bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crossing Over: Gendered Reading Formations at the Muncie Public Library, 1891-1902
Authors: Tatlock Lynne , Erlin Matt , Knox Douglas , Pentecost Stephen
Published: July 2018

Readers are never merely passive recipients of textual messages. One of the most powerful insights of reader-response theory in the 1970s and 1980s is that the meaning of a text never resides entirely within the artifact itself. Commentators from Carlo Ginzberg ("aggressive originality"), to Jauss ("horizon of expectations"), to Fish ("interpretive communities"), and Radway ("Reading is not Eating") have long-since established that readers are creators of meaning. To quote Tony Bennett, meaning "is not a thing that texts can have, but is something that can only be produced, and always differently, within the reading formations that regulate the encounters between texts and readers." Yet even as it challenges the very idea that texts exist independently of readers and their institutional and social contexts, Bennett's concept of a "reading formation" also reminds us that there are socio-historically determined limits to creative appropriation. For Bennett, text, context, and reader constitute an inseparable unity; every reading situation is shaped by "discursive and intertextual determinations that organize and animate the practice of reading. . . ." A rich and nuanced account of the complex balance between social determination and autonomy therefore requires a combination of methods, both a consideration of textual features and investigation of book-historical, ideological, institutional, and social pressures.
An ambitious 5-year honors program in French universities: CMI-FIGURE
Authors: Barbour Eisen Ramona , Bertrand Yves , Boubakar Lamine , Gesson Jean-Pierre , Pautrot Sylvie , Vauzelle Rodolphe
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we will describe the Cursus Master en Ingénierie (CMI) program, as well as the Formation à l’InGénierie par des Universités de REcherche (FIGURE) university network, and analyze its development and place in the French higher education context. Overseen by the FIGURE university network since 2012, CMI is a 5-year academic program designed for the most ambitious students in systems engineering. In the fall of 2017, 107 CMI programs recruited first-year students in 28 French universities. Key features of the frame of reference established by the FIGURE network are selection of students based on high school records and interviews, strong link with research from the beginning, 20% additional coursework compared to the supporting bachelors and masters, at least 25% of ECTS credits in applied learning situations, development of self-assessment skills and a compulsory international mobility. Accreditation of the university is granted by the network for 5 years. After completing a CMI program the students receive a master's degree from their home university and a national certificate co-delivered by the university and the network.
Pembentukan Karakter Melalui Pembudayaan Agama
Authors: Fajar Isbakhi Ari
Published: July 2018

Kemajuan suatu bangsa sangat tergantung kepada karakter seseorang, hal itu perlu diperhatikan secara komprehensif baik oleh keluarga,guru maupun masyarakat yang tinggal disuatu tempat. Maka dari itu penulis memaparkan pembudayaan agama dalam pembentukan karakter siswa yang bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan bentuk-bentuk pembudayaan agama dan sekaligus mengetahui faktor pendukung serta penghambat dalam menerapkan pembudayaan agama di sekolah. Karena pembudayaan atau pembiasaan agama sangat  penting pengaruhnya dalam pembentukan karakter siswa, salah satunya siswa menjadi lebih disiplin dalam segala kegiatan,terutama dalam hal Ibadah, disiplin ilmu dan lain sebagainya. Penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian field research yang bersifat kualitatif. Hasil dari penelitian ini mampu memotivasi para guru dalam memberikan perhatian kepada siswa untuk lebih mengenal akan Tuhannya dan sekaligus membiasakan siswa untuk berprilaku sesuai dengan ajaran Agama.
The Contribution of Car Sharing to the Sustainable Mobility Transition
Authors: Terama Emma , Peltomaa Juha , Rolim Catarina , Baptista Patrícia
Published: July 2018

The popularity of car sharing as part of the urban mobility repertoire has barely
increased from a niche contribution in recent decades. Although holding potential
to address local issues such as congestion and air quality, but even more
crucially to meet the urgent need to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from
traffic, car sharing often meets barriers stemming from local contexts, regulatory
environments, and/or lack of political support or consumer awareness.
In this article, we discuss the interdependencies of these barriers and provide
some key elements to consider in the future when planning practical implementation,
research initiatives, and policy support for car sharing in order to
overcome the complex and interrelated barriers.
How to improve obliteration rates during volume-staged stereotactic radiosurgery for large arteriovenous malformations
Authors: Kano Hideyuki , Flickinger John C. , Nakamura Aya , Jacobs Rachel C. , Tonetti Daniel A. , Lehocky Craig , Park Kyung-Jae , Yang Huai-che , Niranjan Ajay , Lunsford L. Dade
Published: July 2018

OBJECTIVE

The management of large-volume arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) remains challenging. The authors retrospectively tested the hypothesis that AVM obliteration rates can be improved by increasing the percentage volume of an AVM that receives a minimal threshold dose of radiation.

METHODS

In 1992, the authors prospectively began to stage anatomical components in order to deliver higher single doses to AVMs > 15 cm3 in volume. Since that time 60 patients with large AVMs have undergone volume-staged SRS (VS-SRS). The median interval between the first stage and the second stage was 4.5 months (2.8–13.8 months). The median target volume was 11.6 cm3 (range 4.3–26 cm3) in the first-stage SRS and 10.6 cm3 (range 2.8–33.7 cm3) in the second-stage SRS. The median margin dose was 16 Gy (range 13–18 Gy) for both SRS stages.

