bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“I Come from Georgia”: Andrew Cobb Erwin’s Southern Resistance to the Ku Klux Klan
Authors: Lewis Camille Kaminski
Published: July 2020

During the 1924 Democratic National Convention, Will Rogers described the party’s deliberation on Saturday as “the day when I heard the most religion preached, and the least practiced of any day in the world’s history.” The Democrats had been debating over whether to officially condemn the Ku Klux Klan in the party platform. William Jennings Bryan ended his own address offering white supremacist support with an all-too-common appeal for the party to simply “return to Jesus” rather than condemn white supremacy. Among the flurry of religious rhetoric that week, one voice surprised the delegates. Just before Bryan, one son of a Confederate officer and former mayor of the Klan stronghold, Athens, Georgia, spoke. He looked small. His voice cracked. But when he spoke outside the stereotype of a Southern politician and against the KKK, Madison Square Garden erupted with both hisses and cheers. That day Andrew Cobb Erwin gave us a model of how to resist within a politically charged religious climate.
Empowering the Elderly?
Authors: Clotworthy Amy
Published: July 2020

Health programmes that offer ›help to self-help‹ are meant to empower ageing adults to remain independent and self-sufficient at home for as long as possible. But what happens when the private home becomes a political realm in which state intervention and individual agency happen simultaneously? Based on 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork in a Danish municipality, Amy Clotworthy describes how both health professionals and elderly citizens negotiate the political discourses about health and ageing that frame their relational encounter. By elucidating some of the conflicts, paradoxes, and negotiations that occur, she provides important insights into the contemporary organisation of eldercare.
A PANDEMIA COVID-19 EM PORTUGAL CONTINENTAL – UMA ANÁLISE GEOGRÁFICA DA EVOLUÇÃO VERIFICADA NOS MESES DE MARÇO E ABRIL
Authors: Marques da Costa Eduarda , Marques da Costa Nuno
Published: July 2020

O processo de difusão do vírus pelos vários países e regiões do mundo, vem destacar a importância da geografia na interpretação dos fenómenos. O presente artigo tem como objetivo identificar a evolução concelhia da propagação do vírus COVID-19, no período compreendido entre março e abril em Portugal Continental, procurando relacionar esse padrão com as características demográficas e socioeconómicas do território continental português. O processo de difusão iniciou-se pelas áreas urbanas mais densas, seguindo as áreas de fronteira e posteriormente, propagou-se aos territórios de população envelhecida e menor densidade demográfica.
EDUCAÇÃO GEOGRÁFICA NO COMBATE A NECROPOLÍTICA RACIAL DO CORONAVÍRUS
Authors: Ferracini Rosemberg
Published: July 2020

Este texto tem como objetivo demonstrar que o racismo estrutural contribui para a espacialização do coronavírus na sociedade brasileira. O diálogo passa por estudos de dados do Ministério da Saúde e do IBGE –Instituto Brasileiro Geográfico e Estatístico- relacionados às escalas espaciais e temporais dos conceitos de branquitude e raça, gênero e classe. Conclui-se que a ausência de políticas públicas afeta diretamente a população pobre e negra do país. Diante dessas problematizações, espera-se alcançar professores e alunos de geografia nos diferentes níveis para uma luta de equidade racial na saúde e da geografia médica.
DIFUSÃO ESPACIAL DA COVID-19 NO ESPÍRITO SANTO: UMA ABORDAGEM INICIAL
Authors: Catao Rafael de Castro , Ribeiro Flora Antonia Soares , Veltem Cheylla da Penha Carli de Castro , Freitas Marcone Henrique de , Chrisóstomo Felipe Cunha
Published: July 2020

Compreender a difusão espacial da COVID-19 no território do Espírito Santo se faz necessário para pensar as estruturas de saúde e as redes de serviços que serão mobilizadas para o enfrentamento da doença. Assim com os fluxos que percorrem o estado e estruturam em rede de municípios. A partir dos dados disponíveis no Painel COVID-19 do Estado do Espírito Santo, elaboramos uma análise em duas escalas, uma regional e uma do espaço urbano, para compreender a difusão espacial e a distribuição dessa doença. Foram elaborados mapas de difusão espacial e sobreposto às informações espaciais da doença. Verificamos que a difusão se inicia pela Região Metropolitana da Grande Vitória - RMGV e se difunde na rede urbana, mobilizando as capitais regionais mais distantes além dos municípios contíguos. O processo de interiorização em curso é observado, mas ainda há uma grande concentração dos casos na RMGV. Na escala do espaço urbano verificamos o processo de periferização com um aumento de letalidade nas áreas mais periféricas.
COVID-19, REGIÕES DE SAÚDE E OS DESAFIOS DO PLANEJAMENTO TERRITORIAL NO BRASIL
Authors: Guimarães Raul Borges , Simon Carolina Russo , Lima João Pedro Pereira Caetano de
Published: July 2020

