bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of Incidence and Surgical Treatment of Penile Cancer in Germany from 2006 to 2016: Potential Implications for Future Management
Authors: Groeben Christer , Koch Rainer , Kraywinkel Klaus , Buttmann-Schweiger Nina , Baunacke Martin , Borkowetz Angelika , Thomas Christian , Huber Johannes 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Penile cancer is a rare disease and surgical treatment often entails a significant impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in surgical treatment patterns in Germany.

Methods
We analyzed data from the nationwide German hospital billing database and the German cancer registry from 2006 to 2016. All penile cancer cases with penile surgery or lymph node dissection (LND) were included. We also analyzed the distribution of cases, extent of surgery, and length of hospital stay, stratified for annual caseload. The geographical distribution of centers for 2016 was presented.

Results
During the investigated timespan, tumor incidences increased from 748 to 971 (p = 0.001). We identified 11,353 penile surgery cases, increasing from 886 to 1196 (p < 0.001), and 5173 cases of LND, increasing from 332 to 590 (p < 0.001). Cases of partial amputation increased from 45.8 to 53.8% (p < 0.001), while total amputation remained stable at 11.2%. Caseload in high-volume hospitals increased from 9.0 to 18.8% for penile surgery (p < 0.001) and from 0 to 13.1% for LND (p < 0.001). The increase in LND caseload was caused by an increase in inguinal LND, from 297 to 505 (p < 0.001), with increasing sentinel LND, from 14.2 to 21.9% (p = 0.098). The assessment of geographical distribution of cases in Germany revealed extensive areas without sufficient coverage by experienced centers.

Conclusions
We saw consistent increases in penile surgery and LND, with a growing number of cases in high-volume hospitals, and, accordingly, an increase in tumor incidence. The increasing use of inguinal LND and organ-preserving surgery reflect the adaptation of current guidelines; however, geographical distribution of experienced centers could be improved.
Managing Ambivalent Emotions in Family Businesses: Governance Mechanisms for the Family, Business, and Ownership Systems
Authors: Randerson Kathleen , Radu-Lefebvre Miruna 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMembers of business families experience ambivalent emotions that stem from paradoxical tensions inherent to family business, namely the overlapping of three systems: the family, the firm, and ownership. In this essay, we shed light on how governance mechanisms can frame the different roles a family member can play in the family, business, and ownership systems, making role conflict and the subsequent emotional ambivalence a source of creativity rather than of emotional dissonance. These governance mechanisms may also contribute to reducing risks for interpersonal conflict as well as provide rules for conflict resolution. Building on the typology distinguishing among Enmeshed Family Business (EFB), Balanced Family Business (BFB), and Disengaged Family Business (DFB), we suggest governance mechanisms to support emotion management within each archetype at the individual, family and firm levels.
The outcome of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): do the sperm concentration and motility matter?
Authors: Chua Ai Chen , Abdul Karim Abdul Kadir , Tan Albert Chao Chiet , Abu Muhammad Azrai , Ahmad Mohd Faizal 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Objectives
The male-factor subfertility was reported to be 30% globally; thus, the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure was implemented to improve the overall in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates. Nevertheless, at least 10% of fertilization failure still occurs. Concerning this issue, we explored the association of sperm concentration and motility with the quality of embryo development and pregnancy outcome in IVF-ICSI cycles.

Methods
Retrospective analysis of 109 couples with male factor were done over 14 months in a tertiary university hospital in Malaysia. The data were divided into four groups; Group I: normal sperm parameters, Group II: normal sperm concentration but reduced total sperm motility, Group III: reduced sperm concentration and motility, Group IV: reduced sperm concentration but normal sperm motility. Only fresh semen samples and fresh embryo transfers were included. The fertilization, cleavage rate, embryo quality and pregnancy outcome were assessed.

Results
Overall, group I had the highest oocytes yield and ICSI attempted; (10.12 + 6.50), whereas the lowest was in group IV; (7.00 + 2.82). Group II revealed the highest fertilization and cleavage rates; (54.14 + 25.36), (55.16 + 26.06), thus not surprisingly resulting in the highest number of good embryos and highest clinical pregnancy rates. The lowest cleavage and pregnancy rates were seen in group IV. However, all the outcomes were not statically significant (p>0.05).

