bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How International Aid Significantly Influence Ghana’s Trade Balance
Authors: Wada Esther Rahim , Kader Rahman Adams , Salam  Aziz Rahim 
Published: December 2022

Purpose: The study's goal was to ascertain the impact of foreign aid on Ghana's trade balance, the impact of the country's exchange rate on trade balance, and the causal relationship between foreign aid and trade balance in Ghana.
Methodology: Based on vector autoregressive (VAR) methods, descriptive and econometric analysis of time series data from 1982 to 2012 were conducted for the study. The existence of a link between foreign assistance and trade balance was examined using cointegration and causality tests. To ascertain how quickly economic equilibrium will shift from the short run to the long run, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used.
Findings: The analysis found that the exchange rate has a favorable impact on Ghana's trade balance and that foreign aid has a negative impact on it. The study also showed a long-term connection between trade balance, exchange rate, and foreign aid as well as a bidirectional causation between foreign aid and Ghana's trade balance. According to the test for VECM, the transition from short-run to long-run equilibrium happened more quickly, at 1.43 or 143 percent.
Recommendation: The study recommended the Republic of Ghana to undertake an import substitution program in order to decrease the volume of imports that have been contributing to the long-term trade imbalance. Instead of depending on unreliable foreign aid, export promotion policy should be a priority in order to generate sufficient foreign revenues. To accomplish these goals, the Ghanaian government should be intelligently prepared to remove all trade restrictions that Ghanaian exporters faced on the international market.
Impact of Play as a Method of Teaching in Ghana's Preschools
Authors: Kaatachi  Ezekiel Kwadwo , Majid  Isaac Nkrumah 
Published: December 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify teacher characteristics impacting the use of play as a teaching approach in Ghana's state pre-primary schools.
Methodology: The Theory of Reasoned Action by Fishbein and Ajzen served as the study's main framework, and the correlational design was used. Based on the goals of the study, thematic analysis was utilized to examine the qualitative data, which was then presented narratively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to organize and interpret quantitative data. The study was aided by the use of the SPSS 23 statistical package for social science.
Findings: The results showed that most preschools used play as a teaching approach in a fairly present fashion. The results further demonstrated that play as a teaching approach and instructors' attitudes were significantly correlated. Positive attitudes toward play among teachers were associated with increased usage of play in the classroom. The usage of play and teachers' training were significantly correlated.
Conclusion: There was a strong correlation between instructors' experience and play usage.
Recommendations: The study suggested that in order to guarantee that pre-school teachers have good attitudes about using play as a teaching approach, the education administration and school heads should work to foster such attitude. Additionally, it's important to make sure that pre-primary school instructors have the required training and preparation so they can use play-based learning as a teaching technique with their students. The report also encouraged greater investigation into the elements that schools utilize to influence play as a teaching technique.
Arts and Livelihood: The Case of Sculpturing and Weaving in Kedjom Chiefdoms in the Western Grassfields of Cameroon
Authors: Moffor Exodus Tikere 
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Arts is a source of livelihood in all societies and one of the major reasons artists produce objects is to sell and raise an income. This paper is on arts and livelihood: the case of sculpturing and weaving in Kedjom chiefdoms. Kedjom is one of the centres of wood carving in the Grassfields with the artists producing all sorts of carvings which include beds, thrones, stools, walking sticks and many more. This trade was regarded by the young people in the past as a job reserved for old people. But today, youths have found out that the trade is lucrative and many of them are currently engaged in it. This paper therefore explores the significance of these economic activities (sculpturing and weaving) in the livelihood of the people in particular and the chiefdom in general.
Methodology: Data for this paper was collected using both the qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative method was employed through participant observation, in-depth interview, focus group discussions, life histories and photography. The quantitative method was used through the questionnaires.
Findings: Weaving in general is an important art in Kedjom chiefdoms and cane basket production in particular is considered the traditional craft of the Kedjom people, a skill that everyone in the chiefdom ought to know. This trade (cane basket activity) is learned free of charge because the missionaries who introduced it to the first persons free of charge.
Conclusion: These two domains of art (wood carving and weaving) are income generating activities and the finances obtained from the sales of art objects is used to build houses, send children to school, provide medical services for the family and much more.
Recommendation: The people of Kedjom could benefit more if they could create arts’ cooperatives or common initiative groups to market their products. Considering the fact that arts is a source of employment, the government of Cameroon could provide subsidise to the artist to perfect as well as improve on their production.
Justice for Muslim Women in India: the sinuous path of the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board1
Authors: Dequen Jean-Philippe 
Published: December 2022