Este artigo tem como objetivo central discutir os desafios do planejamento territorial para o enfrentamento da pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil a partir do resultado da análise da demanda do Consórcio de Desenvolvimento do Vale do Rio Grande (CODEVAR). Composto por 25 municípios com cidades de médio e pequeno porte no oeste do Estado de São Paulo, a preocupação dos gestores municipais do CODEVAR era o detalhamento do planejamento da cobertura hospitalar para os casos mais graves de COVID-19 na região, em especial os leitos de UTI destinados aos pacientes com necessidade de respiradores. Ainda que os municípios do CODEVAR procurem atuar em conjunto, constatou-se que eles são pertencentes à diferentes pactuações de saúde. Assim, o presente estudo demonstra a necessidade de aprofundamento de pesquisas acerca da regionalização em saúde. Para isso, o objetivo principal do trabalho é demonstrar as dificuldades encontradas para o planejamento territorial neste momento pandêmico e de emergência em saúde pública. Foram produzidos mapas temáticos para visualização e compreensão da pactuação de saúde na região consorciada, utilizando-se da análise cartográfica da sobreposição de diferentes recortes regionais e da análise da distribuição dos equipamentos existentes. Diante da dificuldade para obter os dados regionais, o estudo aponta a necessidade de maior detalhamento do marco regulatório da regionalização da saúde no Brasil, considerando a contribuição conceitual da Geografia.
Pemberdayaan Perempuan Melalui Gerakan Saya Perempuan Antikorupsi (SPAK) di Yogyakarta
Authors: Muryanti Muryanti , Muryani Tri , Lestari Anggi Candra
Published: July 2020

Gerakan Saya Perempuan Anti korupsi (SPAK) Yogyakarta merupakan salah satu bagian dari aktivitas kegiatan pencegahan antikorupsi yang dicanangkan oleh KPK. Pada awalnya sasaran dari aktivitas di Yogyakarta adalah masyarakat umum, kemudian dipersempit untuk perempuan penegak hukum dan disabilitas. Perempuan memiliki peran yang penting dalam kegiatan pencegahan antikorupsi karena tanggungjawabnya dalam pengaturan ekonomi keluarga. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif, dengan penggalian data melalui observasi dan wawawancara dengan anggota SPAK. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa Aktivitas SPAK Yogyakarta merupakan bagian dari kegiatan pemberdayaan masyarakat yang mencakup 4 aspek, yaitu: kuasa, partisipasi, penyadaran, akses dan kesejahteraan. Pemberdayaan SPAK Yogyakarta tersebut merupakan sebuah proses panjang mengingat kegiatan yang dilakukannya sebatas training dan sosialisasi sebagai bagian dari pendidikan anti korupsi, yang untuk mencaapai perubahan sistem sosial anti korupsi harus dibutuhkan waktu dan energi yang cukup untuk proses training dan sosialisasi. Namun, kegiatan yang dilakukan sudah mampu memberikan penyadaran kepada aktor untuk melakukan tindakan pencegahan pada level diri, keluarga dan masyarakat untuk memiliki kuasa, akses, partisipasi dan kesejahteraan dalam tindakan pencegahan anti korupsi. Hal ini menjadi motivasi bagi SPAK Yogyarta untuk menjalankan kegiatannya secara terus menerus menuju negara dan masyarakat anti korupsi.[The movement of “I am Anti­corruption woman” (SPAK) Yogyakarta is one part of anti­corruption prevention activities proclaimed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). At first, the targets of activity in Yogyakarta were the general public, then narrowed down for women in law enforcement and women with disability. Women play an important role in anti­ corruption prevention activities because they are responsible to manage the household’s economy. This research uses the qualitative method to collect the data through observation and interview. The result of this research shows that SPAK Yogyakarta activity is part of community empowerment covering four aspects, namely: power, participation, awareness, access, and prosperity. The empowerment of SPAK Yogyakarta is a long process due to the activities which are limited in training and socialization as part of anti­corruption education, whereas to achieve the change of anti-corruption social system, it requires sufficient time and energy to organize the training and socialization process. However, the activities undertaken are able to provide awareness for the actors to take preventive action at the personal, family, and community level to have the power, access, participation, and prosperity in anti­corruption prevention measures. It becomes the motivation for SPAK Yogyarta to run its activities continuously towards an anti­corruption state and society.]
Perempuan Menggugat (Kajian atas QS. al-Mujadilah [58]: 1-6)
Authors: Waryono Waryono
Published: July 2020

Kekerasan terhadap perempuan merupakan fenomena klasik dan masih terus terjadi hingga hari ini. Banyak faktor yang membuat kaum Hawa menjadi korban, salah satunya adalah faktor yang mengatasnamakan agama. Ini tentu sebuah ironi, karena agama sebenarnya tidak pernah mengajarkan kekerasan, apalagi terhadap perempuan. Melalui kajian surat al-Mujadilah ayat 1-6, Allah Swt begitu cepat merespon protes seorang perempuan yang mendapat perlakukan tidak adil dari suaminya. Ini sebagai bukti bahwa perempuan harus dimuliakan bukan dihinakan. Suami atau laki-laki yang semena-mena terhadap perempuan adalah suami atau laki-laki yang tidak terhormat.[The violence against women is a classic phenomenon and it keeps happened until nowadays. There are many factors which make women as the victim of this violence, one of them is religion factor. It is ironic because the religion never teaches about violence against women. Therefore, through the study of Al-Mujadilah: 1-6, Allah SWT answers the protest of women who get unfair treatment from her husband. It is as a proof that women should be honored instead of humiliated. The man was arbitrarily against women is a man who is not honorable.]
VALIDITY OF PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIC LITERATURE AS A SOURCE OF AUTHENTICATION OF HADIS
Authors: Baharuddin Mochammad Achwan , Soebahar Moh. Erfan , Mujibatun Siti
Published: July 2020

