bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of a Severe Pediatric Lyell Syndrome with Amniotic Membrane: Case Report and Histological Findings
Authors: Azzena B. , Tiengo C. , Giatsidis G. , Salmaso R. , Pontini A.
Published: December 2018

Background:
Lyell Syndrome (TEN, Toxic epidermal necrolysis) represents a medical emergency particularly in pediatric patients in whom the massive skin damage can quickly lead to multi-organ dysfunction and death. Prompt restoration of the physiologic mucosal/cutaneous barrier is mandatory. The use of amniotic membranes has been described in the treatment of ophthalmic Lyell Syndrome, but its use has not yet been adopted for the management of larger cutaneous wounds.

Study Hypothesis:
Here we report the use of amniotic membranes in a pediatric case of severe Lyell Syndrome with complete skin surface, ocular and mucosal involvement with life threating presentation.

Methods:
A 7-year old female was admitted to our Burn Centre for severe cutaneous/mucosal exfoliation (100% Total body surface area, TBSA) as a result of an adverse reaction to ibuprofen administration. Supportive fluid administration, cardiac-pulmonary assistance and pain management were complemented by serial grafting of amniotic membranes on all affected areas to provide coverage of the exfoliated skin/mucosa. Biopsies were obtained to monitor histological skin changes.

Results:
The patient showed an excellent response to amniotic membrane treatment, with rapid restoration of mucosal and cutaneous layers in the grafted areas. This resulted in a decreased need for dressing changes, avoidance of additional surgeries and a reduced dependence on supportive therapy. Lower pain levels than usually expected led to a reduced need for narcotic pain medications and allowed for early physical rehabilitation and a short hospital stay. Histology confirmed evidence of topical immune-modulation in treated areas (reduction of inflammatory infiltrate).

Conclusion:
As we tested in numerously TEN and burn pediatric injuries Amniotic membranes with their regenerative and immune-modulatory effects may represent an life saving treatment even in the worst cases of pediatric Lyell syndrome.
Effect of Bone Marrow and Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Rat Intestinal Injury Induced by Methotrexate
Authors: Masoud Marwa A. , Mohamed Eman G. , A. Hassan Wedad , Mohammad F Ebtehal
Published: December 2018

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anti-metabolite in cancer chemotherapy and is associated with various toxicities assigned to inflammation and oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken to corroborate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in MTX-induced intestinal toxicity in experimental animals as compared with dexamethasone (Dex). Rats were divided into five groups: I-Normal control group, II- MTX (14 mg/kg, as a single dose/week for 2 weeks), III & IV- BM-MSCs & AD-MSCs (2 × 106 cells/rat, 1 week after last dose of MTX), respectively, plus V- Dex (0.5 mg/kg/ for 7 days, 1 week after last dose of MTX). MTX induced marked intestinal elevation of interleukin-6, total oxidant, and nitrite/ nitrate, caspase-3 contents and myeloperoxidase activity, along with the reduction of reduced glutathione content and catalase activity. In conclusion, the positive modulation of MTX toxicity could be attributed to the free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic potential of BM-MSC and AD-MSCs which will possibly make them as remarkable hopeful for the treatment of intestinal injury.
Post Mastectomy Pain is No Longer Nightmare
Authors: Elzohry Alaa Ali M , Abd Elhamed Mohammed Farghaly , Mahran Mohammed Hesien
Published: December 2018

Background PMPS nowadays is common due to advances in both; diagnosis and treatment of cancer breast. Choosing proper treatments can improve the patients’ quality of life. Cancer breast is common and quite important disease and female in our family must be aware of it. Improvement of the diagnosis and treatment PMPS lead to increased patient’s satisfaction and decrease fear of cancer breast. Objective Discuss different methods for management of PMPS with less side effects, adequate analgesia, improvement of quality of life, and better patient satisfaction in the future. Methods Treatment approaches include both pharmacological interventions and non-pharmacological strategies. However, current treatments of the PMPS are near-optimal and prevention much better than treatment. Conclusion Continuous perioperative thoracic epidural Fentanyl–bupivacaine infusion was much better in pain relief, less sedating effect and shorter duration of hospital and ICU stay than continuous perioperative entanyl intravenous infusion in patients undergoing major upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
Congresos nacionales de extensión universitaria: lógicas de extensión y problematización de los organizadores “comunidad”, “sociedad” y “desarrollo social”
Authors: López Geronazzo Lautaro , López Marcelo Luis
Published: December 2018

Sobre la tesis de que los congresos nacionales de extensión universitaria argentinos ayudan a comprender la resignificación que esta función sufrió a partir de los '90, se desarrolló una investigación cuyo problema fue qué temáticas y categorías de análisis para la praxis extensionista se infieren de la bibliografía, la sistematización de experiencias, las reflexiones e investigaciones como aportes a la construcción del objeto de la extensión universitaria, considerando las ponencias de estos eventos. El objetivo de la investigación fue describir, analizar e interpretar la relación teoría y práctica en la extensión universitaria. La metodología se apoyó en la Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos y el Análisis de Redes Sociales. El artículo se limita al abordaje de aspectos no publicados circunscriptos a la revisión de los conceptos de “desarrollo social”, “comunidad” y “sociedad” como ejes problematizadores de los intentos de modelización de la extensión universitaria en el marco de una contextualización histórico–política de los congresos y los antecedentes de la extensión universitaria.
Interacción entre la extensión y la investigación–acción para el abordaje de una problemática en el sector productivo marplatense
Authors: Ambrústolo Mariela
Published: December 2018

El presente escrito tiene por objeto describir el trabajo de investigación–acción del Grupo de investigación y extensión “Mejora Continua, Calidad y Medio Ambiente”.