RESULTS

AVM obliteration after the initial two staged volumetric SRS treatments was confirmed by MRI alone in 4 patients and by angiography in 11 patients at a median follow-up of 82 months (range 0.4–206 months) after VS-SRS. The post–VS-SRS obliteration rates on angiography were 4% at 3 years, 13% at 4 years, 23% at 5 years, and 27% at 10 years. In multivariate analysis, only ≥ 20-Gy volume coverage was significantly associated with higher total obliteration rates confirmed by angiography. When the margin dose is ≥ 17 Gy and the 20-Gy SRS volume included ≥ 63% of the total target volume, the angiographically confirmed obliteration rates increased to 61% at 5 years and 70% at 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of prospective VS-SRS for large AVMs can be improved by prescribing an AVM margin dose of ≥ 17 Gy and adding additional isocenters so that ≥ 63% of the internal AVM dose receives more than 20 Gy.
Management of hydrocephalus and subdural hygromas in pediatric patients after decompression of Chiari malformation type I: case series and review of the literature
Authors: Vivas Andrew C. , Shimony Nir , Jackson Eric M. , Xu Risheng , Jallo George I. , Rodriguez Luis , Tuite Gerald F. , Carey Carolyn M.
Published: July 2018

OBJECTIVE

Hydrocephalus associated with subdural hygromas is a rare complication after decompression of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I). There is no consensus for management of this complication. The authors present a series of 5 pediatric patients who underwent CM-I decompression with placement of a dural graft complicated by posterior fossa hygromas and hydrocephalus that were successfully managed nonoperatively.

METHODS

A retrospective review over the last 5 years of patients who presented with hydrocephalus and subdural hygromas following foramen magnum decompression with placement of a dural graft for CM-I was conducted at 2 pediatric institutions. Their preoperative presentation, perioperative hospital course, and postoperative re-presentation are discussed with attention to their treatment regimen and ultimate outcome. In addition to reporting these cases, the authors discuss all similar cases found in their literature review.

RESULTS

Over the last 5 years, the authors have encountered 194 pediatric cases of CM-I decompression with duraplasty equally distributed at the 2 institutions. Of those cases, 5 pediatric patients with a delayed postoperative complication involving hydrocephalus and subdural hygromas were identified. The 5 patients were managed nonoperatively with acetazolamide and high-dose dexamethasone; dosages of both drugs were adjusted to the age and weight of each patient. All patients were symptom free at follow-up and exhibited resolution of their pathology on imaging. Thirteen similar pediatric cases and 17 adult cases were identified in the literature review. Most reported cases were treated with CSF diversion or reoperation. There were a total of 4 cases previously reported with successful nonoperative management. Of these cases, only 1 case was reported in the pediatric population.

CONCLUSIONS

De novo hydrocephalus, in association with subdural hygromas following CM-I decompression, is rare. This presentation suggests that these complications after posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty can be treated with nonoperative medical management, therefore obviating the need for CSF diversion or reoperation.
KENDİLİĞİNDEN YERLEŞEN ÇİMENTO ESASLI HAMUR İLE TAKI TASARIMI
Authors: TOPCU İlker Bekir , MADSAR Ferhat
Published: July 2018

Kendiliğinden yerleşen beton (KYB), kimyasal
katkı kullanılarak yüksek akıcı kıvamda üretilen bir tür özel betondur. Hem
karışım tasarımı hem de üretim teknikleri açısından klasik betondan farklı özelliklere
sahiptir. Bu tür betonların yerleştirilmesi daha kolay olacağı gibi,
işlenebilirlikten doğan hatalar da azaltılmış olur. Daha kaliteli beton ve
beton ürünlerinin elde edilmesi kolaylaşır. Bu çalışmada, KYB'nin tarihsel
gelişimi, tanımı, avantajları, özelikleri ve bu özeliklerinden yola çıkarak
takı yapımı derlenmiştir. Son zamanlarda, dünyada yaygın şekilde kullanılmaya
başlanan KYB'nin özeliklerinin iyi bilinmesi beton sektörü açısından
yararlıdır. Bu özel beton türünün yerleşmesinin çok iyi olduğunu bildiğimizden
yola çıkarak KYB’nin yalnız inşaat sektöründe değil, takı sektöründe de kendine
bir yer bulacağı kanaatine varılmıştır.
ENDÜSTRİYEL YAKIT TÜRÜ PETROKOK’UN İNSAN SAĞLIĞI VE ÇEVREYE ETKİLERİ
Authors: BAHAR Selin , UYSAL Fatma Füsun
Published: July 2018

