bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of corporate social responsibility on Malaysian financial institutions' dividend payout
Authors: Sallehhuddin Abdullah , Boon Keong Teo , Md Yatim Norzarina 
Published: January 2022

Background: The corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure was made mandatory in Malaysia in 2007 with the introduction of the CSR Framework by Bursa Malaysia. Since then, the practice of CSR disclosure is growing, as Malaysia joins global efforts towards sustainable development. Despite increased research on CSR; limited studies are assessing the relationship of specific dimensions – environmental, community, workplace and marketplace, towards dividend payout, which is crucial to investment and corporate financial decision making. Method: The study involved 32 Malaysian public listed finance companies as of 2017. It deployed data from annual reports and databases. Additionally, the study used content analysis to measure the CSR disclosure score, and dividend payout was calculated from the database. Results: There was a significant correlation between community and workplace dimensions with dividend payout. Despite the absence of significant results, the regression analysis showed a positive relationship between community and workplace dimensions with dividend payout. Besides, there was an inverse relationship between the environmental and marketplace dimension with dividend payout. The results indicated that active involvement in the community dimension resulted from an immediate positive impact towards brand equity, attracting current and new customers, and therefore improving the earning levels and dividend payout. Additionally, greater participation in the workplace dimension solidifies employees' engagement and motivation, improves the productivity level, which can be translated into enhanced earning levels and dividend payout. Meanwhile, participation in environmental and marketplace dimensions requires a longer period to yield an impact, higher development expenditure, and involve sensitive information that might benefit competitors. Hence, companies tend to utilise internal funding instead of redistributing the wealth through dividend payout. Conclusion: The study contributes to the literature of CSR by explaining the relationship of specific dimensions of environmental, community, workplace, and marketplace towards dividend payout using the evidence from the emerging economy.
Relationships of urolithogenicity index with some components of urine composition in healthy old female rats
Authors: Flyunt Viktor , Flyunt Igor-Severyn , Ruzhylo Sofiya , Fihura Oksana , Popovych Dariya , Żukow Xawery 
Published: January 2022

Background. Despite the long history, the results of studies of the impact of balneotherapy in the resort of Truskavets on the lithogenicity of urine are ambiguous, so the topic remains relevant. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the lithogenicity index of urine and a number of components of its composition. Materials and Methods. Experiment was performed on 60 healthy old female Wistar rats 220-300 g. Ten animals remained intact, using daily water from drinking ad libitum. Other animals for 6 days were loaded through the tube with daily and various mineral waters at a dose of 1,5 mL/100 g of body mass. The day after the completion of the drinking course collected daily urine, which determined the content of a number of components of the composition. We calculated urine lithogenicity index (Lith) by the formula: Lith = (Uric acid•Calcium/Magnesium•Creatinine)0,25. Results. The most significant effect on the Lith is the concentration of magnesium (r=-0,730), followed by uric acid (r=0,583), calcium (r=0,352) and creatinine (r=-0,298). Medium molecular polypeptides, catalase, sodium, phosphates and urea has been identified as prolithogenic factors while tubular reabsorption of water as litholytic factor. The chemical composition of the fluids consumed by animals has little effect on the lithogenicity index of urine. Conclusion. Both prolithogenic and litholytic factors are present in the urine, which depend little on the chemical composition of the fluid used.
Comprehensive study and performance analysis of an eco-friendly double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 on Si tandem solar cell
Authors: Kumari Dolly , Pandey Saurabh Kumar 
Published: January 2022

With the advent of perovskites on Si technology for a tandem configuration of solar cells, it has become obligatory to take care of the toxicity content present, and proper care should be given for a stable design. Aiming at this, the present paper discusses a comprehensive analysis of lead-free all-inorganic double perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells. The combination of double perovskite (

C

s

2

A
g
B
i
B

r

6

) as a wider bandgap (2.05 eV) layer and (c-Si) as a lower bandgap (1.12 eV) layer is used for the first time, to our knowledge, and this proposed structure shows optimum device efficiency of 26.38%. Designing the tandem cell is carried out in two steps. First the top cell (

C

s

2

A
g
B
i
B

r

6

) and bottom cell (c-Si) are calibrated according to the data reported so far. Simulation results reflect power conversion efficiency (PCE) values for

