bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodological Aspects of Assessment of Foreign Economic Activity in Coal Mining Regions
Authors: Kudryashova Irina , Dolbnya Elena , Zakharova Natalia , Loginova Anastasiya
Published: June 2020

In the article it is considered methodological aspects of assessment of foreign economic activity at the level of Russian regions, it is highlighted advantages and disadvantages of some approaches. It was concluded that at present it is advisable to develop an integrated methodology for assessing the effectiveness of foreign trade activities of the region and its investment attractiveness, which can minimize the disadvantages of existing approaches and comprehensively reflect the ongoing processes in the region in the field of foreign economic activity. The need to assess foreign economic activity in the Russian regions on the basis of the principles of complementarity, cooperation and integration with other regions, generation of synergy, extension of spatially distributed value chains is justified. Application of this methodical approach in regional economy as the effective instrument of modern socially oriented management of processes for exploitation of natural resources, development of science and education, creation of regional infrastructure for support of export-oriented and import-substituting business is offered.
Teaching Professional Vocabulary to the Students in Coal Region Universities through Digital Educational Tools
Authors: Perevalova Alena , Resenchuk Anna , Tunyova Nina
Published: June 2020

This paper discusses the approach to teach professional vocabulary to mining students with the emphasis on digital educational tools and e-learning. A digital educational tool is considered to be a web service or application that can be used to create and enhance a digital learning environment. The paper deals with incorporating to the educational process such web-services as Quizlet, Learning Apps, Wiser.me, WordSift, which help the students build and enlarge professional vocabulary that is necessary to read and analyze scientific articles, to operate it in future professional activity while communicating and collaborating with foreign colleagues. The article touches upon the main advantages of used digital educational tools, which allowed the students to obtain translating, reading and analytical skills. The article notes that acquired knowledge and skills will make the students able to work successfully in the mining industry sharing experience and cooperating with international partners. Kuzbass (Kemerovo region) is one of the largest coal deposits in the world, located in the south of Western Siberia. Region has significant experience in training compatriot specialists and international students in geology, mining industry, ecology and nature management. Every year students from neighboring countries come to our universities to receive a prestigious profession in the mining sector. Future highly qualified specialists should not only master the production process, but also be able to share experience and communicate with foreign colleagues. The result of mastering professional English and special vocabulary will be the possibility of doing business and research at the international level with the countries, leading in coal mining.
On the Relationship of Indicators of Sustainable Development, Quality of Life and the Share of Creative Middle Class
Authors: Roshсhina Irina , Nekhoda Evgeniya , Kalyanova Galina
Published: June 2020

This article describes the study of existence of the relationship between individual factors of sustainable development from a qualitative point of view. It is revealed that new essential characteristics of the “middle class”, connected with sustainable development, are being formed. This makes it necessary to display them by introducing a new concept of “creative middle class”. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between improving the environment, the quality of life of the population, the processes of formation of a creative middle class and the results of socio-economic policies to ensure sustainable development of the territory. This study was conducted on the basis of a semi-formalized mass interview. Sustainability is considered for two regions of Siberia (Kemerovo and Tomsk regions), which differ in the specialization of economies: the mining region and the innovation region. In the RIA rating of the Russian regions on the quality of life, these regions, despite the different specialization of economies, occupy fairly close positions, being in the middle of the rating table. The hypothesis regarding the role of the creative middle class as the main subject and the main driver of socio- economic transformations for ensuring the sustainable development of the region in the long term and improving the quality of life of the population has been partially confirmed. This can be explained by the fact that the process of forming a creative middle class is at the initial stage. Manifestations of innovative features in the economic and social activity of the subjective middle class in the Tomsk region were not identified.
Ecological Footprint and Decoupling in the Sustainable Development of a Region
Authors: Shut’ko Larisa , Samorodova Lyudmila , Ivanov Anastas
Published: June 2020

The purpose of the study is to examine the issues of assessing the anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem and sustainable development of a region using the example of Kuzbass. The subject of the study is to substantiate the need to improve the measurements of sustainable development of the regional economy from the point of view of calculating the “ecological and carbon footprints” of Kuzbass, identifying the effect of decoupling the negative impact on the environment and resource consumption in the process of economic activity of coal mining enterprises. The following tasks are solved: 1. The role of the environmental factor in ensuring sustainability of the resource-producing region development is shown. 2. The possibilities of using the “ecological footprint” and the “carbon footprint” as indicators of sustainable development of Kuzbass are discovered. 3. The role of mining enterprises in the formation of the “carbon footprint” in Kuzbass was revealed. 4. The calculation was carried out and the effect of decoupling in the coal mining of Kuzbass in 2013-2017 was revealed. 5. The necessity of including the indicators of “ecological footprint”, “carbon footprint” and the effect of decoupling in the coal mining in the system for assessing sustainable development of the mining region in accordance with the UN sustainable development goals (hereinafter - the UN SDGs) is justified. 5. It is argued that it is necessary to expand voluntary greening of enterprises in the coal mining of Kuzbass. Research methods are elements of system and integrated approaches, comparative analysis methods.
Economy Clustering as Efficiency Increase for Resource Usage in Key Areas of Sustainable Social and Economic Development in Kuzbass
Authors: Kulpina Evdokiya , Bereznev Sergey , Golofastova Natalya , Muromtseva Alina
Published: June 2020