El proyecto se centró en la aplicación de una herramienta básica de gestión que permite preparar a las organizaciones que pretendan implementar sistemas de gestión de la calidad y mejorar sus lugares de trabajo. El mismo fue desarrollado en tres períodos a través de talleres de extensión brindados a empresas representativas del sector industrial marplatense y en los cuales se contó con la participación de estudiantes avanzados.

La extensión en el ámbito universitario es un mecanismo de construcción de capacidades, desarrollos tecnológicos, capacitación en diversos sectores sociales, productivos públicos o privados. La construcción de conocimiento resultó un elemento fundamental para el desarrollo del proyecto de investigación que abordó el estudio de las modalidades, estrategias, ventajas y obstáculos que se presentan en la aplicación de estas herramientas.
Reseña / Identidades y poder. Tatuajes desafiantes de un territorio en disputa
Authors: Bailone Jerónimo
Published: December 2018

A lo largo de 7 capítulos, con diferentes enfoques, se recuperan la experiencia en el marco de Curso de Acción para la Investigación y el Desarrollo (CAID+D) orientado a problemas sociales y productivos de Universidad Nacional del Litoral denominado «Sistema de indicadores y monitoreo en intervenciones socio territoriales de las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil (OSC)» realizado en la ciudad de Santa Fe.El libro representa un aporte no sólo al conocimiento de las problemáticas territoriales a nivel local, sino también un punto de partida para nuevas propuestas de intervención a partir de un profundo estudio en el territorio. Además, representa una muestra de las posibilidades que la articulación entre investigación y extensión universitaria pueden alcanzar en sus intervenciones.
Análisis del lenguaje de la Pedagogía. Caracterización y tipología
Authors: Soler Costa Rebeca
Published: December 2018

Conocer el lenguaje de una disciplina científica permite entender mejor su epistemología. El lenguaje pedagógico precisa de un análisis, dado que no ha sido objeto de estudio. Por ello, el objetivo de este artículo es mostrar su caracterización lingüística del lenguaje de la Pedagogía. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica del concepto de «lenguas especiales» y se analiza el léxico y los factores extralingüísticos. Se utiliza una metodología de investigación cualitativa, en una dimensión descriptiva. Los resultados muestran que es un «lenguaje sectorial». La caracterización del léxico y de los factores pragmáticos muestra que este lenguaje se sitúa en un «nivel umbral». Esta caracterización permite conocer cómo la Pedagogía construye su lenguaje, cómo sus hablantes transmiten los significados.
Ultra-capacitor based Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Medium) for Developing Countries
Authors: Hasan Md. Zahid , Adnan Md. Rubaiat , Saha Sabhasachi , Roy Souvik
Published: December 2018

This research is directed to the hybridization of battery and ultra-capacitor for a better effectiveness. This portrays the benefits of introducing an ultra-capacitor into a battery pack of an urban electric vehicle drive train. Matlab Simulations are done taking two basic scenarios into consideration: fresh cells and half-used battery cells. The simulations show that the lower the temperature (25-28 OC) higher the hybrid system efficiency (25-30%). Data from real world and previous studies are considered to conduct this study. Previous studies showed efficiency raise upto 7%, whereas this system showed around 14% efficiency raise. Simulations are done considering modified Bangladeshi drive cycle for low weight vehicles. Several issues like volumetric, gravimetric and cost issues of hybridization are present in this paper. By this system the power loss of the system can be reduced by up to 5% to 10% regarding to conventional system. Finally hybridization not only increases the efficiency of the energy storage system also increases the power train efficiency and battery lifespan. This paper would help researchers for further development of this topic.
A uniqueness result for differential pencils with discontinuities from interior spectral data
Authors: Khalili Yasser , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: December 2018

In this work, the interior spectral data is employed to study the inverse problem
for a differential pencil with a discontinuity on the half line. By using a set of values of the eigenfunctions
at some internal point and eigenvalues, we obtain the functions

q
0

⁢

(
x
)

{q_{0}(x)}

and

q
1

⁢

(
x
)

{q_{1}(x)}

applied in the diffusion operator.
Regularized Regression for Reserving and Mortality Models
Authors: Venter Gary
Published: December 2018

