bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Construction and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Clinical Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in T1–2 Breast Cancer
Authors: Luo Na , Wen Ying , Ouyang Dengjie , Chen Qitong , Zeng Liyun , He Hongye , Anwar Munawar , Qu Limeng , Zou Qiongyan , Yi Wenjun 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The current diagnostic technologies for assessing the axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) status accurately in breast cancer (BC) remain unsatisfactory. Here, we developed a diagnostic model for evaluating the ALNM status using a combination of mRNAs and the T stage of the primary tumor as a novel biomarker. We collected relevant information on T1-2 BC from public databases. An ALNM prediction model was developed by logistic regression based on the screened signatures and then internally and externally validated. Calibration curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were employed as performance metrics. The prognostic value and tumor immune infiltration of the model were also determined. An optimal diagnostic model was created using a combination of 11 mRNAs and T stage of the primary tumor and showed high discrimination, with AUCs of 0.828 and 0.746 in the training sets. AUCs of 0.671 and 0.783 were achieved in the internal validation cohorts. The mean external AUC value was 0.686 and ranged between 0.644 and 0.742. Moreover, the new model has good specificity in T1 and hormone receptor-negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- negative (HR-/HER2-) BC and good sensitivity in T2 BC. In addition, the risk of ALNM and 11 mRNAs were correlated with the infiltration of M2 macrophages, as well as the prognosis of BC. This novel prediction model is a useful tool to identify the risk of ALNM in T1-2 BC patients, particularly given that it can be used to adjust surgical options in the future.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin Monotherapy Versus Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, and Azithromycin Combination Therapy in Covid-19 Patients in Nigeria
Authors: Babalola Olufemi Emmanuel , Yahaya Ndanusa , Ajayi A. Adesuyi , Ogedengbe John Onimisi , Thairu Yunusa , Omede Ogu 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) against SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated in vitro, while several clinical studies suggest that it is efficacious and safe in reducing morbidity and mortality. Hydroxychloroquine HCQ, IVM and azithromycin AZM (HIA therapy) are being used in several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where more expensive medications such as remdesivir are out of reach. In this study, we set out to compare the efficacy of IVM monotherapy with HIA combination therapy. Methods: This was a single-blind, randomized control trial of 2 parallel groups of COVID-19-positive Nigerians. Thirty patients received ivermectin 200 mcg/kg daily for five days, while 31 patients received HIA triple therapy. The viral cycle threshold (Ct) at pretreatment baseline and days 2, 5 14 and 21 were measured for the E- and N-genes. SPO2 was assessed on a daily basis, while inflammatory markers erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, and D-dimer and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) were assessed at baseline and day 7. Clinical status was self-assessed daily on a Likert scale. Results: Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (RAMOVA) did not show any difference between the two groups. However, there was a significant time effect (improvement over time) for SPO2, Ct N-gene, Ct E-gene and clinical status in both groups and significant reductions in inflammatory markers by day 7. (P<0.0001). Conclusions: AZT + HCQ may be a redundant adjuvant in COVID-19 therapy. Improvements noted are likely due in large part to ivermectin virucidal and anti-inflammatory actions.
Online, face-to-face, or blended learning? Faculty and medical students’ perception during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study
Authors: Atwa Hani , Shehata Mohamed Hany , Al-Ansari Ahmed , Kumar Archana , Jaradat Ahmed , Ahmed Jamil , Deifalla Abdelhalim 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to adopt online methods which were inevitable to keep the continuity of education across all academia after the suspension of traditional educational systems. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of faculty and students of online learning and their preference of the mode of learning after the pandemic.Methods: This is a mixed-method study that encompassed a quantitative component (researcher-made survey consisting of 22 items under three domains) and a qualitative component (focus group discussions). Quantitative data analysis was done, and quantitative variables were presented as means and standard deviations. Paired samples t-test and Chi-square test were used. A p-value ˂ 0.05 was considered as a cut-off point of statistical significance. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was used to code, interpret, and make sense of the data. Results: The mean scores of responses of faculty members and students were in favor of face-to-face and blended learning compared to online learning in all survey items with a statistically significant difference. More than half of the students preferred the face-to-face mode of learning, while most of the faculty preferred the blended mode of learning.Qualitative analysis identified five themes and revealed suggestions that at least 30% of the curriculum could be taught online post-COVID-19. Some aspects of clinically oriented teaching including history taking and case discussions can also be delivered online in the future. Faculty members and students reported that dealing with online education was not difficult, although the transition was not smooth. Conclusion: The study revealed that although online learning is the possible educational adaptation during the pandemic, medical students and faculty still prefer face-to-face and blended modes of learning for their higher benefits.
Assessment of linkage between Productive Safety Net Program and Health Services in Somali Region, Ethiopia: Lessons, Challenges and Missed Opportunities
Authors: Oladeji Olusola , Farah Abdifatah Elmi , Robins Ann 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) which has been implemented since 2005 is a large-scale, social protection intervention aimed at improving food security. The fourth phase of the PSNP included a system of integrated health and nutrition service delivery for its categories of beneficiaries especially the creation of a temporary direct support(TDS) category for clients that are pregnant and lactating women (PLW) or caretakers of malnourished children, who are exempted from public work but expected to comply with co-responsibilities which counts towards their public works requirement aimed at improving utilization of health services.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey and used qualitative methods, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), conducted in two woredas( districts) (Gursum and Kebribayah) in Farfan zone of Somali region. The study population were key individuals involved in the linkages of PSNP with health services and the beneficiaries. The study assessed the implementation of the linkage between PSNP4 and health servicesResults: The study observed that the stakeholders have adequate knowledge and understood their roles in the linkages between PSNP and the health services, in addition the beneficiaries also are aware of their rights and the process for exemption from public work. However, the major issues identified included poor coordination among the implementing actors, poor knowledge , monitoring and compliance with the co-responsibilities by the stakeholders and the beneficiaries.Conclusion: Considering the size of the program in the region which is targeted to the poor, the Productive Safety net program being the main tool to help forward Ethiopia’s Social Protection Policy and Strategy, has the potential to improve access and utilization of health and nutrition services if more efforts are put to strengthen integration and linkages with the health sector and monitoring of compliance of co-responsibilities by the beneficiaries of the program.
Does Post-Activation Potentiation Protocols affect Anaerobic Performance in women Taolu Wushu Athletes?
Authors: Afonso José , Moradian Hengameh , Eslami Rasoul , Martins Alexandre , Parnow Abdolhossein 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Post-activation potentiation has an influence on short duration and high intensity function. This study aimed to answer this question whether post-activation potentiation protocol in different models has effect on anaerobic performance in women Wushu athletes. Methods: Women elite Taolu Wushu athletes participated in current crossover design study. (i) specific Wushu WU (Wushu WU); (ii) Strength-based WU (StreWU); and (iii) Speed-based WU (SpeWU) were performed by Wushu athletes in three inconsecutive days separated by 48 h. Five minutes after each WU protocols, Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) was performed. Heart rate, immediately, and blood lactate were measured for 4 times: before WU protocols, immediately after WU protocols, before RAST, immediately after RAST.Results: Data analysis revealed significant differences in 4 time points of lactate levels (p=0.001; d=1.71), although no significant difference among protocols was observed. Values of variables obtained from RAST showed that StreWU had a significant impact on minimum power (p<0.05; d=-0.795) comparing to WushuWU and on fatigue index comparing to SpeWU (p<0.05; d=-0.799). No significant differences were found among the WU protocols for peak power and mean power.Conclusion: All WU protocols had mostly the same effect, and PAP was not very effective. Possibly, the WU protocols generated too much fatigue, due to the short-term rest time. However, longer intervals would likely enter the realm of post-activation performance enhancement, which is distinct from PAP.
Parametric identification of technological thermophysics processes based on neural network approach
Authors: Diligenskaya Anna , Samokish Alexandr 
Published: October 2021