The focus of this paper is the authenticity of the hadith, because in addition to the problem of the method used, it is also a matter of sources that are problematic. One source that is often used is literature, especially pre-Islamic Arabic literature (jahiliyah). The relevance of literature in authenticating hadith gives rise to a question, the extent to which the validity of pre-Islamic Arabic Literature can be used as evidence and what are the requirements that must be met when the study of the authenticity of hadith uses pre-Islamic Literature as one of the proofs. Using a Using a descriptive analytic method with a historical approach, this paper concludes that pre-Islamic Arabic literature when used as a source of authenticity of the hadith then the task of research is to reduce the difference in question. The reduction is intended so that the legality of literature as a source of hadith authentication can be accepted. This reduction includes: (1) authorship. Just as the news attributed to the Prophet must be proven to have its source in the Prophet, pre-Islamic Arabic Literature must also be proven to come from pre-Islamic Arabic writers, (2) narration. Pre-Islamic Arabic literature must also be tested extrinsically as an extrinsic factor test on the Hadith of the Prophet, (3) context. Literature was born not in an empty space so that the content of pre-Islamic Arabic literature must also reflect the life of the Arab Nation in pre-Islamic times. Therefore, when the reduction has not yet been carried out, in the context of the accuracy of the study of the authenticity of the hadith it cannot be accepted.
Optimisation of fungal glucoamylase production by Response Surface Methodology and characterisation of the purified enzyme
Authors: Polley Tapasi , Ghosh Uma
Published: July 2020

A statistical approach was made for the production of glucoamylase by Aspergillus niger using wheat bran and green gram as fermentation medium. Box-Behnken design used to analyse the simultaneous impact of the substrate, hydration, inoculum volume, fermentation time and temperature, using a second-order polynomial. The experimental results were in good agreement with the proposed regression model with R2 = 0.9322 (p<0.05). The maximum yield (313 U/gds against the predicted value of 306 U/gds) was obtained using 12 gm substrate, 55% moisture, 1 gm sucrose and 0.05 gm tryptone. The purification and characterisation of the enzyme were also studied. Optimum thermal and pH stability was 60 °C and 5 respectively.
Lojalność pracownika: trwała wartość czy anachroniczna cnota?
Authors: Lewicka-Strzałecka Anna
Published: July 2020

The article tries to answer the question whether employee’s loyalty has any sense in the present day reality, when people change their job much more often than ever before and firms can appear and disappear very quickly. As the notion of loyalty is complex and polysemous, the first part of the article is devoted to the philosophical reflection on this issue. Next, the main arguments in the discussion on the employee’s loyalty are reconstructed and the pattern of loyal employees based on managerial experience is shown. This leads to the conclusion that there is no universal answer to the question about the sense of employee’s loyalty because it depends on the meaning of the term of loyalty and specific attributes of the organization for which the employee works. However, in some circumstances loyalty has the potential to contribute significantly to the employee’s fulfillment and to enhance the economic results of the organization. The main challenge for researchers is to identify these circumstances and conditions.
Wzory kultury gospodarczej jako przedmiot badania. Kilka uwag po lekturze Stosunków pracy… Janusza Hryniewicza
Authors: Rotengruber Przemysław
Published: July 2020

The patterns of culture is a well known phrase which was used for first time by Ruth Benedict. The successors of this tradition believe that culture – in its essence – is governed by rules of a different kind. Anthropologists, sociologists and representatives of cultural studies, focus attention on patterns of very long duration (long-term historical structures which denote a variety of organized behaviours). One of these researchers is Janusz Hryniewicz. According to Hryniewicz, Polish economic practice is deeply involved in the cultural patterns of a so called manor farm origin. Unfortunately, this statement is inefficiently justified. This assumption is supported by circumstancial evidence (similarities between historical events) instead of the proper structural analysis of historical data. The main purpose of this paper is to scrutinize how patterns of culture (especially patterns of Polish economic culture) arise and which factors determine their stability.
Trudności grafomotoryczne ucznia wyzwaniem dla nauczycieli języka obcego
Authors: Domagała Aneta , Mirecka Urszula
Published: July 2020

The paper presents the results of studies on graphomotor skills and indi-cates the phenomena that may adversely affect the acquisition of know-ledge and school skills, including learning a foreign language. In the con-text of teaching foreign languages, graphomotor difficulties were related to the skill of writing and in particular to the graphic level of handwriting. Emphasis was also laid on graphic problems discovered in the course of qualitative analysis, which can be found also at the level of spelling, since their occurrence may especially hinder learning a new language.
Potencjał rozwojowy i funkcjonalny Obszaru Metropolitalnego Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot
Authors: Czapiewska Gabriela
Published: July 2020

