bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the thermal conductivity of sands via microbially-induced calcite precipitation
Authors: Martinez Alejandro , Huang Lin , Gomez Michael G.
Published: November 2020

Energy piles and ground source heat pump systems have been shown to provide sustainable alternatives for temperature regulation in buildings and other applications such as road de-icing. However, their efficiency can be undermined in partially-saturated and dry sandy soils due to the relatively low thermal conductivity (kt) of these materials. Microbially-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) has been demonstrated to be an environmentally-conscious ground improvement technology capable of modifying the engineering properties of sandy soils including increases in shear stiffness and strength and decreases in hydraulic conductivity. These improvements result from the precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals at inter-particle contacts and on particle surfaces. This paper presents results from a soil column study aimed at investigating changes in soil kt during MICP treatments and subsequent desaturation using a poorly- graded sand. The results indicate that while bio-cementation can increase soil kt, the level of enhancement depends on the degree of saturation. For instance, increases of up to 330% were measured under dry conditions while only modest increases of about 15% were measured under saturated conditions. MICP treatment may therefore be most effective at enhancing the kt of partially-saturated and dry sands. In addition, the similarity between the evolution of kt and shear wave velocity (Vs) during MICP treatment suggests that kt may provide a new method to assess cementation level and contact quality.
Numerical homogenization method in the modeling of gas hydrate bearing sediments
Authors: Alavoine Axelle , Dangla Patrick , Pereira Jean-Michel
Published: November 2020

The study of the mechanical behavior of gas hydrate bearing soils represents a major interest. The hydrate inclusions in sediments change their microstructure and their mechanical properties with it. We developed a numerical homogenization code in order to simulate the macro-mechanical response of a periodic unit-cell using local elastoplastic laws and complex geometries to define the microstructural components of the material. We applied it to a real image of fine-grained sediments containing gas hydrate veins. This technique allowed us to study the effect of an elastoplastic soil matrix and of different volume fractions of gas hydrates with complex shapes on the overall response of the material.
Reduction of energy demand during ultrafiltration of goat’s milk
Authors: Dushkova Mariya , Kodinova Siyka
Published: November 2020

This experimental investigation aimed to establish the energy demand depending on the working pressure (0,2 MPa and 0,5 MPa), the feed flow rate (190 dm3/h and 330 dm3/h) and the volume reduction ratio (2 and 4) during ultrafiltration of goat’s milk by membrane with molecular weight cut-off 10 kDa. The energy demand increased with the rise of all three factors investigated. The most significant effect had the pressure followed by the volume reduction ratio and the feed flow rate. The lowest value of energy demand (12,29 kWh/m3) was obtained at low levels of all factors (pressure of 0,2 MPa, feed flow rate of 190 dm3/h, volume reduction ratio of 2).
Sorption isotherms of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) seeds
Authors: Lazarov Lazar , Toshkov Nesho , Ivanova Tanya , Popova Venelina , Menkov Nikolay
Published: November 2020

The moisture sorption capacity of tobacco seeds is decisive for their safe long-term storage; therefore, the analysis of the sorption isotherms, in a wide temperature and water activity range, is essential for seed quality maintenance in storage. In this study, the equilibrium sorption isotherms of tobacco (N. tabacumL.) seeds, “Kroumovgrad 90” variety of Oriental tobacco, were determined. The experimental data were obtained by the static gravimetric method at different temperatures and water activities. Sorption isotherms showed a typical Type II sigmoidal profile, with a significant hysteresis effect and a decrease of seed sorption capacity with the increase of temperature. The best fitting with tobacco seed sorption isotherms were the modified Chung-Pfost (desorption) and Oswin (adsorption) models. The monolayer moisture content, important for the safe storage of tobacco seeds, was also determined. The outcomes from the study might be of practical use in tobacco seed conditioning and storage design.
Thermodynamic investigations of the copigmentation process between strawberry anthocyanins and rose petal polyphenols (Rosa damascena Mill.) at different temperatures
Authors: Petrova Ivalina , Mihalev Kiril , Shikov Vasil , Gandova Vanya
Published: November 2020

In this study the model systems between strawberry anthocyanins as pigment and rose polyphenols as copigment was investigated. The solutions were prepared from 1:2 to 1:10 pigment:copigment. The addition of increasing concentrations of rose petal polyphenols resulted in a gradual increase of hyperchromic effect. The absorption was determined at heating system from 20 to 50 oC and following cooling the same system from 50 to 20 oC. All calculated thermodynamic parameters were negative. The copigmentation reaction was determined as spontaneous, exothermic and thermally reversible.
Solid bio-fuel production at Moscow wastewater treatment plant
Authors: Makisha Nikolay , Gulshin Igor
Published: November 2020

The article has an aim to describe experience of Moscow in the field of solid bio-fuel production at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Brief assessment of solid biofuel production technology at biological treatment facilities of domestic and mixed sewage (wastewater sludge as a fuel resource) shows its significant potential from the economic, environmental and social points of view that will ensure the sustainable development of the area (cities, regions) of application. Solid biofuel production is a technological stage of sludge treatment at wastewater treatment plants aimed at reducing the sludge mass and changing their physical and mechanical properties for its further use at as a fuel component on condensing and thermal power plants or as alternative fuel for cement production and energy supplements for burning of solid domestic waste. The technology of solid biofuel production is based on removing moisture of wastewater sludge in drying machines. The solid fuel facilities capacity lies in the range of 1 to 130 tons per day, when the entire amount sludge is exposed to drying (effluent humidity of sludge is 10%), or 1 to 400 tons per day when the sludge is partially dried and afterwards is mixed with the initial sludge (effluent humidity of sludge is 40%).
Analysis of defects and their impact on the production losses using Pareto diagrams
Authors: Germanova-Krasteva Diana , Dimcheva Irena
Published: November 2020