This article deals with Kuzbass industry modernization for efficient resource usage in key areas of sustainable social and economic region development. The modernization is considered as sustainable development and is connected with the structure and function change of the production system as a result of innovation implementation under the influence of the managing entity. The industrial cluster “Integrated processing of coal and industrial wastes” is considered to be the most significant one in cluster policy strategy in Kuzbass. Its purpose is to produce import-substituting coal and chemical products and related materials using the latest technologies for the deep processing of coal and industrial wastes.
Immediate and delayed responses of power lines and transformers in the Czech electric power grid to geomagnetic storms
Authors: Švanda Michal , Mourenas Didier , Žertová Karla , Výbošt’oková Tatiana
Published: June 2020

Eruptive events of solar activity often trigger abrupt variations of the geomagnetic field. Through the induction of electric currents, human infrastructures are also affected, namely the equipment of electric power transmission networks. It was shown in past studies that the rate of power-grid anomalies may increase after an exposure to strong geomagnetically induced currents. We search for a rapid response of devices in the Czech electric distribution grid to disturbed days of high geomagnetic activity. Such disturbed days are described either by the cumulative storm-time Dst or d(SYM-H)/dt low-latitude indices mainly influenced by ring current variations, by the cumulative AE high-latitude index measuring substorm-related auroral current variations, or by the cumulative ap mid-latitude index measuring both ring and auroral current variations. We use superposed epoch analysis to identify possible increases of anomaly rates during and after such disturbed days. We show that in the case of abundant series of anomalies on power lines, the anomaly rate increases significantly immediately (within 1 day) after the onset of geomagnetic storms. In the case of transformers, the increase of the anomaly rate is generally delayed by 2–3 days. We also find that transformers and some electric substations seem to be sensitive to a prolonged exposure to substorms, with a delayed increase of anomalies. Overall, we show that in the 5-day period following the commencement of geomagnetic activity there is an approximately 5–10% increase in the recorded anomalies in the Czech power grid and thus this fraction of anomalies is probably related to an exposure to GICs.
Deutschlandweite Studie zur präanästhetischen Risikoeinschätzung mithilfe der ASA-Klassifikation beim Hund
Authors: Hauber Elke , Alef Michaele
Published: June 2020

Gegenstand und Ziel Die Studie soll einen Überblick zur Genauigkeit der Einschätzung des Anästhesierisikos beim Hund mithilfe der ASA-Klassifikation (ASA = American Society of Anaesthesiologists) geben. Für die Humanmedizin liegen diverse Studien vor, die den ASA-Status aufgrund einer gewissen Subjektivität und erheblichen Varianz in der Bewertung eines präanästhetischen Patienten kritisieren. Eine ähnliche Untersuchung erfolgte für die Anwendung des ASA-Schemas beim Hund.

Material und Methoden Es wurde eine deutschlandweite Online-Umfrage unter in der Kleintiermedizin tätigen Tierärzten durchgeführt. Die Teilnehmer erhielten allgemeine Fragen zu ihrem beruflichen Hintergrund. Zudem wurden ihnen 15 Patienten vorgestellt. Die Patientenbeschreibung enthielt das Signalement, eine kurze Anamnese, die Ergebnisse der präanästhetischen Untersuchung, Blutbefunde und den Grund für die Allgemeinanästhesie. Die Teilnehmer sollten die Patienten jeweils in eine der 5 ASA-Klassen einordnen. Die Resultate wurden mithilfe des unabhängigen t-Tests und einfaktorieller Varianzanalyse untersucht. Zudem wurde ein Fleiss-Kappa (κ) ermittelt. Das Signifikanzniveau lag bei 5 %.

Ergebnisse Die Übereinstimmung aller vergebenen ASA-Klassen aller Bewerter war nur schwach (κ = 0,33). Für jeden der 15 Fälle wurden mindestens 3 verschiedene ASA-Klassen vergeben, in 4 Fällen umfasste die Bewertung die maximal möglichen 5 Klassen. Bezüglich der Übereinstimmung der vergebenen ASA-Klasse oder der Höhe der zugeordneten Klasse ließ sich kein Einfluss von Geschlecht oder Jahren an klinischer Erfahrung der Tierärzte feststellen. Auch wie sicher sich die Teilnehmer in der Anwendung der ASA-Klassifikation fühlten, erbrachte keinen signifikanten Unterschied in der Übereinstimmung der ASA-Einschätzung.

Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz Bei Vergabe der ASA-Klassen beim Hund konnten eine Subjektivität und eine erhebliche Varianz nachgewiesen werden. Die ASA-Klassifikation ist ein weit verbreitetes Instrument zur schnellen und einfachen präanästhetischen Risikoklassifizierung eines Patienten. Dennoch besteht die Notwendigkeit, objektivere Kriterien in eine präanästhetische Einschätzung einzubeziehen, um präzisere und reproduzierbare Ergebnisse zu erhalten.
Impfen bei dermatologischen Patienten vor und unter immunmodulierenden Therapien – Erfahrungen aus einer ambulanten Spezialsprechstunde
Authors: Jahn S. , Föhr J. , Herbst M.
Published: June 2020

Impfen heißt, durch Auslösen einer aktiven Immunität den entsprechenden (Infektions-)Krankheiten vorzubeugen. Dem kommt durch die immer zahlreicher verfügbaren immunmodulierenden Therapien für dermato-onkologische, Autoimmun- und allergische Erkrankungen eine zunehmende Bedeutung zu. Wir möchten darstellen, vor welche Herausforderungen wir uns beim Aufbau eines Impfmanagements für die derzeit über 80 Patientinnen und Patienten unserer Spezialsprechstunde „Immundermatologie“ gestellt sehen.
Electrolyte measurement in goats: Comparison of 2 blood gas analyzers and evaluation of the preanalytical blood sample preparation on measurement results
Authors: Luethy Daniela , Hopster Klaus
Published: June 2020

Ziel 1) Vergleich zwischen einem mobilen, vollautomatischen Elektrolyt-Blutgasanalysegerät (Abaxis VetScan i-STAT 1) (POC) und einem stationären Elektrolyt-Blutgasanalysegerät (Opti CCA-TS2) (VBG) hinsichtlich ihrer Übereinstimmung bei Elektrolytmessungen bei Ziegen und 2) Evaluierung der Auswirkung des Probentyps auf die von beiden Analysegeräten gemessenen Elektrolytkonzentrationen.

Material und Methoden Bei insgesamt 30 Ziegen (21 Patienten und 9 Versuchstiere) wurden Blutproben entnommen und in heparinhaltigen Röhrchen (33 IE/2 ml Natrium-Heparin) (TUBE) und einer heparinisierten Spritze (430 IE/ml Natrium-Heparin) (SYRINGE) gesammelt. Die Proben wurden mittels POC und VBG analysiert und unter Verwendung einer Bland-Altman-Analyse und Pearson-Korrelation verglichen. Der Vergleich zwischen den verschiedenen Probentypen erfolgte unter Verwendung einer ANOVA.

Ergebnisse Im Vergleich zwischen den Analysegeräten ergab sich für die Natriumkonzentrationen (Na) ein Bias (95 % Limits of Agreement) von 0,07 mmol/l (–4,37 bis 4,52) für TUBE und –6,13 mmol/l (–11,04 bis 1,22) für SYRINGE. Kaliumkonzentrationen (K) zeigten ein Bias von 0,09 mmol/l (–0,5 bis 0,67) und 0,08 mmol/l (–0,4 bis 0,56) für TUBE bzw. SYRINGE. Bei den Konzentrationen an ionisiertem Kalzium (iCa) wurde ein Bias von 0,05 mmol/l (0,01 bis 0,1) bzw. –0,02 mmol/l (–0,18 bis 0,14) für TUBE bzw. SYRINGE ermittelt.

Der Vergleich der unterschiedlichen Probentypen ergab für den POC ein Bias für Na von 5,13 mmol/l (0,18–10,09), für K von 0,04 mmol/l (–0,12 bis 0,2) und für iCa von 0,4 mmol/l (0,12–0,68).

Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz Der POC zeigte im Vergleich zum VBG eine klinisch vernachlässigbare Verzerrung der Ergebnisse der Elektrolytanalyse. Beim ionisierten Kalzium fanden sich Unterschiede zwischen den Probentypen, was auf einen Effekt der Heparinkonzentration auf iCa hinweist.
Zytologische Untersuchung der Milz beim Hund
Authors: Betz Daniela Simon
Published: June 2020

Yankin I, Nemanic S, Funes S et al. Clinical relevance of splenic nodules or heterogeneous splenic parenchyma assessed by cytologic evaluation of fine-needle samples in 125 dogs (2011–2015). J Vet Intern Med 2020; 34: 125–131

Bei der sonografischen Untersuchung der Milz fallen häufig kleine Läsionen und/oder ein inhomogenes Parenchym auf. Eine Unterscheidung zwischen benignen und malignen Veränderungen lässt sich jedoch mittels Ultraschall allein nicht vornehmen, da sich die Läsionen morphologisch ähneln. Somit ist die klinische Bedeutung auffälliger sonografischer Befunde vielfach unklar. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war daher zu beleuchten, inwiefern spezielle sonografische Veränderungen mit einer klinisch relevanten Diagnose zusammenhängen.
The Association between Obesity and Premenopausal Breast Cancer According to Intrinsic Subtypes – a Systematic Review
Authors: Torres-de la Roche Luz Angela , Steljes Isabell , Janni Wolfgang , Friedl Thomas W. P. , De Wilde Rudy Leon
Published: June 2020

Introduction Obesity is a well-established risk factor for postmenopausal hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. The relationship between premenopausal breast cancer intrinsic subtypes and obesity is not completely elucidated; therefore, this systematic review was conducted to give an overview about the existing evidence.

Methods This review followed the PRISMA Statement for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Full electronic search was conducted in PubMed and Orbis for articles published in English between January 2008 and June 2018. The literature search was performed in June 2018 using search strings that combined the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms) keywords and/or text words in any field were used: “body mass index” (BMI) OR obesity OR overweight AND premenopausal breast cancer.