Metropolizacja jest jednym z najważniejszych wyznaczników współczesnego modelu rozwoju. Obszary metropolitalne odgrywają ważną rolę w procesie rozwoju we współczesnym, globalizującym świecie (innowacje, nowe kierunki rozwoju gospodarki). Celem artykułu jest zobrazowanie potencjału rozwojowego oraz funkcjonalnego Obszaru Metropolitalnego Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot. W pierwszej części opracowania dokonano analizy pojęciowej terminu „obszar metropolitalny”. W kolejnej przedstawiono najważniejsze przejawy procesu metropolizacji, uwypuklając potencjał prezentowanego obszaru, funkcje metropolitalne oraz wiodące kierunki rozwojowe.
Suburbanizacja jako wyzwanie dla rozwoju transportu w miejskim obszarze funkcjonalnym Bydgoszczy i Torunia
Authors: Piątkowski Karol
Published: July 2020

Miejski obszar funkcjonalny (MOF) ośrodków wojewódzkich – Bydgoszczy i Torunia – jest szczególnym przykładem miejskiego duopolu, aczkolwiek o nie w pełni jeszcze wykształconych powiązaniach funkcjonalnych. Tworzą go dwa największe miasta województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego: Bydgoszcz (siedziba wojewody i urzędu wojewódzkiego) oraz Toruń (siedziba marszałka województwa i urzędu marszałkowskiego), leżące w odległości 30 km od siebie. Szansą na zacieśnienie współpracy obu ośrodków i gmin je otaczających stały się Zintegrowane Inwestycje Terytorialne (ZIT) – program UE wspierający zrównoważony rozwój w miejskich obszarach funkcjonalnych. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie projektów realizowanych w MOF Bydgoszczy i Torunia, które mają służyć zwiększeniu dostępności obu miast i zintegrowaniu ich systemów transportowych, realizowanych w latach 2014–2020. Ich analizę poprzedza naświetlenie przebiegu i skutków demograficznych oraz przestrzennych procesu suburbanizacji, powodującego konieczność zintegrowanych działań na całym obszarze funkcjonalnym Bydgoszczy i Torunia.
How America’s Corporations Lost their Public Purpose, and How it Might be (Partially) Restored
Authors: Ciepley David
Published: July 2020

In honor of Lynn Stout’s efforts to better suit the business corporation for the pursuit of long-term, publicly-beneficial purposes, the present essay reviews critically the historical process by which the corporation’s tie to public purposes—a precondition of the earliest grants of corporate powers to business enterprisers—was slowly severed. And it explores a form of corporate control, once widespread in the U.S. and easily revivable, that could partially restore corporate emphasis on public benefits—the foundation-controlled corporation.
Two-dimensional correlation analysis of periodicity in active galactic nuclei time series
Authors: Kovačević Andjelka B. , Popović Luka Č. , Ilić Dragana
Published: July 2020

The active galactic nuclei (AGN) are among the most powerful sources with an inherent, pronounced and random variation of brightness. The randomness of their time series is so subtle as to blur the border between aperiodic fluctuations and noisy oscillations. This poses challenges to analysing of such time series because neither visual inspection nor pre-exisitng methods can identify well oscillatory signals in them. Thus, there is a need for an objective method for periodicity detection. Here we review our a new data analysis method that combines a two-dimensional correlation (2D) of time series with the powerful methods of Gaussian processes. To demonstrate the utility of this technique, we apply it to two example problems which were not exploited enough: damped rednoised artificial time series mimicking AGN time series and newly published observed time series of changing look AGN (CL AGN) NGC 3516. The method successfully detected periodicities in both types of time series. Identified periodicity of ~4 yr in NGC 3516 allows us to speculate that if the thermal instability formed in its accretion disc (AD) on a time scale resembling detected periodicity then AD radius could be ~0.0024 pc.
The Impact of Marital Status on Job Finding: A Field Experiment in the Chinese Labor Market
Authors: Horváth Gergely
Published: July 2020

This paper studies the impact of marital status on job finding in China using the correspondence methodology. Fictitious CVs are sent to job advertisements through an online job board website, focusing on financial and accounting jobs, and the callback rate is measured. We vary the gender and marital status on otherwise identical CVs. The previous literature suggests that being married has a negative impact on the labor market outcomes of females, but a positive impact for males. In contrast, for the Chinese labor market, we do not find a significant effect of marital status on job finding for either gender.
Trends in seaweed resource use and aquaculture in South Africa and Namibia over the last 30 years
Authors: Rothman Mark D. , Anderson Robert J. , Kandjengo Lineekela , Bolton John J.
Published: July 2020

The seaweed industry of temperate Southern Africa was last reviewed in 2003. Since then there have been considerable changes. There are three main uses of kelp (mostly Ecklonia maxima, with some Laminaria pallida) in South Africa. The collection of wash-up for drying and exporting for alginate extraction has drastically reduced to very small amounts in recent years. The boat harvest of fresh kelp for abalone feed in land-based farms has reached a plateau of between 4000 and 5000 t fresh per annum. The diver harvest of E. maxima for agricultural liquid plant growth enhancer shows a constant increase over several years, is still growing, and is currently over 3000 t fresh per annum. The small intertidal collection of Gelidium pristoides as export for agar production has maintained a small, sustainable production of around 100 t dry for many years. Former Gracilaria industries in sheltered bays in both South Africa and Namibia have collapsed, and there is currently no commercial collection. There was commercial raft aquaculture production of Gracilaria in Lüderitz Bay, Namibia for a number of years, but this is no longer practised. Currently, the only commercial seaweed use in Namibia is of L. pallida. Annually, ca. 150 t of fresh wash-up is collected, in Lüderitz, to be used as feed in land-based abalone aquaculture. There are a number of small start-up companies experimenting with seaweed products for cosmetics and nutritional products in both countries, some involving species of Ulva and Porphyra. The former species is a major aquaculture product, with around 2000 t fresh yr–1 being produced in integrated land-based systems with abalone.
Analysis of B-type natriuretic peptide impurities using label-free data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry technology
Authors: Xiao Peng , Zhang Fan , Wang Xinxue , Song Dewei , Li Hongmei
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Synthetic B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is employed in most clinical testing platforms as a raw material of calibrator. Characterization of impurities with structures similar (BNPstrimp compounds) to that of BNP is a reasonable way to decrease clinical measurement errors and improve drug safety.