C

s

2

A
g
B
i
B

r

6

and c-Si cells under an AM 1.5 spectrum to be 8.26% and 22.37%, respectively. After optimizing the performance for top and bottom cells, we evaluated the same for the tandem structure. The current matching condition for the tandem structure is obtained at 0.400 µm and 1 µm thicknesses of the absorber layer for top and bottom cells, respectively. Top and bottom cells with filtered spectra exhibit efficiencies of 8.15% and 18.23%, respectively. Overall, the

C

s

2

A
g
B
i
B

r

6

/

c

-

S
i

tandem configuration yields an impressive PCE of 26.38% with an open circuit voltage of 1.84 V.
Non-redundant optical phased array: erratum
Authors: Fukui Taichiro , Tanomura Ryota , Komatsu Kento , Yamashita Daiji , Takahashi Shun , Nakano Yoshiaki , Tanemura Takuo 
Published: January 2022

This erratum corrects the error in Fig. 5 of our earlier paper
[Optica
8, 1350 (2021)OPTIC82334-253610.1364/OPTICA.437453].
Bladder dysfunction in human T cell lymphotropic virus infection: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Carneiro Neto José Abraão , Vitor de Oliveira Cássius José , Ferraz Sheila Nunes , Guerra Mariele , Oliveira Lívia Alves , Passos Lúcia , Carvalho Edgar M. , Rocha Paulo Novis 
Published: January 2022

Background
While bladder dysfunction is observed in the majority of patients with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM), it is also observed in patients who do not fulfill all diagnostic criteria for HAM. These patients are classified as having possible or probable HAM/TSP. However, it remains unclear whether the severity and progression of bladder dysfunction occurs similarly between these two groups.

Objective
Compare the severity and evolution of bladder dysfunction in HTLV-1-infected patients with possible and definite HAM/TSP.

Methods
The present prospective cohort study followed 90 HTLV-1 patients with possible HAM/TSP and 84 with definite HAM/TSP between April 2011 and February 2019. Bladder dysfunction was evaluated by bladder diary, overactive bladder symptoms scores (OABSS) and urodynamic studies. Bladder dysfunction progression was defined as the need for clean self-intermittent catheterization (CIC).

Results
At baseline, nocturia, urgency and OABSS scores were worse in definite compared to possible HAM/TSP patients. The main urodynamic finding was detrusor overactivity, present in 77.8% of the patients with definite HAM/TSP versus 58.7% of those with possible HAM/TSP (P = 0.05). Upon study conclusion, the cumulative frequency of patients requiring CIC increased in both groups, from 2 to 6 in possible HAM/TSP and from 28 to 44 in definite HAM/TSP patients. The estimated time to need for CIC was 6.7 years (95%CI 6.5–7.0) in the possible HAM/TSP group compared to 5.5 years (95%CI 4.8–6.1) in the definite HAM/TSP group.

Conclusions
Although both groups showed similarities in bladder dysfunction and tended to progress to requiring CIC over time, patients with possible HAM/TSP presented less severe manifestations at baseline and progressed more slowly than those with definite HAM/TSP.
Multiple-bead assay for the differential serodiagnosis of neglected human cestodiases: Neurocysticercosis and cystic echinococcosis
Authors: Hernández-González Ana , González-Bertolín Belén , Urrea Laura , Fleury Agnes , Ferrer Elizabeth , Siles-Lucas Mar , Tamarozzi Francesca , Perteguer Maria J. 
Published: January 2022

Background
Neurocysticercosis (NCC), and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are two neglected diseases caused by cestodes, co-endemic in many areas of the world. Imaging studies and serological tests are used in the diagnosis of both parasitic diseases, but cross-reactions may confound the results of the latter. The novel multiplex bead-based assay with recombinant antigens has been reported to increases the diagnostic accuracy of serological techniques.

Methodology
We set-up an immunoassay based on the multiplex bead-based platform (MBA), using the rT24H (against Cysticercus cellulosae, causing cysticercosis) and r2B2t (against Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, causing CE) recombinant antigens, for simultaneous and differential diagnosis of these infections. The antigens were tested on 356 sera from 151 patients with CE, 126 patients with NCC, and 79 individuals negative for both diseases. Specificity was calculated including sera from healthy donors, other neurological diseases and the respective NCC or CE sera counterpart. The diagnostic accuracy of this assay was compared with two commercial ELISA tests, Novalisa and Ridascreen, widely used in the routine diagnosis of cysticercosis and CE, respectively.

