bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel method for calculating ambient aerosol liquid water contents based on measurements of a humidified nephelometer system
Authors: Kuang Ye , Zhao Chunsheng , Zhao Gang , Tao Jiangchuan , Ma Nan , Bian Yuxuan
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Water condensed on ambient aerosol particles plays significant roles in atmospheric environment, atmospheric chemistry and climate. So far, no instruments are available for real-time monitoring of ambient aerosol liquid water contents (ALWC). In this paper, a novel method is proposed to calculate ambient ALWC based on measurements of a three-wavelength humidified nephelometer system. A humidified nephelometer system measures aerosol light scattering coefficients and backscattering coefficients at three wavelengths under dry and different relative humidity (RH) conditions, and therefore provides measurements of light scattering enhancement factor f(RH). The proposed method of calculating ALWC includes two steps. The first step is estimating total volume concentration of ambient aerosol particles in dry state (Va (dry)) with a machine learning method based on measurements of the “dry” nephelometer. The estimated Va (dry) agrees well with the measured Va (dry). The second step is estimating the volume growth factor Vg(RH) of ambient aerosol particles due to water uptake using f(RH) and Ångström exponent. The ALWC is calculated from the estimated Va (dry) and Vg(RH). Uncertainty analysis of the estimated Va (dry) and Vg(RH) is conducted. This research have bridged the gap between f(RH) and Vg(RH). The advantage of this new method is that the ambient ALWC can be obtained using only measurements from a three-wavelength humidified nephelometer system. This method will facilitate the real-time monitoring of the ambient ALWC and help for studying roles of aerosol liquid water in atmospheric chemistry, secondary aerosol formation and climate change.
Evidence of prompt penetration electric fields during HILDCAA events
Authors: Silva Regia Pereira , Sobral Jose Humberto Andrade , Koga Daiki , Souza Jonas Rodrigues
Published: October 2017

Abstract. High-intensity, long-duration continuous auroral electrojet (AE) activity (HILDCAA) events may occur during a long-lasting recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm. They are a special kind of geomagnetic activity, different from magnetic storms or substorms. Ionized particles are pumped into the auroral region by the action of Alfvén waves, increasing the auroral current system. The Dst index, however, does not present a significant downward swing as it occurs during geomagnetic storms. During the HILDCAA occurrence, the AE index presents an intense and continuous activity. In this paper, the response of Brazilian equatorial ionosphere is studied during three HILDCAA events that occurred in the year of 2006 (the descending phase of solar cycle 23) using the digisonde data located at São Luís, Brazil (2.33° S, 44.2° W; dip latitude 1.75° S). Geomagnetic indices and interplanetary parameters were used to calculate a cross-correlation coefficient between the Ey component of the interplanetary electric field and the F2 electron density peak height variations during two situations: the first of them for two sets daytime and nighttime ranges, and the second one for the time around the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) peak. The results showed that the pumping action of particle precipitation into the auroral zone has moderately modified the equatorial F2 peak height. However, F2 peak height seems to be more sensitive to HILDCAA effects during PRE time, showing the highest variations and sinusoidal oscillations in the cross-correlation indices.
Contrasting effects of ammonium and nitrate additions on the biomass of soil microbial communities and enzyme activities in subtropical China
Authors: Zhang Chuang , Zhang Xin-Yu , Zou Hong-Tao , Kou Liang , Yang Yang , Wen Xue-Fa , Li Sheng-Gong , Wang Hui-Min , Sun Xiao-Min
Published: October 2017

