bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of a scaled-up quality improvement intervention on health workers’ competence on neonatal resuscitation in simulated settings in public hospitals: A pre-post study in Nepal
Authors: Chaulagain Dipak Raj , K. C. Ashish , Wrammert Johan , Brunell Olivia , Basnet Omkar , Malqvist Mats 
Published: April 2021

Background
Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training improves bag and mask ventilation and reduces neonatal mortality and fresh stillbirths. Quality improvement (QI) interventions can improve retention of neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a scaled-up QI intervention package on uptake and retention of neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills in simulated settings.

Methods
This was a pre-post study in 12 public hospitals of Nepal. Knowledge and skills of trainees on neonatal resuscitation were evaluated against the set standard before and after the introduction of QI interventions.

Results
Altogether 380 participants were included for knowledge evaluation and 286 for skill evaluation. The overall knowledge test score increased from 14.12 (pre-basic) to 15.91 (post-basic) during basic training (p < 0.001). The knowledge score decreased over time; 15.91 (post-basic) vs. 15.33 (pre-refresher) (p < 0.001). Overall skill score during basic training (16.98 ± 1.79) deteriorated over time to 16.44 ± 1.99 during refresher training (p < 0.001). The proportion of trainees passing the knowledge test increased to 91.1% (post-basic) from 67.9% (pre-basic) which decreased to 86.6% during refresher training after six months. The knowledge and skill scores were maintained above the set standard (>14.0) over time at all hospitals during refresher training.

Conclusion
HBB training together with QI tools improves health workers’ knowledge and skills on neonatal resuscitation, irrespective of size and type of hospitals. The knowledge and skills deteriorate over time but do not fall below the standard. The HBB training together with QI interventions can be scaled up in other public hospitals.

Trial registration
This study was part of the larger Nepal Perinatal Quality Improvement Project (NePeriQIP) with International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number, ISRCTN30829654, registered 17th of May, 2017.
Impacts of a sugar sweetened beverage tax on body mass index and obesity in Thailand: A modelling study
Authors: Phonsuk Payao , Vongmongkol Vuthiphan , Ponguttha Suladda , Suphanchaimat Rapeepong , Rojroongwasinkul Nipa , Swinburn Boyd Anthony 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) recommends sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes to address obesity. Thailand has just launched the new tax rates for SSB in 2017; however, the existing tax rate is not as high as the 20% recommended by the WHO. The objective for this study was to estimate the impacts of an SSB tax on body mass index (BMI) and obesity prevalence in Thailand under three different scenarios based on existing SSB and recommended tax rates.MethodsA base model was built to estimate the impacts of an SSB tax on SSB consumption, energy intake, BMI, and obesity prevalence. Literature review was conducted to estimate pass on rate, price elasticity, energy compensation, and energy balance to weight change. Different tax rates (11%, 20% and 25%) were used in the model. The model assumed no substitution effects, model values were based on international data since there was no empirical Thai data available. Differential effects by income groups were not estimated.FindingsWhen applying 11%, 20%, and 25% tax rates together with 100% pass on rate and an -1.30 own-price elasticity, the SSB consumption decreased by 14%, 26%, and 32%, respectively. The 20% and 25% price increase in SSB price tended to reduce higher energy intake, weight status and BMI, when compared with an 11% increase in existing price increase of SSB. The percentage changes of obesity prevalence of 11%, 20% and 25% SSB tax rates were estimated to be 1.73%, 3.83%, and 4.91%, respectively.ConclusionsA higher SSB tax (20% and 25%) was estimated to reduce consumption and consequently decrease obesity prevalence. Since Thailand has already endorsed the excise tax structure, the new excise tax structure for SSB should be scaled up to a 20% or 25% tax rate if the SSB consumption change does not meet a favourable goal.
Exakte und genäherte Kurzschlussstromberechnung in Netzen mit Vollumrichteranlagen
Authors: Schäkel Nils , Hofmann Lutz 
Published: April 2021

