bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unilateral visual impairment in a patient undergoing chemotherapy: a case report and clinical findings
Authors: Yuan Xia , Feng Yuliang , Li Dan , Li Mei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Abstract
Background: Visual impairment occurred as an infrequent form of chemotherapeutic toxicity and was often underestimated despite of several reports. We described a case of acute unilateral visual impairment after one cycle of intravenous chemotherapy of a normal dose, aiming at raising attention to chemotherapy-induced ocular toxicity.
Case presentation: The patient developed a progressive vision loss in the right eye during the chemotherapy. After one cycle of intravenous chemotherapy, her visual acuity decreased by 0.6 in the right eye (VOD=0.4) compared to the previous value of 1.0 (VOD=1.0). No evidence of ocular infiltration was observed from the cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During her follow-up period, we documented the ophthalmologic examinations including visual acuity, visual field (VF), visual evoked potential (VEP), electroretinogram (ERG), fundus photograph (FP), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Ophthalmoscope examination and fundus photograph showed optic disc edema, fuzzy boundary and linear hemorrhages in her right eye. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) revealed capillary underdevelopment at the nasal and superior temporal area of the optic disc in the early phase and capillary fluorescein leakage in the late phase. The result of VEP test suggested the impaired function of the optic nerve. Thus, a diagnosis of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) was made by the ophthalmologist according to these results. The patient was prescribed prednisone combined with neuroprotective drugs, which did not work. After the cessation of chemotherapy, her impaired vision gradually recovered.
Conclusions: This is the first reported case of acute visual impairment in a patient who underwent chemotherapy of a normal dose. It is indicated that while receiving benefits from chemotherapy, cancer patients simultaneously suffer from the risk of vision loss.
Key words: Vision loss, Chemotherapy, Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Burden, clinical outcomes and predictors of time to in hospital mortality among adult patients admitted to stroke unit of Jimma university medical center: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Fekadu Ginenus , Chelkeba Legese , Kebede Ayantu 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: The global burden of stroke epidemiology is changing rapidly. Over the 1990–2013 periods, there was a significant increase in the absolute number of deaths and incident events of stroke. The burden of stroke varies in Ethiopia between regions and over time. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the burden, clinical outcomes and predictors of time to in hospital mortality among stroke patients.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried at stroke unit of Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) from March 10- July 10, 2017. The outcome of interest was mortality and time to death. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify the predictors of in hospital mortality and time to death from hospital arrival. Predictor variables with P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 116 eligible stroke patients were followed over 4 months. The mean age of patients was 55.1+14.0 years and males comprised of 73 (62.9%). Stroke accounted for 16.5 % of total medical admissions. Among the 116 patients with stroke, 91 (78.4%) were discharged alive making in hospital mortality of rate of 25 (21.6%). The median time of in hospital mortality and length of hospital stay after admission of the patients were 4.38 days and 9.21 days, respectively. The prominent suspected immediate cause for in hospital mortality was increased intracranial pressure in 17 (68.0%) followed by respiratory failure secondary to aspiration pneumonia in 11 (44.0%) patients. Brain edema (AHR: 6.27, 95% CI: 2.50-15.76), urine incontinence (AHR: 3.48, 95% CI: 1.48-8.17), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >13 during hospital arrival (AHR: 22.58, 95% CI: 2.95-172.56) and diagnosis of stroke clinically alone (AHR: 4.96, 95% CI: 1.96-12.54) were the independent predictors of time to in hospital mortality.
Conclusions: The mortality rate of stroke in this setup was comparable with other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is an urgent need to establish well equipped and staffed stroke units in the country in addition to strengthen the already existing on. Furthermore, future work must be designed to identify the barriers to improve stroke outcomes and recovery.
MicroRNA expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells associated with syphilis
Authors: Huang Tao , Zhang Jun , Ke Wujian , Zhang Xiaohui , Chen Wentao , Yang Jieyi , Liao Yiwen , Liang Fangwen , Mei Shuqing , Li Mingjiu , Luo Zhenzhou , Zhang Qiwei , Yang Bin , Zheng Heping 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background
Treponema pallidum ( T. pallidum ) infection evokes significant immune responses, resulting in tissue damage. The immune mechanism underlying T. pallidum infection is still unclear, although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to influence immune cell function and, consequently, the generation of antibody responses during other microbe infections. However, these mechanisms are unknown for T. pallidum .
Methods
In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in healthy individuals, untreated patients with syphilis, patients in the serofast state, and serologically cured patients. miRNAs were profiled from the peripheral blood of patients obtained at the time of serological diagnosis. Then, both the target sequence analysis of these different miRNAs and pathway analysis were performed to identify important immune and cell signaling pathways. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for microRNA analysis.
Results
A total of 89 differentially regulated miRNAs were identified. Following RT-qPCR confirmation, three miRNAs (hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-589-3p) showed significant differences in the serofast and serologically cured states ( P <0.05). One miRNA (hsa-miR-195-5p) showed significant differences between untreated patients and healthy individuals.
Conclusions
This is the first study of miRNA expression differences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in different stages of T. pallium infection. Our study suggests that the combination of three miRNAs has great potential to serve as a non-invasive biomarker of T. pallium infections, which will facilitate better diagnosis and treatment of T. pallium infections.
NMDA Receptor Antagonists: Repositioning of Memantine as a Multitargeting Agent for Alzheimer's Therapy
Authors: Kabir Md. Tanvir , Sufian Mohammad A. , Uddin Md. Sahab , Begum Mst. Marium , Akhter Shammi , Islam Ariful , Mathew Bijo , Islam Md. Siddiqul , Amran Md. Shah , Md. Ashraf Ghulam 
Published: October 2019

:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes problems with memory,
thinking, and behavior. Currently, there is no drug that can reduce the pathological events of this degenerative
disease but symptomatic relief is possible that can abate the disease condition. N-methyl-D-aspartate
(NMDA) receptors exert a critical role for synaptic plasticity as well as transmission. Overstimulation of glutamate
receptors, predominantly NMDA type, may cause excitotoxic effects on neurons and is recommended as a
mechanism for neurodegeneration. Atypical activation of the NMDA receptor has been suggested for AD by
synaptic dysfunction. NMDA receptor antagonists especially memantine block the NMDA receptor and can reduce
the influx of calcium (Ca2+) ions into neuron, thus, toxic intracellular events are not activated. This review
represents the role of NMDA receptors antagonists as potential therapeutic agents to reduce AD. Moreover, this
review highlights the repositioning of memantine as a potential novel therapeutic multitargeting agent for AD.
Study on the Melting Mechanism of Maleic Anhydride
Authors: Das Bratati , Bhattacharjee Ashis 
Published: October 2019

Background:
Melting of a pure crystalline material is generally treated thermodynamically
which disregards the dynamic aspects of the melting process. According to
the kinetic phenomenon, any process should be characterized by activation energy and preexponential
factor where these kinetic parameters are derivable from the temperature dependence
of the process rate. Study on such dependence in case of melting of a pure crystalline
solid gives rise to a challenge as such melting occurs at a particular temperature only.
The temperature region of melting of pure crystalline solid cannot be extended beyond
this temperature making it difficult to explore the temperature dependence of the melting
rate and consequently the derivation of the related kinetic parameters.

Objective:
The present study aims to explore the mechanism of the melting process of maleic
anhydride in the framework of phase transition models. Taking this process as just another
first-order phase transition, occurring through the formation of nuclei of new phase
and their growth, particular focus is on the nucleation and growth models.

Methods:
Non-isothermal thermogravimetry, as well as differential scanning calorimetry
studies, has been performed. Using isoconversional kinetic analysis, temperature dependence
of the activation energy of melting has been obtained. Nucleation and growth models
have been utilized to obtain the theoretical temperature dependencies for the activation energy
of melting and these dependencies are then compared with the experimentally estimated
ones.

