bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extreme Costume: A conversation with Simona Rybáková
Authors: Pantouvaki Sofia
Published: May 2019

This contribution is developed from a series of discussions with Simona Rybáková, Czech costume designer and curator of the Extreme Costume exhibition that was presented at the Prague Quadrennial in 2011 (PQ11). Following an overview on the presence of costume at recent editions of the Prague Quadrennial, this text focuses on the Extreme Costume exhibition, which showcased cutting edge costume practice in a full-scale independent display, for the first time shown separately from the PQ11 general performance design exhibition. The discussion provides a critical reflection on the curatorial process for the Extreme Costume exhibition and illuminates the curator’s enquiry and her intentions behind specific choices. It includes a review of the audience’s response and, most importantly, concludes with Rybáková’s insights on her personal ‘emancipation’ from her long-lasting professional role as costume designer to the role of costume curator working with her colleagues’ practice for the purposes of this exhibition. Given the limited documentation available about Extreme Costume, the aim of this contribution is dual: to provide a resource on the scope and reach of this significant event; and to offer materials to costume research for further discussion related to exhibiting costume beyond the context of its original performance.
Educación sexual y afectiva en libros de texto de Ciencias Sociales y Ciencias Naturales de Primaria en el sistema educativo de Castilla La Mancha
Authors: Franco María Teresa Bejarano
Published: May 2019

El artículo presenta la actividad investigadora sobre revisión de imágenes con perspectiva de género en libros de texto de primaria utilizados en Castilla La Mancha. El objetivo de esta tarea se centra en saber si se está impartiendo el modelo de educación sexual y si se transmiten conocimientos sobre lo afectivo sexual. Para ello, se escogieron dos áreas de conocimiento, Ciencias Sociales y Ciencias Naturales y se seleccionaron 90 imágenes. Se aplicó un instrumento de recogida de datos denominado tabla de análisis diseñada a partir del planteamiento sobre educación en sexualidad que expone la OMS (2006).El análisis se llevó a cabo utilizando la técnica de análisis de contenido (Hsieh y Shannon, 2005). Las conclusiones revelan que no se trabaja el modelo de educación en sexualidad y que aún se siguen mostrando contenidos sesgados sobre lo afectivo-sexual.

PALABRAS-CLAVES: Educación sexual. Educación afectivo-sexual. Libros de texto. Etapa de primaria
Uma questão de terras: índios e geralistas no Sertão da Farinha Podre - séculos XVIII e XIX
Authors: Mori Robert
Published: May 2019

Este artigo busca analisar o projeto idealizado pela Coroa portuguesa iniciado em meados do século XVIII no antigo Sertão da Farinha Podre - atuais regiões do Triângulo Mineiro e parte do Alto Paranaíba - que consistiu na criação de aldeamentos e no deslocamento de indígenas para estes núcleos, cuja função primordial foi promover a guerra aos Kayapó do sul. O tema ainda é pouco estudado e o artigo visa contribuir com estudos que tratam da questão fundiária e da formação da população triangulina e do Alto Paranaíba. Para tal propósito, foram utilizadas obras produzidas por historiadores e antropólogos, além de fontes arquivísticas e relatos de viajantes do século XIX. Com o aldeamento dos Kayapó do sul em Maria I, em Goiás, a partir de 1780, esses aldeamentos estabelecidos no Sertão da Farinha Podre entraram em decadência. Entre o fim do século XVIII e início do século XIX, ocorreu a expansão geralista cujo contato com os índios aldeados mostrou-se violento e conflituoso, tendo como ponto principal desse processo a expulsão dos indígenas e a espoliação das terras dos aldeamentos.
Povos indígenas no Nordeste: mobilizações sociopolíticas, afirmações étnicas e conquistas de direitos
Authors: Silva Edson
Published: May 2019

Os índios no Nordeste com suas mobilizações vêm ocupando cada vez mais espaços no cenário sociopolítico regional, enquanto povos diferenciados do conjunto da população regional e reivindicando o reconhecimento a garantia de suas terras e de direitos junto aos poderes públicos. Com isso, questionando as narrativas históricas que ainda defendem o extermínio dos povos indígenas com a colonização portuguesa na Região. As mobilizações indígenas fomentaram pesquisas e reflexões que a partir de novas abordagens históricas incorporando as discussões interdisciplinares a exemplo das análises antropológicas, possibilitaram rever uma história linear, ufanista como uma grande conquista colonial, questionando o suposto desparecimento indígena com a simplista explicação da mestiçagem no Nordeste. Os estudos recentes ao evidenciarem os indígenas como sujeitos sociopolíticos, estão contribuindo para um maior conhecimento das relações coloniais, para compreensão dos processos históricos das afirmações étnicas e a atualidade dos povos indígenas no Nordeste.
The sincere dentist: Investiment
Authors: Hirata Ronaldo
Published: May 2019