Petrokok başlıca karbondan
oluşan siyah renkli katı bir yakıt olup, kükürt elementini, metallerin
elementel şekillerini ve uçucu olmayan inorganik bileşikleri içerir. İlk modern
petrokok üretim tesisi 1930’larda A.B.D.’nde kuruldu. 2007 ile 2012 arasında
A.B.D.’nde kok üretimi %2, dünya üzerinde ise %35 arttı. 2013 yılı verilerine
göre A.B.D., Çin, Hindistan, Venezualla, Brezilya önemli petrokok
üreticileridir. Petrokok yüksek ısıl değeri, düşük kül içeriği ve benzeri katı
yakıtlar içerisinde fiyat avantajlarıyla özellikle son yıllarda alternatif bir
yakıt olarak tercih edilmektedir. Petrokok en çok endüstriyel tesislerde ve
elektrik santrallerinde yakıt olarak kullanılmaktadır. Çimento fabrikaları
döner fırınlarında yakıt derecesindeki petrokoku tüketmektedirler. 2016 Çimento
Sanayi Raporuna göre Türkiye’de çimento sanayinde %70 oranında yakıt olarak
kullanılmıştır. Petrokok açısından Türkiye hem ihracatçı hem de ithalatçı
konumundadır. Dünyada üretilen petrokokun %55’i çimento sanayinde
kullanılmaktadır. Önümüzdeki yıllarda Çin, Hindistan ve Vietnam gibi ülkelerde
elektrik üretimindeki artış petrokok kullanımında artışa neden olması beklenmektedir.
Petrokok depolama ve  elleçleme
operasyonlarından oluşan kayda değer miktarda sağlık riski oluşmaktadır. EPA
bilhassa çapı 10 µm ve daha küçük olan taneciklerle ilgilenmektedir çünkü
bunlar boğazdan ve burundan geçerek akciğerlere girmektedir. Bir kere
solunduğunda, bu tanecikler akciğere girmekte ve ciddi sağlık sorunlarına neden
olmaktadırlar. Bu nedenle 10 µm ve daha küçük taneciklerin çalışma ortamındanki
konsantrasyonları ölçülmelidir. Petrokok’un yüksek konsantrasyonlarına sonulum
yoluyla maruziyet hem insanlarda hem de hayvanlarda solonum yolu iltihabı
oluşturmaktadır. Tekrarlanan maruziyet ise akciğer fonksiyonlarında bozulmaya
neden olabilmektedir. Yapılan çalışmalarda kanserojen ya da üremeyle ilgili
herhangi bir etkisi saptanmamıştır
Trafik Ağlarında Anomali Tespiti
Authors: ÖRNEK Özlem , VATAN Seval , SARIOĞLU Serpil , YAZICI Ahmet
Published: July 2018

Trafik ağlarının gittikçe büyümesiyle beraber izlenmesi ve kontrolünün sağlanması da zorlaşmıştır. Bu izlemenin sağlanmasında da anomali tespiti çok önemli bir yere sahiptir. Trafik ağlarında anomali tespiti yaklaşımları ile olaylar erkenden tespit edilerek hızlı müdahale imkanı sağlanır. Bu ise zaman ve maliyet tasarrufu sağlar. Literatürde farklı alanlardaki problemler için anomali tespitinde sınıflandırma, kümeleme, istatistiksel vb. yaklaşımlar bulunmaktadır. Bu alanda destek vektör makineleri, bayes ağları, bulanık mantık, genetik algoritmalar vb. birçok yöntem anomali tespiti için kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada karar ağacı algoritması ile trafik ağlarında anomali tespiti için bir yöntem önerilmiştir. Önerilen yöntem Britanya Kolumbiyası’na ait trafik veri seti kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Yapılan testlerde trafik ağındaki bazı anormal olayların önerilen yöntem ile tespit edilebileceği görülmüştür.
Структурно-семантичні особливості лексики на позначення страв українського народу в кулінарних книгах
Authors: Іншакова Ірина Опанасівна , Стахова Ксенія Юріївна
Published: July 2018

У статті проаналізовано структурно-семантичні типи найменувань українських страв у кулінарних книгах, з’ясовано їх граматичні особливості. Акцентовано на граматичному аспекті, зокрема на однослівних / двослівних (елементарних) та аналітичних (неелементарних) структурах, що мають головний та залежний компоненти. Досліджено основні типи елементарних структур. За семантичними особливостями диференційовано: 1) лексику на позначення перших страв; 2) лексику на позначення других страв; 3) лексику на позначення страв з борошна та сиру; 4) лексику на позначення молочних страв; 5) лексику на позначення напоїв. Увагу зосереджено на перших двох типах.
Gamma Band Neural Stimulation in Humans and the Promise of a New Modality to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: McDermott Barry , Porter Emily , Hughes Diarmaid , McGinley Brian , Lang Mark , O’Halloran Martin , Jones Marggie
Published: July 2018

