bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene rearrangements in consecutive series of pediatric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors
Authors: Preobrazhenskaya Elena V. , Iyevleva Aglaya G. , Suleymanova Amina M. , Tiurin Vladislav I. , Mitiushkina Natalia V. , Bizin Ilya V. , Ivanstov Alexandr O. , Gorustovich Olga A. , Shelekhova Kseniya V. , Kachanov Denis Y. , Varfolomeeva Svetlana R. , Roschin Vitaliy Y. , Kazakova Anna N. , Litvinov Dmitriy V. , Shamanskaya Tatiana V. , Savelov Nikita A. , Suspitsin Evgeny N. , Imyanitov Evgeny N.
Published: February 2020

Background

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are exceptionally rare neoplasms, which are often driven by rearranged tyrosine kinases.

Methods

This study considered 33 consecutive patients with IMT (median age, 6.6; age range, 0.6‐15.8 years). RNA and cDNA were successfully obtained in 29 cases. The molecular analysis included sequential tests for 5′/3′‐end unbalanced gene expression, variant‐specific PCR, and next‐generation sequencing (NGS).

Results

5′/3′‐end unbalanced ALK expression was revealed in 15/29 (52%) IMTs. Strikingly, all these tumors demonstrated high amount of ALK protein detected by immunohistochemistry. Variant‐specific PCR was capable of identifying the type of ALK rearrangement in 11/15 IMTs with 5′/3′‐end unbalanced ALK expression. The remaining four tumors were analyzed by NGS; two known and two novel (CLTC‐ins6del84‐ALK and EEF1G‐ALK) ALK rearrangements were detected. Five IMTs demonstrated 5′/3′‐end unbalanced ROS1 expression, and all these tumors carried TFG‐ROS1 fusion. Nine tumors, which were negative for 5′/3′‐end unbalanced ALK/ROS1 expression, were subjected to further analysis. Variant‐specific PCR revealed two additional tumors with gene rearrangements (TFG‐ROS1 and ETV6‐NTRK3). The remaining seven IMTs were tested by NGS; single instances of TFG‐ROS1 and novel SRF‐PDGFRb translocations were detected.

Conclusions

Twenty‐four of 29 IMTs (83%) were shown to have druggable rearrangements involving tyrosine kinases, 20 of these 24 gene fusions were detectable by simple and inexpensive PCR assay, which is based on the detection 5′/3′‐end unbalanced gene expression.
Characteristics and outcomes of osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease: A 10‐year single‐center experience
Authors: Weisman Julie K. , Nickel Robert Sheppard , Darbari Deepika S. , Hanisch Benjamin R. , Diab Yaser A.
Published: February 2020

Background

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk for osteomyelitis (OM). Diagnosis of OM in SCD is challenging as the clinical presentation is similar to a vasoocclusive crisis (VOC) with no diagnostic gold standard. We report characteristics and outcomes of OM in SCD patients treated at our center over 10‐year period.

Design/Method

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with SCD who were treated for OM at our center over a 10‐year period (2006‐2016). Cases were identified utilizing radiology data mining software. Radiology reports and medical charts of potential OM cases were reviewed.

Results

Twenty‐eight children with SCD were treated for OM at our institution. Patients treated for OM were largely similar to patients treated for a VOC. However, patients treated for OM had significantly higher C‐reactive protein (10 mg/dL vs 5.58 mg/dL, P = 0.03) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60 mm/h vs 47 mm/h, P = 0.02). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were consistent with OM in 18 (64%) patients and indeterminate in the remaining. Based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, the diagnosis of OM was considered confirmed in 3 patients, probable in 6 patients, and presumed in 19 patients. Nontyphoidal Salmonella was isolated from cultures in 9 (32%) patients, while no organism was identified in 19 (67%) patients. All patients were treated with antibiotics. Six patients (21%) required surgical interventions.

Conclusions

OM continues to pose diagnostic challenges. Most patients are treated for OM without definitive confirmation. Nontyphoidal Salmonella was the only organism identified in our cohort.
Approximate ℓ‐bound state solutions of q‐deformed exponential‐type potentials
Authors: Peña José J. , García‐Ravelo Jesús , Ovando Gerardo , Morales Jesús
Published: February 2020

In this work, the exactly solvable Schrödinger equation for s‐states of a class of multiparameter exponential‐type potential (E‐tP) is used to obtain the approximate ℓ ≠ 0 bound state solutions for the corresponding q‐deformed radial potentials. To deal with the effective potential, the Pekeris approximation for the centrifugal term is applied. The proposal has the advantage that, depending on the choice of the parameters involved in the E‐tP, several q‐deformed exponential potentials are obtained here as particular cases. That is, our proposition indicates that it is not necessary to use specialized methods to solve the Schrödinger equation for specific q‐deformed exponential potentials. At this regard, in order to show the usefulness of the proposed method, we consider the ℓ ≠ 0 bound state solutions of the q‐deformed Tietz, Hulthén, Manning‐Rosen, Shioberg, quadratic exponential, Wei and Hua among other potential models. Furthermore, with the example of the Hua potential we are contributing to solve the recent controversy on the energy spectra of this q‐deformed model. Moreover, in some applications considered in this work the results can be used to correct similar findings already published. Besides, the proposal is useful when considering new q‐deformed potentials with hypergeometric wavefunctions to be used in quantum chemical applications of diatomic molecules.
Compound‐specific carbon isotope analysis for mechanistic characterization of debromination of decabrominated diphenyl ether
Authors: Zhu Xifen , Zhong Yin , Wang Heli , Li Dan , Deng Yirong , Gao Shutao , Peng Ping'an
Published: February 2020

