bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Block Design Performance in Williams Syndrome: Visuospatial Abilities or Task Approach Skills?
Authors: Back Elisa , Farran Emily K. , Van Herwegen Jo 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The block design task (BDT) is a visuospatial measure that individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) perform poorly on. However, it is unclear what underlies their impaired performance. This study investigated whether poorer performance is a result of visuospatial difficulties, executive function (EF) difficulties, atypical looking strategies, or a combination of these. Eleven individuals with WS participated alongside mental age (MA)- and chronological age (CA)-matched control groups. Eye movements were recorded while they took the BDT. Dwell times and visits to areas of interest in WS differed from CA, but not MA, groups. Findings suggest that BDT abilities of individuals with WS are delayed, but not atypical. Delays result from visuospatial and attention-switching difficulties rather than atypical looking strategies.
Unique Pain Responses in Different Etiological Subgroups of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Defrin Ruth , Benromano Tali , Pick Chaim G. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
We studied whether there exist variations in pain responses between different intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) etiologies. Self-reports and facial expressions (Facial Action Coding System = FACS) were recorded during experimental pressure stimuli and compared among 31 individuals with IDD—13 with cerebral palsy (CP), nine with Down syndrome (DS), nine with unspecified origin (UIDD)—and among 15 typically developing controls (TDCs). The CP and DS groups had higher pain ratings and FACS scores compared to the UIDD and TDC groups, and steeper stimulus-response functions. The DS group exhibited the most diverse facial expressions. There were variations in the foci of facial expressions between groups. It appears that different IDD etiologies display distinct pain responses.
Quantifying the number of deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients that could be avoided by removing survival inequalities, Australia 2005–2016
Authors: Dasgupta Paramita , Garvey Gail , Baade Peter D. 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundWhile Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have poorer cancer survival than other Australians, absolute measures of survival disparities are lacking. This study quantified crude probabilities of deaths from cancer and other causes and estimated the number of avoidable deaths for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders if these survival disparities were removed.MethodsFlexible parametric relative survival models were used to estimate reported measures for a population-based cohort of 709,239 Australians (12,830 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), 2005–2016.ResultsAmong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the 5-year crude probability of cancer death was 0.44, while it was 0.07 for other causes of death. These probabilities were 0.07 and 0.03 higher than among other Australians, respectively. Magnitude of these disparities varied by cancer type and ranged for cancer deaths from <0.05 for pancreatic, prostate and uterine cancers to 0.20 for cervical and head and neck cancers. Values for disparity in other causes of death were generally lower. Among an average cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples diagnosed per year over the most recent five-year diagnosis period (2012–2016, n = 1,269), approximately 133 deaths within 5 years of diagnosis were potentially avoidable if they had the same overall survival as other Australians, with 94 of these deaths due to cancer. The total number of avoided deaths over the entire study period (2005–2016) was 1,348, with 947 of these deaths due to cancer.ConclusionsStudy findings suggest the need to reduce the prevalence of risk factors prevalence, increase screening participation, and improve early detection, diagnosis and treatment rates to achieve more equitable outcomes for a range of cancer types. Reported measures provide unique insights into the impact of a cancer diagnosis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from a different perspective to standard relative survival measures.
Co-infection of HIV or HCV among HBsAg positive delivering mothers and its associated factors in governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tesfu Mebrihit Arefaine , Belay Nega Berhe , Habtemariam Tilahun Teklehaymanot 
Published: August 2022

Background
Blood borne viral infections such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cause substantial mortality and morbidity worldwide. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is closely related to high risks of maternal and neonatal complications. In Ethiopia, only a little information is available on co-infection of HCV or HIV among Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive pregnant mothers. Thus, the study aimed to determine HIV or HCV co-infection and associated risk factors among HBsAg positive delivering mothers.

Method
A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in five governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa among 265 HBsAg positive delivering mothers in the year 2019 and 2020. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Structured questionnaires and laboratory test results were used to collect the data. SPSS version 20 software was used to enter and analyze the data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of HIV or HCV co-infections.

Results
Of the HBsAg positive delivering mothers, 9 (3.4%) and 3 (1.1%) were co-infected with HIV and HCV, respectively. None of them were with triplex infection. All of the socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with both HIV and HCV co-infections. Mothers who had a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were 9.3 times more likely to have HBV-HIV co-infection (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: 1.84–47.1). Mothers who had multiple sexual partners were 5.96 times more likely to have HIV co-infection (AOR = 5.96; 95% CI: 1.074–33.104). The odds of having HBV-HIV co-infection were 5.5 times higher among mothers who had a history of sharing shavers, razors, and earrings (AOR = 5.5;95% CI: 1.014–29.69). HCV co-infection was not significantly associated with any of the potential risk factors.

