bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An investigation of a hundred COVID-19 cases and close contacts in Ethiopia, May to June, 2020: A prospective case-ascertained study
Authors: Watare Shambel Habebe , Alemu Mikias Alayu , Tayachew Adamu , Yohannes Negussie , Gizachew Lehageru , Kebede Adisu , Tessema Asdesach , Kassa Wubayehu , Biru Mengistu , Teferi Mikias , Wendrad Naod , Eshetu Kirubel , Teka Gizaw , Yimer Habtamu , Ebrahim Faiqa , Mulugeta Dagnachew , Mirkuze Alemnesh , Abdela Saro , Emmanuel Musa , Hassen Abdulhafiz , Wosen Mesfin , Hussen Mukemil , Fufa Yaregal , Tolera Getachew , Assefa Zewdu , Abayneh Aschalew , Abate Ebba 
Published: October 2022

Background
Corona Virus Disease 2019 is a novel respiratory disease commonly transmitted through respiratory droplets. The disease has currently expanded all over the world with differing epidemiologic trajectories. This investigation was conducted to determine the basic clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the disease in Ethiopia.

Methods
A prospective case-ascertained study of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and their close contacts were conducted. The study included 100 COVID-19 laboratory-confirmed cases reported from May 15, 2020 to June 15, 2020 and 300 close contacts. Epidemiological and clinical information were collected using the WHO standard data collection tool developed first-few cases and contacts investigation. Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal samples were collected by using polystyrene tipped swab and transported to the laboratory by viral transport media maintaining an optimal temperature. Clinical and epidemiological parameters were calculated in terms of ratios, proportions, and rates with 95% CI.

Result
A total of 400 participants were investigated, 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 300 close contacts of the cases. The symptomatic proportion of cases was 23% (23) (95% CI: 15.2%-32.5%), the proportion of cases required hospitalization were 8% (8) (95%CI: 3.5%-15.2%) and 2% (95%CI: 0.24% - 7.04%) required mechanical ventilation. The secondary infection rate, secondary clinical attack rate, median incubation period and median serial interval were 42% (126) (95% CI: 36.4%-47.8%), 11.7% (35) (95% CI: 8.3%-15.9%), 7 days (IQR: 4–13.8) and 11 days (IQR: 8–11.8) respectively. The basic reproduction number (RO) was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.0–1.5).

Conclusion
The proportion of asymptomatic infection, as well as secondary infection rate among close contacts, are higher compared to other studies. The long serial interval and low basic reproduction number might contribute to the observed slow progression of the pandemic, which gives a wide window of opportunities and time to control the spread. Testing, prevention, and control measures should be intensified.
Alterations in the nasopharyngeal microbiome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection status and disease severity
Authors: Gauthier Nick P. G. , Locher Kerstin , MacDonald Clayton , Chorlton Samuel D. , Charles Marthe , Manges Amee R. 
Published: October 2022

Objectives
The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing public health emergency has emphasized the need to study SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. The human microbiome has been shown to regulate the host immune system and may influence host susceptibility to viral infection, as well as disease severity. Several studies have assessed whether compositional alterations in the nasopharyngeal microbiota are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the results of these studies were varied, and many did not account for disease severity. This study aims to examine whether compositional differences in the nasopharyngeal microbiota are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection status and disease severity.

Methods
We performed Nanopore full-length 16S rRNA sequencing on 194 nasopharyngeal swab specimens from hospitalized and community-dwelling SARS-CoV-2-infected and uninfected individuals. Sequence data analysis was performed using the BugSeq 16S analysis pipeline.

