bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trends in cost and consumption of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, from 2019 to 2021
Authors: Kadyrova Ninell , Gotham Dzintars , Kniazkov Stanislav , Aghayev Elsever , Hajibalayev Polad , Ermatov Zohid , Azzopardi Muscat Natasha 
Published: December 2023

Background
Access to medicines is a global priority. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan have different approaches to pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to analyze recent trends in the consumption and prices of non-communicable disease (NCD) medicines in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, in the outpatient setting.

Methods
We included medicines for asthma and COPD, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and mental disorders. Sales data for pharmaceutical products in community pharmacies were extracted from a commercial database. Changes in consumption and prices were analyzed across all included NCD medicines, by disease category and pharmacological group.

Results
Consumption of NCD medicines was highest in Georgia, at twice the levels in Azerbaijan, and four times levels in Uzbekistan. Average prices of NCD medicines, weighted by consumption, increased by 26% in Georgia, but decreased by 3% in Azerbaijan and by 0.1% in Uzbekistan. Prices increased for all disease groups in Georgia (from +13% for epilepsy medicines to +86% for cancer), varied by group in Uzbekistan (from -22% for epilepsy medicines to +47% for cancer), while changes in Azerbaijan were smaller in magnitude (from -4% for medicines for cardiovascular disease to +11% for cancer). Cancer medicines had markedly higher prices in Uzbekistan, and asthma and COPD medicines had markedly higher prices in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Conclusions
Georgia showed the highest outpatient consumption of NCD medicines, suggesting the broadest access to treatment. However, Georgia also saw marked price increases, greater than in the other countries. In Georgia, where there was no price regulation, widespread price increases and increases in consumption both contribute to increasing pharmaceutical expenditures. In Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, increases in outpatient pharmaceutical expenditures were primarily driven by increases in consumption, rather than increases in price. Comparing trends in consumption and pricing can identify gaps in access and inform future policy approaches.
An examination of factorial invariance of the Asthma Control Questionnaire among adults with severe asthma
Authors: McDowell Ronald , Heaney Liam , Brown Thomas , Bunting Brendan , Burhan Hassan , Chaudhuri Rekha , Dennison Paddy , Faruqi Shoaib , Gore Robin , Jackson David J. , Menzies-Gow Andrew , Pantin Thomas , Patel Mitesh , Pfeffer Paul , Siddiqui Salman , Busby John ,   on behalf of the UK Severe Asthma Registry
Published: December 2023

Background
The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) is used to assess asthma symptom control. The relationship between the questionnaire items and symptom control has not been fully studied in severe asthmatic patients, and its validity for making comparisons between subgroups of patients is unknown.

Methods
Data was obtained from patients in the United Kingdom Severe Asthma Registry whose symptom control was assessed using the five-item ACQ (ACQ5) (n = 2,951). Confirmatory factor analysis determined whether a latent factor for asthma symptom control, as measured by the ACQ5, was consistent with the data. Measurement invariance was examined in relation to ethnicity, sex and age; this included testing for approximate measurement invariance using Bayesian Structural Equation Modelling (BSEM). The fitted models were used to estimate the internal consistency reliability of the ACQ5. Invariance of factor means across subgroups was assessed.

Results
A one-factor construct with residual correlations for the ACQ5 was an excellent fit to the data in all subgroups (Root Mean Square Error Approximation 0.03 [90%CI 0.02,0.05], p-close fit 0.93, Comparative Fit Index 1.00, Tucker Lewis Index 1.00}. Expected item responses were consistent for Caucasian and non-Caucasian patients with the same absolute level of symptom control. There was some evidence that females and younger adults reported wakening more frequently during the night than males and older adults respectively with the same absolute level of symptom control (p<0.001). However approximate measurement invariance was tenable and any failure to observe strong measurement invariance had minimal impact when comparing mean levels of asthma symptom control between patients of different sexes or ages. Average levels of asthma symptom control were lower for non-Caucasians (p = 0.001), females (p<0.01)and increased with age (p<0.01). Reliability of the instrument was high (over 88%) in all subgroups studied.

