bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Down-regulation of protease-activated receptor 2 ameliorated osteoarthritis in rats through regulation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathwayin vivoandin vitro
Authors: Yan Shichang , Ding Huimin , Peng Junyang , Wang Xinqiang , Pang Chenglong , Wei Juncheng , Wei Jianjun , Chen Hui
Published: March 2020

Recently, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) has been proved to be involved in the inflammatory response including osteoarthritis (OA). In the present study, we found that PAR2 antagonist could remarkably improve the pathological condition of OA rats in vivo. In addition, we also found that PAR2 antagonist could suppress the production of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and Cox-2), decrease the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-13, and restrain the levels of P62 proteins and aggravate the expression of LC3-II both in vivo and in vitro. Besides, in vitro, PAR2 antagonist could increase the proliferation and colony formation of chondrocytes induced with IL-1β. Moreover, PAR2 antagonist could decrease the expression of expressions of p-p38, p-IκBα and p-NF-κB in vitro. However, PAR2 agonist exhibited the opposite effects. Furthermore, SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, could remarkably promote the proliferation of chondrocytes induced with IL-1β, could alleviate the production of TNF-α and Cox-2, could down-regulate the protein expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-13, and could decrease the expression of P62 and increase the expressions of LC3-II of chondrocytes induced with IL-1β. Importantly, SB203580 could reverse the effects of PAR2 agonist on the functions of chondrocytes induced with IL-1β. Taken together, the present data suggest that down-regulation of PAR2 can ameliorate OA through inducing autophagy via regulation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro, and PAR2 can be considered as a potential candidate to treat OA.
Influence of humidity on conduction processes in gas‐insulated devices
Authors: Tschentscher Malte , Graber David , Franck Christian M.
Published: March 2020

Humidity has been considered as one of the main influencing factors that determine the conduction processes and electric strength of gas‐insulated systems. Whereas in the past, various studies focused on the change in the partial discharge inception voltages, breakdown strength of homogeneous and inhomogeneous field arrangements, and insulator flashover voltage, recent studies have investigated the changes in ion currents measured through different gas gaps. In the framework of this contribution, a highly precise humidity control circuit has been developed to analyse the significance of humidity in the range from −25 to −5°C frost‐point, which is fully applicable to operating gas‐insulated devices. Using sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) as the insulation gas at 0.45 MPa, Al2O3‐filled epoxy resin insulators, and technically rough electrodes, the humidity was found to significantly influence the intensity of microdischarges at interfaces. Charge generation from microdischarges at the interfaces substantially increased with increasing humidity. For an electric field of 5 kV/mm that were applicable to the dimensioning of gas‐insulated devices, humidity strongly influences the charge provision from technically rough interfaces and potentially contributes to the surface‐charge accumulation at insulator surfaces. On the other hand, for low‐field conduction phenomena, no increase in the ion currents from natural ionisation or electrophoretic conduction was observed. For the investigated range of parameters, humidity is expected to be highly relevant for the design of gas‐insulated devices.
Modeling the magnetized Local Bubble from dust data
Authors: Pelgrims V. , Ferrière K. , Boulanger F. , Lallement R. , Montier L.
Published: March 2020

The Sun is embedded in the so-called Local Bubble (LB) – a cavity of hot plasma created by supernova explosions and surrounded by a shell of cold, dusty gas. Knowing the local distortion of the Galactic magnetic field associated with the LB is critical for the modeling of interstellar polarization data at high Galactic latitudes. In this his paper, we relate the structure of the Galactic magnetic field on the LB scale to three-dimensional (3D) maps of the local interstellar medium (ISM). First, we extracted the geometry of the LB shell, its inner surface, in particular from 3D dust extinction maps of the local ISM. We expanded the shell inner surface in spherical harmonics, up to a variable maximum multipole degree, which enabled us to control the level of complexity for the modeled surface. Next, we applied an analytical model for the ordered magnetic field in the shell to the modeled shell surface. This magnetic field model was successfully fitted to the Planck 353 GHz dust polarized emission maps over the Galactic polar caps. For each polar cap, the direction of the mean magnetic field derived from dust polarization (together with the prior that the field points toward longitude 90° ± 90°) is found to be consistent with the Faraday spectra of the nearby diffuse synchrotron emission. Our work presents a new approach to modeling the local structure of the Galactic magnetic field. We expect our methodology and our results to be useful both in modeling the local ISM as traced by its different components and in modeling the dust polarized emission, which is a long-awaited input for studies of the polarized foregrounds for cosmic microwave background.
Sources of kinematic excitation of vehicle
Authors: Merčiaková Eva
Published: March 2020

The road unevenness represents the main source of kinematic excitation of vehicle. During the process of solving the problem of vehicle road interaction the road unevenness represents the input value. The unevenness must be mapped, mathematically described and then used as an input value for numerical simulation of moving load effect on pavements. The submitted paper is dedicated to the description of such procedures.
Rectangular reinforced concrete tank loaded by seismic load
Authors: Uhlířová Lenka , Jendželovský Norbert
Published: March 2020

Tanks have currently been used for storage of different substances and products. Most often they serve as reservoirs for drinking water, for wastewater treatment and storage of various technical liquids. Rectangular tanks are less common, still there are many benefits of their using, e.g. lower sensitivity to unilateral load and better use of space mainly in systems of multiple tanks.