Methods

A novel quantitative method targeted towards BNPstrimp compounds was developed. First, the peptide samples were separated and identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). To evaluate biological activity further, BNPstrimp immunoaffinity was investigated using western blot (WB) assays. Second, a quantitative label-free data-independent acquisition (DIA) MS approach was developed, and the internal standard peptide (ISP) was hydrolyzed. Absolute quantification was performed using an isotope dilution MS (ID-MS) approach. Third, method precision was investigated using the C-peptide reference material.

Results

Seventeen BNPstrimp compounds were identified in synthetic BNP, and 10 of them were successfully sequenced. The immunoassay results indicated that deaminated, oxidized, and isomerized BNPstrimp compounds exhibited weaker immunoaffinity than intact BNP1-32. The mass fraction of the synthetic solid ISP1-16, quantified by ID-MS, was 853.5 (±17.8) mg/g. Validation results indicated that the developed method was effective and accurate for the quantitation of the well-separated BNP impurities.

Conclusions

The developed approach was easy to perform, and it was suitable for the parallel quantification of low-abundance BNPstrimp compounds when they performed a good separation in liquid chromatography. The quantitative results were comparable and traceable. This approach is a promising tool for BNP product quality and safety assessment.
Analytical evaluation of four faecal immunochemistry tests for haemoglobin
Authors: Piggott Carolyn , Carroll Magdalen R. R. , John Cerin , O’Driscoll Shane , Benton Sally C.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) for haemoglobin (Hb) are being used in the investigation of colorectal cancer. These tests use antibodies raised to the globin moiety of human Hb. Here, four automated quantitative FIT systems (HM-JACKarc, NS-Prime, OC-Sensor PLEDIA and SENTiFIT 270) are evaluated analytically to confirm whether the performance of the systems meet the manufacturers’ claims.

Methods

Assessment of the analytical performance of the FIT systems was undertaken using Hb lysates, real patient samples and external quality assessment (EQA) samples. This analytical assessment focused on detection characteristics, imprecision, linearity, prozone effect, recovery and carryover.

Results

All four methods demonstrated good analytical performance, with acceptable within- and between-run imprecision, good recovery of f-Hb and limited carryover of samples. They also all show good linearity across the range of concentrations tested. The results of EQA samples showed different variations from the target values (−52 to 45%), due to the absence of standardisation across the different methods.

Conclusions

All four systems are fit for purpose and have an analytical performance as documented by their manufacturers.
Influence of isotopically labeled internal standards on quantification of serum/plasma 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
Authors: Loh Tze Ping , Ho Chung Shun , Hartmann Michaela F. , Zakaria Rosita , Lo Clara Wai Shan , van den Berg Sjoerd , de Rijke Yolanda B. , Cooke Brian R. , Hoad Kirsten , Graham Peter , Davies Stephen R. , Mackay Lindsey G. , Wudy Stefan A. , Greaves Ronda F.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Our recent survey of 44 mass spectrometry laboratories across 17 countries identified variation in internal standard (IS) choice for the measurement of serum/plasma 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The choice of IS may contribute to inter-method variations. This study evaluated the effect of two common isotopically labeled IS on the quantification of 17OHP by LC-MS/MS.

Methods

Three collaborating LC-MS/MS laboratories from Asia, Europe and Australia, who routinely measure serum 17OHP, compared two IS, (1) IsoSciences carbon-13 labeled 17OHP-[2,3,4-13C3], and (2) IsoSciences deuterated 17OHP-[2,2,4,6,6,21,21,21-2H]. This was performed as part of their routine patient runs using their respective laboratory standard operating procedure.

Results

The three laboratories measured 99, 89, 95 independent samples, respectively (up to 100 nmol/L) using the 13C- and 2H-labeled IS. The slopes of the Passing-Bablok regression ranged 0.98–1.00 (all 95% confidence interval [CI] estimates included the line of identity), and intercept of <0.1 nmol/L. Average percentage differences of −0.04% to −5.4% were observed between the two IS materials, which were less than the optimal bias specification of 7% determined by biological variation, indicating no clinically significant difference. The results of 12 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP) proficiency samples (1–40 nmol/L) measured by the laboratories were all within the RCPAQAP analytical performance specifications for both IS.

