bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features of COVID-19 Patients in Jordan: A Study of 508 Patients
Authors: Al-Balas Mahmoud , Al-Balas Hasan I. , Alqassieh Rami , Al-Balas Hamzeh , Khamees Almu'atasim , Al-Balas Rahaf , Al-Balas Samir 
Published: June 2021

Background:
The symptoms of COVID-19 have a wide range of severity ranging from no symptoms at all to mild symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, general weakness. Moreover, in some situations, patients may develop severe complications as pneumonia, and sepsis, leading to death. This study aims to investigate the characteristic features of COVID-19 patients based on their medical condition prior to COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort study took place between the 1st of April 2020 and the 31st of June 2020 in Prince Hamzah Hospital, Jordan. Patients were diagnosed by the Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)–PCR Diagnostic Panel, either through screening or for those who developed symptoms. During this period, patients who tested positive for COVID 19 were admitted to the hospital regardless of their symptoms according to the local government health policies. A total of 508 Patients were involved and divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of chronic illnesses prior to COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results:
A total of 371 patients were medically free (220 males and 151 females). Among them, 153 patients were symptomatic (41.2%), with an average hospitalization of 18 days. Generalized malaise, dry cough, and fever were the most common reported symptoms (51%, 45.8%, and 41.8%, respectively). On the other hand, the total number of COVID-19 patients with predefined comorbidities was 137 (93 males and 44 females). Among them, 86 patients (62.8%) were symptomatic, with an average duration of admission of 19.3 days. Similar to medically free patients, dry cough, generalized malaise, and fever were the most commonly reported symptoms (50%, 43%, and 38.4%, respectively). There was a statistically significant correlation between the presence of chronic illnesses and the development of symptoms among COVID-19 patients (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion:
Dry cough, generalized malaise, and fever were the most commonly reported symptoms among our patients regardless of their medical condition. The average duration of hospitalization in medically free patients was less than patients with comorbidities, and it was less among asymptomatic compared to symptomatic patients. More than half of our COVID-19 patients were male and asymptomatic. A significant correlation between patients' medical condition and the possibility of developing symptoms in response to COVID-19 was identified.
Silicon reduces Fusarium Head Blight Development in Barley
Authors: Sakr Nachaat 
Published: June 2021

Background:
Silicon (Si) can directly or indirectly enhance plant resistance to fungal pathogens, but no report is available concerning the effectiveness of Si in decreasing Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) disease on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Objective and Methods:
The evaluation of Si supplied to barley incorporated into the soil and as a foliar spray against four FHB species under controlled conditions was investigated. In addition, the potential resistance mechanisms related to the reduction of Disease Incidence (DI) and Disease Severity (DS) measured at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation (dpi) were proposed. Four Si concentrations of both a SiO2 powder incorporated into the soil as a solid source, i.e., of 0.00, 0.50, 1.50 and 3.00 g/kg and a liquid formulation of Si as a foliar spray, i.e., of 0.0, 0.8, 1.7 and 3.4 ppm were tested to study their effect on the development of FHB fungi on two barley moderately resistant “MR” and susceptible “S” cultivars.

Results:
All concentrations of Si did not significantly reduce DI and DS at 7 dpi. The disease reduction was observed with the application of 1.50 g/kg of soil and 1.7 ppm at 14 dpi and increased with time until 28 dpi, however, the other rates had no significant effect. At 28 dpi, solid and foliar treatments reduced DI by 26.6% and 22.9%, respectively, on “MR” cultivar, and by 19.4% and 19.5%, respectively, on “S” cultivar and decreased DS by 20.4% and 19.5%, respectively, on “MR” plants and by 18.8% and 18.4%, respectively, on “S” plants.

Conclusion:
No effects of Si were observed during the initial infection stage; our results suggest that Si triggers defense processes in barley plants in the latest infection stages to diminish DI and DS by affecting mycotoxins synthesis. Si inputs can be a valuable tool in integrated FHB management by reducing the disease development on barley.
Entrepreneurial Career Probabilities of Adolescents
Authors: Schneider Kaethe , Saeed Vbronia 
Published: June 2021

Introduction:
The extent of new enterprise creation is a key driver contributing to economic, social, individual, and cultural values. Given a relatively low rate of Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) in Germany, an understanding of the predictors of adolescent entrepreneurial career preferences is critical in developing ways to foster the interest of young people in entrepreneurship. Although the late precursors of the intention to become self-employed are largely understood, only a few studies have investigated which early individual-level factors affect the subjective probability of becoming an entrepreneur.

Objective:
The objective of the current study is to identify and statistically examine personality factors that affect the subjective probability of adolescents becoming entrepreneurs.

Methods:
Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel, we employed logistic regression to research the dependence of the variable “probability of becoming self-employed” on independent variables such as gender, locus of control (LoC), and personality traits for German adolescents aged between 16–17 years.