Rationale

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE‐209) is a notorious persistent organic pollutant widely found in the environment. Developing a compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA) method is much needed in order to trace its transport and degradation processes and to evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation of BDE‐209 in the environment. However, the conventional CSIA method, i.e. gas chromatography (GC) combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry, is not appropriate for BDE‐209 because of its high thermal instability and incomplete combustion.

Methods

We developed a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation and purification of BDE‐209 that prevents its thermal reactivity as occurred in prior GC‐based methods. The δ13C value of the purified BDE‐209 was determined using offline elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS). This two‐step method was applied to determine the δ13C values of BDE‐209 in two commercial samples and to characterize carbon isotope fractionation associated with the debromination of BDE‐209 via nanoscale zero‐valent iron.

Results

The mean values of daily δ13C analyses of six replicates of a BDE‐209 standard varied from −27.66‰ to −27.92‰, with a standard deviation ranging from 0.07‰ to 0.16‰, indicating a good reproducibility of EA/IRMS. The EA/IRMS analysis of the purified BDE‐209 standard indicated no obvious isotope fractionation during the sample purification. The impurity content in commercial BDE‐209 samples may contribute additional variation of the δ13C values of BDE‐209. The δ13C values of BDE‐209 gradually changed from −27.47 ± 0.37‰ to −24.59 ± 0.19‰ when 74% of the BDE‐209 standard was degraded within 36 h. The estimated carbon isotope enrichment factor was −1.72 ± 0.18‰.

Conclusions

The two‐step method based on HPLC and EA/IRMS avoids the thermal instability of BDE‐209 in the traditional CSIA method. It offers a novel approach for elucidating the degradation mechanisms of BDE‐209 in the environment and for source identification in contaminated sites.
Distributed formation‐containment control with Euler‐Lagrange systems subject to input saturation and communication delays
Authors: Silva T. C. , Souza F. O. , Pimenta L. C. A.
Published: February 2020

This paper is concerned with the problem of formation‐containment on networked systems, with interconnected systems modeled by the Euler‐Lagrange equation with bounded inputs and time‐varying delays on the communication channels. The main results are the design of control algorithms and sufficient conditions to ensure the convergence of the network. The control algorithms are designed as distributed dynamic controllers, in such a way that the number of neighbors of each agent is decoupled from the bound of the control inputs. That is, in the proposed approach the amplitude of the input signal does not directly increase with the number of neighbors of each agent. The proposed sufficient conditions for the asymptotic convergence follow from the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii theory and are formulated in the linear matrix inequalities framework. The conditions rely only on the upper bound of delays and on a subset of the controller parameters, but they do not depend on the model of each agent, which makes it suitable for networks with agents governed by distinct dynamics. In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method we present numerical examples and compare with similar approaches existing in the literature.
A new experience mining approach for improving low carbon city development
Authors: Wu Ya , Shuai Chenyang , Wu Liu , Shen Liyin , Yan Jianzhong , Jiao Liudan , Liao Shiju
Published: February 2020

Developing low carbon city (LCC) has been widely appreciated as an important strategy for sustainable development. In line with this, an increasing number of cities globally have launched low carbon practices in recent years and gained various types of experience. However, it appears that existing studies do not present methods of how to use these valuable LCC experience in solving new problems. This study therefore introduces an experience mining approach to assist decision‐makers in reusing previous experience when tailoring LCC development strategies. The mining approach consists of three processes, namely, collecting historical cases which have been experiencing LCC, establishing LCC experience base, and mining similar experience cases. This study innovates the existing experience mining approach by introducing a two‐step mining process with considering the perspective of problem‐based urban characteristics (PBUCs) and the perspective of solution‐based urban characteristics (SBUCs). The application of the introduced mining approach has been demonstrated by a case study, where Shenyang's energy structure is adopted as the target problem. The new experience mining approach provides a valuable reference for decision‐makers to retrieve similar cases for improving LCC development with the consideration of city characteristics.
Effective Fixation of Carbon in g‐C3N4 Enabled by Mg‐Induced Selective Reconstruction
Authors: Ding Yiwang , Yu Chang , Chang Jiangwei , Yao Chun , Yu Jinhe , Guo Wei , Qiu Jieshan
Published: February 2020