Zusammenfassung
Für eine betriebspunktunabhängige Kurzschlussstromberechnung enthält das Verfahren mit der Ersatzspannungsquelle an der Kurzschlussstelle aus der DIN EN 60909-0 eine genäherte Einbindung von Erzeugungsanlagen mit Vollumrichter. Für die Untersuchung der getroffenen Näherungen wird die exakte Einbindung von Vollumrichteranlagen in das Überlagerungsverfahren vorgestellt. Exemplarische Berechnungen zeigen, dass die getroffenen Näherungen hinsichtlich der Stromänderungen der Vollumrichteranlagen im Kurzschlussfall zu einer Unterschreitung des minimalen Anfangs-Kurzschlusswechselstroms führen können.
Considering the geological significance in data preprocessing and improving the prediction accuracy of hot springs by deep learning
Authors: Sang Xuejia , Xue Linfu , Li Xiaoshun 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The geothermal gradient in the eastern area of Liaoning Province is very low, but hot springs resources are variable. The reason is not clear till now but leads to the fact that a few strong influence factors can cause imbalances in the results of many prediction algorithms. It can be found as a black-box algorithm, deep learning will obtain a more unbalanced result with the fault influence factors. To tackle this issue, the role of preprocessing during the process of profound learning was enhanced and four comparative experiments were carried out. The results show that compared with the unprocessed experiment, the accuracy rate of the experiment with fully processed data increased by 11.9 p.p., and the area under the curve increased by 0.086 (0.796–0.882). This inspires us that even though the deep learning method can achieve high accuracy in the prediction of geological resources, we still need to pay attention to the analysis and pretreatment of data with expertise according to local conditions.
Small Sample Adjustment for Hypotheses Testing on Cointegrating Vectors
Authors: Canepa Alessandra 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Johansen’s (2000. “A Bartlett Correction Factor for Tests of on the Cointegrating Relations.” Econometric Theory 16: 740–78) Bartlett correction factor for the LR test of linear restrictions on cointegrated vectors is derived under the i.i.d. Gaussian assumption for the innovation terms. However, the distribution of most data relating to financial variables is fat-tailed and often skewed; there is therefore a need to examine small sample inference procedures that require weaker assumptions for the innovation term. This paper suggests that using the non-parametric bootstrap to approximate a Bartlett-type correction provides a statistic that does not require specification of the innovation distribution and can be used by applied econometricians to perform a small sample inference procedure that is less computationally demanding than it’s analytical counterpart. The procedure involves calculating a number of bootstrap values of the LR test statistic and estimating the expected value of the test statistic by the average value of the bootstrapped LR statistic. Simulation results suggest that the inference procedure has good finite sample property and is less dependent on the parameter space of the data generating process.
Optimization of morpheme length: a cross-linguistic assessment of Zipf’s and Menzerath’s laws
Authors: Stave Matthew , Paschen Ludger , Pellegrino François , Seifart Frank 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Zipf’s Law of Abbreviation and Menzerath’s Law both make predictions about the length of linguistic units, based on corpus frequency and the length of the carrier unit. Each contributes to the efficiency of languages: for Zipf, units are more likely to be reduced when they are highly predictable, due to their frequency; for Menzerath, units are more likely to be reduced when there are more sub-units to contribute to the structural information of the carrier unit. However, it remains unclear how the two laws work together in determining unit length at a given level of linguistic structure. We examine this question regarding the length of morphemes in spoken corpora of nine typologically diverse languages drawn from the DoReCo corpus, showing that Zipf’s Law is a stronger predictor, but that the two laws interact with one another. We also explore how this is affected by specific typological characteristics, such as morphological complexity.
Optimal potential functions for the interacting particle system method
Authors: Chraibi Hassane , Dutfoy Anne , Galtier Thomas , Garnier Josselin 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The assessment of the probability of a rare event with a naive Monte Carlo method is computationally intensive, so faster estimation or variance reduction methods are needed. We focus on one of these methods which is the interacting particle system (IPS) method.
The method is not intrusive in the sense that the random Markov system under consideration is simulated with its original distribution, but
selection steps are introduced that favor trajectories (particles) with high potential values.
An unbiased estimator with reduced variance can then be proposed.
The method requires to specify a set of potential functions. The choice of these functions is crucial because it determines the magnitude of the variance reduction. So far, little information was available on how to choose the potential functions. This paper provides the expressions of the optimal potential functions minimizing the asymptotic variance of the estimator of the IPS method and it proposes recommendations for the practical design of the potential
functions.
COVID-19 cases with delayed absorption of lung lesion
Authors: Li BinBin , Hu WeiZhen , Bao ChunMiao 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Objective
Over 90% of the COVID-19 patients with computed tomographic (CT) manifestations showed radiological improvement on dissipating stage. Cases with refractory pulmonary infiltration were discussed in this study.

Methods
During hospitalization, chest CT scan and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test were repeatedly performed. While drawing parallels to RT-PCR, the impact of delayed absorption of lung lesions on length of hospital stay (LOS) and medical expense was investigated. Features for delayed absorption of lung lesions were identified using cox proportional hazard regression model.

Results
Cases with delayed absorption of lung lesions had a prolonged LOS (18.00 ± 4.90 vs 9.25 ± 4.20, p < 0.01) and increased medical expense (9124.55 ± 2421.31 vs 4923.88 ± 2218.56, p < 0.01). Time interval from admission to a negative RT-PCR (ATN) was also prolonged (13.29 ± 4.72 vs 9.25 ± 4.20, p = 0.03). The cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that imported cases bore high risk of delayed absorption of lung lesions (hazard ratio = 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.05, 6.11, p = 0.04). Sensitivity analysis revealed similar pattern (hazard ratio = 6.64, 95% confidence interval 1.62, 27.18, p = 0.01).