Conclusion:
The thermogravimetry study indicates that melting is followed by concomitant
evaporation, whereas the differential scanning calorimetry study shows that the two
processes appear in two different temperature regions, and these differences observed may
be due to the applied experimental conditions. From the statistical analysis, the growth
model seems more suitable than the nucleation model for the interpretation of the melting
mechanism of the maleic anhydride crystals.
Anthropogenic Releases of Radiocarbon and its Concentration Burden in Environment
Authors: Ghaffar Abdul , Hafeez Zainab , Ali Syeda Maria 
Published: October 2019

:
The radiocarbon (14C) concentrations in air and vegetation samples around a nuclear
research reactor were studied.

Objective:
14C concentrations in the air and vegetation samples around the nuclear research
reactor were measured to assess its 14C burden on the environment.

Methods:
Air samples were collected by converting CO2 into Na2CO3 by using a specified
system. Leaf samples were carbonized to convert organic carbon into inorganic carbonates.
The samples were converted into carbamate through carbosorb systems with 74% efficiency.
The fractionation of 14C for each sample was corrected and normalized to a 13C composition
of -25‰ Pee Dee Belemnite.

Results:
14C concentrations in the air and vegetation samples around the nuclear research
reactor were found to range from 158 to 406 Bq/Kg and 162 to 339 Bq/kgC, respectively.
The highest concentrations of 14C were found in the samples close to the reactor and along
the prevailing wind direction. The specific activities of the samples decreased with an increase
in the distance from the reactor and in the opposite to prevailing wind direction. In
addition to the distance from the reactor and wind direction, the local Suess effect was an
additional factor affecting the 14C activities in the air and vegetation samples.