The methodology of metal‐involved preparation for carbon materials is favored by researchers and has attracted tremendous attention. Decoupling this process and the underlying mechanism in detail are highly required. Herein, the intrinsic mechanism of carbon fixation in graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) via the magnesium‐involved carbonization process is reported and clarified. Magnesium can induce the displacement reaction with the small carbon nitride molecule generated by the pyrolysis of g‐C3N4, thus efficiently fixing the carbon onto the in situ template of Mg3N2 product to avoid the direct volatilization. As a result, the N‐doped carbon nanosheet frameworks with interconnected porous structure and suitable N content are constructed by reconstruction of carbon and nitrogen species, which exhibit a comparable photoelectric conversion efficiency (8.59%) and electrocatalytic performances to that of Pt (8.40%) for dye‐sensitized solar cells.
Addressing sustainability in the requirements engineering process: From elicitation to functional decomposition
Authors: Saputri Theresia Ratih Dewi , Lee Seok‐Won
Published: February 2020

Due to the critical role of a software‐intensive system in society, software engineers have a responsibility to add sustainability as a goal while developing a software system. However, there is a lack of practical guidelines providing a tangible decomposition of the sustainability aspect. Moreover, there are limited quantifiable methods to support sustainable design and analysis. Therefore, we propose a systematic approach that allows software practitioners to accommodate sustainability concerns that are aligned with other software quality attributes to enhance sustainable development. By using the combination of a goal‐scenario‐based approach and feature modeling, sustainability requirements are elicited along with their functional compositions. Our approach is a comprehensive reference model that decomposes sustainability requirements, enabling analysis, support, and assessment of sustainability risk analysis and guiding the designer to construct a feature model as a system functional decomposition. From the conducted theoretical evaluation and empirical study, our proposed approach can derive more significant sustainability‐related requirements and key features by providing a practical guideline with the integration of well‐known methods to address sustainability in requirements engineering. With the help of the provided approach, we can solve more conflicting goals in different sustainability dimensions.
Evolutionary relationships among bullhead sharks (Chondrichthyes, Heterodontiformes)
Authors: Slater Tiffany S. , Ashbrook Kate , Kriwet Jürgen
Published: February 2020

The evolution of modern sharks, skates and rays (Elasmobranchii) is largely enigmatic due to their possession of a labile cartilaginous skeleton; consequently, taxonomic assignment often depends on isolated teeth. Bullhead sharks (Heterodontiformes) are a group of basal neoselachians, thus their remains and relationships are integral to understanding elasmobranch evolution. Herein we fully describe †Paracestracion danieli – a bullhead shark from the Late Jurassic plattenkalks of Eichstätt, Germany (150–154 Ma) – for its inclusion in cladistic analysis (utilizing parsimonious principles) of morphological characters from complete †Paracestracion and Heterodontus fossil specimens as well as extant forms of the latter. The presence of two separate monophyletic clades within Heterodontiformes was confirmed, based on predominantly non‐dental characters, which show a strong divergence in body morphology between †Paracestracion and Heterodontus; the latter possessing a first dorsal fin and pectoral fins that are more anterior and pelvic fins that are more posterior. This study emphasizes the importance of including non‐dental features in heterodontiform systematics (as compared with the use of dental characters alone) and supports the erection of the family †Paracestracionidae. Further, phylogenetic analysis of molecular data from five extant species suggests that crown heterodontiforms arose from a diversification event 42.58 Ma off the west coast of the Americas.
3D‐Druck für Hochvakuumanwendungen
Authors: Wolf Christian , Prechtl Martin , Bauer René , Dinkel Michael , Beck Fabian , Franz Leopold , Neumeyer Viktor
Published: February 2020

3D‐Printing for High Vacuum Applications

3D printing technology has made the leap from a home‐based private practice to industrial manufacturing. Due to the increasing reliability of printers and increasing material diversity, especially in the metal sector, double‐digit percentage growth rates are possible in the coming years.

This thesis deals with the manufacture of parts made by 3D printing for high vacuum application. Different components are printed and examined for their vacuum compatibility. As shown furthermore, conventionally made standard components can be vacuum sealed to printed parts, which enables cost‐effective production of more complex components, such as e.g. a vacuum chamber allows. In addition, functional components can already be realized in the manufacturing process. The integration of a system of flow channels directly into the wall of a chamber is just one example. Thus, such a chamber can be heated during evacuation and effectively cool in later operation.
Pyrocarbon anti‐emission coatings for grid electrodes of powerful generator lamps
Authors: Kostrin D. K. , Kuznetsov V. G.
Published: February 2020

In this paper application of a layer of pyrocarbon as an anti‐emission coating on metal grids of powerful generator lamps is discussed. Deposition of the pyrocarbon layer was carried out by plasma‐assisted application with the use of a vacuum arc discharge, which allows reducing the process temperature and the level of energy consumed. SEM images of the surface of the applied coating at different stages of its growth are given. The process of pyrocarbon formation can be considered as crystallization from the gas phase and includes the stages of formation of nuclei on the surface and their subsequent growth. The effectiveness of the use of pyrocarbon coatings on the grids of powerful generator lamps was confirmed by a decrease in the emission current by about three times (up to a level of about 10 mA) compared to devices that use more traditional anti‐emission coatings, such as titanium hydride.
The Rab5 activator RME-6 is required for amyloid precursor protein endocytosis depending on the YTSI motif
Authors: Eggert Simone , Gruebl Tomas , Rajender Ritu , Rupp Carsten , Sander Bianca , Heesch Amelie , Zimmermann Marius , Hoepfner Sebastian , Zentgraf Hanswalter , Kins Stefan
Published: February 2020

