bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Who Manipulates Data During Pandemics? Evidence From Newcomb-Benford Law
Authors: Balashov Vadim S. , Yan Yuxing , Zhu Xiaodi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred controversies related to whether countries manipulate reported data for political gains. We study the association between accuracy of reported COVID-19 data and developmental indicators. We use the Newcomb-Benford law (NBL) to gauge data accuracy. We run an OLS regression of developmental indicators (EIU index, GDP per capita, healthcare expenditures, and universal healthcare coverage index) on goodness-of-fit measures to the NBL. We find that democratic countries, countries with the higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, higher healthcare expenditures, and better universal healthcare coverage are less likely to deviate from the Newcomb-Benford law. The relationship holds for the cumulative number of reported deaths and total cases but is more pronounced for the death toll. The findings are robust for second-digit tests, for a sub-sample of countries with regional data, and in relation to the previous swine flu (H1N1) 2009–2010 pandemic. The NBL provides a first screening for potential data manipulation during pandemics. Our study indicates that data from autocratic regimes and less developed countries should be treated with more caution. The paper further highlights the importance of independent surveillance data verification projects.JEL classification: F5, I10, I18, O1, O57, P52.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Pan Lingling , Xu Qiancheng , Kuang Xia , Zhang Xiancui , Fang Fengxia , Gui Liling , Li Mei , Tefsen Boris , Zha Lei , Liu Huan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant threats to both physical and psychological health of healthcare workers working in the front-line combating COVID-19. However, evidence regarding the long-term impact of COVID-19 is limited. Therefore, we conducted this cross-sectional survey to investigate the prevalence, factors and impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 eight months after end of outbreak in Wuhan, China. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was delivered as a link via the communication application WeChat to those healthcare workers who worked at several COVID-19 units in Wuhan during the outbreak (from November 2019 to April 2020). The questionnaire included questions on social-demographic data, the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5, the family care index questionnaire, and the quality of life scale. The prevalence, risk and protective factors, and impact of post-traumatic stress disorder healthcare workers were then analyzed with logistic regression.Results: Among the 659 participants, 90 healthcare workers were still suffering from PTSD eight months after the end of outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, in which avoidance and negative impact were the most affected dimensions. Suffering from chronic disease, experiencing social isolation, and job dissatisfaction came up as independent risk factors of PTSD, while obtaining COVID-19 related information at an appropriate frequency, good family function, and working in well-prepared mobile cabin hospitals surfaced as protective factors. The impact of PTSD on COVID-19-exposed healthcare workers was apparent by shortened sleeping time, feeling of loneliness, poorer quality of life and intention to resign.Conclusions: Eight months after the end of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the level of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 was still high. Apart from the common recognized risk factors, comorbid of chronic disease was identified as the new independent risk factors of developing PTSD. For countries where the pandemic is still ongoing or in the case of future outbreaks of new communicable diseases, this research may contribute to preventing cases of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to infectious diseases under such circumstances.
Influence of Preparation and Combustion Parameters of Coal-water Slurries on Gas Emission Chemistry
Authors: Sverchkov Ivan , Chukaeva Mariia , Matveeva Vera 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The article presents the results of experimental studies performed for the comparative analysis of factors affecting the concentration of the main gas emissions during the combustion of fuel suspensions obtained from coal enrichment waste. The factors influencing the formation of anthropogenic emissions during the flaring of coal-water fuel suspensions were investigated. Experiments were carried out with coal processing waste, both with and without additives in the form of spent mineral oil. The article shows how the concentration of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrocarbons is affected by the parameters of preparation (particle size, solid-liquid phase ratio, additives of used engine oil) and combustion (temperature in the combustion chamber, excess air coefficient, and droplet size after spraying) of fuel suspensions.
Design Of All-Normal Dispersion With Ge11.5As24Se64.5/Ge20Sb15Se65 Chalcogenide PCF Pumped At 1300nm For Supercontinuum Generation
Authors: Cheshmberah Alireza , Seifouri Mahmood , Olyaee Saeed 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Supercontinuum spectrum generation is a process in which laser beam in femtoseconds and high power (kilowatts) is converted into a broad-spectrum beam of light after passing through a specific environment. Of course, achieving this range comes with many limitations. In this paper, photonic crystal fibers are used as a substrate for input pulse due to the ability to control dispersion and loss, and creating single-mode operating conditions. One of the main factors for the formation of supercontinuum spectra of injection pulses is maintaining the nonlinear performance of this type of fiber by controlling the effective mode area and also using chalcogenides (nonlinear coefficients about 100 times higher than silica) in their structure. In the proposed structure, a photonic crystal fiber with silica base element and air cavities with hexagonal structure with the center of Ge11.5As24Se64.5 chalcogenide element have been used to provide the nonlinear property of the structure. Also, in this structure, a ring of Ge20Sb15Se65 chalcogenide elements has been used to reduce the effective mode region and create a flat dispersion curve at a wavelength of 1300 nm (second telecommunication window). The input pulse power is 10 kW and its width is 50 femtoseconds, which has caused the range of the supercontinuum from 800 nm to 1900 nm. This structure can be used to provide the required wavelengths as a carrier in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).
