bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Experience in Home Respiratory Therapies: Where We Are and Where to Go
Authors: Caneiras Cátia , Jácome Cristina , Mayoralas-Alises Sagrario , Ramon Calvo José , Almeida Fonseca João , Escarrabill Joan , Winck João Carlos
Published: April 2019

The increasing number of patients receiving home respiratory therapy (HRT) is imposing a major impact on routine clinical care and healthcare system sustainability. The current challenge is to continue to guarantee access to HRT while maintaining the quality of care. The patient experience is a cornerstone of high-quality healthcare and an emergent area of clinical research. This review approaches the assessment of the patient experience in the context of HRT while highlighting the European contribution to this body of knowledge. This review demonstrates that research in this area is still limited, with no example of a prescription model that incorporates the patient experience as an outcome and no specific patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) available. This work also shows that Europe is leading the research on HRT provision. The development of a specific PREM and the integration of PREMs into the assessment of prescription models should be clinical research priorities in the next several years.
Environment and Male Fertility: Effects of Benzo-α-Pyrene and Resveratrol on Human Sperm Function In Vitro
Authors: Alamo Angela , Condorelli Rosita A. , Mongioì Laura M. , Cannarella Rossella , Giacone Filippo , Calabrese Vittorio , La Vignera Sandro , Calogero Aldo E.
Published: April 2019

Lifestyle, cigarette smoking and environmental pollution have a negative impact on male fertility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in-vitro effects of benzo-α-pyrene (BaP) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonists on motility and bio-functional sperm parameters. We further assessed whether resveratrol (RES), an AHR antagonist and antioxidant molecule, had any protective effect. To accomplish this, 30 normozoospermic, healthy, non-smoker men not exposed to BaP were enrolled. Spermatozoa of 15 men were incubated with increasing concentrations of BaP to evaluate its effect and to establish its dose response. Then, spermatozoa of the 15 other men were incubated with BaP (15 µM/mL), chosen according to the dose-response and/or RES to evaluate its antagonistic effects. The effects of both substances were evaluated after 3 h of incubation on total and progressive sperm motility and on the following bio-functional sperm parameters evaluated by flow cytometry: Degree of chromatin compactness, viability, phosphatidylserine externalization (PS), late apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation, degree of lipoperoxidation (LP), and concentrations of mitochondrial superoxide anion. Benzo-α-pyrene decreased total and progressive sperm motility, impaired chromatin compactness, and increased sperm lipoperoxidation and mitochondrial superoxide anion levels. All these effects were statistically significant at the lowest concentration tested (15 µM/mL) and they were confirmed at the concentration of 45 µM/mL. In turn, RES was able to counteract the detrimental effects of BaP on sperm motility, abnormal chromatin compactness, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial superoxide. This study showed that BaP alters sperm motility and bio-functional sperm parameters and that RES exerts a protective effect on BaP-induced sperm damage.
Renal Failure Impact on the Outcomes of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Due to a Left Main Coronary Culprit Lesion Treated Using a Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Homorodean Cãlin , Iancu Adrian Corneliu , Dregoesc Ioana Mihaela , Spînu Mihai , Ober Mihai Claudiu , Tãtaru Dan , Leucuţa Daniel , Olinic Maria , Olinic Dan Mircea
Published: April 2019

Background: Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) on a left main culprit lesion have very high mortality rates. The interaction of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with such a catastrophic acute event on the background of their highly complex atherosclerotic lesions is not well established. Therefore, we sought to evaluate in these patients the influence of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on short- and long-term mortality. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed renal function in 81 patients with STEMI and PPCI on a left main culprit lesion from two tertiary centers. Results: Patients were divided in two groups according to an eGFR cut-off of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2: 40 patients with CKD and 41 without CKD. Patients with renal failure were older, had more diabetes, and had experienced more frequent myocardial infarction MIs. CKD patients had a higher baseline-SYNTAX score (p = 0.015), higher residual-SYNTAX score (p < 0.001), and lower SYNTAX revascularization index-SRI (p = 0.003). Mortality at 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year follow-ups were not significantly different between the two groups. However, when analyzed as a continuous variable, eGFR emerged as a predictor of 1-year mortality, both in univariate analysis (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99, p = 0.005) and in multivariate analysis, after adjusting for cardiogenic shock and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction TIMI 0/1 flow (OR = 0.975, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99, p = 0.021). Conclusions: In STEMI with PPCI on a left main culprit lesion, renal failure was associated with more complex coronary lesions and less complete revascularization, and turned out to be an independent predictor of mortality at 1-year follow-up.
Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Who Has Seen the Risk?
Authors: Forsyth Peter A. , Vetzal Kenneth R.
Published: April 2019

