bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of the CSR guidelines to improve the working environment
Authors: Górny Adam
Published: August 2019

The continuous growth of business organizations is critical for their survival on competitive markets. To ensure such growth, undertakings need to identify areas for improvement and effectively deploy improvement measures with a view to ultimately increasing their company’s value. One key area of improvement are working conditions in the working environment of employees. The assurance of employee-friendly working conditions that translate into working comfort constitutes part and parcel of the effort to facilitate the effective performance of work. Once CSR guidelines are incorporated into the process, the measures gain in effectiveness helping to enhance company value. The article identifies some of the aspects of managing working conditions – on the basis of CSR guidelines – that are vital for corporate performance. More specifically, such aspects include ways to facilitate the performance of occupational tasks by workers.
OSH - sustainability connection: innovation, education, and benefits
Authors: Ivascu Larisa , Artene Alin , Turi Attila , Balan Monica , Dufour Corina
Published: August 2019

The three responsibilities of the environment, society, and economy are used to model how sustainability can be incorporated into an organization’s mission, goals, and practices. There are many worker problems embedded in the concept of sustainability. From the perspective of sustainable development, occupational health and safety (OSH) refers to promoting safety, security, health and welfare of workers. Using an integrated sustainability approach offers a way to rethink worker protection approaches and raises new exploration issues and innovation opportunities. This paper aims to present the connections between OSH and sustainable development taking into account the needs of the economic environment. It focuses on Safety and Health’s Core Role in Sustainability. Researchers have also tried to advance the road to sustainable development through innovation and improvement of occupational and health security.
Importance of Experimental Tests for the Determination of Modeling Parameters in Fire Safety Engineering
Authors: Torretta Vincenzo , Barozzi Marco , Talamona Luca , Copelli Sabrina , Conti Fabio , Rada Elena Cristina , Viotti Paolo , Schiavon Marco
Published: August 2019

In the field of Fire Safety Engineering, the application of mathematical models is crucial in order to properly estimate the severity of eventual fires occurring inside workplaces. Such models (like CFast, Ozone, FDS, CFX, Fluent), require a notable amount of specific parameters in order to work. Such parameters are usually available in the current literature, or they can be estimated via experimental tests. In this work, several experimental setups have been performed in order to evaluate such data in the burning of a wide range of materials: cotton, polyethylene and polyester in industrial rollers, flour, sugar, feed for dairy cows, and wood pallets. Cone Calorimeter, Mahler bomb, and real-scale tests have been performed in order to evaluate parameters such as Calorific Values, Total Heat Released, Heat Released Rate and smoke composition analysis. The real-scale tests have been performed with the aim of addressing fire occurring in warehouses, focusing then on an industrial environment. All the values have been compared with theoretical estimations made with the ClaRaf 2.0 software, and it was noticed that they tend to give overestimated values in comparison with empirical results.
Digital Design Skills for Factories of the Future
Authors: Florea Adrian
Published: August 2019

Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, Factories of the Future all describe aspects of the heralding era of digitalization of manufacturing aiming to interconnect every step of the manufacturing process and seamlessly integrate the physical and digital world. In Factories of the Future a central computer organizes the intelligent networking of all subsystems, suppliers and customers into one system. All relevant requirements concerning manufacturing and product are confirmed at design time, while execution takes place autonomously as ICT and automation are integrated. The main challenge is represented by educational system, how prepared is to provide students, future employees, the digital competences necessary for the Factories of the Future. What are the structural and curricular measures Higher Education Institutions need to take in order to align engineering education, especially in the design of all constituents of Factories of the Future, with the need of competences in new manufacturing era? A quantitative analysis of existing study programs aims understanding the status quo of Master programs in engineering education and, deriving from existing policy documents potential requirements for competences design of Factory of the Future employees.
Die frühe Entwicklung der Bluttransfusion und ihre Anwendung im Ersten Weltkrieg
Authors: Müllerschön André
Published: August 2019

Die Entdeckung des Blutkreislaufs durch William Harvey im Jahr 1628 förderte experimentelle Versuche von Blutübertragungen. Über die Frage des zu transfundierenden Blutes gab es in der Folgezeit immer wieder wissenschaftliche Dispute. War das 17. Jahrhundert geprägt von der Überleitung unbehandelten Tierblutes, vertraten einige Ärzte ab Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts die Ansicht, ausschließlich defibriniertes Blut sei zu übertragen. Kurz vor Ausbruch des Deutsch-Französischen Krieges wurden verschiedene Überlegungen zur militärmedizinischen Nutzung der Bluttransfusion diskutiert, die wiederum zu einer Renaissance der Tierbluttransfusion führten. Die Entdeckung der Blutgruppen durch Karl Landsteiner im Jahr 1901 gilt als Übergang zur serologischen Ära der Transfusion, auch wenn diese – aus heutiger Sicht – bahnbrechende Erkenntnis in der wissenschaftlichen Welt zunächst wenig Beachtung fand. Der Erste Weltkrieg mit seiner enormen Anzahl von Schwerstverwundeten förderte die Entwicklung der Transfusion nachhaltig. Während auf deutscher Seite anfangs die direkte Übertragung am verbreitetsten war, bestritten die alliierten Streitkräfte mit der Verwendung von konserviertem Zitratblut einen gänzlich anderen Weg. Mit der erstmaligen Bevorratung von Konserven unmittelbar in der Nähe des Kampfgeschehens im November 1917 war die Idee einer Blutbank geboren. Bewertet man die Blutübertragung während des Ersten Weltkriegs rückblickend aus ethischer Sicht, so bleibt festzustellen, dass sie heutigen medizinethischen Standards nicht standhält und in gewisser Weise Versuchen an Menschen gleichgesetzt werden kann.
Gentherapie von Hämoglobinkrankheiten – aktuelle Konzepte und Herausforderungen
Authors: Kulozik Andreas E. , Kunz Joachim
Published: August 2019