Results 391 articles were found to be eligible, of which ultimately 21 were included comprising a total of 55 580 breast cancer patients. 45% were case-control studies, 35% were single cohort studies, 15% were cohort studies, two were cross-sectional studies, one was a multicenter-study and one was a pooled analysis. The evidence shows a tendency for an increased risk for the more aggressive triple negative breast cancer subtype in obese premenopausal women and a decreased risk for less aggressive tumor subtypes such as the luminal A subtype. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes for triple negative and HER2-positive subtypes in severely obese patients.

Conclusion Higher BMI might influence aggressive tumor characteristics among premenopausal women and has divergent impacts on the risk of different breast cancer subtypes. Further research is needed to confirm these results and to evaluate potential pathophysiologic mechanisms for the relationship between obesity and aggressive premenopausal breast cancer subtypes.
Introduction of Carbon Substituents into Nitroarenes via Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen: New Developments
Authors: Loska Rafał , Mąkosza Mieczysław
Published: June 2020

Nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in nitroarenes has become a powerful synthetic tool for functionalization of these important organic substrates, complementary to other modern methods. In this review we present new developments in the area of introduction of alkyl and functionalized alkyl substituents into nitroarene rings via nucleo­philic substitution of hydrogen, followed by application of these processes in the construction of carbo- and heterocyclic rings. Finally, new developments in the investigation of the mechanism of SNArH are summarized.

1 Introduction

2 Alkylation and Haloalkylation

3 Functionalized Carbon Substituents

4 Formation of Carbo- and Heterocyclic Rings

5 Mechanistic Aspects of SNArH

6 Conclusion
Noninvasive Diagnostics for Portal Hypertension: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mandorfer Mattias , Hernández-Gea Virginia , García-Pagán Juan Carlos , Reiberger Thomas
Published: June 2020

Noninvasive diagnostics for portal hypertension include imaging and functional tests, as well as blood-based biomarkers, and capture different features of the portal hypertensive syndrome. Definitive conclusions regarding their clinical utility require assessment of their diagnostic value in specific clinical settings (i.e., diagnosing a particular hemodynamic condition within a well-defined target population). Several noninvasive methods are predictive of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH; hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] ≥ 10 mm Hg; the threshold for complications of portal hypertension); however, only a minority of them have been evaluated in compensated advanced chronic liver disease (i.e., the target population). Importantly, most methods correlate only weakly with HVPG at high values (i.e., in patients with CSPH). Nevertheless, selected methods show promise for diagnosing HVPG ≥ 16 mm Hg (the cut-off for increased risks of hepatic decompensation and mortality) and monitoring HVPG changes in response to nonselective beta-blockers or etiological treatments. Finally, we review established and potential future clinical applications of noninvasive methods.
Cell-Free DNA as an Addition to Ultrasound for Screening of a Complete Hydatidiform Mole and Coexisting Normal Fetus Pregnancy: A Case Report
Authors: Gabra Martina G. , Gonzalez Maritza G. , Bullock Holly N. , Hill Meghan G.
Published: June 2020

Background Complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting normal fetus pregnancies (CHMCF) are rare and can be life-threatening to the mother. Definitive diagnosis can be made with chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. However invasive procedures carry a risk of bleeding. We present the case of a twin molar pregnancy where a cell-free DNA screening test was utilized to evaluate for CHMCF pregnancy.

Case A patient presented at 15-week gestational age with suspected CHMCF pregnancy. Ultrasound revealed a normal-appearing pregnancy abutting a multicystic lesion concerning for a complete mole. Cell-free DNA was obtained and was suggestive of complete paternal uniparental disomy. Pathological evaluation of the products of conception confirmed the diagnosis of CHMCF.

Conclusion In atypical cases, cell-free DNA may be useful in evaluation of molar pregnancy.
Combined Plating of Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures, a Consecutive Series of 74 Cases
Authors: Sagerfors Marcus , Lundqvist Eva , Bjorling Patrik
Published: June 2020

Background The distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common fracture in adults. For unstable intra-articular fractures, the choice of treatment is often operative. The optimal choice of fixation remains a matter of discussion.

Question/Purpose Can combined volar and dorsal plating, using a dorsal frame plate, achieve a good functional and radiographic 1-year outcome in intra-articular DRFs?

Methods In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 74 consecutive patients operated with combined plating using a volar plate and a dorsal frame plate. The DRFs were operated between 2016 and 2017 and all cases were AO type C intra-articular fractures. The primary outcome was patient-reported outcome measures including radiographic examination 1 year postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included wrist range of motion, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and hand grip strength.

Results The median patient-rated wrist evaluation score was 18 points; the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score was 14.8 points. The median Batra radiographic score was 88. Wrist extension was 76% of the uninjured side, flexion was 74%, pronation was 94%, and supination was 94%. VAS pain scores were 0 at rest and 2 during activity. Hand grip strength was 82% compared with the uninjured side. The radiographic outcome according to Batra did not correspond to the patient-reported outcome. Patients older than 60 years had significantly better QuickDASH (quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) and PRWE scores (patient-rated wrist evaluation scores) and less pain during activity compared with younger patients despite similar radiographic outcome. There were no tendon ruptures; hardware removal was performed in 21 of the 74 patients.