Results:
The study reveals a positive influence of the personality traits conscientiousness, extraversion, and LoC on the probability of being self-employed for German adolescents aged between 16–17 years. Agreeableness and neuroticism were found to have no significant effect on the subjective probability of adolescents becoming entrepreneurs, and openness was found to have no significant impact on high likelihood of being self-employed. For adolescents, being female has a significant impact only on a medium probability to be self-employed.

Conclusion:
To the current body of personality models explaining early adolescent entrepreneurial career preferences, we contribute a model which refers to a representative sample of adolescents in German society.
The Knowledge and Educational Needs of Nurses Regarding Pain Management of Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Al Nazly Eman Khamis , Al Khatib Husam 
Published: June 2021

Background:Nurses are the first to encounter a patient in pain. A nurse’s knowledge of pain management in patients receiving hemodialysis allows them to provide optimal pain management.Objective:The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences, perceptions, and beliefs of nurses in the hemodialysis unit regarding pain management practices and identify nurses’ educational needs to improve nurses’ pain management in practice.Methods:A purposive sample of 16 nurses working in four out-patient hemodialysis units in Amman, Jordan, was recruited. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed manually for the following content analysis scheme.Results:The five themes and fifteen sub-categories were extracted from the nurses' experiences regarding nurses’ knowledge of pain management. The five categories that emerged from the analysis were (1) nurses’ knowledge of pain management, (2) nurses’ self-learning pain management strategy, (3) nurses’ approach to pain management, (4) patients continue to suffer unrelieved pain, (5) nurses’ educational needs.Relevance to Clinical Practice:This data will prove to be useful for evaluating pain management practices for patients on maintenance hemodialysis, developing educational programs for nurses working in hemodialysis units with a focus on improving pain management, and providing knowledge regarding these issues. More research is recommended among nurses for understanding pain knowledge in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.Conclusion:This qualitative analysis indicated that nurses are not fully aware of various strategies for pain management. Nurses’ perception of pain and pain management was found to be limited to pain assessment and some non-pharmacological management strategies. It has been revealed that nurses require educational interventions regarding pain management in practice.
Disruption of Wnt/β-catenin Pathway Elevates the Sensitivity of Gastric Cancer Cells to PD-1 Antibody
Authors: Li Jian , Zhang Hui , Bei Songhua , Zhang Xiaohong , Li Huanqing , Ye Li , Feng Li 
Published: June 2021

Background:Gastric Cancer (GC) is the fifth most common malignancy tumor and the third cause of cancer-related death around the world. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibodies play an active role in tumor therapy. A recent study reveals that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is negatively correlated with T-cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby influencing the therapeutic efficacy of PD-1 antibody.Objective:In this study, we aimed to uncover the relationship of Wnt/β-catenin pathway to CD8+ T cell activity as well as its effect on anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy in GC.Methods and Results:We first collected clinical samples and went through an immunohistochemical analysis and found that a high β-catenin expression in GC tissues was often associated with a significant absence of CD8+ T-cell infiltration. In addition, our data further indicated that disruption of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in GC cells inhibited their migratory and invasive ability. Meanwhile, enhanced sensitivity of GC cells to PD-1 blockade therapy was evident by decreased Jurkat cell apoptosis rate and increased GC cell apoptosis rate in a tumor and Jurkat cells co-culture system with the presence of Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition.Conclusion:Collectively, these findings indicated Wnt/β-catenin pathway may play a significant role in modulating the activity of Jurkat cells and downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin may enhance the sensitivity of GC cells to PD-1 antibody in vitro. This result further indicated that β-catenin and PD-1 targeted inhibition might become a potential and effective therapy for GC patients.
Chemical and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation of Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia zerumbet Grown in Foothills Agroclimatic Conditions of Northern India
Authors: Bhatt Gunjan , Nagarkoti Ranveer S. , Kholiya Sushma , Tiwari Ameeta , Verma Sajendra K. , Verma Ram S. , Darokar Mahendra P. , Padalia Rajendra C. 
Published: June 2021

Background:
The member of the genus Alpinia (family: Zingiberaceae) is used in traditional medicine for various formulations for the food, spices, medicines, and perfume.

Objective:
The present study was carried out to analyse the compositional variability in leaf and rhizome essential oils of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe and Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. and to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria strains.

Methods:
The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by filter paper disc diffusion and micro dilution broth assay.

Results:
A total of 31 compounds identified, forming 89.26-94.32% composition of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The leaf and rhizome oil of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet were mainly characterized by 1,8-cineole (15.61-43.63%), β-pinene (5.02-23.52%), terpinen-4-ol (1.00-20.87%), camphor (1.94-11.60%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.16-11.86%). endo-Fenchyl acetate (13.12-24.39%) was identified as marker constituents of rhizome essential oil of both A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The antibacterial assay showed that leaf oil of A. calcarata has good activity against S. mutans, whereas its rhizome oil possess good activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis. However, the rhizome oil of A. zerumbet showed activity against S. mutans, B. subtilisS. aureus-2940 and S. epidermidis.