Die β-Thalassämien und die Sichelzellerkrankung sind weltweit die häufigsten Einzelgendefekte, die konventionell nur durch eine lebenslang erforderliche Supportivtherapie oder kurativ mittels allogener Stammzelltransplantation behandelbar sind. Aktuell werden Gentherapiestrategien entwickelt, die nach Transduktion von hämatopoetischen Stammzellen durch lentivirale Vektoren zu einer Expression eines therapeutischen β-Globin-Gens oder zur therapeutischen Reexpression der fetalen Globinsynthese und damit des fetalen Hämoglobins (HbF) führen. Für die β-Thalassämie hat die Genadditionstherapie für eine ausgewählte Gruppe von Patientinnen und Patienten mit transfusionsbedürftiger Non-β0-Thalassaemia major nach konditionaler Zulassung durch die European Medicines Agency (EMA) im Juni 2019 einen ersten Grad klinischer Reife erreicht. In dieser Übersicht diskutieren wir darüber hinaus die Möglichkeiten und Herausforderungen von Genomeditierungsstrategien für die Hämoglobinkrankheiten, insbesondere durch Inaktivierung von BCL11A, des zentralen Inhibitors der postnatalen fetalen Hämoglobinsynthese. Insgesamt verspricht die Entwicklung der Gentherapie für die Hämoglobinkrankheiten eine relevante Chance für diese, auch in Deutschland zahlreicher werdenden Gruppe von Patientinnen und Patienten mit schweren, sowohl Lebensqualität als auch Lebenserwartung erheblich einschränkenden Erkrankungen.
Remarkable frequency of a history of liver disease in dogs
fed homemade diets with buckwheat
Authors: Lineva Anna , Tavčar Benković Eva , Kreft Samo , Kienzle Ellen
Published: August 2019

Objective In our nutrition consultation service we observed liver disease
in 2 dogs of one owner who was feeding buckwheat. This led to the hypothesis
that buckwheat may cause problems. The present retrospective study in a German
and a Russian nutrition consultation service was carried out to see whether
there is an increased incidence of liver disease in dogs fed buckwheat.

Materials and methods A retrospective study was carried out on the
nutrition consultation cases of the Chair of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, LMU
Munich and a Russian nutrition consultant. All cases of dogs with buckwheat in
their nutritional history were evaluated and compared with randomly selected
dogs that had not been fed buckwheat from the same case set. Two German and
1 Russian buckwheat samples were compared (appearance, nutrient content, starch
gelatinization, flavonoids, fagopyrin) as well as cooking methods.

Results In the years 2007–2017, 34 cases of dogs fed buckwheat were
identified in Germany and 57 in Russia. Eighty-five control cases in Germany and
48 in Russia were evaluated. In Germany, the incidence of liver disease in dogs
fed buckwheat was 32 %, while that of the control group was 3.5 %. However, in
Russia there was no significant difference between dogs fed buckwheat and
control dogs. The appearance of the German and Russian buckwheat differed, with
smaller seeds and more greenish colour in the German specimens while the Russian
buckwheat presented larger and more brownish seeds. There was no difference in
the analyses of the 3 buckwheat samples in crude nutrient and rutin content.
Quercetin, quercitrin and fagopyrin were not detectable in all three samples.
The degree of starch gelatinization in the Russian sample was higher than in the
German. In Russia it is recommended to remove the reddish scum during boiling
whereas this is rarely mentioned in Germany.

Conclusion and clinical significance German buckwheat may represent a risk
in canine diets. With the difference remaining unclear, it is recommended to
refrain from feeding buckwheat to dogs. In dogs fed homemade diets and suffering
from liver disease, buckwheat should be considered in the nutrition history.
Eine einfache Methode zum Ausschluss unzureichender
Phosphorverdaulichkeit bei wachsenden Schweinen
Authors: Böswald Linda , Kienzle Ellen
Published: August 2019

Gegenstand und Ziel Speziesunterschiede im Kalzium- und
Phosphorstoffwechsel lassen sich quantitativ über die Berechnung der
Kalzium/Phosphor-Quotienten in Futter und Kot darstellen. In der vorliegenden
Meta-Analyse wurde überprüft, ob auf diese Weise eine Aussage zur
Phosphorverdaulichkeit bei wachsenden Schweinen getroffen werden kann, um einen
möglichst einfachen Prüfparameter zu definieren. Dies ist in Fällen sinnvoll, in
denen trotz adäquater Kalzium- und Phosphorgehalte des Futters der Verdacht auf
einen Phosphormangel besteht.

Material und Methoden Es wurden 34 Studien mit phytasesupplementierten
Rationen (PHYT; Datensätze n = 110) und entsprechenden Kontrollrationen (CON;
Datensätze n = 106) anhand der Parameter Kalzium- und Phosphoraufnahme, fäkale
Kalzium- und Phosphorausscheidung und der jeweiligen scheinbaren Verdaulichkeit
ausgewertet. Für beide Mineralien kam ein modifizierter Lucas-Test zur
Anwendung, indem eine Regressionsberechnung von fäkaler Ausscheidung gegen
Aufnahme (beides in mg/kg KM0,75) durchgeführt wurde.