The rectangular tank analyzed in this article is filled with water. Our investigation is focused on dynamic analysis of the tank. The tank was loaded by accelerogram of a natural earthquake. Step-by-step method was used for the calculation. The model was created using ANSYS Academic software, which is based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). The particular calculation was performed using the transient analysis. A time course of displacements and accelerations of each point of a structure has been obtained. The state of stress in walls during the period of maximum displacements has been presented.
Probabilistic fatigue analysis of existing steel structure
Authors: Krejsa Martin , Brožovský Jiří , Lehner Petr , Seitl Stanislav , Kala Zdeněk , Krejsa Vlastimil
Published: March 2020

The paper deals with evaluation of possible fatigue damage of existing steel crane structure. It is possible to use the some traditional methods to solve the problem - a concept of fatigue S-N curves (which are mainly used for designing of a new structures) or the procedures based on linear fracture mechanics utilizing the Paris-Erdogan’s law (which are suitable for estimation of remaining lifetime). For the resistance assessment the relevant data of load effects caused by cyclically loaded structure operation are necessary for both concepts. For the prediction of fatigue damage over time, calibration functions for short edge cracks were derived based on the results of the experiment, and the acceptable size of the fatigue crack in damaged structural component under analysis was determined. Using the derived relationships, a stochastic analysis of the selected element was performed and the results are discussed.
Effect of an acidic environment on a glass fibre reinforced polymer grid
Authors: Šimůnek Petr , Štěpánek Petr , Švaříčková Ivana , Prokeš Jan , Laníková Ivana , Žítt Petr , Mendes João Pedro Miranda
Published: March 2020

The article deals with the effect of an acidic environment on the mechanical properties of a Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) grid. GFRP composites are prone to the absorption of surrounding media which are either of a liquid or gaseous state, and this may result in the degradation of their mechanical properties. The effect of an acidic environment is examined on specimens cut from a GFRP grid. The specimens were stored in an acidic bath (pH scale 2 – 2.5) for a period of 0 (reference specimen), 1000, 2000 and 6000 hours. The temperature of the acidic bath was 60°C. The specimens were then tested using three‒point bending and the interlamination shear strength test. During the tests, the load and deformation of the specimens were monitored and flexural strength instead and modulus of elasticity were determined. The characteristics of the specimens exposed to the acidic environment were compared with those of the reference specimen. The experiment demonstrated the effect an acidic environment can have on the properties of GFRP material.
Church enclosure walls bearing capacity estimations and its validation on 3D models
Authors: Kuklik Pavel , Valek Martin , Bozulic Ivana , Gajjar Pratik , Mahato Chandrashekhar , Scacco Jacopo
Published: March 2020

The paper deals with the nonlinear computational modeling of the baroque enclosure masonry walls. The main tasks are input parameters for efficient advanced numerical tools and techniques, which are based on nonlinear and quasi brittle constitutive FEM modeling. For the work was used the knowledge and results from the Broumov Group Churches survey acquired in the frame of international SAHC university cooperation. The goal of the contribution are real bearing capacity parameters of the composite enclosure walls, which leads from standard homogenization techniques. With regards to the material micro modeling of different wall configuration in longitudinal and transversal direction was done with ATENA 2D software to evaluate the safe bearing capacity of the walls. The set of models aim to assess the bearing capacity of the enclosure wall, which is the main structural element in the church. In detail, we will present results from the numerical investigation, and partial in situ testing, from Vižňov, Ruprechtice and Otovice. Finally, we will present calculation of cracks propagation on full 3D church models. Concerning historical structures, it is one way how to validate the quality of estimations and validate numerical models.
Dynamic analysis of the turbo – generator foundation structure
Authors: Benčat Jan , Tomko Michal , Lukáč Michal
Published: March 2020

This paper provides view of current trends in the field of testing and numerical analysis of dynamic loading structures. It describes what is the role of structure dynamic characteristic analysis in the management of the structures construction and maintenance in power plant industry. The main objective of this study is the dynamic analysis of power plant turbo– generator foundation structure (TGFS) of electrical industry operation. Main purpose of performed study in 2017 was to check dynamic stiffness TGFS after fifty years TG (100 MW) performance which then enabled to prepare relevant data for making design renovation and strengthening of the TGSF.
The use of dual reciprocity method for 2D laminar viscous flow
Authors: Mužík Juraj
Published: March 2020

The paper presents the use of the dual reciprocity multidomain singular boundary method (SBMDR) for the solution of the laminar viscous flow problem described by Navier-Stokes equations. A homogeneous part of the solution is solved using a singular boundary method with the 2D Stokes fundamental solution - Stokeslet. The dual reciprocity approach has been chosen because it is ideal for the treatment of the nonhomogeneous and nonlinear terms of Navier-Stokes equations. The presented SBMDR approach to the solution of the 2D flow problem is demonstrated on a standard benchmark problem - lid-driven cavity.
Small scale tests of cement with focused ion beam and nanoindentation
Authors: Němeček Jiří , Maňák Jan , Krejčí Tomáš , Němeček Jiří
Published: March 2020