Conclusion:
The essential oils of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet with aroma chemicals viz. 1,8-cineole, ocimenes, terpinen-4-ol, α-pinene, β-pinenes and fenchyl acetate and significant antibacterial activities could be used for perfumery and fragrance related formulation.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Lysate as a Cell-Free Therapy: A Review
Authors: Malik Sabeen , Malik Tehreem 
Published: June 2021

Abstract:
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), a self-renewing and multipotent population of cells
have proved to be a potential regenerative medical therapy option. Initially, it was assumed that the
primary mechanism behind MSCs action was cell substitution by differentiation and engraftment at
the injury site. However, recent trials have demonstrated that implanted cells don’t last long and
that the benefits of MSCs therapy may be triggered by a wide number of bioactive factors, essential
for regulating main biological processes. Thus, supporting the paracrine mechanism of action
of MSCs. Application of secretome could eliminate the potential risk factors associated with MSCs
transplantation, like the unknown fate of cells after transplantation, malignant transformation, and
undesired differentiation of MSCs. However, the use of a secretome might not give long-lasting
and desired results. Thus, it may intuitively suggest the need for other treatment options. The cellular
lysate is considered as an alternate cell-free treatment strategy for the cure of multiple disorders.
The present review describes the MSCs secretome/extracellular vesicles and MSCs lysate, derived
from bone marrow and adipose, as a cell-free therapy with the application of MSCs lysate for various
diseases from 2010 to 2020. Moreover, it also highlights the advantages and limitations of each
cell-free therapy.
Cybersecurity Impacts for Artificial Intelligence use within Industry 4.0
Authors: Dawson Maurice 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In today’s modern digitizing manufacturing landscape, new and emerging technologies can shape how an organization can compete, while others will view this as a necessity to survive as manufacturing has been identified as a critical infrastructure. Universities struggle to hire university professors that are adequately trained or willing to enter academia due to competitive salary offers in the industry. Meanwhile, the demand for fields such as Artificial Intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity continuously rises with no foreseeable drop in demand in the next several years. This results in organizations deploying technologies with an inadequate staff that understands what new cybersecurity risks they are introducing into the company. Examined are how organizations can potentially mitigate some of the risk associated with integrating these new technologies and developing their workforce to be better prepared for looming changes in technological skill need. With the over a 10 % growth in organizations deploying Artificial Intelligence, the current cybersecurity workforce needs are over half a million. A struggle to find a viable workforce this research paper aims to serve as a guide for Information Technology managers and senior management to foresee the cybersecurity risks that will result from the incorporation of these new technological advances into the organization.
General Aspects Concerning the Organization and Assurance of Campaign Services in Operation
Authors: Pînzariu Sorin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The field of campaign services is currently the most complex area of logistical support, as it covers a wide range of services, requires cooperation between military bodies and various institutions, entities involved in providing them and requests promptness from planning and logistics management bodies in immediately solving the various problems that may arise. I set out to make an “radiography” of this complex field of logistics aiming to identify its general aspects in the processes of organization and assurance, as they manifest themselves at the level of a tactical unit
A Statistical Evaluation of The Depth of Inheritance Tree Metric for Open-Source Applications Developed in Java
Authors: Prykhodko Sergiy , Prykhodko Natalia , Smykodub Tetyana 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The Depth of Inheritance Tree (DIT) metric, along with other ones, is used for estimating some quality indicators of software systems, including open-source applications (apps). In cases involving multiple inheritances, at a class level, the DIT metric is the maximum length from the node to the root of the tree. At an application (app) level, this metric defines the corresponding average length per class. It is known, at a class level, a DIT value between 2 and 5 is good. At an app level, similar recommended values for the DIT metric are not known. To find the recommended values for the DIT mean of an app we have proposed to use the confidence and prediction intervals. A DIT mean value of an app from the confidence interval is good since this interval indicates how reliable the estimate is for the DIT mean values of all apps used for estimating the interval. A DIT mean value higher than an upper bound of prediction interval may indicate that some classes have a large number of the inheritance levels from the object hierarchy top. What constitutes greater app design complexity as more classes are involved. We have estimated the confidence and prediction intervals of the DIT mean using normalizing transformations for the data sample from 101 open-source apps developed in Java hosted on GitHub for the 0.05 significance level.
Knowledge and Circulation of Plants: Unveiling the Participation of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples in the Construction of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Botany
Authors: Sanjad Nelson , Pataca Ermelinda , Santos Rafael Rogério Nascimento dos 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This article gives visibility to Amazonian indigenous peoples in the global process of plant circulation and associated knowledge. The first part highlights the indigenous role in cultivating and collecting native plants, and in the processing of natural products over the second half of the eighteenth century. The second part shows that these activities were influenced by internal colonial dynamics, as well as by international relations. The case of the ayapana herb is analysed in detail. This plant became known worldwide at the beginning of the nineteenth century thanks to the interactions among indigenous knowledge, Portuguese colonial politics and the performance of military and naturalists of different nationalities. Examples like this show that, in the process of building botany, which occurred concurrently with the globalization of plants, indigenous peoples provided not only specimens that circulated around the world, but also knowledge related to cultivation, transportation and uses.
Traditional Segregation: Encoded Language as Powerful Tool. Insights from Okǝti Ụmụakpo-Lejja Ọmaba chant
Authors: Madu Uchechukwu E. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Language becomes a tool for power and segregation when it functions as a social divider among individuals. Language creates a division between the educated and uneducated, an indigene and non-indigene of a place; an initiate and uninitiated member of a sect. Focusing on the opposition between expressions and their meanings, this study examines Ụmụakpo-Lejja Okǝti Ọmaba chant, which is a heroic and masculine performance that takes place in the Okǝti (masking enclosure of the deity) of Umuakpo village square in Lejja town of Enugu State, Nigeria. The mystified language promotes discrimination among initiates, non-initiates, and women. Ọmaba is a popular fertility Deity among the Nsukka-Igbo extraction and Egara Ọmaba (Ọmaba chant) generally applies to the various chants performed to honour the deity during its periodical stay on earth. Using Schleiermacher’s Literary Hermeneutics Approach of the methodical practice of interpretation, the metaphorical language of the performance is interpreted to reveal the thoughts and the ideology behind the performance in totality. Among the Findings is that the textual language of Ụmụakpo-Lejja Okǝti Ọmaba chant is almost impossible without authorial and member’s interpretation and therefore, they are capable of initiating discriminatory perception of a non-initiate as a weakling or a woman.
The preventive role of Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira platensis) in immune and oxidative insults in a stress-induced rat model
Authors: Seyidoğlu Nilay , Köşeli Eda , Gurbanlı Rovshan , Aydın Cenk 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Introduction
There is a balance between oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity and immune response. Their roles in physiological and behavioural mechanisms are important for the maintenance of the organism’s internal equilibrium. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of the exogenous alga Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira platensis) in a stress-induced rat model, and to describe its possible mechanism of action.