Muslim Women movements in India have been very active in the past decade, attracting attention both in the Sub-Continent and beyond. This article vows to present a particular trend of this activism centred on the legal sphere, moreover within the frame of the Muslim personal law system and its non-State adjudicative bodies. Through the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), it will present the example of an attempt to challenge the ‘patriarchal’ legal discourse on Islamic Law by procuring an alternative dispute resolution forum specifically aimed at Muslim women’s issues, as well as advocating for a more gender equal interpretation of the Quran through the prism of ‘Islamic Feminism’. However, it will show that despite its President’s tremendous efforts, the AIMWPLB’s scope remains limited. Although establishing a somewhat successful mediation centre in the Lucknow area, it has for the moment failed to extend its reach in the rest of the Indian Territory. Likewise, its particular discourse on Islamic Law has had but little influence on its overall application in India, and paradoxically could even be counter-productive towards its progression towards a gender equalitarian interpretation.
Towards a Jurisprudence of the Embodied mind – Sarah Lund, Forbrydelsen and the Mindful Body
Authors: Leiboff Marett 
Published: December 2022

As Erika Fischer-Lichte remarked, the great Polish theatre theorist Jerzy Grotowski redefined the notion of the body of the actor as an embodied mind, as a responsive and responding self. Conversely, law abjures the body, its interpreters – lawyers and scholars – inured in practices of rationality, reason and logic, or mindful disembodiment. Travelling through the Danish capital, encountering Danes real and fictitious to illustrate how much we function through our bodies, this essay suggests that we are better and more effective legal interpreters as embodied minds, rather than disembodied minds. But this is not mindless embodiment, a mere reflex or bodily outburst. The embodied mind is self-aware (physically, socially, intellectually) and possesses the same embodied virtuous morality held by Grotowski’s actors. Reminiscent of Kierkegaard’s uniting of the mind-body divide, this connected mind and body challenges the Augustinian negation of the body and associated interpretative assumptions inherited over centuries of legal thought.
Social Transformation and Normative Change Through CSR Standards? China’s Engagement with International Labour Law in Domestic Guidance for the Textile Sector
Authors: Buhmann Karin 
Published: December 2022

Drawing on China’s international and national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement in the field of labour rights, this article discusses prospects for implementation and integration of international law standards through relatively non-politicized market oriented contexts. Contrary to the conventional approach in the West, China has explicitly engaged with CSR through hard law as well as guidance of a mixed regulatory character. In several cases this involves direct reference to international law standards among which some are in line with China’s stance in international debates while others less so. Chinese labour law is comprehensive, but implementation lacks behind due to lack of knowledge and weak institutions. In this context, CSR is deployed as a modality to help transform legal requirements into practice in business operations. The article argues that what may look like skirting the law may in fact promote strengthened implementation that supports social transformation and integration of international norms.
Viewing the Labor Law Reform in China From a Perspective of Legal Globalization
Authors: Xu Ya-wen , Cheng Qian 
Published: December 2022

After the cold war, the trends of legal globalization became more and more obvious. People’s Republic of China (PRC) began its connection with the international community and the global market, and its legal reform after the launch of the “reform and opening-up” policy. By examining China’s labor law reform, we can see how legal globalization has influenced China’s legal system. China introduced and transplanted many institutions, terms of ILO conventions during its labor law reform. It also accepted many principles and conceptions of ILO conventions in its labor law and constitutional law, which would shape China’s labor law reform. Multinational corporations (MNC) and transnational civil society organizations (TCSO) influenced Chinese labor law reform through lobbying, advocacy, public education, and litigations. Informal norms such as Corporate Social Responsibility standards developed by MNCs and TSCOs also inspired Chinese legislators to improve China’s labor law and Chinese SCOs or business associations to develop labor standards to fill the gaps in China’s labor law and regulations. In conclusion, in the age of legal globalization, the labor law reform in China is a kind of legal transplantation. International norms, actions by multinational corporations and transnational civil society, and their informal norms together constitute the force which promotes the transplantation and the reform of China’s legal system.
Key Words: legal globalization, global governance, labor law, law reform
Evaluation of Telehealth Visit Attendance After Implementation of a Patient Navigator Program
Authors: Mechanic Oren J , Lee Emma M. , Sheehan Heidi M. , Dechen Tenzin , O’Donoghue Ashley L. , Anderson Timothy S. , Annas Catherine , Harvey Leanne B. , Perkins Allison A. , Severo Michael A. , Stevens Jennifer P. , Kimball Alexa B. 
Published: December 2022

