bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of ICT on Financial Sector Policy Reforms in Post-Financial crisis era in Ghana:
Authors: Asamoah Julius Yaw , Owusu-Agyei Linda 
Published: January 2021

Ghana, like most other developing countries, is not isolated from the global financial crisis through the impact of such a crisis on economies. This paper examines the financial sector reforms and its effect on the Ghanaian economy, within the developing country context in general and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in particular. The paper seeks to enhance the understanding of relevant policy measures and reflects on what else could be done. The article further studies the effect of change in the institutional environment on bank governance practices primarily to improve the industry’s supervision and regulation, related to the post-crisis exit strategies. This paper discusses the development of ICT infrastructure and application as a basis for the main dimension of Ghana’s digital transformation in financial services. This paper is, therefore, motivated by the lack of empirical studies that examines how the impact of the banking reforms play a substantial role in promoting innovative digital payment systems to replace cash transactions. From the perspective of institutional theory, the study looked at why (and how) a number of policy measures have a significant impact on the financial performance of banks? And how the applications of e-finance in ICT and financial practices, provides several benefits within the banking sector improve the sector’s image and leads to a broader, faster and more efficient market? The application of Koppenjan and Groenewegen (2005) ‘s four-layer model ‘levels of institutional analysis’ perspective seems to be the most useful starting point, which provides the basis for an improved understanding of revealing the inefficient delivery of Ghanaian banking industry in the past. A combination of a review of secondary and empirical data, interviewed used in the analysis. Findings indicate that the financial and banking sector reforms help the industry advance digital banking culture and impact on the general expansion of the financial and the infusion of financial inclusion in Ghana. These conclusions would be particularly useful in a similar picture in other developing countries, as well as by the bank authorities to create their future policy. It also joins the debate on the impact of the banking reform, a key turning point towards better regulation to refine crisis prevention and resolution mechanisms.
PEMBELAJARAN MEMBACA DAN MENULIS BAHASA ARAB DI MA SUNAN PANDANARAN
Authors: Mubarokah Zakiyatunnisa Al 
Published: January 2021

Studi ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan perencanaan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi pembelajaran keterampilan membaca dan menulis bahasa Arab serta kesesuaianya dengan teori psikologi perkembangan linguistik remaja di kelas XI Program Keagamaan Madrasah Aliyah Sunan Pandanaran. Jenis penelitian yang dipakai adalah penelitian lapangan dengan metode analisis deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa (1) Perencanaan pembelajaran keterampilan membaca dan menulis bahasa Arab meliputi penyusunan silabus dan rencana pelaksanaan pembelajaran pada awal tahun pembelajaran, (2) pelaksanaan pembelajaran dilaksanakan dalam tiga kegiatan, yakni kegiatan awal (Pendahuluan), kegiatan inti (eksplorasi, elaborasi, dan konfirmasi), dan kegiatan penutup. (3) Evaluasi pembelajaran meliputi teknik pelaksanaan, instrument dan tindak lanjut dari hasil evaluasi. (4) Hasil komparasi menyatakan bahwa perencanaan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi pembelajaran keterampilan membaca dan menulis bahasa Arab secara keseluruhan sesuai dengan psikologi perkembangan linguistik remaja
Single-center evaluation of prognostic factors for thymoma treated by surgery: a retrospective study
Authors: Kamata Satoshi , Ishida Itaru , Suzuki Yuyo , Oura Hiroyuki 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical, pathological, and treatment-related factors associated with survival in patients with surgically treated thymomas.Methods: Sixty patients with thymomas who underwent treatment at our institution between 2004 and 2015 were included. Survival analysis was performed based on curves that were obtained using the Kaplan–Meier method. The Wilcoxon test was used for all comparisons, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Forty-seven, four, three, four, and two patients presented tumor stages I, II, III, IVa, and IVb (according to the Masaoka classification), respectively, while six, 14, 11, 22, and seven patients had type A, AB, B1, B2, and B3 thymomas, respectively. Furthermore, 53 and eight patients underwent complete resection and required additional resection of adjacent organs, respectively, and no patients died from surgery-related complications. The five-year survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 96% and 86%, respectively. The five-year survival rate for all stages was 100% except for those with stage IVb tumors (Masaoka classification); the survival rate for those patients was 0%. Separately, the five-year RFS rates for tumor stages I, II, III, IVa, and IVb were 100%, 91%, 91%, 81%, and 71%, respectively. Finally, the five-year survival rates in cases with complete and incomplete resections were 100% and 71%, respectively, indicating that the latter group had a significantly poorer prognosis (p < 0.001).Conclusions: These findings suggest that complete resection and the Masaoka pathological stage are significant predictors of prognosis in patients with thymomas. Surgery should aim to achieve complete resection; however, advanced cases may require multimodality therapy.
Study of 2D contaminant transport with depth varying input source in a groundwater reservoir
Authors: Singh Mritunjay Kumar , Rajput Sohini , Singh Rakesh Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
This study deals with a two-dimensional (2D) contaminant transport problem subject to depth varying input source in a finite homogeneous groundwater reservoir. A depth varying input source at the upstream boundary is assumed as the location of disposal site of the pollutant from where the contaminant enters the soil medium and ultimately to the groundwater reservoir. At the extreme boundary of the flow site, the concentration gradient of the contaminant is assumed to be zero. Contaminant dispersion is considered along the horizontal and vertical directions of the groundwater flow. The governing transport equation is the advection–dispersion equation (ADE) associated with linear sorption and first-order biological degradation. The ADE is solved analytically by adopting Laplace transform method. Crank–Nicolson scheme is also adopted for the numerical simulation of the modelled problem. In the graphical comparison of the analytical and numerical solutions, the numerical solution follows very closely with the analytical solution. Also, Root Mean Square (RMS) error and CPU run time are obtained to account for the performance of the numerical solution.
Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants and their Possible Effect as Therapeutic Agents against COVID-19: A Review
Authors: Khairan Khairan , Idroes Rinaldi , Tallei Trina E. , Nasim Muhammad J. , Jacob Claus 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has
infected more than 117 million people worldwide and caused almost 2.6 million deaths.
Currently, the appropriate therapeutic drugs are not yet available to treat diseases caused by this
coronavirus infection. This is due to the fact that discoveries and developments of new
medications require a lot of time and resources. The alternative solution for this viral infection is
to utilize medicinal plant-based bioactive compounds as therapeutic agents to fight against
COVID-19.