Nanoindentation is used for characterization of small scale material properties of hydrated cement. It is employed as a precise loading tool on samples fabricated with Focused Ion Beam milling (FIB). The effect of heat on the microstructure of cement during different FIB energy loads is studied. Milling currents as low as 0.1 nA can be considered as save and not damaging. Micrometer sized beams were bent to reveal strength and fracture characteristics. Small scale elastic properties, tensile strength and fracture energy of individual low scale microstructural constituents of cement paste like C-S-H rich phases and Portlandite were assessed. Very high tensile strengths at the micrometer scale were observed for cement paste hydration products (200-700 MPa) with fracture energies 4-20 J/m2 The results are consistent with atomistic simulations and multi-scale modeling from available literature.
Long-term monitoring of slab deformation affected by the non-homogeneity of concrete
Authors: Priganc Sergej , Kušnírová Darina
Published: March 2020

The shrinkage is a significant phenomenon in concrete structures. The article is aimed at monitoring the shrinking of concrete slabs under laboratory conditions. The results of laboratory research aimed at unreinforced slabs strains affected by the non-homogeneity of concrete are mentioned in the article. According to these results another research of shrinkage influence on strains and deflection of concrete slabs reinforced by steel, resp. GFRP reinforcement has been prepared. The results of this research confirm the significant effect of concrete non-homogeneity on the formation of strains and deflections due to shrinkage.
Thérapies géniques de l’amyotrophie spinale infantile
Authors: Braun Serge
Published: March 2020

On convient de dire qu’une génération est nécessaire pour faire émerger une nouvelle famille de médicaments. L’amyotrophie spinale infantile (SMA), après l’élucidation du gène causal en 1995, dispose depuis peu de deux classes innovantes de thérapeutiques : l’administration répétée d’oligonucléotides antisens et l’administration unique d’une thérapie génique par scAAV9-SMN. En s’adressant aux mécanismes génétiques de la maladie, elles en modifient fondamentalement le cours. Ces avancées majeures dans une maladie extrêmement sévère, mortelle souvent avant l’âge de 18 mois dans les formes de type 1 (50 % des malades), ouvrent la voie pour d’autres pathologies graves du système nerveux ou neuromusculaire, et apportent une preuve déterminante de l’efficacité de ces classes nouvelles de produits appelés à s’adresser à de nombreuses maladies génétiques ou acquises. Elles génèrent aussi de nouvelles questions d’ordre scientifique et technologique (capacités limitées de production des quantités nécessaires en thérapie génique) mais également d’ordre éthique (conditions d’accès des malades à ces thérapies innovantes), qui résonnent au-delà de cette seule maladie.
An Encrusted Ureteral Stent Removed by Open Surgery in a Solitary Pelvic Ectopic Kidney (PEK) Patient Presented with Anuria and Renal Dysfunction: A Case Report
Authors: Pan Yang , Chen Gang , Chen Han , Zhu Yunxiao , Chen Hualin
Published: March 2020

A 19-year-old man complaining of anuria for 1 day was presented. A ureteral stent was indwelled 3 months ago for preventing ureteral obstruction and protecting kidney function. Abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a solitary pelvic ectopic kidney (PEK) and severe hydronephrosis. And the ureteral stent was covered by encrustations which caused ureteral obstruction. The stent had been retained in his ureter for more than 3 months until he was admitted. It couldn’t be removed after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) or flexible ureteroscope laser lithotripsy (f-URS). Finally, we had to conduct open surgery which was an alternative option. The stent was replaced by a new one successfully. The patient was discharged safely without postoperative complications. After 2 months of follow-up, the patient’s renal function remained stable.
Open Reduction and Internal Fixation for Dorsal Fracture-dislocation of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint
Authors: Lee Jun-Ku , Kim Yoon Seok , Lee Jin-Hyun , Jang Gyu-Chol , Han Soo-Hong
Published: March 2020

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical and radiological results of ORIF with inter-fragment screw or buttress plate fixation of acute PIP joint fracture dorsal dislocation.

Patients and Methods Between January 2007 to December 2016, nineteen patients – 14 men and 5 women with an average age of 40.9 (19 to 64) years – were included in this study; 9 patients underwent small sized interfragmentary screw fixation and 10 patients underwent small buttress plating. The average follow-up period was 45.1 (13 to 78) months. Clinical assessment included measurement of range of motion (ROM) of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joint (PIP, DIP), grip and pinch strength, and pain with use of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). At the postoperative X-ray, articular step off, gap, and degree of dorsal subluxation was measured, and maintenance of the reduction, fracture union, and the presence of degenerative changes were assessed.

Results All patients achieved solid unions without instability. The overall average range of motion of PIP joint were from 9° to 85° (10–83° in the screw group, 8–87° in the plate group without significant difference). However, the screw group (average: 53°) presented more flexion in the distal interphalangeal joint than the plate group (average: 34°). Plate fixation can cause limited DIP flexion. Six of the ten patients from the plate group, underwent implant removal and two of these patients required PIP joint arthrolysis due to the PIP flexion contracture of more than 30°. Three of the nine patients in screw group underwent implant removal and two of the three patients required PIP joint arthrolysis.

