bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Warning entry as a form of protection of verification actions before the Verification Commission
Authors: Dalkowska Anna
Published: May 2020

The warning entry, as a procedural form of administrative protection of verification actions
serves an important role not only for the purpose of ensuring a proper course of the verification
actions undertaken by the Verification Commission. It is an instrument of protection of private
and public interests, and a warranty of implementation of the constitutional principle of rule
of law. The verification action warning is a separate legal institution from the warning of real
property legal status inconsistency with factual status, defined in art. 8 of the land and mortgage
register and mortgage act. The protection is established based on a decision of the Verification
Commission, issued before an examination proceedings is initiated, then implemented in a land
and mortgage register proceedings. It does not waive the credibility of the land and mortgage
register and does not rebut the presumption of consistency of the legal status revealed
in the register with the factual legal status. The consequences do, however, occur when
the examination proceedings is initiated. Fulfilling a warning function, the verification action
warning does not lead to acquiring a subjective right or changing the material legal situation,
does not exclude or limit the disposal of the right against which it is directed. The structure
of the examination action protection does not contradict the constitutional principle of ownership
protection, as it does not devoid the right bearer of the ability to exercise the right entered
in the land and mortgage register, and therefore does not cause the consequences connected
to the existence of the protection for the bearer. It implements the principle of protection
of third party rights by providing these parties with information and a signal of the existing
hazard to the validity of the legal status of the real property and the likelihood that the reprivatisation
decision was issued with an infringement on the law. It constitutes an element
of protection of the public interest in matters concerning Warsaw real property reprivatisation
and an axiological basis for the land and mortgage register system disclosure.
Application of the blockchain technology in the real estate market
Authors: Opitek Paweł
Published: May 2020

The article describes possibilities to apply the blockchain technology in the real estate market.
Firstly, the article presents the nature of an indisputable chain of blocks and Initial Coin
Offering, smart contracts and digital tokens connected therewith.
Certain phenomenon results from this perspective as “smart contracts” consist of a numerical
code and provisions combined into an indissoluble whole. The further part of the article
shows what the land register, sale and rental of premises as well as the real estate management
with the application of the blockchain may look like. New forms of investing which use smart
contracts and tokens constitute an interesting issue. As no software is free from exposure
to threats and human activities are burdened with the risk of error, the barriers hindering
the application of the new technology were determined. The summary of the article is a brief
assessment of advantages resulting from the blockchain and real possibilities of their implementation
in the domestic market.
»Nicht nur fachlich, sondern auch menschlich«
Authors: Löffler Eva Maria
Published: May 2020

Am Beispiel einer eigenen empirischen Studie zeigt der Beitrag auf, dass Fachlichkeit in sozialen Dienstleistungsberufen mehr umfasst, als verschiedene Wissensbestände in komplexen Handlungssituationen zu kontrastieren und anzuwenden. Es wird diskutiert, inwieweit neben Wissenschafts- und Handlungswissen eine spezifische, biografisch angeeignete Haltung das professionelle Handeln bestimmt.
Ganzheitliche Beratung und Betreuung im SGB II?
Authors: Rübner Matthias
Published: May 2020

Seit einigen Jahren rücken zwei Themenkomplexe zunehmend in das Zentrum der deutschen Arbeitsmarktpolitik: die Sicherung des Fachkräftebedarfs und die Bewältigung von Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit. Hierzu wird aktuell das institutionelle Instrumentarium angepasst, teilweise auch die Rolle der Arbeitsmarktpolitik neu gedacht. Dabei scheint sich ein Gelegenheitsfenster für eine Stärkung beratungsbezogener Dienstleistungen zu öffnen. Dies soll hier für das Handlungsfeld der Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende ausgelotet werden.
Crowdworker*innen zwischen Autonomie und Kontrolle
Authors: Gerber Christine
Published: May 2020