"Começo este editorial com uma história real e antiga, dessas que lembramos com carinho e ficam na memória emocional. Eu havia me formado e foi o primeiro ano em que, na Odontologia, um recém-formado poderia partir diretamente para a pós-graduação. Antes disso, os odontólogos eram obrigados a esperar dois anos para fazer qualquer especialização. Eis que abriu o concurso para Dentística Restauradora, que era meu foco, e perguntei ao meu pai: “Como não tenho dinheiro algum, você teria condições de bancar uma pós-graduação?”. Ele me respondeu: “Sim, pode fazer. Aliás, você tem que fazer”. [...]
Composite resine in the last 10 years - literature review. Part 3: photoactivation and degree of conversion
Authors: Soares Paulo Vinícius , Silva Amanda Monise Dias , Wobido Amanda Ribeiro , Reis Bruno Rodrigues , Cardoso Igor Oliveiros
Published: May 2019

Introdução: este é o terceiro de seis artigos que abordam uma análise geral da literatura sobre resinas compostas nos últimos dez anos. Visto que as resinas compostas são amplamente utilizadas, essa revisão tem como objetivo analisar a relação dos diversos tipos de aparelhos fotoativadores usados em relação à composição de diversas resinas compostas estudadas. Métodos: pesquisa realizada pela plataforma PubMed, utilizando MeSH sobre fotoativação e resinas compostas. Os artigos foram escolhidos de acordo com a relevância para o tema pesquisado e pela data de publicação de 2008 a 2018. Após a leitura completa, foram selecionados 28 artigos para essa revisão de literatura. Resultados: os resultados foram distribuídos em duas tabelas. A primeira tabela apresenta os dados dos aparelhos fotoativadores associados ao grau de conversão de resinas compostas comercializadas. O melhor resultado foi dos aparelhos fotoativadores de LED, poliwave e monowave, já que a maioria das resinas apresenta como fotoiniciador a canforoquinona (CQ). A segunda tabela relaciona o espectro de luz emitido pelos aparelhos com os fotoiniciadores das resinas experimentais e seu grau de conversão. A CQ foi o fotoiniciador que apresentou melhor resultado, assim como os aparelhos fotoativadores de luz halógena e de LED poliwave. Conclusões: os melhores resultados de grau de conversão estão relacionados ao uso de fotoiniciadores compatíveis com o comprimento de onda emitido pelo fotoativador utilizado.
Simplifying anterior diastema closure with composite resin
Authors: Vargas Daniel , Almeida Giselle S. , Silva Eduardo Vargas da , Vargas Eduardo , Vargas Felipe , Maia André , Amaral Dayse
Published: May 2019

Objetivo: para a correta solução de casos de múltiplos diastemas, o presente caso clínico descreve uma técnica clássica modificada, permitindo que profissionais consigam alcançar apropriadamente proporções de largura e altura baseadas em um enceramento diagnóstico modificado, transpondo com mais assertividade o que foi planejado no modelo diagnóstico para a boca do paciente. Métodos: após a moldagem do paciente e obtenção do modelo de gesso, um índex de silicone baseado em um enceramento modificado foi realizado, substituindo a cera convencional por resina composta. Resultados: a modificação no enceramento permite uma restauração final mais precisa e próxima ao modelo diagnóstico planejado, possibilitando que o dentista tenha um contato mais íntimo com todas as etapas do tratamento – do planejamento à execução – e possa praticar mais a confecção da resina composta antes da execução do tratamento em si. Conclusões: proporções dentárias, reprodução precisa do enceramento diagnóstico e dificuldades técnicas devido à falta de treinamento com o material são as maiores adversidades relatadas no fechamento de diastemas múltiplos com resinas compostas. O acompanhamento de dois anos confirmou a validade da modificação da técnica proposta, já que, ainda que houvesse a presença de inflamação gengival devido à clara falta de higiene, as restaurações de resina composta em si estavam intactas, sem lascas ou fraturas, manchamentos ou alterações de cor.
Pre-treatment protocols
Authors: Guedes Marco Antonio
Published: May 2019

A inovação de técnicas aumenta a cada dia. Difícil para o dentista clínico, aquele que vive do consultório, é se atualizar e lidar com tantas opções. Existe muito pouca literatura específica para falar do sucessos de técnicas associadas ao uso de gestão de produtividade. Por que o sucesso obtido em alguns tratamentos não é alcançado em todos os pacientes? O problema não é só técnica e treinamento. A essa dupla de sucesso somam-se conhecimentos como engenharia de produção, administração de empresas e gestão de processos. No presente artigo, vamos falar da importância dos protocolos de pré-atendimento. Por que é melhor estar pronto ou semipronto para o atendimento? Por que eu uso?
Free light chains in the cerebrospinal fluid. Comparison of different methods to determine intrathecal synthesis
Authors: Hegen Harald , Walde Janette , Milosavljevic Dejan , Aboulenein-Djamshidian Fahmy , Senel Makbule , Tumani Hayrettin , Deisenhammer Florian , Presslauer Stefan
Published: May 2019

Background

Free light chains (FLC) have been proposed as diagnostic biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, which method to use for determining an intrathecal FLC synthesis has not yet been clarified. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of CSF FLC concentration, FLC quotient (QFLC), FLC index and FLC intrathecal fraction (FLCIF).