Bayesian regularization, a relatively new method for estimating model parameters, shrinks estimates towards the overall mean by shrinking the parameters. It has been proven to lower estimation and prediction variances from those of MLE for linear models, such as regression or GLM. It has a goodness-of-fit measure, and can readily be applied using available software. This can be used for any type of actuarial linear modeling, but it is slightly more complicated for mortality and loss reserving models that use row, column, and diagonal effects for array data. These are called age-period-cohort, or APC models by statisticians. The problem is that the row, column and diagonal effects are not what should be shrunk. These models can easily become over-parameterized, and actuaries often reduce parameters with smooth curves or cubic splines. We discuss an alternative smoothing method that uses regularization, with its reduction in estimation errors, and illustrate both its classical and Bayesian forms and their application to APC modeling. Typical actuarial models and some generalizations are used as examples.
The seaweed resources of Chile over the period 2006–2016: moving from gatherers to cultivators
Authors: Camus Carolina , Hernández-González María del Carmen , Buschmann Alejandro H.
Published: December 2018

Chile, located in the southeastern Pacific, possess a high richness of seaweed species, some of which have been traditionally extracted from natural beds for the production of hydrocolloids (e.g. agar, carrageenan and alginates), but still a high proportion of the biomass is being exported as dried material to processors in Asia and Europe. During the period 2006–2016, this tendency has been maintained, but has also started to show signs of changing towards a more sustainable, localized seaweed industry as new actions by the Chilean government provided subsidies to seaweed farming activities and also to investments in local valorization of the resources. This “sea change” has been further supported by an increase in the number of localized scientific and technical studies related to Chilean seaweed resources which has prepared the foundation required in order to move to more advanced stages of local seaweed farming and development of local processing.
The circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers
Authors: Terrinoni Alessandro , Calabrese Cosimo , Basso Daniela , Aita Ada , Caporali Sabrina , Plebani Mario , Bernardini Sergio
Published: December 2018

A large portion of the human genome transcribes RNA sequences that do not code for any proteins. The first of these sequences was identified in 1993, and the best known noncoding RNAs are microRNA (miRNAs). It is now fully established that miRNAs regulate approximately 30% of the known genes that codify proteins. miRNAs are involved in several biological processes, like cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metastatization. These RNA products regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, modulating or inhibiting protein expression by interacting with specific sequences of mRNAs. Mature miRNAs can be detected in blood plasma, serum and also in a wide variety of biological fluids. They can be found associated with proteins, lipids as well as enclosed in exosome vesicles. We know that circulating miRNAs (C-miRNAs) can regulate several key cellular processes in tissues different from the production site. C-miRNAs behave as endogenous mediators of RNA translation, and an extraordinary knowledge on their function has been obtained in the last years. They can be secreted in different tissue cells and associated with specific pathological conditions. Significant evidence indicates that the initiation and progression of several pathologies are “highlighted” by the presence of specific C-miRNAs, underlining their potential diagnostic relevance as clinical biomarkers. Here we review the current literature on the possible use of this new class of molecules as clinical biomarkers of diseases.
A novel machine learning-derived decision tree including uPA/PAI-1 for breast cancer care
Authors: Reix Nathalie , Lodi Massimo , Jankowski Stéphane , Molière Sébastien , Luporsi Elisabeth , Leblanc Suzanne , Scheer Louise , Ibnouhsein Issam , Benabu Julie-Charlotte , Gabriele Victor , Guggiola Alberto , Lessinger Jean-Marc , Chenard Marie-Pierre , Alpy Fabien , Bellocq Jean-Pierre , Neuberger Karl , Tomasetto Catherine , Mathelin Carole
Published: December 2018

Background

uPA and PAI-1 are breast cancer biomarkers that evaluate the benefit of chemotherapy (CT) for HER2-negative, estrogen receptor-positive, low or intermediate grade patients. Our objectives were to observe clinical routine use of uPA/PAI-1 and to build a new therapeutic decision tree integrating uPA/PAI-1.

Methods

We observed the concordance between CT indications proposed by a canonical decision tree representative of French practices (not including uPA/PAI-1) and actual CT prescriptions decided by a medical board which included uPA/PAI-1. We used a method of machine learning for the analysis of concordant and non-concordant CT prescriptions to generate a novel scheme for CT indications.

Results

We observed a concordance rate of 71% between indications proposed by the canonical decision tree and actual prescriptions. Discrepancies were due to CT contraindications, high tumor grade and uPA/PAI-1 level. Altogether, uPA/PAI-1 were a decisive factor for the final decision in 17% of cases by avoiding CT prescription in two-thirds of cases and inducing CT in other cases. Remarkably, we noted that in routine practice, elevated uPA/PAI-1 levels seem not to be considered as a sufficient indication for CT for N≤3, Ki 67≤30% tumors, but are considered in association with at least one additional marker such as Ki 67>14%, vascular invasion and ER-H score <150.