The Pareto diagram is a powerful tool for identifying the significant factors influencing objects, processes, services, etc. In the production sphere, it is very suitable for analysis of defects and their impact. In this work are summarized the types of defects that occur in the production of headrest covers for car seats. Analysis was made of both the frequency of occurrence of defects and the financial losses from them. The research is done on the whole production range (all projects) proceeded in a given month, on product families and on specific products. The three defects with the highest frequency of occurrence were identified. For them, additional study was conducted to determine the impact of the type of used material on internal scrap calculated as an expense in euros.

Based on the obtained results, recommendations are made for improving the work and its results.
Photolithographically Home-Made PVDF Sensor for Cavitation Impact Load Measurement
Authors: Hujer Jan , Phan Menghuot , Kořínek Tomáš , Dančová Petra , Müller Miloš
Published: November 2020

Piezoelectric PVDF sensors offer a unique option for the measurement of cavitation aggressiveness represented by the magnitude of impacts due to cavitation bubble collapses near walls. The aggressiveness measurement requires specific sensors shape and area, whereas commercial PVDF sensors are fabricated in limited geometry and size ranges. The photolithography method offers a possibility of production of home-made PVDF sensors of arbitrary shape and size. This paper deals with the calibration of a photolithographically home-made PVDF sensor for the cavitation impact load measurement. The calibration of sensors was carried out by the ball drop method. Sensors of different sizes were fabricated by the photolithography method from multi-purpose both side metallized PVDF sheet. The standard technology used for the fabrication of printed circuit boards was utilized. Commercial PVDF sensors of the same size were calibrated and the calibration results were compared with the home-made sensors. The effect of size and the effect of one added protective layer of Kapton tape on a sensor sensitivity were investigated.
Development of a New Stretch Nozzle for Air-Jet Looms
Authors: Peukert Pavel , Žák Josef , Pomp Norbert
Published: November 2020

The paper introduces a development of a new stretch nozzle for air-jet looms by support of numerical and experimental methods.
Heat Loss Analysis of Outdoor Piping
Authors: Příhoda Miroslav , Čarnogurská Mária , Pyszko René , Hlisnikowski Emil , Burda Jiří
Published: November 2020

Although the heat losses of the outdoor piping are minimised by thermal insulation, the distribution of heat from the heating plant to individual consumers of the technological heating media is always accompanied by losses. In the case of large transported volumes of the flowing media, the loss values are negligible. The mathematical and physical analysis of the heat loss of the outdoor heat distribution systems, insulated and non-insulated, has been carried out while using the parameters measured on the real piping system.
PIV Observation of the Baffle Position in the Flue Gas Tract for Particle Flowing
Authors: Čaja Alexander , Patsch Marek , Backa Alexander
Published: November 2020

Solid fuel combustion accompanies particulate matter production. These particles negatively affect human health, so ways of capturing them are being sought. Local heat sources are a major producer, with this article focusing on the flue gas tract of this heat source. A baffle has been placed in the flue gas tract, the position of which is changing. It is observed the impact of particulate matter flowing through this baffle with a focus on the settling areas. Particles are trapped in the settling areas and do not flow further through the flue gas tract. Particulate matter flowing was investigated by the visualization method called Particle image velocimetry (PIV). Visualizing the flow allows to get a figure of the flow and a dynamic record of the state of the object. The result of the visualization is the assessment of the monitored flow, the determination of its trajectory and streamlines.
Influence d’un bioadjuvant sur l’adhésion du ciment sur parois coffrantes et évaluation de l’effet de la rugosité des parois coffrantes
Authors: Chadfeau Calypso , Mohseni Sayed Hashim , Omary Safiullah , Steiner Vincent , Belhaj Essia , Fond Christophe , Feugeas Françoise
Published: November 2020

L’objectif de ce travail est de comprendre comment l’adhésion entre le ciment et le coffrage est influencée par la morphologie de la surface du coffrage et l’ajout d’un bioadjuvant. L’ancrage mécanique de la pâte cimentaire est en effet lié à la rugosité de surface du coffrage. Une procédure de caractérisation morphologique des surfaces en contact, coffrage et ciment, est développée par microscopie interférométrique. Elle permet de retenir une échelle d’observation pour laquelle les valeurs des paramètres d’états de surface Sa, Sq, Sdr, Vvc et Vvv, sont représentatifs de la morphologie de surface. Trois états de surface de coffrage différents sont obtenus par polissage et sont caractérisés à l’échelle d’observation. Les paramètres de surfaces sont corrélés avec les performances au décoffrage pour ces trois états de surface. L’action d’un bioadjuvant sur les phénomènes d’adhésion tant au niveau des efforts de décoffrage que de la qualité de parement est évaluée pour trois taux d’incorporation de bioadjuvant. Les résultats mettent en évidence qu’un degré de polissage spécifique combiné à l’utilisation d’un taux de bioadjuvant minimum dans la pâte cimentaire permettent d’atteindre des performances au décoffrage équivalentes à celles obtenues avec un agent décoffrant classique.
Gouvernabilité dans le discours freudien
Authors: Birman Joël
Published: November 2020