Material and Methods
Thirty-six adult male Sprague Dawley rats were separated into four groups: control (C), stress (S), S. platensis (Sp), and S. platensis + stress (SpS). The rats in groups Sp and SpS were fed with 1,500 mg/kg b.w./day Spirulina platensis for 28 days. All rats were exposed to prolonged light phase conditions (18 h light : 6 h dark) for 14 days. The SpS and S groups were exposed to stress by being kept isolated and in a crowded environment. Blood samples were obtained by puncturing the heart on the 28th day. The effect of stress on serum corticosterone, oxidative stress markers (TOS, TAC, PON1, OSI) and immunological parameters (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-ɣ) were tested. Also, the brain, heart, intestines (duodenum, ileum, and colon), kidney, liver, spleen, and stomach of the rats were weighed.

Results
Serum corticosterone levels were higher in the S group than in the C group, and significantly lower in the SpS group than in the S group. Mean total antioxidant capacity were lower in the S group than in the C group, and Spirulina reversed this change. Although not significantly different, IL-2 was lower in the S group than in the C group. However, in the SpS group, IL-2 increased due to Spirulina platensis mitigating effects of stress.

Conclusion
Male rats fed a diet with Spirulina platensis could experience significantly milder physiological changes during stress, although stress patterns may be different. Exogenous antioxidant supplements merit further investigation in animals and humans where the endogenous defence mechanism against stress may not be sufficient.
Agree, Move and the Scope of the Phase Impenetrability Condition
Authors: Witkoś Jacek 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This paper addresses a certain contradiction in the application of the Phase Impenetrability Condition (PIC) to domains involving the long-distance Genitive of Negation (GoN) and wh-movement in Polish. It appears that in syntactic domains of the tensed sentence including an infinitive complement, there is a tension between a long-distance dependency (holding between NEG in the main clause and the embedded object in genitive) and a cyclic operation of wh-movement. The operation of wh-movement, a classic example of Chomsky’s Move, observes cyclicity and the PIC, judging by the standard tests based on reconstruction (Chomsky 1995; Heycock 1995; Fox 1999; Safir 1999; Legate 2003; Witkoś 2003; Lebeaux 2009), while the Agree-based case marking requires the PIC to be inoperative in exactly the same context and in the same domain. Both operations place contradictory requirements on the PIC, which implies that this condition does not apply to them in the same manner: it always holds of Move but does not always hold of Agree.