ImportanceThe dramatic rise in use of telehealth accelerated by COVID-19 created new telehealth-specific challenges as patients and clinicians adapted to technical aspects of video visits.ObjectiveTo evaluate a telehealth patient navigator pilot program to assist patients in overcoming barriers to video visit access.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis quality improvement study investigated visit attendance outcomes among those who received navigator outreach (intervention group) compared with those who did not (comparator group) at 2 US academic primary care clinics during a 12-week study period from April to July 2021. Eligible participants had a scheduled video visit without previous successful telehealth visits.InterventionsThe navigator contacted patients with next-day scheduled video appointments by phone to offer technical assistance and answer questions on accessing the appointment.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was appointment attendance following the intervention. Return on investment (ROI) accounting for increased clinic adherence and costs of implementation was examined as a secondary outcome.ResultsA total 4066 patients had video appointments scheduled (2553 [62.8%] women; median [IQR] age: intervention, 55 years [38-66 years] vs comparator, 52 years [36-66 years]; P = .02). Patients who received the navigator intervention had significantly increased odds of attending their appointments (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.6) when compared with the comparator group, with an absolute increase of 9% in appointment attendance for the navigator group (949 of 1035 patients [91.6%] vs 2511 of 3031 patients [82.8%]). The program’s ROI was $11 387 over the 12-week period.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this quality improvement study, we found that a telehealth navigator program was associated with significant improvement in video visit adherence with a net financial gain. Our findings have relevance for efforts to reduce barriers to telehealth-based health care and increase equity.
Association of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Multiagent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Sugawara Toshitaka , Rodriguez Franco Salvador , Sherman Samantha , Kirsch Michael J. , Colborn Kathryn , Ishida Jun , Grandi Samuele , Al-Musawi Mohammed H. , Gleisner Ana , Schulick Richard D. , Del Chiaro Marco 
Published: December 2022

ImportanceThe total number of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is increasing. However, the added role of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in these patients remains unknown.ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of AC with overall survival (OS) in patients with PDAC who received multiagent NAC followed by curative-intent surgery.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective, matched-cohort study used data from the National Cancer Database and included patients with PDAC diagnosed between 2010 and 2018. The study included patients at least 18 years of age who received multiagent NAC followed by surgical resection and had available records of the pathological findings. Patients were excluded if they had clinical or pathological stage IV disease or died within 90 days of their operation.ExposuresAll included patients received NAC and underwent resection for primary PDAC. Some patients received adjuvant chemotherapy.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was the OS of patients who received AC (AC group) vs those who did not (non-AC group). Interactions between pathological findings and AC were investigated in separate multivariable Cox regression models.ResultsIn total, 1132 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.5 [9.4] years; 577 [50.1%] male; 970 [85.7%] White) were included, 640 patients in the non-AC group and 492 patients in the AC group. After being matched by propensity score according to demographic and pathological characteristics, 444 patients remained in each group. The multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for all covariates revealed an association between AC and improved survival (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.85; P &amp;lt; .001). Subgroup interaction analysis revealed that AC was significantly associated with better OS (26.6 vs 21.2 months; P = .002), but the benefit varied by age, pathological T category, and tumor differentiation. Of note, AC was associated with better survival in patients with any pathological N category and positive margin status.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, AC following multiagent NAC and resection in patients with PDAC was associated with significant survival benefit compared with that in patients who did not receive AC. These findings suggest that patients with aggressive tumors may benefit from AC to achieve prolonged survival, even after multiagent NAC and curative-intent resection.
Neurofilament light chain levels predict encephalopathy and outcome in community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Chung Ha‐Yeun , Wickel Jonathan , Oswald Marcus , Dargvainiene Justina , Rupp Jan , Rohde Gernot , Witzenrath Martin , Leypoldt Frank , König Rainer , Pletz Mathias W. , Geis Christian ,   CAPNETZ Study Group
Published: December 2022