Existing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have questionable efficacy with a need for research into new and more effective therapies to both treat and possibly prevent the condition. This review examines a novel therapeutic modality that shows promise for treating AD based on modulating neuronal activity in the gamma frequency band through external brain stimulation. The gamma frequency band is roughly defined as being between 30 Hz-100 Hz, with the 40 Hz point being of particular significance. The epidemiology, diagnostics, existing pathological models, and related current treatment targets are initially briefly reviewed. Next, the concept of external simulation triggering brain activity in the gamma band with potential demonstration of benefit in AD is introduced with reference to a recent important study using a mouse model of the disease. The review then presents a selection of relevant studies that describe the neurophysiology involved in brain stimulation by external sources, followed by studies involving application of the modality to clinical scenarios. A table summarizing the results of clinical studies applied to AD patients is also reported and may aid future development of the modality. The use of a therapy based on modulation of gamma neuronal activity represents a novel non-invasive, non-pharmacological approach to AD. Although use in clinical scenarios is still a relatively recent area of research, the technique shows good signs of efficacy and may represent an important option for treating AD in the future.
Heme Oxygenase 1 Induces Tau Oligomer Formation and Synapse Aberrations in Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Si Zizhen , Wang Xidi , Zhang Zhujun , Wang Jinxin , Li Jihong , Li Jing , Li Ling , Li Yuanxin , Peng Yahui , Sun Chongran , Hui Yang , Gao Xu
Published: July 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by behavioral changes and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that it is the soluble forms of tau oligomers (Tau-O) and Aβ oligomers (oAβ) rather than the well-studied insoluble protein aggregates that possess the neurotoxicity, infectivity, and amplification underlying disease progression. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme upregulated in the cortex and hippocampus of AD brains, was reported to damage neural structures and disrupt brain function, suggesting possible contributions to Tau-O-mediated neurodegeneration. In this study, we focused on the effects of HO-1 on Tau-O formation. In hippocampus of HO-1-overexpressing transgenic mice and neural 2a (N2a) cells, Tau-O was co-localized with HO-1 as visualized by immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, primary cultured hippocampal neurons from HO-1 transgenic mice showed elevated Tau-O and concomitant reductions in spine density and length as well as dendritic length, diameter, and arborization. Blocking Tau-O formation by isoprenaline reversed these HO-1-induced morphological changes. These results indicated that HO-1 contributes to Tau-O formation and ensuing synaptic damage. Thus, HO-1 is a promising target for AD drug development.
Positive Surgical Margins After Partial Nephrectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies
Authors: Ficarra Vincenzo , Crestani Alessandro , Inferrera Antonino , Novara Giacomo , Rossanese Marta , Subba Enrica , Giannarini Gianluca
Published: July 2018

Objective:

We performed an update of previous reviews of the literature to provide an overview on incidence, predictive factors, management and prognosis of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after partial nephrectomy (PN) including recent surgical series and studies comparing different approaches and techniques.

Material and methods:

A literature search was performed from January 2013 to January 2018 using the Medline database. The search strategy included a free-text protocol using the term “nephron-sparing surgery” OR “partial nephrectomy” AND “positive surgical margins” across the title and abstract fields of the records. From each selected study, we extracted the following data: number of analyzed patients, study design, approach and surgical technique used, PSMs rate, pathological features, type of PSMs treatment, mean (median) follow-up duration and final patient status. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager software v. 5.2 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK).

Results:

We selected a total of 36 (48%) studies. All studies were retrospective and the best statistical method used for comparison was the matched-pair analysis (level 4). Overall, 45,786 patients treated with PN were included in the selected studies. PSMs were reported in a total of 3,093 (6.7%) patients. The mean estimated PSMs rate was 7%, 5% and 4.3% in patients who underwent robot-assisted PN (RAPN), laparoscopic PN (LPN) and open PN (OPN), respectively. Comparative studies showed a significant advantage in favor of OPN compared with minimally invasive approach, while RAPN showed more favourable PSMs risk compared with LPN (odds ratio 3.02, 95% confidence intervals 2.05–4.45). No differences were detected stratifying data according to other surgical or tumor-related factors. Tumor size, nuclear grading and pT3a stage represent the most important predictors of PSMs. In 6,809 patients, follow-up data were available. Only 101 (1.4%) local recurrences and 88 (1.3%) distant recurrences were observed both in PSMs and negative surgical margins subgroups. PSMs were associated with a significant increased risk of local recurrence with a significant impact on local recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival. However, a significant impact on cancer-specific and overall survival could not be demonstrated.

Conclusions:

Studies published in the last 5 years confirmed that PSMs after PN are a rare condition. Although PSMs increase the risk of local and distant recurrence, their influence on cancer-specific and overall survival seems to be limited. Close surveillance should be strongly recommended as initial treatment of patients with PSMs after PN.
Exhaled breath condensate nitrite in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Yen E. , Weinberger B.I. , Laumbach R.J. , Ohman-Strickland P.A. , Vetrano A.M. , Gow A.M. , Ramagopal M.
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND:

Tracheal aspirate is the conventional method to measure biomarkers of inflammation and oxidation from premature infants on mechanical ventilation at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but this method is invasive. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a novel, non-invasive method that has been used in older populations. Nitrite, a stable metabolite of nitric oxide (NO), is elevated in inflammatory conditions. We aim to investigate the feasibility of EBC nitrite collection from ventilated premature infants and to quantify EBC nitrite in infants with and without BPD. We hypothesize that EBC nitrite correlates with TA nitrite, and that EBC nitrite in the first week of life is higher in infants who will develop BPD than those without BPD.

METHODS:

In a pilot prospective cohort study, TA and EBC were collected in the first week of life from mechanically ventilated premature infants. Nitrite levels were measured using chemiluminescence.