Conclusion Mini plate and screw fixation of acute PIP joint fracture dorsal dislocation can achieve comparable favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes through stable fixation and early range of motion exercise. Screw fixation, if possible, is probably preferable to plate fixation because of better DIP joint ROM and lower incidence of hardware removal. If there is a need for plate fixation the use of a short plate is recommended to avoid joint stiffness.
Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Wochenbett bei Frauen mit Querschnittlähmung
Authors: Lange Ute , Schmidt Markus , Kurze Ines
Published: March 2020

Die Betreuung von schwangeren Frauen mit Querschnittlähmung erfordert die fachübergreifende Zusammenarbeit von Ärzten und Hebammen. Darin liegt auch eine große Chance. Denn trotz bestehender Risiken, sollte es immer darum gehen, den Frauen ein positives Erleben von Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Wochenbett zu ermöglichen.
Analysis of Retinal Vessel Pulsations with Electrocardiographic Gating
Authors: Bollinger Olivia , Saruhan Yasemin , Gugleta Konstantin
Published: March 2020

Purpose The origin of retinal venous pulsations has been a matter of debate for some time. One classical explanation to the origin of these pulsations has been that the cardiac cycle induces systolic peaks in the intraocular pressure (IOP) which leads to decreases in retinal vein diameters. Recently, theoretical concepts have been published which postulate that IOP changes during the pulse cycle is not the primary driving force for venous pulsation, and hence, predict that the retinal vein diameter is indeed reduced during IOP diastole. The aim of the study was to test this hypothesis in a clinical trial.

Subjects and Methods Continuous IOP and retinal vessel analyser (RVA) measurements were taken from 21 subjects, ages 20 to 30 years, with no known ophthalmologic diseases, while connected to a standard electrocardiograph (ECG). With this methodology, average and synchronised curves for the pulse cycle of IOP and retinal vessel pulsations were calculated for each subject. Each pulse cycle was standardised to 50 timepoints, which enabled direct phase shift comparisons.

Results All subjects showed comparable results. Close to the optic disc (within 0 to 1.5 optic disc diameters away from the disc), retinal arteries led with the first peak at the 16/50 pulse cycle position, followed by IOP peak at the 23/50 cycle position, and then by veins at the 26/50 cycle position.

Conclusion The present method indeed shows that retinal veins do not collapse when the IOP is highest, on the contrary, IOP and retinal vein diameters seem to be in phase, which lends support to the hypothesis that IOP is not the major driving force of the retinal vein pulsations.
Sind wir bereit für die Zusammenarbeit mit Familien?
Authors: Maier Jürgen , Fröhlich Martin R. , Naef Rahel , Staudacher Diana
Published: March 2020

Die Zusammenarbeit mit Familien nimmt mittlerweile einen hohen Stellenwert auf Intensivstationen ein. Dennoch stellt sich die Frage: Sind wir wirklich bereit, uns für die Anliegen der Familien zu öffnen? Was benötigen wir konkret, um familienzentrierte Konzepte nachhaltig einzuführen? Und welche Strategien empfiehlt die Literatur?
APN Critical Care als interprofessionelle Schnittstelle
Authors: Özlü Ismail
Published: March 2020

In Hinblick auf ein verbessertes Patienten-Outcome hat sich auf verschiedenen Intensivstationen der Einsatz von Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) Critical Care bezahlt gemacht. Sie leisten wertvolle Arbeit, um die Kommunikation und Kooperation der multiprofessionellen Teams zu verbessern.
Sichere Versorgung von Patienten mit thorakalen Schmerzen
Authors: Dormann Patrick , Everts Katharina , Rehberg Kristina
Published: March 2020

Wenn ein Patient mit Brustschmerzen in der Notaufnahme erscheint, kann dies unterschiedliche Gründe haben. Von der richtigen Diagnose hängt das Leben des Patienten ab. Eine Weiterbildung qualifiziert Interessenten zum „Pflegeexperten Chest Pain Unit“.
Augenmuskelparesen nach Gleitschirmunfällen
Authors: Lengwiler Fabian , Heckmann Jan , Sturm Veit
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund Gleitschirmfliegen gilt als risikoträchtige Erlebnissportart. Sie kann individuell oder im Tandemflug in Begleitung eines Fluglehrers ausgeübt werden. Gleitschirmfliegen wie auch andere „Extremsportarten“ verzeichneten in den letzten Jahren einen deutlichen Zulauf. Bei Unfällen treten vor allem Verletzungen der unteren Extremitäten und Wirbelsäulenverletzungen auf. Kopfverletzungen sind eher selten.

Patienten und Methoden Retrospektive Fallserie von 3 Patienten mit Augenmuskelparesen nach Gleitschirmunfällen. Die Kasuistiken werden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Therapiemaßnahmen präsentiert.