Conclusion The radiographic outcome did not correspond to the functional outcome 1 year postoperatively. Older patients report less pain and better functional outcome compared with younger patients. There were no tendon ruptures and the frequency of hardware removal was acceptable. Complex intra-articular DRFs AO type C can be managed with volar and dorsal frame-plate fixation to restore distal radius anatomy and achieve a good functional outcome.
COVID-19 and HELLP: Overlapping Clinical Pictures in Two Gravid Patients
Authors: Futterman Itamar , Toaff Miriam , Navi Liel , Clare Camille A.
Published: June 2020

Background The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) on pregnancies is currently under investigation. There is a significant overlap between the clinical findings in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome (HELLP).

Cases Patients presented at 22 and 29 weeks of gestation with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia. While the patient at 22 weeks of gestation subsequently had an intrauterine fetal demise, the patient at 29 weeks of gestation delivered via an emergency cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal status. Both patients also developed transaminitis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation with a proof of hemolysis on peripheral smear.

Conclusion Clinicians are encouraged to consider both of these diagnoses when caring for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic to assure that both maternal and fetal concerns are addressed and treated appropriately.
Racial Disparities in Outcomes of Reconstructive Breast Surgery: An Analysis of 51,362 Patients from the ACS-NSQIP
Authors: Blankensteijn Louise L. , Sparenberg Sebastian , Crystal Dustin T. , Ibrahim Ahmed M.S. , Lee Bernard T. , Lin Samuel J.
Published: June 2020

Background In various surgical specialties, racial disparities in postoperative complications are widely reported. It is assumed that the effect of race can also be found in plastic surgical outcomes, although this remains largely undefined in literature. This study aims to provide data on the impact of race on outcomes of reconstructive breast surgery.

Methods Data were collected using the NSQIP (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) database (2008–2016). Outcomes of the reconstructive breast surgery of White patients were compared with those of African American, Asian, or other races. Logistic regression was performed to control for variations between all groups. Analysis of racial disparities was further sub-stratified according to four different types of breast reconstruction: delayed or immediate autologous, and delayed or immediate prosthesis-based reconstruction.

Results In total, this study included 51,362 patients of which 43,864 were Caucasian, 5,135 African American, 2,057 Asian, and 332 of other races. When compared with White patients, patients of African American race had larger body mass indices (31.3 ± 7.0 vs. 27.6 ± 6.3, p-value < 0.001) in addition to higher rates of diabetes (12.3 vs 4.6%, p-value < 0.001) and hypertension (44.7 vs. 23.4%, p-value < 0.001). Both multivariate analysis and the sub-stratified analysis of different types of reconstruction showed no differences in overall complication rate.

Conclusion Among the four types of reconstructive procedures, differences in surgical outcomes do not appear to be based on race and therefore seem to be less evident in reconstructive breast surgery compared with the current literature within other surgical specialties.
Diagnostic Value of Different Biomarkers to Identify Bacterial Coinfection in Vietnamese Children with Severe Rhinovirus Pneumonia
Authors: Pham Hien Thu , Nguyen Tran Thi Ngoc , Thi Tam Ngo
Published: June 2020

This study aims to assess the diagnostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin (IL)-6 in the diagnosis of pneumonia caused by Rhinovirus alone or with bacterial coinfection in Vietnamese children under 5 years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 26 children under 5 years of age with severe pneumonia due to Rhinovirus at the National Pediatric Hospital. IL-6, hs-CRP, and PCT tests were performed. The diagnostic values of PCT, IL-6, and hs-CRP in classifying those with viral alone and those with bacterial coinfection were determined. Of 26 children, 10 children were diagnosed to have bacterial coinfections (38.5%). The optimal cutoff point for PCT was > 2.30 ng/mL (sensitivity 50%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 83%, and negative predictive value 75%). The optimal cutoff point for hs-CRP was > 1.53 mg/dl (sensitivity 90%, specificity 56%, positive predictive value 56%, and negative predictive value 90%). Finally, the optimal cut-off point for IL-6 was > 441.5 pg/mL (sensitivity 20%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value 60%). The accuracy rate of PCT was the highest with 69.2%, followed by hs-CRP with 65.4%. Inflammatory biomarkers such as PCT and hs-CRP were able to distinguish children with severe pneumonia caused by Rhinovirus alone and those with bacterial coinfection.
Surface plasmon enhancement for microsphere-assisted super-resolution imaging of metallodielectric nanostructures
Authors: Cao Yurong , Yang Songlin , Wang Jianguo , Shi Qinfang , Ye Yong-Hong
Published: June 2020