Cet article problématise la question de la gouvernabilité dans lediscours freudien. L’auteur commence son propos par la lecture du texte de Freud « Psychologie des foules et analyse du moi », où le point fondamental a été la critique de toute a tradition théorique antérieure sur les foules, pour bien montrer qu’il y avait chez Freud une analyse du pouvoir au sens positif du mot. En même temps est proposée une articulation de ce texte de Freud avec les textes où Freud analyse la societé et la culture. Ces avancées théoriques de Freud est lue avec cles thèses d’autres auteurs qui ont pensé le politique et la politique du monde contemporain : Foucault, Negri, Hardt et Laclau.
La résilience basée sur les signifiants culturels chez les soldats psychotraumatisés de guerre en Afrique : vers une modélisation en psychologie clinique
Authors: Nguimfack Léonard , Mbarga Guy-Bertrand Ovambe
Published: November 2020

Des observations cliniques à l’Hôpital Militaire de Yaoundé ont relevé une résilience aux allures d’adaptation socio-culturelle chez certains soldats psychotraumatisés de guerre. Ce qui a amené à chercher à comprendre le rôle de la culture dans le travail de résilience chez ces soldats. Les signifiants culturels ont été érigés comme modalités spécifiques de la variable culture pour étudier ce rôle. L’étude est construite sur la base de la méthode clinique. Les résultats font état de ce que chez ces soldats, le travail de résilience est structuré autour du resserrement du lien entre le soldat et la Famille bio-lignagère, de l’affermissement du lien entre le soldat et l’Ancêtre, de la consolidation du lien entre la Famille bio-lignagère et l’Ancêtre et de l’émergence du lien de maîtrise du soldat sur l’Ennemi. Les signifiants culturels dans le travail de résilience ont donc une fonction de reconstruction et de solidification des liens du soldat dans ses différents axes existentiels. L’étude a ainsi permis d’élaborer le modèle culturel du travail de résilience.
Diabetic Macular Edema in Diabetological Practices
Authors: Michelson Georg , Forst Thomas
Published: November 2020

Using mobile OCT equipment and remote ophthalmological diagnosis of n = 1538 diabetics in 17 diabetes practices in Germany, we found diabetic macular edema in 10.1% of the patients and retinal bleedings or microaneurysms in 15.6%. In 1.62% of the diabetics examined, the size of the edema was > 0.4 mm², in 7% the retinal thickness was > 300 µm and thus in need of treatment. An intravitreal anti-VEGF injection was administered prior to the examination in only 10% of the patients with diabetic macular edema. By means of mobile tele-eye consultation and remote ophthalmological diagnosis using the cloud-based patient file certified as medical device IIa, patients with diabetic macular edema were identified and informed on site quickly and definitively. The data and images were made available to all attending physicians and ophthalmic surgeons.
Kava (Piper methysticum) Extract for the Treatment of Nervous
Anxiety, Tension and Restlessness
Authors: Kuchta Kenny , Hladikova Marie , Thomsen Michael , Nahrstedt Adolf , Schmidt Mathias
Published: November 2020

Aim Prior to the kava ban of 2002, the indication for kava (Piper
methysticum) extracts defined by the German Commission E was
“nervous anxiety, tension and restlessness”. In 2000, an
observational trial was started in Germany with the aim of defining symptoms
of these indications best treated with kava extract. The trial was
interrupted and archived “unevaluated” in 2001 due to the
upcoming safety debate on kava. The data from this study has now been
analyzed in order to identify symptoms best treated with kava.

Methods Documentation was available from 156 patients. Twelve typical
symptoms of nervous anxiety, tension and restlessness were assessed on a
five-item rating scale, together with the therapeutic context, the perceived
time of onset of effects and the safety of application.

Results The median duration of treatment was 28 days. All individual
symptoms showed significant and clinically relevant improvements. The most
effective results were seen for nervous tension and restlessness, with
better effects in patients with acute versus chronic complaints. The safety
of the treatment was found to be excellent, which included the assessment of
laboratory data.

Conclusions Overall, the study confirms the effective and safe
short-term use of kava in the Commission E-defined indication of
“nervous anxiety, tension and restlessness”, especially in
other than chronic cases. The clinical use of kava might be translated into
context-related phobias according to ICD-10 F40, or to nervous tension
(ICD10 R45.0) or restlessness and excitation (ICD-10 R45.1).
Charakterisierung des stationär aufgenommenen psychiatrischen Notfallpatienten in einer interdisziplinären ZNA
Authors: Kirchner Heribert , Sinani Gjergji , Ullrich Heiko , Pajonk Frank Gerald Bernhard , Juckel Georg
Published: November 2020

Ziel der Studie Charakterisierung psychiatrischer Notfallkontakte in einer interdisziplinären Zentralen Notaufnahme.

Methodik Retrospektive Untersuchung aller direkt aus der Notaufnahme stationär aufgenommenen Patienten des Behandlungsjahres 2015.