Methods

κ- and λ-FLC were measured by nephelometry under blinded conditions in CSF and serum sample pairs of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS; n = 60), multiple sclerosis (MS; n = 60) and other neurological diseases (n = 60) from four different MS centers. QFLC was calculated as the ratio of CSF/serum FLC concentration, the FLC index as QFLC/albumin quotient and the percentage FLCIF by comparing QFLC to a previously empirically determined, albumin quotient-dependent reference limit.

Results

CSF FLC concentration, QFLC, FLC index and FLCIF of both the κ- and λ-isotype were significantly higher in patients with CIS and MS than in the control group, as well as in oligoclonal bands (OCB) positive than in OCB negative patients. Each parameter was able to identify MS/CIS patients and OCB positivity, however, diagnostic performance determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses differed and revealed superiority of FLC index and FLCIF.

Conclusions

These findings support the diagnostic value of FLC measures that correct for serum FLC levels and albumin quotient, i.e. blood-CSF barrier function.
Development and interlaboratory evaluation of a NIST Reference Material RM 8366 for EGFR and MET gene copy number measurements
Authors: He Hua-Jun , Das Biswajit , Cleveland Megan H. , Chen Li , Camalier Corinne E. , Liu Liang-Chun , Norman Kara L. , Fellowes Andrew P. , McEvoy Christopher R. , Lund Steve P. , Almeida Jamie , Steffen Carolyn R. , Karlovich Chris , Williams P. Mickey , Cole Kenneth D.
Published: May 2019

Background

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Reference Material RM 8366 was developed to improve the quality of gene copy measurements of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and MET (proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase), important targets for cancer diagnostics and treatment. The reference material is composed of genomic DNA prepared from six human cancer cell lines with different levels of amplification of the target genes.

Methods

The reference values for the ratios of the EGFR and MET gene copy numbers to the copy numbers of reference genes were measured using digital PCR. The digital PCR measurements were confirmed by two additional laboratories. The samples were also characterized using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods including whole genome sequencing (WGS) at three levels of coverage (approximately 1 ×, 5 ×  and greater than 30 ×), whole exome sequencing (WES), and two different pan-cancer gene panels. The WES data were analyzed using three different bioinformatic algorithms.

Results

The certified values (digital PCR) for EGFR and MET were in good agreement (within 20%) with the values obtained from the different NGS methods and algorithms for five of the six components; one component had lower NGS values.

Conclusions

This study shows that NIST RM 8366 is a valuable reference material to evaluate the performance of assays that assess EGFR and MET gene copy number measurements.
Design of a study to investigate the mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnoea by means of drug-induced sleep endoscopy
Authors: Bisogni Valeria , Maiolino Giuseppe , Ceolotto Giulio , Pengo Martino F. , Marchese Ragona Rosario , Artusi Carlo , Brugnolo Laura , Lerco Silvia , Borsetto Daniele , Gaudioso Piergiorgio , Martini Alessandro , Plebani Mario , Rossi Gian Paolo
Published: May 2019

Background

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an independent risk factor of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Recurrent episodes of upper airways collapse during sleep causing blood oxygen desaturation, hypercapnia, and micro-arousals, are known to activate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). However, whether changes in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and endothelial activation also occur remains contentious.

Methods

Based on routine use of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) for the work-up of OSA patients in our centre, we designed a prospective study to investigate the haemodynamic and humoral changes occurring during the apnoeic episodes reproduced in vivo in the course of DISE. Specifically, plasma aldosterone concentration and renin activity, C-terminal fragment of proendothelin-1, as a marker of endothelial damage, and free plasma catecholamines, will be measured at fixed times during DISE. The activity of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a key catecholamine-inactivating enzyme that has been scantly investigated thus far owing to the lack of commercially available kits, will be also determined by a newly developed high performance liquid chromatography method, which is herein described.

Results and conclusions

The aim of this study is to provide novel information on the haemodynamic, hormonal, and SNS changes, and also on COMT activity modification concomitantly occurring during apnoea, thus contributing substantively to the understanding of the pathophysiology of OSA.
Preanalytical robustness of blood collection tubes with RNA stabilizers
Authors: Stellino Chiara , Hamot Gaël , Bellora Camille , Trouet Johanna , Betsou Fay
Published: May 2019

Background

Efficient blood stabilization is essential to obtaining reliable and comparable RNA analysis data in preclinical operations. PAXgene (Qiagen, Becton Dickinson) and Tempus (Applied Biosystems, Life Technologies) blood collection tubes with RNA stabilizers both avoid preanalytical degradation of mRNA by endogenous nucleases and modifications in specific mRNA concentrations by unintentional up- or down-regulation of gene expression.

Methods

Sixteen different preanalytical conditions were tested in PAXgene and Tempus blood samples from seven donors: different mixing after collection, different fill volumes and different 24-h transport temperature conditions after collection. RNA was extracted by column-based methods. The quality of the extracted RNA was assessed by spectrophotometric quantification, A260/A280 purity ratio, RNA Integrity Number (Agilent Bioanalyzer), miRNA quantative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on two target miRNAs (RNU-24 and miR-16), mRNA quality index by qRT-PCR on the 3′ and 5′ region of the GAPDH gene, and the PBMC preanalytical score, based on the relative expression levels of the IL8 and EDEM3 coding genes.