Endocytosis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is critical for generation of β-amyloid, aggregating in Alzheimer's disease. APP endocytosis depending on the intracellular NPTY motif is well investigated, whereas involvement of the YTSI (also termed BaSS) motif remains controversial. Here, we show that APP lacking the YTSI motif (ΔYTSI) displays reduced localization to early endosomes and decreased internalization rates, similar to APP ΔNPTY. Additionally, we show that the YTSI-binding protein, PAT1a interacts with the Rab5 activator RME-6, as shown by several independent assays. Interestingly, knockdown of RME-6 decreased APP endocytosis, whereas overexpression increased the same. Similarly, APP ΔNPTY endocytosis was affected by PAT1a and RME-6 overexpression, whereas APP ΔYTSI internalization remained unchanged. Moreover, we could show that RME-6 mediated increase of APP endocytosis can be diminished upon knocking down PAT1a. Together, our data identify RME-6 as a novel player in APP endocytosis, involving the YTSI-binding protein PAT1a.
A meta-analysis on anticoagulation after vascular trauma
Authors: Khan Shujhat , Elghazaly Hussein , Mian Areeb , Khan Mansoor
Published: February 2020

Purpose

There is much debate regarding the use of anticoagulation following vascular trauma. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the outcome of trauma following administration of anticoagulation medication.

Methods

The literature search was carried out using Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed databases to search for keywords and MeSH terms including “Anticoagulation”, “Vascular Surgery”, “Vascular Trauma”, “Vascular Repair”, “Repair” and “Wounds and Injuries”.

Results

Use of anticoagulation was associated with a better prognosis for overall vascular trauma outcomes (weighted OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.34–0.64; P < 0.00001), as well as reduced risk of amputation for both lower and upper limb vascular trauma (weighted OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.22–0.78; P = 0.007), and reduced occurrence of reoperation events and amputations in isolated lower limb vascular trauma (weighted OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.14–0.52; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

There was a statistically significant correlation between the use of anticoagulation and vascular trauma outcome. A major limitation with many of the studies includes a lack of prospective analysis and therefore we recommend prospective studies to properly elucidate prognostic outcomes following use of these anticoagulants. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the effects of timing of anticoagulant delivery, dosages and severity of traumatic injury. Thus, this would prove to be very useful in the formation of guidelines.
Clinical relevance of total choline (tCho) quantification in suspicious lesions on multiparametric breast MRI
Authors: Sodano Claudia , Clauser Paola , Dietzel Matthias , Kapetas Panagiotis , Pinker Katja , Helbich Thomas H. , Gussew Alexander , Baltzer Pascal Andreas
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To assess the additional value of quantitative tCho evaluation to diagnose malignancy and lymph node metastases in suspicious lesions on multiparametric breast MRI (mpMRI, BI-RADS 4, and BI-RADS 5).

Methods

One hundred twenty-one patients that demonstrated suspicious multiparametric breast MRI lesions using DCE, T2w, and diffusion-weighted (DW) images were prospectively enrolled in this IRB-approved study. All underwent single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS, point-resolved spectroscopy sequence, TR 2000 ms, TE 272 ms) with and without water suppression. The total choline (tCho) amplitude was measured and normalized to millimoles/liter according to established methodology by two independent readers (R1, R2). ROC-analysis was employed to predict malignancy and lymph node status by tCho results.

Results

One hundred three patients with 74 malignant and 29 benign lesions had full 1H-MRS data. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for prediction of malignancy was 0.816 (R1) and 0.809 (R2). A cutoff of 0.8 mmol/l tCho could diagnose malignancy with a sensitivity of > 95%. For prediction of lymph node metastases, tCho measurements achieved an AUC of 0.760 (R1) and 0.788 (R2). At tCho levels < 2.4 mmol/l, no metastatic lymph nodes were found.

Conclusion

Quantitative tCho evaluation from 1H-MRS allowed diagnose malignancy and lymph node status in breast lesions suspicious on multiparametric breast MRI. tCho therefore demonstrated the potential to downgrade suspicious mpMRI lesions and stratify the risk of lymph node metastases for improved patient management.

Key Points

• Quantitative tCho evaluation can distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions suspicious after multiparametric MRI assessment.

• Quantitative tCho levels are associated with lymph node status in breast cancer.

• Quantitative tCho levels are higher in hormonal receptor positive compared to hormonal receptor negative lesions.
Medical disciplinary jurisprudence in alleged malpractice in radiology: 10-year Dutch experience
Authors: Kwee Robert M. , Kwee Thomas C.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To systematically investigate the frequency and types of allegations related to radiology practice handled by the Dutch Medical Disciplinary Court in the past 10 years.