Study of The Spectral Response of A Terahertz Antenna Detector When The Surrounding Dielectric Changes
Authors: Bani Mohammad Amin , Nazeri Majid , bidgoli Ahmad Sajedi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In this paper, the surface wave theory is used to study the spectral response of a terahertz antenna detector when the surrounding dielectric material is changed. As simulation shows, surrounding dielectrics affect the velocity of the current pulse propagation on electrodes. The propagation spectrum of the bow-tie and the dipole antenna on the LT-GaAs substrate is simulated through the FDTD method using the CST software. The current pulse generated in the antenna gap is also calculated with the Drude model. It is found that the type and the thickness of surrounding dielectrics affect the spectral responses of detector antennas as far as the peaks of the corresponding spectra shift down to one terahertz.
Effect of Liver Resection-induced Increases in Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient on Development of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Reiterer Christian , Taschner Alexander , Luf Florian , Hecking Manfred , Tamandl Dietmar , Zotti Oliver , Reiberger Thomas , Starlinger Patrick , Mandorfer Mattias , Fleischmann Edith 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: The impact of changes in portal pressure before and after liver resection (defined as ΔHVPG) on postoperative renal function remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ΔHVPG on (i) the incidence of postoperative AKI and (ii) the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Methods: We included 30 patients undergoing partial liver resection. Our primary outcome was postoperative AKI according to KDIGO criteria. For our secondary outcome we assessed the plasma renin, aldosterone, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine and vasopressin concentrations prior and 2 hours after induction of anaesthesia, on the first and fifth postoperative day. HVPG was measured prior and immediately after liver resection.Results: ΔHVPG could be measured in 21 patients with 12 patients HVPG showing increases in HVPG (∆HVPG≥1mmHg) while 9 patients remained stable. AKI developed in 7/12 of patients with increasing HVPG, but only in 2/9 of patients with stable DHVPG (p=0.302). Noradrenalin levels were significantly higher in patients with increasing DHVPG than in patients with stable DHVPG. (p=0.009). Biomarkers reflecting RAAS and SNS activity remained similar in patients with increasing vs. stable DHVPG. Conclusions: Patients with increasing HVPG were more likely to develop postoperative AKI as compared those with stable HVPG values.
Establishment of Acute Liver Failure Model in Tibet Miniature Pig and Verified by a Non-bioartificial Liver
Authors: Feng Lei , Wang Yi , He Guo-lin , Li Ting , Cai Lei , Liu Shu-song , Jiang Ze-sheng , Xu Xiao-ping , Zhou Chen-jie , Gao Yi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background and aims Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe liver disease with high morbidity and mortality. Animal model is very important to research ALF. This study aimed to establish a reproducible, D-galactosamine-induced, Tibet miniature pig model of ALF and verified by a non-bioartificial liver (NBAL).Methods Thirteen Tibet miniature pigs were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) after central venous catheterization, then D-galactosamine (D-gal) at 0.45, 0.40 and 0.35g/kg body weight were injected through the central venous catheter in group A, B, C. While in group D, D-gal at 0.35g/kg body weight was injected and treated by a NBAL at 48 h after D-gal administration. Vital signs, blood index values were recorded at every 12 h after D-gal administration and every 2 h during NBAL treatemnt. Meanwhile, clinical manifestations, survival times and results of H&E staining, Tunel, Ki67, Masson assays and Picrosirius red staining were performed.Results Tibet miniature pigs developed different degrees of debilitation, loss of appetite and jaundice after D-gal administration. Survival times of groups A, B, C and D were 39.7±5.9 h, 53.0±12.5 h, 61.3±8.1 h and 61±7 h, respectively. Blood levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, Cr, BUN, Amm, PT and inflammation factors (such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) levels significantly increased compared with baseline in different groups (Ps < 0.05). Pathological results showed obvious liver cell necrosis positively correlated to the dose of D-gal. However, the NBAL did not increase the survival times of ALF, neither Amm and liver cell necrosis, it just decreased some biochemistry indexes (such as TBIL, ALT, AST).Conclusions: We successfully established a reproducible, D-galactosamine-induced, Tibet miniature pig model of ALF, the NBAL did not improve the survival times of ALF and we think the dosage of 0.35 g/kg is optimal.
Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar metastatic tumor
Authors: Ma Xiaowei , Zhao Yi , Zhao Jiazheng , Wu Hongzeng , Feng Helin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar metastatic tumor.Methods 20 patients with thoracic and lumbar metastatic tumor were treated with PPSF combined with PVP and followed up 6–25 months. Using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (BIADL) to evaluate pain intensity and quality of life before surgery and at 7 days, 3 months, 6 months after treatment.Results In this study, a total of 20 patients were followed up for 6–25 months (mean time was 14.10 months). The VAS scores of all patients were significantly decreased, while the BIADL scores were significantly increased. No patients suffered from complications such as infection, pedicle screw loosening or PMMA oozing. Spine stability was observed in all the surviving patients during the follow-up.Conclusions PPSF combined with PVP is a potentially viable treatment for thoracolumbar metastases in patients with poor systemic condition or patients who refuse to undergo a conventional open procedure such as en bloc corpectomy, and in the presence of vertebral instability or pathological fracture without significant spinal compression.
Delays in Epidemic Outbreak Control Cost Disproportionately Large Treatment Footprints to Offset
Authors: Severns Paul M. , Mundt Christopher C. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Epidemic outbreak control often involves a spatially-explicit treatment area (quarantine, inoculation, ring cull) which covers the outbreak area and adjacent regions where hosts are thought to be latently infected. Emphasis on space however neglects the influence of treatment timing on outbreak control. We conducted field and in-silico experiments with wheat stripe rust (WSR), a long-distance dispersed plant disease, to understand interactions between treatment timing and area interact to suppress an outbreak. Full-factorial field experiments with three different ring culls (outbreak area only to a 25-fold increase in treatment area) at three different disease control timings (1.125, 1.25, and 1.5 latent periods after initial disease expression), indicated that earlier treatment timing had a conspicuously greater suppressive effect than the area treated. Disease spread computer simulations over a broad range of influential epidemic parameter values (R0, outbreak disease prevalence, epidemic duration) suggested that potentially unrealistically large increases in treatment area would be required to compensate for even small delays in treatment timing. Although disease surveillance programs are costly, our results suggest that treatments early in an epidemic disease outbreak require smaller areas to be effective, which may ultimately compensate for the upfront costs of proactive disease surveillance programs.
Cell Spinpods: A Simple Inexpensive Device to Determine Suspension Culture and Toxicity Effects on Renal Proximal Tubular Cells
Authors: Hammond Timothy G. , Nislow Corey , Christov Ivan C. , Batuman Vecihi , Nagrani Pranay P. , Barandezeh Marjan , Upadhyay Rohit , Giaever Guri , Allen Patricia L. , Armbruster Michael , Raymond Allen , Birdsall Holly H. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Rotating forms of suspension culture allow cells to aggregate into spheroids, prevent the de-differentiating influence of adherence to plastic surfaces, and, perhaps most importantly of all, provide physiologically relevant, in vivo levels of shear stress. Suspension culture technology has not, however, been widely implemented, in large part because the vessels are prohibitively expensive, labor-intensive to use, and are difficult to scale for industrial applications. Our solution addresses each of these challenges in a new vessel called a cell spinpod. These small 3.5 mL capacity vessels are constructed from injection molded thermoplastic polymer components. They contain self-sealing axial silicone rubber ports, and fluoropolymer, breathable membranes. Here we report the development of injection molded cell spinpods with two-fluid modeling of the flow and stresses. Their validation was accomplished using immortalized human renal proximal tubular cells for functional assays, renal damage marker release, and differential gene expression analysis via next-generation sequencing. During exposure to myeloma immunoglobulin light chains, rotation increased both toxin-induced cell death, and release of clinically validated nephrotoxicity cytokine markers in a toxin-specific pattern. Cell spinpods are a sensitive tool for detecting nephrotoxicity in vitro.
Brain Tumor Segmentation Based on Region of Interest-Aided
Localization and Segmentation U-Net
Authors: Li Shidong , Liu Jianwei , Song Zhanjie 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has superior soft tissue contrast, contouring (brain) tumor accurately by MRI images is essential in medical image processing. Segmenting tumor accurately is immensely challenging, since tumor and normal tissues are often inextricably intertwined in the brain. It is also extremely time consuming manually. Late deep learning techniques start to show reasonable success in brain tumor segmentation automatically. The purpose of this study is to develop a new region-ofinterest-aided (ROI-aided) deep learning technique for automatic brain tumor MRI segmentation. The method consists of two major steps. Step one is to use a 2D network with U-Net architecture to localize the tumor ROI, which is to reduce the impact of normal tissue’s disturbance. Then a 3D U-Net is performed in step 2 for tumor segmentation within identified ROI. The proposed method is validated on MICCAI BraTS 2015 Challenge with 220 high Gliomas grade (HGG) and 54 low Gliomas grade (LGG) patients’ data. The Dice similarity coefficient and the Hausdorff distance between the manual tumor contour and that segmented by the proposed method are 0.876 ±0.068 and 3.594±1.347 mm, respectively. These numbers are indications that our proposed method is an effective ROI-aided deep learning strategy for brain MRI tumor segmentation, and a valid and useful tool in medical image processing.