Ergebnisse Die drei häufigsten Notfallsyndrome konnten in absteigender Reihenfolge der F1- (32,2 %), den F2- (25,9%) und den F3-Haupdiagnosen (21,2%) zugeordnet werden. Die Aufnahmequote lag bei 58,8%, und mehr als die Hälfte der Patienten kam fußläufig in die ZNA (55,7%). Es fanden sich diagnosespezifische Unterschiede zwischen Erstvorstellern und bekannten Patienten.

Schlussfolgerung Der psychiatrische Notfall hat eine hohe Relevanz in diesem Setting. Ein Großteil der stationär aufgenommenen Patienten erfüllen die Notfallkriterien entsprechend der Leitlinie.
Das akute idiopathische Skrotalödem – eine relevante Differenzialdiagnose des akuten Skrotums im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Vogel Sabine , Vauth Franziska , Rösch Wolfgang
Published: November 2020

Hintergrund Das „akute Skrotum“ ist ein häufiger kinderurologischer Notfall, der eine rasche Beurteilung zur Diagnose bzw. zum Ausschluss einer Hodentorsion erfordert. Zu den weniger bekannten Differenzialdiagnosen zählt das idiopathische Skrotalödem (AISE). In dieser Studie beschreiben wir Häufigkeit und klinisches Management des AISE in unserer Klinik.

Patienten 319 Patienten im Alter von 0 bis 17 Jahren, die zwischen 01/2013 bis 12/2017 in der kinderurologischen Klinik der KUNO-Kinderklinik St. Hedwig Regensburg mit der Diagnose „akutes Skrotum“ behandelt wurden.

Methode Retrospektive Analyse der Patientenakten.

Ergebnisse 234/319 Patienten wurden ambulant und 85/319 (27%) stationär behandelt. Bei 23/319 (7,2%) wurde ein AISE diagnostiziert. Alle Patienten mit AISE wurden ambulant behandelt, bei keinem dieser Patienten musste eine operative Exploration erfolgen. Weitere Diagnosen der ambulanten Patienten: Epididymitis (87/234; 37%), Hydatidentorsion (42/234; 18%), Hodentorsion (5/234; 2%) Hodentrauma (10/234; 4%), Hydrozele (9/234; 4%), unspezifische Hodenschmerzen (58/234; 25%). Diagnosen der stationären Patienten: Hodentorsion (58/85; 68%), Hydatidentorsion (17/85; 20%), Epididymitis (8/85; 9%), Hodentrauma (1/85; 1%), Tumor (1/85; 1%).

Diskussion Das AISE ist eine Ausschlussdiagnose mit typischem klinischem Bild. Zusammen mit dem charakteristischen Befund in der (Doppler-) Sonografie ist eine sichere Abgrenzung zu anderen Differenzialdiagnosen des akuten Skrotums möglich. Durch die korrekte Diagnosestellung können unnötige Klinikaufenthalte, Operationen und medikamentöse Behandlungen vermieden werden.

Schlussfolgerung Das AISE ist eine relevante Differentialdiagnose des akuten Skrotums, das Kinder- und Jugendärzten bekannt sein sollte.
Study on the fluorescence of double-emission carbon quantum dots by improved intercept method
Authors: Gao ZhiKun , Hao Tongfan , Fang Qunxiang , Wu Changchun , Zhou Zhiping
Published: November 2020

The fluorescence mechanism of dual-emission carbon quantum dots (DCQDs) is investigated by the improved intercept method, of which the DCQDs with high quantum yield are synthesized by hydrothermal method by using the precursor of sulfadiazine. The research of the morphology, chemical properties and fluorescence properties on DCQDs, shows that DCQDs have graphene-like structure and well-resolved lattice fringes, and that DCQDs fluorescence emission as well intensity has reversibility between acid and alkaline. Based on the ultraviolet absorption spectrum (UV–vis) of the DCQDs, the band gap of DCQDs is estimated by the improved intercept method. Then, the change law of DCQDs emission wavelength at different excitation wavelengths is studied by using the estimated band gap. It is found that the improved intercept method is well consisted with the emission change law of DCQDs at different excitation wavelengths. In addition, the influence of different concentration of Fe3+ on the estimated band gap of DCQDs shows that the Fe3+ has big influence on the band gap of 3.99 eV and 3.06 eV but almost no effect on band gap of 4.93 eV and 3.67 eV. It indicates that the quenching of Fe3+ to DCQDs may be due to the band gap caused by surface defect is changed by Fe3+. Also, DCQDs are used as probe to detect Fe3+ and used as spray ink. Thereby, the improved intercept method may provide a new direction for researching the fluorescence mechanism of carbon quantum dots.
The revolution project: replacing coronary artery angiography with coronary computed tomography with functional evaluation
Authors: Bartorelli Antonio L , Andreini Daniele , Mushtaq Saima , Serruys Patrick W
Published: November 2020