Main findings
For the diagnosis of NCC, sensitivity ranged from 57.94–63.49% for the rT24H-MBA, and 40.48–46.03% for Novalisa ELISA depending on exclusion or inclusion of sera having equivocal results on ELISA from the analysis; specificities ranged from 90.87–91.30% and 70.43–76.96%, respectively. AUC values of the ROC curve were 0.783 (rT24H) and 0.619 (Novalisa) (p-value < 0.001). For the diagnosis of CE, the sensitivity of the r2B2t-MBA ranged from 68.87–69.77% and of Ridascreen ELISA from 50.00–57.62%; specificities from 92.47–92.68% and from 74.15–80.98%, respectively. AUC values were 0.717 and 0.760, respectively.

Conclusions/Significance
Overall, the recombinant antigens tested with the bead-based technology showed better diagnostic accuracy than the commercial assays, particularly for the diagnosis of NCC. The possibility of testing the same serum sample simultaneously for the presence of antibodies against both antigens is an added value particularly in seroprevalence studies for cysticercosis linked to control programs in endemic areas where these two parasites coexist.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on cardiorespiratory regulation in spontaneously breathing adult rats
Authors: Kitajima Yoichiro , Hashizume Nana Sato , Saiki Chikako , Ide Ryoji , Imai Toshio 
Published: January 2022

Purpose
We examined the cardiorespiratory effect of dexmedetomidine, an α2- adrenoceptor/imidazoline 1 (I1) receptor agonist, in spontaneously breathing adult rats.

Methods
Male rats (226−301 g, n = 49) under isoflurane anesthesia had their tail vein cannulated for drug administration and their tail artery cannulated for analysis of mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse rate (PR), and arterial blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2, pH). After recovery, one set of rats received normal saline for control recording and was then divided into three experimental groups, two receiving dexmedetomidine (5 or 50 μg·kg−1) and one receiving normal saline (n = 7 per group). Another set of rats was divided into four groups receiving dexmedetomidine (50 μg·kg−1) followed 5 min later by 0.5 or 1 mg∙kg−1 atipamezole (selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist) or efaroxan (α2-adrenoceptor/I1 receptor antagonist) (n = 6 or 8 per group). Recordings were performed 15 min after normal saline or dexmedetomidine administration.

Results
Compared with normal saline, dexmedetomidine (5 and 50 μg·kg−1) decreased respiratory frequency (fR, p = 0.04 and < 0.01, respectively), PR (both p < 0.01), and PaO2 (p = 0.04 and < 0.01), and increased tidal volume (both p = 0.049). Dexmedetomidine at 5 μg·kg−1 did not significantly change minute ventilation (V′E) (p = 0.87) or MAP (p = 0.24), whereas dexmedetomidine at 50 μg·kg−1 significantly decreased V′E (p = 0.03) and increased MAP (p < 0.01). Only dexmedetomidine at 50 μg·kg−1 increased PaCO2 (p < 0.01). Dexmedetomidine (5 and 50 μg·kg−1) significantly increased blood glucose (p < 0.01), and dexmedetomidine at 50 μg·kg−1 increased hemoglobin (p = 0.04). Supplemental atipamezole or efaroxan administration similarly prevented the 50 μg·kg−1 dexmedetomidine-related cardiorespiratory changes.

Principal conclusion
These results suggest that dexmedetomidine-related hypoventilation and hypertension are observed simultaneously and occur predominantly through activation of α2-adrenoceptors, but not I1 receptors, in spontaneously breathing adult rats.
Observational study of changes in utilization and outcomes in mechanical ventilation in COVID-19
Authors: Karagiannidis Christian , Hentschker Corinna , Westhoff Michael , Weber-Carstens Steffen , Janssens Uwe , Kluge Stefan , Pfeifer Michael , Spies Claudia , Welte Tobias , Rossaint Rolf , Mostert Carina , Windisch Wolfram 
Published: January 2022

Background
The role of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in severe COVID-19 remains a matter of debate. Therefore, the utilization and outcome of NIV in COVID-19 in an unbiased cohort was determined.