AbstractObjectiveSerum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker for neuroaxonal damage and has been found to be elevated in several neurological diseases with neuronal destruction. New onset of confusion is a hallmark of severity in infections. The objective of this study was to determine whether sNfL levels are increased in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) and if increased sNfL levels are associated with disease‐associated confusion or disease severity.MethodsIn this observational study, sNfL levels were determined with single‐molecule array technology in CAP patients of the CAPNETZ cohort with validated CRB (confusion, respiratory rate, and blood pressure)‐65 score. We determined associations between log‐transformed sNfL concentrations, well‐defined clinical characteristics, and unfavorable outcome in multivariable analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the prediction accuracy of sNfL levels for confusion in CAP patients.ResultssNfL concentrations were evaluated in 150 CAP patients. Patients with confusion had higher sNfL levels as compared to non‐confusion patients of comparable overall disease severity. ROC analysis of sNfL and confusion provided an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73 (95% CI 0.62–0.82). Log‐transformed sNfL levels were not associated with general disease severity. In a logistic regression analysis, log2‐sNfL was identified as a strong predictor for an unfavorable outcome.InterpretationsNfL levels are specifically associated with confusion and not with pneumonia disease severity, thus reflecting a potential objective marker for encephalopathy in these patients. Furthermore, sNfL levels are also associated with unfavorable outcome in these patients and might help clinicians to identify patients at risk.
A 3D Framework with Li3N–Li2S Solid Electrolyte Interphase and Fast Ion Transfer Channels for a Stabilized Lithium‐Metal Anode
Authors: Ni Shuyan , Zhang Mengtian , Li Chuang , Gao Runhua , Sheng Jinzhi , Wu Xin , Zhou Guangmin 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe Li‐metal anode has been recognized as the most promising anode for its high theoretical capacity and low reduction potential. However, the major drawbacks of Li metal, such as high reactivity and large volume expansion, can lead to dendrite growth and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) fracture. An in situ artificial inorganic SEI layer, consisting of lithium nitride and lithium sulfide, is herein reported to address the dendrite growth issues. Porous graphene oxide films are doped with sulfur and nitrogen (denoted as SNGO) to work as an effective lithium host. The SNGO film enables the in situ formation of an inorganic‐rich SEI layer, which facilitates the transport of Li‐ions, improves SEI mechanical strength, and avoids SEI fracture. In addition, COMSOL simulation results reveal that the microchannels fabricated by the 3D printing technique further shorten the Li‐ion transfer pathways and homogenize heat and stress distribution in the batteries. As a result, the assembled anode shows low capacity fading of 0.1% per cycle at 2 C rate with the sulfur cathode. In addition, the high lithium utilization of the SNGO host enables the anode to provide a stable capacity at low negative/positive electrode ratios under 3 in LiS batteries.
Advances in Tumor Antigen‐Based Anticancer Immunotherapy: Recent Progress, Prevailing Challenges, and Future Perspective
Authors: Shi Wei , Chen Shuang , Chi Fanglian , Qiu Qianqian , Zhong Yue , Bian Xiaojian , Zhang Hao , Xi Junting , Qian Hai 
Published: December 2022

AbstractElimination of tumors by regulating the immune system is the primary research focus in the rapidly developing field of immune‐oncology. Current immunotherapeutic strategies mainly include immune checkpoint blockade therapy, adoptive immune cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Among them, tumor antigen‐based cancer vaccines can potentially elicit specific and potent anti‐tumor immune responses with less toxicity and side effects, which are recognized as promising treatments in immunotherapy. The selection of tumor antigens is the primary determinant of cancer vaccine design, whereas systematic reviews based on them are scarce. In the present review, currently known tumor antigens and recent developments in cancer vaccines based on tumor antigens, including traditional antigen vaccines, neoantigen vaccines, shared antigen vaccines, and oral antigen vaccines, in hopes of providing fundamental basis for further development of novel cancer vaccine‐based therapies, are summarized.
Unamplified and Real‐Time Label‐Free miRNA‐21 Detection Using Solution‐Gated Graphene Transistors in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Deng Minghua , Ren Zhanpeng , Zhang Huibin , Li Ziqin , Xue Chenglong , Wang Jianying , Zhang Dan , Yang Huan , Wang Xianbao , Li Jinhua 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in men globally increases as the standard of living improves. Blood serum biomarker prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) detection is the gold standard assay that do not meet the requirements of early detection. Herein, a solution‐gated graphene transistor (SGGT) biosensor for the ultrasensitive and rapid quantification detection of the early prostate cancer‐relevant biomarker, miRNA‐21 is reported. The designed single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes immobilized on the Au gate can hybridize effectively with the miRNA‐21 molecules targets and induce the Dirac voltage shifts of SGGT transfer curves. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor can reach 10−20 M without amplification and any chemical or biological labeling. The detection linear range is from 10−20 to 10−12 M. The sensor can realize real‐time detection of the miRNA‐21 molecules in less than 5 min and can well distinguish one‐mismatched miRNA‐21 molecule. The blood serum samples from the patients without RNA extraction and amplification are measured. The results demonstrated that the biosensor can well distinguish the cancer patients from the control group and has higher sensitivity (100%) than PSA detection (58.3%). Contrastingly, it can be found that the PSA level is not directly related to PCa.