Ergebnisse Zwei Männer (41 und 56 Jahre) erlitten ein offenes Schädel-Hirn-Trauma (SHT) und ein weiterer Mann (56 Jahre) ein geschlossenes SHT im Rahmen eines Polytraumas nach Gleitschirmabsturz. Alle Patienten beklagten unfallbedingte Doppelbilder. Beim 1. Patienten resultierten eine Abduzensparese rechts sowie eine gleichseitige Hebungseinschränkung infolge komplexer Orbitafraktur. Der 2. Patient zeigte eine unfallbedingte Abduzensparese rechts. Beim 3. Patienten fand sich eine komplexe Störung der Motilität mit einer beidseitigen Abduzens- und Trochlearisparese. Bei allen 3 Patienten wurde durch die Schieloperationen eine Verbesserung der Motilität erreicht. Bei 2 Patienten resultierte eine Wiederherstellung binokularen Einfachsehens.

Schlussfolgerung Die Verletzungsmuster nach Gleitschirmabstürzen sind abhängig vom Unfallszenario und können sehr unterschiedlich ausfallen. Augenmuskelparesen treten dabei infolge von SHT auf. Ihre Behandlung orientiert sich am üblichen Management inkomitanter Schielformen. Die häufig komplexen Motilitätsstörungen erfordern ein individuelles Vorgehen.
Hyperostosis corticalis generalisata: Worth-Syndrom
Authors: Lange Uwe , Dischereit Gabriel , Klemm Philipp
Published: March 2020

Sklerosierende Knochenerkrankungen zählen zu den seltenen
osteologischen Erkrankungen und insgesamt zu den sog. „orphan
diseases“. Alle sklerosierenden Knochenerkrankungen gehen mit einer
Störung der Knochenhomöostase i.S. einer pathologischen
Zunahme des Knochenaufbaus und damit konsekutiver Zunahme der Knochendichte,
also des Verhältnisses von Knochenmasse und -volumen, einher. Durch
verschiedene spezifische genetische Ursachen mit nachfolgend
unterschiedlichen Manifestationen können die einzelnen Erkrankungen
unterschieden werden. Geschildert wir der Fall einer Hyperostosis corticalis
generalisata, dem sog. Worth-Syndrom, gefolgt von einem Überblick
über die vorliegende Krankheitsentität.
Evaluation des Neugeborenen-Hörscreenings und der pädaudiologischen Konfirmationsdiagnostik
Authors: Hall Veronika , Brosch Sibylle , Hoffmann Thomas Karl
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund Das Neugeborenen-Hörscreening wurde in Deutschland mit dem Jahr 2009 eingeführt. Eine Evaluation des primären Hörscreenings auf der Ebene der Geburtskliniken war bereits bei dessen Einführung vorgesehen. Dieser Beschluss bezog jedoch nicht die nachfolgenden Untersuchungen ein, sodass bisher kaum Evaluationsstudien über die pädaudiologische Konfirmationsdiagnostik von im Hörscreening initial auffälligen Kindern vorliegen.

Methoden 570 Datensätze von im Hörscreening auffälligen Kindern (56 % männlich) der Jahre 2009–2016 wurden im Hinblick auf das Vorliegen einer permanenten Schwerhörigkeit von ≥ 35 dB ausgewertet. Die Einhaltung der Forderungen der aktuellen Leitlinie wurde überprüft. Bei allen Kindern wurde eine Hirnstammaudiometrie (BERA) durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse Eine persistierende Schwerhörigkeit zeigten 24 % der Kinder, davon waren 51 % im Sinne einer Innenohrschwerhörigkeit betroffen, die sich in 73 % bilateral manifestierte. Kinder mit Risikofaktoren für Hörstörungen waren extern nur zu 27 % mit der dafür vorgesehenen automatisierten Hirnstammaudiometrie (AABR) untersucht worden und wurden zeitlich stark verzögert vorgestellt (bei Vorliegen von mindestens 2 Risikofaktoren im Median mit 28 Wochen). Die Gruppe der von der Hörscreening-Zentrale Bayern betreuten Kinder zeigte eine geringfügig frühzeitigere Diagnosestellung und einen geringeren Anteil an Lost-to-follow-up-Fällen (1 % vs. 2 % ohne Betreuung).

Diskussion Die Diagnosestellung gelang in 93 % bei Erstvorstellung. Eine Therapie (z. B. Hörgeräteverordnung) wurde im Median im Alter von 4 Monaten eingeleitet. Der Anteil an Schwerhörigen unter im Hörscreening auffälligen Kindern war vergleichbar mit dem Bundesdurchschnitt. Für den gesamten Prozess des Hörscreenings entscheidend ist die Qualität des primären Screenings – nicht zuletzt, um Kontrollmessungen und Verzögerungen zu vermeiden.
Bilateral Facial Nerve Palsy following Head Injury: A Report of Two Uncommon Cases
Authors: Tanki Humam Nisar , Syed Shafeeq Alam , Bilal Sobiya , Chisti Nazish Aslam , Wani Afzal , Sheikh Javeid , Syed Qawnain Kirmani , Bachh Umar , Haque Zia Ul
Published: March 2020