Aim
The aim was to provide a detailed account of hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring non-invasive ventilation during their hospital stay. Furthermore, differences of patients treated with NIV between the first and second wave are explored.

Methods
Confirmed COVID-19 cases of claims data of the Local Health Care Funds with non-invasive and/or invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in the spring and autumn pandemic period in 2020 were comparable analysed.

Results
Nationwide cohort of 17.023 cases (median/IQR age 71/61–80 years, 64% male) 7235 (42.5%) patients primarily received IMV without NIV, 4469 (26.3%) patients received NIV without subsequent intubation, and 3472 (20.4%) patients had NIV failure (NIV-F), defined by subsequent endotracheal intubation. The proportion of patients who received invasive MV decreased from 75% to 37% during the second period. Accordingly, the proportion of patients with NIV exclusively increased from 9% to 30%, and those failing NIV increased from 9% to 23%. Median length of hospital stay decreased from 26 to 21 days, and duration of MV decreased from 11.9 to 7.3 days. The NIV failure rate decreased from 49% to 43%. Overall mortality increased from 51% versus 54%. Mortality was 44% with NIV-only, 54% with IMV and 66% with NIV-F with mortality rates steadily increasing from 62% in early NIV-F (day 1) to 72% in late NIV-F (>4 days).

Conclusions
Utilization of NIV rapidly increased during the autumn period, which was associated with a reduced duration of MV, but not with overall mortality. High NIV-F rates are associated with increased mortality, particularly in late NIV-F.
Impact of Coronavirus Infectious Disease (COVID-19) pandemic on willingness of immunization—A community-based questionnaire study
Authors: Chen Pei-Yun , Chuang Pei-Ni , Chiang Chien-Hsieh , Chang Hao-Hsiang , Lu Chia-Wen , Huang Kuo-Chin 
Published: January 2022

Background
Coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a great impact on global health, but with relatively few confirmed cases in Taiwan. People in Taiwan showed excellent cooperation with the government for disease prevention and faced social and behavioral changes during this period. This study aimed to investigate people’s knowledge of COVID-19, attitudes and practices regarding vaccinations for influenza, pneumococcus and COVID-19.

Methods
We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional questionnaire survey from September 2020 to October 2020 among adults in northern Taiwan. The four-part questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19.

Results
Among a total of 410 respondents, 58.5% were categorized as having “good knowledge” responding to COVID-19. Among the total respondents, 86.6% were willing to receive influenza or pneumococcal vaccines, and 76% of them acted to receive COVID-19 immunization once the vaccine became available. Compared with the respondents with poor knowledge of COVID-19, those with good knowledge had a more positive attitude toward receiving influenza or pneumococcal immunization (OR 3.26, 95% CI = 1.74–6.12).

Conclusions
Participants with good knowledge of COVID-19 had greater intent to receive immunization for influenza or pneumococcal vaccine. The promotion of correct knowledge of both COVID-19 and immunization preparations is necessary.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Opportunities to Improve Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening and Diagnosis in a National Health System
Authors: Kim Nicole J. , Rozenberg-Ben-Dror Karine , Jacob David A. , Berry Kristin , Ioannou George N. 
Published: January 2022

INTRODUCTION:
We evaluated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening and diagnosis among patients with cirrhosis in the Veterans Health Administration.

METHODS:
Rates and predictors of screening and diagnosis were reviewed September 1, 2019–February 29, 2020 (“pre-COVID-19,” N = 94,612) and April 1, 2020–September 30, 2020 (“post-COVID-19,” N = 88,073).

RESULTS:
Screening and diagnosis rates declined by 44% and 13%, respectively, after the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening declined irrespective of liver disease severity, but diagnosis declined only in Model for End Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score <20 or Fibrosis-4 score <3.25. Fibrosis-4 score ≥3.25 and HCC risk ≥1.5%/year strongly predicted HCC diagnosis but only moderately predicted receipt of screening.