Methods

The Dutch Medical Disciplinary Court database was searched for verdicts concerning radiology practice between 2010 and 2019. The association between the number of verdicts and time (years) was assessed by Spearman’s rho. Other data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results

There were 48 verdicts (mean 4.8 per year). There was no significant association between the number of verdicts and time (Spearman’s rho < 0.001, p = 0.99). Most allegations were in breast imaging and musculoskeletal radiology (each 18.8%), followed by interventional radiology, head and neck imaging, and abdominal imaging (each 12.5%), neuroradiology and vascular imaging (each 10.4%), and chest imaging (4.2%). There were 46 allegations against radiologists (95.8%) and 2 against residents (4.2%). The most common allegation (37.5%) was error in diagnosis. In 20.8% of verdicts, the allegation was judged (partially) founded; disciplinary measures were warnings (n = 8) and reprimands (n = 2). An appeal was submitted by the patient in 11 cases and by the radiologist in 3 cases. All appeals by patients were rejected, whereas 2 of the 3 appeals by radiologists were granted and previously imposed disciplinary measures were reversed.

Conclusion

Allegations against radiologists at the Dutch Medical Disciplinary Court are relatively few, their number has remained stable over the past 10 years, and a minority were judged to be (partially) founded. We can learn from the cases presented in this article, which may improve patient care.

Key Points

• The frequency of allegations against radiologists at the Dutch Medical Disciplinary Court is relatively low and has not exhibited any temporal change over the past 10 years.

• These allegations reflect patient dissatisfaction, but this infrequently equals malpractice.

• Knowledge of the circumstances under which these allegations have arisen may improve patient care.
The effect of regional warming on the East Asian summer monsoon
Authors: Kim Kwang-Yul , Kim Beom-Seok
Published: February 2020

East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) precipitation has changed significantly due to regional warming. In this study, effect of regional warming on the EASM summer precipitation is investigated during 1979–2018 with a particular emphasis on the frontogenesis. The frontogenetic function shows that change in circulation and temperature distribution associated with regional warming is fairly consistent with precipitation change. Specifically, changes in temperature gradient and deformation, both in terms of its magnitude and direction with respect to thermal gradient, result in cross-frontal circulation change with respect to its position and magnitude; this, in turn, is closely linked with EASM precipitation change. Due to warming, frontal circulation has weakened except in the mature stage, when the front is over the Kuroshio Current. From a slightly southward shifted position, the northward migration of the front is more precipitous than in the past reaching its northern-most latitude earlier by ~ 2 weeks. On the other hand, the southward migration has become slightly sluggish. In association with the frontogenesis, large-scale precipitation is more strongly affected north of ~ 30° N. South of ~ 25° N, precipitation change is due largely to convective precipitation.
Does temporal predictability of tasks influence task choice?
Authors: Jurczyk V. , Mittelstädt V. , Fröber K.
Published: February 2020

Task performance improves when the required tasks are predicted by the preceding time intervals, suggesting that participants form time-based task expectancies. In the present study, we pursued the question whether temporal predictability of tasks can also influence task choice. For this purpose, we conducted three experiments using a hybrid task-switching paradigm (with two tasks) combining forced-choice and free-choice trials. Each trial was preceded by either a short (500 ms) or a long (1500 ms) foreperiod. In forced-choice trials, the instructed task was predicted by the length of the foreperiod (Exp. 1A and 1B: 100% foreperiod-task contingencies; Exp. 2: 80% foreperiod-task contingencies). In the remaining trials, participants were free to choose which task to perform. In all three experiments, we found that participants’ task choice was influenced by the foreperiod-task contingencies implemented in forced-choice trials. Specifically, participants were overall biased to choose tasks compatible with these contingencies; these compatible choice rates were larger for the short compared to the long foreperiod. Our findings suggest that learned time-based task expectancies influence subjects’ voluntary task choice and that an initially present task bias toward the “short” task is not always overcome at the long foreperiod. We discuss potential underlying mechanisms against the background of voluntary task switching and interval timing.
Development of a Blast Furnace Model with Thermodynamic Process Depiction by Means of the Rist Operating Diagram
Authors: Spanlang Andreas , Wukovits Walter , Weiss Bernd
Published: February 2020

This work represents an extended abstract of a study presented at the PRES 2016 conference. Despite the fact that alternative processes such as Corex® and Finex® have already been established on industrial scale, the blast furnace route continues to be the most important process used to produce pig iron. Due to its importance, a variety of models of the blast furnace process have been developed in the past decades. In addition to this, a well-established analogue representation of blast furnace operation is given by the Rist operating diagram. The target of this work was to create a comprehensive blast furnace model in the process simulation platform of gPROMS ModelBuilder®, which enables the description of interdependencies between the main blast furnace process, raceway conditions as well as the overall thermodynamic process conditions within a single mathematical model. As an example of possible applications of the developed model, a detailed analysis of the model behaviour under varying coke substitution scenarios was carried out in order to evaluate their CO2 abatement potentials.
Are electronic white canes better than traditional canes? A comparative study with blind and blindfolded participants
Authors: dos Santos Aline Darc Piculo , Medola Fausto Orsi , Cinelli Milton José , Garcia Ramirez Alejandro Rafael , Sandnes Frode Eika
Published: February 2020