Ergebnisse Der Lucas-Test zeigte keinen signifikanten Unterschied der
fäkalen Kalziumausscheidung zwischen PHYT und CON (p = 0,29), während der in der
Literatur vielfach beschriebene positive Effekt der Phytase auf die
Phosphorverdaulichkeit sehr deutlich wurde (p < 0,01). Die fäkalen
Kalzium/Phosphor-Quotienten aller Datensätze wurden berechnet und gruppiert, und
zwar nach der Körpermasse (KM) der Tiere sowie der scheinbaren
Phosphorverdaulichkeit (KM ≤ 30 kg: scheinbare Phosphorverdaulichkeit ≤ 60 % und
> 60 %; KM > 30 kg: scheinbare Phosphorverdaulichkeit ≤ 40 % und > 40
%).

Schlussfolgerung Aus der Datenverteilung im Box Plot kann – unter der
Voraussetzung eines Kalzium/Phosphor-Verhältnisses im Futter von ≥ 1,2 – bei
einem fäkalen Kalzium/Phosphor-Quotienten von > 1,5 (für Schweine ≤ 30 kg KM)
bzw. > 1,2 (für Schweine > 30 kg KM) auf eine hohe scheinbare
Phosphorverdaulichkeit von über 60 % bzw. 40 % geschlossen werden.

Klinische Relevanz Werden in Kotproben Kalzium/Phosphor-Quotienten über
diesen Schwellenwerten erreicht, ist eine schlechte Phosphorverdaulichkeit somit
unwahrscheinlich. Bei fäkalen Kalzium/Phosphor-Quotienten unterhalb dieser
„Grenzwerte“ ist keine Einschätzung der Phosphorverdaulichkeit möglich.
Sonografische Topografie abdominaler Organe und Strukturen
beim equinen Neonaten
Authors: Nieth Jennifer , Wehrend Axel
Published: August 2019

Ziel Die Studie hatte zum Ziel, einen systematischen, standardisierten
Untersuchungsgang für die Abdominalsonografie beim neonatalen Fohlen
vorzustellen und die physiologischen topografischen Verhältnisse einiger
Abdominalorgane und -strukturen zu beschreiben.

Material und Methode Bei 57 neonatalen Fohlen erfolgte eine
standardisierte sonografische Untersuchung des Abdomens in rechter und linker
Seitenlage unter Evaluierung der folgenden Körperabschnitte: alle
Interkostalräume bei der Körperhälften sowie ventrales Abdomen, unterteilt in 6
Segmente (links, mittig und rechts kranial sowie links, mittig und rechts
kaudal). Für jedes Organ wurden die Lokalisationen dokumentiert, an denen es
darstellbar war. Zudem wurden 10 tote Fohlen sonografisch untersucht und danach
seziert, um die Topografie der Organe zu überprüfen.

Ergebnisse Es konnte ein systematischer Untersuchungsgang des Abdomens
beim neugeborenen Fohlen erarbeitet und die Ausdehnung einiger abdominaler
Organe beschrieben werden. Die Nabelvene ist im mittleren kranialen
Abdominalsegment lokalisiert, der Urachus im mittleren kaudalen Segment. Die
Nabelarterien finden sich in ihrem Anfangsbereich im mittleren kaudalen Segment
und zweigen sich jeweils ins linke bzw. rechte Segment auf. Die Blase ist ein
lagekonstantes Organ im kaudalen Abdomen, das sich je nach Füllungszustand vom
mittleren kaudalen bis ins linke und rechte kaudale Segment erstreckt. Die
rechte Niere kann zwischen dem 15. und 17. Interkostalraum (IKR) dargestellt
werden, die linke im 16. und 17. IKR. Die Milz zeigt eine Lagekonstanz zwischen
dem linken 10.–16. IKR und stellt sich häufig im linken kranialen
Abdominalsegment dar. Die Leber befindet sich im rechten und mittleren kranialen
Abdomen sowie rechts zwischen 6. und 17. IKR und links im 7. IKR, der Magen im
linken und mittleren Segment und linksseitig zwischen 9. und 11. IKR. Das
Duodenum weist eine Lagekonstanz für den rechten 12. IKR auf. Das Jejunum lässt
sich oft in den linken kaudalen sowie im vorderen und hinteren mittleren
Abdominalsegment darstellen. Die Darstellung des Zäkums gelingt zwischen 15. IKR
und Fossa paralumbalis der rechten Körperseite, die des Kolons vor allem im
mittleren kaudalen Abdomen sowie in den beiden rechten Abdominalsegmenten.

Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz Durch eine systematische
sonografische Untersuchung des Abdomens lassen sich beim neonatalen Fohlen die
wichtigsten Abdominalorgane darstellen.
Glukokortikoide doch hilfreich bei akuter
Pankreatitis
Authors: Schürg Andrea
Published: August 2019

Eine akute Pankreatitis (AP) kommt bei Hunden relativ relativ häufig. Eine
spezifische Therapie gibt es nicht, vielmehr beschränkt sich die Behandlung
auf unterstützende Maßnahmen wie intravenöse Infusionen, die Gabe von
Analgetika und Antiemetika sowie eine adäquate Nährstoffversorgung. Aus der
Humanmedizin weiß man, dass eine AP möglichst frühzeitig therapiert werden
sollte, um die Entwicklung eines systemischen inflammatorischen
Response-Syndroms (SIRS) und eines Multiorganversagens zu verhindern. Bis
vor kurzem hielt man die Gabe von Glukokortikoiden bei Hunden für
kontraindiziert, da man sie als Risikofaktor für eine AP betrachtete. Neuere
Untersuchungen zeigten jedoch, dass sie weder bei Menschen noch bei Hunden
eine Pankreatitis auslösen. In der nicht randomisierten, nicht verblindeten
Studie wurde deshalb erstmals die Effektivität einer initialen Therapie mit
oder ohne Glukokortikoide bei Hunden mit AP untersucht.
Ist das Sommerekzem bei importierten Islandpferden
vorhersagbar?
Authors: Hampe Marian
Published: August 2019