Conclusions

Overall, the comparison between the results of 13C- and 2H-labeled IS for 17OHP showed good agreement, and show no clinically significant bias when incorporated into the LC-MS/MS methods employed in the collaborating laboratories.
The emerging role of cell senescence in atherosclerosis
Authors: Wu Chang-Meng , Zheng Lei , Wang Qian , Hu Yan-Wei
Published: July 2020

Cell senescence is a fundamental mechanism of aging and appears to play vital roles in the onset and prognosis of cardiovascular disease, fibrotic pulmonary disease, liver disease and tumor. Moreover, an increasing body of evidence shows that cell senescence plays an indispensable role in the formation and development of atherosclerosis. Multiple senescent cell types are associated with atherosclerosis, senescent human vascular endothelial cells participated in atherosclerosis via regulating the level of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin II and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), senescent human vascular smooth muscle cells-mediated plaque instability and vascular calcification via regulating the expression level of BMP-2, OPN, Runx-2 and inflammatory molecules, and senescent macrophages impaired cholesterol efflux and promoted the development of senescent-related cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes the characteristics of cell senescence and updates the molecular mechanisms underlying cell senescence. Moreover, we also discuss the recent advances on the molecular mechanisms that can potentially regulate the development and progression of atherosclerosis.
Study of total error specifications of lymphocyte subsets enumeration using China National EQAS data and Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC)-compliant publications
Authors: Li Chenbin , Wang Yu , Lu Hong , Du Zhongli , Xu Chengshan , Peng Mingting
Published: July 2020

Objectives

It is important to select proper quality specifications for laboratories and external quality assessment (EQA) providers for their quality control and assessment. The aim of this study is to produce new total error (TE) specifications for lymphocyte subset enumeration by analyzing the allowable TE using EQAS data and comparing them with that based on reliable biological variation (BV).

Methods

A total of 54,400 results from 1,716 laboratories were collected from China National EQAS for lymphocyte subset enumeration during the period 2017–2019. The EQA data were grouped according to lower limits of reference intervals for establishing concentration-dependent specifications. The TE value that 80% of laboratories can achieve were considered as TE specifications based on state of the art. The BV studies compliant with Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC) were used to calculate the three levels of TE specifications. Then these TE specifications were compared for determining the recommended TE specifications.

Results

Four parameters whose quality specifications could achieve the optimum criteria were as follows: the percentages of CD3+, CD3+CD4+ (high concentration) and CD3–CD16/56+ cells, and the absolute count of CD3–CD16/56+ cells. Only the TE specifications of CD3–CD19+ cells could achieve the minimum criteria. The TE specifications of remaining parameters should reach the desirable criteria.

Conclusions

New TE specifications were established by combining the EQA data and reliable BV data, which could help laboratories to apply proper criteria for continuous improvement of quality control, and EQA providers to use robust acceptance limits for better evaluation of EQAS results.
Performance assessment of high temperature water-gas-shift reaction for hydrogen generation and its purification in a membrane reactor/separator of hydrogen or of carbon dioxide
Authors: Eddi Imed , Chibane Lemnouer
Published: July 2020

In the current work, the high temperature water gas shift reaction assessment for hydrogen generation and its purification was carried out in reactors integrating hydrogen or carbon dioxide perm-selective membranes. Indeed, the performance of the high temperature water gas shift reaction was analyzed under adiabatic conditions through a mathematical model developed for this purpose. The main results indicate that both membrane reactors provide under some conditions a complete carbon monoxide conversion. As a result the dual phase membrane presents a great separation capacity of carbon dioxide. This gives us the opportunity to obtain a high purity of hydrogen. Thus, it can be concluded that the concept of the membrane reactor that used for carbon dioxide separation could be a veritable competitor and a great promise candidate for replacing the Pd based membrane reactors which is used for hydrogen separation.
Missed acute myocardial infarction in the emergency department-standardizing measurement of misdiagnosis-related harms using the SPADE method
Authors: Sharp Adam L. , Baecker Aileen , Nassery Najlla , Park Stacy , Hassoon Ahmed , Lee Ming-Sum , Peterson Susan , Pitts Samantha , Wang Zheyu , Zhu Yuxin , Newman-Toker David E.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Diagnostic error is a serious public health problem. Measuring diagnostic performance remains elusive. We sought to measure misdiagnosis-related harms following missed acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) in the emergency department (ED) using the symptom-disease pair analysis of diagnostic error (SPADE) method.

Methods

Retrospective administrative data analysis (2009–2017) from a single, integrated health system using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coded discharge diagnoses. We looked back 30 days from AMI hospitalizations for antecedent ED treat-and-release visits to identify symptoms linked to probable missed AMI (observed > expected). We then looked forward from these ED discharge diagnoses to identify symptom-disease pair misdiagnosis-related harms (AMI hospitalizations within 30-days, representing diagnostic adverse events).

Results

A total of 44,473 AMI hospitalizations were associated with 2,874 treat-and-release ED visits in the prior 30 days. The top plausibly-related ED discharge diagnoses were “chest pain” and “dyspnea” with excess treat-and-release visit rates of 9.8% (95% CI 8.5–11.2%) and 3.4% (95% CI 2.7–4.2%), respectively. These represented 574 probable missed AMIs resulting in hospitalization (adverse event rate per AMI 1.3%, 95% CI 1.2–1.4%). Looking forward, 325,088 chest pain or dyspnea ED discharges were followed by 508 AMI hospitalizations (adverse event rate per symptom discharge 0.2%, 95% CI 0.1–0.2%).