The trend towards eliminating defined benefit (DB) pension plans in favour of defined contribution (DC) plans implies that increasing numbers of pension plan participants will bear the risk that final realized portfolio values may be insufficient to fund desired retirement cash flows. We compare the outcomes of various asset allocation strategies for a typical DC plan investor. The strategies considered include constant proportion, linear glide path, and optimal dynamic (multi-period) time consistent quadratic shortfall approaches. The last of these is based on a double exponential jump diffusion model. We determine the parameters of the model using monthly US data over a 90-year sample period. We carry out tests in a synthetic market which is based on the same jump diffusion model and also using bootstrap resampling of historical data. The probability that portfolio values at retirement will be insufficient to provide adequate retirement incomes is relatively high, unless DC investors adopt optimal allocation strategies and raise typical contribution rates. This suggests there is a looming crisis in DC plans, which requires educating DC plan holders in terms of realistic expectations, required contributions, and optimal asset allocation strategies.
Nonparametric Approach to Evaluation of Economic and Social Development in the EU28 Member States by DEA Efficiency
Authors: Melecký Lukáš , Staníčková Michaela , Hančlová Jana
Published: April 2019

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology is used in this study for a comparison of the dynamic efficiency of European countries over the last decade. Moreover, efficiency analysis is used to determine where resources are distributed efficiently and/or were used efficiently/inefficiently under factors of competitiveness extracted from factor analysis. DEA measures numerical grades of the efficiency of economic processes within evaluated countries and, therefore, it becomes a suitable tool for setting an efficient/inefficient position of each country. Most importantly, the DEA technique is applied to all (28) European Union (EU) countries to evaluate their technical and technological efficiency within the selected factors of competitiveness based on country competitiveness index in the 2000–2017 reference period. The main aim of the paper is to measure efficiency changes over the reference period and to analyze the level of productivity in individual countries based on the Malmquist productivity index (MPI). Empirical results confirm significant disparities among European countries and selected periods 2000–2007, 2008–2011, and 2012–2017. Finally, the study offers a comprehensive comparison and discussion of results obtained by MPI that indicate the EU countries in which policy-making authorities should aim to stimulate national development and provide more quality of life to the EU citizens.
Managerial Self-Attribution Bias and Banks’ Future Performance: Evidence from Emerging Economies
Authors: Iqbal Javid
Published: April 2019

The objective of the study was to predict the future performance of banks based on the contextual information provided in annual reports. The European Central Bank has observed that performance prediction models in earlier studies mainly rely on quantitative financial data, which are insufficient for the comprehensive assessment of banks’ performance. There is a need to incorporate the qualitative information along with numerical data for better prediction. In this context, this study employed the attribution theory for understanding the contextual information of behavioral biases of management towards the expected outcomes. The sample consisted of 58 banks of 16 emerging economies, and the period covered from 2007–2015. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed to identify the latent groups of banks within the data. For performance prediction, system GMM was employed, because it helped to deal with the endogeneity and heterogeneity problems. The results of the study were consistent with the attribution theory that management took credit for favorable expected outcomes and distanced from bad outcomes. An important policy implication of the study is that the prevalence of self-attribution bias of management in annual reports provides an additional source of information for the regulators to identify the banks at risks and take preventive measures to avoid the expected cost of failure. It can also help investors, and gives analysts a better tool for a comprehensive analysis of the profitability of prospective investments.
The History of the Spanish Preposition Mediante. Beyond the Theory of Grammaticalization
Authors: Garachana Mar
Published: April 2019

The most generally accepted diachrony of mediante assumes a grammaticalization path that started in an absolute clause, which first evolved into a preposition, and later into conjunction. However, data reveals that its development is not connected to an evolution in terms of grammaticalization. Indeed, mediante was introduced in Spanish in the fourteenth century as a consequence of syntactic borrowing from Medieval Latin. More specifically, this borrowing entered Old Spanish through Aragonese and Catalan (languages spoken in the east of the Iberian Peninsula). Since its first examples, mediante has acted as a preposition, and its form, connected to present participles, would give texts a cultured and Latinising air that was well-suited to the rhetorical guidelines of the European Renaissance and pre-Renaissance. Thus, this paper shows that the writer and rhetorical rules have become a key factor in the evolution of grammar.
In Vivo Evaluation of the Genotoxic Effects of Poly (Butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Polypyrrole with Nanohydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Elias Conceição de Maria Vaz , Maia Filho Antônio Luiz Martins , Silva Laryssa Roque da , Amaral Fabrício Pires de Moura do , Webster Thomas J. , Marciano Fernanda Roberta , Lobo Anderson Oliveira
Published: April 2019