Abstract. The nitrate to ammonium ratios in nitrogen (N) compounds in wet atmospheric deposits have increased over the recent past, which is a cause for some concern as the individual effects of nitrate and ammonium deposition on the biomass of different soil microbial communities and enzyme activities are still poorly defined. We established a field experiment and applied ammonium (NH4Cl) and nitrate (NaNO3) at monthly intervals over a period of 4 years. We collected soil samples from the ammonium and nitrate treatments and control plots in three different seasons, namely spring, summer, and fall, to evaluate the how the biomass of different soil microbial communities and enzyme activities responded to the ammonium (NH4Cl) and nitrate (NaNO3) applications. Our results showed that the total contents of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) decreased by 24 and 11 % in the ammonium and nitrate treatments, respectively. The inhibitory effects of ammonium on Gram-positive bacteria (G+) and bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) PLFA contents ranged from 14 to 40 % across the three seasons. We also observed that the absolute activities of C, N, and P hydrolyses and oxidases were inhibited by ammonium and nitrate, but that nitrate had stronger inhibitory effects on the activities of acid phosphatase (AP) than ammonium. The activities of N-acquisition specific enzymes (enzyme activities normalized by total PLFA contents) were about 21 and 43 % lower in the ammonium and nitrate treatments than in the control, respectively. However, the activities of P-acquisition specific enzymes were about 19 % higher in the ammonium treatment than in the control. Using redundancy analysis (RDA), we found that the measured C, N, and P hydrolysis and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were positively correlated with the soil pH and ammonium contents, but were negatively correlated with the nitrate contents. The PLFA biomarker contents were positively correlated with soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total N contents, but were negatively correlated with the ammonium contents. The soil enzyme activities varied seasonally, and were highest in March and lowest in October. In contrast, the contents of the microbial PLFA biomarkers were higher in October than in March and June. Ammonium may inhibit the contents of PLFA biomarkers more strongly than nitrate because of acidification. This study has provided useful information about the effects of ammonium and nitrate on soil microbial communities and enzyme activities.
A pseudoproxy assessment of data assimilation for reconstructing the atmosphere–ocean dynamics of hydroclimate extremes
Authors: Steiger Nathan J. , Smerdon Jason E.
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Because of the relatively brief observational record, the climate dynamics that drive multiyear to centennial hydroclimate variability are not adequately characterized and understood. Paleoclimate reconstructions based on data assimilation (DA) optimally fuse paleoclimate proxies with the dynamical constraints of climate models, thus providing a coherent dynamical picture of the past. DA is therefore an important new tool for elucidating the mechanisms of hydroclimate variability over the last several millennia. But DA has so far remained untested for global hydroclimate reconstructions. Here we explore whether or not DA can be used to skillfully reconstruct global hydroclimate variability along with the driving climate dynamics. Through a set of idealized pseudoproxy experiments, we find that an established DA reconstruction approach can in principle be used to reconstruct hydroclimate at both annual and seasonal timescales. We find that the skill of such reconstructions is generally highest near the proxy sites. This set of reconstruction experiments is specifically designed to estimate a realistic upper bound for the skill of this DA approach. Importantly, this experimental framework allows us to see where and for what variables the reconstruction approach may never achieve high skill. In particular for tree rings, we find that hydroclimate reconstructions depend critically on moisture-sensitive trees, while temperature reconstructions depend critically on temperature-sensitive trees. Real-world DA-based reconstructions will therefore likely require a spatial mixture of temperature- and moisture-sensitive trees to reconstruct both temperature and hydroclimate variables. Additionally, we illustrate how DA can be used to elucidate the dynamical mechanisms of drought with two examples: tropical drivers of multiyear droughts in the North American Southwest and in equatorial East Africa. This work thus provides a foundation for future DA-based hydroclimate reconstructions using real-proxy networks while also highlighting the utility of this important tool for hydroclimate research.
Best practice regarding the three P's: profiling, portability and
provenance when running HPC geoscientific applications
Authors: Sharples Wendy , Zhukov Ilya , Geimer Markus , Goergen Klaus , Kollet Stefan , Luehrs Sebastian , Breuer Thomas , Naz Bibi , Kulkarni Ketan , Brdar Slavko
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Geoscientific modeling is constantly evolving, with next generation geoscientific models and applications placing high demands on high performance computing (HPC) resources. These demands are being met by new developments in HPC architectures, software libraries, and infrastructures. New HPC developments require new programming paradigms leading to substantial investment in model porting, tuning, and refactoring of complicated legacy code in order to use these resources effectively. In addition to the challenge of new massively parallel HPC systems, reproducibility of simulation and analysis results is of great concern, as the next generation geoscientific models are based on complex model implementations and profiling, modeling and data processing workflows. Thus, in order to reduce both the duration and the cost of code migration, aid in the development of new models or model components, while ensuring reproducibility and sustainability over the complete data life cycle, a streamlined approach to profiling, porting, and provenance tracking is necessary.We propose a run control framework (RCF) integrated with a workflow engine which encompasses all stages of the modeling chain: 1. preprocess input, 2. compilation of code (including code instrumentation with performance analysis tools), 3. simulation run, 4. postprocess and analysis, to address these issues.Within this RCF, the workflow engine is used to create and manage benchmark or simulation parameter combinations and performs the documentation and data organization for reproducibility. This approach automates the process of porting and tuning, profiling, testing, and running a geoscientific model. We show that in using our run control framework, testing, benchmarking, profiling, and running models is less time consuming and more robust, resulting in more efficient use of HPC resources, more strategic code development, and enhanced data integrity and reproducibility.
Regional frequency analysis of extreme rainfall in Belgium based on radar estimates
Authors: Goudenhoofdt Edouard , Delobbe Laurent , Willems Patrick
Published: October 2017