Conclusion
Imported cases of COVID-19 were more likely to have refractory pulmonary infiltration, which subsequently prolongs LOS and increases medical expense.
Social robot deception and the culture of trust
Authors: Sætra Henrik Skaug 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHuman beings are deeply social, and both evolutionary traits and cultural constructs encourage cooperation based on trust. Social robots interject themselves in human social settings, and they can be used for deceptive purposes. Robot deception is best understood by examining the effects of deception on the recipient of deceptive actions, and I argue that the long-term consequences of robot deception should receive more attention, as it has the potential to challenge human cultures of trust and degrade the foundations of human cooperation. In conclusion: regulation, ethical conduct by producers, and raised general awareness of the issues described in this article are all required to avoid the unfavourable consequences of a general degradation of trust.
The network of reflexive dative constructions in South Slavic
Authors: Mitkovska Liljana 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
This paper analyses a number of constructions with a reflexive marker on the verb and a dative argument, using the framework of Construction Grammar. In these constructions the predication is ascribed in various modes to the experiencer argument. We focus on these constructions in the South Slavic languages in which they have a wide distribution, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS). The following basic types are identified: Emotional processes and states, Accidental, Perception/Cognition and Stative Reflexive-Dative Construction (SRDC). The specific clusters of features in each one are due to the inheritance properties from a reflexive construction, indicating a valence reduction, in combination with the features of affectedness and lack of control, characteristic of a dative argument. This results in varied but multiply linked patterns that create a complex network of constructions. The study aims at defining the relations between these constructions and in particular at determining the place of SRDC in this network.
Lung Histopathology in Baclofen Intoxication
Authors: Romanova O. L. , Sundukov D. V. , Golubev M. A. , Blagonravov M. L. , Ershov A. V. 
Published: April 2021

The aim of the study: to assess the lung histopathology in acute intoxication with baclofen alone and its combination with alcohol (in the same dose) 3 hours after the ingestion.Materials and methods. The study was performed on 15 male Wistar rats weighing 290-350 g and aged 20 weeks. The animals were divided into 3 groups, 5 animals each: control group that included intact rats; Group 1 composed of rats received baclofen alone; Group 2 that included rats received a combination of baclofen and ethanol. Baclofen was administered orally at a dose of 85 mg/kg animal weight under anesthesia (chloralose), and 40% ethanol, 7 ml/kg animal weight, was orally administered along with baclofen at the same dose. Animals of all groups were sacrificed after 3 hours by overdosing anesthetic agent. Lung tissue samples were examined by light microscopy using a video system at x400 magnification. The following histological characteristics were evaluated: circulatory disorders (engorged capillaries and venules, hemorrhages in interalveolar septa and alveoli, sludge), atelectasis (including partial), emphysema, cellular response (increased WBCs in the interalveolar septal area), thickening of interalveolar septa due to edema, epithelial desquamation into bronchial lumen. The diameter of alveoli and thickness of interalveolar septa were measured.Results. Three hours after the baclofen administration, circulatory disorders in the lungs (engorged venules and capillaries, hemorrhages in the interalveolar septa, sludge), emphysema, atelectasis (complete and partial) as well as cellular response (leucocyte infiltration of interalveolar septa) were detected. In the Group 2, baclofen resulted in circulatory disorders (engorged venules and capillaries, sludge), emphysema, atelectasis (complete and incomplete), cellular response (infiltration with leukocytes), as well as fluid in the lumen of bronchioles. In Group 1, the alveolar diameter was significantly larger than in the control group and Group 2, while the thickness of the interalveolar septa was lower. In group 2, alveolar diameter was significantly less than in group 1, but still greater than in the control group. The thickness of the interalveolar septa in group 2 was significantly greater than in the control group and group 1.Conclusion. After administration of baclofen alone and in combination with ethanol, the following alterations were found in the lungs: circulation disorders (venular and capillary engorgement, sludge), increased vascular permeability because of developing hypoxia, leukocyte infiltration of interalveolar septa. The monitoring of morphological alterations may aid in evaluating the severity of pathological processes in intoxication with baclofen alone and in combination with ethanol and in determining the method of intoxication (baclofen alone or in combination with ethanol).
Mediastinal Emphysema as a Specific Complication of COVID-19 (Case Report)
Authors: Pavlikova E. P. , Agapov M. A. , Malakhov P. S. , Galliamov E. A. , Esakov Yu. S. , Markaryan D. R. , Kakotkin V. V. , Kubyshkin V. A. 
Published: April 2021