Conclusion
The ACQ5 is informative in comparing levels of symptom control between severe asthmatic patients of different ethnicities, sexes and ages. It is important that analyses are replicated in other severe asthma registries to determine whether measurement invariance is observed.
Radiographers’ perceptions on the quality of managing general radiographic paediatric examinations through the use of a reflective tool
Authors: Caruana Kate , Hayre Chris , Makanjee Chandra 
Published: December 2023

Introduction
Paediatric patients are a vulnerable population that require additional care by healthcare professionals. Quality managing these examinations ensures that effective and quality care is provided to individual patients, whilst encouraging consistency within the medical imaging department. This study explored radiographers’ perspectives on quality management strategies of general radiographic paediatric examinations using a paediatric imaging reflective checklist.

Methods
A quantitative descriptive research design with qualitative questions was used through a purposive sampling method from both public and private Australian diagnostic imaging qualified radiographers who had experience in paediatric imaging examinations. The paediatric imaging service reflective tool consisted of 65 items in total. Data analysis entailed Microsoft Excel version 16.16.6 and Jamovi version 2.3.21 for the closed-ended questions and for the open-ended responses a thematic analysis.

Results
The participation rate was 13.2% and the most significant findings were: lead shielding was still being used at their organisation, despite recent recommendations to suspend its use; access to paediatric patient related information resources is limited; there was no involvement of families and communities regarding policy development or quality improvement measures as advocated in literature; and there was a need for enhanced specialised paediatric education, training and protocols.

Conclusion
Using the paediatric patient-centred imaging reflective checklist, radiographers had an opportunity to identify quality improvement indicators as well as issues that could further enhance best practice principles. Further studies could inform on the validity of this reflective tool.
Strategic Communications in Russia: Public Relations and Advertising, Katerina Tsetsura and Dean Kruckeberg (eds) (2021)
Authors: Klyueva Anna 
Published: December 2023

Review of: Strategic Communications in Russia: Public Relations and Advertising, Katerina Tsetsura and Dean Kruckeberg (eds) (2021)
New York: Routledge, 268 pp.,
ISBN 978-0-36754-337-2, p/bk, $52.95
A nonparametric test for comparing survival functions based on restricted distance correlation
Authors: Zhang Qingyang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this article, we propose an omnibus test for comparing two survival functions under non-proportional hazards. The test statistic is based on a product-limit estimate of the restricted distance correlation, which is closely related to the