Torsteinsdottir S, Scheidegger S, Baselgia S et al. A prospective study on insect
bite hypersensitivity in horses exported from Iceland into Switzerland. Acta Vet
Scand 2018; 60: 69

Beim Sommerekzem handelt es sich um eine IgE-vermittelte Dermatitis infolge
einer allergischen Reaktion auf den Speichel stechender Insekten (z. B.
Culicoides spp.). Bis zu 50 % der aus Island nach Kontinentaleuropa
importierten Tiere erkranken, dagegen nur 3–10 % der auf dem Festland
geborenen Isländer. In Island gibt es die Erkrankung nicht, da die
verursachenden Gnitzen dort nicht vorkommen. Hat eine Sensibilisierung
gegenüber dem Speichel stattgefunden, treten nach Stichen weiterer Insekten
häufig allergische Reaktionen auf. Dies gilt beispielsweise für
Kriebelmücken (Simulium spp.), die auch in Island endemisch sind. Die Studie
sollte klären, ob in Island heimische Pferde gegenüber S. vittatum
sensibilisiert sind und inwieweit sich mit einem Assay vorhersagen lässt, ob
bei in die Schweiz importierten Pferden ein Sommerekzem auftreten
wird.
Letter to the Editor: Is Golf the New Football or Have We Made It So?
Authors: Deora Harsh , Yagnick Nishant S , Tripathi Manjul , Mohindra Sandeep
Published: August 2019

Lumbar Spine Injuries: Primary Prevention in Amateur and Professional Golf Players

Sir,

We read with interest the article by Goebel et al. 1 (Goebel D, Drollinger F, Drollinger A. Lumbar Spine Injuries: Primary Prevention in Amateur and Professional Golf Players. Sports Med Int Open. 2018; 2:179–184). We have been deeply interested in this sport and delved on the musings of competitiveness causing athletes to put un-natural strains on their bodies and vice-versa. While we do understand the cause of Lumbar spine injuries caused by athletes putting undue stress on their bodies, we need to understand that the reason for the same.
A Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Randomized Trial with Individualized Homeopathic Treatment Using a Symptom Cluster Approach in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome
Authors: Yakir Michal , Klein-Laansma Christien T. , Kreitler Shulamith , Brzezinski Amnon , Oberbaum Menachem , Vithoulkas George , Bentwich Zvi
Published: August 2019

Background In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with parallel groups, the efficacy of individually prescribed homeopathic medicines was evaluated in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Methods In an outpatient department of a university clinic in Jerusalem, Israel (1996–1999), women with PMS, aged 18 to 50 years, entered a 2-month screening phase with prospective daily recording of premenstrual symptoms by the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). They were included after being diagnosed with PMS. A reproducible treatment protocol was used: women received a homeopathic prescription based on symptom clusters identified in a questionnaire. The symptoms were verified during a complementary, structured, interview. Only women whose symptoms matched the symptom profile of one of 14 pre-selected homeopathic medicines were included. Each participant was administered active medicine or placebo via random allocation. Primary outcome measures were differences in changes in mean daily premenstrual symptom (PM) scores by the MDQ. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.

Results A total of 105 women were included: 49 were randomized to active medicine and 56 to placebo. Forty-three women in the active medicine group and 53 in the placebo group received the allocated intervention with at least one follow-up measurement and their data were analyzed. Significantly greater improvement of mean PM scores was measured in the active medicine group (0.443 [standard deviation, SD, 0.32] to 0.287 [SD, 0.20]) compared to placebo (0.426 [SD, 0.34] to 0.340 [SD, 0.39]); p = 0.043.

Conclusions Individually prescribed homeopathic medicines were associated with significantly greater improvement of PM scores in women with PMS, compared to placebo. Replication, with larger sample size and other refinements, is recommended to confirm the efficacy of this treatment in other settings.
Short-Term Outcomes of Synovectomy and Total Knee Replacement in Patients with Diffuse-Type Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis
Authors: Su Weiping , Zhou Yangying , Lu Wei , Zeng Min , Hu Yihe , Xie Jie
Published: August 2019