In this paper, the inverse problem of technological thermophysics under the influence of disturbing factors is under study. In the problem of identifying the process of nonstationary heat conduction, it is required to concretize its mathematical model by qualitatively and quantitatively expressing an unknown characteristic based on the results of experimental studies. It is necessary to determine the uncontrolled time-varying heat flux density on the surface of the heated product from the noisy temperature measurement results at a certain point inside the object. The problem is formulated in an extreme setting as a problem of optimal control of an object with distributed parameters, in which the quadratic value of the temperature discrepancy between experimental and model data is used as an optimality criterion. The preliminary parametrization of the desired control on a compact set of polynomial functions implements the reduction to the parametric optimization problem. Physically substantiated solutions to inverse heat conduction problems are found as a result of their sequential parametric optimization using an algorithmically accurate method based on optimal control theory. The proposed solution combines the advantages of an accurate analytical method, which allows taking into account the physical essence of the process of interest and artificial intelligence methods, which provide great opportunities to find an quasioptimal solution under conditions of uncertainty in the mathematical description of the process. The analytical method of sequential parameterization provides a search for solutions on a compact set of smooth functions, as a result of which there is a reduction to the problem of parametric optimization. Measurement errors lead to processing large amounts of data, which necessitates the use of artificial neural networks for parametric optimization of the identified characteristics. The attained results confirm the possibility of obtaining adequate solutions to the inverse problems of thermal conductivity with the intensity of the measurement noise in the range of 0-15 %. In the investigated class of solutions, with a suitable setting of the ranges of belonging of the parameters, the error in approximating the temperature state can be up to 2-5 %, and the error in restoring the unknown characteristic can be up to 7-10 %.
Research on vibration mechanism and control technology of building structure under earthquake action
Authors: Gu Hongyan , Liang Huimin , Tong Guoyun , Liu Fang , Liu Yu , Liu Xing , Jia Zhen , Paul John 
Published: October 2021