Visually impaired individuals often rely on assistive technologies such as white canes for independent navigation. Many electronic enhancements to the traditional white cane have been proposed. However, only a few of these proof-of-concept technologies have been tested with authentic users, as most studies rely on blindfolded non-visually impaired participants or no testing with participants at all. Experiments involving blind users are usually not contrasted with the traditional white cane. This study set out to compare an ultrasound-based electronic cane with a traditional white cane. Moreover, we also compared the performance of a group of visually impaired participants (N = 10) with a group of blindfolded participants without visual impairments (N = 31). The results show that walking speed with the electronic cane is significantly slower compared to the traditional white cane. Moreover, the results show that the performance of the participants without visual impairments is significantly slower than for the visually impaired participants. No significant differences in obstacle detection rates were observed across participant groups and device types for obstacles on the ground, while 79% of the hanging obstacles were detected by the electronic cane. The results of this study thus suggest that electronic canes present only one advantage over the traditional cane, namely in its ability to detect hanging obstacles, at least without prolonged practice. Next, blindfolded participants are insufficient substitutes for blind participants who are expert cane users. The implication of this study is that research into digital white cane enhancements should include blind participants. These participants should be followed over time in longitudinal experiments to document if practice will lead to improvements that surpass the performance achieved with traditional canes.
The gender health gap in Europe’s ageing societies: universal findings across countries and age groups?
Authors: Schmitz Alina , Lazarevič Patrick
Published: February 2020

We provide a systematic country and age group comparison of the gender gap in several generic health indicators and more specific morbidity outcomes. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE), we examined the gender gap in the prevalence of poor self-rated health, chronic health conditions, activity limitations, multimorbidity, pain, heart attacks, diabetes, and depression in three age groups (50–64, 65–79, and 80+) based on linear probability models with and without adjustment for covariates. While women were typically disadvantaged regarding poor self-rated health, chronic health conditions, activity limitations, multimorbidity, pain, and depression, men had a higher prevalence of heart attacks and diabetes. However, the gender gap’s magnitude and sometimes even its direction varied considerably with some age trends apparent. Regarding some health indicators, the gender gap tended to be higher in Southern and Eastern Europe than in Western and Northern Europe. All in all, the presence of a gender health gap cannot be regarded as a universal finding as the gap tended to widen, narrow or even reverse with age depending on the indicator and country.
Attitudes and opinions of farmers in the context of environmental protection in rural areas in Poland
Authors: Piwowar Arkadiusz
Published: February 2020

This paper presents results of questionnaire surveys regarding the state of the natural environment in rural areas. The research was conducted on a sample of 1101 agricultural holdings in Poland. According to the analyses, agricultural producers are aware of environmental threats posed by irrational agricultural economy. Most respondents indicated the responsibility of farmers and other residents of rural areas as a basic condition for broadly understood environmental safety in rural areas in Poland. In the opinion of respondents, systems and programs for funding the replacement of heating boilers, thermomodernization of buildings, etc., are also important. There were significant differences in farmers’ declarations, taking into account the age and level of education of the respondents, as well as features of agricultural holdings (area and economic size of the agricultural holding).
Context-sensitive decrement times for inhaled anesthetics in obese patients explored with Gas Man®
Authors: Weber Jonas , Schmidt Johannes , Wirth Steffen , Schumann Stefan , Philip James H. , Eberhart Leopold H. J.
Published: February 2020