Methods:
Herein, through an extensive search of the literature, we reviewed the potential of some
bioactive compounds from medicinal plants as therapeutic agents against COVID-19. The results
of this review still require further investigation to clinically validate them, either in vitro or in
vivo, in order to find the effective antiviral drugs from medicinal plants for COVID-19 treatment.

Results:
From a total of 60 identified medicinal plants, 50 of them have possible effects as
therapeutic agents against particular target proteins encoded by the coronavirus genes such as
Nsp1, Nsp3 (Nsp3b, Nsp3c, PLpro and Nsp3e), Nsp7-Nsp8, Nsp9-Nsp10, Nsp14-Nsp16
complexes, 3CLpro, E protein, ORF7a, Spike (S) glycoprotein, C-terminal RNA binding domain
(CRBD), N-terminal RNA binding domain (NRBD), helicase and RdRp. The most common
bioactive compounds from the medicinal plants as therapeutic agents for COVID-19 treatment
were flavonoid compounds.

Conclusion:
Medicinal plants can serve as starting points for therapeutic agent development
against some target proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, the results require clinical validation,
either in vitro or in vivo, for COVID-19 treatment.
Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Azilsartan Medoxomil Alone or in Combination With Chlorthalidone in the Management of Hypertension: A Systematic Review
Authors: Katsi Vasiliki , Michalakeas Christos , Soulaidopoulos Stergios , Antonopoulos Alexios S. , Vlachopoulos Charalambos , Tousoulis Dimitris , Tsioufis Konstantinos 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Azilsartan medoxomil (AZM) is the newest representative in the class of
angiotensin receptor blockers. Azilsartan medoxomil in combination with the older diuretic
chlorthalidone (CLD) in fixed-doses of AZM/CLD 40/12.5 mg and 40/25 mg has been approved
by the FDA for use in patients with essential hypertension. We sought to evaluate the safety and tolerability
of AZL-M alone and in combination with CLD.

Methods:
We conducted a search in PubMed using the keywords ‘azilsartan’, ‘azilsartan medoxomil’,
‘chlorthalidone, ‘safety’, ‘tolerability’ in order to find scientific studies evaluating the safety
of these drugs. We included studies reporting side effects of these drugs, alone or in combination,
in comparison to placebo or other antihypertensive medications. For our systematic review, we followed
the PRISMA guidelines.

Results:
Azilsartan medoxomil is a potent antihypertensive medicine with an acceptable safety profile.
The most commonly reported adverse events are dizziness, headache, fatigue, upper respiratory
tract infection and urinary tract infection. Chlorthalidone is more potent and has a considerably
longer duration of action than the most commonly prescribed diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. Safety
and tolerability between these two drugs are similar except higher serum uric acid and lower potassium
levels with chlorthalidone.