Here, butylene adipate-co-terephthalate/polypyrrole with nanohydroxyapatite (PBAT/PPy/nHAp) scaffolds were fabricated and characterized. The electrospinning process was carried out using 12 kV, a needle of 23 G, an infusion pump set at 0.3 mL/h, and 10 cm of distance. Afterwards, nHAp was directly electrodeposited onto PBAT/PPy scaffolds using a classical three-electrode apparatus. For in vivo assays (comet assay, acute and chronic micronucleus), 60 male albino Wistar rats with 4 groups were used in each test (n = 5): PBAT/PPy; PBAT/PPy/nHAp; positive control (cyclophosphamide); and the negative control (distilled water). Peripheral blood samples were collected from the animals to perform the comet test after 4 h (for damage) and 24 h (for repair). In the comet test, it was shown that the scaffolds did not induce damage to the % DNA tail and neither for tail length. After the end of 48 h (for acute micronucleus) and 72 h (for chronic micronucleus), bone marrow was collected from each rat to perform the micronucleus test. All of the produced scaffolds did not present genotoxic effects, providing strong evidence for the biological application of PBAT/PPy/nHAp scaffolds.
TiO2 Self-Assembled, Thin-Walled Nanotube Arrays for Photonic Applications
Authors: David Christin
Published: April 2019

Two-dimensional arrays of hollow nanotubes made of TiO 2 are a promising platform for sensing, spectroscopy and light harvesting applications. Their straightforward fabrication via electrochemical anodization, growing nanotube pillars of finite length from a Ti foil, allows precise tailoring of geometry and, thus, material properties. We theoretically investigate these photonic crystal structures with respect to reduction of front surface reflection, achievable field enhancement, and photonic bands. Employing the Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA), we study the optical response of photonic crystals made of thin-walled nanotubes relative to their bare Ti foil substrate, including under additional charge carrier doping which might occur during the growth process.
Parametric Optimization of Trochoidal Step on Surface Roughness and Dish Angle in End Milling of AISID3 Steel Using Precise Measurements
Authors: J Santhakumar , U Mohammed Iqbal
Published: April 2019

Tool steel play a vital role in modern manufacturing industries due to its excellent properties. AISI D3 is a cold work tool steel which possess high strength, more hardenability and good wear resistance properties. It has a wide variety of applications in automobile and tool and die making industries such as blanking and forming tools, high stressed cutting, deep drawing and press tools. The novel ways of machining these steels and finding out the optimum process parameters to yield good output is of practical importance in the field of research. This research work explores an attempt to identify the optimized process parameter combinations in end milling of AISI D3 steel to yield low surface roughness and maximum dish angle using trochoidal milling tool path, which is considered as a novelty in this study. 20 experimental trials based on face centered central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) were executed by varying the input process factors such as cutting speed, feed rate and trochoidal step. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was adopted to study the significance of selected process parameters and its relative interactions on the performance measures. Desirability-based multiple objective optimization was performed and the mathematical models were developed for prediction purposes. The developed mathematical model was statistically significant with optimum conditions of cutting speed of 41m/min, feed rate of 120 mm/min and trochoidal step of 0.9 mm. It was also found that the deviation between the experimental and predicted values is 6.10% for surface roughness and 1.33% for dish angle, respectively.
Non-Precious Electrodes for Practical Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Colli Alejandro N. , Girault Hubert H. , Battistel Alberto
Published: April 2019

Water electrolysis is a promising approach to hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. Alkaline water electrolyzers allow using non-noble and low-cost materials. An analysis of common assumptions and experimental conditions (low concentrations, low temperature, low current densities, and short-term experiments) found in the literature is reported. The steps to estimate the reaction overpotentials for hydrogen and oxygen reactions are reported and discussed. The results of some of the most investigated electrocatalysts, namely from the iron group elements (iron, nickel, and cobalt) and chromium are reported. Past findings and recent progress in the development of efficient anode and cathode materials appropriate for large-scale water electrolysis are presented. The experimental work is done involving the direct-current electrolysis of highly concentrated potassium hydroxide solutions at temperatures between 30 and 100 °C, which are closer to industrial applications than what is usually found in literature. Stable cell components and a good performance was achieved using Raney nickel as a cathode and stainless steel 316L as an anode by means of a monopolar cell at 75 °C, which ran for one month at 300 mA cm−2. Finally, the proposed catalysts showed a total kinetic overpotential of about 550 mV at 75 °C and 1 A cm−2.
Characterization of Cementation Factor of Unconsolidated Granular Materials Through Time Domain Reflectometry with Variable Saturated Conditions
Authors: Byun Yong-Hoon , Hong Won-Taek , Yoon Hyung-Koo
Published: April 2019

The cementation factor is necessary to determine porosity via the Archie equation, and its range of values has been suggested in many previous studies. However, the cementation factors in the literature are limited to fully saturated conditions, and it may thus be inaccurate to use the same value in other saturation conditions. The objective of this study is to characterize how the cementation factor varies depending on the saturation percentage. In this study, glass beads and soil are selected as the specimens, and two relative density values, 40% and 80%, are selected. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used to obtain both the saturation and electrical resistivity of the specimens. TDR is installed in the cell, and fluid is continuously circulated from the bottom to the top of the porous material for 30 min. The estimated saturation increases with time and the electrical resistivity is reduced during the circulation. Finally, the cementation factor at every saturated stage is determined, and the error ratio based on the porosity is calculated to show the importance of the cementation factor. The results show that there is a high error ratio when an unsuitable cementation factor that does not consider the saturation condition is used. This study demonstrates that the method for determining the actual cementation factor using TDR and the Archie equation can be applied in various saturation conditions.
Microwave Sintering of SiAlON Ceramics with TiN Addition
Authors: Sevgi Canarslan Özgür , Rosa Roberto , Köroğlu Levent , Ayas Erhan , Kara Alpagut , Veronesi Paolo
Published: April 2019