Diffuse-type pigmented villonodular synovitis is a rare benign disease that causes disorders of the knee, including erosion of subchondral bone and cyst formation, with eventual osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of synovectomy and total knee replacement in patients with the diffuse type of pigmented villonodular synovitis. From November 2011 to May 2015, we performed synovectomy and total knee replacement in 28 patients with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis diagnosed on the basis of histopathology of biopsy specimens. Clinical data were collected perioperatively and during follow-up for evaluation of surgical efficacy. No intraoperative complications were encountered. Mean operative duration was 73.4 minutes (range: 47–115 minutes); mean estimated blood loss was 223.9 mL (range: 50–600 mL). The mean duration of follow-up was 58.7 months (range: 36–84 months). Mean range of motion improved from 86.1 ± 11.3 degrees (range: 60–100 degrees) to 107 ± 11.4 degrees (range: 90–130 degrees). Average Knee Society clinical scores improved from 38.9 ± 9.5 (range: 17–54) to 84.4 ± 6.1 (range: 75–98); functional scores improved from 48.9 ± 13.1 (range: 25–80) to 84.6 ± 6.1 (range: 75–95; p < 0.05 for both). Postoperative radiographs showed no signs of prosthesis loosening, periprosthetic fractures, or dislocation. The short-term efficacy of synovectomy and total knee replacement in treating patients with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis was satisfactory.
Higher performance long wavelength interband cascade photodetector compared with a PBπBN device
Authors: Zhou Yi , Chai Xuliang , Tian Yuan , Huang Min , Xu Zhicheng , Chen Jianxin , He Li
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we reported our design and experimental results of a two-stage long wavelength interband cascade infrared photodetector (ICIP). A 3 × 3 multiple quantum well relaxation region was proposed for long wavelength ICIP. The 50% cutoff wavelength was 11.6 μm at 80 K. The quantum efficiency (QE) of the ICIP was measured to be 24.5% at 8.5 μm. The dark current density at −0.05 V bias of the ICIP was measured to be 3.32 × 10−4 A/cm2 at 55 K, which is approximately 1/3 of a PBπBN superlattice detector. The peak detectivity of ICIP was measured to be 4.6 × 1010 cm·Hz1/2/W at 80 K and further raised to 3.6 × 1011cm·Hz1/2/W when the temperature decreased to 55 K. In comparing with the PBπBN superlattice device, the ICIP shows smaller shunt currents and tunneling currents at low temperatures.
Structural analysis of ionic liquids with symmetric and asymmetric fluorinated anions
Authors: Zhao Man , Wu Boning , Lall-Ramnarine Sharon I. , Ramdihal Jasodra D. , Papacostas Kristina A. , Fernandez Eddie D. , Sumner Rawlric A. , Margulis Claudio J. , Wishart James F. , Castner Edward W.
Published: August 2019

Ionic liquids (ILs) with relatively low viscosities and broad windows of electrochemical stability are often constructed by pairing asymmetric cations with bisfluorosulfonylimide (FSI−) or bistriflimide (NTf2 −) anions. In this work, we systematically studied the structures of ILs with these anions and related perfluorobis-sulfonylimide anions with asymmetry and/or longer chains: (fluorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BSI0,1−), bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide (BETI−), and (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) (nonafluorobutylsulfonyl)imide (BSI1,4−) using high energy X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulation methods. 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations with shorter (ethyl, Im2,1+) and longer (octyl, Im1,8+) hydrocarbon chains were selected to examine how the sizes of nonpolar hydrocarbon and fluorous chains affect IL structures and properties. In comparison with these, we also computationally explored the structure of ionic liquids with anions having longer fluorinated tails.
Infrared and optical emission spectroscopy study of atmospheric pressure plasma-enhanced spatial ALD of Al2O3
Authors: Mione M. A. , Engeln R. , Vandalon V. , Kessels W. M. M. , Roozeboom F.
Published: August 2019

Atmospheric-pressure Plasma-Enhanced spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (PE-s-ALD) is a high-throughput technique for synthesizing thin films at low temperatures for large area applications. The spatial separation of the ALD half-reactions and the use of an atmospheric pressure plasma as the reactant give rise to complex surface chemistry which is not yet well understood. Here, we employed gas-phase infrared spectroscopy and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) to study the underlying chemistry of the PE-s-ALD process of Al2O3 films grown at 80 °C using Al(CH3)3 and an Ar-O2 plasma. We identified the reaction products and investigated their dependence on the exposure time of the substrate to the precursor. Infrared absorbance spectra show CO, CO2, H2O, and CH4 as the main ALD reaction byproducts originating from (i) combustion-like reactions of the methylated surface with O plasma radicals and O3 and (ii) a concurrent latent thermal ALD component due to produced and/or residual H2O molecules. In addition, CH2O and CH3OH were identified as reaction by-products either originating at the surface or formed in the plasma. The OES spectra provide a corroborative proof of the combustive nature of the PE-s-ALD reactions showing OH and CH emissions arising during the spatial ALD process while excited O species are being consumed.
Forward scattering nanoparticles based nanostructure for light trapping over solar spectrum
Authors: Li Rongheng , Li Ben Q. , Wang Wenjun
Published: August 2019

We present a lossless, strong forward-scattering nanostructure for high-performance light trapping over the solar spectrum. This solar harvesting configuration consists of forward-scattering nanoparticle arrays largely embraced in an appropriate medium and partially embedded in a silicon thin film. Nanoparticles or nanoparticle clusters processing better forward-scattering than other reported structures over a wide wavelength range were obtained by tuning their magnetic and electric responses via the change of either structural configurations or surrounding media or both. Results show that lossless titania (TiO2) nanoparticles embraced in a glass medium scatter light in forward direction and with partial embedding greatly increase the light trapping in a silicon substrate of varying thicknesses. In particular, the nanostructure, consisting of 500 nm TiO2 nanoparticles embedded 90 nm into a 200 nm thin film silicon cell, yields an increment of 10.3 mA/cm2 in short-circuit current density over the bare thin film silicon cell or absorbs 3.15 times as much light as the bare one.
All-solid-state supercapacitors from natural lignin-based composite film by laser direct writing
Authors: Wang Shutong , Yu Yongchao , Luo Si , Cheng Xiaopeng , Feng Guoying , Zhang Yuefei , Wu Zili , Compagnini Giuseppe , Pooran Joshi , Hu Anming
Published: August 2019