Der Beitrag beschreibt am Beispiel von Crowdwork die Veränderungen der Machtbeziehungen zwischen Kapital und Arbeit durch den Einsatz algorithmischer Systeme der Arbeitssteuerung auf digitalen Plattformen. Ausgangspunkt ist die weit verbreitete Annahme, dass das Management mittels solcher Systeme die direkte und repressive Kontrolle über Arbeitskraft verschärfen könnte. Demgegenüber analysiert die Autorin, inwiefern auch im untersuchten Feld die Zustimmung und das aktive Mitwirken der Crowd mobilisiert werden und welche Rolle die Technologie dabei spielt. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen, dass selbst in recht umfassenden Systemen des algorithmischen Managements beides zur Stabilisierung der Arbeitsteilung notwendig ist. Die Basis der Herstellung von Zustimmung und Mitwirkung bilden Informationsasymmetrien, die das Wissen und die Handlungsoptionen der Crowd ordnen. Diese subtile und indirekte Form der Kontrolle verdeckt und verstetigt die Arbeits- und Machtbeziehungen durch das Gewähren gewisser Autonomiespielräume. Dies scheint notwendig, um die mobile und unabhängige Crowd in einer Kontrollbeziehung zu halten und ihre effektive Ausbeutung durch Selbst-Disziplinierung zu ermöglichen.
Russland - ein "unsicherer Drittstaat"?
Authors: Brandt Elena
Published: May 2020

Russland – ein „unsicherer“ Drittstaat? Mangels positiver Angemessenheitsentscheidung der Europäischen Kommission gilt Russland aus europäischer Sicht derzeit als „unsicherer“ Drittstaat mit der Folge, dass personenbezogene Daten aus der Europäischen Union nur mit zusätzlichen Garantien nach Russland übermittelt werden dürfen. Dabei verfügt Russland über ein Datenschutzgesetz, das viele Parallelen zur ehemals geltenden EU Datenschutz-Richtlinie aufweist. Die Arbeit untersucht vor diesem Hintergrund, welche Kriterien über die Angemessenheit des Datenschutzniveaus eines Drittstaats entscheiden, analysiert die Rechtslage in Russland, einschließlich der bestehenden Rechtsprechung und Behördenpraxis, und stellt mögliche Lösungsansätze vor, die zu einer Weiterentwicklung und Annäherung des russischen Datenschutzrechts an das Europäische Datenschutzniveau beitragen könnten.

Die Autorin ist Rechtsanwältin im Bereich IP/IT in Düsseldorf und spezialisiert auf den Bereich Datenschutz.
Der Auslandszeuge im Strafprozess
Authors: Thörnich Diana
Published: May 2020

Weltweite Vernetzung und Auslandsbezüge in allen Lebensbereichen können die Verfahrensbeteiligten vor schwierige rechtliche wie praktische Fragen im Zusammenhang mit Auslandszeugen stellen: Wann ist der Zeuge (un-)erreichbar und in welcher Form – etwa kommissarisch oder audiovisuell – ist seine Aussage zu gewinnen? Wie gestaltet sich die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Ausland? Unter welchen Voraussetzungen wird das Konfrontationsrecht aus Art. 6 Abs. 3 d) EMRK gewahrt? Wie ist der Beweisantrag auf Vernehmung von Auslandszeugen mit Blick auf § 244 Abs. 5 S. 2 StPO zu behandeln? Solchen aktuellen wie praxisrelevanten Fragestellungen widmet sich die Untersuchung in der Überzeugung, dass die Aufklärung einer Straftat mit Auslandsbezug nicht weniger zuverlässig sein darf als bei reinem Inlandsbezug, dem Beschuldigten in jedem Fall effektive Verteidigungsrechte zur Seite stehen müssen, zugleich aber auch Justizentlastung, Verfahrensbeschleunigung und Missbrauchsabwehr legitime Interessen darstellen.
Deal Selection and Investor Value-Added in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing
Authors: Tatomir Simon
Published: May 2020

This book presents empirical analyses which investigate entrepreneurial equity investors’ investment choices and value-added to portfolio companies. The results suggest that equity-crowdfunded companies’ subsequent performance is causally negatively affected compared to peers that use traditional entrepreneurial equity financing, since equity crowdfunders add less value to portfolio companies than venture capitalists and business angels. Additional analyses suggest that venture capital investors’ specialisation in certain branches of industry has opposite effects on their ability to select companies with high potential and add value to them. High levels of industry specialisation positively affect venture capitalists’ ability to select companies with high potential but are detrimental to investors’ value-added. These effects also have demonstrable implications for the formation and composition of investment syndicates.
“We come from the land of the ice and snow”: De-colonising superhero cinema through music
Authors: AlAwadhi Dina , Dittmer Jason
Published: May 2020