Conclusion:
One can conclude that other than the 14C emissions from the nuclear reactor,
local Suess effects and climatic factors (wind directions) dilute and disperse 14C concentrations
in the atmosphere and consequently decrease its availability for uptake and accumulation
by plants at 4-5 km aerial distance from the point of release in prevailing wind direction.
Peningkatan Prestasi Belajar Matematika Melalui Pendekatan Matematika Realistik Bagi Siswa Kelas 2 SD Tulasan
Authors: Sartini Sartini 
Published: October 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendiskripsikan proses pelaksanaan pembelajaran dengan menggunakan pendekatan Matematika Realistik di kelas II SD Tulasan dan untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar Matematika siswa kelas II SD Tulasan menggunakan pendekatan Matematika Realistik. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilaksanakan 2 siklus. Tiap siklus terdiri dari 2 pembelajaran. Tiap siklus dalam penelitian tindakan kelas terdiri atas kegiatan perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subjek penelitian adalah siswa kelas II SD Tulasan yang berjumlah 18 siswa, terdiri dari 8 siswa laki-laki, dan 10 siswa perempuan. Teknik analisis datanya adalah kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan pendekatan matematika realstik dapat meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa kelas II SD Tulasan. Sebelum penelitian, persentase pencapaian KKM untuk hasil tes anak adalah 50%. Setelah penelitian siklus I menjadi 72%, sedangkan setelah siklus II mencapai 89%. Penelitian ini telah mencapai target yang diharapkan yaitu dapat mencapai KKM dengan tingkat pencapaian minimal 75%.
SIPEMJAR Museum Untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Sejarah Kelas 11 MIPA 5 SMA Negeri 4 Yogyakarta
Authors: Sri Nuryati Maria Goretti 
Published: October 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: 1) meningkatkan hasil belajar sejarah melalui reorientasi pembelajaran sejarah di museum (sipemjar museum); dan 2) mendapatkan bukti-bukti peningkatan hasil belajar sejarah setelah melaksanakan reorientasi pembelajaran sejarah di museum (sipemjar museum)Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas dengan model spiral/siklus dari Kemmis McTaggart, yang dilakukan di SMA Negeri 4 Yogyakarta pada bulan April dan Mei 2019, dengan menggunakan Museum Benteng Vredeburg dan Museum Pusat TNI Ad Dharma Wiratama Yogyakata sebagai tempat pembelajaran. Penelitian ini berlangsung sebanyak dua siklus, masing-masing terdiri atas empat tahap yaitu perencanaan, pelaksanaan tindakan dan observasi, serta refleksi. Peneliti bertindak sebagai pelaksana tindakan, sedangkan kolaborator, membantu dalam perencanaan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subyek penelitian adalah siswa kelas XI MIPA 5 karena kelas ini merupakan kelas yang terendah hasil belajarnya untuk jurusan MIPA. Data yang diperoleh disajikan dalam tabel-tabel, dan dianalisis secara deskriptif kuantitatif. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa reorientasi pembelajaran sejarah di museum (sipemjar museum) mampu meningkatkan hasil belajar sejarah siswa. Dengan reorientasi pembelajaran sejarah di museum telah terjadi: 1) peningkatkan aktivitas pembelajaran, yang meliputi: aspek sikap dan aspek ketrampilan, 2) peningkatan hasil belajar sejarah yaitu, rerata skor post test siklus I = 72.6 dan siklus II = 84.7
On the Relation between Financial Reporting Quality and Country Attributes: Research Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Isidro Helena , Nanda Dhananjay (DJ) , Wysocki Peter D. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We provide new evidence on the codependence among the many country attributes previously linked to financial reporting quality. First, we show that the synchronicity of 21 changing country attributes spikes surrounding mandatory IFRS adoption. Thus, while IFRS adoption “explains” increased reporting quality, this finding disappears after including other changing country determinants of reporting quality. Second, a single underlying factor distills the numerous reporting quality measures used in the international literature. Finally, we document that four underlying country factors largely subsume the individual explanatory power of 72 candidate country attributes in explaining reporting quality levels across countries. We conclude with implications and suggestions for future research on international reporting quality.
JEL Classifications: F30; G15; K22; M41.
Data Availability: Data used in this paper are from publicly available sources and/or are drawn directly from data tabulated in published research papers.
CEO Severance Pay and Corporate Tax Planning
Authors: Campbell John L. , Guan Jenny Xinjiao , Li Oliver Zhen , Zheng Zhen 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We examine the association between CEO severance pay (i.e., payment a CEO would receive if s/he is involuntarily terminated) and corporate tax planning activities. We find that CEO severance pay is positively associated with corporate tax planning, consistent with CEO severance pay providing contractual protection against managers' career concerns and thereby inducing otherwise risk-averse managers to engage in incremental levels of tax planning. This result holds under an instrumental variable approach and propensity score matching, and survives alternative measures of CEO severance pay and corporate tax planning. Finally, we find that severance pay provides stronger tax planning incentives in situations where managers are expected to face greater career concerns—when they are less experienced, when they face stronger shareholder monitoring, and when they manage firms with higher idiosyncratic volatility. Overall, our results suggest that CEO severance pay represents a form of efficient contracting with otherwise risk-averse managers.
Corporate Tax Avoidance and Debt Costs
Authors: Shevlin Terry , Urcan Oktay , Vasvari Florin P. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
We use path analysis to investigate how corporate tax avoidance is priced in bond yields and bank loan spreads. We find that approximately one half of the total effect of tax avoidance on bond yields is explained through the negative effect of tax avoidance on future pre-tax cash flow levels and volatility and, to a lesser extent, lower information quality. The effects of these mediating variables are much less pronounced for bank loan spreads. The results of additional cross-sectional analyses indicate that, relative to bond investors, banks are able to reduce information asymmetry problems more effectively, given their access to firms' private information and greater ability to monitor borrowers.
JEL Classifications: G31; G32; M10; O16.
La formación de docentes normalistas: De la tradición pedagógica a los entornos virtuales de aprendizaje
Authors: Sánchez Miranda Juan José , González Polo Arturo , Monroy Rodríguez Adriana 
Published: October 2019

Los cambios son inevitables, sobre todo en un escenario tan complejo y dinámico como en el que se vive actualmente. Ocurren en diferentes momentos y circunstancias históricas. En el ámbito educativo, el auge de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC) en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje ha traído consigo varias repercusiones. Entre ellas ha alterado el modelo formativo de los futuros docentes. ¿O acaso es factible transformar la práctica educativa o mantener la tradición pedagógica a pesar de las demandas educativas del presente siglo?
En este estudio se planteó como objetivo analizar cómo se está dando la transición del modelo tradicional de formación docente a un nuevo modelo que responda a las necesidades educativas del siglo XXI: si se mantiene en un marco de resistencia por abandonar añejos esquemas de práctica docente o se transforma a partir de las circunstancias en que este modelo se integra a entornos virtuales de aprendizaje (EVA). También documenta y analiza diferentes perspectivas de docentes normalistas sobre la práctica docente basada en el uso de las TIC a partir de su propia formación profesional, intereses personales o paradigmas.
Para cumplir con ello se tomó una muestra de 60 estudiantes de primer grado de la Licenciatura en Educación Secundaria de la Escuela Normal de Atlacomulco. Los participantes contestaron una encuesta en línea centrada en el uso de las TIC, así como en el análisis de planes de clase y observaciones de las prácticas pedagógicas. Como parte de los resultados se encontró que, a pesar de que los estudiantes tienen acceso a diferentes dispositivos electrónicos, no todos los maestros tienen la disposición y capacidad para integrarlos a su práctica docente como herramientas para favorecer el aprendizaje, especialmente aquellos que son de avanzada edad. Esto refuerza la hipótesis de que a mayor edad del profesorado, menor el interés por utilizar los EVA que ofrecen la TIC.
A comparative study between NSMC and NSOSMC strategy for a DFIG integrated into wind energy system
Authors: Benbouhenni Habib 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis article presents a modelling and sliding mode control (SMC) of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) integrated into wind energy system for independent control of stator reactive and stator active powers. For a comparative study, the independent control of reactive and active powers is ensured in the first step by neuro-sliding mode controllers (NSMC) and the second step by neuro-second order sliding mode controllers (NSOSMC). Finally, the performance of the system is tested and compared by simulation in terms of robustness tests, and reference tracking tests based on Matlab/Simulink software.
Determinants of Export Oriented Entrepreneurs from Southeast Europe Region
Authors: Leković Bojan , Petrović Miodrag , Berber Nemanja 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The subject of this research represents analysis of internationalisation activity of early-stage entrepreneurs in South East Europe region (SEE). The goal of this study is to determine characteristics of export oriented entrepreneurs from SEE region through the study of factors influencing international orientation. Geographical area of this research consists of countries from the South East Europe region. The research sample was formed on the basis of GEM - Global Individual Level Data, covering six countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and FYR of Macedonia), 12027 respondents of which 645 export-oriented entrepreneurs were identified. Collected data are processed using the software package for statistical analysis. With the help of Ordinal Logistic regression, significant influence of individual factors on the international orientation of entrepreneurs was identified. Research results showed that entrepreneurial motives, entrepreneurial KSA’s, innovation and new technology have a positive relationship with internationalization activity. One of the significant limitations of this paper is the lower Nagelkerk coefficient, which is characteristic for social phenomena. Bearing in mind the fact that this research trying to explain entrepreneurial behaviour, lower coefficients can be very meaningfull.
Association of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome with Bacteremia in Patients with Sepsis
Authors: Grozdanovski Krsto , Milenkovikj Zvonko , Demiri Ilir , Spasovska Katerina , Cvetanovska Marija , Rangelov Goran , Saveski Velimir , Grozdanovska Biljana 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and commonly used biochemical parameters as predictors for positive blood culture in patients with sepsis. The study included 313 patients aged ≥18 years with severe sepsis and septic shock consecutively admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The study took place from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017. We recorded demographic variables, common laboratory tests, SIRS parameters, site of infection, comorbidities and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Blood cultures were positive in 65 (20.8%) patients with sepsis. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from 35 (53.8%) patients. From the evaluated variables in this study, only the presence of four SIRS parameters was associated with bacteremia, finding that will help to predict bacteremia and initiate early appropriate therapy in septic patients.