Conclusions

This study highlights that in the routine clinical practice uPA/PAI-1 are never used as the sole indication for CT. Combined with other routinely used biomarkers, uPA/PAI-1 present an added value to orientate the therapeutic choice.
Digital networks for laboratory data: potentials, barriers and current initiatives
Authors: Ganslandt Thomas , Neumaier Michael
Published: December 2018

Medical care is increasingly delivered by multiple providers across healthcare sectors and specialties, leading to a fragmentation of the electronic patient record across organizations and vendor IT systems. The rapid uptake of wearables and connected diagnostic devices adds another source of densely collected data by the patients themselves. Integration of these data sources opens up several potentials: a longitudinal view of laboratory findings would close the gaps between individual provider visits and allow to more closely follow disease progression. Adding non-laboratory data (e.g. diagnoses, procedures) would add context and support clinical interpretation of findings. Case-based reasoning and disease-modelling approaches would allow to identify similar patient groups and classify endotypes. Realization of these potentials is, however, subject to several barriers, including legal and ethical prerequisites of data access, syntactic and semantic integration, comparability of items and user-centered presentation. The German Medical Informatics Initiative is presented as a current undertaking that strives to address these issues by establishing a national infrastructure for the secondary use of routine clinical data.
Extended multi-drug maternal therapy for refractory supraventricular tachycardia in premature hydrops fetalis
Authors: Minisha Fathima , Deniz Melissa , AlObaidly Sawsan , Kamal Reema
Published: December 2018

Background

Fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a reversible cause of fetal hydrops, with better outcomes if detected early and reverted in utero. Modern imaging allows accurate diagnosis and maternal anti-arrhythmic therapy can be practiced ensuring in utero cardioversion.

Case presentation

We present a case of preterm fetal hydrops due to SVT successfully reverted in utero by multidrug maternal therapy. The mother presented to our tertiary care hospital at 32 weeks’ gestation with a fetal heart rate of 229 beats/min with evidence of mild fetal pericardial effusion and ascites. Under strict maternal monitoring, the treatment was started with parenteral digoxin. Flecainide, sotalol and amiodarone were introduced sequentially based on the response until cardioversion was achieved at 35 weeks with no maternal side effects. She labored spontaneously and delivered a 2.6 kg baby boy 4 days after the successful cardioversion. The baby was discharged home on day 7 on oral amiodarone with outpatient follow-up. Digoxin monotherapy failed in our case, possibly due to evidence of hydrops and a sequential multi-drug therapy was required for an extended duration of up to 2 weeks to achieve cardioversion successfully.

Conclusions

Our report suggests that multi-drug therapy is more successful in cases of SVT with fetal hydrops, titrated according to fetal response and maternal tolerance, although a prolonged period of therapy might be required to achieve the desired clinical effect.
SIMULATION OF LEAF DAMAGE BY ARTIFICIAL DEFOLIATION AND ITS EFFECT ON SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) PERFORMANCE / SIMULACION DEL DAÑO DE HOJA POR LA ELIMINACION ARTIFICIAL DE HOJAS Y SU EFECTO SOBRE LAS PERFORMANCES DEL GIRASOL / SIMULATION DE DÉTÉRIORIATION DES FEUILLES CAUSÉE PAR DEFOLIATION ARTIFICIELLE ET SON EFFET SUR LE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.)
Authors: Shafiullah M.A. Khan , Poswal M.A. , Rana M.A. , Baitullah M.A.
Published: December 2018

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid NK-212 was planted at National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, during 1992 and 1993 to assess the impact of various levels of simulated leaf damage, commonly caused by insects, hail or foliar diseases, on source and sink relationship. Insect attack, hail and foliar diseases often partially defoliate sunflowers and may become important factors limiting the production. Reduction in leaf area may also occur in the field as a consequence of pathogens or atmospheric conditions. Artificial defoliation was chosen as an experimental means to assess its effect on seed yield and plant behavior. It had also made possible to evaluate the effect of such a reduction at different phenological stages and to identify the leaves that contribute greatly to the seed yield. The leaves were clipped in various proportions from different parts of the plant, i.e., lower, middle and upper. The removal of upper 2/3 and 1/2 leaves caused a yield reduction of 29 and 55.8%, in 1992 and 37 and 44.8%, in 1993, respectively. In 1992, about 1% yield decline was recorded when the lower 1/3 leaves were removed and 6% yield decline with the removal of the lower 1/2 leaves. In 1993, the yield reduction was 26.7 and 39.2% due to removal of lower 1/3 and 1/2 leaves, respectively. This indicated that the upper leaves (source) contribute more towards seed yield (sink) than the lower ones. Correspondingly, the results indicated that insects and pests feeding on the upper portion of the sunflower plant can cause larger reduction in seed yield than those feeding on the lower leaves.
MICROPROPAGATION OF Helianthus maximiliani (Schrader) BY SHOOT APEX CULTURE / MICROPROPAGACION DE Helianthus maximiliani (Schrader) POR EL CULTIVO DE VAINAS DE LOS VASTAGOS / MICROPROPAGATION DE L’Helianthus maximiliani (Schrader) AU MOYEN DE LA CULTURE DE L’APEX DE LA POUSSE
Authors: Dragana Vasić , Dragan Škorić , Gilbert Alibert , Vladimir Miklič
Published: December 2018

H.maximiliani was micropropagated using culture of shoot apices on modified Murashige and Skoog medium (DV). Further propagation of in vitro grown plants was done by culture of their nodal segments and shoot tips on the same medium supplemented with phloridzin, silver nitrate and casein hydrolysate (DV'). Rooting was induced by dipping the explants into IBA solution prior culture. Viable protoplasts (90%) were isolated from leaf mesophyll. These protoplasts divided (18%) in culture in agarose droplets.
What Factors Influence Consumer Preferences for Search and Credence Seafood Characteristics? an Empirical Analysis in Kentucky and South Carolina
Authors: Ratliff English , Vassalos Michael , Hu Wuyang
Published: December 2018