In this short intervention we examine the relationship between Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor: Ragnarok. We do this to highlight the doubleness of both texts’ meaning, which gives each an aura of postcolonial subversion. This relation is important because in this case Immigrant Song was central to the production of Ragnarok, with director Taika Waititi allowing the song to suffuse the film from its inception. When we speak of music in film, we must also consider the deeper role of music in inspiring the tone of various filmic productions.
Fairness og statsborgerskab
Authors: Jensen Kristian Kriegbaum , Nielsen Lasse
Published: May 2020

The Danish requirements for citizenship are often grounded on an ideal about rewarding personal effort and responsibility. A similar ideal is known from luck egalitarianism, a widely known and accepted theory of justice. This article unfolds a luck egalitarian argument in defence of the Danish requirements and investigates, in light of this argument, whether the requirements relevantly reflect effort and responsibility. The article concludes dismissively and offers a number of ways of improving Danish citizenship policy in terms of fairness.
Discursos sobre varones y mujeres en la formación técnica: entre la reproducción y la transformación. Un estudio situado en dos provincias argentinas
Authors: Martinez Silvia Marcela , Martín María Eugenia , Garino Delfina , Giampaoletti Noelia , Pol María Albina
Published: May 2020

La formación técnica en Argentina ha sido un ámbito históricamente masculinizado. Ante el incremento de la matrícula femenina y la visibilización y demandas sociales respecto de las desigualdades de género, nos preguntamos, de qué manera las instituciones de ETP favorecen el reconocimiento y la participación con miras a la justicia social. Este trabajo analiza discursos sobre las desigualdades entre varones y mujeres (en interseccionalidad con otras) que circulan en 12 instituciones de educación técnico profesional en dos provincias argentinas (Neuquén y Mendoza), y sobre los dispositivos de acompañamiento a la escolaridad y articulación con el trabajo que allí se construyen. Desplegamos un diseño de investigación comparativo basado en la triangulación de fuentes secundarias y el uso de técnicas cualitativas y cuantitativas para la producción de datos primarios. Como estrategia de análisis optamos por el Análisis Crítico del Discurso. Encontramos tres tipos de discursos que organizan los modos de mirar, entender y actuar en relación a ser varón o mujer que se articulan con otras dimensiones con un sentido de justicia social particular. Definimos a estos discursos como: Naturalización de jerarquías; Visibilización de jerarquías; Visibilización de jerarquías y acciones para la transformación. Si bien estos discursos conviven en todas las instituciones, identificamos predominancia de algunos en cada una de ellas, así como en los territorios en que se asientan. Finalmente presentamos un caso de una institución en el que analizamos el entramado discursivo.
¿Una orientación marcada por el género? El caso de la Formación Profesional Básica valenciana.
Authors: Obiol-Francés Sandra , Almeda Samaranch Elisabet , Di Nella Dino , Pumar Beltrán Nuria , Ruiz Franco Aida , Vergés-Bosch Núria , Villar-Aguilés Alícia
Published: May 2020

En este artículo presentamos parte de los resultados obtenidos en el análisis realizado a la Formación Profesional Básica desde una perspectiva de género. Un ciclo formativo incluido en la etapa obligatoria de nuestro sistema que introduce una adaptación curricular al tiempo que su diversificación según diversas familias profesionales a las que optará el estudiantado. En este caso el género emerge como variable fundamental para entender el escaso número de mujeres matriculadas, así como su concentración en ramas claramente connotadas en términos de género. Las entrevistas realizadas a los equipos de coordinación y orientación, fundamentales el acceso a una FPB, nos permiten constatar la pervivencia de una segregación por género de los diferentes itinerarios formativos justificada sobre las preferencias individuales. Esta justificación conlleva tomar medidas desde los centros en términos únicamente individuales y siempre mediatizadas por los escasos recursos (personales y formativos) disponibles pero sobre todo por la que es su principal prioridad: evitar el abandono precoz de los estudios. El resultado es un ciclo formativo en el que las mujeres están o bien ausentes o bien concentradas en ciclos fuertemente feminizados, disminuyendo sus oportunidades formativas y laborales.
Los estereotipos de género en las elecciones y expectativas de estudiantes de Educación Técnica Profesional en Argentina: diferencias regionales y de género.
Authors: Freytes Frey Ada , Barbetti Pablo
Published: May 2020