Bilateral facial nerve palsy (FNP) following head injury without any brain parenchymal injury or brain stem injury is quite an uncommon presentation. We came across two baffling cases of head trauma in which the patients developed simultaneous bilateral lower motor FNPs without any significant findings in initial brain scans which would suggest the pathophysiology for such a condition. Both the cases were found to be having longitudinal fractures of the temporal bone leading to injury of the facial nerves bilaterally. After conservative management, both the cases showed appreciable neurological improvement on follow-up. Hence, although bilateral FNP can be a diagnostic dilemma, it is quite possible to precisely localize the site of injury and successfully treat it.
KOI Pond: The “Elevator Pitch” that Adapts to Describe the Breadth and Variety of Clinical Informatics Practice
Authors: Manning John D. , Wang Michael , Sarabu Chethan , Goonan Kelly , Toth William R. , Bell Elijah J. , Pearson John F. , Levy Bruce P.
Published: March 2020

Background The practice of clinical informatics (CI) is diverse and frequently tailored to individual skills and interests or to organizational/departmental needs. Prior studies have sought to define core content areas, educational milestones, and practice patterns within the clinical informatics subspecialty (CIS). Unfortunately, no single tool or framework currently exists that can succinctly define an informatician's role regardless of setting. The diversity of informatics practice makes it difficult to have one “pitch” that describes all possible domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills available to an informatician.

Objective Using qualitative data from multiple informaticians, provide a succinct framework to describe and compartmentalize the various functions an informatician can contribute to the healthcare field.

Methods We created an iterative focus group of five CIS fellows enrolled in different fellowship programs nationwide, one CIS program director, and an MD-PhD candidate in biomedical informatics. After much discussion, iteration, and consideration of career options within a young and burgeoning subspecialty, a dual-axis model was created that describes CIS practice in terms of settings (internal, external, and policy) and focus areas (knowledge, operations, and innovation).

Results and Conclusion By combining both axes into a single “KOI pond” and then prioritizing sections by interest/resource investment, we are able to generate a unique snapshot for each informatician. These snapshots can be used (1) by informaticians to characterize their own practice succinctly as a pitch, (2) by CIS fellows who are considering career options, and (3) by those unfamiliar with CIS who want to learn more.
Numerical simulation of unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of the three-dimensional composite motion of a flapping wing based on overlapping nested grids
Authors: Li Lun , Hao Yongping , Xu Jiulong , Liu Fengli , Liu Shuangjie
Published: March 2020

Numerical simulations of the unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping wing composite motion are performed. To avoid negative grid sizes arising with the use of a dynamic grid and leading to divergences in the simulation and to errors in the results, an overlapping nested grid is used for the flow field background, wing, and fuselage structure. The analysis is based on the Navier–Stokes equations (N-S) and the pressure–velocity coupling method, while spatial dispersion is handled using the second-order finite volume and the adaptive step size solving strategy. The lift and resistance generated by the wing for different combinations of flow velocity, flutter frequency and amplitude, and torsion angle are determined, and the aerodynamic efficiency and flow fields are compared to find the flapping parameters that give the best aerodynamic efficiency. The simulation results show that the aerodynamic lift of a flapping wing can be greatly increased by increasing the flapping frequency, while, for a fixed frequency, the lift can be further increased by increasing the flapping amplitude, although by only a small amount. Increasing the torsion angle in the flapping of the wing can also increase the lift, but the aerodynamic efficiency will be reduced if this angle is too large. Thus, an appropriate selection of flapping wing motion parameters can effectively increase the flight lift and improve the aerodynamic efficiency.
Guided vascularization in the rat heart leads to transient vessel patterning
Authors: Brady Eileen L. , Kirby Mitchell A. , Olszewski Emily , Grosjean Parker , Johansson Fredrik , Davis Jennifer , Wang Ruikang K. , Stevens Kelly R.
Published: March 2020

Recent progress in the production and maturation of iPSC-cardiomyocytes has facilitated major advances in building bioartificial heart tissue with functional cardiomyocytes. Despite this progress, vascularizing these constructs continues to be a barrier to clinical application. One emerging strategy for vascularization uses aligned “cords” of endothelial cells in tissue grafts to guide assembly of chimeric microvessels upon graft implantation. Here, we test whether this approach can guide vascularization of a bioartificial tissue implanted on the rat heart. We find that patterned cords of human endothelial cells anastomose and become perfused with host blood by 3 days post-implantation. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that graft-derived micro-vessels persist in the patch for 7 days. Furthermore, we noted a shift in distribution of vessels in the patch from patterned cord-associated clustering at 3 days to a more diffuse distribution pattern at 7 days. This loss of patterning corresponded to an infiltration of CD68+ cells and an increase in collagen within the patch. Upon further engraftment of patches containing both cords and human cardiomyocytes, we identified human cardiomyocytes and graft derived vasculature at the time of explant. Our findings show that patterned endothelial cords guide transient vessel patterning on the rat heart. Our results also suggest that future work should be directed at further adapting vascularization strategies to the epicardial environment and add to an important emerging dialog in cardiac cell therapy that points to the need to characterize host response prior to or in parallel with efficacy studies.
X-ray radiation protection is necessary for ultrashort laser processing
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: March 2020

Study reveals an X-ray hazard being present in industrial laser material processing with ultrashort laser pulses but can be overcome by using steel as shielding material.
Dietary zinc and growth, carcass characteristics, immune responses, and serum biochemistry of broilers
Authors: Qin Shizhen , Zhang Lingyan , Ma Fang , Che Yanzhuo , Wang Haibo , Shi Zhaoguo
Published: March 2020