Conclusions

The SPADE method precisely quantifies misdiagnosis-related harms from missed AMIs using administrative data. This approach could facilitate future assessment of diagnostic performance across health systems. These results correspond to ∼10,000 potentially-preventable harms annually in the US. However, relatively low error and adverse event rates may pose challenges to reducing harms for this ED symptom-disease pair.
A modified rhombus shaped flexible wideband double negative (DNG) metamaterial for S, C, X, and Ku band applications
Authors: Negi Deepa , Khanna Rajesh , Kaur Jaswinder
Published: July 2020

In this paper a wideband, flexible, and novel structured double negative (DNG) metamaterial is designed for S, C, X, and Ku microwave applications. The 12 mm × 12 mm sized metamaterial is fabricated on a flexible FR4 substrate with thickness 0.25 mm. The metamaterial shows a total wide DNG region of 8.2 GHz (3.8–4.3 GHz and 6.8–14.5 GHz). The transmission coefficient of the unit cell has a total band gap bandwidth of 8.3 GHz from frequency range 2 to 16 GHz. The designed metamaterial also exhibits an extra-large and continuous negative refractive index (NRI) bandwidth of 13 GHz (2–15 GHz). The stop band regions along with DNG and NRI regions individually cover S, C, X, and Ku microwave regions. The complete analysis is done using CST microwave studio. The simulated and measured transmission coefficient curves of the proposed metamaterial are in good agreement. The structure is simple, cost effective, flexible, light weight, and wideband covering S, C, X, and Ku microwave spectra.
Deformation and failure mechanism of full seam chamber with extra-large section and its control technology
Authors: Huo Bingjie , Tai Yang , Meng Xiangbin , Kuang Tiejun
Published: July 2020

In order to effectively predict and control the rib spalling and roof leakage, it is necessary to reveal the deformation and failure mechanism of the chamber and propose the corresponding surrounding rock control technology. Based on uniaxial compression experiments and numerical simulations, it is concluded that coal body damage is dominated by shear failure during uniaxial compression, which indicates to some extent the main form of damage of the surrounding rock in the chamber. Then the combined finite and discrete element method is used to establish a numerical model to reveal the evolution law of fracture in the surrounding rock. The simulation results show that after the excavation of the chamber, a large amount of shear failure occurred in the ribs and the roof. Then those cracks further developed, expanded, penetrated, and finally connected with the surface of the chamber. Under the effect of the mine pressure, the coal body is separated from the surface of the chamber, leading to the occurrence of rib spalling and roof leakage. So it was given that support method by controlling crack development. The grouting and high-strength anchor bolt and anchor cable are proposed to improve the shear strength of the surrounding rock, which helps to reduce the occurrence of cracks, and inhibit the cracks from interpenetrating. An industrial test was carried out in the chamber of Tashan Coal Mine, which showed good control effect of the surrounding rock in the chamber.
Plastic failure zone characteristics and stability control technology of roadway in the fault area under non-uniformly high geostress: A case study from Yuandian Coal Mine in Northern Anhui Province, China
Authors: Huang Yaoguang , Zhao Aining , Zhang Tianjun , Guo Weibin
Published: July 2020

In order to explore the effective support method for deep broken roadway, based on the in situ stress test results, the analytical and numerical solutions of the stress and the range of plastic failure zone (PFZ) in a circular roadway subjected to non-uniform loads were obtained using analytical and finite difference numerical methods based on the elastoplastic theory, respectively. Their comparison results show that the analytical and numerical methods are correct and reasonable. Furthermore, the high geostress causes the stress and range of PFZ in roadway roof and floor to increase sharply while those in roadway ribs decrease. Moreover, the greater the difference of horizontal geostress in different horizontal directions is, the larger the range of PFZ in roadway roof and floor is. The shape of PFZ in roadway varies with the ratio of horizontal lateral pressure coefficient in x-direction and y-direction. Finally, according to the distribution characteristics of PFZ and range of PFZ under the non-uniformly high geostress, this paper has proposed a combined support scheme, and refined and optimized supporting parameters. The field monitoring results prove that the roadway deformation and fracture have been effectively controlled. The research results of this paper can provide theoretical foundation as well as technical reference for the stability control of deep broken roadway under non-uniformly high geostress.
The furfuryl alcohol (FA) resin distribution in the furfurylated bamboo
Authors: Li Wanju , Liu Minghui , Wang Hankun , Zhai Hongbo , Yu Yan
Published: July 2020

It is well known the properties of resin impregnation wood is significantly influenced by the specific distribution pattern of resin in the modified wood. In this work, bamboo was furfurylated with an improved process. In addition to testing and evaluating its main physical, mechanical and durable properties, it was explored how the furfuryl alcohol (FA) resin is distributed in the furfurylated bamboo. To achieve this goal, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), nanoindentation, and imaging Fourier transform infrared microscopy (imaging FT-IR) were applied. SEM images demonstrates FA resin is mainly located in the parenchymal cell cavity of bamboo, however the existence of FA resin in the small cavities of the bamboo fibers is also observed by CLSM. In addition, the result of nanoindentation and imaging FT-IR both indicates that FA can penetrate and polymerize within the cell wall of the bamboo fiber. It is then concluded the heterogeneous but multi-scale distribution of FA resin should be responsible for the significant improvement of furfurylated bamboo in both dimensional stability and biological durability.
Creation and structural evaluation of the three-dimensional cellulosic material “White-Colored Bamboo”
Authors: Kurei Tatsuki , Tsushima Rino , Okahisa Yoko , Nakaba Satoshi , Funada Ryo , Horikawa Yoshiki
Published: July 2020