Using a two-dimensional hexagonally close-packed SiO2/Ag nanoshell array coated with or without a dielectric layer as an imaging object, we find that the imaging quality of microsphere-assisted microscopy depends strongly on the optical properties of the metallodielectric sample. When a thin dielectric film is deposited on the top surface of a SiO2/Ag nanoshell array, a periodic enhanced near-field electric field is formed at the interface between the Ag layer and the deposited dielectric layer due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. By increasing the dielectric constant of the coating layer, the enhanced near-field electric field region becomes larger and extends into the region which is closer to the imaging system. When the SiO2/Ag nanoshell array is coated with a SiO layer, the best resolution, the highest magnification, and the longest working distance are obtained. And, a SiO coated nanoshell array with a core size of 180 nm (λ/3, where λ = 540 nm is the central wavelength of illumination) can be resolved.
Multi-level resistance uniformity of double pinned perpendicular magnetic-tunnel-junction spin-valve depending on top MgO barrier thickness
Authors: Jun Han-Sol , Choi Jin-Young , Ashiba Kei , Jung Sun-Hwa , Park Miri , Baek Jong-Ung , Shim Tae-Hun , Park Jea-Gun
Published: June 2020

In order to utilize perpendicular spin-torque-transfer magnetic-random-access-memory (p-STT MRAM) as a storage class memory, the achievement of performing multi-level-cell (MLC) operation is important in increasing the integration density of p-STT MRAM. For a double pinned perpendicular magnetic tunneling junction spin-valve performing MLC (i.e., four-resistance level) operation, the uniformity in the resistance difference between four-level resistances was investigated theoretically and experimentally. The uniformity in the resistance difference between four-level resistances was strongly dependent on the top MgO tunneling-barrier thickness. Particularly, the most uniform resistance difference between four resistance states could be achieved at a critical top-MgO tunneling thickness (i.e., ∼1.15 nm).
Low-loss superconducting titanium nitride grown using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Richardson C. J. K. , Alexander A. , Weddle C. G. , Arey B. , Olszta M.
Published: June 2020

Titanium nitride (TiN) is a known superconducting material that is attractive for use as passive components in superconducting circuits for both conventional and quantum information devices. In contrast to conventional synthesis techniques, here, plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy is reported to produce high-quality TiN on bare silicon wafers. Using a rf-plasma source to crack the nitrogen molecules and a conventional high-temperature effusion cell for titanium, TiN growth is completed under nitrogen-rich conditions. The growth and nucleation is monitored in situ, while the structure and composition are characterized using x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The stoichiometric TiN (111) films sit on an amorphous nitride layer with low impurity concentrations. The films superconduct with Tc=5.4 K, and coplanar waveguide resonators are fabricated with a small center width of 6 μm that demonstrate single-photon quality factors approaching 1M and high-power quality factors over 5M without observing saturation.
Extensive coral reef decline in Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam: Acanthaster planci outbreak: the final event in a sequence of chronic disturbances
Authors: Tkachenko Konstantin S. , Huan Nguyen H. , Thanh Nguyen H. , Britayev Temir A.
Published: June 2020

Nha Trang Bay (NTB), located off the south-east coast of Vietnam, is a famous tropical tourist site. In the past, the bay was characterised by flourishing coral reefs but, by the end of 2019, more than 90% of the corals were gone. In addition to chronic and complex anthropogenic effects, there was an extensive outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), the main natural predator of reef-building corals in the Indo-Pacific, among the remnant coral communities in NTB. By 2019, the mean abundance of A. planci in NTB reached 4.2 starfish per 100m2. Coral surveys conducted on 10 target sites over a 3-year period ending in 2019 revealed that mean coral cover decreased by 64.4% (coral loss varied from 43 to 95%). The greatest declines were in Acropora and Montipora, with 80.6 and 82.3% reductions in the coverage of these taxa respectively. The combination of nutrient enrichment and predator removal is thought to determine the extent of the outbreak of A. planci in the bay. The present trends in environmental conditions in NTB do not indicate a positive outcome for coral reef recovery in in this area in the near future.
Drivers of zooplankton dynamics in a small tropical lowland river
Authors: Godfrey Paul C. , Pearson Richard G. , Pusey Bradley J. , Arthington Angela H.
Published: June 2020

There is limited information available on the ecology of planktonic invertebrate assemblages of small tropical lowland rivers, despite zooplankton being a vital resource for larval fish. Herein we describe the spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of invertebrate zooplankton at 8 locations over a 25-month period in the lowland section of a short coastal river in the Australian Wet Tropics. Zooplankton were more abundant in slack than flowing waters and assemblages were dominated by Copepoda, but contained many less numerous taxa, including freshwater invertebrates at the more upstream sites. Taxonomic richness, total density and the densities of the most abundant taxa were greatest in the most downstream sites. Seasonal patterns in the density of zooplankton did not differ between the 2 years. Distance-based linear modelling of assemblages identified distance downstream and associated variables, such as salinity, as the most important environmental effects on zooplankton. The zooplankton assemblage in the lower Mulgrave River is strongly influenced by the incised nature of the river, perennial flows, the presence of slack waters, wet season floods and estuarine incursion. Zooplankton dynamics differ from the typical pattern of tropical floodplain systems in that their maximum proliferation occurs during the benign but productive late dry season.
Soil carbon market-based instrument pilot – the sequestration of soil organic carbon for the purpose of obtaining carbon credits
Authors: Badgery Warwick , Murphy Brian , Cowie Annette , Orgill Susan , Rawson Andrew , Simmons Aaron , Crean Jason
Published: June 2020