α-β SiAlON/TiN composites with nominal composition of α:β = 25:75 were fabricated by microwave sintering. The effect of titanium nitride addition on the phases, microstructure, microwave absorption ability and mechanical properties (Vickers hardness and fracture toughness) of the SiAlON-based composites were studied. Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) software was used for the numerical simulation in order to assess the most suitable experimental setup. Sintering trials were performed in a single mode microwave furnace operating at 2.45 GHz and a power output of 660 W, for a reaction time of 30 min. SiC blocks were used as a susceptor to accelerate the microwave processing by hybrid heating, with reduced heat losses from the surface of the material of the α-β SiAlON/TiN composites. The optimum comprehensive mechanical properties, corresponding to a relative density of 96%, Vickers hardness of 12.98 ± 1.81 GPa and Vickers indentation fracture toughness of 5.52 ± 0.71 MPa.m1/2 were obtained at 850 °C when the content of TiN was 5 wt.%.
Nitrogen-Doped Superporous Activated Carbons as Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Mostazo-López María José , Salinas-Torres David , Ruiz-Rosas Ramiro , Morallón Emilia , Cazorla-Amorós Diego
Published: April 2019

Nitrogen-containing superporous activated carbons were prepared by chemical polymerization of aniline and nitrogen functionalization by organic routes. The resulting N-doped carbon materials were carbonized at high temperatures (600–800 °C) in inert atmosphere. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that nitrogen amount ranges from 1 to 4 at.% and the nature of the nitrogen groups depends on the treatment temperature. All samples were assessed as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution (0.1 M KOH) in order to understand the role of well-developed microporosity as well as the different nitrogen functionalities on the electrocatalytic performance in ORR. It was observed that nitrogen groups generated at high temperatures were highly selective towards the water formation. Among the investigated samples, polyaniline-derived activated carbon carbonized at 800 °C displayed the best performance (onset potential of 0.88 V versus RHE and an electron transfer number of 3.4), which was attributed to the highest concentration of N–C–O sites.
A Comparative Study of Experimental Configurations in Synchrotron Pair Distribution Function
Authors: Zea-Garcia Jesus D. , De la Torre Angeles G. , Aranda Miguel A. G. , Cuesta Ana
Published: April 2019

The identification and quantification of amorphous components and nanocrystalline phases with very small crystal sizes, smaller than ~3 nm, within samples containing crystalline phases is very challenging. However, this is important as there are several types of systems that contain these matrices: building materials, glass-ceramics, some alloys, etc. The total scattering synchrotron pair distribution function (PDF) can be used to characterize the local atomic order of the nanocrystalline components and to carry out quantitative analyses in complex mixtures. Although the resolution in momentum transfer space has been widely discussed, the resolution in the interatomic distance space has not been discussed to the best of our knowledge. Here, we report synchrotron PDF data collected at three beamlines in different experimental configurations and X-ray detectors. We not only discuss the effect of the resolution in Q-space, Qmax ins of the recorded data and Qmax of the processed data, but we also discuss the resolution in the interatomic distance (real) space. A thorough study of single-phase crystalline nickel used as standard was carried out. Then, selected cement-related samples including anhydrous tricalcium and dicalcium silicates, and pastes derived from the hydration of tricalcium silicate and ye’elimite with bassanite were analyzed.
Defect Chemistry and Na-Ion Diffusion in Na3Fe2(PO4)3 Cathode Material
Authors: Kuganathan Navaratnarajah , Chroneos Alexander
Published: April 2019

In this work, we employ computational modeling techniques to study the defect chemistry, Na ion diffusion paths, and dopant properties in sodium iron phosphate [Na3Fe2(PO4)3] cathode material. The lowest intrinsic defect energy process (0.45 eV/defect) is calculated to be the Na Frenkel, which ensures the formation of Na vacancies required for the vacancy-assisted Na ion diffusion. A small percentage of Na-Fe anti-site defects would be expected in Na3Fe2(PO4)3 at high temperatures. Long-range diffusion of Na is found to be low and its activation energy is calculated to be 0.45 eV. Isovalent dopants Sc, La, Gd, and Y on the Fe site are exoergic, meaning that they can be substituted experimentally and should be examined further. The formation of Na vacancies and Na interstitials in this material can be facilitated by doping with Zr on the Fe site and Si on the P site, respectively.
4D Printing Self-Morphing Structures
Authors: Bodaghi Mahdi , Noroozi Reza , Zolfagharian Ali , Fotouhi Mohamad , Norouzi Saeed
Published: April 2019