RESULTS:

EBC nitrite significantly correlated with TA nitrite ( r = 0.45, p = 0.025). Of 40 infants, 33 (82.5%) developed BPD. EBC and TA nitrite levels collected in the first week of life had a higher trend in infants with BPD than those without BPD ( p = 0.23 and 0.38 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher trend of EBC nitrite in the first week of life was associated with the development of BPD. Correlation of nitrite level in EBC with that in TA (conventional method) highlights the utility of EBC as an alternative, non-invasive method to measure inflammation. Further refinement of conditions and timing may optimize the predictive value of EBC nitrite.
Japanese pathogenic variant database: DPV
Authors: Suzuki Hisato , Kurosawa Kenji , Fukuda Keiichi , Ijima Kazumoto , Sumazaki Ryo , Saito Shinji , Kosaki Rika , Hirasawa Akira , Okazaki Yasushi , Imai Kohsuke , Matsunaga Tatsuo , Iwata Takeshi , Kosaki Kenjiro
Published: July 2018

Databases of pathogenic variants form the basis for clinical genomic diagnosis using next-generation sequencers. ClinVar and the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) are two major databases for pathogenic variants. However, ethnic diversity in the distributions of pathogenic variants in these databases has been observed; thus, geographic region-specific variant databases are required. We established a Japanese pathogenic variant database in 2016 and began registering pathogenic variants from published articles written by Japanese researchers. The criteria for registration are as follows: 1) the variant has been validated using Sanger sequencing, 2) the minor allele frequency of the variant is lower than 0.03 in the normal Japanese population, and 3) the clinical features of the patient have been critically evaluated by multiple clinicians and geneticists. All registered variants can be downloaded as an aggregated single VCF file to use in laboratories. We are presently curating variants from more than 2000 articles and estimate the registration of >10,000 pathogenic variants derived from the Japanese population. Although the number of registered variants remains relatively small, the clinical genetics community in Japan has begun to work on this initiative in a concerted manner.
Illicit Continuities: The Riemannian Monstrosity at the Heart of Deleuze's Bergsonism
Authors: Paetsch John
Published: July 2018

Why would Deleuze condemn the dialectic of the One and the Many? It is not simply to replace one set of categories with another. Rather, it is to make differential topology safe for the philosophy of time. If Deleuze affirms pure multiplicity, it is to overcome Henri Bergson's prohibition upon using mathematics to inquire into time. How else could Deleuze justify his monstrous identification of ‘continuous multiplicities’ with Riemannian manifolds?
Pursuing Joy with Deleuze: Transcendental Empiricism and Affirmative Naturalism as Worldly Practice
Authors: Heaney Conor
Published: July 2018

In this paper, I seek to extract what I call an empiricist mode of existence through a combined reading of two under-researched vectors of Gilles Deleuze's thought: his ‘transcendental empiricism’ and his ‘affirmative naturalism’. This empiricist mode of existence co-positions Deleuze's empiricism and naturalism as pertaining to a stylistics of life which is ontologically experimentalist, epistemologically open, and immanently engaged in the world. That is, a processual praxis of demystification and organising encounters towards joy.
The Use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Dairy Goats
Authors: Battini Monica , Barbieri Sara , Vieira Ana , Can Edna , Stilwell George , Mattiello Silvana
Published: July 2018

This research investigated whether using qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) with a fixed list of descriptors may be related to quantitative animal- (ABM) and resource-based (RBM) measures included in the AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators) welfare assessment prototype protocol for goats, tested in 60 farms. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on QBA descriptors; then PCs were correlated to some ABMs and RBMs. Subsequently, a combined PCA merged QBA scores, ABMs and RBMs. The study confirms that QBA can identify the differences in goats’ emotions, but only few significant correlations were found with ABMs and RBMs. In addition, the combined PCA revealed that goats with a normal hair coat were scored as more relaxed and sociable. A high farm workload was related to bored and suffering goats, probably because farmers that can devote less time to animals may fail to recognise important signals from them. Goats were scored as sociable, but also alert, in response to the presence of an outdoor run, probably because when outdoors they received more stimuli than indoors and were more attentive to the surroundings. Notwithstanding these results, the holistic approach of QBA may allow to register animals’ welfare from a different perspective and be complementary to other measures.
Hybrid Battery/Lithium-Ion Capacitor Energy Storage System for a Pure Electric Bus for an Urban Transportation Application
Authors: Soltani Mahdi , Ronsmans Jan , Kakihara Shouji , Jaguemont Joris , Van den Bossche Peter , Van Mierlo Joeri , Omar Noshin
Published: July 2018

Public transportation based on electric vehicles has attracted significant attention in recent years due to the lower overall emissions it generates. However, there are some barriers to further development and commercialization. Fewer charging facilities in comparison to gas stations, limited battery lifetime, and extra costs associated with its replacement present some barriers to achieve better acceptance. A practical solution to improve the battery lifetime and driving range is to eliminate the large-magnitude pulse current flow from and to the battery during acceleration and deceleration. Hybrid energy storage systems which combine high-power (HP) and high-energy (HE) storage units can be used for this purpose. Lithium-ion capacitors (LiC) can be used as a HP storage unit, which is similar to a supercapacitor cell but with a higher rate capability, a higher energy density, and better cyclability. In this design, the LiC can provide the excess power required while the battery fails to do so. Moreover, hybridization enables a downsizing of the overall energy storage system and decreases the total cost as a consequence of lifetime, performance, and efficiency improvement. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of the hybrid energy storage system in protecting the battery from damage due to the high-power rates during charging and discharging. The procedure followed and presented in this paper demonstrates the good performance of the evaluated hybrid storage system to reduce the negative consequences of the power peaks associated with urban driving cycles and its ability to improve the lifespan by 16%.
Development and Evaluation of Light-Weight Active Noise Cancellation Earphones
Authors: Kuo Sen M. , Chen Yi-Rou , Chang Cheng-Yuan , Lai Chien-Wen
Published: July 2018