Results

When PAXgene RNA and Tempus blood collection tubes were used following the manufacturers’ instructions, there was no statistically or technically significant difference in the output RNA quality attributes. However, the integrity of the RNA extracted from Tempus collection tubes was more sensitive to fill volumes and effective inversion, than to storage temperature, while the integrity of RNA extracted from PAXgene collection tubes was more sensitive to effective inversion and storage temperature than to fill volumes.

Conclusions

Blood collection tubes with different RNA stabilizers present different robustness to common preanalytical variations.
𝜎-ideals and outer measures on the real line
Authors: Garcia-Ferreira Salvador , Tomita Artur H. , Ortiz-Castillo Yasser Ferman
Published: May 2019

A weak selection on

ℝ

{\mathbb{R}}

is a function

f
:

[
ℝ
]

2

→
ℝ

{f\colon[\mathbb{R}]^{2}\to\mathbb{R}}

such that

f
⁢

(

{
x
,
y
}

)

∈

{
x
,
y
}

{f(\{x,y\})\in\{x,y\}}

for each

{
x
,
y
}

∈

[
ℝ
]

2

{\{x,y\}\in[\mathbb{R}]^{2}}

.
In this article, we continue with the study (which was initiated in [1]) of the outer measures

λ
f

{\lambda_{f}}

on the real line

ℝ

{\mathbb{R}}

defined by weak selections f.
One of the main results is to show that CH is equivalent to the existence of a weak selection f for which

λ
f

⁢

(
A
)

=
0

{\lambda_{f}(A)=0}

whenever

|
A
|

≤
ω

{\lvert A\rvert\leq\omega}

and

λ
f

⁢

(
A
)

=
∞

{\lambda_{f}(A)=\infty}

otherwise.
Some conditions are given for a σ-ideal of

ℝ

{\mathbb{R}}

in order to be exactly the family

𝒩
f

{\mathcal{N}_{f}}

of

λ
f

{\lambda_{f}}

-null subsets for some weak selection f.
It is shown that there are

2
𝔠

{2^{\mathfrak{c}}}

pairwise distinct ideals on

ℝ

{\mathbb{R}}

of the form

𝒩
f

{\mathcal{N}_{f}}

, where f is a weak selection.
Also, we prove that the Martin axiom implies the existence of a weak selection f such that

𝒩
f

{\mathcal{N}_{f}}

is exactly the σ-ideal of meager subsets of

ℝ

{\mathbb{R}}

.
Finally, we shall study pairs of weak selections which are “almost equal” but they have different families of

λ
f

{\lambda_{f}}

-measurable sets.
On some k-fractional integral inequalities of~Hermite--Hadamard type for twice differentiable generalized beta (r, g)-preinvex functions
Authors: Kashuri Artion , Liko Rozana
Published: May 2019

In the present paper, a new class of generalized beta

(
r
,
g
)

{(r,g)}

-preinvex functions is introduced and some new integral inequalities for the left-hand side of Gauss–Jacobi type quadrature formula involving generalized beta

(
r
,
g
)

{(r,g)}

-preinvex functions are given. Moreover, some generalizations of Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities for generalized beta

(
r
,
g
)

{(r,g)}

-preinvex functions that are twice differentiable via k-fractional integrals are established. These general inequalities give us some new estimates for Hermite–Hadamard type k-fractional integral inequalities and also extend some results appeared in the literature; see [A. Kashuri and R. Liko,
Ostrowski type fractional integral inequalities for generalized

(
s
,
m
,
φ
)

(s,m,\varphi)

-preinvex functions,
Aust. J. Math. Anal. Appl. 13 2016, 1, Article ID 16]. At the end, some applications to special means are given.
Fractional Ostrowski type inequalities for functions whose certain power of modulus of the first derivatives are pre-quasi-invex via power mean inequality
Authors: Meftah Badreddine
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we establish fractional Ostrowski’s inequalities for functions whose certain power of modulus of the first derivatives are pre-quasi-invex via power mean inequality.
Punitive Damages: Reorienting the Debate in Civil Law Systems
Authors: Martínez Alles María Guadalupe
Published: May 2019

Scholarly debates in a number of Latin American and European countries have recently focused on the legal institution of punitive damages. These debates have been primarily influenced by the Anglo-American experience with the institution. The dominance of an outcome-driven, interpretive approach to an inherently complex and contradictory practice in the prevailing Anglo-American scholarship on punitive damages, however, has seriously affected and likely distorted the comparative and normative scholarly debates over the introduction of the institution in countries that follow the civil law tradition. In this article, I argue that, in order to participate more meaningfully in the punitive damages debate, civil law scholars should, on one hand, refrain from attempts to improve the understanding of the Anglo-American practice while offering country-specific assessments of the authors’ own legal system’s (in)compatibilities with the institution; and, on the other hand, actively engage in thorough discussions regarding the fundamental theoretical grounding of the place of punishment in modern private law. The novelty of this scholarly approach will require private law scholars to acknowledge both the punitive elements currently hidden yet nonetheless patent in domestic private law practices of awarding damages and the constraining effect of the pervasively proclaimed yet easily disputable clear-cut line between private and public law.
An Efficient Quality Inspection of Food Products Using Neural Network Classification
Authors: Ali Syed Sumera Ershad , Dildar Sayyad Ajij
Published: May 2019