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2

{L}_{2}

distance between survival curves. The strong consistency is established under mild regularity conditions. Our simulation studies show that the new test has satisfactory power under proportional hazard and various non-proportional hazards settings including delayed treatment effect, diminishing effect, and crossing survival curves; therefore, it can be a competitive alternative to the existing omnibus tests such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Cramer-von Mises test, two-stage test, and the maxCombo test based on weighted log-rank statistics. Two extensions of the new test to one-sided alternatives and a Gaussian kernel are also discussed.
A Soufflé only Rises Once: China’s Grim Economic Prospects
Authors: Dieter Heribert 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
After four decades of unprecedented growth, the Chinese economy faces a plethora of structural problems: The bursting of the world’s largest real estate bubble, the demographic decline and the turn to a preference for autarky are resulting in a potent mix. Solving the above-named problems will results in a prolonged phase of slow growth or even stagnation. Not tackling the issues will be even worse, for the adjustment process will eventually be even more painful. Real estate is probably the biggest issue. Too many apartments were built for too few people. The second key problem is the demography. The United Nations are suggesting that China’s population may shrink to about half its current level by 2100. Since China does not consider immigration, the aging population will be a drag on economic development and, of course, real estate. The Chinese Communist Party has engineered an economic mirage: That soufflé will only rise once.
Testing for treatment effect twice using internal and external controls in clinical trials
Authors: Yi Yanyao , Zhang Ying , Du Yu , Ye Ting 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Leveraging external controls – relevant individual patient data under control from external trials or real-world data – has the potential to reduce the cost of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) while increasing the proportion of trial patients given access to novel treatments. However, due to lack of randomization, RCT patients and external controls may differ with respect to covariates that may or may not have been measured. Hence, after controlling for measured covariates, for instance by matching, testing for treatment effect using external controls may still be subject to unmeasured biases. In this article, we propose a sensitivity analysis approach to quantify the magnitude of unmeasured bias that would be needed to alter the study conclusion that presumed no unmeasured biases are introduced by employing external controls. Whether leveraging external controls increases power or not depends on the interplay between sample sizes and the magnitude of treatment effect and unmeasured biases, which may be difficult to anticipate. This motivates a combined testing procedure that performs two highly correlated analyses, one with and one without external controls, with a small correction for multiple testing using the joint distribution of the two test statistics. The combined test provides a new method of sensitivity analysis designed for data fusion problems, which anchors at the unbiased analysis based on RCT only and spends a small proportion of the type I error to also test using the external controls. In this way, if leveraging external controls increases power, the power gain compared to the analysis based on RCT only can be substantial; if not, the power loss is small. The proposed method is evaluated in theory and power calculations, and applied to a real trial.
A hybrid FSO/RF communication system with DSP for long haul communication
Authors: Ghatwal Shakshi , Saini Himanshi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Due to the exceptional growth in mobile data traffic, emerging mobile access networks need a lot of bandwidth and robust network architecture as a crucial solution in delivering a high capacity for support in the future. The proposed work presents a detailed investigation of hybrid free space optical/radio frequency (FSO/RF) communication system at 320 Gbps channel capacity. A digital signal processing (DSP) compensation mechanism is used in the receiver system along with circular polarization division multiplexed (CPDM) 256-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) to improve system performance. Constellation diagrams have been used to measure the effectiveness of the system. The constellation diagrams which are considered for investigating the proposal are, (a) without DSP (digital signal processing), (b) with DSP without normalization and low pass filtering, (c) with DSP without carrier phase estimation (CPE) and frequency offset estimation (FOE) and (d) with DSP using normalization, low pass filtering, CPE and FOE, in FSO/RF system under clear weather, rain and haze. Effects of presence and absence of DSP in the coherent receiver have been investigated. Results show the improvement in system performance with least error vector magnitude (EVM), when DSP incorporated FSO/RF system is implemented using normalization, low pass filtering, CPE, FOE with perfect placements of symbols.
Artificial intelligence in the NICU to predict extubation success in prematurely born infants
Authors: Jenkinson Allan C. , Dassios Theodore , Greenough Anne 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objectives
Mechanical ventilation in prematurely born infants, particularly if prolonged, can cause long term complications including bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Timely extubation then is essential, yet predicting its success remains challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) may provide a potential solution.

Content
A narrative review was undertaken to explore AI’s role in predicting extubation success in prematurely born infants. Across the 11 studies analysed, the range of reported area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) for the selected prediction models was between 0.7 and 0.87. Only two studies implemented an external validation procedure. Comparison to the results of clinical predictors was made in two studies. One group reported a logistic regression model that outperformed clinical predictors on decision tree analysis, while another group reported clinical predictors outperformed their artificial neural network model (AUCs: ANN 0.68 vs. clinical predictors 0.86). Amongst the studies there was an heterogenous selection of variables for inclusion in prediction models, as well as variations in definitions of extubation failure.

Summary
Although there is potential for AI to enhance extubation success, no model’s performance has yet surpassed that of clinical predictors.