This paper presents the development of active noise control (ANC) for light-weight earphones, and proposes using music or natural sound to estimate the critical secondary path model instead of extra random noise. Three types of light-weight ANC earphones including in-ear, earbud, and clip phones are developed. Real-time experiments are conducted to evaluate their performance using the built-in microphone inside KEMAR’s ear and to compare with commercially-available ANC headphones and earphones. Experimental results show that the developed light-weight ANC earphones achieve higher noise reduction than the commercial ANC headphones and earphones, and the in-ear ANC earphone has the best noise reduction performance.
Experimental Investigation of the Shear Strength of RC Beams Extracted from an Old Structure and Strengthened by Carbon FRP U-Strips
Authors: Lavorato Davide , Nuti Camillo , Santini Silvia
Published: July 2018

In recent years, old reinforced concrete (RC) buildings have increasingly been protected as historic symbols in Italy. The conversion of these buildings can resolve the increasing need for new structures, reducing much social, economic, and environmental impact. Retrofitting solutions by carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcements are very common nowadays. Code predictions present uncertainties due to the brittle behavior and the debonding of CFRP strips resulting from concrete cracking. Therefore, especially in the case of old beams, experimental validation is necessary. This paper deals the experimental evaluation of the shear strength of two beams extracted from an old RC building in Rome built in 1929 with modest-quality concrete. Preliminary tests were carried out to evaluate the beam elastic response and the material characteristics. These beams were tested until failure (three-point load shear/bending tests) after strengthening for shear by CFRP U-jacketing and for bending by new steel rebars. The results obtained, together with the extensive data taken from the literature, were compared with the predictions by design code equations. The influence of construction details on beam shear strength and the experimental maximum CFRP strain were also analyzed. Code predictions can be effective to estimate the shear strength of the retrofitted beams.
Novel Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Sensors and Biosensors
Authors: Ivars-Barceló Francisco , Zuliani Alessio , Fallah Marjan , Mashkour Mehrdad , Rahimnejad Mostafa , Luque Rafael
Published: July 2018

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a type of bio-electrochemical system with novel features, such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment, and biosensor applications. In recent years, progressive trends in MFC research on its chemical, electrochemical, and microbiological aspects has resulted in its noticeable applications in the field of sensing. This review was consequently aimed to provide an overview of the most interesting new applications of MFCs in sensors, such as providing the required electrical current and power for remote sensors (energy supply device for sensors) and detection of pollutants, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and specific DNA strands by MFCs without an external analytical device (self-powered biosensors). Moreover, in this review, procedures of MFC operation as a power supply for pH, temperature, and organic loading rate (OLR) sensors, and also self-powered biosensors of toxicity, pollutants, and BOD have been discussed.
Changes in Haze Trends in the Sichuan-Chongqing Region, China, 1980 to 2016
Authors: Cai Hongke , Gui Ke , Chen Quanliang
Published: July 2018

This study analyzed the long-term variations and trends of haze pollution and its relationships with emission and meteorological factors using the haze days (HDs) data derived from surface observation stations in Sichuan-Chongqing (SCC) region during 1980–2016. The results showed that the multi-year mean number of HDs were 68.7 and 4.9 days for the Sichuan-Basin (SCB) and the rest of SCC region, respectively. The seasonally averaged HDs over SCB reached its maximum in winter (34.7 days), followed by autumn (17.0 days) and spring (11.6 days), and with the minimum observed in summer (5.5 days). The inter-annual variations of HDs in 18 main cities revealed that Zigong, Neijiang, and Yibin, which are located in the southern of SCB, have been the most polluted areas over the SCC region in the past decades. A notable increasing trend in annual HDs over the majority of SCC region was found during 1980–1995, then the trend sharply reversed during 1996–2005, while it increased, fluctuating at some cities after 2006. Seasonally, the increased trend in spring and autumn seems to be the strongest during 1980–1995, whereas the decreased trend in spring and winter was stronger than other seasons during 1996–2005. In addition, a remarkable increasing trend was found in winter since 2006. Using correlation analysis between HDs and emission and meteorological factors during different periods, we found that the variability of local precipitation days (PDs), planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), near-surface wind speed (WS), and relatively humidity (RH) play different roles in influencing the haze pollution change during different historical periods. The joint effect of sharp increase of anthropogenic emissions, reduced PDs and WS intensified the haze pollution in SCB during 1980–1995. In contrast, decreased HDs during 1996–2005 are mainly attributable to the reduction of PM2.5 emission and the increase of PDs (especially in winter). In addition, the decrease of PDs is likely to be responsible for the unexpected increase in winter HDs over SCB in the last decade.
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Health: An Overview for Climate and Health Researchers
Authors: McGregor Glenn R. , Ebi Kristie
Published: July 2018