Abstract. In Belgium, only rain gauge time series have been used so far to study extreme rainfall at a given location. In this paper, the potential of a 12-year quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) from a single weather radar is evaluated. For the period 2005–2016, 1 and 24 h rainfall extremes from automatic rain gauges and collocated radar estimates are compared. The peak intensities are fitted to the exponential distribution using regression in Q-Q plots with a threshold rank which minimises the mean squared error. A basic radar product used as reference exhibits unrealistic high extremes and is not suitable for extreme value analysis. For 24 h rainfall extremes, which occur partly in winter, the radar-based QPE needs a bias correction. A few missing events are caused by the wind drift associated with convective cells and strong radar signal attenuation. Differences between radar and gauge rainfall values are caused by spatial and temporal sampling, gauge underestimations and radar errors. Nonetheless the fit to the QPE data is within the confidence interval of the gauge fit, which remains large due to the short study period. A regional frequency analysis for 1 h duration is performed at the locations of four gauges with 1965–2008 records using the spatially independent QPE data in a circle of 20 km. The confidence interval of the radar fit, which is small due to the sample size, contains the gauge fit for the two closest stations from the radar. In Brussels, the radar extremes are significantly higher than the gauge rainfall extremes, but similar to those observed by an automatic gauge during the same period. The extreme statistics exhibit slight variations related to topography. The radar-based extreme value analysis can be extended to other durations.
Lifetime estimate for plasma turbulence
Authors: Narita Yasuhito , Vörös Zoltán
Published: October 2017

Abstract. A method is proposed to experimentally determine the intrinsic timescale or a decay rate of turbulent fluctuations. The method is based on the assumption that the Breit–Wigner spectrum model with a non-Gaussian frequency broadening is valid in the data analysis. The decay rate estimate is applied to the multispacecraft magnetic field data in interplanetary space, yielding the decay rate on spatial scales of about 1000 km (about 10 times larger than the ion inertial length), which is higher than the theoretical predictions from the random sweeping timescale of the eddy turnover time. The faster decay of fluctuation components in interplanetary space is interpreted as a realization of plasma physical (and not fluid mechanical) processes.
The effect of conformational transition of gelatin-polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complex on its functional properties
Authors: Valenta Tomáš , Lapčí­ková Barbora , Lapčí­k Lubomí­r , Li Peng
Published: October 2017

The blends of gelatin and shear-thinning hydrocolloids (guar gum, kappa-carrageenan and xanthan gum) were examined to determine the effect of the conformational change on the functional properties of the solutions. The polyelectrolyte complexes of 0.5% gelatin/0.5% polysaccharide in 70 mM KCl or 70 mM NaCl were investigated by the laboratory rheometer and conductivity meter in the temperature range 25 - 45 °C. The rheological data were fitted by the power-law and Herschel-Bulkley model to obtain the flow parameters. The functional properties of the samples were substantially affected by the conformational change of the polysaccharide, as well as by the type of the hydrocolloid and salt solution. There was an evident change of viscosity and conductivity of the solutions upon heating, corresponding to the helix-coil transition of the polysaccharide at temperature about 35 °C. The type of the salt solvent had an effect on the gelation properties of the samples. Gelatin/kappa-carrageenan blend in NaCl provided a gel of high consistency at ambient temperature (20 - 25 °C), whereas the blend in KCl did not gel in the studied temperature range. The potential stability of the blends was determined by zeta-potential analysis. The low values of ζ-potential indicate that the gelatin/polysaccharide blends are electrically unstable systems which tend to coagulate. The mixtures of gelatin/polysaccharide electrostatic complexes may have a great potential in many food applications.
A comparative study of the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial qualities of Abuad moringa soap with conventional medicated soaps
Authors: Okiki Pius Abimbola , Ojo Abiodun Ayodele , Onyibe Hadiza Tani , Oso Olawale , Ajiboye Basiru Olaitan
Published: October 2017

The study was aimed at assessing the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial qualities of 'ABUAD moringa soap', a herbal soap produced with Moringa oleifera leaf by 'ABUAD Farm', Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. The physicochemical properties and antimicrobial qualities of  ABUAD moringa soap on some selected bacteria and fungi were evaluated and compared with those of some conventional medicated and herbal soaps commonly used in Nigeria, such as Dettol,  Tetmosol, Tura, Septol, Delta and Dudu Osun (herbal), as well as Lux, which serves as a control soap. The results of the physicochemical analyses revealed that all the soaps fall within the pH range of 8.83 and 9.83. All the soaps possess low values of free caustic alkali and detectable free fatty acid, as well as moderate values of total fatty matter. In-vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the soaps were investigated against microbial agents commonly found in association with skin infections, using the well-agar diffusion technique. The bacteria tested were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 12453), as well as four clinical isolates namely, Escherichia coli, Leutococcus sanguinis, Corynebacterium accolens and Burkholderia cepacia. The fungi were Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Malassezia furfur ATCC 44349, and Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 23645. All the soaps, with exeption of lux, produced varied degrees of antibacterial activities, but ABUAD Moringa soap and Dudu Osun indicated superior effectiveness against the bacteria tested. Antifugal activities were produced by ABUAD moringa and Dudu Osun soaps only, on the fungi tested.  ABUAD Moringa produced significantly higher antifungal activities on Malassezia furfur ATCC 44349 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 than Dudu Osun, but no significant difference was observed between the two soaps on their activities against Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 23645. The study showed that ABUAD Moringa soap possesses high therapeutic potentials against agents of bacterial and fungal skin infections.
Biological effect of magnetic field on the fermentation of wine
Authors: Dobšinský Jakub , Jedlička Jaroslav
Published: October 2017