DISCUSSION:
Screening and diagnosis rates declined after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prioritizing screening for patients at greatest risk for HCC may reduce delays in diagnosis.
Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrochar and Bio-oil from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sargassum sp. using Choline Chloride (ChCl) Catalyst
Authors: Rustamaji Heri , Prakoso Tirto , Rizkiana Jenny , Devianto Hary , Widiatmoko Pramujo , Guan Guoqing 
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study is to alter the biomass of Sargassum sp. into elective fills and high valuable biomaterials in a hydrothermal process at 200oC for 90 minutes, using ZnCl2 and CaCl2 activating agents, withChClas a catalyst. This method generatedthree primaryoutputs: hydrochar, bio-oil, and gasproducts. ChCl to water ratio varies from 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1. The hydrochar yield improved when the catalyst ratio was increased, but the bio-oil and gas yield declined. The highest hydrochar yields were 76.95, 63.25, and 44.16 percent in ZnCl2, CaCl2, and no activating agent samples, respectively.The porosity analysis observed mesopore structures with the most pore diameters between 3.9-5.2 nm with a surface area between 44.71-55.2. The attribute of interaction between activator and catalyst plays a role in pore formation. The hydrochar products with CaCl2 showed the best thermal stability. From the whole experiment, the optimum hydrochar yield (76.95%), optimum surface area (55.42 m2 g-1), and the increase in carbon content from 21.11 to 37.8% were achieved at the ratio of ChCl to water was three, and the activating agent of ZnCl2. The predominant bio-oil components were hexadecane, hexadecanoic, and 9-octadecenoic acids, with a composition of 51.65, 21.44, and 9.87%, respectively the remaining contained aromatic alkanes and other fatty acids. The findings of this study reported that adding activating agents and catalysts improve hydrochar yield and characteristics of hydrochar and bio-oil products, suggesting the potential of hydrochar as a solid fuel or biomaterial and bio-oil as liquid biofuel
WindTunnel
Authors: Yu Gyeong-In , Amizadeh Saeed , Kim Sehoon , Pagnoni Artidoro , Zhang Ce , Chun Byung-Gon , Weimer Markus , Interlandi Matteo 
Published: January 2022

While deep neural networks (DNNs) have shown to be successful in several domains like computer vision, non-DNN models such as linear models and gradient boosting trees are still considered state-of-the-art over tabular data. When using these models, data scientists often author machine learning (ML) pipelines: DAG of ML operators comprising data transforms and ML models, whereby each operator is sequentially trained one-at-a-time. Conversely, when training DNNs, layers composing the neural networks are simultaneously trained using backpropagation.
In this paper, we argue that the training scheme of ML pipelines is sub-optimal because it tries to optimize a single operator at a time thus losing the chance of global optimization. We therefore propose WindTunnel: a system that translates a trained ML pipeline into a pipeline of neural network modules and jointly optimizes the modules using backpropagation. We also suggest translation methodologies for several non-differentiable operators such as gradient boosting trees and categorical feature encoders. Our experiments show that fine-tuning of the translated WindTunnel pipelines is a promising technique able to increase the final accuracy.
Efficacy of Habb-e-Asab in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a randomized placebo control study
Authors: Nizamdeen Fathima Nafha , Quamri Mohd Aleemuddin , Anzar Alam Md 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common diabetes complication. The prevalence of neuropathy is 55% for type 1 and 66% for type 2 diabetes. In Unani medicine neuropathy is known as Khidr (numbness). It is treated with drugs possessing hypoglycemic and analgesic properties, etc. Habb-e-Asab, a polyherbal Unani formulation used for the treatment of Waja-ul-Asab (neuralgia) is routinely used for its indications in neurological pain in Unani medicine. The aim of this study to investigate the efficacy of Habb-e-Asab in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods
Thirty patients with DPN were randomly assigned to test (n=20) and control (n=10) groups in a randomized single-blind placebo control study. For 45 days, the test group was given 250 mg Habb-e-Asab twice a day and the control group 250 mg placebo twice a day. The subjective parameters Pain in feet, burning in feet, and tingling in feet was assessed by the arbitrary scale and VAS fortnightly and objective parameters MNSI, and VPT was assessed in pre–post-treatment.

Results
The research drug revealed highly statistically significant with p<0.001 on VAS score and MNSI whereas VPT is significant with p<0.01 on few points. But control group exhibits no significant effect in any of the parameters. No adverse effects had been reported in either group.

Conclusions
Our finding indicated that the Habb-e-Asab for 45 days improved and reduced the severity of DPN in a patient with diabetes (CTRI/2018/02/011725).