The large engineering building structures are costly and thus complex to maintain due to their chances of failure under various hazardous conditions. These buildings are needed to be protected against the damage due to the hazards like earthquake, wind, seismic waves, etc. This article focuses on the investigation of vibration mechanism and control strategies for protection of buildings from the hazardous situations. The article presents a robust solution of utilization of magnetorheological dampers for vibration control applications in complex structures. It aims at developing a reliable decentralized model to track and monitor the building structures and control them before the earthquake actions are encountered. This article develops a novel dynamically optimized and decentralized mechanism using the PID controller for the self-regulation of conventional PID controller-based method. The major goal of decentralization is to ensure that each of the subsystem is compatible with one another and can also work independently with a higher efficiency at the time of fault. The combination of decentralization and self-regulation is tested for a tall building structural model with 10 floors. The proposed approach is compared with the conventional PID based mechanism under the faulty condition in order to illustrate its dynamism and usefulness for practical implementation. The proposed simulated model provides 95.54 % earthquake tracking precision and can be used for developing the earthquake protective schemes for the adequate survivability of tall building structures as well as to safeguard the human occupant in it.
A review of water quality factors in water main failure prediction models
Authors: Monfared Z. , Molavi Nojumi M. , Bayat A. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Water main failure can result from structural failure of the pipes, changes in water quality, or a combination. This paper is a review of articles evaluating water quality factors and subfactors in the development of water main failure prediction models since 2000. A systematic process was implemented to capture the most relevant current published papers. Of 4598 published papers, 304 were screened for water main failure prediction models. The resulting set was further screened for water quality factors and subfactors (e.g., pH, temperature, etc.). This led to the identification of 18 relevant research papers, and each of these was reviewed comprehensively. The water quality-related findings, as well as combinations with other information – such as type of prediction model and type of prediction – are summarized and discussed.
Quality of Life among Patients Suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic of Thailand
Authors: Taptagaporn Sasitorn , Mongkolsomlit Sirima , Rakkapao Nitchamon , Kaewdok Teeraphun , Wattanasoei Supang 
Published: October 2021

Background:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has directly affected the quality of life (QOL) of patients.

Objective:
The objective of this study was to explore the QOL and its associated factors among CKD patients in Thailand.

Methodology:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 258 CKD patients from the CKD clinics between January to December 2017. A validated and reliable tool, KDQOL-SF™ 1.3, consisting of 19 domains categorized into three components: physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and kidney disease component summary (KDCS), was adopted to assess QOL through trained data collectors. Ordinal Logistic regression was used to detect the associations between variables at the significance level of 0.05.

Results:
Among two hundred and fifty-eight patients, 53.9% were females, 67.4% were more than 60 years old, and 73.6% were employed. Employed CKD patients had a better PCS compared to unemployed ones (odds ratio (OR)= 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.52-5.42) and patients who had education lower than primary school (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.02-5.69) tended to have a better PCS compared to those who had secondary and higher school education. CKD patients who had no income tended to have a poorer PCS (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18-0.91) and MCS (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.18-0.83) than those patients who had an income of more than 10,000 baht. 3a CKD stage patients (OR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.19-5.77) were more likely to have a good MCS compared to 5 CKD stage patients. ESRD patients who had primary school level education (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.07-0.89) tended to have a poorer KDCS than those patients who had secondary and higher school level education.