Conclusion
This dual infection rate of HBsAg positive delivering mother with HIV or HCV indicates that a substantial number of infants born in Ethiopia are at high risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV, HIV, and HCV. Thus, all pregnant mothers need to be screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV during antenatal care, and also need implementation of prevention mechanisms of MTCT of these viral infections.
Biolarviciding implementation in southern Tanzania: Scalability opportunities and challenges
Authors: Matindo Athuman Yusuph , Meshi Eugene Benjamin , Kapologwe Ntuli Angyelile , Kengia James Tumaini , Kajange Stella , Chaki Prosper , Munisi David Zadock 
Published: August 2022

Background
The resistance to insecticides among malaria vectors poses a global challenge in the efforts towards malaria elimination. This calls for an addition of larval control methods such as biolarviciding. However, the implementation of biolarviciding in Tanzania has been very low. Therefore, this study explored factors affecting the implementation of biolarviciding in the councils of Southern Tanzania.

Methods
A mixed method descriptive qualitative, cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 32 community leaders through key informant interviews and 12 Vectors Control Coordinators through in-depth interviews and questionnaire interviews and document review of implementation reports in 12 councils. Data were analysed using ATLAS.ti version 8, where content analysis was performed and SPSS for the quantitative data.

Results
The study found low implementation of biolarviciding intervention in 9 out of 12 (75%) surveyed councils. All Vector Control Coordinators reported a shortage of at least one type of resources: funds, trained personnel, transport, supply of biolarvicide, and equipment; low community involvement (50%) and low level of community participation 83.3% (10/12).

Conclusion
This study highlights resource inadequacy and low community participation as main barriers to the implementation of biolarviciding. Availing adequate resources and strengthening community participation through involvement in all stages of implementation is crucial for successful and sustainable implementation.
Factors associated with routine vaccination card retention among children aged 0–59 months in Yaounde-Cameroon: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Yakum Martin Ndinakie , Funwie Atanga D. , Ajong Atem Bethel , Tsafack Marcellin , Ze Linda Evans Eba , Ekukole Ekome Serge Raoul , Shah Zahir 
Published: August 2022

Background
The routine vaccination card is an important health record for children, but recent findings suggest that vaccination card retention in Cameroon is low, varying from 29%-53%. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with children’s routine vaccination card retention in Cameroon.

Methods
This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yaoundé in November 2021, targeting children aged 0–59 months. Participants were selected using a 2-stage systematic cluster sampling in which households were selected by a restricted sampling technique. Data were collected by interviewing the children’s parents/guardians, and a vaccination card was said to be retained if it was presented to the interviewer by the interviewees. Data were analysed using multiple logistics regression with R version 4.1.0 (2021-05-18).

Findings
A total of 529 households were assessed with 361 children aged 0–59 months enrolled: 51% girls and 49% boys. Children aged 0–11 months represented 24.4% of all participants, and children aged 12–59 months were 74.6%. Vaccination card retention was 24% (87), and positive predictors of card retention included: girl child (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.34, p-value = 0.0269), the respondent being one of the biological parents of the child: mother (adjusted Odds Ratio = 5.97, p-value = 0.0034) or father(adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.69, p-value = 0.0067), and living in a richer household (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.56, p-value = 0.038). On the other hand, negative predictors of card retention were: child aged 12–23 months (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.44, p-value = 0.0209) or aged 24-59months (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.13, p-value = 0.0000), and having an employed mother (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.34, p-value = 0.0066).

Conclusion
Vaccination card retention in children aged 0–59 months in Yaoundé is low when compared with findings reported by studies from other locations in Cameroon. Besides, the poor and older children have lower odds of keeping routine vaccination cards. There is a need to design interventions to improve vaccination card retention, which considers household wealth and the age of the child.
Associations of symptom combinations with in-hospital mortality of coronavirus disease-2019 patients using South Korean National data
Authors: Jo Suyoung , Nam Hee-kyoung , Kang Heewon , Cho Sung-il 
Published: August 2022

Background
There are various risk factors for death in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. The effects of symptoms on death have been investigated, but symptoms were considered individually, rather than in combination, as predictors. We examined the effects of symptom combinations on in-hospital mortality.

Methods
Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency were analyzed. A cohort of 5,153 patients confirmed with COVID-19 in South Korea was followed from hospitalization to death or discharge. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify symptom combinations, and the hazard ratios (HRs) of death were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model.

Results
Three sets of symptom factors were isolated for symptom combination. Factor 1 symptoms were cold-like symptoms, factor 2 were neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, and factor 3 were more severe symptoms such as dyspnea and altered state of consciousness. Factor 1 (HR 1.14, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01–1.30) and factor 3 (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.19–1.31) were associated with a higher risk for death, and factor 2 with a lower risk (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.71–0.96).