Consistent with preferences for other food products, consumers increasingly care about a range of search and credence seafood characteristics such as: environmental effects and product form. This study utilized a dataset obtained from an online survey, and a Multivariate Ordered Probit formulation to examine the impact of: demographic characteristics, lifestyle preferences, and seafood consumption frequency on preferences for selected seafood attributes. The findings indicate that the factors influencing consumer preferences differ across the attributes examined. Although some demographic variables have a statistically significant effect on consumers’ preferences for seafood attributes other than price, their predictive power was limited regarding preferences for wild-caught, fresh seafood and the impact of sustainability on purchasing decisions. Furthermore, consumers who utilize direct marketing outlets have stronger preferences towards fresh and wild-caught seafood products.
Repeated restraint stress upregulates rat sulfotransferase 1A1
Authors: Balyan Rajiv , Cai Ma , Zhao Wenhong , Dai Zhao , Zhai Yujia , Chen Guangping
Published: December 2018

Background

Sulfotransferases (SULTs) are phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes. SULTs also regulate the biological activities of biological signaling molecules, such as various hormones, bile acids, and monoamine neurotransmitters; therefore, they play critical roles in the endocrine and nervous systems. People are subject to various kinds of physical, chemical, toxicological, physiological, and psychological stresses at one time or another. The study of the effects produced by stress may lead to finding novel remedies for many disease conditions. The effect of repeated restraint stress on rat SULT expression has not been studied.

Methods

This study involves the effect of repeated restraint stress on SULT1A1 expressions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4) were subjected to repeated restraint stress 2 h/day for 7 days. Protein and RNA expression of SULT1A1 were analyzed by western blot and quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively, in important tissues.

Results

We observed that repeated restraint stress increased the expression of SULT1A1 in the liver, adrenal glands, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex in male rats. Patterns of enhanced expression were observed at both mRNA and protein level, indicating that repeated restraint stress stimulates enzyme expression at the transcriptional level.

Conclusions

Changes of SULT1A1 expression in important tissues caused by repeated restraint stress will have a significant effect on drug metabolism and xenobiotics detoxification. The significant changes in endocrine glands and brain sections may also cause disturbances in hormone homeostasis, therefore leading to disease conditions. This report provides clues for the understanding of the effect of stresses on health.
Childhood Perioral Dermatitis — Challenging Treatment
Authors: Chiriac Anca , Diaconeasa Adriana , Podoleanu Cristian , Stolnicu Simona
Published: December 2018

Background: Also known as papulopustular dermatitis (chronic form), rosacea-like dermatitis, periorificial dermatitis, or airhostess’ dermatitis, perioral dermatitis is a commonly encountered dermatological disease, especially in adult women and less frequently in children. Its diagnosis and treatment are a challenge especially in small children.

Case report: We present the case of a 2-year-old girl referred to the dermatologist for widespread erythematous papules, vesicles, and pustules on the perioral area, nasolabial folds, and on the outer region of the lower eyelids. Several diagnoses had been established during the previous months: impetigo, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, childhood rosacea, demodecidosis, infantile acne, and variable therapeutic approaches had been tried, with no clinical improvement. Clarithromycin 250 mg/day orally associated with the application of 2% erythromycin solution were successfully used.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of the clinical diagnosis of perioral dermatitis in young children, of excluding other diagnoses and worthless treatments, and also the chronic evolution of the disease and its individualized treatment.
Who is the killer? Barking up the wrong tree
Authors: Mariacher Alessia , Fanelli Rita , Garofalo Luisa , Perfetti Gabriella , Lorenzini Rita , Fico Rosario
Published: December 2018

In recent years, several cases of predation on hunting dogs have been reported in Italy. These cases caused uproar among owners and the wolf was singled out as the culprit. The remains of a dog allegedly killed by wolves were submitted for forensic analysis. Wolf predation was ruled out based on gross findings and wild boar aggression was suspected instead. Genetic analysis of salivary swab samples confirmed that wild boars fed on the dog. As poaching is one of the main threats to wolf conservation, it is essential to identify correctly the predator in cases of attacks on domestic animals.
Women as leaders in academic institutions: personal experience and narrative literature review
Authors: Hering Janet G.
Published: December 2018

For the last 12 years, I have had the pleasure and privilege to serve as the Director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and as a professor at the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) Zurich and Lausanne (EPFL). My affiliations have afforded me a rare opportunity to observe the structure and governance of academic institutions and to reflect on my own experience in institutional leadership. I have attempted to place my experience in the context of the literature on leadership, particularly that relating to women and academia. On the basis of my experience and reading, I make some recommendations for women faculty, for women in positions of institutional leadership in academia, and for academic institutions. I am deeply convinced that greater participation by women (and members of other under-represented groups) in institutional leadership is needed if academia is to make a meaningful contribution to addressing the huge challenges that face humanity.
Synthesis of a variety of organophosphorus compounds using 2-phosphaindolizines as precursors
Authors: Sharma Nivedita , Bansal Raj K.
Published: December 2018