Currently, there is a necessity for the expansion of precise, rapid, and intentional quality assurance with respect to the character of food and horticultural food items, because it is difficult to maintain and organize food products in an elevated quality and secure manner for the increasing population. In this article, we propose a procedure to resolve difficulties and to categorize food as either a broken or quality product. Therefore, the proposed process encompasses four segments, such as preprocessing, segmentation of broken division, feature extraction, and classification. At the first stage, the preprocessing method is used to remove all unnecessary noises. After that, modified region expansion-related segmentation is undertaken to segment the broken division of the food product. Then, feature extraction is used to remove the distinctive attributes of each food product to categorize their evaluation. Finally, the neural network classification procedure is used to examine the food quality. The proposed method is executed in the operational platform of MATLAB, and the consequences are examined by using obtainable methods.
A series of three case reports in patients with phenylketonuria performing regular exercise: first steps in dietary adjustment
Authors: Rocha Júlio César , van Dam Esther , Ahring Kirsten , Almeida Manuela Ferreira , Bélanger-Quintana Amaya , Dokoupil Katharina , Gökmen-Özel Hülya , Robert Martine , Heidenborg Carina , Harbage Emma , MacDonald Anita
Published: May 2019

Background

Phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare, inherited metabolic condition, is treated with a strict low-phenylalanine (Phe) diet, supplemented with Phe-free protein substitute. The optimal nutritional management of a sporting individual with PKU has not been described. Therefore, guidelines for the general athlete have to be adapted.

Case presentation

Three clinical scenarios of sporting patients with PKU are given, illustrating dietary adaptations to usual management and challenges to attain optimal sporting performance. Therefore, the main objectives of sports nutrition in PKU are to (1) maintain a high carbohydrate diet; (2) carefully monitor hydration status; and (3) give attention to the timing of protein substitute intake in the immediate post-exercise recovery phase. Optimal energy intake should be given prior to, during and post exercise training sessions or competition. Fortunately, a usual low-Phe diet is rich in carbohydrate, but attention is required on the types of special low-protein foods chosen. Acute exercise does not seem to influence blood Phe concentrations, but further evidence is needed.

Well-treated PKU patients should be able to participate in sports activities, but this is associated with increased nutritional requirements and dietary adjustments.

Conclusions

It should be the goal of all sporting patients with PKU to maintain good metabolic Phe control and attain maximal athletic performance.
Semiconductor-enhanced Raman scattering sensors via quasi-three-dimensional Au/Si/Au structures
Authors: Liu Guiqiang , Liu Yi , Tang Li , Liu Xiaoshan , Fu Guolan , Liu Zhengqi
Published: May 2019

We present a feasible way to strongly enhance Raman signals via introducing an ultra-thin dielectric film in the dual-layer plasmonic hotspots structure, which forms a quasi-three-dimensional structure. The Raman intensity was obtained with an enhancement factor of 735% for the dual-layer metal structure buffered with an ultra-thin silicon film. Moreover, the silicon layer based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate provided a Raman signal two to five times larger than that of the silica buffered substrate. These distinct responses confirm that the ultra-thin high-index semiconductor film has the capability of additionally enhancing Raman scattering. Otherwise, the upper and lower metal clusters can support multiple kinds of plasmonic resonances, which produce a remarkable physical enhancement of the Raman signals. Besides these impressive optical properties, the substrates have prominent advantages on structural features, since the fabrication process can be fulfilled simply, suggesting a feasible way for a large-area and low-cost SERS platform. The findings may pave an avenue to achieve insights on the dielectric enhanced Raman scattering and hold potential applications in optoelectronics, such as environmental and health sensors.
Coherent Raman scattering with plasmonic antennas
Authors: Fast Alexander , Potma Eric Olaf
Published: May 2019

Coherent Raman scattering (CRS) techniques are recognized for their ability to induce and detect vibrational coherences in molecular samples. The generation of coherent light fields in CRS produces much stronger signals than what is common in incoherent Raman spectroscopy, while also enabling direct views of evolving molecular vibrations. Despite the attractive attributes of CRS spectroscopy, the technique’s sensitivity is insufficient for performing measurements on single molecules, thus precluding the ability to coherently drive, manipulate and observe individual vibrational quantum oscillators with light. The single-molecule sensitivity that has been achieved in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with the aid of plasmonic antennas suggests that a similar approach may be used to push CRS techniques to the single-molecule detection limit. Compared with SERS, however, experimental successes in surface-enhanced coherent Raman scattering (SE-CRS) are few, and a theoretical understanding of surface-enhancement in CRS is still incomplete. In this review, we discuss some of the principles and challenges in SE-CRS and summarize the latest advances in the quest of performing routine CRS experiments on single molecules.
Recent advances in analysis of trace elements in environmental samples by X-ray based techniques (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Terzano Roberto , Denecke Melissa A. , Falkenberg Gerald , Miller Bradley , Paterson David , Janssens Koen
Published: May 2019