Lignin as a renewable natural resource has been the focus of numerical interest in applications ranging from pitch to porous carbon material. Herein, a facile approach is reported to transform lignin into porous conductive carbon structures and interdigitated circuits for supercapacitor devices using femtosecond laser direct writing. Comparative studies revealed that the laser irradiation induced tetrahedral amorphous carbon while only graphitic carbon was obtained through pyrolysis. Meanwhile, the composite membrane was easily prepared to further optimize the capacities by mixing functional materials (MoS2) into the lignin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite polymers. A MoS2 decorated porous carbon network material could be fabricated through focused femtosecond pulsed laser irradiation of the corresponding composite membranes. The microstructure and spectroscopic features of these laser induced hybrid carbon materials have been deeply investigated. The supercapacitor based on lignin/PAN has high areal specific capacitances of 6.7 mF cm−2 (0.9 F cm−3) at 10 mV s−1. Moreover, doped microsupercapacitors with MoS2 demonstrated enhanced areal capacitances up to 16 mF cm−2 (2.2 F cm−3) and at 10 mV s−1, respectively. The relatively high areal capacitances indicate that the proposed method is potential for innovative manufacturing energy storage devices based on natural lignin.
Oil and aid revenue produce equal demands for accountability as taxes in Ghana and Uganda
Authors: de la Cuesta Brandon , Milner Helen V. , Nielson Daniel L. , Knack Stephen F.
Published: August 2019

Significance

People ought to care more about how the government spends their taxes compared with oil or foreign aid revenues. Yet, in developing countries, obfuscation by value-added taxes and citizens’ feelings of ownership over all public revenues may equalize distinctions. Four experiments in Ghana and Uganda conducted on citizens and members of parliament indicate no significant differences between taxes, aid, and oil in perceptions that the revenues will provide public goods or leak to corruption. All revenue types equally motivate citizens to demand accountability, prompting reevaluation of the claim that taxes promote greater political action. Citizens do see meaningful differences for aid delivered through nongovernmental organizations, suggesting that the channel of funds matters for accountability.
Collocation analysis of news discourse and its ideological implications
Authors: Lai Huei-ling
Published: August 2019

This study investigates the use of an ethnic term in news discourse from linguistic, discursive, and
social-cultural aspects. A more rigorous computational procedure than hitherto used is employed to measure the collocational
strength of collocates in news corpora. The results indicate diversified distributions of the collocates regarding their
frequency, distance, and semantic connections. The findings enhance the meaning specificity of the term by revealing the
characterized reference of this ethnic group, the trends in the choice of news topics, and the ideological representation of this
ethnic group in a wider social-cultural context. The findings deepen an understanding of news discourse as the representations of
the minority ethnicity in the news media are analyzed through three layers – the linguistic, the discursive, and the
social-cultural context. A more precise method of analyzing news texts uncovers ideological effects brought about by media, in
turn implying different construal of newsworthiness in news discourse.
Sociological formation and reception of translation
Authors: Xu Minhui , Yu Jing
Published: August 2019

This study draws on Bourdieu’s conceptualization of the international circulation of ideas to examine the sociological formation process of a translation. Taking the translated Chinese novel Border Town as an example, this study investigates the three phases of that process: selection; labeling and classification; and reading and reception. It discovers that the first two phases have created favorable conditions for the reception of the translated novel, but the translation was not well received. This article argues that the reception of a translation depends on the success of every phase of the sociological formation process. The reception of a translation is constructed and consecrated through the joint efforts of different agents in each phase. Only through a holistic sociological consideration of the dynamics of the formation process can we reach a real understanding of the reception of a translated work.
Analyzing translation and interpreting textbooks
Authors: Li Xiangdong
Published: August 2019

Textbooks are a significant source of knowledge and a major factor in shaping teaching and learning; however, textbook analysis has been a neglected area of research. This pilot study examines the coverage of business interpreting competences and their pedagogical treatment in thirty-two business interpreting textbooks. Two analysis frameworks, on business interpreting expertise and pedagogical expertise, were developed. The results indicate that most competences are weakly present in the textbooks and that most pedagogical principles are not well applied. This inadequacy has two potential consequences: (1) students may leave the classroom ill-equipped and form biased views of the profession, by considering topics well-covered in the textbooks as important and legitimate while seeing others as unimportant and (2) students may not be adequately assisted in internalizing and acquiring competences efficiently. This study has implications for translation and interpreting textbook analysis, adaptation, and development.
Yeats4 drives ILC lineage commitment via activation of Lmo4 transcription
Authors: Liu Benyu , Yang Liuliu , Zhu Xiaoxiao , Li Huimu , Zhu Pingping , Wu Jiayi , Lu Tiankun , He Luyun , Liu Nian , Meng Shu , Zhou Liang , Ye Buqing , Tian Yong , Fan Zusen
Published: August 2019

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play critical roles in defending infections and maintaining mucosal homeostasis. All ILCs arise from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in bone marrow. However, how CLPs stratify and differentiate into ILC lineages remains elusive. Here, we showed that Yeats4 is highly expressed in ILCs and their progenitors. Yeats4 conditional KO in the hematopoietic system causes decreased numbers of ILCs and impairs their effector functions. Moreover, Yeats4 regulates α4β7+ CLP differentiation toward common helper ILC progenitors (CHILPs). Mechanistically, Yeats4 recruits the Dot1l–RNA Pol II complex onto Lmo4 promoter through recognizing H3K27ac modification to initiate Lmo4 transcription in α4β7+ CLPs. Additionally, Lmo4 deficiency also impairs ILC lineage differentiation and their effector functions. Collectively, the Yeats4–Lmo4 axis is required for ILC lineage commitment.
Mineral phase composition of the surface dirt sediment in an urban environment
Authors: Seleznev A , Yarmoshenko I , Kiseleva D , Ryanskaya A , Malinovsky G , Gulyaeva T
Published: August 2019