A DFT Study of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Mechanism on Be Doped Graphene
Authors: Kwawu Caroline , Aniagyei Albert , Konadu Destiny , Limbey Kenneth , Tia Richard , Adei Evans 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Graphene despite its high surface area has very limited activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), demonstrating selectivity towards the unfavorable two-electron mechanism. We have employed the spin polarized density functional theory (DFT) method to investigate the effect of the heteroatom p-type beryllium (Be) dopant on the oxygen reduction reaction activity of graphene. The preferred doping sites, active sites and reaction mechanism available on the doped graphene surfaces were investigated with increasing Be concentrations of 0.03 ML, 0.06 ML and 0.09 ML. Our results reveal that oxygen does not bind strongly to bare graphene, and Be at the lattice sites provides site for the oxygen adsorption and ORR. Oxygen binds dissociatively on the doped surfaces preferentially in the order 0.06 ML > 0.09 ML > 0.03 ML. From this studies introduction of Be impurities in a single honeycomb ring of graphene has significant impact on the binding and adsorbate-adsorbent interactions which leads to dissociative adsorption of oxygen, favouring the 4e- ORR pathway. The reaction is kinetically favoured most on the surface with a stronger O* binding and weaker OH* binding. Overall, the 0.03 ML and 0.06 ML doped surfaces are the most active facets for the ORR showing exergonic reaction energies at 0 V.
Significance of Immunohistochemical Biomarker in Breast Carcinoma from a Single Tertiary Care Hospital of Southern Assam
Authors: Momota Naiding , Biswadeep Choudhury , Babul Bezbaruah , Dasgupta Nivedita , Biman Deuri , Jyotika Sharma 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy in female worldwide, leading cause of death in women.immunohistochemistry plays a very important role in the prognostication and treatment determination of breast carcinoma patients. Objective: To analyze the immunohistochemical markers in invasive carcinoma of breast and to correlate the expression of hormonal receptors with age of the patient, tumor size, histological grade and lymph node metastasis.Materials and method: The study was conducted on 88 infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma sample in a tertiary care hospital of Southern Assam for a period of two year (January2018- December 2019). Data including age, tumor size, and histologic grade and lymph node status retrieved from pathology department. Chi- square was used to determine the statistical significance between ER/PR status HER2/neu status along with their correlation with various clinicopathological parametres with respect to infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma.Result: The mean age of the patients was 56.6 years. We observed correlation between ER and PR expression with age, tumor size, tumor grade. There was correlation between HER2/neu expression and age only. None of the markers showed correlation with lymph node involvement (P>0.05).Conclusion: Our findings showed the importance of biomarkers (ER, PR, HER2/neu) expression as prognostic factors for therapeutic decision.
Development and Validation of Nutrition Literacy Scale for Middle School Students in Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zeng Mao , Wang Tiankun , Xie Changxiao , Zhu Yuzhao , Shi Zumin , Sharma Manoj , Zhao Yong 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Nutrition literacy has a positive effect on health and its measurement has no consensus.This study was performed to develop the Chongqing Middle school student Nutrition Literacy Scale(CM-NLS)and measure its reliability and validity.Methods: Three experiments were conducted. Firstly, a theoretical framework and an initial item pool of CM-NLS were established based on the literature review. Secondly, the two-round Delphi method was used to explore the suitable acceptance indicators and items. Thirdly, item evaluation and reduction were performed using the classical test theory. In addition, the items in the final CM-NLS were tested for their validity and reliability amongst 462 middle school students.The construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).The internal consistency reliability and split-half reliability were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients.Results: The finalised CM-NLS consisting of 52 items that were based on three primary indicators (functional, interactive and critical) and six sub-indicators (obtain, understand, apply, interact, medial literacy and critical skill) was developed and validated. EFA suggested six factors explaining 69.44% of the total variance (Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test = 0.916, Bartlett’s test χ2 = 5854.037, P < 0.001). CFA showed that the model fit the data adequately, with χ2/df = 1.911, root mean square error of approximation = 0.063, goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.822 and adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.790. The total CM-NLS Cronbach’s alpha values of internal consistency and split-half reliability were 0.849 and 0.521, respectively, with reasonable reliability.Conclusions: CM-NLS is a valid and reliable instrument to measure nutrition literacy amongst middle school students. It provides the scientific basis for the evaluation of the nutrition literacy level of middle school students in Chongqing and the implementation of nutrition education strategies.