Conclusions
The effect on in-hospital mortality differed according to symptom combination. The results are evidence of the effects of symptoms on COVID-19 mortality and may contribute to lowering the COVID-19 mortality rate. Further study is needed to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the effects of symptom combinations on mortality.
On concave perturbations of a periodic elliptic problem in R2 involving critical exponential growth
Authors: Lin Xiaoyan , Tang Xianhua 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we consider the existence of solutions for nonlinear elliptic equations of the form
(0.1)

−
Δ
u
+
V

(

x

)

u
=
f

(

x
,
u

)

+
λ
a

(

x

)

∣
u

∣

q
−
2

u
,

x
∈

R

2

,

-\Delta u+V\left(x)u=f\left(x,u)+\lambda a\left(x)| u{| }^{q-2}u,\hspace{1em}x\in {{\mathbb{R}}}^{2},

where

λ
>
0

\lambda \gt 0

,

q
∈

(

1
,
2

)

q\in \left(1,2)

,

a
∈

L

2

/

(

2
−
q

)

(

R

2

)

a\in {L}^{2\text{/}\left(2-q)}\left({{\mathbb{R}}}^{2})

,

V

(

x

)

V\left(x)

, and

f

(

x
,
t

)

f\left(x,t)

are 1-periodic with respect to

x

x

, and

f

(

x
,
t

)

f\left(x,t)

has critical exponential growth at

t
=
∞

t=\infty

. By combining the variational methods, Trudinger-Moser inequality, and some new techniques with detailed estimates for the minimax level of the energy functional, we prove the existence of a nontrivial solution for the aforementioned equation under some weak assumptions. Our results show that the presence of the concave term (i.e.

λ
>
0

\lambda \gt 0

) is very helpful to the existence of nontrivial solutions for equation (0.1) in one sense.
Development of productive language skills through language exchange in primary schools in Switzerland – An exploratory intervention study
Authors: Heinzmann Sybille , Paul Seraina , Hilbe Robert , Schallhart Nicole , Cuenat Mirjam Egli 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The present study examined the effect of language exchange activities on the development of productive foreign language skills of primary school pupils. The sample comprised a total of 392 pupils from German- and French-speaking Switzerland, attending 5th and 6th grade. The pupils’ speaking and writing skills were examined longitudinally using a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design with an intervention and control group. The intervention lasted one school year and included two physical reunions with the partner class, as well as preparatory and follow-up activities. The German-speaking pupils’ productive skills were assessed at the beginning and end of the school year using communicative tasks. The data was analysed by means of multiple regression analysis. Results show that the intervention had a positive impact on the pupils’ speaking skills and their general language competence, as measured by a C-test. However, the intervention had no significant impact on their writing skills. The findings suggest that even short encounters at primary school level with beginners have the potential to spur language development if they are didactically well embedded.
Influence of Different Pre-Heat Treatments on the Grain Size in the Core Region of Ultra-Clean Gear Steels
Authors: Rommel S. , Fuchs D. , Blum T. , Tobie T. , Stahl K. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn a previous publication, the influence of various process steps during the case-hardening process on the resulting material properties of two distinct batches of ultra-clean gear steels were investigated. The steel batches were case-hardened in the as-delivered condition. However, in the industrial practice it is common that pre-heat treatments are done, such as annealing to a ferritic-pearlitic microstructure, or quenching and tempering, as well as forging as a process if for example larger gears are needed. It is known that the whole heat treatment process route can affect the grain size negatively. Therefore, this publication presents investigations into the effects of preheat treatments on the grain size in the core region of ultra-clean gear steels after case-hardening. The aim is to receive a deeper understanding on how the whole process route influences the grain size in the core region of ultra-clean gear steels.
Plasma Nitriding of an Air-Hardening Medium Manganese Forging Steel
Authors: Gramlich A. , Auger M. A. , Richter S. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The impact of plasma nitriding on the microstructure and the hardness of a recently developed 4 wt.-% medium manganese steel are presented. In contrast to standard quench and tempering steels, the investigated material achieves its martensitic microstructure by air-cooling from the forging heat, which enables the reduction of the carbon footprint of the forged components. The influence of nitriding on this grade of steel has not been investigated so far, but fundamental differences in comparison to standard nitriding steels are expected due to the increased manganese concentration. To address this issue, nitriding treatments with different temperatures (350 °C, 580 °C and 650 °C) have been performed, followed by examinations of the microstructure, the phase composition, the obtained hardness profiles and the tensile properties of the bulk material after nitriding, accompanied by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. It is demonstrated that after nitriding at 580 °C similar hardness profiles like standard nitriding steels are achieved, with a shorter process as austenitization and hardening were omitted, reaching a hardness of approximately 950 HV0.1. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that austenite can be stabilized by manganese and nitrogen partitioning to room temperature during nitriding in the intercritical phase region.
Improved degradation of tetracycline antibiotic in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs): bioassay using bacteria and identification of intermediate compounds
Authors: Dargahi Abdollah , Moradi Mina , Hasani Kamal , Vosoughi Mehdi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAmong the pharmaceutical compounds, tetracycline is the second most common group of antibiotics in terms of production and consumption worldwide, which their entrance in to hospital, domestic and industrial wastewaters pollute water sources and environment and finally leads to antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of electrochemical processes, Fenton, electro-Fenton (EF) and sono-electro-Fenton (SEF) separately and using Graphite (G)/β-PbO2anode to remove tetracycline from aqueous solutions. First, experiments for the electrochemical process by the response-surface methodology (RSM) using variables including pH (3–9), initial tetracycline concentration (20–100 mg/L), electrolysis time (4–45 min) and current density (0.5–4.5 mA/cm2) was designed and the optimal conditions of these variables were 3.5, 25.6 mg/L, 42.6 min, and 1.98 mA/cm2, respectively. Under the optimal conditions of the electrochemical process, the effect of FeSO4with values of 0.02-0.08 g/250 mL in the Fenton process and the effect of H2O2of 0.05–0.5 mg/L in the EF process were investigated, and the optimal values of 0.06 g/250 mL and 0.2 mg/L was obtained for FeSO4and H2O2, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the removal efficiencies of SEF, EF, sono-electrochemical (SEC), electrochemical, Fenton and ultrasonic processes were 98.8%, 93.6%, 87.9%, 81.3%, 71.6%, and 11.5%, respectively. G/β-PbO2anode had only 37.5% higher removal efficiency than graphite anode. Under the optimal conditions of SEF process, changes in toxicity reduction by bioassay with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were 86% and 58.4%, respectively, and the kinetic study showed that the removal of tetracycline by SEF process with R2=0.9975 followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Finally, intermediate compounds obtained from tetracycline analysis were identified using LC-MS analysis.
Syntactic prediction in L2 learners: evidence from English disjunction processing
Authors: Fang Shaohua , Wu Zhiyi 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
This study examined the extent to which second language (L2) learners’ syntactic prediction resembles or differs from native speakers’ and the role of L2 proficiency in this process. An experimental group of 135 Chinese learners of English and a control group of 58 English native speakers participated in a phrase-by-phrase self-paced reading task where the experimental sentences were contrastive in whether the DP disjunction was preceded by either or not. To ensure that the participants had sufficient knowledge about the target stimuli, they were asked to additionally judge the acceptability of the experimental sentences. The results showed that like native speakers, L2 learners read the critical region consisting of “or” and a DP disjunct faster when it was preceded by either compared to when either was absent. In addition, this effect of the presence versus absence of either spilled over to the post-critical region. Moreover, L2 proficiency was not found to robustly modulate this process. It is concluded that L2 learners, like native speakers, can make predictions at the level of syntax.
On some new Hermite-Hadamard and Ostrowski type inequalities for s-convex functions in (p, q)-calculus with applications
Authors: You Xue-Xiao , Ali Muhammad Aamir , Kalsoom Humaira , Soontharanon Jarunee , Sitthiwirattham Thanin 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In this study, we establish some new Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities for s-convex functions in the second sense using the post-quantum calculus. Moreover, we prove a new