Trace elements analysis is a fundamental challenge in environmental sciences. Scientists measure trace elements in environmental media in order to assess the quality and safety of ecosystems and to quantify the burden of anthropogenic pollution. Among the available analytical techniques, X-ray based methods are particularly powerful, as they can quantify trace elements in situ. Chemical extraction is not required, as is the case for many other analytical techniques. In the last few years, the potential for X-ray techniques to be applied in the environmental sciences has dramatically increased due to developments in laboratory instruments and synchrotron radiation facilities with improved sensitivity and spatial resolution. In this report, we summarize the principles of the X-ray based analytical techniques most frequently employed to study trace elements in environmental samples. We report on the most recent developments in laboratory and synchrotron techniques, as well as advances in instrumentation, with a special attention on X-ray sources, detectors, and optics. Lastly, we inform readers on recent applications of X-ray based analysis to different environmental matrices, such as soil, sediments, waters, wastes, living organisms, geological samples, and atmospheric particulate, and we report examples of sample preparation.
Analysis of the formation of gap-based leakages in polymer-metal electronic systems with labyrinth seals
Authors: Kleffel Tobias , Frey Philipp , Merklein Marion , Drummer Dietmar
Published: May 2019

A major challenge in manufacturing polymer-metal electronic systems, for example, encapsulations of metal inserts using assembly injection molding, is to create a tight sealing in order to prevent leakage. One typical reason for leakage is the formation of gaps between polymer and metal. Through labyrinth seals, which can be manufactured by structuring of the metal surface, the gap-based leakage networks can be interrupted. However, in order to use the appropriate structure in the right position, knowledge about the formation of the gaps is essential. The research covered in this paper focuses on the analysis of the formation of gap-based leakages in polymer-metal electronic systems with labyrinth seals to improve the component design of such parts. The effects of different embossed labyrinth seals, which differ in depth and features, and an electrochemically manufactured areal seal on the tightness and leakage position are investigated. Furthermore, the formation of the leakage network is presented for the investigated variants.
Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests: results evaluation of gamma radiation measurements in a case of emergency and continuously activities
Authors: Ćujić Mirjana , Čučulović Ana , Petrović Jelena , Dragović Snežana
Published: May 2019

A valuable tool for external quality control that provides opportunity to improve analytical skills and techniques in the field of radioactivity measurements is participation in proficiency tests (PTs). In this work obtained results from the gamma spectrometry intercomparison for 15 laboratories conducted in May 1986 immediately after the Chernobyl accident for the lucerne sample contaminated with fission products: 140Ba, 141Ce, 144Ce, 134Cs, 137Cs, 131I, 103Ru, 106Ru, 95Zr, are evaluated following the recommendations of the international standard ISO 13528:2005. Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests organized by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are designed to identify analytical problems, to help members states to maintain their accreditation and to provide knowledge and technology transfer in this area. The Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) is a world-wide network of analytical laboratories capable to analyzed radioactivity contents, coordinated by IAEA. Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy (INEP), University of Belgrade, is an official member since 2013. Annual PTs are organized by ALMERA for the network laboratories using sets of different samples. Based on the PT proposition each result should pass accuracy and precision test to be awarded the status ‘Accepted’, otherwise it lies on the status ‘Warning’ or ‘Not Accepted’. INEP was participated in three worldwide open (in 2006, 2007 and 2011) and six (in a period 2012–2016) PTs organized by IAEA and ALMERA. Radionuclide activity concentrations in different environmental matrices were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer with high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. In IAEA worldwide open PTs among 61 results, 74 % were ‘Accepted’ and 26 % were ‘Not Accepted’. In ALMERA network PTs among 70 results, 84.3 % were ‘Accepted’, 4.3 % were ‘Warning’, 11.4 % were ‘Not Accepted’. PT exercises are the best way to identify gaps and problems areas where further development is needed.
Electronic cigarettes in the indoor environment
Authors: Marcham Cheryl L. , Springston John P.
Published: May 2019

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or “vaping”) has seen an unprecedented increase worldwide. Vaping has been promoted as a beneficial smoking cessation tool and an alternative nicotine delivery device that contains no combustion by-products. However, nicotine is highly addictive, and the increased use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes among teens and individuals who are not in need of smoking cessation may lead to overall greater nicotine dependence in the population. Furthermore, available research indicates that vaping solutions and their emissions may contain much more than just nicotine, including aerosolized flavorings, propylene glycol (PG), and other intentional and unintentional contaminants. These materials could present undefined potential health hazards to both e-cigarette users and bystanders, the full extent of which is not well understood at this time. Whereas e-cigarette usage and exposures may lower some or most of the risks associated with conventional cigarette use, the health effects of nicotine and aerosol exposures from e-cigarettes are not well understood. Research indicates that vaping aerosols are not benign, especially for nearby people in areas with limited ventilation and people with compromised health conditions. In addition, e-juice liquids have already been responsible for an increase in accidental poisonings in children. Because the magnitude of health and safety hazards that vaping may present to nonusers remains unclear, it is prudent to manage and control vaping in indoor locations where smoking is currently restricted. Based on a review of current scientific information, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) recommends that e-cigarettes should be considered a source of aerosols, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulates in the indoor environment that have not been thoroughly characterized or evaluated for health risk or safety.
Dickenbestimmung transparenter Schichten mit einem chromatisch-konfokalen Sensor
Authors: Quinten Michael
Published: May 2019