During the transformation process of matter is produced energy, which afterwards interacts with matter itself, and other forms of energy. Energy induced electromagnetic appliances may affect the processes occurring in biological systems. In our study we have evaluated the wine fermentation process of the magnetic field with different amplitudes of electromagnetic induction, the constant exposure of 30 minutes a day for 10 days. The device for inducing magnetism was constructed at the Department of Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Enology at Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra for research purposes. Essence of the device lies in the way of the management of direct current, which flows through the coil. Volume of direct current is regulated by network auto-transformer. Output of network autotransformer is rectified by two-way bridge rectifier. The coil is powered by a direct current voltage pulse. This device has a maximum value of the magnetic induction at 150 mT. At full power it must be supplied from three-phase socket with a rated current of 32 A. For our experiment, we chose wine grape variety of Hibernal, from Nitra wine region. The magnetic field induced by the electromagnetic device has an impact on the process of fermentation and sensory characteristics of a young wine. As part of the sensory profile, we noticed higher levels of residual sugar and speed up of the fermentation process and the process of purifying of the young wine. The influence of magnetic field on grape juice during the entire fermentation process and production of wine is a convenient way to improve the quality of wine without side effects or any chemical additives.
The investigation of alfaalfa effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase in chicken meat in dependence on time storage
Authors: Tkáčová Jana , Angelovičová Mária , Capcarová Marcela , Kolesárová Adriana , Schneidgenová Monika , Pavelková Adriana , Bobko Marek , Čuboň Juraj
Published: October 2017

This study was conducted in order to monitor the effect of adding lucerne meal to chicken feed mixtures. The experiment was conducted at the Department Food Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Chickens for meat production - final type Cobb 500 were used in the experiment. Chickens were placed in boxes all together for one group at the beginning of the experiment and from 14 days of age chickens were divided individually into floor enriched cages. Feeding of chickens lasted 38 days. The experiment was carried out without sex segregation. For the production of a feed composition was used alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as lucerne meal, which was added to the feed at a rate of 4%, namely: starter (HYD-01), growth (HYD-02) and final (HYD-03). The control group did not include the addition of lucerne meal. Chickens were fed ad libitum. Chickens were slaughtered after completion of feeding and the meat samples were taken for analysis. The collected samples were stored at -18 °C. Collected samples of meat were analyzed after slaughter chickens at time intervals of 6, 12 and 18 months. In the experiment was monitored the content of supeoxid dismutase in the chicken meat depending on the length of storage time. Superoxide dismutase content was increasing by storage time, while there were some statistically significant differences between groups.
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HNBR/PA12-BASED SUPER TPVs WITH ENHANCED THERMAL STABILITY BY USING HIGHER ACRYLONITRILE CONTENT
Authors: Reffai Syed Ismail Syed Mohammed , Naskar Kinsuk
Published: October 2017

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are superior classes of thermoplastic elastomers, in which dynamic vulcanization of the rubber phase takes place during melt mixing with a semicrystalline thermoplastic matrix phase at elevated temperature. TPV is characterized by processing behaviors like thermoplasticity at elevated temperature and performance properties of vulcanized rubber at ambient temperature. High-performance TPVs or super TPVs are new-generation TPVs that exhibit high heat resistance as well as excellent oil resistance properties suitable for under-the-hood automotive applications. In the present work, a new class of super TPVs based on hydrogenated acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (HNBR) and polyamide (PA12) has been developed. TPVs of three different acrylonitrile content (ACN)–based fixed-blend ratio (70:30) of (HNBR/PA12) have been prepared by using a peroxide curative {Di-(2-tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene (DTBPIB)}. Final morphology of TPVs varies depending on the ACN content of the rubber. A TPV with the highest ACN content shows the highest level of mechanical properties as well as superior thermal stability and creep behavior compared with all other TPVs. Dynamic mechanical analysis also demonstrates that the tan δ values of all the TPVs are lower and the storage moduli are higher than the low acrylonitrile content system. Heat aging, oil aging, oil swelling, and network characterization studies have also been carried out in detail to understand the performance behavior of these super TPVs at service condition (150 °C). These TPVs are considered for potential applications in the automotive sector, especially for under-the-hood-applications.
How Can We Interpret the Estimates of the Full BEKK Model with Asymmetry? The Case of French and German Stock Returns
Authors: Tsuji Chikashi
Published: October 2017

This study conducts careful interpretations of the model parameters from the full Baba-Engle-Kraft-Kroner (BEKK) model with asymmetric effects. This study also includes a case study, in which we interpret the full BEKK model parameter estimates from the empirical examinations using French and German stock index returns. More concretely, in this paper, we firstly examine the model formula and obtain general interpretations of the full BEKK model parameters. This shall be particularly helpful to understand not only the structure of the full BEKK model but also the mechanisms of similar multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (MGARCH) models. After the above general considerations, this study also interprets the case results, in which the full BEKK model is applied to French and German stock index returns. The concrete illustrations demonstrated in this case study shall be also very useful for future related research.
Choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to intraocular tuberculosis misdiagnosed as neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Invernizzi Alessandro , Agarwal Aniruddha , Di Nicola Maura , Franzetti Fabio , Staurenghi Giovanni , Viola Francesco
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

Intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB) can be complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). However, when the CNV development is not accompanied by clear signs of inflammation, the etiology can be missed, especially in countries nonendemic for tuberculosis. We describe the clinical and imaging features of CNVs presenting as the first sign of IOTB initially misdiagnosed as exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods:

A retrospective review of clinical and imaging data of patients initially misdiagnosed with neovascular AMD later diagnosed with inflammatory CNV secondary to IOTB at tertiary referral centers was conducted. Features of fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography were analyzed. Distinguishing features between neovascular AMD and IOTB-associated CNV were evaluated.

Results:

Five patients over 55 years of age, erroneously diagnosed with exudative AMD, were included in the study. Multimodal imaging analysis allowed identification of peculiar choroidal alterations such as choroidal granulomas or choroiditis suggestive for posterior uveitis. Systemic workup for granulomatous uveitis including immunologic investigations such as tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON TB Gold® and radiologic investigations revealed tubercular etiology in all the cases, allowing correct diagnosis and management of the uveitis and related CNV.

Conclusions:

Choroidal neovascularization represents a rare and unusual presenting sign of IOTB that can be misleading especially when it occurs in the elderly living in countries with low prevalence of the disease. Multimodal imaging can be helpful and should be employed, especially in atypical cases of CNV, in order to avoid misdiagnosis and/or diagnostic delays.
Statistics of TNO stereotest for the diagnosis of microesotropia in children
Authors: Piantanida Andrea C. , Spera Manuela , Nobili Roberta , Gerosa Giulia
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

To analyze statistically the real effectiveness of TNO stereotest for the diagnosis of microesotropia in young patients in daily practice.

Methods:

We considered 312 patients whose age ranged from 3 to 18 years (mean age 7.5 years) suspected to be microesotropic. All underwent a full orthoptic and ophthalmologic examination. The TNO stereotest was presented at a distance of 40 cm with the patient wearing red-green glasses. The Paliaga 8-D base-in test was considered the gold standard diagnostic test to detect microesotropia.

Results:

The specificity of the TNO stereotest from the collected data was 98%, the sensitivity 94%, the positive predictive value 80%, the negative predictive value 99%, and the likelihood ratio 47.

Conclusions:

It is important to use the TNO stereotest in clinical daily practice to detect microesotropia, but considering some bias: the age of the young patients, the difficulties encountered in understanding some figures, and the presence of a stereoscopic status even in microtropic subjects.
Fast-Track Surgery in Intestinal Deep Infiltrative Endometriosis
Authors: Pissetti Viviane C. , Nunes Rodrigo D. , Zomer Monica T. , Kondo William
Published: October 2017

Fast-track (FT), also known as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), is an integrated management of patients undergoing surgery, which is focused on optimal recovery and improvement of the overall quality of care. Minimally invasive surgery is the gold standard to diagnose and treat endometriosis, and its beneficial role within the FT program was reviewed. A search was performed for recent medical literature regarding the findings of the FT approach applied to intestinal deep infiltrative endometriosis surgery. This pathway comprises a diverse number of procedures arranged in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. Evidence-based findings in randomized clinical trials have repeatedly shown that these protocols lead to enhanced recovery after surgery, reduced morbidity and mortality with a reduction in postoperative complications, and with readmission rates similar to conventional regimes.
Vascular access in lipoprotein apheresis: a retrospective analysis from the UK’s largest lipoprotein apheresis centre
Authors: Doherty Daniel J. , Pottle Alison , Malietzis George , Hakim Nadey , Barbir Mahmoud , Crane Jeremy S.
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) has proven to be an effective, safe and life-saving therapy. Vascular access is needed to facilitate this treatment but has recognised complications. Despite consistency in treatment indication and duration there are no guidelines in place. The aim of this study is to characterise vascular access practice at the UK’s largest LA centre and forward suggestions for future approaches.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of vascular access strategies was undertaken in all patients who received LA treatment in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) Apheresis Unit at Harefield Hospital (Middlesex, UK) from November 2000 to March 2016.

Results:

Fifty-three former and current patients underwent 4260 LA treatments. Peripheral vein cannulation represented 79% of initial vascular access strategies with arteriovenous (AV) fistula use accounting for 15%. Last used method of vascular access was peripheral vein cannulation in 57% versus AV fistula in 32%. Total AV fistula failure rate was 37%.