A pesar de que en los últimos años en Argentina se amplió paulatinamente el acceso de estudiantes mujeres a la Educación Técnico Profesional, en la modalidad persisten importantes desigualdades de género. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar las motivaciones iniciales y las expectativas futuras de estudiantes que asisten a ofertas de la Educación Técnica Profesional y su relación con la persistencia – o con la transformación – de estereotipos sobre las diferencias de género en el mercado laboral.
El abordaje metodológico fue cuanti-cualitativo. Los datos fueron construidos a partir de la aplicación de encuestas y la realización de grupos focales con estudiantes varones y mujeres de Escuelas Secundarias Técnicas y de Cursos de Formación Profesional en dos regiones del país.  Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas entre ambos territorios analizados y, al interior de estos, entre varones y mujeres. A pesar de las políticas en pos de la igualdad de género y la visibilización de las diversas discriminaciones que sufren las mujeres generada por las múltiples movilizaciones feministas en el último tiempo en la Argentina, siguen persistiendo imaginarios que legitiman las desigualdades.
Webs en Flash
Authors: Subirana Grau Gemma
Published: May 2020

En los últimos tres años hemos visto como el uso de la herramienta Flash de Macromedia ha proliferado y como esto se ha hecho presente en las webs que visitamos. La cuestión es si debemos usar esta herramienta en contra de otras técnicas, como por ejemplo, la programación en JavaScript, Applets Java, DHTML... Este artículo plantea diferentes aspectos que ayudarán a determinar cuándo es ventajoso el uso de Flash y cuándo no lo es, o por lo menos, a ser más críticos en el uso de dicha herramienta.
¿Qué fue del CiberPunk?
Authors: Alberich Jordi
Published: May 2020

Pocas fueron las etiquetas que, como esta, ejemplificaron con éxito en un pasado no tan lejano (los ochenta) el conjunto de la emergente cultura digital. Como corriente estilística, movimiento literario o paradigma estético, el Ciberpunk representó una de las principales referencias propiamente digitales, el primer lugar común al que adscribir autores, grupos u obras ya autónomas respecto a la vieja cultura pre-digital.
Photokina 2002
Authors: Ramon Frutos Miquel
Published: May 2020

El pasado mes de septiembre tuvo lugar en Colonia (Alemania) Photokina 2002, la feria bianual sobre la industria fotográfica más importante de Europa y una de las más importantes a nivel mundial. Es evidente que un evento tan importante y con una repercusión a nivel mundial, siempre va acompañado de la presentación de infinidad de novedades (algunas de las cuales pondremos de manifiesto más adelante), tanto en el ámbito de la fotografía digital como de la convencional (o analógica). Pero más allá de las presentaciones de nuevos productos y noticias del sector es importante saber leer entre líneas y hacerse eco de las directrices que marcarán la evolución del mercado hasta la próxima edición de Photokina en el año 2004.
The Dynamic Relationship Between Accidents, Drivers' Licensing and Automobile Registrations; A Vector Autoregression Perspective
Authors: Kpamma Henry M. , Bruku Silverius K. , Imoro Rafiatu , Awaab John A. , Okyere Stella
Published: May 2020

Aims/ Objectives: The paper seeks to investigate the dynamic relationship between drivers licensing, vehicle registration, motorbike registration and accidents.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The secondary data was collated on a monthly basis on Accidents, Driver license, Motor Registration and Vehicle Registration that spanned 9 years from January 2010 to December 2018 from the Upper East Regional Oce of the Drivers Vehicle and License Authority.