Context Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element, and plays an important role in growth, bone formation, feathering and appetite of broilers. Accurate supplementation of this mineral is the aim of the animal husbandry. Thus, it is crucial to optimise the Zn concentration in the diet of broilers. Aims The present study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Zn on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune responses and serum biochemistry of broilers. Methods A total of 180 1-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly allotted by bodyweight to one of five treatments with six replicates of six birds each. The birds were fed a Zn-unsupplemented corn–soybean meal basal diet (27.75 or 26.88 mg/kg Zn by analysis) or one of the four Zn-supplemented diets, which were the basal diet supplemented with 40, 80, 120, or 160 mg Zn /kg as Zn sulfate (reagent grade ZnSO4•7H2O), for 42 days. Key results No differences were detected on growth performance or carcass characteristics among treatment groups. However, the total protein concentration and albumin concentration tended (P = 0.09) to increase with an increasing concentration of dietary Zn. The antibody titer of Newcastle disease (ND), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum on Day 21 were significantly increased (P < 0.05) as the Zn supplementation increased in broiler diets. Conclusions These results indicated that dietary Zn supplementation improves the serum antibody titer of ND and ALP activity of broilers, and 86 mg Zn/kg was appropriate for broilers when fed a corn–soybean meal diet in the early stage. Implications The present results have provided scientific basis for broiler production, and accurate supplementation of Zn would effectively improve the growth performance and reduce production costs.
Extreme mechanical resilience of self-assembled nanolabyrinthine materials
Authors: Portela Carlos M. , Vidyasagar A. , Krödel Sebastian , Weissenbach Tamara , Yee Daryl W. , Greer Julia R. , Kochmann Dennis M.
Published: March 2020

Significance

Nano- and microarchitected materials to date have relied on additive manufacturing techniques to produce beam-, plate-, and shell-based architectures that achieve highly desired mechanical properties while being limited to low-throughput volumes as well as to periodic and symmetric designs that deteriorate if symmetry-breaking defects are present. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of nano-architected materials via scalable self-assembly processes with features that span across multiple scales—from nanometers to centimeters. Through experiments and simulations, we show that the smooth, doubly curved, shell-based geometries achieved through this process can surpass truss-based architectures in terms of energy absorption, stiffness-to-density response, and especially, mechanical resilience through an unprecedented combination of material size effects and optimal topology.
Hierarchically porous Au nanostructures with interconnected channels for efficient mass transport in electrocatalytic CO
2
reduction
Authors: Hyun Gayea , Song Jun Tae , Ahn Changui , Ham Youngjin , Cho Donghwi , Oh Jihun , Jeon Seokwoo
Published: March 2020

Significance

A hierarchical structure with multiscale pore networks has been explored to enhance electrocatalytic performance in CO
2
reduction. Here, we thoroughly analyze the effect of each pore network on catalytic performances using nanostructures composed of nanopores and periodic macroporous channels. The tough mass transport within complex nanostructures has attracted much attention as increasing selectivity. However, the productivity improvements of hierarchical nanostructure by efficient mass transport have been rarely investigated in CO
2
reduction. This paper systematically reports the structural effect on both selectivity and productivity by controlling pore sizes and distributions. Therefore, the proposed hierarchically nanostructures show improved mass activity and can further be applied to other electrochemical systems in the same way.
“Robot, tell me a tale!”
Authors: Conti Daniela , Cirasa Carla , Di Nuovo Santo , Di Nuovo Alessandro
Published: March 2020

Robots are versatile devices that are promising tools for supporting teaching and learning in the classroom or at home. In fact, robots can be engaging and motivating, especially for young children. This paper presents an experimental study with 81 kindergarten children on memorizations of two tales narrated by a humanoid robot. The variables of the study are the content of the tales (knowledge or emotional) and the different social behaviour of the narrators: static human, static robot, expressive human, and expressive robot. Results suggest a positive effect of the expressive behaviour in robot storytelling, whose effectiveness is comparable to a human with the same behaviour and better when compared with a static inexpressive human. Higher efficacy is achieved by the robot in the tale with knowledge content, while the limited capability to express emotions made the robot less effective in the tale with emotional content.
Improving SPLIT-STED super-resolution imaging with tunable depletion and excitation power
Authors: Pelicci Simone , Tortarolo Giorgio , Vicidomini Giuseppe , Diaspro Alberto , Lanzanò Luca
Published: March 2020

The SPLIT approach is a simple and efficient way to improve the spatial resolution of a super-resolved STED multi-dimensional image, i.e. a STED image in which an additional dimension encodes spatial information. Recently, we have demonstrated that the SPLIT can be applied to multidimensional STED images obtained with tunable depletion power. In this SPLIT-STED implementation, the additional dimension is represented by the depletion power, a parameter that can be easily tuned on any STED microscope. In this work, we introduce a modified implementation in which we tune also the excitation power. The tuning of the excitation power is used to modulate the number of photons collected for each STED image. We show that the modified SPLIT-STED method produces an improvement of spatial resolution for very different tuning patterns of the excitation intensity, improving the versatility of the SPLIT-STED approach. Interestingly, we find that the extent of photobleaching can be modulated by the excitation pattern, as it depends on the simultaneous impact of high STED and excitation powers. Thus, the tuning of the excitation power can improve applicability of the method to live cell imaging, potentially minimizing the photobleaching of the fluorophores and the phototoxicity on the biological samples during a SPLIT-STED acquisition. We apply the modified SPLIT-STED method to super-resolution imaging of nuclear periphery, in both fixed and live cells.
Bringing real-time traceability to high-speed atomic force microscopy
Authors: Heaps Edward , Yacoot Andrew , Dongmo Herve , Picco Loren , Payton Oliver D , Russell-Pavier Freddie , Klapetek Petr
Published: March 2020