1,3-Azaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridines named as 2-phosphaindolizines were obtained from [4+1] cyclocondensation and 1,5-electrocyclization methods. These compounds incorporate several reactive functionalities and undergo electrophilic substitution, Diels-Alder reaction and 1,2-addition with hydrogen sulfide and sulfur across the >C=P– functionality and form η1-P coordination compounds with metal carbonyls. Thus, 2-phosphaindolizines could be used as precursors for accessing a variety of organophosphorus compounds.
What Will Be the Future of Powder Metallurgy?
Authors: Danninger Herbert
Published: December 2018

Traditionally, powder metallurgy has been based on two major industrial sectors – ferrous precision parts and hardmetals. Both of them relied heavily on the automotive industry, with focus on internal combustion engines. Today, there is an increasing trend towards alternative drivetrain systems, and powder metallurgy faces the challenge to find new applications to replace those lost with the decrease of classical internal combustion drives. In this presentation it is shown that the main strength of powder metallurgy lies in its enormous flexibility regarding materials, geometries, processing and properties. This enables PM to adapt itself to changing requirements in a changing industrial environment. Examples given are PM parts in alternative drivetrain systems, new alloying concepts and processing routes offering distinct advantages. With hardmetals, innovative microstructures as well as sophisticated coatings offer increased lifetime, applications ranging from metalworking to rockdrilling and concrete cutting. A particularly wide area is found in functional materials which range from components for high power switches to such for fuel cells. Soft and hard magnets are accessible by PM with particularly good properties, PM having in part exclusivity in that respect, such as for NdFeB superhard magnets as well as soft magnetic composites (SMCs). Metal injection moulding (MIM) is gaining further ground, e.g. in the medical area which is a fast-growing field, due to demographic effects. Finally, most additive manufacturing techniques are powder based, and here, the knowledge in powder handling and processing available in the PM community is essential for obtaining stable processes and reliable products. Conclusively it can be stated that PM is on the way to fully exploit its potential far beyond its traditional areas of applications.
Application of a Low Heat Input Deposition Process for Refurbishment of Worn PM Forming Dies Using Fe-Ni Based Filler Metal
Authors: Ebrahimnia Mohamad , Baghjari Hamzeh , Ajdari Mohamad , Hajesmaeli Alireza , Hojati Milad
Published: December 2018

Refurbishment of worn Dies is an interesting research area which also has high economic benefit. Material which is used in PM dies for compacting powders are high carbon steel which have very low weldabilitis. Due to the high hardness, high carbon content and martensitic microstructure, these Dies are very sensitive to the thermal shock produced from fusion welding. For successfully refurbishing the worn Dies, Fine spark deposition was used for deposition of a new layer on the cold work 1.2436 steel. Different heat inputs were used for deposition of nickel based material and finally microstructure and HAZ were studied. Results show the HAZ area is very narrow, free from cracks and HAZ microstructure is similar to the base metal. GTAW welding using same filler metal induced many cracks in HAZ of weld which is detrimental to the refurbished Die performance. Results show increasing heat input in Fine spark deposition can results in crack formation in HAZ even if the weld pool does not occurred in base metal. However these cracks are much smaller than those occurred in GTAW.
Evaluation of internal morphology and engineering properties of graphite-filled UHMWPE nanocomposites produced using a novel octa-screw kneading extruder
Authors: Liu Cheng-Ying , Ishigami Akira , Kurose Takashi , Ito Hiroshi
Published: December 2018

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a very attractive polymer employed as a high performance material, while filler-reinforced composites have demonstrated its feasibility in various applications. Melt-mixing in an extruder is a key process in the development of polymer nanocomposites. Due to its high melt viscosity, dispersion of fillers is considered as a challenge in UHMWPE nanocomposites preparation process. In this work, we have prepared graphite-filled UHMWPE nanocomposites using a novel octa-screw melt kneading extruder. The engineering properties as well as the morphology of kneaded nanocomposites were characterized using tensile tester, friction and wear tester, scanning electron microscopy, optical profilemeter, polarized optical microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, etc. The experimental results suggested good dispersion of graphite in the UHMWPE nanocomposites, demonstrating the excellent capability of the octa-screw extruder in compounding the graphite-filled nanocomposites. The yield strengths of the nanocomposites increase by 10% (from 21.6 MPa to 23.8 MPa) with the addition of 2% graphite. When the filler percentage was increased to 20%, the yield strengths improved from 21.6 to 27.4 MPa (an increase of 26.8%) for the graphite-filled composites. Furthermore, the crystallinity of UHMWPE nanocomposites increased with the content of graphite fillers, while the pyrolysis temperature of the composites increased with the content of graphite fillers.
Computational screening of structure directing agents for the synthesis of zeolites. A simplified model
Authors: Gálvez-Llompart María , Cantín Angel , Rey Fernando , Sastre German
Published: December 2018