The accumulation of the contemporary surface dirt and dust sediments is an important problem of an urban area. The surface dirt sediment is deposited on the various surfaces both inside and outside the residential blocks. The sediment represents the secondary and nonpoint pollution source due to the presence of the environmental toxicants, heavy metals and pathogens in their content. The aim of the study was to determine the mineral phase composition of surface sediment in the city of Ekaterinburg in order to identify the sources of its origin. The 60 samples of surface sediment were collected in summer at the different parts of residential blocks (traffic ways, sidewalks and lawns, inner yard area, parking lots, and green areas). The sediment samples were fractionated by the particle size fractions: 0.002-0.01 mm, 0.01-0.05 mm, 0.05-0.1 mm, 0.1-0.25 mm, 0.25-1 mm and >1 mm. The particle size fractions were analysed by X-ray diffraction. According to the results of analysis the investigated mineral composition of the surface sediments represent the complex multi-phase mixtures, similar in mineral composition (quartz, microcline, plagioclase, magnetite, chlorite etc.). The sources of the mineral component in the surface sediment were identified.
Evaluating nighttime lights and population distribution as proxies for mapping anthropogenic CO2emission in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Authors: Gaughan Andrea E , Oda Tomohiro , Sorichetta Alessandro , Stevens Forrest R , Bondarenko Maksym , Bun Rostyslav , Krauser Laura , Yetman Greg , Nghiem Son V
Published: August 2019

Tracking spatiotemporal changes in GHG emissions is key to successful implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). And while emission inventories often provide a robust tool to track emission trends at the country level, subnational emission estimates are often not reported or reports vary in robustness as the estimates are often dependent on the spatial modeling approach and ancillary data used to disaggregate the emission inventories. Assessing the errors and uncertainties of the subnational emission estimates is fundamentally challenging due to the lack of physical measurements at the subnational level. To begin addressing the current performance of modeled gridded CO2emissions, this study compares two common proxies used to disaggregate CO2emission estimates. We use a known gridded CO2model based on satellite-observed nighttime light (NTL) data (Open Source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2, ODIAC) and a gridded population dataset driven by a set of ancillary geospatial data. We examine the association at multiple spatial scales of these two datasets for three countries in Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and characterize the spatiotemporal similarities and differences for 2000, 2005, and 2010. We specifically highlight areas of potential uncertainty in the ODIAC model, which relies on the single use of NTL data for disaggregation of the non-point emissions estimates. Results show, over time, how a NTL-based emissions disaggregation tends to concentrate CO2estimates in different ways than population-based estimates at the subnational level. We discuss important considerations in the disconnect between the two modeled datasets and argue that the spatial differences between data products can be useful to identify areas affected by the errors and uncertainties associated with the NTL-based downscaling in a region with uneven urbanization rates.
On NET maps: Examples and nonexistence results
Authors: Saenz Edgar
Published: August 2019

A Thurston map is called nearly Euclidean if its local degree at each critical point is 2 and it has exactly four postcritical points. Nearly Euclidean Thurston (NET) maps are simple generalizations of rational Lattès maps. We investigate when such a map has the property that the associated pullback map on Teichmüller space is constant. We also show that no Thurston map of degree 2 has constant pullback map.
Rural Food Markets and Child Nutrition
Authors: Headey Derek , Hirvonen Kalle , Hoddinott John , Stifel David
Published: August 2019

Child dietary diversity is poor in much of rural Africa and developing Asia, prompting significant efforts to leverage agriculture to improve diets. However, growing recognition that even very poor rural households rely on markets to satisfy their demand for nutrient‐rich non‐staple foods warrants a much better understanding of how rural markets vary in their diversity, competitiveness, frequency and food affordability, and how such characteristics are associated with diets. This article addresses these questions using data from rural Ethiopia. Deploying a novel market survey in conjunction with an information‐rich household survey, we find that children in proximity to markets that sell more non‐staple food groups have more diverse diets. However, the association is small in absolute terms; moving from three non‐staple food groups in the market to six is associated with an increase in the number of non‐staple food groups consumed by ∼0.27 and the likelihood of consumption of any non‐staple food group by 10 percentage points. These associations are similar in magnitude to those describing the relationship between dietary diversity and household production diversity; moreover, for some food groups, notably dairy, we find that household and community production of that food is especially important. These modest associations may reflect several specific features of our sample which is situated in very poor, food‐insecure localities where even the relatively better off are poor in absolute terms and where, by international standards, relative prices for non‐staple foods are very high.
TDQ-30—A New Color Picture-Naming Test for the Diagnostic of Mild Anomia: Validation and Normative Data in Quebec French Adults and Elderly
Authors: Macoir Joël , Chagnon Andréanne , Hudon Carol , Lavoie Monica , Wilson Maximiliano A
Published: August 2019

Objective

A reduction in lexical access is observed in normal aging and a few studies also showed that this ability is affected in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Lexical access is also affected very early in mild cognitive impairment as well as in major neurocognitive disorders. The detection of word-finding difficulties in the earliest stages of pathological aging is particularly difficult because symptoms are often subtle or mild. Therefore, mild anomia is underdiagnosed, mainly due to the lack of sensitivity of naming tests. In this article, we present the TDQ-30, a new picture-naming test designed to detect mild word-finding deficits in adults and elderly people.