Conclusions:

Peripheral vein cannulation remains the most common method to facilitate LA. Practice trends indicate a move towards AV fistula creation; the favoured approach receiving support from the expert body in this area. AV fistula failure rate is high and of great concern, therefore we suggest the implementation of upper limb ultrasound vascular mapping in all patients who meet treatment eligibility criteria. We encourage close ties between apheresis units and specialist surgical centres to facilitate patient counselling and monitoring. Further prospective data regarding fistula failure is needed in this expanding treatment field.
Arterial stiffness alone does not explain arteriovenous fistula outcomes
Authors: McGrogan Damian G. , Stringer Stephanie , Cockwell Paul , Jesky Mark , Ferro Charlie , Maxwell Alexander P. , Inston Nicholas G.
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Marked arterial adaptation is critical in permitting and sustaining the increased blood flow within an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The aim of this investigation was to evaluate markers of arterial disease and their association with the early post-operative AVF outcomes.

Methods:

We included all patients in whom an AVF had been performed after enrolment to the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care (RIISC) study. Primary AVF failure (PFL) was defined as thrombosis at six-week review. All patients underwent BP Tru and Vicorder pulse wave analysis assessments and also had assays of advanced glycation end-products prior to AVF formation. These were correlated with the short-term AVF outcomes.

Results:

One hundred and eight AVFs were created in 86 patients. The primary patency (PPT) group were found to have significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.01). Intraluminal vein diameter was significantly greater in the PPT group than the PFL group (p≤0.01). Mean augmentation index and augmentation index 75 was significantly higher in the PPT group than the PFL group (p = 0.03 and 0.03, respectively). Aortic pulse wave velocity was slower in the PPT group at 10.2 m/s than the PFL group at 10.8 m/s (p = 0.32). Advanced glycation end-product measurements did not vary significantly between the PPT and PFL groups (p = 0.4). Logistic regression analysis provided a predictive model, which demonstrated a predictive value of 78.1% for AVF patency at 6 weeks.

Conclusions:

All patients in this end-stage renal disease cohort have significant aortic stiffness. The results for pulse wave velocity were slower in the PPT group suggesting a tendency towards stiffer vessels and PFL.
Association between post-dialysis hemoglobin level and the survival of vascular access
Authors: Nishiwaki Hiroki , Hasegawa Takeshi , Ikenoue Tatsuyoshi , Tominaga Naoto , Yazawa Masahiko , Kawarazaki Hiroo , Shibagaki Yugo , Yamamoto Yosuke , Fukuma Shingo , Yamazaki Shin , Fukuhara Shunichi
Published: October 2017

Introduction:

Although a few dialysis facilities conduct a complete blood cell count for some patients at post-dialysis, including hemoglobin, clinical findings supporting the interpretation of results are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between post-dialysis hemoglobin level and vascular access failure with clinical data.

Methods:

Study design: Case crossover design. Setting: Japanese dialysis facilities, which routinely take post-dialysis blood samples, including complete blood cell counts at least once a month. Participants: Hemodialysis patients who experienced vascular access failure in January 2010 until December 2014. Exposure: Post-dialysis hemoglobin level. Main outcome: Vascular access failure treated with endovascular treatment or operation. Statistical analysis: Self-matched odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by comparing post-dialysis hemoglobin just before events (“case”) with levels at 6 and 12 months before events (“control”) using conditional logistic regression, and presented with restricted cubic spline.

Results:

Two hundred and thirty hemodialysis patients with vascular access failure were identified. Mean post-dialysis hemoglobin level before the failure was 11.8 g/dL (standard deviation 1.7). The spline curve showed that higher post-dialysis hemoglobin levels above 11.8 g/dL had a greater odds ratio for vascular access failure. Post-dialysis hemoglobin levels and odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for vascular access failure relative to the reference value (Hb 11.8 g/dL) were Hb 12.0 g/dL, 1.1 (1.0-1.1); Hb 14.0 g/dL, 1.4 (1.0-2.0); and Hb 16.0 g/dL, 2.1 (1.1-4.3).

Conclusions:

A higher post-dialysis hemoglobin level was associated with vascular access failure. Higher post-dialysis Hb could be a factor that triggers vascular access failure.
Edith Wharton and John and Alice Garrett: Art and Ambassadorship in a Time of War
Authors: Kim Sharon
Published: October 2017

This article examines a collection of sixty unpublished letters between Edith Wharton and John and Alice Garrett, seeking to understand what this couple meant to Wharton and how they may have influenced her writing. During World War I, Wharton became friends with the Garretts in Paris. John Work Garrett was a diplomat who later became the U.S. ambassador to Italy. He was also a distinguished collector of rare books, fine art, and coins. Similarly, his wife, Alice, was a well-connected patron of the arts who worked in wartime charities with Wharton. The Garretts seem to have represented a cosmopolitan ideal for Wharton, seamlessly integrating political influence, aesthetic cultivation, and tangible service to those wounded or displaced by the war. Their understanding of the history, culture, and languages of other nations was of a high order, enough to enable delicate transnational negotiations in the context of war, and they seem to have transformed Wharton's view of Americanness. Wharton's letters to them even express a rare happiness at being an American. The Garretts' friendship with Wharton lasted long after the war, and their influence appears in works such as The Age of Innocence (1920), “Her Son” (1933), and “Charm, Incorporated” (1934).
The perception of healthcare employees and the impact of healthcare accreditation on the quality of healthcare in Korea
Authors: Park Il-Tae , Jung Yoen-Yi , Suk Seung-Han
Published: October 2017