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an important mode of climatic variability that exerts a discernible impact on ecosystems and society through alterations in climate patterns. For this reason, ENSO has attracted much interest in the climate and health science community, with many analysts investigating ENSO health links through considering the degree of dependency of the incidence of a range of climate diseases on the occurrence of El Niño events. Because of the mounting interest in the relationship between ENSO as a major mode of climatic variability and health, this paper presents an overview of the basic characteristics of the ENSO phenomenon and its climate impacts, discusses the use of ENSO indices in climate and health research, and outlines the present understanding of ENSO health associations. Also touched upon are ENSO-based seasonal health forecasting and the possible impacts of climate change on ENSO and the implications this holds for future assessments of ENSO health associations. The review concludes that there is still some way to go before a thorough understanding of the association between ENSO and health is achieved, with a need to move beyond analyses undertaken through a purely statistical lens, with due acknowledgement that ENSO is a complex non-canonical phenomenon, and that simple ENSO health associations should not be expected.
Levels of Antioxidant Compound Glutathione in Moss from Industrial Areas
Authors: Varela Zulema , Debén Sofía , Saxena Dinesh K. , Aboal Jesús R. , Fernández J. Ángel
Published: July 2018

Plants possess a wide range of cellular mechanisms that help them tolerate potentially toxic substances. Several studies that were carried out under laboratory conditions have demonstrated that the antioxidant compound glutathione plays a role in enabling mosses to tolerate high levels of heavy metals without toxic effects. However, until now, the antioxidant levels have not been studied in mosses under field conditions. In this study, we aimed to clarify the antioxidant concentrations of glutathione in the terrestrial moss Pseudoscleropodium purum growing in industrial environments characterised by high atmospheric levels of Cd, Ni, and Pb, and to evaluate the potential use of the compound as a biomarker. The results indicated the existence of a glutathione threshold response, which was significantly correlated with the metal toxicity and which may be influenced by metal bioavailability. Although future studies are needed to strengthen the findings, the present study suggests that total concentration of glutathione in P. purum could therefore be used as a biomarker in air pollution biomonitoring studies, provided that metal bioavailability is taken into account.
Digitalisation and Big Data Mining in Banking
Authors: Hassani Hossein , Huang Xu , Silva Emmanuel
Published: July 2018

Banking as a data intensive subject has been progressing continuously under the promoting influences of the era of big data. Exploring the advanced big data analytic tools like Data Mining (DM) techniques is key for the banking sector, which aims to reveal valuable information from the overwhelming volume of data and achieve better strategic management and customer satisfaction. In order to provide sound direction for the future research and development, a comprehensive and most up to date review of the current research status of DM in banking will be extremely beneficial. Since existing reviews only cover the applications until 2013, this paper aims to fill this research gap and presents the significant progressions and most recent DM implementations in banking post 2013. By collecting and analyzing the trends of research focus, data resources, technological aids, and data analytical tools, this paper contributes to bringing valuable insights with regard to the future developments of both DM and the banking sector along with a comprehensive one stop reference table. Moreover, we identify the key obstacles and present a summary for all interested parties that are facing the challenges of big data.
Novel Approaches for BAV Aortopathy Prediction—Is There a Need for Cohort Studies and Biomarkers?
Authors: Girdauskas Evaldas , Petersen Johannes , Neumann Niklas , Naito Shiho , Gross Tatiana , Jagodzinski Annika , Reichenspurner Hermann , Zeller Tanja
Published: July 2018

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is the most common congenital malformation of the human heart with a prevalence of 1–2% in the general population. More than half of patients with a BAV present with a dilated proximal aorta (so-called bicuspid aortopathy) which is associated with an enhanced risk of life-threatening aortic complications. Up to now, the pathogenesis of bicuspid aortopathy as well as the risk stratification of aortic complications has not yet been sufficiently clarified. Recent findings have shown that bicuspid aortopathy features phenotypic heterogeneity. Two distinct valvulo-aortic phenotypes, the so-called root phenotype, as well as a dilation of the tubular ascending aorta, coincide with a significantly different risk for aortal complications. However, the phenotype-based classification that is only based on these two clinical forms is not sufficient to estimate the risk of aortal complications in a prognostically relevant way. Therefore, there is growing clinical interest to assess novel approaches in BAV research and to introduce circulating biomarkers as an elegant diagnostic tool to improve risk stratification in BAV aortopathy. A large scale epidemiological cohort study, ranking from apparently healthy individuals to disease patients, and comprehensive biobanks provide the opportunity to study BAV disease and its complications and to identify novel biomarkers for BAV aortopathy surveillance and prognosis. Firstly, the data indicate that several protein-based biomarkers and non-coding RNA molecules, in particular circulating microRNAs, can serve as relevant molecular biomarkers to predict the course of BAV-associated aortopathy. Here, we review the current literature and knowledge about BAV from a clinical point of view, and report about novel approaches in BAV biomarker research.
FeCrAlloy Monoliths Coated with Ni/Al2O3 Applied to the Low-Temperature Production of Ethylene
Authors: Brussino Paula , Bortolozzi Juan Pablo , Sanz Oihane , Montes Mario , Ulla María Alicia , Banús Ezequiel David
Published: July 2018

