bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circadian Rhythms in the Neuronal Network Timing the Luteinizing Hormone Surge
Authors: Tonsfeldt Karen J , Mellon Pamela L , Hoffmann Hanne M 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
For billions of years before electric light was invented, life on Earth evolved under the pattern of light during the day and darkness during the night. Through evolution, nearly all organisms internalized the temporal rhythm of Earth’s 24-hour rotation and evolved self-sustaining biological clocks with a ~24-hour rhythm. These internal rhythms are called circadian rhythms, and the molecular constituents that generate them are called molecular circadian clocks. Alignment of molecular clocks with the environmental light-dark rhythms optimizes physiology and behavior. This phenomenon is particularly true for reproductive function, in which seasonal breeders use day length information to time yearly changes in fertility. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that light-induced disruption of circadian rhythms can negatively impact fertility in nonseasonal breeders as well. In particular, the luteinizing hormone surge promoting ovulation is sensitive to circadian disruption. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding of the neuronal networks that underlie circadian rhythms and the luteinizing hormone surge.
Increase in Volitional Muscle Activation from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: WOODS STACEY , O’MAHONEY CARAGH , MAYNARD JAMES , DOTAN RAFFY , TENENBAUM GERSHON , FILHO EDSON , FALK BAREKET 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Children’s maximal muscle strength is consistently lower than adults’, even when normalized to body size. Lower volitional muscle activation (VA) in children is often considered one of the main reasons for age-related differences in muscular performance. However, some recent studies have reported similar VA in children and adults, bringing into question whether there is indeed an age-related increase in VA. The purpose of this review was to determine the effect of age on VA during maximal isometric contractions.

Methods
Literature examining VA differences, using twitch interpolation in children (7–14 yr) and adults (16–28 yr), was systematically reviewed. Of the 1915 studies initially identified, 19 data sets were eligible for inclusion in the qualitative analysis and 14 in the quantitative meta-analysis (comprising 207 children and 193 adults).

Results
Significantly lower VA in children was reported in 9/19 (47%) studies. A random-effects meta-analysis found a strong effect of age on VA, supporting lower VA in children compared with adults (Hedges’ g = 1.55; confidence interval: 0.9–2.13). Moderator analysis included muscle group, sex, children’s age, stimulation number (singlet, multiple), type (electric, magnetic), and location (muscle, nerve), of which only muscle group was significant (P < 0.001). A significant Egger’s regression test and asymmetrical funnel plot suggest that publication bias may be present.

Conclusions
Overall, these findings suggest that compared with adults, children activate their motor-unit pool less compared with adults. Moreover, that the degree of VA increase with age may be influenced by the muscle examined (upper vs lower extremity). However, more research is needed to elucidate the influence of this possible factor, as the current review contains limited data from upper body muscles. The developmental mechanism responsible for children’s lower VA requires further research.
Distributionally Robust Mean-Variance Portfolio Selection with Wasserstein Distances
Authors: Blanchet Jose , Chen Lin , Zhou Xun Yu 
Published: December 2021

We revisit Markowitz’s mean-variance portfolio selection model by considering a distributionally robust version, in which the region of distributional uncertainty is around the empirical measure and the discrepancy between probability measures is dictated by the Wasserstein distance. We reduce this problem into an empirical variance minimization problem with an additional regularization term. Moreover, we extend the recently developed inference methodology to our setting in order to select the size of the distributional uncertainty as well as the associated robust target return rate in a data-driven way. Finally, we report extensive back-testing results on S&P 500 that compare the performance of our model with those of several well-known models including the Fama–French and Black–Litterman models. This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, finance.
Understanding HPV and cervical screening
Authors: Butler Sarah , Wilkinson Yvonne 
Published: December 2021