(

p
,
q

)

\left(p,q)

-integral identity to prove some new Ostrowski type inequalities for

(

p
,
q

)

\left(p,q)

-differentiable functions. We also show that the newly discovered results are generalizations of comparable results in the literature. Finally, we give application to special means of real numbers using the newly proved inequalities.
Scrambling additive lagged-Fibonacci generators
Authors: Aldossari Haifa , Mascagni Michael 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Random numbers are used in a variety of applications including simulation, sampling, and cryptography. Fortunately, there exist many well-established methods of random number generation. An example of a well-known pseudorandom number generator is the lagged-Fibonacci generator (LFG). Marsaglia
showed that the lagged-Fibonacci generator using addition failed some of his DIEHARD statistical tests, while it passed all when longer lags were used. This paper presents a scrambler that takes bits from a pseudorandom number generator and outputs (hopefully) improved pseudorandom numbers. The scrambler is based on a modified Feistel function, a method used in the generation of cryptographic random numbers, and multiplication by a chosen multiplier. We show that this scrambler improves the quality of pseudorandom numbers by applying it to the additive LFG with small lags. The scrambler performs well based on its performance with the TestU01 suite of randomness tests.
The TestU01 suite of randomness tests is more comprehensive than the DIEHARD tests. In fact, the specific suite of tests we used from TestU01 includes the DIEHARD tests

The scrambling of the LFG is so successful that scrambled LFGs with small lags perform as well as unscrambled LFGs with long lags. This comes at the cost of a doubling of execution time, and provides users with generators with small memory footprints that can provide parallel generators like the LFGs in the SPRNG parallel random number generation package.