Outlook
Future studies should incorporate external validation to increase the applicability of the models to clinical settings.
Effect of gas metal arc and cold metal transfer arc welding processes on microstructure and mechanical properties of AA8011-H18 alloy joints
Authors: Sonar Tushar , Ivanov Mikhail , Sambath Srinivasan , Rajendran Chinnasamy , Ramachandran Natarajan , Senthil Kumar Padmanaban , Cheepu Muralimohan , Xu Jinyang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and cold metal transfer arc welding (CMTAW) processes on microstructure and mechanical properties of AA8011-H18 aluminum alloy joints. The AA8011-H18 alloy sheets of thickness 3 mm were welded in butt joint configuration using conventional GMAW and CMTAW processes. The optical microscopy was employed for analyzing the microstructure of weld metal (WM) and heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the developed joints. The tensile properties and hardness of welded joints were evaluated using universal testing machine (UTM) and Vickers microhardness testing machine. The GMAW and CMTAW joints disclosed the joint efficiency of 58.33 % and 75.98 %, respectively. The CMTAW joints showed 30.25 % and 27.28 % improvement in tensile and yield strength compared to GMAW joints. However, there is a loss of 20 % ductility in CMTAW joints compared to GMAW joints. The superior tensile strength of CMTAW joints is correlated to microstructural refinement of WM and reduced grain growth in HAZ. It alludes to the wire retraction mechanism, which help to regulate the droplet transfer and lower the heat input.
Programa De Actividad Física Multicomponente Para La Readaptación Integral En Una Muestra De Individuos Afectados Por El Covid-19
Authors: Vera Rivera Diana Andrea , Burbano Rivera Wilson Ferney , Mariño Landazabal Nelson Adolfo 
Published: December 2023

El presente artículo producto de investigación, se centra en establecer, los parámetros que se pueden desarrollan, en busca de la readaptación de las personas afectadas por el Covid-19, a través de la aplicación de un Programa multicomponente basado en la recuperación, de los niveles normales de la condición física relacionada con la salud, como son: la resistencia cardiorrespiratoria, la fuerza muscular, la flexibilidad y el equilibrio. Durante el confinamiento obligatorio, los volúmenes de actividad física seguramente descendieron principalmente en aquellas personas que entrenaban con regularidad, en las personas afectadas surgieron los efectos posteriores a la superación del contagio por Covid-19, con mayor preponderancia en su resistencia física, por afectar la fuerza muscular. Es por ello, se plantea la siguiente pregunta orientadora ¿La aplicación de actividades físicas multicomponentes logran la readaptación integral de personas afectadas por el Covid-19? De manera que, la ruta metodológica del presente estudio se enfoca desde el paradigma empírico analítico, orientado desde el diseño cuasiexperimental con enfoque cuantitativo. Por lo anterior se busca, exponer un acercamiento a la identificación de las posibles relaciones entre la actividad física y los procesos de readaptación.
Social Studies Learning Social Justice Issues In Education And Management Of Students Development In Nigeria
Authors: Abdullahi Nimota Jibola Kadir 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT One this study examined the relationship between equal opportunity to learning, provision of basic needs, teacher preparation of lesson and students’ development in Kwara State, Nigeria. Proportional sampling procedure was used to select participants from sample public senior secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. Questionnaire titles “Social Justice and Management of Students’ Development Questionnaire (SJMSDQ) was used to gather data and analysed with the use of quantitative statistics tools. The outcomes shown that there is no significant difference between equal opportunity to learning, provision of basic needs, teacher preparation and management of students’ development in Nigeria. The researcher recommended that educational managers should provide equal access to schooling for all learners irrespective of their age so as to encourage students empathize with others and develop the skill of critical thinking. Also, government should ensure adequate provision of basic needs to facilitate effective teaching and learning in order to make students think effectively and develop the skills for relevant judgement. Subsequently, government should encourage teachers to improve on the effective preparation of lesson so as to help in the growth and development of the students’ cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains as well as helps to promote the overall personality development of the students.
Design and development of air ventilated air bed for hospitalized patients
Authors: KARANJE Darshan , PATIL Shivroop , GURSAL Shivraj , HATTE Prafulla 
Published: December 2023