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable. Sarah Butler and Yvonne Wilkinson explain how the cervical screening programme has changed from a cytology based test to HPV primary screening Screening for human papillomavirus is now the primary test for cervical screening in England, Wales and Scotland. Cervical screening for those individuals with a cervix routinely occurs every 3 years for those aged 25–49 (24½ in England) and every 5 years for those aged 50–64. Over 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus. Cervical cancer is preventable and curable; primary HPV screening can detect early changes in cervical cells allowing for effective monitoring and treatment.
Experiences of COVID-19 patients admitted in a government infectious disease hospital in Nepal and its implications for health system strengthening: A qualitative study
Authors: Bastola Anup , Dhital Rolina , Shah Richa , Subedi Madhusudan , Hamal Pawan Kumar , Shrestha Carmina , Chalise Bimal Sharma , Maharjan Kijan , Nepal Richa , Rajbhandari Sagar 
Published: December 2021

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health systems in many ways. It has put unprecedented strain on health systems worldwide and exposed gaps in public health infrastructure. A health system comprises all institutions and resources working towards improving and maintaining health. Among the different aspects of health system strengthening, a patient’s experiences and expectations play a crucial role in determining how well the health facilities function. This study aims to explore health system strengthening’s implications based on experiences and feedback provided by COVID-19 patients admitted to a government tropical and infectious disease hospital in Nepal.MethodsIn this qualitative study, we collected the voluntary handwritten feedback by the admitted COVID-19 patients to document the feedback and experiences from a book, maintained by the hospital. We performed thematic content analysis using the World Health Organization’s six building blocks of health system as a theoretical framework which included service delivery, health workforce, information, leadership and governance, financing, and access to medicines.ResultsMost patients in this study had positive experiences on service delivery and health workforce. Some also highlighted the gaps in infrastructure, cleanliness, and hygiene. Many suggested positive experiences on other dimensions of the health system such as financing, governance and leadership, and access to medicines reflected upon by the patients’ thankfulness to the hospital and the government for the treatment they received. The responses also reflected the inter-connectedness between the different building blocks of health system.ConclusionThis study approached a unique way to strengthen the health system by exploring patients’ feedback, which suggested an overall positive impression on most building blocks of health system. However, it also highlighted certain gaps in infrastructure, cleanliness, and hygiene. It reinforces the hospital management and government’s role to continue its efforts to strengthen the health system.
Estimated incidence and case fatality rate of traumatic brain injury among children (0–18 years) in Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ackah Martin , Gazali Salifu Mohammed , Osei Yeboah Cynthia 
Published: December 2021

Introduction
Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries have reported on the incidence and case fatality rate of children with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). However, there is lack of a general epidemiologic description of the phenomenon in this sub-region underpinning the need for an accurate and reliable estimate of incidence and outcome of children (0–18 years) with TBI. This study therefore, extensively reviewed data to reliably estimate incidence, case fatality rate of children with TBI and its mechanism of injury in SSA.

Methods
Electronic databases were systematically searched in English via Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, and Africa Journal Online (AJOL). Two independent authors performed an initial screening of studies based on the details found in their titles and abstracts. Studies were assessed for quality/risk of bias using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The pooled case fatality rate and incidence were estimated using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model (REM). A sub-group and sensitivity analyses were performed. Publication bias was checked by the funnel plot and Egger’s test. Furthermore, trim and fill analysis was used to adjust for publication bias using Duval and Tweedie’s method.

Results
Thirteen (13) hospital-based articles involving a total of 40685 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled case fatality rate for all the included studies in SSA was 8.0%; [95% CI: 3.0%-13.0%], and the approximate case fatality rate was adjusted to 8.2%, [95% CI:3.4%-13.0%], after the trim-and-fill analysis was used to correct for publication bias. A sub-group analysis of sub-region revealed that case fatality rate was 8% [95% CI: 2.0%-13.0%] in East Africa, 1.0% [95% CI: 0.1% -3.0%] in Southern Africa and 18.0% [95% CI: 6.0%-29.0%] in west Africa. The pooled incidence proportion of TBI was 18% [95% CI: 2.0%-33.0%]. The current review showed that Road Traffic Accident (RTA) was the predominant cause of children’s TBI in SSA. It ranged from 19.1% in South Africa to 79.1% in Togo.