Conclusion:
The study concludes that QOL among CKD patients in CKD clinics needs to improve. Public health should reform and implement the appropriate policy of CKD clinic and intervention to improve QOL among CKD patients by focusing on CKD patients’ occupation, income, education, and the stage of CKD.
TECNOLOGÍA, INDUSTRIA Y MERCADOS EN LA CONFRONTACIÓN ESTADOS UNIDOS-REPÚBLICA POPULAR CHINA
Authors: Rivera Ríos Miguel Ángel , García Veiga Josué 
Published: October 2021

<p align="center"><strong>RESUMEN</strong></p><p>En menos de dos generaciones la República Popular China se convirtió en una superpotencia industrial y en la segunda economía del mundo. Las cadenas globales de valor transformaron a la economía china y ésta a su vez las transformó, produciendo un cambio en la estructura mundial. La simbiosis económica con Estados Unidos (EE. UU.) ha sido el eje de esos procesos, en torno a los cuales concurre la codependencia tecnológica, la aceleración de la innovación a través del diseño modular y la formación de mercados globales de tecnología. El pasaje a la etapa de bajo crecimiento mundial puso en tensión la referida relación, poniendo al descubierto la desconcentración de la hegemonía estadounidense. Estas tensiones han trasformado la relación conductiva en un conflicto entre ambas superpotencias. El motivo real de dicho conflicto es la resistencia de EE. UU. a adaptarse a las implicaciones de la presencia china en el mundo.</p><p> </p><p align="center">TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES-PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONFRONTATION</p><p align="center"><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p>In less than two generations, the People’s Republic of China became an industrial superpower and the world’s second largest economy. Global value chains transformed the Chinese economy, which in turn transformed them, bringing about a change in the global structure. The economic symbiosis between China and the United States has been the axis of these processes, which have involved technological co-dependence, the acceleration of innovation through modular design and the creation of global technology markets. The transition to the stage of low world growth put a strain on this relationship, exposing the deconcentrating of US hegemony. These tensions have transformed the conductive relationship into a conflict between the two superpowers. The real reason for this conflict is the US resistance to adapt to the implications of China’s presence in the world.
Does the Length of the Cooling-Off Period Affect Audit Quality?
Authors: Mattocks Rebecca , Huang Ting-Chiao , Moroney Robyn A. , Prasad Ashna 
Published: October 2021

SUMMARY
This paper examines the association between the length of the cooling-off period and audit quality: (1) when partners rotate back and (2) during the cooling-off period, ahead of an extension to the minimum cooling-off period requirement in Australia. Using multiple measures of audit quality, we find some evidence of a positive association between the cooling-off period length and audit quality when partners rotate back, yet evidence of a negative association between the two, during the cooling-off period. We also find that auditor and client characteristics—such as partner busyness, client knowledge, geographic proximity, and client importance—play important roles in determining the cooling-off period length and whether a partner rotates back onto a client. Overall, we provide timely evidence that extending the cooling-off period only marginally enhances audit quality when a partner rotates back onto a client, and evidence of an unintended consequence of this policy during the cooling-off period.
Data Availability: Data are publicly available.
JEL Classifications: M42.
The Adoption and Consequences of COSO 2013
Authors: Tadesse Amanuel F. , Rosa Regina C. , Parker Robert J. 
Published: October 2021

SYNOPSIS
COSO has developed frameworks for firms to improve their internal controls with the objective of reducing fraud and managing enterprise risk. The frameworks are widely used by firms and their auditors to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). We investigate two issues involving the most recent COSO internal control framework (COSO 2013): the determinants of a firm's decision to adopt it in a timely manner; and the consequences of adoption on internal controls. In our sample, firms that report internal control problems under SOX 404, especially firms with information technology (IT) problems, are likely to be late adopters. Regarding the consequences of adoption, for late adopters, we find that firms using the revised COSO framework have a lower probability of reporting weaknesses in IT-related controls. We also find evidence that COSO 2013 adoption is helpful in remediating internal control weaknesses.
Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.
Giving Accounting a Second Chance: Factors Influencing Returning Students to Choose Accounting
Authors: Brown Veena L. , Tegeler Amy C. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
This study examines why non-accounting graduates return to school to pursue a degree and career in accounting (“converts”). Understanding why converts gave accounting a chance the second time around informs the profession and academia on how to more effectively identify and recruit high-quality students with diverse skills and backgrounds into accounting. We interview 16 converts and survey 100 accounting graduates. We identify the factors influencing converts' accounting choice and contrast them with those influencing their first degree choice and with those of traditional accounting graduates. Results show converts first need to “discover” accounting, then pursue it based on practical considerations such as job characteristics and earnings potential rather than passion for the topic, which is more salient for traditional graduates. This study demonstrates that converts are a unique source of talent as they already possess many of the skills highly valued by the accounting profession and that traditional graduates often lack.
Data Availability: Data are available from the authors upon request.