Zeolite micropores become more energetically stable by the occlusion of organic structure directing agents (templates). This energetic stabilisation, if approximated by van der Waals zeo-template interactions, can be calculated in a fast way by using modern computing techniques incorporating big data handling algorithms for massive screening. A software suite is presented which calculates an arbitrarily large 2-D matrix (template×zeolite) giving the zeo-template van der Waals interaction energy corresponding to the minimum energy conformation assuming one template molecule in a pure silica zeolite unit cell. With the goal of simplicity, the software only needs two coordinate input files of template and zeolite unit cell. Though a number of approximations have been considered, the software allows to compare, for a given template, which competing zeolite phases may become more stabilised. Applied to zeolite hypothetical databases, it may be of help to suggest templates for their synthesis.
Electric Spark Discharges in Water: Light Leptonic Magnetic Monopoles and Catalysis of Ordinary Beta Decays in an Extended Standard Model
Authors: Stumpf Harald , Wolf Karlheinz
Published: December 2018

The topic of this article is “research of accidents induced by supersonic electric spark discharges in water”. Experiments referring to such accidents were published by Urutskoev et al. in 2000 and Urutskoev in 2004. According to Urutskoev these spark discharges should be accompanied by the emission of a new kind of particles, namely leptonic magnetic monopoles, predicted by Lochak in 1985. Later, Lochak considered these monopoles as excited neutrinos. Both Lochak and Urutskoev supposed that these particles can influence weak decays and nuclear transmutations and that by catalysis the monopole effect can be amplified, leading to macroscopic effects, i.e. accidents. Spark discharges in water are connected with CP-symmetry-breaking, forcing the introduction of an extended standard model described in previous papers. There also, a mechanism of the catalytic effect was discussed, which is further studied in this article. For the selected unstable nuclear element

Mn

25
51

${}_{25}^{51}\text{Mn}$

, the effect is demonstrated and numerically evaluated. A simple non-relativistic nuclear state description is applied for these low-energy processes. The extension of these calculations to other unstable nuclei requires higher calculational effort and is not done in this paper. However, the extraordinarily strong catalytic power of the monopoles revealed by the numerical calculation of the above example suggests looking for macroscopic effects of monopoles as an explanation for accidents, for instance, the catastrophe of Chernobyl, which has been the origin of monopole research. A short review of the corresponding experimental observations connected with this accident is also given in this article.
Deterministic Model of PWR Fast Fluence for Uncertainty Propagations with the Code APOLLO3®
Authors: Mosca Pietro , Clouvel Laura , Lacaze Théophile , Lahaye Sébastien , Lautard Jean Jacques , Baudron Anne Marie
Published: December 2018

The fast neutron fluence and the corresponding uncertainty are important parameters for reactor pressure vessel lifetime. This article presents one model, under development at CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives), that uses the deterministic code APOLLO3® for uncertainty calculations of the fast fluence for pressurized water reactor irradiation surveillance. All calculations are made by MINARET, a 3D-SN solver of the APOLLO3® code that uses the discontinuous Galerkin finite elements approximation. The spatial mesh is unstructured, and the transport calculations are parallelized with respect to the angular directions. In this numerical scheme, the multigroup cross sections are sub-group self-shielded and collapsed over a dedicated energy mesh optimized by the adaptive energy mesh constructor. Results from this model are encouraging with respect to the Monte Carlo reference TRIPOLI-4®. The integral of the flux over 1 MeV in the locations of interest (surveillance capsule and vessel) is calculated in less than 20 min with an error lower than 1 %. Some examples of uncertainty calculations associated with design parameters in which the MINARET solver is coupled to the CEA uncertainty and sensitivity platform URANIE are also provided.
High-Fidelity Gamma Transport Analysis for the Advanced Test Reactor Fuel Storage Canal
Authors: Nigg David W. , Sterbentz James W.
Published: December 2018

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory supports a variety of missions involving accelerated testing of nuclear fuel and other materials in a high neutron flux (5.0 × 1014 n/cm2-s) environment, as well as medical and industrial isotope production, and other applications. It typically runs several cycles per year with cycle lengths varying from 40 to 60 days, depending on specific experimental requirements. The highly radioactive used fuel elements that are discharged from the ATR after each cycle are stored in an adjacent heavily shielded canal with concrete walls that are approximately 1.8 m (6 ft) thick. These fuel elements are sufficiently radioactive to induce levels of gamma heating and integrated dose in the walls of the canal that are of potential concern with regard to damage of the canal walls. An early design study for the ATR canal quantified this phenomenon using limited one-dimensional computational transport techniques that were practical at the time (1962) and concluded that irradiated ATR fuel elements should be positioned at least 0.305 m (12 in.) from the canal wall to conservatively avoid excessive gamma heating in the concrete structure of the wall itself. A new study has now been completed using modern high-fidelity three-dimensional radiation transport computational techniques to verify the earlier results, to assess the degree of conservatism in those results, and to provide a new, much more comprehensive and detailed database for quantification of the canal wall heating induced by radiation from nearby ATR fuel elements stored in the canal.
Gamma-Ray Imaging System for Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using Silicon Strip Detector
Authors: Kaburagi Masaaki , Sato Yuki , Yoshihara Yuri , Shimazoe Kenji , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Torii Tatsuo
Published: December 2018