The main objective of this paper is to introduce complex structures with self-bending/morphing/rolling features fabricated by 4D printing technology, and replicate their thermo-mechanical behaviors using a simple computational tool. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is implemented to fabricate adaptive composite structures with performance-driven functionality built directly into materials. Structural primitives with self-bending 1D-to-2D features are first developed by functionally graded 4D printing. They are then employed as actuation elements to design complex structures that show 2D-to-3D shape-shifting by self-bending/morphing. The effects of printing speed on the self-bending/morphing characteristics are investigated in detail. Thermo-mechanical behaviors of the 4D-printed structures are simulated by introducing a straightforward method into the commercial finite element (FE) software package of Abaqus that is much simpler than writing a user-defined material subroutine or an in-house FE code. The high accuracy of the proposed method is verified by a comparison study with experiments and numerical results obtained from an in-house FE solution. Finally, the developed digital tool is implemented to engineer several practical self-morphing/rolling structures.
Thermal and Mechanical Interfacial Behaviors of Graphene Oxide-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Cured by Thermal Latent Catalyst
Authors: Riaz Shahina , Park Soo-Jin
Published: April 2019

A series of composites was prepared from a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with different graphene filler contents to improve their mechanical performance and thermal stability. Graphene oxide (GO) and GO modified with hexamethylene tetraamine (HMTA) were selected as reinforcing agents. As a latent cationic initiator and curing agent, N-benzylepyrizinium hexafluoroantimonate (N-BPH) was used. The effect of fillers and their contents on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites were studied. Fracture toughness improved by 23% and 40%, and fracture energy was enhanced by 1.94- and 2.27-fold, for the composites containing 0.04 wt.% GO and HMTA-GO, respectively. The gradual increase in fracture toughness at higher filler contents was attributed to both crack deflection and pinning mechanisms. Maximum thermal stability in the composites was achieved by using up to 0.1 wt.% graphene fillers.
Effect of Alloying Elements on the α-γ Phase Transformation in Iron
Authors: Meiser Jerome , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: April 2019

Small concentrations of alloying elements can modify the α - γ phase transition temperature T c of Fe. We study this effect using an atomistic model based on a set of many-body interaction potentials for iron and several alloying elements. Free-energy calculations based on perturbation theory allow us to determine the change in T c introduced by the alloying element. The resulting changes are in semi-quantitative agreement with experiment. The effect is traced back to the shape of the pair potential describing the interaction between the Fe and the alloying atom.
Multifunctional Operation of an Organic Device with Three-Dimensional Architecture
Authors: Tarabella Giuseppe , Marasso Simone Luigi , Bertana Valentina , Vurro Davide , D’Angelo Pasquale , Iannotta Salvatore , Cocuzza Matteo
Published: April 2019

This work aims to show the feasibility of an innovative approach for the manufacturing of organic-based devices with a true three-dimensional and customizable structure that is made possible by plastic templates, fabricated by additive manufacturing methods, and coated by conducting organic thin films. Specifically, a three-dimensional prototype based on a polyamide structure covered by poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) using the dip-coating technique demonstrated a multifunctional character. The prototype is indeed able to operate both as a three-terminal device showing the typical response of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), with a higher amplification performance with respect to planar (2D) all-PEDOT:PSS OECTs, and as a two-terminal device able to efficiently implement a resistive sensing of water vaporization and perspiration, showing performances at least comparable to that of state-of-art resistive humidity sensors based on pristine PEDOT:PSS. To our knowledge, this is the first reported proof-of-concept of a true 3D structured OECT, obtained by exploiting a Selective laser sintering approach that, though simple in terms of 3D layout, paves the way for the integration of sensors based on OECTs into three-dimensional objects in various application areas.
Diffusive Steel Scrap Melting in Carbon-Saturated Hot Metal—Phenomenological Investigation at the Solid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Penz Florian Markus , Schenk Johannes , Ammer Rainer , Klösch Gerald , Pastucha Krzysztof , Reischl Michael
Published: April 2019

The oxygen steelmaking process in a Linz-Donawitz (LD) converter is responsible for more than 70% of annual crude steel production. Optimization of the process control and numerical simulation of the LD converter are some of the current challenges in ferrous metallurgical research. Because of the process conditions and oxidation of impurities of the hot metal, a lot of chemical heat is generated. Therefore, steel scrap is charged as a coolant with the economical side aspect of its recycling. One of the more complex aspects is, among others, the dissolution and melting behaviour of the scrap in carbon-saturated hot metal. Heat and mass transfer act simultaneously, which has already been investigated by several researchers using different experimental approaches. The appearances at the interface between solid steel and liquid hot metal during diffusive scrap melting have been described theoretically but never investigated in detail. After an experimental investigation under natural and forced convective conditions, the samples were further investigated with optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). A steep carbon concentration gradient in the liquid appeared, which started at an interface carbon concentration equal to the concentration on the solid side of the interface. Moreover, the boundary layer thickness moved towards zero, which symbolized that the boundary layer theory based on thermodynamic equilibrium was not valid. This fact was concluded through the prevailing dynamic conditions formed by natural and forced convection.
On an Exact Relation between ζ″(2) and the Meijer

