychiatry for a long-term period has been performed.Results and Discussion. Long-term study and thorough analysis demonstrate a persisting role of drug use and drug users in the spread of HIV infection and viral hepatitis through sexual contact and injection equipment and show main mechanisms of involvement all social groups in infection process.Conclusion. Injecting drug users represent a large number of people living with HIV, the least adherent to antiretroviral therapy and setting the stage for HIV transmitting in healthy population and maintaining the epidemic process at a high level.
Anti-epidemic measures during the First World War: a regional aspect (case of Arkhangelsk province)
Authors: Troshina T. I. 
Published: June 2020

Relevance. Anti-epidemic support of the rear in the wartime is an important component of the health of civilians and military personnel, as well as a guarantee of the implementation of defense measures, since the risk of emergence and rapid spread of infectious diseases in such circumstances increases.Intention – to analyze the efforts of the authorities and medical community regarding the anti-epidemic prevention (based on a concrete example of the Arkhangelsk province during the First World War).Methodology. The article is based on original archival sources kept in the State Archive of the Arkhangelsk region, in the funds of the medical department of the Arkhangelsk provincial board of the Arkhangelsk province and the health department of the Arkhangelsk town executive committee, which are correspondence on issues of sanitary and medical nature, reports of medical inspectors, reports on the epidemic situation in the province in 1914–1917.Results and Discussion. A system of interaction between central and regional authorities is presented. Specific practical measures aimed at preventing the spread of epidemics are analyzed. This work was carried out in several directions. A strict sanitary and epidemiological control was carried out regarding vulnerable groups of the population (first of all, numerous workers engaged in construction of defense facilities). Outbreak response measures were developed. For the same purposes, preventive measures were taken in Arkhangelsk and in all counties of the province, preparatory work was carried out to deploy quarantine barracks, if necessary.Conclusion. The material presented in the article shows that during the First World War the efforts of the state apparatus, local authorities, public and community initiative managed to keep under control the sanitary and medical situation and prevent its negative scenario. The epidemiological disadvantage of the following years is explained by the destruction of the state apparatus and aggravation of social problems due to the Revolution and the Civil War.