On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake occurred in the Tohoku region of Japan, and a large tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (1F), resulting in a nuclear accident. Despite the years that have passed since the accident, decommissioning remains a concern. Radiation measurement techniques are very important for accelerating the decommissioning and ensuring low radiation exposure to workers. Our gamma-ray imaging system is the detection device for determining the three dimensional radioactive distributions of nuclear fuel debris, measuring high-energy gamma rays (greater than 1 MeV). Silicon semiconductor detectors are among the candidate detectors for radiation measurements in our system because of their radiation-hardness and high counting rate capability. We have been developing a stacked amorphous-silicon (Si)/crystal-Si heterojunction Si strip detector, which has 1-mm-pitch striped electrodes (0.5 mm wide) and 1.2-mm-pitch stacked technology. The detector consists of an Si strip mounted on a thin printed circuit board, front-end readout electronics with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor application-specific integrated circuit, and a field programmable gate array. The threshold level of energy deposition of each pulse signal in each channel can be set from the application-specific integrated circuit, and gamma-ray images with energy discrimination can be obtained. The energy threshold level for discrimination of 60Co gamma rays from 137Cs gamma rays was investigated experimentally and by means of simulation, and it was found to be about 500 keV. Therefore, our Si strip detector has the required position sensitivity and energy discrimination ability for identifying high-energy gamma-ray source distributions.
Retrospective Dosimetry Analysis of Top Support Plug Samples from Scrap Surveillance Capsule Material for Qualifying Calculations in the Extended Beltline Region of PWRS
Authors: Fischer Greg A. , Kim Byoung Chul
Published: December 2018

This paper describes a retrospective dosimetry analysis of stainless steel samples collected from discarded surveillance capsules that were irradiated at Westinghouse two-loop and three-loop pressurized water reactor plants. The samples were taken from top support plugs and extender bars, which extend as much as 55 cm above the top of the core, and are conveniently located between the top of the core and the reactor vessel nozzles. Comparisons of measurements with the results of three-dimensional deterministic radiation transport calculations are provided. Major sources of uncertainty affecting the calculations and measurements are discussed. Finally, industry plans to collect additional qualification data will be summarized.
Fast Neutron Flux and DPA Rates in NuScale SMR Core Components and Vessels
Authors: Zhang Wei , Shaver Mark , Ratnayake Ruwan , Welter Kent
Published: December 2018

NuScale Power LLC (NuScale) is developing safer, smaller, scalable pressurized water reactor technology under the U.S. Department of Energy's cost-sharing program. The determination of vessel damage due to irradiation requires the spatial determination of energy-dependent neutron flux for each location of interest by combining calculations and measurements. The effect of the fast neutron (E > 1 MeV) flux level and displacements per atom (DPA) are significantly important parameters for predicting the core component and vessel embrittlement per U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulatory Guide 1.99, Revision 2 and Revision 3 (draft) in commercial reactors. The Monte Carlo transport method is acceptable to NRC for determining the best-estimate neutron fluence in vessels per NRC Regulatory Guide 1.190. NuScale uses the three-dimensional Monte Carlo N-Particle code, Version 1.0, to perform neutron-gamma transport calculations with the point-wise cross-section Evaluated Nuclear Data Files/B-VII.1 data library and standard iron DPA cross-section data from ASTM E693, Standard Practice for Characterizing Neutron Exposures in Iron and Low Alloy Steels in Terms of Displacements Per Atom (DPA). A three-dimensional Monte Carlo N-Particle model of the NuScale reactor module including the core, reflector, core barrel, reactor pressure vessel, and containment vessel has been developed. This paper presents a general discussion of NuScale calculational neutron fluence methodology for evaluating neutron flux (neutrons/cm2 · s−1) and the DPA rate (displacements/atom · s−1) at the lower core plate, upper core plate, core reflector, core barrel, pressure vessel and containment vessel at 0.25T, 0.5T, 0.75T, and 4/4T, respectively. The results of the best-estimate fluence analysis to support the Design Certification Application and technical details are included in the licensing technical report that had been submitted to the NRC for review.
Approaches for Estimation of Radiation Damage Parameters on VVER Equipment and Their Implementation during Monitoring Procedure
Authors: Borodkin Pavel , Gazetdinov Azamat , Khrennikov Nikolay
Published: December 2018

The problem of ensuring the integrity of VVER type reactor equipment is now most significant in justifying the safety of nuclear power plant units and the extension of their service lifetime to 60 years and more. This issue primarily concerns old NPP power units with VVER-440s and VVER-1000s. The justification of VVER equipment integrity depends on the reliability of estimating the degree of equipment damage. One of the mandatory requirements, providing the reliability of such estimation and also the evaluation of VVER equipment lifetime, is the monitoring of equipment radiation loading parameters. Relative to this requirement is the challenge of justifying the normative parameters used for estimating reactor pressure vessel metal embrittlement as the fluence and fluence rate of fast neutrons with energies above 0.5 MeV. Compliance with these requirements is analyzed during regular monitoring of radiation load parameters, which is performed by the Scientific and Engineering Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety for all Russian NPP. As a result of this activity, the Scientific and Engineering Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety has recently elaborated on new approaches aimed at monitoring the radiation load of all Russian VVER equipment. This paper describes these approaches and explains the means of their implementation during monitoring procedures.