G

-Functions
Authors: Acedo Luis
Published: April 2019

In this paper we consider some integral representations for the evaluation of the coefficients of the Taylor series for the Riemann zeta function about a point in the complex half-plane ℜ ( s ) > 1 . Using the standard approach based upon the Euler-MacLaurin summation, we can write these coefficients as Γ ( n + 1 ) plus a relatively smaller contribution, ξ n . The dominant part yields the well-known Riemann’s zeta pole at s = 1 . We discuss some recurrence relations that can be proved from this standard approach in order to evaluate ζ ″ ( 2 ) in terms of the Euler and Glaisher-Kinkelin constants and the Meijer G -functions.
Time Stable Reduced Order Modeling by an Enhanced Reduced Order Basis of the Turbulent and Incompressible 3D Navier–Stokes Equations
Authors: Akkari Nissrine , Casenave Fabien , Moureau Vincent
Published: April 2019

In the following paper, we consider the problem of constructing a time stable reduced order model of the 3D turbulent and incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The lack of stability associated with the order reduction methods of the Navier–Stokes equations is a well-known problem and, in general, it is very difficult to account for different scales of a turbulent flow in the same reduced space. To remedy this problem, we propose a new stabilization technique based on an a priori enrichment of the classical proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes with dissipative modes associated with the gradient of the velocity fields. The main idea is to be able to do an a priori analysis of different modes in order to arrange a POD basis in a different way, which is defined by the enforcement of the energetic dissipative modes within the first orders of the reduced order basis. This enables us to model the production and the dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in a separate fashion within the high ranked new velocity modes, hence to ensure good stability of the reduced order model. We show the importance of this a priori enrichment of the reduced basis, on a typical aeronautical injector with Reynolds number of 45,000. We demonstrate the capacity of this order reduction technique to recover large scale features for very long integration times (25 ms in our case). Moreover, the reduced order modeling (ROM) exhibits periodic fluctuations with a period of 2.2 ms corresponding to the time scale of the precessing vortex core (PVC) associated with this test case. We will end this paper by giving some prospects on the use of this stable reduced model in order to perform time extrapolation, that could be a strategy to study the limit cycle of the PVC.
Suppression of Phase Synchronization in Scale-Free Neural Networks Using External Pulsed Current Protocols
Authors: Boaretto Bruno Rafael Reichert , Budzinski Roberto C. , Prado Thiago L. , Lopes Sergio Roberto
Published: April 2019

The synchronization of neurons is fundamental for the functioning of the brain since its lack or excess may be related to neurological disorders, such as autism, Parkinson’s and neuropathies such as epilepsy. In this way, the study of synchronization, as well as its suppression in coupled neurons systems, consists of an important multidisciplinary research field where there are still questions to be answered. Here, through mathematical modeling and numerical approach, we simulated a neural network composed of 5000 bursting neurons in a scale-free connection scheme where non-trivial synchronization phenomenon is observed. We proposed two different protocols to the suppression of phase synchronization, which is related to deep brain stimulation and delayed feedback control. Through an optimization process, it is possible to suppression the abnormal synchronization in the neural network.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Development of CMOS-MEMS/NEMS Devices
Authors: Verd Jaume , Segura Jaume
Published: April 2019

Micro and nanoelectromechanical system (M/NEMS) devices constitute key technological building blocks to enable increased additional functionalities within integrated circuits (ICs) in the More-Than-Moore era, as described in the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors [...]
Erratum: Mpanga, I.K.; et al. The Form of N Supply Determines Plant Growth Promotion by P-Solubilizing Microorganisms in Maize. Microorganisms 2019, 7, 38
Authors:   Microorganisms Editorial Office
Published: April 2019

The following changes have been made to the published paper [...]
Formation of Authigenic Low-Magnesium Calcite from Sites SS296 and GC53 of the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Huang Huiwen , Gong Shanggui , Li Niu , Birgel Daniel , Peckmann Jörn , Jin Meng , Cheng Ming , Roberts Harry H. , Chen Duofu , Feng Dong
Published: April 2019