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) in Australian farming systems has the potential to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Even though methods for soil carbon (C) sequestration have been developed under the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund, the scope for farm-scale soil C sequestration is poorly understood. A pilot scheme was developed in Central West New South Wales to trial the use of a market-based instrument to encourage farmers to change farm management to increase SOC. This paper reports changes to SOC stocks measured on farms that were successfully contracted in the pilot. The 10 contracted farms were those that submitted the lowest bid per Mg CO2-e. Four land uses were contracted in the pilot: (1) reduced tillage cropping (reference); (2) reduced tillage cropping with organic amendments (e.g. biosolids or compost); (3) conversion from cropping land to permanent pasture; and (4) conversion from cropping land to permanent pasture with organic amendments. At each site a minimum of 10 locations (sampling points) were sampled and analysed for total carbon (LECO elemental analyser) and bulk density calculated. The SOC stocks (0–0.3 m) were assessed before (2012) and after the pilot (2017; calculated on equivalent soil mass of 2012), with 60% of sites showing a significant increase. Pasture had a higher rate of SOC sequestration than reduced tillage cropping (1.2 vs 0.28 Mg C ha–1 year–1, 0–0.3 m); and organic amendments had higher rates of SOC sequestration than without (1.14 vs 0.78 Mg C ha–1 year–1, 0–0.3 m). The results of the pilot demonstrated increases in SOC, using quantification methods consistent with the current Measurement Method of the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund policy used to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units. The results require careful interpretation as rates of sequestration are likely to be lower in the longer term than initial rates of change seen in this pilot (five years), and the pilot intentionally selected sites with initially low SOC, which ensured a greater opportunity to sequester SOC.
Topographic complexity potentially mediates cat predation risk for a critically endangered rodent
Authors: McDonald Peter J. , Stewart Alistair , Jensen Melissa A. , McGregor Hugh W.
Published: June 2020

ContextThe niche reduction hypothesis (NRH) predicts that the realised niche of declining species is reduced by threats that are mediated by environmental, biotic and evolutionary processes, explaining why species decline in some locations but not others. The critically endangered central rock-rat (CRR) survives only in rugged mountain range habitat in central Australia and is highly vulnerable to cat predation. We predicted that cat density and ranging behaviour, and, hence, predation risk, is mediated by habitat complexity, thus explaining the mechanism maintaining the CRR refuge.
AimsWe sought to determine whether cat densities were lower in the rugged CRR refuge than in an adjacent valley dominated by less complex rocky habitats and no longer occupied by CRRs.
MethodsWe installed arrays of camera traps along two parallel mountain ranges in the refuge and in the intervening valley habitats. We identified uniquely patterned individual cats and compared spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models to evaluate our hypothesis that cat density varies with topographic complexity.
Key resultsThe dominant effect in all models was the significant negative relationship between cat detection probability and fine-scale topographic ruggedness. Two of the best three SECR models indicated lower cat densities and relative home-range sizes in the refuge than in the valley. In total, 17% of cats were detected in both habitat types.
ConclusionsWe found some evidence that cat density and home-range size were mediated by habitat complexity. Further, the negative relationship between cat detection probability and topographic complexity suggests that cats spend less time foraging in CRR refuge habitat.
ImplicationsCat management programs, aimed at reducing predation pressure on the CRR, must include the refuge and surrounding habitats to control cats that pose a threat to CRR subpopulations.
Meanings of pedagogical authority in future teachers in Spain and Latin America. Understandings in education students from Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Spain (Significados de la autoridad pedagógica en futuros profesores y profesoras de Iberoamérica. Comprensiones en estudiantes de pedagogía de Chile, Colombia, Venezuela y España)
Authors: Zamora-Poblete Guillermo , Gil-Madrona Pedro , Méndez-Hinojosa Luz-Marina , Galvis-Leal Pedro , Tadeo-Morales José
Published: June 2020

School education requires the guidance, orientation and conduction of a teaching staff that is responsible for their students’ development. This is why educating implies asymmetry and hierarchy, that is, pedagogical authority. However, today’s societies are decreasingly hierarchical, and subjects are more critical of authority. In a sociocultural context in which the classical forms of authority are weakening, young education students have to construct new meanings which they find coherent and effective. With the goal of exploring the new understandings of pedagogical authority, a study was conducted of 913 education students in different Spanish-speaking countries: Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Spain. The multinational analysis enabled us to identify cross-cutting meanings, as well as local understandings constructed by the education students in today’s society. A questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions was administered. The overall results indicate that viewing authority grounded in reciprocal respect between teachers and students cuts across the participants and is significantly associated with the teaching of academic knowledge.
The history of spin ice
Authors: Bramwell Steven T , Harris Mark J
Published: June 2020

This review is a study of how the idea of spin ice has evolved over the years, with a focus on the scientific questions that have come to define the subject. Since our initial discovery of spin ice in 1997, there have been well over five thousand papers that discuss it, and in the face of such detail, it must be difficult for the curious observer to ‘see the wood for the trees’. To help in this task, we go in search of the biggest insight to have emerged from the study of spin ice. On the way, we identify highlights and outstanding puzzles, and celebrate the inspirational role that Roger Cowley played in the early years.
Structurally designed porous polymer monoliths as probe-anchoring templates as benign and fast responsive solid-state optical sensors for the sensing and recovery of copper ions
Authors: Sompalli Naveen Kumar , Deivasigamani Prabhakaran
Published: June 2020