Results
We found significant beta (PERMANOVA p < 0.05), but not alpha (Kruskal-Wallis p > 0.05) diversity differences in the nasopharyngeal microbiota among our study groups. We identified several differentially abundant taxa associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection status and disease severity using ALDEx2. Finally, we observed a trend towards higher abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in specimens from hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Conclusions
This study identified several alterations in the nasopharyngeal microbiome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection status and disease severity. Understanding the role of the microbiome in infection susceptibility and severity may open new avenues of research for disease prevention and treatment.
Medico-legal dispute resolution: Experience of a tertiary-care hospital in Singapore
Authors: Lim Lee Theng , Chen Wanlin , Lew Thomas Wing Kit , Tan Jackie Mui Siok , Chang Seow Kiak , Lee Daryl Zhang Wei , Chee Thomas Swee Guan 
Published: October 2022

Introduction
The resource burden of healthcare disputes and medico-legal claims has been rising. A dispute resolution system operating at the hospital level could ameliorate this disturbing trend.

Methods
This is a retrospective observational study on patient complaints and medico-legal cases received by the dispute resolution unit of an acute tertiary hospital from 2011 to 2015. We described the characteristics and analysed the resolution methodology and outcomes of all closed medico-legal cases.

Results
Patient complaints significantly increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% (p<0.01), while medico-legal cases and ex-gratia payments for case settlements decreased at CAGRs of 4.8% (p<0.05) and 15.9% (p = 0.19), respectively. Out of 237 closed medico-legal cases, 88.6% were resolved without legal action, of which 78.1% were closed without any ex-gratia payments or waivers. Of the 11.4% of medico-legal cases that involved legal action, 66.7% were settled without ex-gratia payments or waivers. The primary resolution modes were the Patient Relations Service (PRS)’s engagement of the complainants and facilitation of written replies. No cases were brought to court. Cases were more likely resolved without legal action when there was engagement by the PRS (p = 0.009). These cases incurred a lower median settlement value than those with legal action.

Conclusion
Our hospital-based dispute resolution system which addressed patients’ core dissatisfactions and providers’ perspectives, through a process of early engagement, open disclosure, and fair negotiations, was able to promote claims resolution before legal action was taken. This early dispute resolution strategy contained costs and maintained provider-patient relationships and complements system-level mediation and arbitration to reduce medico-legal litigation.
Two-dimensional ultrasound signs as predictive markers of massive peri-operative blood loss in placenta previa suspicious for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder
Authors: Watthanasathitnukun Wattanan , Pranpanus Savitree , Petpichetchian Chusana 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveTo evaluate certain two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound signs as predictors of massive peri-operative blood loss (PBL) in pregnant women with placenta previa suspicious of PAS disorder.Materials and methodsA single center retrospective study was done in pregnant women who had undergone prenatal diagnosis with 2D ultrasound grey scale and color Doppler using the EW-AIP (which has been changed to IS-PAS (International Society for the Placenta Accreta Spectrum)) criteria between January 2007 and May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 groups, non-massive hemorrhage with PBL ≤ 2500 mL and massive PBL >2500 mL. All PAS cases had pathological confirmation. Ultrasound signs and hemorrhagic outcomes were compared between the two groups. A PAS scoring system to predict massive PBL was constructed and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of the scoring system.ResultsOf 534 women, 146 (28.3%) had PBL > 2500 mL and 388 (71.7%) had PBL ≤ 2500 mL. In the massive PBL group, 101 (69.2%) were diagnosed as PAS and 45 (30.8%) as placenta previa alone. From 10 evaluated 2D ultrasound signs, 3 had the highest odds ratios (ORs) associated with massive PBL, ‘focal exophytic mass’ OR 8.17 (p= 0.024), ‘placental bulge’ OR 2.47 (p= 0.011), and ‘placental lacunae feeder vessels’ OR 2.38 (p= 0.01). When using the PAS scoring system, the AUC to predict massive PBL was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76–0.85,).ConclusionOur PAS scoring system based on 2-dimensional ultrasound signs combined with grey scale and color Doppler is useful to predict massive PBL and can help optimize pre-operative management in cases of previa suspicious of PAS.
Dirina ceratoniae (Arthoniales, Ascomycota): first record from Russia
Authors: Ismailov Aziz B. , Volobuev Sergey V. 
Published: October 2022