In the last two decades, several studies and widespread clinical use demonstrated that coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an appropriate method for the non-invasive assessment of patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and low-to-intermediate pretest likelihood of CAD. Moreover, a growing body of literature is showing that CCTA may have also a clinical role in patients with high pretest likelihood of CAD, known CAD and complex and diffuse disease. Particularly, the SYNTAX II trial demonstrated the feasibility of planning interventional and surgical coronary procedures with CCTA thanks to its ability to combine, in a single method, precise stenosis quantification, accurate plaque characterization, functional assessment with fractional flow reserve derived from standard acquired CCTA datasets, and selection of the revascularization modality for any individual patient and of the vessels that need to be revascularized. More recently, the SYNTAX III Revolution trial showed, in patients with three-vessel CAD with or without left main involvement, that treatment decision-making between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting based on CCTA only has an almost perfect agreement with the treatment decision derived from invasive coronary angiography (ICA). The high degree of correlation between CCTA and ICA suggests the potential feasibility of treatment decision-making based solely on non-invasive imaging and clinical information. New research prospects have opened up for the future to demonstrate the true feasibility and safety of this innovative approach in the clinical arena.
Knots to untie: anticoagulant and antiarrhythmic therapy after ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Stazi Filippo
Published: November 2020

The continuation or otherwise of anticoagulant and antiarrhythmic therapy after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the main aspects still to be defined in the electrophysiological field. The currently available data do not allow the assumption of certain positions due to the lack of randomized studies on the subject. With regard to anticoagulant therapy, however, the suggestion of the guidelines to assess more the risk profile than the result of the ablation and consequently to prescribe anticoagulant treatment to all patients with CHADSVASc ≥2 seems acceptable. Its use in the first two or three months after the procedure appears reasonable; however, keeping in mind that the objective of this strategy is limited to the prevention of early recurrences only. More prolonged use of antiarrhythmics seems to be more promising, but further data are necessary before it can be recommended routinely. The ablation of AF is a therapy that is widely spreading and its use is continuously growing. Since it is a recently introduced method, not everything is still clear about it. The continuation or not of anticoagulant and antiarrhythmic therapy after ablation for AF is one of the main aspects yet to be defined.
Supervision of community health nurses in Ghana: a mixed-methods study on experiences and mentorship needs
Authors: Bellerose Meghan , Alva Soumya , Magalona Sophia , Awoonor-Williams Koku , Sacks Emma
Published: November 2020

Adequate supervision is critical to maintain the performance of health workers who provide essential maternal and child health services in low-resource areas. Supportive supervision emphasizing problem-solving, skill development and mentorship has been shown to improve the motivation and effectiveness of health workers, especially at the community level, but it is not always routinely provided. Previous studies have assessed the uptake of supportive supervision among volunteer health workers and paid health centre staff, but less is known about the supervision experiences of paid community-based staff, such as community health nurses (CHNs) in Ghana. This mixed-methods study explores the frequency and content of CHN supervision in five districts in the Greater Accra and Volta regions of Ghana. We analysed quantitative data from 197 satisfaction surveys and qualitative data from 29 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and four focus group discussions (FGDs) with CHNs. While the majority of CHNs received supervision at least monthly, they reported that supervision was primarily focused on meeting clinical targets (48%) rather than on handling specific cases or patients (23%). Over a third (34%) of CHNs did not agree that supervisors help them with job-related challenges and nearly half (43%) were unsatisfied with their jobs. When asked about their mentorship needs, CHNs reported wanting feedback on how to improve their job performance (40%) and encouragement (30%). There were only slight variations in the frequency and content of supervision based on type of supervisor. During IDIs and FGDs, CHNs offered ideas for how to improve supervision, including more frequent field visits so that supervisors could see the on-the-ground realities of their work, greater respect and positive reinforcement. Overall, CHN motivation and job satisfaction may be strengthened by aligning supervision more closely with the principles of supportive supervision.
Efficacy of l-glutamic acid, N,N-diacetic acid to improve the dietary trace mineral bioavailability in broilers
Authors: Boerboom Gavin M , Busink Ronald , Smits Coen H , Hendriks Wouter H , Martín-Tereso Javier
Published: November 2020

Trace minerals are commonly supplemented in the diets of farmed animals in levels exceeding biological requirements, resulting in extensive fecal excretion and environmental losses. Chelation of trace metal supplements with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) can mitigate the effects of dietary antagonists by preserving the solubility of trace minerals. Lack of EDTA biodegradability, however, is of environmental concern. l-Glutamic acid, N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA) is a readily biodegradable chelating agent that could be used as a suitable alternative to EDTA. The latter was tested in sequential dose–response experiments in broiler chickens. Study 1 compared the effect of EDTA and GLDA in broilers on supplemental zinc availability at three levels of added zinc (5, 10, and 20 ppm) fed alone or in combination with molar amounts of GLDA or EDTA equivalent to chelate the added zinc, including negative (no supplemental zinc) and positive (80 ppm added zinc) control treatments. Study 2 quantified the effect of GLDA on the availability of native trace mineral feed content in a basal diet containing no supplemental minerals and supplemented with three levels of GLDA (54, 108, and 216 ppm). In study 1, serum and tibia Zn clearly responded to the increasing doses of dietary zinc with a significant response to the presence of EDTA and GLDA (P < 0.05). These results are also indicative of the equivalent nutritional properties between GLDA and EDTA. In study 2, zinc levels in serum and tibia were also increased with the addition of GLDA to a basal diet lacking supplemental trace minerals, where serum zinc levels were 60% higher at the 216 ppm inclusion level. Similar to the reported effects of EDTA, these studies demonstrate that dietary GLDA may have enhanced zinc solubility in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently enhanced availability for absorption, resulting in improved nutritional zinc status in zinc-deficient diets. As such, GLDA can be an effective nutritional tool to reduce supplemental zinc levels in broiler diets, thereby maintaining health and performance while reducing the environmental footprint of food-producing animals.
Age and Emotions in Organizations: Main, Moderating, and Context-Specific Effects
Authors: Scheibe Susanne , Walter Frank , Zhan Yujie
Published: November 2020