Proper ventilation is a critical consideration for the comfort of hospitalized patients. Dry skin, skin rashes, weariness, poor sleep, and other concerns caused by insufficient ventilation can all be avoided with proper ventilation. Air-Ventilated Air Beds are used to supply air to the major parts of the patient’s body. This air bed is constructed in such a way that air is circulated con-tinually throughout the body of the hospitalized patient. It is especially beneficial for people who are bedridden and need to spend a significant amount of time in bed due to illness. Exces-sive heat generated between the bed and the patient is perhaps the common cause of bedsores. Sweating is the leading cause of bedsores. Air ventilation is included in the system to prevent sweating and reduce the incidences of bedsores. Dual compressors, rubber tubes, flow control valves, and anti-decubitus mattresses are among the components used. The rubber tubes are used to ventilate the space between the body of the patient and the upper surface of the air bed. Above the mattress, the rubber tube mesh is positioned. The air is first compressed in two compressors before passing through the distribution manifold and through the meshing. The tubes are altered by drilling holes at certain intervals. The air from the compressor is circulated through the pipes before passing through the openings in the pipes. The unrestricted passage of compressed air via a capillary tube lowers the temperature of the air. The air exhausted through the capillary tubes maintains the patient’s body temperature stable for a while before lowering it. The air is ventilated throughout the bed in this manner. Bedsore can be avoided by reduction of sweat by using the air in close contact with the patient.
Chronic tophaceous gout – A case report
Authors: Lakshmi A Bhagya , Rao G Parameswara , Lakshmi S Shri , Jhansi M , Aliveni J 
Published: December 2023

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis associated with functional impairment and impact on quality of life. It arises when the tissues are supersaturated with urate leading to the formation of mono sodium urate crystals in and around the joints. This causes an inflammatory cascade resulting in secretion of several proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil recruitment into the joint.A 60 years old male patient presented with complaints of swelling in the posterior aspect of left elbow since 2 years and pain since 15 days. Examination revealed soft tissue swellings in multiple joints including metatarsophalangeal joint. Renal function tests show increased Uric acid (8.6mg/dl). On Gross examination, we received fibrofatty mass measuring 3.5x1.5x1 cm. Cut-section showed white flakes ? Calcifications. On microscopy, sections studied show fibrocollagenous tissue with several tophi made up of pink eosinophilic material surrounded by foreign body giant cell reaction and lymphocytes. There are several cystic spaces filled with calcareous debris.Hyperuricemia is the key risk factor for gout and is considered prerequisite for mono sodium urate crystal formation. Urate under excretion through kidney is the major mechanism for hyperuricemia. Tophus formation is the cardinal feature of advanced gout.
Nauczyciele przyrody a język edukacji szkolnej (JES – Przyroda). Świadomość językowa i strategie dydaktyczne
Authors: Chamienia Katarzyna 
Published: December 2023

Artykuł referuje wyniki badania przeprowadzonego w 2021 r. wśród nauczycieli przyrody pracujących z uczniami z doświadczeniem migracji (UDM). Celem przeprowadzonych badań było określenie świadomości nauczycieli co do odmienności JES – Przyroda od języka codziennego oraz poznanie ich strategii nauczania w klasach, w których uczą się UDM. Aby uzyskać założone dane, przeprowadzono 8 wywiadów swobodnych z nauczycielkami przyrody pracującymi z UDM. Wywiady zostały przeanalizowane za pomocą kondensacji znaczeń. Z analizy wywiadów wynika, że nauczyciele są świadomi odmienności JES – Przyroda od języka codziennego, którą charakteryzują jako niskofrekwencyjną i wyspecjalizowaną leksykę. Zauważają też, że na ich lekcjach UDM uczą się nie tylko treści, ale też języka. Priorytetem pedagogów jest nawiązanie kontaktu z UDM, a zrozumienie treści przez uczniów jest dla nich istotniejsze niż zapamiętanie terminów. W trakcie zajęć wykorzystują różne strategie dydaktyczne mające ułatwić UDM funkcjonowanie na lekcjach, m.in. uczenie przez zabawę, doświadczenie, projekty czy tłumaczenia.