Conclusions:
The combination of azilsartan medoxomil with chlorthalidone has been shown to be
effective in lowering blood pressure with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. This fixeddose
combination is an attractive treatment option for hypertension management.
Exploring the Incidence of Premature Rupture of Membrane and its Associated Factors in Public Hospitals of Eastern Zone Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 2019
Authors: Weldegeorges Desta Abraha , Welay Fissaha Tekulu , Mengesha Meresa Berwo , Gebremeskel Senait Gebreslasie , Kassahun Selam Shushay , Gebremedhin Tsige Shushay 
Published: January 2021

Background:Premature membrane rupture is an obstetric emergency when the fetal membrane ruptures and the amniotic fluid is expelled from the uterus at least one hour before the start of labor. The incidence of PROM during pregnancy is a concern to obstetrics as it is associated with many adverse pregnancy outcomes such as chorioamnionitis oligohydramnios, preterm labour, neonatal sepsis and neonatal asphyxia.Objective:The aim of this study was to explore the incidence of premature rupture of membranes and its associated factors in public hospitals of the eastern zone, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia, 2019.Methods:The authors used a facility-based cross-sectional study design to study 212 participants from April to May 2019. The sample size was calculated by using a single population proportion formula. An interviewer-administered, pre-tested, and structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The analysis was run using SPSS version 20. Finally, the odds ratio with 95% CI was used to measure the association after multivariable analysis and statistical significance was evaluated at p-value <0.05.Results:The incidence of premature rupture of a membrane in this study was 29 (13.7%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that predictors like multigravida 2.1(1.94-6.03) having sexually transmitted infection AOR 1.3 and 95% CI (1.02-5.56) and previous history of premature rupture of membrane AOR and 95% CI 3.9 (1.9-10.02) were found to be associated with the occurrence of premature rupture of membrane.Conclusions:The incidence of premature rupture of the membrane in this study was high. Hence its occurrence put the health of the mother and the fetus in danger. Pregnant mothers with preexisting obstetric and medical cases should be followed with special emphasis as a pretext to prevent the occurrence of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.
CT Image Reconstruction Using NLMfuzzyCD Regularization Method
Authors: Devi Manju , Singh Sukhdip , Tiwari Shailendra 
Published: January 2021

Aims and Scope:
Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most efficient clinical diagnostic
tools. The main goal of CT is to reproduce an acceptable reconstructed image of an object
(either anatomical or functional behaviour) with the help of a limited set of projections at different
angles.

Background:
To achieve this goal, one of the most commonly iterative reconstruction algorithm
called Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (MLEM) is used.

Objective:
The conventional Maximum Likelihood (ML) algorithm can achieve quality images in
CT. However, it still suffers from optimal smoothing as the number of iterations increases.

Methods:
For solving this problem, this paper presents a novel statistical image reconstruction algorithm
for CT, which utilizes a nonlocal means of fuzzy complex diffusion as a regularization term
for noise reduction and edge preservation.

Results:
The proposed model was evaluated on four test cases phantoms.

Conclusion:
Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicate that the proposed technique has higher
efficiency for computed tomography. The proposed method yields significant improvements when
compared with the state-of-the-art techniques.
Multi-Component Reactions of Cyclohexan-1,3-dione: Synthesis of Fused Pyran, Pyridine, Thiophene and Pyrazole Derivatives with c-Met, Anti-Proliferative Activities
Authors: Mohareb Rafat M. , Elmetwally Amira M. , Mohamed Abeer A. 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Recently, products of Multi-Component Reactions (MCR’s) acquired special attention
due to their wide range of pharmacological activities especially therapeutic activities. In the market it was
found that many pharmacological drugs containing the pyran and pyridine nucleus that were produced through
MCR’s were found.

Objective:
This work aims to synthesize target molecules not only possess anti-tumour activities but also c-Met
and prostate cancer inhibitors. The target molecules were obtained starting from cyclohexan-1,3-dione through
its multi-component reactions to produce anticancer target molecules.

Methods:
Cyclohexane-1,3-dione underwent different multi-component reactions to produce fused pyran, pyridine
and thiophene derivatives. The anti-proliferative activity of the newly synthesized compounds among the
synthesized compounds toward the six cancer cell lines, namely A549, H460, HT-29, MKN-45, U87MG, and
SMMC-7721 was studied. In addition, inhibitions toward c-Met kinase and prostate cancer cell line were
studied. Antitumor evaluations toward seventeen cancer cell lines subpanel, for certain compounds, were also
demonstrated according to the diseases. Pim-1 kinase inhibitions of the most active compounds were also measured.

Results:
Anti-proliferative evaluations, c-Met and Pim-1 kinase inhibitions were performed for most of the synthesized
compounds where the varieties of substituent through the aryl ring and the heterocyclic ring afforded
compounds with high activities.