This paper investigates the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to produce ethylene at low temperatures (500 °C) in metallic structured substrates. To check this point, the FeCrAlloy® monoliths with different channel sizes (289–2360 cpsi) were prepared. The monoliths were coated with a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst (by washcoating of alumina and the latter nickel impregnation) and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), Temperature-Programmed Reduction (TPR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic results showed that all monoliths coated with ~300 mg of catalyst presented similar ethane conversion (15%) at 450 °C. However, the lowest selectivity to ethylene was found for the monolith with the lower channel size and the higher geometric surface area, where a heterogeneous catalyst layer with Ni enriched islands was generated. Therefore, it can be said that the selectivity to ethylene is linked to the distribution of Ni species on the support (alumina). Nevertheless, in all cases the selectivity was high (above 70%). On the other hand, the stability in reaction tests of one of the coated monoliths was done. This structured catalyst proved to be more stable under reaction conditions than the powder catalyst, with an initial slight drop in the first 8 h but after that, constant activity for the 152 h left.
Experimental and CFD Studies of the Hydrodynamics in Wet Agglomeration Process
Authors: Oyegbile Benjamin , Akdogan Guven , Karimi Mohsen
Published: July 2018

In this study, an experimentally validated computational model was developed to investigate the hydrodynamics in a rotor-stator vortex agglomeration reactor RVR having a rotating disc at the centre with two shrouded outer plates. A numerical simulation was performed using a simplified form of the reactor geometry to compute the 3-D flow field in batch mode operations. Thereafter, the model was validated using data from a 2-D Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) flow analysis performed during the design of the reactor. Using different operating speeds, namely 70, 90, 110, and 130 rpm, the flow fields were computed numerically, followed by a comprehensive data analysis. The simulation results showed separated boundary layers on the rotating disc and the stator. The flow field within the reactor was characterized by a rotational plane circular forced vortex flow, in which the streamlines are concentric circles with a rotational vortex. Overall, the results of the numerical simulation demonstrated a fairly good agreement between the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model and the experimental data, as well as the available theoretical predictions. The swirl ratio β was found to be approximately 0.4044, 0.4038, 0.4044, and 0.4043 for the operating speeds of N = 70, 90, 110, and 130 rpm, respectively. In terms of the spatial distribution, the turbulence intensity and kinetic energy were concentrated on the outer region of the reactor, while the circumferential velocity showed a decreasing intensity towards the shroud. However, a comparison of the CFD and experimental predictions of the tangential velocity and the vorticity amplitude profiles showed that these parameters were under-predicted by the experimental analysis, which could be attributed to some of the experimental limitations rather than the robustness of the CFD model or numerical code.
Current and Emerging Therapies in the Management of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in Neonates
Authors: Nair Jayasree , Kumar Vasantha H.S.
Published: July 2018

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) presents a significant clinical burden with its high mortality and morbidity rates globally. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is now standard of care for infants with moderate to severe HIE, but has not definitively changed outcomes in severe HIE. In this review, we discuss newer promising markers that may help the clinician identify severity of HIE. Therapies that are beneficial and agents that hold promise for neuroprotection are described, both for use either alone or as adjuncts to TH. These include endogenous pathway modifiers such as erythropoietin and analogues, melatonin, and remote ischemic post conditioning. Stem cells have therapeutic potential in this condition, as in many other neonatal conditions. Of the agents listed, only erythropoietin and analogues are currently being evaluated in large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Exogenous therapies such as argon and xenon, allopurinol, monosialogangliosides, and magnesium sulfate continue to be investigated. The recognition of tertiary mechanisms of brain damage has opened up new research into therapies not only to attenuate brain damage but also to promote cell repair and regeneration in a developmentally disorganized brain long after the perinatal insult. These alternative modalities may be especially important in mild HIE and in areas of the world where there is limited access to expensive hypothermia equipment and services.
You Better Repeat It: Complex CO2 × Temperature Effects in Atlantic Silverside Offspring Revealed by Serial Experimentation
Authors: Murray Christopher S. , Baumann Hannes
Published: July 2018

Concurrent ocean warming and acidification demand experimental approaches that assess biological sensitivities to combined effects of these potential stressors. Here, we summarize five CO2 × temperature experiments on wild Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia, offspring that were reared under factorial combinations of CO2 (nominal: 400, 2200, 4000, and 6000 µatm) and temperature (17, 20, 24, and 28 °C) to quantify the temperature-dependence of CO2 effects in early life growth and survival. Across experiments and temperature treatments, we found few significant CO2 effects on response traits. Survival effects were limited to a single experiment, where elevated CO2 exposure reduced embryo survival at 17 and 24 °C. Hatch length displayed CO2 × temperature interactions due largely to reduced hatch size at 24 °C in one experiment but increased length at 28 °C in another. We found no overall influence of CO2 on larval growth or survival to 9, 10, 15 and 13–22 days post-hatch, at 28, 24, 20, and 17 °C, respectively. Importantly, exposure to cooler (17 °C) and warmer (28 °C) than optimal rearing temperatures (24 °C) in this species did not appear to increase CO2 sensitivity. Repeated experimentation documented substantial inter- and intra-experiment variability, highlighting the need for experimental replication to more robustly constrain inherently variable responses. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the early life stages of this ecologically important forage fish appear largely tolerate to even extreme levels of CO2 across a broad thermal regime.