Objective: In order to encourage more hospitals to participate in the accreditation, there needs to be “substantial evidence of the effectiveness of accreditation”. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze healthcare employees’ perceptions of hospital accreditation and the impact of hospital accreditation on the quality of healthcare in Korea.Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched between June and July 2016. Of the initially identified 392 abstracts, 14 empirical studies on healthcare accreditation in Korea were selected based on the inclusion criteria. These were retrieved and analyzed.Results: The 14 studies assessed healthcare employees’ perception of hospital accreditation as well as the impact of hospital accreditation on the quality of healthcare. The results were classified into four categories according to perception (Need, Purpose, Intent, and Relevance of standards), and into five categories according to the impact of accreditation (Patient safety and healthcare quality, Satisfaction with hospital employees, Leadership, Organizational culture, and Managerial performance). Findings showed that healthcare employees’ had good understanding of the purpose, need, and intention of the healthcare accreditation system, but indicated that limitations exist with the accreditation standards. Moreover, evidence showed that healthcare accreditation in Korea has made a positive impact on “patient safety and healthcare quality”, “leadership” and “organizational culture”.Conclusions: Healthcare accreditation has had a positive overall impact on hospitals and has improved the quality of healthcare as well as patient safety. However, more rigorous research and more diverse research methods are required to determine its long-term effect.
DOAC use in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Kcükköylü Seher , Rump Lars
Published: October 2017

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly prescribed substances in patients with indication for effective anticoagulation. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high burden of cardiovascular risk and are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AF) than patients without CKD. Patients with mild to moderate CKD benefit from DOACs, especially when having intolerance to vitamin K-antagonists (VKA). DOACs may in some cases be considered in patients with rare renal disease and hypercoagulabilic state. DOACs are to a large extent eliminated by renal excretion. Since prospective randomised data in CKD patients are sparse, the decision for anticoagulative therapy is challenging especially in patients with severe renal impairment. The direct factor Xa-inhibitors are approved for use even in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 15 and 30 ml/min. Careful monitoring of renal function on a regular basis is essential before initiation and after start of DOAC, especially for patients at risk for acute renal failure (elderly, diabetics, patients with preexisting kidney disease). None of the DOACs is approved in CKD patients with end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD) with or without dialysis. DOACs are not recommended for kidney transplant patients under immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors. In these patients conventional therapy with VKA is the only option, which has to be monitored closely since it has potential adverse effects.
Managerial Cognition, Strategy and Performance of Foreign SMEs in Romania
Authors: Voinea Cosmina Lelia
Published: October 2017

Economic downturn can either create opportunities or difficult threats for small and medium sized enterprises. Managerial perceptions act as environmental interpretations and influence the strategies that are implemented during recessions and other difficult situations. In any scenario, they affect organizational performance. This paper investigates the interactions between managerial cognition of an economic recession, the response strategy chosen and the consequences for firm performance amongst foreign SMEs operating in Romania across 12 industries. We consider both managerial and organisational antecedents for organisational performance.
The Study of English Culture-Specific Items in Persian Translation Based on House’s Model: The Case of Waiting for Godot
Authors: Amiri Elham Shalforoosh , Tabrizi Hossein Heidari
Published: October 2017

Each society’s language differs from other societies’ languages; because of the distinctions over the dialects, implications and ideas fluctuate crosswise over two unique dialects. The clearest purposes of distinction between dialects show up in their writing, which contains a lot of culture-specific items (CSIs); this causes some degree of complexities while exchanging implications and ideas from a languege into another. The present study was an attempt to discover proposed interpretation techniques connected in the two translations of Waiting for Godot by Aliakbar Alizad (1385, 2006) and Asgar Rastgar (1393, 2014). There are great differences in the translation. The practice of translators in rendering cultural items of the original reflects their different attitude in the choice of translation strategies The hypothetical structure of this examination depended on the cultural items classification and strategies proposed by Newmark (1988) as well as Houses’s (1997) model of translation quality assessment. After extracting cultural items of the original text and their classification, each item was compared and contrasted whit its corresponding rendering in the two translations. The strategies used by translators were then determined. The findings showed that Alizad’s work is an overt translation, while Rastgar’s work is a covert one. Rastgar’s strategies led into great differences with the original. His overuse of informal words and expressions as well as cultural items has domesticated his translation.
Metadiscourse Analysis of Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: A Corpus-Based Study
Authors: Siddique Ali Raza , Mahmood Muhammad Asim , Iqbal Javed
Published: October 2017