During the care of patients with novel coronavirus infection at the Lomonosov MSU Medical Research and Education Center from April 21 to June 13, 2020, we observed cases of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema (spontaneous pneumomediastinum) as a manifestation or a probable complication of COVID-19.The aim of the paper. To provide clinical case descriptions and approaches to the management of patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 associated pneumonia, as they are not addressed in the current clinical guidelines, and therefore are worthy of special attention.Among 224 patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, five cases of pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax were identified. Of these, in two cases the pneumomediastinum developed during noninvasive lung ventilation (NLV) (one case) and invasive lung ventilation (one case). In three cases, spontaneous mediastinal emphysema was not associated with lung ventilation. By the time of publication, one case of pneumomediastinum was completed, and four patients remained hospitalized. All five patients were males aged from 52 to 84 years.This paper presents in depth the description of two cases of mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema in patients with COVID-19.
Study of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) as a biomarker in hypertensive retinopathy
Authors: Pavlovschi Ecaterina , Pantea Valeriana , Borovic Djina , Tagadiuc Olga 
Published: April 2021

Background. Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A prompt diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive retinopathy (HR), the leading complication of HTN is pivotal for a better visual outcome. Increased blood pressure on its own cannot fully clarify the development of retinal alterations, therefore an additional pathogenetic mechanism, such as oxidative stress, might be inquired.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in the level of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in the serum and tears of HR patients in order to establish the predictive value of IMA for the HR progression.
Methods. Serum and tear samples for the measurement of IMA were collected from 90 patients detected primarily with HR, who were not taking any antihypertensive or other drug that could influence the results of the study, divided according to the Keith-Wagener classification into GI ‒ 36 patients with HR grade I, GII ‒ 35 with HR grade II and GIII ‒ 19 with HR grade III. Serum and tear IMA levels were assessed using the Co2+ binding method (Gudumac V. et al., 2009) and expressed as median and interquartile range. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney nonparametric tests were used to compare the groups and the Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated (SPSS 23.0), with p<0.05 being statistically significant.
Results. The groups showed a statistically significant difference in serum IMA (p=0.006), the values increasing in parallel with the progression of HR. The serum IMA level in GII increased compared to GI (+3%; 239.06 µM/L (IQR 75.58) vs 231.77 µM/L (IQR 104.09), p=1.00), as well as in GIII patients compared to GII (+17%; 277.67 µM/L (IQR 88.72) vs 239.06 µM/L (IQR 75.58), p=0.04). There were no differences in IMA content (p=0.160), between groups in the tears. No correlations were found between serum and tear IMA levels (p=0.134), but serum IMA showed a significant moderate strength, positive correlation with the degree of HR (r=0.307**, p=0.003).
Conclusion. A progressive enhancement in serum IMA level as HR advanced was identified. Thereby, the results suggest the potential relevance of serum IMA as a sensitive and early biomarker useful for grading and optimal treatment of the patients with HR.
Sterilisasi Komersial Cassava Chunk pada Kemasan Hermetis Standing Pouch dan Perubahan Sifat Fisikokimianya
Authors: Saragih Dewi Sartika , Adawiyah Dede Robiatul , Rungkat Fransisca Zakaria 
Published: April 2021

People’s lifestyles nowdays tend to want healthy-practical food that is strongly supported by a healthy diet. Cassava as whole food is considered as a healthy food and has the potential to become rice substitute but needs an appropriate technology to facilitate food serving. In this research, ready-to-eat cassava products then called "cassava chunk" were made by applying canning technology using retort pouch packaging. The achieved value of the heat adequacy (F0) is very important in the canning process to ensure food safety. Therefore, this study aimed to produce cassava chunk product as a whole food, optimize the size and amount of brine in the sterilization process, determine the F0 value after blanching and non-blanching treatments, as well as to analyze the chemical characteristics of fresh cassava and cassava chunk. The sterilization was done by using a pressure cooker with a specially designed basket using hermetic retort pouch packaging. The initial characterizations showed that fresh cassava had a pH of 6.70 and 0.9 aw at 24.6°C. The addition of 20% (b/v) 1% brine solution in the sterilization process with 3 x 2.5 cm cassava chunk was the most preferred by the panelists. The sterilization process with blanching treatment before being packaged reached an F0 of 3.43 minutes, which was safe to consume, and with non-blanching treatment before being packaged reached an F0 of 2.73 minutes. The proximate analysis of cassava chunk showed an increase in the water content from 60.89% to 68.44%, the starch content increased from 74.43% to 80.41%, the soluble dietary fiber decreased from 6.78% to 3.34%, but the fat content decreased from 1.54% to 0.65%. Meanwhile, ash, protein, and insoluble dietary fiber did not show any significant differences after the sterilization. Sterilization technology could produce ready-to-eat cassava chunk as a whole food and was acceptable by 45 organoleptic panelists.
Keywords: cassava chunk, whole food, proximate analysis, F0