Conclusion
TBI affects 18% of children aged 0 to 18 years, with almost one-tenth dying in SSA. The most common causes of TBI among this population in SSA were RTA and falls. TBI incidence and case fatality rate of people aged 0–18 years could be significantly reduced if novel policies focusing on reducing RTA and falls are introduced and implemented in SSA.
Do patients with chronic stress and patients with ADHD develop the same brain structures?
Authors: Obukhova Anna 
Published: December 2021

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD hereafter) is a disorder associated with the impaired development of the child's nervous system and can be prolonged to adulthood with the symptoms such as impulsivity, inattention, issues with remembering of information.
Stress, especially chronic stress, also negatively affects brain function and causes nearly the same symptoms as ADHD. The symptoms are almost parallel. Recent research is shedding more light on the relationship between stress and ADHD. There might be a combination of genetic and environmental factors that influence ADHD onset, and, interestingly, the majority of environmental factors are related to chronic stress during pregnancy or in life.
The aim of this review is evaluating the similarities and differences between ADHD and chronic stress, and analyze the nature of alterations caused by ADHD and chronic stress.
Research findings showed that in several brain areas both ADHD and stress create similar structure alterations (mainly reduction) (Saenz et al., 2019; Blix et al., 2013). But that data is not 100% consistent and may need more research. Also, in the amygdala (Hoogman et al., 2017; Perlov et al., 2008) and in the hippocampus (Hoogman et al., 2017; Plessen et al., 2006), we see not consistent data and even have an opposite direction of data that needs further review and might explain that these brain structures both are not properly functioning but in different ways
A study on mushroom management perception of employees in Provincial Directorates of Youth and Sports (Niğde province example)
Authors: Dinç Fatih , Avanoğlu Ahmet Erdi 
Published: December 2021

It seems that the mushroom management metaphor has become a new research area in management sciences. This management style takes its name from mushroom cultivation in terms of method similarity. In mushroom cultivation; mushrooms are left in the dark and only allowed to grow by giving them the resources they need. In the mushroom management metaphor, managers leave employees in a kind of darkness. They provide only the resources they need without conducting mutual communication with them and does not need to share information with the employees. At the end of this process, managers expect an increase in performance from their employees. Within the scope of this study, it was aimed to measure the mushroom management perceptions of 4-a and 4-b employees in Niğde Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports. The sample of the study consists of 92 civil servants, 42 women and 50 men, working in the Niğde Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports. Personal information form and the “Mushroom Management Scale” developed by Birioğlu and Tekin (2018) were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data, T-test was used for pairwise comparisons, and ANOVA test was used for more than two comparisons. As a result, according to the findings, it was determined that the employees had a medium level of mushroom management perception. No significant difference was found between the sub-dimensions of administrative duty, gender, age, and tenure.
​Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.

Özet
Mantar yönetim metaforunun, yönetim bilimlerinde yeni bir araştırma alanı haline geldiği görülmektedir. Bu yönetim tarzı ismini metot benzerliği açısından mantar yetiştiriciliğinden almaktadır. Mantar yetiştiriciliğinde; mantarlar karanlıkta bırakılır ve sadece ihtiyacı olan kaynaklar verilerek yetişmesi sağlanır. Mantar yönetim metaforunda da yöneticiler, çalışanları bir çeşit karanlıkta bırakır; onlarla karşılıklı iletişim yürütmeden sadece onların ihtiyacı olan kaynakları sağlar ve çalışanlarla bilgi paylaşımına gerek duymaz. Bu sürecin sonunda yöneticiler, çalışanlardan performans artışı beklerler. Bu çalışma kapsamında, Niğde Gençlik ve Spor il Müdürlüğünde 4-a ve 4-b çalışan personellerin mantar yönetim algılarının ölçülmesi amaçlamıştır. Çalışmanın örneklemini, Niğde Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğünde çalışan, 42 kadın, 50 erkek olmak üzere toplam 92 memur oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak kişisel bilgi formu ve Birincioğlu ve Tekin (2018) tarafından geliştirilen “Mantar Yönetim Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, ikili karşılaştırmalarda T-testi, ikiden fazla karşılaştırmalarda Anova testi uygulanmıştır. Sonuç olarak; elde edilen bulgulara göre çalışanların orta düzeyde mantar yönetim algısına sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. İdari görev, cinsiyet, yaş ve görev süresi ile alt boyutlar arasında hiçbir anlamlı farklılık tespit edilememiştir.
The Effectivity of Solid Medical Waste Management in Pandemic Era
Authors: Abidah Hilda Nur , Ismah Hashifah Azatil , Irmayanti Selvi , Nurika Globila , Wikurendra Edza Aria 
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The increasing of confirmed positive case of SARS-Cov-2 Virus impacts to the need for improvement of health services, especially to the health workers and medical equipment. Along with the importance of regarding need of health service, it causes the rise number of medical waste that leads to health problem crisis. Therefore, this article presents common insight of the effectivity and challenge of medical waste management in Covid-19 pandemic.Methods: The notion is gained by finding out the source database from Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Google scholar, Researchgate that classified based on the research purpose. The keywords used were: (1) Covid-19 and medical waste; (2) pandemic solid waste; (3) waste and Covid-19; (4) management and pandemics.Results: An effective method to be applied is sterilizer technology, such as VH2O2 dan Stryker STERIZONE VP4, and the development of late waste respirator with the pyrolysis process. The method and the management process is considered, either nationally or internationally, as effective, but still we found challenge to implement the method, as lack of socialisation and support from the functionary. Conclusion: the method management can be implemented in the various countries, based on the needs and capability.
Learning aspect in Italian as additional language. The role of second languages
Authors: Vallerossa Francesco , Gudmundson Anna , Bergström Anna , Bardel Camilla 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The study examines the role played by English and Romance languages (L2s) when learning grammatical aspect in Italian as additional language (Ln). Swedish university students of Italian (n = 34), divided according to knowledge of a Romance L2 and English aspectual knowledge, completed an interpretation task of aspectual contrast in Italian. Eight native speakers served as a control group. The findings showed that knowledge of a Romance language as L2 and high English aspectual knowledge exerted a differential influence on learning aspect in Italian. This outcome is discussed in the light of a consistent form-meaning relationship between the L2s and Italian. Yet, with a mismatch between grammatical and lexical aspect, the learners’ judgments differed from the native speakers’ judgments. Thus, our findings also support the idea of the existence of differential learning paths sustained by the L2s when learning complex aspectual configurations.
A 10-year retrospective single-center study of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in Romanian children with (para)gonadal tumors and cysts
Authors: Ataikiru Usiwoma O. , Iacob Emil R. , Miron Ingrith , Popoiu Calin M. , Boia Eugen S. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Malignant tumor is a top-ranking cause of pediatric (>1-year) mortality in America and Europe. Among pediatric tumors, germ cell tumors (GCT) and gonadal tumors rank fourth (6%) by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (seer.cancer.gov). Continuous research on tumor markers harnesses their full potential in tumor detection and management. We evaluated the effectiveness of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in Romanian children with (para)gonadal tumors and cysts, determining their accuracy in detecting malignancy, tumor-type, stage, complications, prognosis, and treatment response.

Methods
A 10-year retrospective study of AFP and β-hCG in 134 children with cysts and (para)gonadal tumors aged one month to 17 years was performed.

Results
AFP/β-hCG was unelevated in patients with cysts and nonmalignant tumors. Forty-eight/86 patients (43 GCT and 5 non-GCT) with malignant tumors had elevated AFP/β-hCG, 3/48 patients had recurrences, and 25/48 had mixed-GCT (68% had elevated AFP + β-hCG). All 30 patients with Yolk sac tumors (YST) or their components had elevated AFP. Area under the curve, sensitivity and specificity for GCT were: AFP + β-hCG- 0.828, 67.2%, 100%; AFP- 0.813, 64.1%, 100%; and β-hCG- 0.664, 32.8%, 100%. Two patients whose AFP/β-hCG levels remained elevated died. Common mixed-GCT components were YST-80% and embryonal carcinoma-72%. Thirty of 34 metastasis cases were GCT, with 26/34 patients having elevated AFP/β-hCG.

Conclusions
AFP/β-hCG detects malignant GCT and can determine tumor-type. GCT patients with markedly elevated AFP + β-hCG had poor prognosis, especially if recurrence or metastasis was present. Recurrence is unrelated to elevated AFP/β-hCG. The tumor components and quantity present determine AFP/β-hCG values in mixed-GCT.
Comparison of prenatal central nervous system abnormalities with postmortem findings in fetuses following termination of pregnancy and clinical utility of postmortem examination
Authors: Ozdemir Ozge , Aksoy Figen , Sen Cihat 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Objectives
In this study, we aimed to compare prenatal ultrasound (USG) and postmortem examination findings of central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities in fetuses following termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Methods
A total of 190 fetuses with USG-confirmed fetal CNS abnormalities of terminated pregnancies between January 2001 and January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed and USG and postmortem examination findings were compared.

Results
The most frequent CNS abnormalities were acrania/anencephaly (n=45, 24%), spina bifida (n=43, 23%), and ventriculomegaly (n=35, 18%). In 144 of the 190 (76%) cases, there was total agreement between USG and postmortem examination diagnosis. Postmortem examination provided minor findings which did not change the major clinical diagnosis in two (1%) cases with spina bifida and ventriculomegaly. In six (3%) cases, the diagnosis changed after postmortem examination. In 25 of the 190 (13%) cases with multiple abnormalities as evidenced by USG, CNS abnormality was unable to be confirmed at postmortem examination.

Conclusions
Our study results show an overall high agreement (76%) between USG and postmortem examination findings for CNS malformations. Due to autolysis and fluid structure, USG-confirmed CNS diagnosis cannot be always confirmed by postmortem examination. This potential discrepancy should be explained to patients before considering TOP. Postmortem examination is the gold standard to confirm prenatal diagnosis.
Experimental and numerical study of flame structure and emissions in a micro gas turbine combustor
Authors: Dwivedi Vedant , Hari Srikanth , Kumaran S. M. , Prasad B. V. S. S. S. , Raghavan Vasudevan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Experimental and numerical study of flame and emission characteristics in a tubular micro gas turbine combustor is reported. Micro gas turbines are used for distributed power (DP) generation using alternative fuels in rural areas. The combustion and emission characteristics from the combustor have to be studied for proper design using different fuel types. In this study methane, representing fossil natural gas, and biogas, a renewable fuel that is a mixture of methane and carbon-dioxide, are used. Primary air flow (with swirl component) and secondary aeration have been varied. Experiments have been conducted to measure the exit temperatures. Turbulent reactive flow model is used to simulate the methane and biogas flames. Numerical results are validated against the experimental data. Parametric studies to reveal the effects of primary flow, secondary flow and swirl have been conducted and results are systematically presented. An analysis of nitric-oxides emission for different fuels and operating conditions has been presented subsequently.
Robust Half-Metallic Character In KMnGe Half-Heusler Compound
Authors: Chibueze T. C  , Ezema F. I  
Published: December 2021

The search for spin injectors and spin sources in spintronic devices is a significant facet of materials research today. Consequently, half-Heusler (HAH) KMnGe alloy has been recommended as one such admissible materials. Herein, a rigorous examination of the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of HAH KMnGe alloy is done using ab initio method within the bolstered up rendition of the functional by Perdew and his group. Our result shows that HAH KmnGe alloy expresses type-1 and type-2 HAH structural ground state at high and low pressures respectively, which may pose a challenge in application. Impressively, HAH KMnGe alloy exhibits half metallic characteristic with an indirect energy gap in the Γ-X symmetry k-point and direct band gap at X-point in the minority electronic spin states for type-1 and type-2 phase respectively. Our findings agree fundamentally with some previous findings in the literature and suggests that the HAH KMnGe alloy is a credible excellent spin source in future spintronic devices.