In this study, we report on the superior ion-capturing and sensing competence of a new breed of aqua-compatible solid-state ion-sensor using a structurally organized polymer monolith, for the ocular sensing of trace levels of divalent copper ions. The polymer monolithic template exhibits a single block framework with a uniform structural pattern and porous network that serves as an efficient host for the homogeneous probe anchoring, to constitute a renewable solid-state optical sensor. Here, a series of solid-state colorimetric Cu(II) sensors has been designed using three indigenously synthesized chelating probes (molecules) namely, 4-butyl-N-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazine-1-carbonothioyl)benzamide (BNHCB), 2-(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinen-1-carbothioamide (TMHCA), and 4-butylphenyl(diazenyl)-2-mercaptopyrimidine-4,6-diol (BDMPD). The polymer monoliths are characterized using various surface and structural analysis techniques such as HR-SEM, HR-TEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, EDAX, and BET surface area analysis. The fabricated solid-state sensors exhibit excellent selectivity and sensitivity for copper ions with unique color transitions that are reliable even at ultra-trace (ppb) levels. The impact of diverse sensing parameters such as solution pH, probe concentration, sensor quantity, target ion concentration, temperature, response kinetics, and matrix tolerances have been optimized. The fabricated sensor materials proffer maximum sensing efficiency in neutral pH conditions, with a limit of detection (LD) and quantification (LQ) values of 0.56 and 1.87 μg l−1, 0.30 and 1.0 μg l−1, and 0.12 and 0.42 μg l−1, for BNHCB-, BDMPD-, and TMHCA-anchored polymer sensors, respectively. The proposed reusable solid-state colorimetric sensors are environmentally benign, cost-effective and data reproducible, with superior analytical performance.
Doping a lattice-trapped bosonic species with impurities: from ground state properties to correlated tunneling dynamics
Authors: Keiler Kevin , Mistakidis Simeon I , Schmelcher Peter
Published: June 2020

We investigate the ground state properties and the nonequilibrium dynamics of a lattice trapped bosonic mixture consisting of an impurity species and a finite-sized medium. For the case of one as well as two impurities we observe that, depending on the lattice depth and the interspecies interaction strength, a transition from a strongly delocalized to a localized impurity distribution occurs. In the latter regime the two species phase separate, thereby forming a particle–hole pair. For two impurities we find that below a critical lattice depth they are delocalized among two neighboring outer lattice wells and are two-body correlated. This transition is characterized by a crossover from strong to a suppressed interspecies entanglement for increasing impurity-medium repulsion. Turning to the dynamical response of the mixture, upon quenching the interspecies repulsion to smaller values, we reveal that the predominant tunneling process for a single impurity corresponds to that of a particle–hole pair, whose dynamical stability depends strongly on the quench amplitude. During the time-evolution a significant increase of the interspecies entanglement is observed, caused by the build-up of a superposition of states and thus possesses a many-body nature. In the case of two bosonic impurities the particle–hole pair process becomes unstable in the course of the dynamics with the impurities aggregating in adjacent lattice sites while being strongly correlated.
Photoluminescence changes of C70 nanotubes induced by laser irradiation*
Authors: Wang Han-Da , Liu De-Di , He Yang-Yang , Jia Hong-Sheng , Liu Ran , Liu Bo , Yu Nai-Sen , Zhang Zhen-Yi
Published: June 2020

C70 nanotubes with a fcc lattice structure are polymerized through being irradiated by lasers with a wavelength of 514.5 nm at various power values. Raman spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra are employed to characterize the polymeric phases of the laser treated samples, showing that the disordered C70 oligomers are formed in the C70 nanotubes irradiated by such strong green lasers. Comparative studies further indicate that intermolecular bonds are formed between C70 molecules on the surface of nanotubes, which are similar to those formed under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions. And the content of intermolecular bonds increases obviously with the laser power increasing.
Electronic and thermoelectric properties of alkali metal-based perovskites CsYbF3 and RbYbF3
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Authors: Mahmood Q , Noor N A , Ghrib T , Kattan Nessrin A , Mahmood Asif , Ramay Shahid M
Published: June 2020

The electronic and thermoelectric properties of alkali metal-based fluorides CsYbF3 and RbYbF3 are studied by using Wien2k and BoltzTraP codes. The structural and thermodynamic stability of these materials are confirmed by tolerance factor (0.94 and 0.99 for RbYbF3 and CsYbF3) and negative formation energy. The optimized lattice constants and bulk moduli are consistent with the results reported in the literature. The reported band gap for RbYbF3 is 0.86 eV which decreases to 0.83 eV by the replacement of Cs with Rb. The electrical and thermal conductivities along with Seebeck coefficients decrease with temperature rising from 0 K to 800 K. The large values of thermoelectric parameters for positive chemical potentials show that the character is dominated by electrons. The studied materials have figures of merit 0.82 and 0.81 at room temperature respectively, for RbYbF3 and CsYbF3 and increase with temperature rising. Therefore, the materials under study may have potential application values in thermoelectric generators and refrigerators.