Method

The article comprises three studies aiming at the development of the test (Study 1), the establishment of its validity and reliability (Study 2), and finally, the production of normative data for French-speaking adults and elderly people from Quebec (Study 3).

Results

The results showed that the TDQ-30 has good convergent validity. Also, the TDQ-30 distinguished the performance of healthy controls from those of participants with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and post-stroke aphasia. This suggests good discriminant validity. Finally, this study provides normative data computed from a study sample composed of 227 participants aged 50 years and over.

Conclusions

The TDQ-30 has the potential to become a valuable picture-naming test for the diagnosis of mild anomia associated with pathological aging.
DeepCOP: deep learning-based approach to predict gene regulating effects of small molecules
Authors: Woo Godwin , Fernandez Michael , Hsing Michael , Lack Nathan A , Cavga Ayse Derya , Cherkasov Artem
Published: August 2019

Motivation

Recent advances in the areas of bioinformatics and chemogenomics are poised to accelerate the discovery of small molecule regulators of cell development. Combining large genomics and molecular data sources with powerful deep learning techniques has the potential to revolutionize predictive biology. In this study, we present Deep gene COmpound Profiler (DeepCOP), a deep learning based model that can predict gene regulating effects of low-molecular weight compounds. This model can be used for direct identification of a drug candidate causing a desired gene expression response, without utilizing any information on its interactions with protein target(s).

Results

In this study, we successfully combined molecular fingerprint descriptors and gene descriptors (derived from gene ontology terms) to train deep neural networks that predict differential gene regulation endpoints collected in LINCS database. We achieved 10-fold cross-validation RAUC scores of and above 0.80, as well as enrichment factors of >5. We validated our models using an external RNA-Seq dataset generated in-house that described the effect of three potent antiandrogens (with different modes of action) on gene expression in LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. The results of this pilot study demonstrate that deep learning models can effectively synergize molecular and genomic descriptors and can be used to screen for novel drug candidates with the desired effect on gene expression. We anticipate that such models can find a broad use in developing novel cancer therapeutics and can facilitate precision oncology efforts.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Partition: a surjective mapping approach for dimensionality reduction
Authors: Millstein Joshua , Battaglin Francesca , Barrett Malcolm , Cao Shu , Zhang Wu , Stintzing Sebastian , Heinemann Volker , Lenz Heinz-Josef
Published: August 2019

Motivation

Large amounts of information generated by genomic technologies are accompanied by statistical and computational challenges due to redundancy, badly behaved data and noise. Dimensionality reduction (DR) methods have been developed to mitigate these challenges. However, many approaches are not scalable to large dimensions or result in excessive information loss.

Results

The proposed approach partitions data into subsets of related features and summarizes each into one and only one new feature, thus defining a surjective mapping. A constraint on information loss determines the size of the reduced dataset. Simulation studies demonstrate that when multiple related features are associated with a response, this approach can substantially increase the number of true associations detected as compared to principal components analysis, non-negative matrix factorization or no DR. This increase in true discoveries is explained both by a reduced multiple-testing challenge and a reduction in extraneous noise. In an application to real data collected from metastatic colorectal cancer tumors, more associations between gene expression features and progression free survival and response to treatment were detected in the reduced than in the full untransformed dataset.

Availability and implementation

Freely available R package from CRAN, https://cran.r-project.org/package=partition.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pulmonary blood volume index as a quantitative biomarker of haemodynamic congestion in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ricci Fabrizio , Aung Nay , Thomson Ross , Boubertakh Redha , Camaioni Claudia , Doimo Sara , Sanghvi Mihir M , Fung Kenneth , Khanji Mohammed Y , Lee Aaron , Malcolmson James , Mantini Cesare , Paiva José , Gallina Sabina , Fedorowski Artur , Mohiddin Saidi A , Aquaro Giovanni Donato , Petersen Steffen E
Published: August 2019

Aims 

The non-invasive assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and filling pressure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is still an open issue. Pulmonary blood volume index (PBVI) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been proposed as a quantitative biomarker of haemodynamic congestion. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of PBVI for left atrial pressure (LAP) estimation in patients with HCM.

Methods and results 

We retrospectively identified 69 consecutive HCM outpatients (age 58 ± 11 years; 83% men) who underwent both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and CMR. Guideline-based detection of LV diastolic dysfunction was assessed by TTE, blinded to CMR results. PBVI was calculated as the product of right ventricular stroke volume index and the number of cardiac cycles for a bolus of gadolinium to pass through the pulmonary circulation as assessed by first-pass perfusion imaging. Compared to patients with normal LAP, patients with increased LAP showed significantly larger PBVI (463 ± 127 vs. 310 ± 86 mL/m2, P < 0.001). PBVI increased progressively with worsening New York Heart Association functional class and echocardiographic stages of diastolic dysfunction (P < 0.001 for both). At the best cut-off point of 413 mL/m2, PBVI yielded good diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of LV diastolic dysfunction with increased LAP [C-statistic = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73–0.94]. At multivariable logistic regression analysis, PBVI was an independent predictor of increased LAP (odds ratio per 10% increase: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.06–3.68; P = 0.03).

Conclusion 

PBVI is a promising CMR application for assessment of diastolic function and LAP in patients with HCM and may serve as a quantitative marker for detection, grading, and monitoring of haemodynamic congestion.