Anesthesia care providers and anesthesia decision support tools use mathematical pharmacokinetic models to control delivery and especially removal of anesthetics from the patient’s body. However, these models are not able to reflect alterations in pharmacokinetics of volatile anesthetics caused by obesity. The primary aim of this study was to refine those models for obese patients. To investigate the effects of obesity on the elimination of desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane for various anesthesia durations, the Gas Man® computer simulation software was used. Four different models simulating patients with weights of 70 kg, 100 kg, 125 kg and 150 kg were constructed by increasing fat weight to the standard 70 kg model. For each modelled patient condition, the vaporizer was set to reach quickly and then maintain an alveolar concentration of 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). Subsequently, the circuit was switched to an open (non-rebreathing) circuit model, the inspiratory anesthetic concentration was set to 0 and the time to the anesthetic decrements by 67% (awakening times), 90% (recovery times) and 95% (resolution times) in the vessel-rich tissue compartment including highly perfused tissue of the central nervous system were determined. Awakening times did not differ greatly between the simulation models. After volatile anesthesia with sevoflurane and isoflurane, awakening times were lower in the more obese simulation models. With increasing obesity, recovery and resolution times were higher. The additional adipose tissue in obese simulation models did not prolong awakening times and thus may act more like a sink for volatile anesthetics. The results of these simulations should be validated by comparing the elimination of volatile anesthetics in obese patients with data from our simulation models.
On Occupation Times of One-Dimensional Diffusions
Authors: Salminen Paavo , Stenlund David
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we study the moment generating function and the moments of occupation time functionals of one-dimensional diffusions. Assuming, specifically, that the process lives on$${{\,\mathrm{{\mathbb {R}}}\,}}$$Rand starts at 0, we apply Kac’s moment formula and the strong Markov property to derive an expression for the moment generating function in terms of the Green kernel of the underlying diffusion. Moreover, the approach allows us to derive a recursive equation for the Laplace transforms of the moments of the occupation time on$${{\,\mathrm{{\mathbb {R}}}\,}}_+$$R+. If the diffusion has a scaling property, the recursive equation simplifies to an equation for the moments of the occupation time up to time 1. As examples of diffusions with scaling property, we study in detail skew two-sided Bessel processes and, as a special case, skew Brownian motion. It is seen that for these processes our approach leads to simple explicit formulas. The recursive equation for a sticky Brownian motion is also discussed.
Is it still worth it? Applying expectancy-value theory to investigate the intraindividual motivational process of forming intentions to drop out from university
Authors: Schnettler Theresa , Bobe Julia , Scheunemann Anne , Fries Stefan , Grunschel Carola
Published: February 2020

The intraindividual process of study dropout, from forming dropout intention to deregistration, is of motivational nature. Yet typical studies investigate interindividual differences, which do not inform about intraindividual processes. Our study focused on the intraindividual process of forming dropout intention, and applied expectancy-value theory to analyze its motivational underpinnings. To expand research, we considered associations of intraindividual deviations in expectancy, intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and cost to intraindividual deviations in dropout intention. A total of 326 undergraduate students of law and mathematics rated motivational variables and dropout intention three times from semester start to the final exam period. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that intraindividual changes in intrinsic value, attainment, and cost, but not in expectancy and utility, related to intraindividual changes in dropout intention. Further, we considered students’ demographics as moderators. Only age moderated the association between intrinsic value and dropout intention. Our results stress the crucial role of certain value components, including cost, for emerging dropout intention.
Mapping distribution of brain metastases: does the primary tumor matter?
Authors: Schroeder T. , Bittrich P. , Kuhne J. F. , Noebel C. , Leischner H. , Fiehler J. , Schroeder J. , Schoen G. , Gellißen S.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Prior reports on the location and sizes of brain metastases almost entirely focus on patients with primary breast and pulmonary cancer. This is the first study comparing multiple other types of cancer that metastasize to the brain.

Methods

This monocentric retrospective study includes 369 untreated patients with 3313 intraaxial brain metastases. Following semi-manual segmentation of metastases on post-contrast T1WI, cumulative spatial probability distribution maps of brain metastases were created for the whole group and for all primary tumors. Furthermore, mixed effects logistic regression model analysis was performed to determine if the primary tumor, patient age, and patient sex influence lesion location.

Results

The cerebellum as location of brain metastases was proportionally overrepresented. Breast and pulmonary cancer caused higher number of brain metastases to what would normally be expected. Multivariate analyses revealed a significant accumulation of brain metastases from skin cancer in a frontal and from breast and gastrointestinal cancer in a cerebellar location.

Conclusion

Distribution of brain metastases is very heterogeneous for the distinct primaries, possibly reflecting the diversity of mechanisms involved in brain metastases formation. In daily clinical practice distribution patters may be beneficial to predict the primary cancer site, if unknown.
Coastal community resilience frameworks for disaster risk management
Authors: Almutairi Arif , Mourshed Monjur , Ameen Raed Fawzi Mohammed
Published: February 2020

Extreme weather events due to climate change and growing economic and development activities along coastlines have resulted in increased risks from natural and human-induced disasters—affecting the safety and livelihoods of coastal communities. Assessing community resilience to disasters is, therefore, an essential step toward mitigating their current and future risks. This study provides a systematic review of coastal community resilience frameworks for disaster risk management, covering their content, structure, and assessment. Sixty-four critical resilience criteria under four dimensions are identified by analyzing the convergence and divergence of the consideration of assessment indicators in the reviewed frameworks. Existing frameworks focus mostly on ‘governance and institutions,’ ‘infrastructure,’ and ‘society and the economy.’ Despite significant risks, the impacts on the environment and potential risks of climate change are not prioritized. Only 22% of the frameworks consider future risks, rendering the remainder inadequate for assessing projected risks from climate change. None of the frameworks consulted the full spectrum of stakeholders (public, government, and experts) during the development process, which compromised their applicability, acceptability, and effectiveness. 56% of the frameworks considered a single hazard type. Community resilience is inherently multi-dimensional. Therefore, the interrelationships between multiple hazards should be adequately addressed in future frameworks.
Does economic globalization affect government spending? A meta-analysis
Authors: Heimberger Philipp
Published: February 2020