Conclusion:
Compounds 4b, 6b, 8b, 9a, 11b, 12b, 17b, 18b, 19, 22c, 23b, 25b and 26b were the most cytotoxic
compounds toward the six cancer cell lines. Inhibitions toward c-Met kinase and prostate cancer cells
showed that the presence of the electronegative Cl group within the molecule were responsible for its high activity.
In addition, inhibitions toward Pim-1 kinase exhibited that most of tested compounds showed high inhibitions.
Association between Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Serum Bile Acid Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Su Zhiyan , Liu Wei , Yang Jinkui 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the diabetic microvascular complications,
which is also one of the important causes of blindness in adults.

Objective:
To investigate the association between proliferative retinopathy and serum bile acid level
in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods:
Three hundred and thirty-six patients with T2DM were included, of which, 229 had a history
of more than 10 years without diabetic retinopathy (no diabetic retinopathy, NDR) and 107
had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were
compared. According to the level of bile acid, the patients were divided into low, medium and high
bile acid groups. The ratio of proliferative retinopathy in each group was compared. The presence
of retinopathy was taken as the dependent variable, and the significant variables were analyzed by
logistic regression.

Results:
The level of total bilirubin and bile acid in the NDR group was significantly higher than
that in the PDR group, while the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly
lower than that in the PDR group (P<0.05). With the increase of bile acid level, the proportion of
proliferative retinopathy decreased. Logistic regression analysis showed that bilirubin and bile acid
were protective factors of diabetic retinopathy, while SBP, LDL-C and UAER were risk factors of
diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion:
Bile acid might be a protective factor for diabetic retinopathy in T2DM, which might
be a potential therapeutic role in retinal disorders.
Recent Advancements in lung cancer treatment using receptor targeting
Authors: Singh Harjit , Khurana Bharat , Kaur Sukhbir 
Published: January 2021

Background:
In the cancer related deaths all over the world, lung cancer is at the top.
The conventional treatment option available lacks specificity, causing cell toxicity, rapid
clearance from the body and poor cancer cell penetration.

Conclusion:
The nano delivery has
reformed the treatment of lung cancer as selective drug uptake to the cancerous cell has been
achieved by ligand targeted therapy. The ligand targeted therapy has been used for diagnostic and
therapeutic purposes. This approach is based on the concept that receptors are overexpressed in
expression in cancerous state compared to normal cells. The nanomedicines can reach to the
cancerous cells through leaky vasculature surrounding cell
Effects of Website Interactivity on Skin Cancer–Related Intentions and User Experience: Factorial Randomized Experiment
Authors: Niu Zhaomeng , Willoughby Jessica Fitts , Coups Elliot J , Stapleton Jerod L 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundDigital media technologies provide users with the ability to interact with content and to receive information based on their preferences and engagement.ObjectiveWe used skin cancer and sun protection as a health topic to explore how modality interactivity, interface tools that afford users greater activity, resulting in greater depth and breadth of mentally representing and experiencing mediated content, and message interactivity, the extent to which the system allows users to exchange messages back and forth on health websites, influenced users’ attitudes, knowledge, behavioral intentions, and experience.MethodsWe employed a 2×2 (modality interactivity: high vs low; message interactivity: high vs low) between-subject online experiment for which 4 websites were created. Participants (n=293) were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk and randomly assigned into to 1 of 4 conditions. After browsing the website, participants completed an online survey regarding their experience and cognitive perceptions. General linear models and path analysis were used to analyze the data.ResultsBoth modality interactivity (P=.001) and message interactivity (P<.001) had an impact on intention to use sun protection. Attitudes toward health websites and perceived knowledge mediated the effects of modality interactivity and message interactivity on sun protection use intention, individually. Participants in the high modality interactivity and high message interactivity condition felt more satisfied (P=.02). Participants in the low message interactivity condition had more interest in the experience with health websites than participants in the high message interactivity condition (P=.044).ConclusionsFindings suggested that modality interactivity influenced intention to use sun protection directly as well as via attitudes toward the websites. Message interactivity impacted intention to use sunscreen directly and also through perceived knowledge. Implications for designing health websites and health intervention content are discussed.
Valvular Heart Disease - Part I
Authors: Jacob Miriam S. , Griffin Brian P 
Published: January 2021

Valvular heart disease is an important cause of cardiac morbidity in developed countries despite a decline in the prevalence of rheumatic disease in those countries. This chapter discusses the many etiologies of valvular heart disease and presents methods for assessment and management. Specific valvular lesions discussed include mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and tricuspid and pulmonary disease. The section on tricuspid disease includes a discussion of mechanical prostheses (ball-in-cage and tilting-disk) and biologic prostheses (xenografts, allografts, and autografts) and their complications.
This review contains 6 figures, 13 tables, 69 references.
Keywords: Valvular heart disease, stenosis, regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse (MVP), aortic stenosis, congenital bicuspid valve, senile valvular calcification, aortic regurgitation, chordae or papillary muscles