This study reports a new cellulosic material that maintains the original three-dimensional structure of bamboo and is produced by optimization of chemical treatments. Bamboo blocks were prepared from the current year culms of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) and subjected to three chemical treatments alone or in combination. Based on the color changes and Fourier transform infrared spectra, the combination of alkaline treatment with alcoholysis followed by Wise method was found to be an optimal treatment method. This serial treatment caused the blocks to become completely white and removed non-cellulosic components such as hemicellulose and lignin from the cell walls of the parenchyma as well as those of vascular bundles. This sample was named as “White-Colored Bamboo.” Extensive structural evaluations from anatomical- to nano- level were performed using X-ray computed tomography, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy incorporated with the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation technique. These multiple observations showed that the white-colored bamboo maintained its inherent hierarchical structure, thus encouraging to produce functional biomaterials.
Galectin-3 is modulated in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxia and nutrient deprivation
Authors: da Silva Filho Antônio F. , Tavares Lucas B. , Pitta Maira G. R. , Beltrão Eduardo I. C. , Rêgo Moacyr J. B. M.
Published: July 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive tumors with a microenvironment marked by hypoxia and starvation. Galectin-3 has been evaluated in solid tumors and seems to present both pro/anti-tumor effects. So, this study aims to characterize the expression of Galectin-3 from pancreatic tumor cells and analyze its influence for cell survive and motility in mimetic microenvironment. For this, cell cycle and cell death were accessed through flow cytometry. Characterization of inside and outside Galectin-3 was performed through Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence, Western blot, and ELISA. Consequences of Galectin-3 extracellular inhibition were investigated using cell death and scratch assays. PANC-1 showed increased Galectin-3 mRNA expression when cultivated in hypoxia for 24 and 48 h. After 24 h in simultaneously hypoxic/deprived incubation, PANC-1 shows increased Galectin-3 protein and secreted levels. For Mia PaCa-2, cultivation in deprivation was determinant for the increasing in Galectin-3 mRNA expression. When cultivated in simultaneously hypoxic/deprived condition, Mia PaCa-2 also presented increasing for the Galectin-3 secreted levels. Treatment of PANC-1 cells with lactose increased the death rate when cells were incubated simultaneously hypoxic/deprived condition. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the microenvironmental conditions modulate the Galectin-3 expression on the transcriptional and translational levels for pancreatic cancer cells.
Modelling of large-particle-motion–heat-transfer coupling characteristics in rotary kiln based on discrete element method
Authors: Zheng Hongbin , Wang Bing , Liu Runjia , Zeng Dewang , Xiao Rui
Published: July 2020

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of the motion – heat-transfer coupling characteristics of waste tyre particles in a rotary kiln at 773–973 K was performed in this study. The particle dynamics and heat transfer characteristics were solved on a Lagrange grid. The motion model considered particle collisions using a nonslip collision model. Based on the particle motion results obtained, we considered three heat transfer mechanisms: particle–particle collision heat conduction, wall–particle radiation heat transfer, and wall–particle collision heat conduction. Subsequently, we established a mathematical model wherein the heat transfer associated with a particle is determined by its position in each time step, and implemented it on a JAVA platform to perform calculations. Finally, we obtained the temperature of each particle at each moment in the entire process. Further analysis of the simulation results shows that the average temperature and temperature standard deviation is governed by the wall temperature, rotation speed, and particle size.
Quality enhancement of Dendrobium officinale and banana juice through probiotic fermentation using beneficial lactic acid-producing bacteria
Authors: Xu Ya-nan , Zeng Li-ping , Xiao Nan , Wang Chao , Liang Zuan-hao , Wu Qiao-jin , Zhang Yan-jie , Du Bing , Li Pan
Published: July 2020

Consumption of functional juice is becoming increasingly popular. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotic fermentation with Bacillus sp. DU-106; Lactobacillus planturum Lp-43 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-156 on the biochemical and functional characteristics, antioxidant activities and storage stability of Dendrobium officinale and banana (DOB) juice. The cell levels of the lactic acid bacteria reached near 9 log copies/mL after fermentation at 32 °C for 36 h and could keep in this level after storage at 4 °C for 28 days. After fermentation, total acidity, flavonoids and polysaccharide contents of DOB juice increased, while pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, vitamin C, β-carotene, sugar contents and antioxidant capacity slightly decreased. Compared with nonfermented DOB juice, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities of fermented DOB decreased significantly, but the color value and the content of total phenols and vitamin C decreased slightly in fermented DOB juice during storage. Overall, the probiotic fermentation with selected strains could improve the quality the DOB juice, enhance antioxidant capacity and storage stability, and destroy accumulation of nitrite and nitrate during storage. Findings of this study would help in the development of beneficial beverages in industrial production.