The Mediterranean species Dirina ceratoniae (Roccellaceae, Arthoniales) is reported for the first time for Russia, specifically the Greater Caucasus in Daghestan, based on morphological and molecular evidences. The specimen collected on Populus nigra in a coastal lowland region is sorediate and sterile. The sorediate morph is not common in this species and currently known only from a few specimens from the Canary Islands. In the phylogenetic analysis, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence obtained for the material grouped in a well-supported clade with all D. ceratoniaespecimens available in GenBank, within a lineage including three other species: D. canariensis, D. fallax, and D. massiliensis. The discovery of D. ceratoniae in Daghestan substantially expands the known distributional range of this taxon to the east of Eurasia.
The influence of copper on the oxidation stability of commercial diesel oil
Authors: Bukrejewski Paweł , Wardzińska Dorota 
Published: October 2022

Olej napędowy jako paliwo stosowane do zasilania silników z zapłonem samoczynnym powinien spełniać wymagania rozporządzenia Ministra Gospodarki z dnia 9 października 2015 r. w sprawie wymagań jakoścowych dla paliw ciekłych (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 1680). Z raportów Urzędu Ochrony Konkurencji i Konumentów wynika, że pobierane na stacjach próbki oleju napędowego w znacznej mierze nie spełniają wymagania dotyczącego parametru odporności na utlenianie. Producenci zobowiązani są sprzedawać paliwo spełniające wymagania normatywne, zatem najprawdopodobniej w łańcuchu dytrybucji występują czynniki powodujące pogorszenie właściwości paliwa. Może to być spowodowane oddziaływaniem paliwa z materiałami stosowanymi w konstrukcji zbiorników magazynowych i armatury dystrybucyjnej. W pracy badano wpływ miedzi na stabilność oksydacyjną handlowego oleju napędowego.
Simulation investigation of the dynamics of the process of sudden obstacle avoiding by a motor vehicle
Authors: Żardecki Dariusz , Jemioł Leszek , Gidlewski Mirosław 
Published: October 2022