This editorial introduces the Special Issue on “Age and Emotions in Organizations.” The Special Issue aims at leveraging theory and research on emotional aging to better understand the work-related consequences associated with employees’ age. After summarizing relevant theories of emotional aging, we develop 3 overarching conceptual models that allow for a categorization of research linking age, emotions, and work outcomes. We emphasize that these models are applicable to a wide range of age-related and emotion-related variables as well as work outcomes at multiple levels of analysis, and they allow for the inclusion of a broad array of personal and contextual boundary conditions. Building on these considerations, we summarize the 5 articles comprised within this Special Issue. Finally, we depict a number of future directions for research aimed at understanding age effects in organizations through an emotional lens.
Pregnant? Validity of the Pregnancy Checkbox on Death Certificates in 4 States, and Characteristics Associated With Pregnancy Checkbox Errors
Authors: Catalano A. , Davis N.L. , Petersen E.E. , Harrison C. , Kieltyka L. , You M. , Conrey E.J. , Ewing A.C. , Callaghan W.M. , Goodman D.A.
Published: November 2020

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;222:269.e1–269.e8)

The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the United States appears to be increasing, potentially due to the adoption of the US standard certificate of death. This new death certificate was implemented in 2003 and includes a pregnancy checkbox. While the checkbox was added due to underreporting of maternal mortality, it also makes possible the misclassification of maternal deaths. One review found a 15% false-positive rate, or cases without evidence of pregnancy. This study’s aim was to assess the validity of the pregnancy checkbox following a quality assurance process among 4 states examining deaths during 2016.
Development of the FAST-M Maternal Sepsis Bundle for Use in Low-resource Settings: A Modified Delphi Process
Authors: Lissauer D. , Chesire J. , Dunlop C. , Taki F. , Wilson A. , Smith J.M. , Daniels R. , Kissoon N. , Malata A. , Chirwa T. , Lwesha V.M. , Mhango C. , Mhango E. , Makwenda C. , Banda L. , Munthali L. , Nambiar B. , Hussein J. , Williams H.M. , Devall A.J. , Gallos  , Merriel A. , Bonet M. , Souza J.P. , Coomarasamy A.
Published: November 2020

(BJOG. 2020;127:416–423)

Although maternal sepsis is the third most common cause of global maternal mortality, there are no internationally recognized sepsis care bundles directed toward pregnant women that can be implemented in a low-resource setting. While the Surviving Sepsis Campaign’s (SSC) care bundle has been associated with reduced mortality for the general population, only 1.5% of health care facilities in Africa are able to implement the SSC guidelines in their entirety. The need to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce the global burden of maternal and neonatal sepsis in low-resource settings has become increasingly important, as demonstrated by a recent global directive by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Jhpiego. This study aimed to accomplish this directive by developing a care bundle for the initial management of maternal sepsis in low-resource settings.
Sugammadex Administration in Pregnant Women and in Women of Reproductive Potential: A Narrative Review
Authors: Richardson M.G. , Raymond B.L.
Published: November 2020

(Anesth Analg. 2020;130:1628–1637)

The approval in 2008 for clinical use of the drug sugammadex has led to its rapid replacement of neostigmine to reverse rocuronium and vecuronium’s neuromuscular blocking (NMB) effects. While its cost is higher, sugammadex’s effectiveness and relative lack of side effects render it the superior choice compared with neostigmine. However, while thorough studies exist for this medication, few of them apply to its use in pregnancy and for women of childbearing potential. Thus, the author’s aim of this narrative was to review the use of sugammadex in pregnant women undergoing nonobstetric surgery, women potentially capable of childbearing using hormone-based contraception, lactating women, and parturients undergoing cesarean delivery (CD), as well as to provide up-to-date evidence in these cases.
Pravastatin for Early-onset Preeclampsia: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Ahmed A. , Williams D.J. , Cheed V. , Middleton L.J. , Ahmad S. , Wang K. , Vince A.T. , Hewett P. , Spencer K. , Khan K.S. , Daniels J.P.
Published: November 2020

(BJOG. 2020;127:478–488)

Preeclampsia is associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity, causing 1 in 5 maternal deaths in low-resource countries. While low-dose aspirin has been moderately effective in treating preeclampsia, there is a clear need for a more effective treatment. Elevated circulating levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) have been observed in women with preeclampsia. Statins reduce sFlt-1 from cultured cells, and in pregnant animals with a preeclampsia-like syndrome, statins have improved outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pravastatin 40 mg daily on the clinical condition and maternal plasma sFlt-1 levels in women with early-onset preeclampsia.
Cracking the Motherhood and Medicine Code
Authors: Huffmyer J.L. , Fahy B.G.
Published: November 2020

(Anesth Analg. 2020;130:1292–1295)