Despite extensive econometric testing, the research literature has been unable to draw firm conclusions regarding the effect of economic globalization on government spending. This paper explores various dimensions of the wide variation in existing estimates of the globalization-spending relationship. By applying meta-analysis and meta-regression methods to a unique data set consisting of 1182 observations from 79 peer-reviewed articles, we find that the evidence rejects theoretical views predicting strong unidirectional effects of economic globalization on government spending. Once we account for publication selection bias, no evidence of a non-zero average empirical effect is found. More importantly, however, the type of government spending matters: while the results are consistent with the view that economic globalization exerts small-to-moderate downward pressure on government spending for social protection and welfare, other spending components are affected less significantly. The meta-regression analysis shows further that several factors influence the globalization-spending estimates reported in the literature, including the choice of the economic globalization indicator, details of the econometric specifications, and publication characteristics.
Entanglement accessibility measures for the quantum Internet
Authors: Gyongyosi Laszlo , Imre Sandor
Published: February 2020

We define metrics and measures to characterize the ratio of accessible quantum entanglement for complex network failures in the quantum Internet. A complex network failure models a situation in the quantum Internet in which a set of quantum nodes and a set of entangled connections become unavailable. A complex failure can cover a quantum memory failure, a physical link failure, an eavesdropping activity, or any other random physical failure scenarios. Here, we define the terms such as entanglement accessibility ratio, cumulative probability of entanglement accessibility ratio, probabilistic reduction of entanglement accessibility ratio, domain entanglement accessibility ratio, and occurrence coefficient. The proposed methods can be applied to an arbitrary topology quantum network to extract relevant statistics and to handle the quantum network failure scenarios in the quantum Internet.
A new species of Crinoniscus Pérez, 1900 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Crinoniscidae) parasitising the pedunculate barnacle Heteralepas newmani Buhl-Mortensen & Mifsud (Cirripedia: Heteralepadidae) with notes on its ecology and a review of the genus
Authors: Buhl-Mortensen Lene , Williams Jason D. , Boyko Christopher B.
Published: February 2020

The new speciesCrinoniscus stroembergin. sp. belonging to the parasitic isopod family Crinoniscidae Bonnier, 1900, is described from a pedunculate barnacle host collected in the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first species ofCrinoniscusPérez, 1900 described from a host in the genusHeteralepasPilsbry. The male cryptoniscus larva is distinguished from congeneric species by having a dorsoventrally flattened body with the posterolateral margins of the cephalon scarcely extending beyond the anterior margin of pereomere 1 (in contrast toC. cephalatusHosie, 2008 with extended margins); articles 1 and 2 of the antennule being subequal in width and the anterodistal angle of antennule article being low and rounded; propodus of pereopods 6 and 7 having a sinuous dorsal margin that is distally narrowing and the posterior margin of the pleotelson being short and rounded. The mature females of species inCrinoniscusare of two basic forms: those with ventrolateral lobes on the pereomeres (C. alepadis(Gruvel, 1901) n. comb., andC. politosummusHosie, 2008) and those lacking such lobes (C. cephalatusandC. stroembergin. sp.). The mature females ofC. stroembergin. sp. can be distinguished from other species ofCrininiscusbased on their lacking lobes on the anterior end. The material examined includes the male and three female developmental stages of the parasite in the host,Heteralepas newmaniBuhl-Mortensen & Mifsud. The mouthparts of the immature female are described and the feeding biology and effects on the host are discussed along with a review of feeding modes in species of the Cryptoniscoidea.Leponiscus alepadisis transferred toCrinoniscus; the latter genus now contains five species. A modified diagnosis ofCrinoniscusis provided.
Is Artificial Light at Night Dangerous for the Balkan Strict Protected Areas at Present?
Authors: Peregrym Mykyta , Kabaš Eva , Tashev Alexander , Dragićević Snežana , Pénzesné Kónya Erika , Savchenko Mariia
Published: February 2020

The Balkan Peninsula has rich biodiversity with a large number of endemic species; therefore, a part of its territory has been recognized as a World Biodiversity Hotspot. Despite nature conservation efforts and development of nature conservation networks in countries of the region, anthropogenic influence on natural and semi natural ecosystems is increasing. Moreover, new types of disturbance and pollution arise, and one of the more recent being artificial light at night (ALAN) which has serious consequences on reproduction, navigation, foraging, habitat selection, communication, trophic and social interactions of the biota. We have estimated the level of ecological light pollution in the strict protected areas of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Bulgaria, and Montenegro using available Google Earth Pro tools, and the New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness (2016) in the form of a kmz layer. The research has covered 13 National Parks, 11 Nature Parks and 55 Reserves. Our results showed widespread incursion of ALAN within strict protected areas in the studied region that has also been noted for some other countries and regions too. However, the level of light pollution is lower here, than in the most part of Continental Europe, and there are a few areas in each country where the night sky above National and Natural Parks is almost dark. These territories have a special value for nature conservation; therefore, it is important to save the dark night sky there.