Podjęto rozległe prace analityczne nad zastosowaniem aktywnego układu kierowniczego EPS (Electrically Powered Steering) w automatycznym kierowaniu samochodem (dwuosiowy samochód ciężarowy średniej ładowności wyposażony w typowe elementy systemu ESC - Electronic Stability Control oraz detektory przeszkód i układy monitorujące drogę) podczas nagle pojawiającej się przeszkody. Artykuł przedstawia fragment tej pracy. Opisane są wyniki badań symulacyjnych dynamiki procesu zmiany pasa ruchu w układzie otwartym oraz w układzie zamkniętym (z wykorzystaniem automatycznego sterowania aktywnym układem kierowniczym EPS). Podstawą rozważań teoretycznych oraz badań symulacyjnych są modele matematyczne obiektu sterowania i sterownika. W modelu obiektu sterowania występuje złożony, szczegółowy opis dynamiki ruchu samochodu ciężarowego uwzględniający nieliniowości oraz przestrzenność ruchu pojazdu. Model sterownika bazuje na modelu referencyjnym znacząco uproszczonym, a przez to bardzo efektywnym dla realizacji koniecznych obliczeń w czasie rzeczywistym. Automatyczny sterownik działa jak regulator Kalmana w układzie zamkniętym.
Sociocultural influence on engineering students’ collaborative design project: an Activity Theory perspective
Authors: De Costa Peter I. , Lee Jongbong , Li Wendy 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In keeping with discipline-specific genre expectations for writing in scientific and technological fields, students enrolled in English writing classes for future engineers are often required to produce collaborative reports on team projects. For freshman engineering students, such collaborative report writing, which constitutes a cornerstone in their academic literacy, is an entirely new genre. Drawing on Engeström’s (Engeström, Yrjö. 1987. Learning by expanding: An activity theoretical approach to developmental research. Orienta-Konsultit Oy) activity system and Storch’s (Storch, Neomy. 2002. Patterns of interaction in ESL pair work. Language and Learning 52(1). 119–158) interaction model, this paper explores two engineering freshmen’s experiences of working collaboratively in separate groups in the same writing class. Our focal students were both native-English-speaking women at a U.S. midwestern university. Over the course of one semester, they provided their class notes and project report drafts, and they and the course teaching assistant participated in interviews. Our findings demonstrate that while both students had similar levels of commitment to the collaborative project, their writing experiences differed depending on their respective group members and their own attitudes and experiences. Our case study has implications for engineering freshman writing education as we illustrate how the ESP class we examined can help students prepare for academic and professional communication. We also discuss ways to help apprentice future engineers overcome discipline-specific communication difficulties as they enter a new discourse community.
N6-Methyladenosine-related alternative splicing events play a role in bladder cancer
Authors: Chang Yuan , Yu Shukun , Zhang Miao , Zhu Xiuyun , Jiang Tianshu , Liu Yuan 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This study investigated the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and alternative splicing (AS) in bladder cancer (BLCA). The BLCA-related RNA expression profiles and AS events were downloaded from the UCSC Xena and SpliceSeq databases, respectively. Differentially expressed AS (DEAS) was screened, and prognostic-related DEAS events were used to construct prognostic risk models based on Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves and multivariate Cox analysis were used to evaluate the predictive efficiency and independence of these models. We also constructed a protein-to-protein interaction (PPI) network and a regulation network of splicing factors (SFs) and DEAS events. In total, 225 m6A-related prognostic-related DEAS events were identified. The predictive ability of each prognostic model was good, and the alternate terminator model showed the best performance when the area under the curve was 0.793. The risk score of the model was an independent prognostic factor for BLCA. The PPI network revealed that AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, serine- and arginine-rich SF6, and serine- and arginine-rich SF2 had higher-node degrees. A complex regulator correlation was shown in the SF and DEAS networks. This study provides insights for the subsequent understanding of the role of AS events in BLCA.
Calcifying nanoparticles initiate the calcification process of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro through the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and promote the decay of echinococcosis
Authors: Yang Jian , Wang Meiyan , Yang Jing , Chu Zhiqiang , Chen Xueling , Wu Xiangwei , Peng Xinyu 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The role of the calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs) in the calcification process of the outer cyst wall in hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE) remains unknown. CNPs were isolated from the tissues of the patients with HCE. Western blotting, alkaline phosphatase staining, and alizarin staining were performed to detect the cellular calcium ion deposition induced by the CNPs. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays were conducted to determine the effect of CNPs on the apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Western blot experiments were performed to examine the expression levels of apoptosis-related factors and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway constituents. Treatment with CNPs induced the differentiation of MSCs. Calcium-related proteins, including OPN, BMP-2, and RUNX2, were upregulated after the CNP treatment. Similarly, CNP exposure increased the cellular calcium ion deposition in MSCs. In addition, the expression of Bax and Caspase-8 was elevated by the CNPs in MSCs. Treatment with CNPs promoted MSC apoptosis and inhibited the MSC growth. The TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway was also activated after the CNP treatment. This study indicated that CNPs may play a critical role in initiating calcification of the outer cyst wall of HCE and promote the decay of echinococcosis, providing a new strategy for the treatment of hepatic echinococcosis.
Overcoming Constraints in Literary Translation: A Case Study of Rendering Saud Al-Sanousi’s Saq Al-Bambu into English
Authors: Rababah Sarah , Al-Abbas Linda 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This article aims to investigate the constraints on the English translation of the Arabic novel Saq Al-Bambu (The Bamboo Stalk) and identify the translation strategies that were adopted to render the literary work in light of Baker’s Taxonomy (1992). Examples were collected and classified thematically into four categories: social constraints, political constraints, religious constraints, and cultural constraints. The findings showed that the English translation used general terms to refer to specific concepts in the original novel, and some words were added for explicating purposes. Translation by omission is only used in religious and cultural constraints, which explains the gap between the source language and the target language (TL). The study recommends that translators be aware of the different constraints when rendering a literary work and resort to explanatory notes or footnotes to explain the meaning of items that do not have an equivalent in the TL.
Higher order Traub–Steffensen type methods and their convergence analysis in Banach spaces
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Sharma Janak Raj , Singh Harmandeep 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we consider two-step fourth-order and three-step sixth-order derivative free iterative methods and study their convergence in Banach spaces to approximate a locally-unique solution of nonlinear equations. Study of convergence analysis provides radius of convergence, error bounds and estimates on the uniqueness of the solution. Such estimates are not provided in the approaches that use Taylor expansions using higher order derivatives. Furthermore, in quest of fast algorithms, a generalized q-step scheme with increasing convergence order 2q + 2 is proposed and analyzed. Novelty of the q-step algorithm is that, in each step, order of convergence is increased by an amount of two at the cost of only one additional function evaluation. To maximize the computational efficiency, the optimal number of steps is calculated. Theoretical results regarding convergence and computational efficiency are verified through numerical experimentation.
Dependence of eigenvalues of Sturm-Liouville problems on time scales with eigenparameter-dependent boundary conditions
Authors: Li Meng-lei , Ao Ji-jun , Zhang Hai-yan 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In this article, we study the eigenvalue dependence of Sturm-Liouville problems on time scales with spectral parameter in the boundary conditions. We obtain that the eigenvalues not only continuously but also smoothly depend on the parameters of the problem. Moreover, the differential expressions of the eigenvalues with respect to the data are given.
Network model for predicting structural properties of paper
Authors: Görtz Morgan , Kettil Gustav , Målqvist Axel , Fredlund Mats , Wester Kenneth , Edelvik Fredrik 
Published: October 2022