Conclusions
Similar fertilization rate and comparable pregnancy outcome was seen among couples with normal and reduced sperm concentration and motility.
Mathematical modeling of polymer dielectric strength considering filling concentration
Authors: Mokhtar Mohamed , Nasrat Loai S. , Attia Mahmoud A. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Enhancement of Dielectric strength is an important issue to enhance power system reliability. Insulation filling such as Alumina Trihydrate (ATH) and Silicon dioxide (Sio2) are used to enhance the dielectric strength of polymer insulator. The paper proposes a mathematical model of dielectric strength considering different temperatures and filling percentages using neural network. Moreover, comparison of filling materials is carried out through this model. The comparison shows the superiority of ATH in enhancing the dielectric strength of the polymer. Also, the obtained model will help in getting the best filling concentration without needing to repeat the tests which can be considered as a techno-economical solution to enhance the dielectric strength. Finally, the curve fitting is used to get the dielectric strength model not only as a function of filling concentration percentage but also as a function of temperature.
Increased lipocalin 2 levels in adolescents with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Takaya Junji , Tanabe Yuko , Kaneko Kazunari 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Bone can act as an endocrine organ through the secretion of bone-specific hormones, i.e., osteokines. Recent research has demonstrated that lipocalin 2 (LCN2) secreted by osteoblasts are part of an important endocrine system that is finely tuned with other organs to ensure homeostatic balance and health. The aim of this study was to explore the association between bone and glucose metabolism in adolescents with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

Methods
The participants were 8 adolescents with DM2 (5 males, 3 females; age: 17.0 (14.0–20.0) years, median (interquartile range)), 14 adolescents with simple obesity (9 males, 5 females; age: 13.5 (12.4–15.5) years), and 15 controls (6 males, 9 females; age: 13.3 (11.0–15.0) years). Serum LCN2 and under-carboxylated osteocalcin (un-OC) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results
The LCN2 levels were higher in patients with DM2 (58.1 (34.2–95.0) ng/mL; median (interquartile range)), but not in those with obesity (30.8 (23.1–38.3) ng/mL), when compared to the controls (18.2 (9.8–25.7) ng/mL). In the whole study group overall, serum LCN2 was positively correlated with the Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance score (r=0.339, p=0.046) and body mass index (r=0.580, p<0.0001), and negatively correlated with adiponectin (r=−0.462, p=0.005). A multiple stepwise regression model showed that serum adiponectin was an independent predictor of serum LCN2.

Conclusions
The results of this study indicate that further investigations are warranted to determine whether LCN2 may act as a sensitive indicator of early-stage insulin resistance.
Intertwin differences in umbilical artery pulsatility index are associated with infant survival in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Espinoza Jimmy , Belfort Michael A. , Shamshirsaz Alireza A. , Nassr Ahmed A. , Sanz Cortes Magdalena , Donepudi Roopali , Espinoza Andres F. , Ostovar-Kermani Tiffany G. , Johnson Rebecca M. , Harman Christopher , Ozdemir Halis , Turan Ozhan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate the association of intertwin differences in umbilical artery pulsatility index (DUAPI) and infant survival in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Methods
Absolute DUAPI was calculated prior to laser surgery. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis provided an intertwin DUAPI cutoff of 0.4 for the prediction of double twin survival to 30 days of life. Infant survival was compared between women with an intertwin DUAPI <0.4 and ≥0.4 in the whole cohort, in TTTS cases with Quintero stages I/II and in those with Quintero stages III/IV. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of intertwin DUAPI <0.4 and infant survival adjusted for confounders.

Results
In total, 349 TTTS cases were included. Double twin survival to 30 days was observed in 67% (234/349) of cases. Significant differences in double twin survival was seen between intertwin DUAPI groups in the whole cohort (76.8 vs. 52.2%; p<0.001), in women with TTTS Quintero stage I or II (77.8 vs. 58.5%; p=0.015) as well as in women with TTTS Quintero stage III or IV (75 vs. 49.5%; p=0.001). Intertwin DUAPI <0.4 conferred a threefold increased chance for double twin survival.

Conclusions
Small intertwin DUAPI is associated with increased double infant survival in early and advanced TTTS stages.
Designing of new hydrophilic polyurethane using the graft-polymerized poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate)
Authors: Chung Yong-Chan , Gu Gyo Young , Park Ji Eun , Chun Byoung Chul 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) chains were grafted to polyurethane (PU) using the graft-polymerization method in order to enhance the water compatibility of PU. The grafted chains were ionized into cationic or anionic form depending on the addition of strong acid or base. The grafted polymer chains did not affect the melting, crystallization, and glass transition of the soft segment of PU due to the softness of the chain. The cross-link density and solution viscosity increased due to the linking between the grafted chains, but the slight cross-linking did not disturb the solvation of PU. The slight cross-linking notably enhanced the maximum tensile stress and shape recovery capability, and the water compatibility of PU could be notably enhanced by the grafted ionized chains. Overall, the grafting of ionized polymeric chains onto PU could enhance the hydrophilicity of PU surface, tensile strength, and shape recovery capability.
Ana Mancera Rueda y Ana Pano Alamán: La opinión pública en la red. Análisis pragmático de la voz de los ciudadanos
Authors: Usandivaras Mariana Morón 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
El libro La opinión pública en la red. Análisis pragmático de la voz de los ciudadanos de Ana Mancera Rueda y Ana Pano Alamán pertenece a la colección “Lengua y sociedad en el mundo hispánico” que publica investigaciones sobre las lenguas ibero-románicas y sobre aquellas con las cuales entran en contacto. Este libro tiene como objeto de estudio las manifestaciones lingüísticas que permiten la configuración de la opinión pública en las redes sociales en el marco teórico que le proveen el Análisis del Discurso y la Pragmática Lingüística.
Descriptive Economy in the New Weird Short Story: China Miéville’s “The Condition of New Death”
Authors: Isekenmeier Guido 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis article investigates the forms and functions of description in New Weird fiction, using texts by China Miéville as examples. It contrasts the expansive descriptive routines of his novelPerdido Street Station(2000) with the compact forms of descriptivity found in the short story “The Condition of New Death,” focussing on the role of metaphoric condensation and the blending of description with narrative and explanatory modes. Occasionally drawing on other stories contained in Miéville’s 2015 collectionThree Moments of an Explosion, it formulates a model of the descriptive economy of short fiction.
Mean Streets: Tracking the Dispositives of Address(es) with China Miéville’s “Reports of Certain Events in London”
Authors: Glaubitz Nicola 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Miéville’s short story stands out for its perhaps experimental, perhaps old-fashioned form: the story’s first-person narrator adopts, in nineteenth-century fashion, the persona of an editor and presents both his own view on the ‘events’ in question and a number of mock documents he has allegedly been sent. Readers are encouraged to piece together the story elements – events and characters – from postcards, minutes of a meeting, memos, personal letters, and tables. Typographically distinct and juxtaposed rather than narratively linked, these text fragments suggest internal conflicts in a group of people who track rogue streets – streets that change their location spontaneously and wreak havoc on the geographical and the political order of cities. It is no coincidence that a mix-up of names and addresses is the starting point of the story; the story’s ending hints at the consequences of having or not having a fixed address. My contribution examines Miéville’s use of the short story form in the context of fantastic literature. Following suggestions of Miéville’s “The Conspiracy of Architecture” (1998), the foregrounding of formal and quasi-material aspects of organising and mediating knowledge is read as an engagement with the power/knowledge dispositives made up of discursive ordering principles as well as city planning and city geography.
Impact of Beater Shape in Mixing Test to Determine Clogging Potential
Authors: Zhou Yang , Kang Chao , Bayat Alireza 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Clogging is a common phenomenon in tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavations, and cutterhead shape can influence clogging potential. In this research, a mixing test with a newly proposed index has been introduced to assess clogging potential. Five mixtures—composed of different percentages of bentonite and kaolin—were employed to simulate soil conditions. For each mixture, samples with five different water contents (ranging between the plastic and liquid limits) were employed in the mixing test. Three different beater shapes were used to investigate the effect of beater shape on mixing test results. The ratio (A′/A) between the open area of the beater (A′) and the entire surface area of the beater with no opening (A) was introduced to quantify the difference in beater shape. The Hobart mixer used in the research is 18.9 liter (20-qt). Two indexes were used to analyze mixing test results: the weight of soil stuck to the beater per unit area (W/Ac) and the weight of soil stuck to the beater (GB). The results indicate that both W/Ac and GB increase with increasing bentonite content in the mixture. However, there are no clear trends that can be observed in GB for different beater shapes. The variation of maximum GB is within 0.5 kg when A′/A increases from 0.52 to 0.7 for the 5 clay mixtures, showing a difference of 12 %. It is concluded that W/Ac increases dramatically with an increase in the open area of the beater, whereas GB only varies slightly. Undoubtedly, the shape of beater used cannot be ignored for tests to assess clogging potential. Furthermore, W/Ac is a good indicator to detect the impacts of beater shape on mixing test results.
Comparison of Demographic Profile, Laboratory, Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Native Valve and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis
Authors: YILMAZ AK Hülya , ÖZŞAHİN Yasemin , YESILTAS Mehmet Ali , HABERAL İsmail , KAHRAMAN Serkan , OKSEN Dogac , YILDIZ Mustafa 
Published: June 2021