In recent years, there has been growth in the development of high-speed AFMs, which offer the possibility of video rate scanning and long-range scanning over several hundred micrometres. However, until recently these instruments have been lacking full traceable metrology. In this paper traceable metrology, using optical interferometry, has been added to an open-loop contact-mode high-speed AFM to provide traceability both for short-range video rate images and large-area scans made using a combination of a high-speed dual-axis scanner and long-range positioning system. Using optical interferometry to determine stages’ positions and cantilever displacement enables the direct formation of images, obviating the need for complex post-processing corrections to compensate for lateral stage error. The application of metrology increases the spatial accuracy and linearisation of the high-speed AFM measurements, enabling the generation of very large traceable composite images.
Extended projection method for massive fermions *
Authors: Wang Yefan , Li Zhao
Published: March 2020

Tensor reduction is of considerable importance in calculations of multi-loop amplitudes, and the projection method is one of the most popular approaches for tensor reduction. However, the projection method can be problematic when applied to amplitudes with massive fermions, due to the inconsistency between helicity and chirality. We propose an extended projection method for reducing the loop amplitude which contains a fermion chain with two massive spinors. The extension is achieved by decomposing one of the massive spinors into two massless spinors, the “null spinor” and the “reference spinor”. The extended projection method can be effectively applied in all processes, including the production of massive fermions. We present the tensor reduction for a virtual Z boson decaying into a top-quark pair as a demonstration of our approach.
Measurement of 85Rb (n, 2n) 84Rb reaction cross-section from 12 MeV up to 19.8 MeV *
Authors: Zhu Chuanxin , Wang Jia , Jiang Li , Zheng Pu
Published: March 2020

The cross-section data of the 85Rb(n, 2n)84Rb reaction have been measured with the neutron energies of 12 MeV to 19.8 MeV using the activation technique and the relative method. The 85Rb samples were irradiated on the surface of a two-ring orientation assembly with neutrons produced from the 3H(d, n)4He reaction at the 5SDH-2 1.7-MV Tandem accelerator in China. Theoretical model calculations were performed with the TALYS-1.9 code. The present data were compared with previously obtained experimental data and the available evaluated data.
Synthesising solar radio images from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly extreme-ultraviolet data
Authors: Li Zhuo-Fei , Hu Song-Hua , Cheng Xin , Ding Ming-De
Published: March 2020

During non-flaring times, the radio flux of the Sun at wavelengths of a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters mostly originates from thermal bremsstrahlung emission, very similar to extremeultraviolet (EUV) radiation. Owing to such a proximity, it is feasible to investigate the relationship between the EUV emission and radio emission in a quantitative way. In this paper, we reconstruct the radio images of the Sun through the differential emission measure obtained from multi-wavelength EUV images of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Through comparing the synthetic radio images at 6GHz with those observed by the Siberian Radioheliograph, we find that the predicted radio flux is qualitatively consistent with the observed value, confirming thermal origin of the coronal radio emission during non-flaring times. The results further show that the predicted radio flux is closer to the observations in the case that includes the contribution of plasma with temperatures above 3MK than in the case of only involving low temperature plasma, as was usually done in the pre-SDO era. We also discuss applications of the method and uncertainties of the results.
NIMBY, YIMBY, or something else? Geographies of public perceptions of shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale
Authors: Zanocco Chad , Boudet Hilary , Clarke Christopher E , Stedman Richard , Evensen Darrick
Published: March 2020

Much research exists on how social-psychological factors (e.g. political ideology), proximity to development, and contextual factors (e.g. state in which one resides) drive public attitudes toward various types of energy development. Yet, scholars have only recently begun to explore how these factors interact to create unique geographies of perception that defy the simplistic explanations suggested by not-in-my-backyard or yes-in-my-backyard labels. Using precisely geocoded well and survey data, we explore the interplay of political ideology, proximity and place in the context of public attitudes toward unconventional oil and natural gas development (UOGD) in the Marcellus Shale region of southern New York and northern Pennsylvania. For our full sample and similar to findings from recent national surveys on attitudes toward energy development, we found that respondents closer to UOGD were more supportive of it, a relationship that was moderated by political ideology with liberals or moderates located closer to UOGD more supportive than those located further away. However, when we examined these moderation effects within states, a different story emerged. For New York respondents, proximity did not appear to have a differential effect on conservatives vs. liberals/moderates. However, for Pennsylvania respondents, we observed opposing effects: conservatives were more supportive further away from development, while liberals/moderates were more supportive closer to development. Our results thus both reaffirm and challenge existing scholarship, highlighting the potential for middle range theorizing about geographies of perception in energy development.