Authigenic low-magnesium calcite (LMC)—a mineral phase that should precipitate in calcite seas rather than today’s aragonite sea—was recently discovered at the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) at water depths of 65 m (site SS296) and 189 m (site GC53). This study investigates the mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical characteristics of LMC from both sites to reveal its formation process. The δ18O values of LMC from site SS296 cluster in two groups (−0.6‰ to 1.7‰; 6.3‰ to 7.5‰) and the presence of cone-in-cone texture in the samples with lower δ18O values suggest precipitation at higher temperatures and greater depth. Low δ18O values of LMC from site GC53 ranging from −9.4‰ to −2.5‰ indicate an influence of meteoric waters during formation. LMC at both sites reveals a wide range of δ13C values (−17.4‰ to 2.6‰), indicating various carbon sources including seawater and/or organic matter. This interpretation is further supported by the δ13C values of organic carbon extracted from the LMC lithologies (δ13Corg: from −26.8‰ to −18.9‰). Relatively low Sr concentrations of LMC samples regardless of variable 87Sr/86Sr ratios, ranging from 0.707900 to 0.708498 for site GC53 and from 0.709537 to 0.710537 for site SS396, suggest the exchange of Sr between pore fluids and ambient sediments/rocks. The observed wide range of 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the enrichment of Fe and Mn in LMC is in accordance with pore fluids deriving from the dissolution of Louann salt. Overall, this study reveals that the formation of LMC at sites SS296 and GC53 was favored by the presence of low Mg/Ca ratio pore fluids resulting from salt dissolution in subsurface environments when sufficient dissolved inorganic carbon was available. These results are essential for understanding the formation of marine LMC at times of an aragonite sea, highlighting the role of formation environments—open environments close to or at the seafloor vs. confined subseafloor environments typified by pore waters with a composition largely different from that of seawater.
Mean Dietary Salt Intake in Vanuatu: A Population Survey of 755 Participants on Efate Island
Authors: Paterson Katherine , Hinge Nerida , Sparks Emalie , Trieu Kathy , Santos Joseph Alvin , Tarivonda Len , Snowdon Wendy , Webster Jacqui , Johnson Claire
Published: April 2019

Non-communicable diseases are responsible for 63% of global deaths, with a higher burden in low- and middle-income countries. Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular-disease-related deaths worldwide, and approximately 1.7 million deaths are directly attributable to excess salt intake annually. There has been little research conducted on the level of salt consumption amongst the population of Vanuatu. Based on data from other Pacific Island countries and knowledge of changing regional diets, it was predicted that salt intake would exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended maximum of 5 g per day. The current study aimed to provide Vanuatu with a preliminary baseline assessment of population salt intake on Efate Island. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic, clinical, and urine data from participants aged 18 to 69 years in rural and urban communities on Efate Island in October 2016 and February 2017. Mean salt intake was determined to be 7.2 (SD 2.3) g/day from spot urine samples, and 5.9 (SD 3.6) g/day from 24-h urine samples, both of which exceed the WHO recommended maximum. Based on the spot urine samples, males had significantly higher salt intake than females (7.8 g compared to 6.5 g; p < 0.001) and almost 85% of the population consumed more than the WHO recommended maximum daily amount. A coordinated government strategy is recommended to reduce salt consumption, including fiscal policies, engagement with the food industry, and education and awareness-raising to promote behavior change.
Cognitive Training Therapy Improves the Effect of Hypocaloric Treatment on Subjects with Overweight/Obesity: A Randomised Clinical Trial
Authors: Galindo Muñoz Joaquín S. , Morillas-Ruiz Juana María , Gómez Gallego María , Díaz Soler Inmaculada , Barberá Ortega María del Carmen , Martínez Carlos M. , Hernández Morante Juan José
Published: April 2019

Obesity has been associated with impaired cognitive performance. This study aimed to determine whether improvements in cognitive function may contribute to higher weight loss in patients with obesity. In this randomised, 12-week trial, participants with overweight/obesity were randomised into a cognitive training intervention (Cognitive) group or a cognitive-behavioural (Control) group. In addition, both groups followed a hypocaloric dietary treatment. Cognitive functioning measurements and anthropometrical parameters were evaluated. All cognitive measures improved in the intervention group (p < 0.005 in all contrasts). In controls, significant improvements in attention, flexibility and task planning were also observed. Regarding anthropometrical parameters, the effect of the intervention in the cognitive group was higher for the total percentage of weight loss, body mass index (BMI), body fat and waist circumference. Biochemical parameters improved in both groups. Attending to our data, cognitive training was more effective that the hypocaloric intervention alone, partly related to an improvement in the working memory. Despite the shortage of training interventions for executive functions in the context of weight control, this type of combined intervention could establish the first steps towards a more appropriate intervention for patients with obesity.
Association of Selenoprotein and Selenium Pathway Genotypes with Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Interaction with Selenium Status
Authors: Fedirko Veronika , Jenab Mazda , Méplan Catherine , Jones Jeb S. , Zhu Wanzhe , Schomburg Lutz , Siddiq Afshan , Hybsier Sandra , Overvad Kim , Tjønneland Anne , Omichessan Hanane , Perduca Vittorio , Boutron-Ruault Marie-Christine , Kühn Tilman , Katzke Verena , Aleksandrova Krasimira , Trichopoulou Antonia , Karakatsani Anna , Kotanidou Anastasia , Tumino Rosario , Panico Salvatore , Masala Giovanna , Agnoli Claudia , Naccarati Alessio , Bueno-de-Mesquita Bas , Vermeulen Roel C.H. , Weiderpass Elisabete , Skeie Guri , Nøst Therese Haugdahl , Lujan-Barroso Leila , Quirós J. Ramón , Huerta José María , Rodríguez-Barranco Miguel , Barricarte Aurelio , Gylling Björn , Harlid Sophia , Bradbury Kathryn E. , Wareham Nick , Khaw Kay-Tee , Gunter Marc , Murphy Neil , Freisling Heinz , Tsilidis Kostas , Aune Dagfinn , Riboli Elio , Hesketh John E. , Hughes David J.
Published: April 2019