In today’s medical school, deciding on a specialty can be heavily affected by the impact of childbearing, parenting, and the ever-elusive work-life balance, particularly for women. This is evidenced by the fact that despite parity of male/female enrollment in medical schools (50.5% in 2019), only 35% of residents in anesthesiology programs are women (a small increase from 32% in 2006). Choosing a specialty which allows for greater personal control of life decisions such as time of childbearing without fear of professional repercussions is imperative to attaining feelings of success, fulfillment, and longevity of practice in the chosen specialty, including anesthesiology.
Intravenous Ondansetron in Pregnancy and Risk of Congenital Malformations
Authors: Huybrechts K.F. , Hernandez-Diaz S. , Straub L. , Gray K.J. , Zhu Y. , Mogun H. , Bateman B.T.
Published: November 2020

(JAMA. 2020;323:372–374)

A prior study found no significant association between oral ondansetron exposure during the first trimester and cardiac malformations or overall congenital malformations, except for a small association with oral clefts. Subsequent research, however, has suggested that the intravenous administration of ondansetron may be associated with adverse neonatal events. The aim of this study was to examine the association between intravenous ondansetron and congenital malformations.
Surgical Conditions With Rocuronium Versus Suxamethonium in Cesarean Section: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Bláha J. , Nosková P. , Hlinecká K. , Krakovská V. , Fundová V. , Bartosová T. , Michálek P. , Stríteský M.
Published: November 2020

(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2020;41:14–21)

Intubating conditions and onset time for rocuronium (ROC) versus suxamethonium (SUX) have been compared in several trials, but studies focusing on these drugs’ effect on surgery duration and ease of delivery of the fetus during cesarean section are lacking. This study, therefore, compared surgical conditions for delivery of the fetus in parturients receiving ROC versus SUX during general anesthesia for cesarean section.
Validity of the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification in Ecuador
Authors: Fors Martha , González Paloma , Viada Carmen , Falcon Kirsten , Palacios Santiago
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification (FSPC) is the most common tool used to assess skin phototype in White populations according to the amount of pigment the skin has and its reaction to sun exposure. Scientific evidence about the use of this scale for persons with darker skin is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the FSPC for Ecuadorians.

METHODS

This observational cross-sectional study recruited participants of both sexes between 40 and 90 years of age living in a rural area of Quito, Ecuador. Cronbach α values were used to assess the internal consistency of the scale. Construct validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The internal consistency coefficients indicated that the reliability of the responses to the scale was fair. Total α value was .515, whereas the α values of the two factors were .42 and .67. Most item-to-factor correlations had a low to moderate magnitude, ranging from r = 0.30 to 0.37. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor solution and achieved good overall fit as indicated by root mean square error of approximation = 0.08, and nonnormed fit index = 0.88 was mediocre. Goodness-of-fit χ
2 = 177.10, P < .001. The factor loads were greater than 0.30, ranging from 0.30 to 0.99.

CONCLUSIONS

The FSPC showed an acceptable construct validity and a fair internal consistency. The five-item scale could potentially be used as an effective instrument for assessing skin phototype in non-White people.
Rare Initial Manifestation of Lupus as Lobular Panniculitis of the Breast—A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Sharma Anurag , Blank Alexander , Komforti Miglena K.
Published: November 2020

Lupus mastitis is a rare complication of systemic or discoid lupus erythematosus with an uncommon initial presentation when limited to the breast. In this article, we report a 42-year-old woman who presented with constant pain and tenderness in her breasts. Ultrasound imaging of the left breast revealed a 14-mm oval mass, suspicious for malignancy; a needle core biopsy was performed. Sections showed necrosis of the fat lobules with associated mixed nodular lymphoplasmacytic aggregates. Karyorrhectic debris, fibrinoid necrosis of small vessels, and microcalcifications were all present while the background breast parenchyma was unremarkable. The diagnosis of lupus mastitis was rendered. Subsequent serology showed negative dsDNA but positive antinuclear antibodies, C4, and anti -Sjögren’;s-syndrome-related antigen A antibodies. Clinical features of active systemic disease were not identified at the patient's follow-up dermatology appointment 1 month after the biopsy, and she elected management for her nodules with steroids. To the best of our knowledge, only 40 other cases of lupus mastitis have been reported in the English literature, of which 25 presented as a mass and only in 6 lupus mastitis of the breast was the initial presentation. In conclusion, we bring much needed awareness to lupus mastitis as the first presentation of disease.
Comparative efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine for lipodermatosclerosis
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Zhang Yudong , Shi Xiaohua , Liu Ming
Published: November 2020

Background:

Lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) is a severe skin change accompanied by the development of chronic venous disease of the lower extremities. Its main clinical manifestations are erythema, induration, hyperpigmentation, and rough and thickened skin. It may also eventually lead to refractory ulcers, skin necrosis and even cancer. Conventional treatment methods mainly include the intake of oral anabolic hormones or androgen and pressure therapy. However, patients often refuse due to their drug resistance and intolerance. As a clinical irreplaceable treatment method for LDS, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has not been compared of the safety and effectiveness so far. Therefore, we cannot wait to use a method to compare the efficacy of TCM for LDS systematically, such as network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods:

We will retrieve the relevant Chinese and English databases comprehensively. All the randomized controlled trials of TCM for LDS from January 2015 to September 2020 will be included. Under the guidance of inclusion criteria, 2 researchers will screen the literature, then assess the risk of bias and extract data. We will use Bayesian NMA to evaluate all available evidence in STATA 14.0 and WinBUGS software.