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a heterogenous infection that affects the endothelial surface of the intracardiac structures and other implanted intracardiac devices. We aimed to compare demographical characteristics, causative microorganisms, treatment, and prognosis of prosthetic and native valve endocarditis diagnosed in two separate hospitals.
Material and methods: Between 2010 and 2020, patients admitted with the diagnosis of IE were retrospectively included in our multicenter study. Patients' demographic and epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, infected intracardiac structure and sort of valve, culprit microorganisms, laboratory findings, treatment manifestations and in-hospital outcomes with a period of 6 months were obtained from an electronic medical record system.
Results: A total of 173 consecutive patients had diagnosed IE, 60.1% (104 patients) of them native valve endocarditis (NVE) and 39.8 % (69 patients) of them prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Baseline demographic properties were not different except hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Patients with prior hypertension were 25% (26 patients) in NVE; 39.1% (27 patients) in PVE and the difference was statistically significant. Septic shock was significantly higher in the PVE group than the NVE group (7.4% versus 1%; P = .036), and also recurrent endocarditis occurred more frequently in the PVE group than the NVE group (8.8% versus 1%; P = .016).
Conclusion: In our study, although we detected higher mean age, HT, RDW and atrial fibrillation rates compared with NVE, we did not detect a significant difference in mortality and morbidity.
On Properties of a Regular Simplex Inscribed into a Ball
Authors: Nevskii Mikhail Viktorovich 
Published: June 2021