Die optische Bestimmung der Dicke transparenter Objekte oder dicker transparenter Schichten kann ziemlich einfach mit einem chromatisch-konfokalen Sensor durchgeführt werden. Die Dicke erhält man als Differenz zweier Distanzpeaks multipliziert mit dem Brechungsindex des Probenmaterials. Eine detailliertere Analyse zeigt jedoch, dass das Ergebnis korrigiert werden sollte mit einem Faktor, der die Lichtbrechung genau berücksichtigt. In dieser Veröffentlichung wird dieser Faktor abgeleitet und diskutiert, und es werden tabellierte Werte für einige Brechungsindizes und verschiedene Aperturwinkel des chromatisch-konfokalen Sensors angegeben.
Magnetoacoustic Nonlinear Solitary and Freak Waves in Pair-Ion Plasma
Authors: Sethi Papihra , Singh Kuldeep , Saini N.S.
Published: May 2019

An investigation of magnetoacoustic nonlinear solitary and freak waves in a magnetised collisionless pair-ion plasma using two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model is presented. The reductive perturbation method is used to obtain the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) equation. The solitary wave solution of KP equation is examined. Further, on modulating KP equation, the nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived with the help of appropriate transformation. The influence of various plasma parameters such as magnetic field strength, number density of ions, and temperature ratio of negative to positive ions, etc. on the propagation characteristics of solitary waves and first- as well as second-order magnetoacoustic freak waves in pair-ion plasma is examined.
New Heterocyclic Derivative to Stop Carbon Steel Corrosion
Authors: Deyab M. A. , Fouda A. S. , Abdel-Fattah S.
Published: May 2019

The new compound 4-(2-(1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)hydrazono)-3-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamide (PY) was synthesized. Its anti-corrosion properties for C-steel in acid solution (1.0 M HCl) were evaluated utilize electrochemical tools. The synthesized compound was described using FT-IR and 1H-NMR analyses. The purity of PY was affirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The outcome data proved that PY possess adequate anti-corrosion features for C-steel in corrosive solution. The polarization parameters mentioned that the PY is a mixed inhibitor. Inhibition performance obtained by polarization measurements (i.e. 91.5%) are consistent with the one obtained by EIS (i.e. 88.6%). Quantum chemical parameters for PY were studied to supply assist knowledge into the anti-corrosion properties of the new compound.
Audio–Visual (Multimodal) Speech Recognition System Using Deep Neural Network
Authors: Paulin Hebsibah , Milton R. S. , JanakiRaman S. , Chandraprabha K.
Published: May 2019

Recognizing the voice of a person by a smart device has become the need of the hour. Our cell phones are equipped with such features that converts speech to text, receives a command as a voice instruction instead of screen touch or pressing of a button. There are numerous intelligent machines such as automatic cars, robots, smart phones that use speech recognition features. These features are also very useful for people who are disabled and cannot use the smart devices with their hands. There are numerous techniques available to implement a speech recognition system. The need of such a system is to accurately recognize human voice at any circumstances, because the accent of each human differs for a single language, and also, the human voice is never devoid of noise and other emotional elements. So, the aim of such systems is to recognize human voices of different accents, even in a noisy environment. Because of this, an effective and robust speech recognition system has become important for machine and human interaction. Much voice-recognizing software depends purely on audio to recognize a voice, and one cannot guarantee that the audio will be noise free. In order to improve the accuracy and performance of traditional speech recognition system in a noisy environment, a new, nontraditional approach called a multimodal speech recognition system that uses both the audio and video features such as lip movement facial expression to recognize a speech is used. This article discusses the advantage of using video features along with the audio features with an experiment that proves it.
Friction Stir Welding between 6082 and 7075 Aluminum Alloys Thermal Treated for Automotive Applications
Authors: Dragatogiannis Dimitrios A. , Kollaros Dimitrios , Karakizis Panagiotis , Pantelis Dimitrios , Lin Jianguo , Charitidis Costas
Published: May 2019

The automotive industry demands ecofriendly manufacturing processes and lightweight structures and materials to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease weight and fuel consumption while optimizing overall performance. Aluminum alloys in the 7xxx and 6xxx series offer high potential for weight reduction in automotive and other transportation industries. 7xxx aluminum alloys have the best strength performance among all commercial aluminum alloys. Alloys in the 6xxx series generally have medium-to-high strength, high corrosion resistance, and good formability. Alloys in both the 7xxx and 6xxx series are strengthened by heat treatment. The increased strength-to-weight ratio and the thermal treatment processing open the possibility to use these alloys as possible alternative materials instead of steel in the automotive industry for the fabrication of car body parts. However, their poor formability and weldability are the main drawbacks when these alloys are considered as substitutes of steel and other dissimilar joints during the fabrication of car body parts and the production chain. Recently, Hot Forming and in-die Quenching (HFQ), a patented hot stamping process, has been introduced to manufacture complex-shaped high-strength heat-treatable aluminum alloys. The work described in this article is an experimental investigation of the weldability between AA6082 and AA7075 by Friction Stir Welding (FSW) that considers thermal treatments used during HFQ for automotive applications. The aforementioned FSW base metals, 6082 and 7075, are heat treated according to the solution heat treatment adopted during HFQ to evaluate the effect of the HFQ thermal cycle on the quality of the produced joints. Optical microscopy has been used to characterize the microstructure of the produced joints. The defect-free welded joints are characterized by good mechanical mixing between the joined materials as well as by grain refinement. The mechanical behavior of the produced welded joints was studied and compared with the parent materials, whereas the measured mechanical properties are correlated with the microstructure.
Trajectories of pediatric sleepiness and their associations with health-related quality of life
Authors: Poppert Cordts Katrina M. , Steele Ric G.
Published: May 2019