Selenoprotein genetic variations and suboptimal selenium (Se) levels may contribute to the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) development. We examined the association between CRC risk and genotype for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in selenoprotein and Se metabolic pathway genes. Illumina Goldengate assays were designed and resulted in the genotyping of 1040 variants in 154 genes from 1420 cases and 1421 controls within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Multivariable logistic regression revealed an association of 144 individual SNPs from 63 Se pathway genes with CRC risk. However, regarding the selenoprotein genes, only TXNRD1 rs11111979 retained borderline statistical significance after adjustment for correlated tests (PACT = 0.10; PACT significance threshold was P < 0.1). SNPs in Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) and Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta-signaling genes (FRZB, SMAD3, SMAD7) from pathways affected by Se intake were also associated with CRC risk after multiple testing adjustments. Interactions with Se status (using existing serum Se and Selenoprotein P data) were tested at the SNP, gene, and pathway levels. Pathway analyses using the modified Adaptive Rank Truncated Product method suggested that genes and gene x Se status interactions in antioxidant, apoptosis, and TGF-beta signaling pathways may be associated with CRC risk. This study suggests that SNPs in the Se pathway alone or in combination with suboptimal Se status may contribute to CRC development.
Medicine Prices, Availability, and Affordability in Private Health Facilities in Low-Income Settlements in Nairobi County, Kenya
Authors: Ongarora Dennis , Karumbi Jamlick , Minnaard Warnyta , Abuga Kennedy , Okungu Vincent , Kibwage Isaac
Published: April 2019

Medicine prices are a major determinant of access to healthcare. Owing to low availability of medicines in the public health facilities and poor accessibility to these facilities, most low-income residents pay out-of-pocket for health services and transport to the private health facilities. In low-income settlements, high retail prices are likely to push the population further into poverty and ill health. This study assessed the retail pricing, availability, and affordability of medicines in private health facilities in low-income settlements within Nairobi County. Medicine prices and availability data were collected between September and December 2016 at 45 private healthcare facilities in 14 of Nairobi’s low-income settlements using electronic questionnaires. The International Medical Products Price Guide provided international medicine reference prices for comparison. Affordability and availability proxies were calculated according to existing methods. Innovator brands were 13.8 times more expensive than generic brands. The lowest priced generics and innovator brands were, on average, sold at 2.9 and 32.6 times the median international reference prices of corresponding medicines. Assuming a 100% disposable income, it would take 0.03 to 1.33 days’ wages for the lowest paid government employee to pay for treatment courses of selected single generic medicines. Medicine availability in the facilities ranged between 2% and 76% (mean 43%) for indicator medicines. Prices of selected medicines varied within the 14 study regions. Retail medicine prices in the low-income settlements studied were generally higher than corresponding international reference prices. Price variations were observed across different regions although the regions comprise similar socioeconomic populations. These factors are likely to impact negatively on healthcare access.
Rilkean Memories and the Self of a Robot
Authors: Chella Antonio
Published: April 2019

This paper discusses the concept of Rilkean memories, recently introduced by Mark Rowlands, to analyze the complex intermix of hardware and software related to the self of a robot. The Rilkean memory of an event is related to the trace of that episode left in the body of the individual. It transforms the act of remembering into behavioral and bodily dispositions, thus generating the peculiar behavioral style of the individual, which is at the basis of her autobiographical self. In the case of long-life operating robots, a similar process occurs: the software of the robot has to cope with the changes that happened in the body of the robot because of damaging events in its operational life. Thus, the robot, in compensating the damages of its body, acquires a particular behavioral style. The concept of Rilkean memory is essential in self-adapting robotics technologies where human intervention on a robot is not possible, and the robot must cope with its faults, and also in applications concerning green robotics.
Polyamines as Quality Control Metabolites Operating at the Post-Transcriptional Level
Authors: Poidevin Laetitia , Unal Dilek , Belda-Palazón Borja , Ferrando Alejandro
Published: April 2019

Plant polyamines (PAs) have been assigned a large number of physiological functions with unknown molecular mechanisms in many cases. Among the most abundant and studied polyamines, two of them, namely spermidine (Spd) and thermospermine (Tspm), share some molecular functions related to quality control pathways for tightly regulated mRNAs at the level of translation. In this review, we focus on the roles of Tspm and Spd to facilitate the translation of mRNAs containing upstream ORFs (uORFs), premature stop codons, and ribosome stalling sequences that may block translation, thus preventing their degradation by quality control mechanisms such as the nonsense-mediated decay pathway and possible interactions with other mRNA quality surveillance pathways.