Metadiscourse markers (MMs) are lexical resources that writers use to organize their discourse and express their stance about the content or the reader. Metadiscourse analysis of Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials (PENE) has been conducted. The corpus of this study has contained 1000 editorials taken from four renowned Pakistani newspapers: Dawn News (DN), The Frontier (TF), The Express Tribune (TET) and The News (TN). The distribution of 250 editorials from each newspaper has been retrieved from online sources. The frequencies of metadiscourse features (MFs) have been counted and compared, and further studied metadiscourse features (MFs) functionally on the basis of propositional and non-propositional contents. A comprehensive model on Interpersonal metadiscourse has been proposed and it has been categorized into interactive and interactional markers. A comprehensive scheme of metadiscourse markers (MMs) has been proposed for the analysis of the present study. The findings revealed that all corpora used more interactive than interactional markers. In this regard, the sub-categories of interactive metadiscourse such as sequencing markers and transition markers have been frequently observed in the corpus of The Frontier (TF) as compared to other said corpora. The sub-categories of interactional metadiscourse such as engagement, and hedges have been frequently seen in the corpus of The Frontier (TF) as compared to other said corpora. In conclusion, this study has claimed that The Frontier (TF) is more reader-friendly because of the excessive use of interactive metadiscourse.
Alcohol en drugs in het weg-, vlieg- en vaarverkeer
Authors: Hu-a-ng W.A.M.
Published: October 2017

Alcohol en drugs in het weg-, vlieg- en vaarverkeer

Naar aanleiding van nieuwsberichten omtrent roekeloos rij-, vlieg- en vaargedrag is de strafbaarstelling van het gebruik van alcohol of drugs door chauffeurs, piloten en schippers in het weg-, lucht- en vaarverkeer in Curaçao onder de loep genomen. Hierbij is een vergelijking gemaakt met de situatie in Aruba en Nederland, waarbij de nadruk ligt op beantwoording van de vraag of de Curaçaose wetgeving toereikend is om het rijden, vliegen en varen onder invloed van alcohol en drugs optimaal te kunnen bestrijden.
Industrial pollution and human rights
Authors: van den Bergh L.E.J.
Published: October 2017

Industrial pollution and human rights. A case study of the Isla refinery on Curaçao

The pollution by the Isla refinery on Curaçao has been a problem for many years. Curaçaoans living downwind of the refinery experience many health issues on account of its toxic emissions. These problems are well known to both the Curaçao government and the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – however, neither seem to have taken any real action in order to put an end to the harmful effects of the refinery’s emissions. This article explores whether there is an arguable case that the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), namely Article 2 and Article 8, of the people of Curaçao most affected by Isla’s emissions are being violated.
De bagatelbepaling van artikel 7 lid 2 Mw verplicht de ACM tot marktonderzoek
Authors: Cornelissen Frank , van der Heul Sjaak
Published: October 2017

De bagatelbepaling van artikel 7 lid 2 verplicht de ACM tot marktonderzoek

Op 13 oktober 2016 heeft de Rechtbank Rotterdam de boetebesluiten vernietigd die de ACM had gericht tegen twee taxiondernemingen (en hun feitelijk leidinggevenden) die actief waren op het gebied van contractueel taxivervoer. Volgens de ACM hadden de taxiondernemingen zich schuldig gemaakt aan verboden afstemmingen van hun inschrijvingen voor contractueel taxivervoer in de regio Rotterdam. Hoewel de Rechtbank Rotterdam het oordeel van de ACM deelt dat de taxiondernemingen partij waren bij overeenkomsten met mededingingsbeperkende strekking, had de ACM niet bewezen dat het marktaandeel van betrokken partijen groter was dan de bagateldrempel van artikel 7 lid 2 Mededingingswet (Mw). De uitspraak roept diverse vragen op. De auteurs gaan achtereenvolgens in op de zelfstandige rol van het merkbaarheidsvereiste in geval van een strekkingsbeding, op de rol van de bagatelbepaling en op de marktafbakening bij aanbestedingsprocedures.
Application of Power Ultrasound to Chemical Dissolution for Quantitative Analysis of Cotton and Polyester Blended Fabrics
Authors: Mingxing Zhou , Zhuo Meng , Yize Sun , Zhibiao Ye
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the feasibility of applying ultrasonic technology to quantitative analysis of cotton and polyester blended fabrics by the chemical dissolution method is explored. Four varieties of blends with different cotton contents were employed and dissolved in sulfuric acid solution with ultrasound assistance. Although three different frequencies: 20, 28 and 40 kHz were adopted, the experimental results indicate that there is no difference between them. For some fabrics that cannot be untwisted into yarns, ultrasonic technology has good experimental results while only needing a fabric form prepared from a small, long strip. By comparison with the traditional mechanical oscillation method stated in ISO 1833-11:2006, the more meaningful role of ultrasonic lies in the fact that the experimental time and usage of solvent can be reduced by half, which is in agreement with resource savings and environmental protection. Broadly speaking, the study demonstrated that ultrasound assisted chemical dissolution for the quantitative analysis of cotton and polyester blended fabric is feasible.