The need for sleep in children has sparked extensive research, with inconclusive support for an association between sleep duration and sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). Daytime sleepiness, which captures a child's subjective sleep experience, has seldom been explored. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was employed to identify longitudinal trajectories of children's sleepiness. Trajectories were utilized to assess their association with HRQOL. The present sample included 158 children and their self-reports of sleepiness and HRQOL collected at three time points across an academic year. Results provided support for three trajectories of sleepiness, with significant associations between trajectory and later HRQOL. Post hoc tests revealed significant differences in HRQOL between trajectories. Children with high and stable sleepiness-experienced impairments in HRQOL comparable to children with chronic health conditions. Implications include the establishment of daytime sleepiness as a pervasive state with both statistical and clinical significance.
Optimizing Selection and Mating in Genomic Selection with a Look-Ahead Approach: An Operations Research Framework
Authors: Moeinizade Saba , Hu Guiping , Wang Lizhi , Schnable Patrick S
Published: May 2019

New genotyping technologies have made large amounts of genotypic data available for plant breeders to use in their efforts to accelerate the rate of genetic gain. Genomic selection (GS) techniques allow breeders to use genotypic data to identify and select, for example, plants predicted to exhibit drought tolerance, thereby saving expensive and limited field-testing resources relative to phenotyping all plants within a population. A major limitation of existing GS approaches is the trade-off between short-term genetic gain and long-term potential. Some approaches focus on achieving short-term genetic gain at the cost of reduced genetic diversity necessary for long-term gains. In contrast, others compromise short-term progress to preserve long-term potential without consideration of the time and resources required to achieve it. Our contribution is to define a new “look-ahead” metric for assessing selection decisions, which evaluates the probability of achieving high genetic gains by a specific time with limited resources. Moreover, we propose a heuristic algorithm to identify optimal selection decisions that maximize the look-ahead metric. Simulation results demonstrate that look-ahead selection outperforms other published selection methods.
Computational Inference Software for Tetrad Assembly from Randomly Arrayed Yeast Colonies
Authors: Sakhanenko Nikita A , Cromie Gareth A , Dudley Aimée M , Galas David J
Published: May 2019

We describe an information-theory-based method and associated software for computationally identifying sister spores derived from the same meiotic tetrad. The method exploits specific DNA sequence features of tetrads that result from meiotic centromere and allele segregation patterns. Because the method uses only the genomic sequence, it alleviates the need for tetrad-specific barcodes or other genetic modifications to the strains. Using this method, strains derived from randomly arrayed spores can be efficiently grouped back into tetrads.
Mutational Landscape of Spontaneous Base Substitutions and Small Indels in Experimental Caenorhabditis elegans Populations of Differing Size
Authors: Konrad Anke , Brady Meghan J , Bergthorsson Ulfar , Katju Vaishali
Published: May 2019

Experimental investigations into the rates and fitness effects of spontaneous mutations are fundamental to our understanding of the evolutionary process. To gain insights into the molecular and fitness consequences of spontaneous mutations, we conducted a mutation accumulation (MA) experiment at varying population sizes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, evolving 35 lines in parallel for 409 generations at three population sizes (N = 1, 10, and 100 individuals). Here, we focus on nuclear SNPs and small insertion/deletions (indels) under minimal influence of selection, as well as their accrual rates in larger populations under greater selection efficacy. The spontaneous rates of base substitutions and small indels are 1.84 (95% C.I. ± 0.14) × 10−9 substitutions and 6.84 (95% C.I. ± 0.97) × 10−10 changes/site/generation, respectively. Small indels exhibit a deletion bias with deletions exceeding insertions by threefold. Notably, there was no correlation between the frequency of base substitutions, nonsynonymous substitutions, or small indels with population size. These results contrast with our previous analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations and nuclear copy-number changes in these MA lines, and suggest that nuclear base substitutions and small indels are under less stringent purifying selection compared to the former mutational classes. A transition bias was observed in exons as was a near universal base substitution bias toward A/T. Strongly context-dependent base substitutions, where 5′−Ts and 3′−As increase the frequency of A/T → T/A transversions, especially at the boundaries of A or T homopolymeric runs, manifest as higher mutation rates in (i) introns and intergenic regions relative to exons, (ii) chromosomal cores vs. arms and tips, and (iii) germline-expressed genes.