Let $B$ be a Euclidean ball in ${\mathbb R}^n$ and let $C(B)$ be a space of continuos functions $f:B\to{\mathbb R}$ with the uniform norm $\|f\|_{C(B)}:=\max_{x\in B}|f(x)|.$ By $\Pi_1\left({\mathbb R}^n\right)$ we mean a set of polynomials of degree $\leq 1$, i.e., a set of linear functions upon ${\mathbb R}^n$. The interpolation projector $P:C(B)\to \Pi_1({\mathbb R}^n)$ with the nodes $x^{(j)}\in B$ is defined by the equalities $Pf\left(x^{(j)}\right)=f\left(x^{(j)}\right)$, $j=1,\ldots, n+1$.The norm of $P$ as an operator from $C(B)$ to $C(B)$ can be calculated by the formula $\|P\|_B=\max_{x\in B}\sum |\lambda_j(x)|.$ Here $\lambda_j$ are the basic Lagrange polynomials corresponding to the $n$-dimensional nondegenerate simplex $S$ with the vertices $x^{(j)}$. Let $P^\prime$ be a projector having the nodes in the vertices of a regular simplex inscribed into the ball. We describe the points $y\in B$ with the property $\|P^\prime\|_B=\sum |\lambda_j(y)|$. Also we formulate some geometric conjecture which implies that $\|P^\prime\|_B$ is equal to the minimal norm of an interpolation projector with nodes in $B$. We prove that this conjecture holds true at least for $n=1,2,3,4$.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL
Authors: Munir Maryam , Ali Muhammad Shabbir , Iqbal Asif , Farid Muhammad Faisal , Siddique Muhammad 
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the study: The objectives were to investigate and correlate the learning environment of students and the performance of students at the university level.
Methodology: The study was descriptive. The study population consisted of the students currently studying at GC Women University Faisalabad. The data were computed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics. The self-developed instrument, Learning Environment and Performance Survey [LEPS], was used.
Main Findings: When the learning environment improves the performance of the students also increases strongly. The result showed the weak positive relationship of the learning environment with the performance of urban areas students. On the other hand, there were strong positive relationships of the learning environment with the performance of rural students.
Applications of this study: The study may be applied to investigate and improve the students' learning environment.
Novelty/Originality of this study: The female students had a better learning environment and significantly improved their achievement scores. Rural students had an insignificant difference in their learning environment and performance.
STATUS OF MEDIA LITERACY AND RIGHT OF INFORMATION ACT IN PAKISTAN
Authors: Shabbir Taha , Abro Mujeeb , Kumar Hatesh , Gillani Awais H. , Ekhteyar Afsheen 
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the study: The 18th Amendment in the constitution of Pakistan, which declared in Article 19-A that the right to information was inserted into the constitution, established the right to information "Everyone has the right to information in all issues of public concern, subject to regulation and reasonable limits imposed by law." This study aims to investigate the media status and Act related to the RTI "Right to Information Act" in the country of Pakistan.
Methodology: A survey was used in this analysis to compare the degree to which students at the high school and university levels are subjected to certain critical elements of media literacy education. The data were collected utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Main Findings: According to the findings, students in high school are showing concerns that they are interested in taking more courses of production as well as media usage. Similarly, students in college are also showing more concern that they are interested in taking more media study courses.
Applications of this study: Many data points might provide a distinct view on the economy, as may vast public databases from cities, nations, and government agencies. It is highly possible that using the idea of Access to Open Data might help the Pakistani Government enhance the country's social sector.
Novelty/Originality of this study: The essence of media literacy is supposed to be more dynamic with the rise of social media. It appears to be a new challenge in the eco-system of digital media, which has: the capacity to acquire, analyze, evaluate, and generate information for particular purposes. Finally, this research has described how the Government of Pakistan might outsource some of the previously described activities, adding a new participant into the ecosystem.
Weed Management through Imidazolinones in Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.)
Authors: Kumar Amit , Dhaka A.K. , Kumar Satish , Vats Akshay Kumar , . Harender 
Published: June 2021

Background: Pulse crops are commonly known as poor man’s meat. Pigeon pea is second most important pulse crops of India after chickpea. Weeds are amongst prime biotic factors limiting pigeon pea yield and can cause seed yield losses up to 80 per cent. Promising result of weed control by pendimethalin was documented in pigeon pea. Also Imazethapyr is applied as pre and post emergence to control grasses and broad leaved weeds in other pulse crops but limited research was undertaken in pigeon pea. Therefore, current experiment focused to compare the effect of imidazolinones alone and in combination in pigeon pea. Methods: To control weeds in pigeon pea, pre and post-emergence of imidazolinones alone and in combination with pendimethalin was applied. Nutrient content, nutrient uptake, productivity and economics of pigeon pea were worked out. Conclusion: Among herbicidal treatments, the highest nutrient content, nutrient uptake, productivity, net returns and benefit cost ratio in pigeon pea were observed in the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin + imazethapyr @ 1000 + 75 g ha-1. Therefore, this treatment may be an effective and profitable alternative to the existing manual and costlier recommendation (two hoeing at 25 and 45 DAS) of weed control in pigeon pea in Haryana locality.