Results:

This study will use Bayesian NMA to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM for LDS.

Conclusion:

This study provide a reliable theoretical basis for the clinical application of TCM in the treatment of LDS, and contribute to the formulation of treatment guidelines for LDS.
World War II cohorts and diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease later in life: An observational cohort study based on German claims data
Authors: Fritze Thomas , Reinke Constantin , van den Berg Gerard J. , Doblhammer Gabriele
Published: November 2020

Background

This study applied a data-driven approach to explore whether being born during or around World War II affects the risk of morbidity later in life.

Methods

Incident diagnoses were explored for diabetes (ICD-10 code E10-E14; 75,487 persons/12,905 incident cases), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD; I6; 79,829/11,664), and coronary heart disease (CHD; I20-I25; 89,657/11,116) for birth cohorts 1935-1950, using German health-claims data from 2004-2015. The data include quarterly information of the inpatient and outpatient treatment. We applied recursive partitioning methods with the aim of splitting the sample into birth cohorts with different risk profiles in terms of the incidence of diabetes, CeVD, and CHD. We performed Cox proportional hazard models to explore the transition into diabetes, CeVD, and CHD, accounting for birth cohort and gender. We used the median cut-points from the recursive partitioning analysis on the birth cohort indicator to define linear splines and present the yearly slopes of the linear splines.

Results

Based on the results from recursive partitioning method we defined four groups of birth cohorts depending on the disease of interest (diabetes: 1/35-10/37, 11/37-11/41, 12/41-10/44, 11/44-12/50; CHD: 1/35-5/37, 6/37-4/41, 10/44-12/50; CeVD: 1/35-6/37, 7/37-6/40, 7/40-12/43, 1/44-12/50). We found a general decline in cohort incidence for all three diseases, however, there was a discontinuation for diabetes among birth cohorts 12/41-10/44 (yearly slope=-0.01, p=0.584), and a deceleration for cohorts 11/44-12/50 for CeVD.

Conclusions

We identified risk periods associated with WWII that interfered with the cohort decline in the risk of diabetes and CeVD, stressing the importance of a beneficial early-life environment.

Availability of data

The scientific research institute of the AOK (WIdO) has strict rules regarding data sharing because of the fact that health claims data are a sensible data source and have ethical restrictions imposed due to concerns regarding privacy. Anonymized data are available to all interested researchers upon request. Interested individuals or an institution who wish to request access to the health claims data of the AOK, please contact the WIdO (webpage: http://www.wido.de/, mail: wido@wido.bv.aok.de).
A bibliometric analysis of the highest cited and highest category normalised articles in radiological literature from 2009-2019
Authors: McKay Parry Nicholas , Rich Justin , Erian Michael , Lloyd Thomas
Published: November 2020

Rationale and Objective

Citation-based metrics are frequently used to evaluate the academic performance of a publication. One such metric is the number of citations an article receives, however this is not an infallible index. To account for biases of this metric the category-normalised citation index (CNCI), termed ‘impact’, may be used. Here the 100 highest-cited and highest-CNCI articles in radiological literature, from 2009 – 2019 is performed.

Materials and Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection and InCites (Clarivate Analytics) databases were accessed for the citations and CNCI values for articles published in the 186 journals with category “radiology, nuclear medicine, and medical imaging” between 2009 and 2019. The top 100 articles with the highest citation count and highest CNCI values were collected. Article parameters were analysed including title, year of publication, citation count, CNCI, field of study and modality studied were analysed.

Results

Fifty-three articles were common to both lists. Neuroradiology was the most prevalent subspecialty studied in both the highest-cited (n = 68) and highest-impact (n = 41) lists, respectively. The most frequently utilised imaging modality was magnetic resonance imaging (n = 64 and 40). The highest-CNCI articles demonstrated greater variability and distribution across subspecialties, imaging modalities and year of publication when compared to the highest-cited list.

Conclusion

The use of normalised bibliometric analysis tools may remove bias when evaluating research and better demonstrate the breadth of research activity. Use of these tools may provide a more robust and contemporaneous review of the landscape of research within a field.
Demystifying the spreading of pandemics I: The fractal kinetics SI model quantifies the dynamics of COVID-19
Authors: Macheras Panos , Kosmidis Kosmas , Chryssafidis Pavlos
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health crisis. The recently developed fractal kinetics susceptible-infected model was used for the analysis of the first COVID-19 wave data. The model was found to be in excellent agreement with the data. The “fractal” exponent of time is critical for the kinetics of the disease spreading since it captures the impact of the spatial related factors e.g. lockdowns, masks on the virus transmission. Estimates of the model parameters were derived from the epidemiological data of France, Greece, Italy and Spain. A universal law was established between the “fractal” exponent and the “apparent transmissibility constant” of the model. 173 countries were classified according to the fractal exponent and the asymptotic limit of the cumulative fraction of infected individuals.
From Offer Letter to Resignation Letter
Authors: Agarwal Promila
Published: November 2020

Ostensibly the case is about an employee resigning from the organization due to lack of support, job clarity, and information about reporting structure. It addresses issues of socialization process, performance appraisal, and communication issue between colleagues in a consulting organization. The case serves as medium for diagnosis and action planning around integration of new employees into the organization, effective performance appraisal, and resolving communication barriers.