AbstractPaper simulations that resolve the entire microscopic fiber structure are typically time-consuming and require extensive resources. Several such modeling approaches have been proposed to analyze different properties in paper. However, most use non-linear and time-dependent models resulting in high computational complexity. Resolving these computational issues would increase its usefulness in industrial applications. The model proposed in this work was developed in collaboration with companies in the papermaking industry within the Innovative Simulation of Paper (ISOP) project. A linear network model is used for efficiency, where 1-D beams represent the fibers. Similar models have been proposed in the past. However, in this work, the paper models are three-dimensional, a new dynamic bonding technique is used, and more extensive simulations are evaluated. The model is used to simulate tensile stiffness, tensile strength, and bending resistance. These simulated results are compared to experimental and theoretical counterparts and produce representable results for realistic parameters. Moreover, an off-the-shelf computer accessible to a paper developer can evaluate these models structural properties efficiently.
Do poor farmers have entrepreneurship skill, intention, and competence? Lessons from transmigration program in rural Gorontalo Province, Indonesia
Authors: Murtisari Amelia , Irham Irham , Mulyo Jangkung Handoyo , Waluyati Lestari Rahayu 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Transmigration program is a part of rural development to reduce poverty in which entrepreneurship was also developed. It becomes necessary to explore how the program affects the entrepreneurial aspects of the poor farmers. The objectives of this study are (1) to measure entrepreneurship skill, intention, risk taking, social valuation, and competence of poor farmers, (2) to know the impact of transmigration program in improving the competence of poor farmers, and (3) to analyze the influence of skills, intentions, risk taking, and social valuation toward entrepreneurial competence of poor farmers. One hundred twenty poor transmigrant and 120 local farmer households were interviewed in this study. The data were analyzed by descriptive quantitative method and multiple regression analysis by using SPSS 22. The results showed that transmigration program that provides farmland land freely can improve skill, entrepreneurship intention, risk taking capability, and social valuation of poor farmers. Yet, there is a gap between skills and intentions where entrepreneurship intentions are greater than their skills. The result shows that transmigrant entrepreneurship competence is higher than that of local farmers. However, social valuation of local households is higher than that of transmigrants due to their less adaptability in society. Regression analysis shows that social valuation, skills, intentions, and risk taking have a significant effect on both local and transmigrant entrepreneurship competencies. It can be concluded that transmigration program has successfully changed the mindset of poor farmers to become more entrepreneurial oriented and is one of the important factors in reducing the poverty level particularly in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia.