bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
”Vi vet vad du behöver” Konstruktion och motstånd av ”ensamkommande” på HVB
Authors: Lalander Philip , Raoof Dawan
Published: July 2020

”We know what you need”: Construction and resistance of ”unaccompanied minors” at residential care units e aim of the article is to highlight and analyse how ”unaccompanied minors” view the sta at the residential care units (called HVB) where they live. rough repeated qualitative inter- views with twenty young individuals over more than a year, the researchers have captured cen- tral themes. One such theme is the experience of being de ned as a child by the sta . is can be provocative for the young people who feel they are not being acknowledged as competent actors. Another central theme is being described as homogeneous and primitive, as a person that needs to be processed to live up to a desired Swedishness. e informants experience their treat- ment as children and undeveloped immigrants as a solid structure, a power system that is hard to question since it is so well institutionalized. e article also describes sanctions used by the sta to discipline the residents. Such sanctions are often directed at limiting the possibilities for the young people to participate in social activities, but also at increasing surveillance and documenta- tion. It is di cult for these young people to openly resist since they do not want to be punished. Resistance, thus, becomes hidden. e informants’ experiences show how di cult it is to deve- lop a social environment in which they can feel truly recognized by the sta as complete human beings with valuable competences.
SNS Konjunkturråd (2017) Konjunkturrådets rapport. Åtgärder för en inkluderande arbetsmarknad .
Authors: Olofsson Jonas
Published: July 2020

SNS Konjunkturråd (2017) Konjunkturrådets rapport. Åtgärder för en inkluderande arbetsmarknad . Oskar Nordström Skans, Stefan Eriksson, Lena Hensvik Stockholm: SNS förlag
Dokumentation och känslor
Authors: Falkenström Helena , Hjärpe Teres
Published: July 2020

Documentation and emotions. Balancing paper work and emotional work in the social services

This article deals with documentation and documentation requirements in relation to social workers’ prerequisites to perform ”emotional labour”. Inspired by Arlie Hochschild’s sociology of emotions and the selected concepts emotional labour, feeling management and ”the speed-up”, the study aims at illuminating processes unfolding at the intersection of paper work and emotional work. With a focus on social workers with authority-based investigative work tasks, the analysis reveals a somewhat ambiguous picture of how documentation and feelings work together. On the one hand participants describe how documentation practices are used to reflect upon and emotionally ”let go” of cases, and that documentation contributes to feelings of ”being in control”, as well as to the anticipation of what feelings to manage. On the other hand, or at the same time, documentation requirements seem to be a source of anxiety, professional and internal dilemmas and stress, distracting the social worker from emotional management towards the user. These results nuance earlier research that has predominantly pointed out the negative perceptions and consequences of increased documentation requirements within the social services.
Riskbedömningens logiker i arbetet med mäns våld mot kvinnor
Authors: Skillmark Mikael
Published: July 2020

Risk assessment logics when working with men’s violence against women

Over the past two decades, social workers’ assessment and decision-making skills in client cases have been the subject of increased attention. The profession’s ability to conduct accurate assessments has been questioned. One way to seek to improve assessment work has been to implement various risk assessment tools. This article describes how social workers reason in risk assessment situations involving women exposed to violence by a previous male partner. The assessments studied here have been carried out with the assessment tool FREDA. The analysis reveals three logics in the social workers’ reasoning: the addiction logic, the normalization logic and the safety logic. These logics illustrate how social workers’ deliberations and assessments are not governed in a rectilinear manner by the standardized tool but that risk is negotiated also by drawing on other knowledge sources. Although standardization can be seen as a way for professionals to strive for more secure social work, the participants at the same time acknowledge the uncertainty associated with assessment work in which future violence is to be predicted. This however can have consequences for how the victims of violence are expected to live their lives.
"Critical appraisal", riktlinjer och praktikerns dilemma
Authors: Nykänen Pia
Published: July 2020

Critical appraisal, guidelines and the practitioner’s dilemma

In 2008 a Swedish governmental report pointed out that the social services increasingly need to conduct their work based on an understanding of the effects of their services. The report stressed the development of an evidence-based practice as the long-term objective. However, the Swedish social services have been relatively slow to implement EBP. Several reasons can be given for this, including lack of contact between national, regional and local levels and tensions between state authorities, researchers and professionals regarding if and how EBP should be pursued in practice. The aim of this article is twofold; to identify and evaluate arguments for and against the critical appraisal approach and the guidelines approach with respect to how EBP ought to be conducted in the social services, and secondly, to suggest characteristics that other versions should have in order to try to avoid some of the counter-arguments that the two former approaches face. The examination of arguments shows that some arguments can be directed against both approaches and that some arguments are in need of empirical support. A hypothetical and a ”practical” dilemma for the practitioner is presented. The first arises when a hypothetical practitioner agrees with counter-arguments against the two approaches when it comes to the question of who should appraise evidence. The second might arise in today’s practical context in terms of the practitioner facing a ”contradictory environment”. Finally, ”stability and continuity”, ”sufficient proximity” and ”multi-disciplinarity” are suggested as desirable characteristics of other versions of EBP organizing.
Tråkigt på jobbet
Authors: Jonnergård Karin , Krantz Joakim
Published: July 2020

Bored at work – Auditors and teachers under management by documents

The aim is to investigate how experiences of work amongst teachers and auditors change as a shift from input control towards action control is implemented through management by documents. The study is based on interviews with auditors and teachers with long professional experience. The result shows that action control of professionals implies that (i) the core of work shifts from being based on relationships with clients to be based on documentation; (ii) priorities change to satisfy document requirements; (iii) there is a reduction in the sense of the work being relevant. These implications reduce the professionals work-related enthusiasm. In conclusion: management by document establishes conditions that do not provide incentives for professionals to fully apply their individual capabilities, thereby also preventing professional development and learning.
Ensamkommande barn på flykt – berättelser om flyktingskap, interaktioner och resiliens
Authors: Jahanmahan Farhad , Bunar Nihad
Published: July 2020

Unaccompanied refugee minors. Life histories about being a refugee, interactions and resilienceBased on interviews with fifteen unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan, the article explores how these children understand their interactions with two government agencies during the asylum process, namely, social services and legal guardians. These agencies are among the most important caring for children’s reception, welfare, and everyday life. The conceptual framework of the study includes interactions occurring in the context of asymmetric power relations between children and institutional actors, resilience, and vulnerability. In the study, the tremendous hardships experienced throughout their childhood as well as during flight are reported. Upon arrival in Sweden, the asylum process becomes a part of the psychological and social challenges for the children. Experiences of interactions with formally protecting contexts are mixed. However, in situations where interactions seem to undermine their interests, the children appear to function as strong actors with an ability to negotiate spaces of influence and bring about changes.
Nya böcker
Authors: Carlson Per
Published: July 2020

Edling, Christofer & Rostami, Amir (red.) (2016) Våldets sociala dimensioner: individ, relation, organisation. 1. uppl.Lund: Studentlitteratur
Tvångsvård eller frivillig placering?
Authors: Ponnert Lina
Published: July 2020

Compulsory care or not? Social workers’ discretionary reasoning when children need out-of-home care due to homicidal violence

The aim of this article is to analyse social workers’ discretionary reasoning when children need immediate and long-term out-of-home care due to homicidal violence. In Sweden, children may be placed in out-of-home care without legal proceedings as a voluntary support measure even in serious cases of maltreatment, if the child’s custodians give their consent to such care. However, a formally given consent might be questioned if it is not regarded as adequate or enough to provide the child with the appropriate care. This article explores how Swedish social workers reason about their discretion to suggest a voluntary placement or compulsory care for children in these cases of serious violence, and some legal dilemmas in practice. The study is based on six qualitative group interviews with fourteen Swedish social workers from four municipalities. Two constructed vignettes were used in the interviews. The article highlights what arguments social workers use to justify compulsory care or a voluntary placement and how different legal arguments might be put forward. The article illustrates how social workers find it difficult to legally justify an immediate compulsory-care decision in these cases, yet most of them claim that they would, in time, initiate a legal proceeding and suggest compulsory care.
En scenariobaserad analys av ett IT-avbrott i socialtjänsten
Authors: Björngren Cuadra Carin
Published: July 2020

A scenario-based analysis of an IT failure in the social services – adaptations and social redundancyThis article takes as its starting point the fact that documentation as well as communication within the social services are to a great extent dependent on IT. Against that backdrop, an investigation is presented whose aim is to contribute to knowledge about what IT failures can mean within the social services. The focus is on the immediate consequences for the documentation and communication of the social services. The aim is also to contribute to the understanding of how the course of events relates to the maintenance of social work despite interruptions. Systems theory provides an overarching theoretical framework. Based on that approach, social work is seen as a societal functional system aiming at the administration of exclusion. The study is based on empirical material consisting of assessments of the consequences of failures, as formulated by social services staff in risk and vulnerability analyses conducted within the framework of the investigation. The results include descriptions of consequences that arise as a result of inaccessible operative systems but also as a result of, for example, the disruption of VoIP telephony. Further, the results describe concrete adaptations and suggestions for possible changes that potentially reduce the vulnerability entailed by IT dependency. The conclusion is that the IT failure does not lead to a corresponding failure of social work as a functional system, despite technical dependencies. The system is maintained through adaptations, which are possible thanks to functional equivalence (that is, a goal may be reached in several ways) and available redundancy. It is the staff that, besides a number of technical adaptations, make concrete organizational and social adaptations, to some degree at the expense of their working environment. This is called social redundancy in order to highlight how lost technology is replaced by social processes.
Nya avhandlingar
Authors: Andersson Katarina
Published: July 2020

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Förord: Två decennier efter psykiatrireformen
Authors: Topor Alain , Denhov Anne , Bülow Per
Published: July 2020

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Otydlighetens betydelse
Authors: Gegner Harald , Righard Erica , Denvall Verner
Published: July 2020

The significance of ambiguity – Evidence-based practice in social service with children and youthEvidence-based practice (EBP) has gained a central position as a model of knowledge for social work in the public sector. In the Swedish Government Report about knowledge-based social work from 2008, EBP is described as a useful way of structuring the social services on a scientific basis (SOU 2008:18). Following on this, and in order to establish EBP in social work practice, between 2009 and 2016, there were annual agreements between the government and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). As defined by the annual agreements, a national network of Regional Development Leaders (regionala utvecklingsledare) was given the task of producing regional plans of action for the establishment of EBP in the municipalities. The article examines how the Regional Development Leaders in the so-called Children and Youth Investment (Barn- och ungasatsningen) interpret and implement EBP as a model in public social work. The study is based on interviews with 22 out of the 37 Regional Development Leaders that were part of the Children and Youth Investment in 2016. Ernesto Laclau’s theory of empty signifier serves as an analytical tool. The analysis shows that the ambiguity surrounding EBP creates discretion for the Regional Development Leaders. This discretion allows them to use EBP as a ”signifier without a signified”; a model that they can fill with different meanings depending on purpose and context. In that perspective, EBP appears as a floating term and can be characterized as an empty signifier. One of the main results stresses the fact that the Regional Development Leaders describe EBP as a model of governance rather than a model of knowledge. Despite its ambiguity, EBP fills a significant function for the development of knowledge-based social work practices in the public sector.
Barns delaktighet i vårdnads-, boende- och umgängesutredningar
Authors: Wågby Angelica , Englander Magnus
Published: July 2020

Children’s participation in assessing custody, residence and accessSocial work researchers have found custody, residence and access proceedings to be negligent regarding children’s participation and in considering their opinions. This study, with its phenomenological design, aimed at disclosing how children’s participation (as a phenomenon) appears in Swedish custody assessments as seen from the professional context of the social worker. The findings show that the meaning of children’s participation is constituted within a social context, i.e., as the background of the overall assessment and not based on a specific view in terms of outcome as expressed by the child. Three specific themes were discovered: 1) informing and respecting the child, 2) attempting to understand the child, and 3) integrating the perspective of the child within the overall assessment. The findings also suggest the necessity of clarifying concepts within the social work profession.
Utrikes föddas etablering på arbetsmarknaden
Authors: Hammarstedt Mats
Published: July 2020

Immigrants’ labour market integration – an important issue for public sector financesIn 2019, around 1.9 million individuals, or about 20 per cent of Sweden’s total population, were born abroad. Against this background the labour market integration of the foreign-born population is of great importance. Immigrants who adapt rapidly to the Swedish labour market will contribute to public sector finances while immigrants who adapt poorly will constitute a burden to the Swedish public sector finances. In this article we shed new light on the issue of immigrants’ labour market integration by presenting new figures obtained from data bases at Statistics Sweden. It emerges that the employment rate is around 9 percentage points higher among native-born males than among foreign-born males (in the 15–74 age group) while it is around 7 percentage points higher among native-born females than among foreign-born females. Some groups are found to have difficulties in entering the Swedish labour market. The employment rate among males and females originating from Asian or African countries is around 15 percentage points lower than the employment rate among male and female natives. Individuals with refugee background have certain difficulties with integration on the labour market. A large share of the individuals from these groups have relatively low educational attainment. This suggests that different measures, such as measures to increase the refugees’ human capital, measures to reduce the employers’ costs of hiring as well as measures to counteract labour market discrimination are needed in order to improve the labour market position of the immigrant population in Sweden.
Barnskyddets innersta kärna
Authors: Lundström Tommy , Sallnäs Marie
Published: July 2020

The inner core of child protection – on coercive placement motivated by abuse or neglectThis article is about emergency placement due to child abuse or neglect. Empirical data consists of judgements on coercive care in three administrative courts (n=211). Motives for placements are analysed against the background of the discursive changes that have taken place with regard to definitions of child abuse as well as today’s strong focus on risk and risk assessments. Results show that there were a number of motives to justify the court’s decision in each individual case. However, the broadening of the concept of abuse in research and in general discourse is evident in the judgements. We raise the question whether this matter, in practice, has resulted in more children being cared for because of an expansion of the concept of violence. As for risk assessments, two types of causal reasoning can be identified: situations where the child has been abused or neglected and where the risk assessment is about the probability that the problems will continue, and situations where the child has not been harmed but risks being harmed in the future. However, risk assessments are not that elaborate and systematic as presupposed in legislation. Taken together, the findings call for a discussion both within the justice system and in social work.
Mapping of Adult Plant Leaf Rust Resistance in Aus27506 and Validation of Underlying Loci by In-Planta Fungal Biomass Accumulation
Authors: Kandiah Pakeerathan , Chhetri Mumta , Hayden Matthew , Ayliffe Michael , Bariana Harbans , Bansal Urmil
Published: July 2020

Among the rust diseases, leaf rust of wheat caused by Puccinia triticina, is the most prevalent worldwide and causes significant yield losses. This study aimed to determine the genomic location of loci that control adult plant resistance (APR) to leaf rust in the pre-Green Revolution landrace accession, Aus27506, from the “Watkins Collection”. An Aus27506/Aus27229-derived F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was screened under field conditions across three cropping seasons and genotyped with the iSelect 90K Infinium SNP bead chip array. One quantitative trait loci (QTL) on each of the chromosomes 1BL, 2B and 2DL explained most of the leaf rust response variation in the RIL population, and these were named QLr.sun-1BL, QLr.sun-2B and QLr.sun-2DL, respectively. QLr.sun-1BL and QLr.sun-2DL were contributed by Aus27506. QLr.sun-1BL is likely Lr46, while QLr.sun-2DL appeared to be a new APR locus. The alternate parent, Aus27229, carried the putatively new APR locus QLr.sun-2B. The comparison of average severities among RILs carrying these QTL in different combinations indicated that QLr.sun-2B does not interact with either of the other two QTL; however, the combination of QLr.sun-1BL and QLr.sun-2DL reduced disease severity significantly. In planta fungal quantification assays validated these results. The RILs carrying QLr.sun-1BL and QLr.sun-2DL did not differ significantly from the parent Aus27506 in terms of resistance. Aus27506 can be used as a source of adult plant leaf rust resistance in breeding programs.
Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonists to Improve the Productivity and Health of Early-Weaned Pigs: What Is the Best Method of Delivery?
Authors: Wooten Hailey , Kim Hwanhee , Rakhshandeh Amanda R. , Rakhshandeh Anoosh
Published: July 2020

The purpose of the current study was to determine the best method of delivery for glucocorticoid receptor agonist (GRA) treatment. A total of 167 Pig Improvement Company (PIC) piglets (body weight (BW) 7.35 ± 1.24 kg) were weaned at 25.0 ± 0.81 days of age and randomly assigned to 14 treatment groups based on a 2 × 7 factorial arrangement with sex (gilts vs. barrows), in-feed antibiotic (ANT; 110 mg/kg in-feed tylosin), repeated intramuscular (I.M.) injection of GRA (two injections, 0.2 mg/kg BW dexamethasone (DEX)), low dose in-feed GRA (LF, 2.5 mg/kg diet DEX ), high dose in-feed GRA (HF, 5 mg/kg diet DEX), low dose in-water GRA (LW, 0.8 mg/L DEX ), high dose in-water GRA (HW, 1.6 mg/L DEX ), and no treatment control (CON) as the main factors. Body weight and feed intake were measured daily from days 0 to 7 and weekly from days 7 to 28 post-weaning. The interaction effect for average daily gain (ADG) was significant with gilts performing better in the I.M., ANT, and LF groups (p = 0.05). All treatment groups, with the exception of the HW group, had a higher ADG than the CON group. Gilts in the I.M., LF, and HF groups had the highest ADG compared to other treatment groups (p ≤ 0.05). Sex and the interaction between sex and treatments had no effect on the gain-to-feed ratio (G:F; p ≥ 0.21). All treatment groups had a higher G:F than the CON group (p ≥ 0.04). These results suggest that the low-dose, in-feed GRA treatment is the best GRA delivery method and is a suitable alternative to in-feed sub-therapeutic antibiotics.
Fabrication of Ceramic Moulds Using Recycled Shell Powder and Sand with Geopolymer Technology in Investment Casting
Authors: Lee Wei-Hao , Wu Yi-Fong , Ding Yung-Chin , Cheng Ta-Wui
Published: July 2020

Lost-wax casting, also called precision casting, is the process of casting a duplicate metal sculpture cast an original sculpture. The ceramic shell mould used in lost-wax casting usually consists of several layers formed with fine zircon and granular mullite particles using silica gel as a binder. However, it is a complicated and time-consuming process. Large amounts of waste moulds that need to be disposed and recycled become an environmental concern. In this study, waste shell sand from the recycled mould and calcium carbonate/metakaolin were used as raw materials to prepare geopolymer slurry and coating. The influence of mixing ratio and the SiO2/K2O modulus of the alkali solution on the setting time and green/fired strength were evaluated. Ceramic shells with one to four layers of geopolymer slurry and waste sand sprinkling were fabricated and tested for their permeability and green/fired strength. It was found that geopolymer shells had higher green/fired strength and better permeability than the original zircon/mullite shell. For foundry practice, metal casts were fabricated using recycled ceramic shell moulds with one to four layers of geopolymer coating. All cast results have their dimensions all within tolerance limitation and up to 13 h can be saved for the preparation of shell moulds.
Prediction of Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Aggregate Pier Reinforced Clay Using Multiple Regression Analysis and Deep Learning
Authors: Bong Taeho , Kim Sung-Ryul , Kim Byoung-Il
Published: July 2020

Aggregate piers have been widely used to increase bearing pressure and reduce settlement under structural footings. The ultimate bearing capacity of aggregate pier-reinforced ground is affected by the soil strength, replacement ratio of piles, and construction conditions. Various prediction models have been proposed to predict the ultimate bearing capacity. However, existing models have shown a broad range of bias, variation, and error, and they are at times unsuitable for practical design. In this study, multiple regression analysis was performed using field loading test results to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of ground reinforced by aggregate piers, and the number and type of the most efficient input variables were evaluated to build a robust predictive model. Accordingly, a multiple regression equation for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity was proposed, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the effect of input variables. In addition, a deep neural network was applied to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity. The optimal structure was selected on the basis of cross-validation results to prevent overtraining. Prediction errors for two approaches were evaluated and then compared with those of existing models.
Comparing the Diagnostic Accuracy of CBCT Grayscale Values with DXA Values for the Detection of Osteoporosis
Authors: Sghaireen Mohammed G. , Ganji Kiran Kumar , Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Srivastava Kumar Chandan , Shrivastava Deepti , Ab Rahman Saifulizan , Patil Santosh R. , Al Habib Selham
Published: July 2020

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows for the dimensional evaluation of jaw anatomic structures and the measurement of jawbone mineral density (BMD), to evaluate the relationship between the measured CBCT grayscale (GS) values and (dual X-ray absorptiometry) DXA scores among osteoporotic and normal dental implant participants. In addition, it can help to establish the CBCT GS values in different jaw regions that might indicate or associate osteoporosis. Eighty-one (81) participants (59 females and 22 males) were recruited into this clinical inquiry. Participants’ ages ranged between 36 and 75 years (mean age ± SD: 57.9 ± 9.3 years). The inclusion criteria included patients diagnosed with osteoporosis and were indicated for the dental implant-supported prosthesis.GS values were calculated for each participant using the CBCT radiograph and associated computer software. The average T values obtained from L1, L2, L3 and L4 were recorded and evaluated for one time only, and correlated with CBCT GS values at different jaw positions. Associations between age, gender, GS values, and T values were evaluated by Pearson correlation tests. The GS values at posterior maxilla were able to predict the presence of osteoporosis (P < 0.001, R square = 0.849). On the other hand, attempts to predict T value using GS at different jaw sites showed that GS values at posterior maxilla and anterior mandible were able to predict T value (P < 0.001, R square = 0.924). The CBCT GS values of BMD at different jaw bone regions are significantly related to the DXA T values in the presence of osteoporosis.
Hybrid Load Forecasting Using Gaussian Process Regression and Novel Residual Prediction
Authors: Darab Cosmin , Antoniu Turcu , Beleiu Horia Gheorghe , Pavel Sorin , Birou Iulian , Micu Dan Doru , Ungureanu Stefan , Cirstea Stefan Dragos
Published: July 2020

Short-term electricity load forecasting has attracted considerable attention as a result of the crucial role that it plays in power systems and electricity markets. This paper presents a novel hybrid forecasting method that combines an autoregressive model with Gaussian process regression. Mixed-user, hourly, historical data are used to train, validate, and evaluate the model. The empirical wavelet transform was used to preprocess the data. Among the perturbing factors, the most influential predictors that were recorded were the weather factors and day type. The developed methodology is upgraded using a novel closed-loop algorithm that uses the forecasting values and influential factors to predict the residuals. Most performance indicators that are computed indicate that forecasting the residuals actually improves the method’s precision, decreasing the mean absolute percentage error from 5.04% to 4.28%. Measured data are used to validate the effectiveness of the presented approach, making it a suitable tool for use in load forecasting by utility companies.
Interaction between Mesocortical and Mesothalamic Catecholaminergic Transmissions Associated with NMDA Receptor in the Locus Coeruleus
Authors: Okada Motohiro , Fukuyama Kouji
Published: July 2020

Noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate/glutamate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders but improve monoaminergic antidepressant-resistant mood disorder and suicidal ideation. The mechanisms of the double-edged sword clinical action of NMDAR antagonists remained to be clarified. The present study determined the interaction between the NMDAR antagonist (MK801), α1 adrenoceptor antagonist (prazosin), and α2A adrenoceptor agonist (guanfacine) on mesocortical and mesothalamic catecholaminergic transmission, and thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission using multiprobe microdialysis. The inhibition of NMDAR in the locus coeruleus (LC) by local MK801 administration enhanced both the mesocortical noradrenergic and catecholaminergic coreleasing (norepinephrine and dopamine) transmissions. The mesothalamic noradrenergic transmission was also enhanced by local MK801 administration in the LC. These mesocortical and mesothalamic transmissions were activated by intra-LC disinhibition of transmission of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) via NMDAR inhibition. Contrastingly, activated mesothalamic noradrenergic transmission by MK801 enhanced intrathalamic GABAergic inhibition via the α1 adrenoceptor, resulting in the suppression of thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission. The thalamocortical glutamatergic terminal stimulated the presynaptically mesocortical catecholaminergic coreleasing terminal in the superficial cortical layers, but did not have contact with the mesocortical selective noradrenergic terminal (which projected terminals to deeper cortical layers). Furthermore, the α2A adrenoceptor suppressed the mesocortical and mesothalamic noradrenergic transmissions somatodendritically in the LC and presynaptically/somatodendritically in the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN). These discrepancies between the noradrenergic and catecholaminergic transmissions in the mesocortical and mesothalamic pathways probably constitute the double-edged sword clinical action of noncompetitive NMDAR antagonists.
Circulating Cell-Free DNA-Based Liquid Biopsy Markers for the Non-Invasive Prognosis and Monitoring of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Toledano-Fonseca Marta , Cano M. Teresa , Inga Elizabeth , Rodríguez-Alonso Rosa , Gómez-España M. Auxiliadora , Guil-Luna Silvia , Mena-Osuna Rafael , de la Haba-Rodríguez Juan R. , Rodríguez-Ariza Antonio , Aranda Enrique
Published: July 2020

Liquid biopsy may assist in the management of cancer patients, which can be particularly applicable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this study, we investigated the utility of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based markers as prognostic tools in metastatic PDAC. Plasma was obtained from 61 metastatic PDAC patients, and cfDNA levels and fragmentation were determined. BEAMing technique was used for quantitative determination of RAS mutation allele fraction (MAF) in cfDNA. We found that the prognosis was more accurately predicted by RAS mutation detection in plasma than in tissue. RAS mutation status in plasma was a strong independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, RAS MAF in cfDNA was also an independent risk factor for poor OS, and was strongly associated with primary tumours in the body/tail of the pancreas and liver metastases. Higher cfDNA levels and fragmentation were also associated with poorer OS and shorter PFS, body/tail tumors, and hepatic metastases, whereas cfDNA fragmentation positively correlated with RAS MAF. Remarkably, the combination of CA19-9 with MAF, cfDNA levels and fragmentation improved the prognostic stratification of patients. Furthermore, dynamics of RAS MAF better correlated with patients’ outcome than standard CA19-9 marker. In conclusion, our study supports the use of cfDNA-based liquid biopsy markers as clinical tools for the non-invasive prognosis and monitoring of metastatic PDAC patients.
Chemerin Impairs In Vitro Testosterone Production, Sperm Motility, and Fertility in Chicken: Possible Involvement of Its Receptor CMKLR1
Authors: Estienne Anthony , Reverchon Maxime , Partyka Agnieszka , Bourdon Guillaume , Grandhaye Jérémy , Barbe Alix , Caldas-Silveira Erika , Rame Christelle , Niżański Wojciech , Froment Pascal , Dupont Joelle
Published: July 2020

The chemokine chemerin is a novel adipokine involved in the regulation of energy metabolism but also female reproductive functions in mammals. Its effects on male fertility are less studied. Here, we investigated the involvement of chemerin in chicken male reproduction. Indeed, the improvement of the sperm of roosters is a challenge for the breeders since the sperm quantity and quality have largely decreased for several years. By using specific chicken antibodies, here we show that chemerin and its main receptor CMKLR1 (chemokine-like receptor 1) are expressed within the chicken testis with the lowest expression in adults as compared to the embryo or postnatal stages. Chemerin and CMKLR1 are present in all testicular cells, including Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells. Using in vitro testis explants, we observed that recombinant chicken chemerin through CMKLR1 inhibits hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) stimulated testosterone production and this was associated to lower 3βHSD (3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) and StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) expression and MAPK ERK2 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2) phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that chemerin in seminal plasma is lower than in blood plasma, but it is negatively correlated with the percentage of motility and the spermatozoa concentration in vivo in roosters. In vitro, we show that recombinant chicken chemerin reduces sperm mass and individual motility in roosters, and this effect is abolished when sperm is pre-incubated with an anti-CMKLR1 antibody. Moreover, we demonstrate that fresh chicken sperm treated with chemerin and used for artificial insemination (AI) in hen presented a lower efficiency in terms of eggs fertility for the four first days after AI. Taken together, seminal chemerin levels are negatively associated with the rooster fertility, and chemerin produced locally by the testis or male tract could negatively affect in vivo sperm quality and testosterone production through CMKLR1.
Performance Appraisal in Universities—Assessing the Tension in Public Service Motivation (PSM)
Authors: Sułkowski Łukasz , Przytuła Sylwia , Borg Colin , Kulikowski Konrad
Published: July 2020

Performance appraisal (PA) has become a prominent feature on the agenda of higher education institutions (HEIs). However, the traditional culture of the typical university is based on individual commitment, scientific teamwork, dedication to public service and intrinsic motivation of the academic staff, all of which are the essential components of public service motivation (PSM). By interviewing key informants from three public universities, the purpose of our research was to identify various tensions between PA and PSM, by asking what is the impact of PA on PSM of academics in public HEIs. Our findings have shown that the purposefulness of PA activities may not be fully understood by public HEI management and academics. The existing tensions between PA normative aims of motivation and fair evaluation and its descriptive effects of increasing bureaucracy and dissatisfaction might undermine PSM, an essential driving force that motivates academics to work in public HEIs.
Transmission Strategy for Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer with a Non-Linear Rectifier Model
Authors: Pan Ning , Rajabi Mohammad , Claessens Steven , Schreurs Dominique , Pollin Sofie
Published: July 2020

Most studies determining data rate or power conversion efficiency (PCE) of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) focus on ideal models for the non-linear energy harvester, or focus on simplified waveforms that carry no information. In this paper, we study SWIPT using realistic waveforms and a measurement-based energy harvesting model. For a special class of multisine waveforms carrying only information in the phase, we analyze PCE as a function of waveform design, including the impact of pre-equalization to mitigate wireless channel distortion. A balanced pre-equalizer that trades off between the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and signal to noise ratio, maximizing the total PCE is proposed. The impact on the information rate of the analyzed waveforms is also presented. The results show that balanced pre-equalizers can improve the total PCE more than three times within 5% rate loss compared to the pre-equalizer that solely maximizes the signal PAPR or the capacity using the same transmit power. We also show that the maximum normalized PCE is increased by a factor of two by only allowing phase modulation to ensure the PAPR of one symbol, compared to traditional modulation schemes that carry information in both phase and amplitude to maximize spectral efficiency.
Impact on Electricity Consumption and Market Pricing of Energy and Ancillary Services during Pandemic of COVID-19 in Italy
Authors: Ghiani Emilio , Galici Marco , Mureddu Mario , Pilo Fabrizio
Published: July 2020

At the moment of writing, in Italy, there is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Its outbreak is leading to severe global socioeconomic disruptions impacting on all economic sectors from tourism, industry and the tertiary sector, up to the operational and opening of public offices, the closure of schools and the organization of families. Measures adopted by the Italian government to deal with the COVID-19 emergency have had direct effects both on people’s daily lives and on the activity of most industrial and commercial production companies. These changes have been unequivocally reflected also on the Italian electricity system, which has shown unprecedented behavior in terms of both energy consumption and volume—and subsequently, in the observed share of renewable and conventional production technologies. The goal of this study is to show the impact on the power industry of all the restrictions and lockdown of the activities in Italy and to discuss the effects of COVID-19 outbreak on the bulk power system and the entire electricity sector. In particular, the consequences on load profiles, electricity consumption and market prices in Italy, including the environmental aspects, are examined.
Impact of Sample Size and Maximum Aggregate Grain on the Representativeness of Concrete Samples
Authors: Śliwiński Jacek , Duży Patrycja
Published: July 2020

One of the basic criteria for the representativeness of composite material samples is the similarity of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the material in the sample to that of the material it represents. The article presents the results of experimental research concerning the impact of the ratio of the minimum size of cubic concrete samples (lmin) to the maximum size of aggregate grain (Dmax). The content of the basic components of concrete, i.e., coarse aggregate, mortar, sand and cement paste, was analysed. The content of these components in the concrete sample was identified by means of analysis of the sample cross-sectional image, and then, compared with the contents resulting from the concrete mixture proportion. Cases where lmin/Dmax was between 2.38 and 12.5 were analysed. The results of the study indicate a moderate correlation between these two parameters. The largest discrepancies between the component contents of the sample and the controlled concrete were usually recorded at the extreme values of the lmin/Dmax ratio. These discrepancies, depending on the component in question, range from approx. −15 to approx. +15%. Acceptable deviations (≤ ±5%) result in the value of this ratio within the estimated range between approximately 5.0 and approximately 10.0. In existing standards, the use of samples that meet the requirement lmin/Dmax ≥ 3.0 or 3.5 is recommended. In light of the presented test results, this requirement is sufficient for the material properties that are not sensitive to slight variation in concrete composition, i.e., compressive and tensile strength. The presented results are useful in the case of sample size selection for the study of concrete properties which are most sensitive to concrete composition changes. These properties include water absorption, permeability to liquids and gases, thermal properties, etc.
Exploring the Biomethane Potential of Different Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Biomass Residues
Authors: Matassa Silvio , Esposito Giovanni , Pirozzi Francesco , Papirio Stefano
Published: July 2020

Industrial hemp stands out as a promising candidate for clean and sustainable biomass-to-bioenergy systems due to its multipurpose, high biomass yield and resource efficiency features. In this study, different hemp biomass residues (HBRs) were evaluated as a potential feedstock for renewable biomethane production through anaerobic digestion (AD). The biochemical methane potential (BMP) of the raw and pretreated fibers, stalks, hurds, leaves and inflorescences was investigated by means of batch anaerobic tests. The highest BMP was obtained with the raw fibers (i.e., 422 ± 20 mL CH4·g VS−1), while hemp hurds (unretted), making up more than half of the whole hemp plant dry weight, showed a lower BMP value of 239 ± 10 mL CH4·g VS−1. The alkali pretreatment of unretted hurds and mechanical grinding of retted hurds effectively enhanced the BMP of both substrates by 15.9%. The mix of leaves and inflorescences and inflorescences alone showed low BMP values (i.e., 118 ± 8 and 26 ± 5 mL CH4·g VS−1, respectively) and a prolonged inhibition of methanogenesis. The latter could be overcome through NaOH pretreatment in the mix of leaves and inflorescences (+28.5% methane production).
Recovery Technology of Bottom Coal in the Gob-Side Entry of Thick Coal Seam Based on Floor Heave Induced by Narrow Coal Pillar
Authors: Wang Kai , Huang Yanli , Gao Huadong , Zhai Wen , Qiao Yongfeng , Li Junmeng , Ouyang Shenyang , Li Wei
Published: July 2020

To improve the resource recovery efficiency of mining face in thick coal seams, the correlation between deformation failure of bottom coal in the gob-side entry and coal pillar width was analyzed by theoretical analysis, numerical calculation, and similar simulation experiments. The results showed that, when the coal pillar was strong, with the decrease of pillar width, the failure depth of the bottom coal in the gob-side entry and floor heave increased. The deformation failure depth of the bottom coal in the entry was inversely related to the width of the coal pillar. The bottom coal was further fractured and dispersed under the action of tension, shear, and extrusion in the process of floor heave. Based on the floor heave induced by the narrow coal pillar, a recovery technique of the bottom coal with thick coal seams in the gob-side entry was developed. The width of the narrow pillar to be reserved was obtained by theoretical calculation and revised by numerical simulation; ultimately, the reasonable width was determined. Under the complex stress of the narrow pillar, the bottom coal in the gob-side entry was fully heaved, cracked, and separated. To realize the comprehensive mechanization and resource recovery of bottom coal, a matching mining excavator loader, transfer conveyor, and retractable belt conveyor were selected to transport the crushed bottom coal in the entry. This method has been successfully applied to the return airway of working face 8407 in the No. 5 Coal Mine of Yangquan Coal Group with remarkable economic and social benefits.
Development of Test-Bed Controller for Powertrain of HEV
Authors: Liu Peng , Jin Zhenhua , Hua Yuwei , Zhang Lu
Published: July 2020

The dynamic test-bed is a powerful tool for the powertrain integration and control strategy development of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). This paper focuses on developing a test-bed controller with driver simulation, road load simulation (RLS), and engine simulation. The main factors that influence the RLS accuracy are analyzed, especially inertia of test-bed and torque signal sampling frequency, and the RLS algorithm with penalty function based on a forward model is proposed. The engine model is developed and permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is adopted to realize engine start-up/stop, torque control, and inertia simulation. The simulation platform was built in MATLAB/Simulink to verify its accuracy. The simulation results present the developed RLS with a penalty function based on a forward model that can reduce the speed and torque error. The developed controller is applied to the single-axis parallel HEV test-bed. The experiment results show that the developed test-bed controller can precisely emulate the road load and improve the efficiency of the development of HEV powertrain.
Impact of the Drying Temperature and Grinding Technique on Biomass Grindability
Authors: Jewiarz Marcin , Wróbel Marek , Mudryk Krzysztof , Szufa Szymon
Published: July 2020

The process of biomass compaction depends on many factors, related to material and process. One of the most important is the proper fragmentation of the raw material. In most cases, more fragmented raw material makes it easier to achieve the desired quality parameters of pellets or briquettes. While the chipping of biomass prefers moist materials, for grinding, the material needs to be dried. As drying temperature changes the properties of the material, these may affect the grinding process. The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the drying temperature of biomass raw material in the range of 60–140 °C on the biomass grindability. To only determine this effect, without the influence of moisture, grinding was carried out on the material in a dry state. The research was carried out on a mill with a knife and hammer grinding system, which is the most popular in the fragmentation of biomass. The analysis of particle size distribution and bulk density of the obtained material was carried out. The energy demand for the grinding process was determined and it was shown that drying temperature, grinding system, and mainly type of biomass affects the grindability.
Propane Pre-Reforming into Methane-Rich Gas over Ni Catalyst: Experiment and Kinetics Elucidation via Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Uskov Sergey I. , Potemkin Dmitriy I. , Enikeeva Leniza V. , Snytnikov Pavel V. , Gubaydullin Irek M. , Sobyanin Vladimir A.
Published: July 2020

Pre-reforming of propane was studied over an industrial nickel-chromium catalyst under pressures of 1 and 5 bar, at a low steam to carbon molar ratio of 1, in the temperature range of 220–380 °C and at flow rates of 4000 and 12,000 h−1. It was shown that propane conversion proceeded more efficiently at low pressure (1 atm) and temperatures above 350 °C. A genetic algorithm was applied to search for kinetic parameters better fitting experimental results in such a wide range of experimental conditions. Power law and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics were considered. It was shown that only Langmuir–Hinshelwood type kinetics correctly described the experimental data and could be used to simulate the process of propane pre-reforming and predict propane conversion under the given reaction conditions. The significance of Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics increases under high pressure and temperatures below 350 °C.