Methodology: The data was analyzed using vector autoregression model to establish the dynamic relationship between the variables. The R and Eviews softwares were used in the analysis.Results: The ndings revealed that in the short-run and long-run neither Driver license, Vehicle Registration, Motor Registration none Accidents cannot in uence much on each other but experienced their own shock. Findings further ascertain that Accidents can granger cause vehicle registration to change but the remaining variable have no much in uence on accidents.Although, accidents can granger cause vehicle registration to change, the remaining variables had noin uence on accidents. The nding nally concluded that ARCH-LM test indicated that there was no ARCH eect present in the series implying that the Vector Autoregression model was appropriate to establish the dynamic relationship between the variables.
Effect of Saline Water Stress in the Presence of Silicon Foliar Application on Growth, Productivity and Chemical Constituents of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) under Egyptian Conditions
Authors: Moghith W. M. A. , Youssef A. S. M. , El-Wahab M. A. Abd , Mohamed Y. F. Y. , Eman M. Abou El-Ghait,
Published: May 2020

The pot experiment was carried out during two successive seasons (2016/2017 & 2017/2018) to study the effect of five levels of salinity and three levels of silicon (Si), as a foliar-spray application as well as their combinations on growth, productivity and chemical constituents of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plants. Results showed that there was a negative relationship between vegetative growth measurements i.e., plant height, fresh weight and dry weight, flowering growth and yield parameters i.e., main inflorescence height, main inflorescence weight, inflorescences weight, seeds weights, weight of 1000 seeds and calculated seeds yield /m2 and root growth measurements i.e. root length, root weight and root diameter values and salinity treatments in both seasons. Hence, as the concentrations of salinity increased, the values of these parameters decreased to reach the maximum decreasing at the high concentration (4.69 dS m-1). Therefore, the combination treatment between 0.68 dS m-1 salinity concentration and 2000 ppm silicon scored the highest values of these parameters, in the 1st and 2nd seasons. Meanwhile, the maximum values of N, P and K contents were recorded by the combination treatment between 0.68 dS m-1 salinity concentration and 2000 ppm silicon in both seasons. Whereas, the highest values of free proline, sodium and chloride content were gained by the high concentration of salinity 4.96 dS m-1 especially those received silicon at 0 ppm in both seasons. Conclusively, the highest growth, productivity and chemical constituents of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plant, it is preferable to grow the plants under saline water irrigation concentration at (0.68 dS m-1) and spray with silicon at 2000 ppm.
Climate Variability and Change in Western U.S. Rangelands
Authors: Greene Arthur M. , Seager Richard
Published: May 2020

We examine variability and change components of precipitation and minimum and maximum daily temperatures, and the derived variables potential evapotranspiration (PET) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), over rangelands in the region 30-50N, 100- 125W. We focus on areas administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), with a view toward understanding how future climate variations may affect ecosystems, and ultimately, grazing on these lands. Based on an analysis of the annual precipitation cycle we adopt a three-season partition for the year, classifying land areas by season of maximum precipitation; this yields a coherent subregional map. Masking with a combined BLM/BIA footprint, we find that in all subregions both tmin and tmax have increased in response to anthropogenic forcing, the rate being generally greater for tmax. Significant precipitation trends are not detected, whereas PET exhibits significant upward trends in all regions. While PET-normalized precipitation, as well as PDSI, do not exhibit significant trends individually (by variable and region), the fact that most trend downward nevertheless suggests a systematic drying. We conclude that temperature constitutes the principal detectable control on hydroclimatic changes in rangelands within the study area. Although ecosystem responses may be complex, future temperature increases are expected generally to reduce soil water availability. The unforced component of variability isinvestigated with respect to several key climate indices on both interannual and decadal time scales.
Distribution and Health Risk Assessment of Phthalate Acid Esters in Bottled Drinking Water from Selected Brands in Delta State, Southern Nigeria
Authors: Edjere Oghenekohwiroro , Ibezute Albert Chukwuemeka , Oghama Osayomwanbor Ebenezer
Published: May 2020

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers. However, they have the potential to migrate from plastic materials into the environment where they pose detrimental health impacts. Hence, they have gained wide attention. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the distribution and health risk assessment of PAEs in different bottled drinking water brands in Delta State, Southern Nigeria. Samples were collected from ten (10) bottled drinking water brands across eight (8) local government areas of the State. The 6-EPA controlled PAEs (DMP, DEP, DBP, BBP, DEHP and DNOP) and one uncontrolled PAEs (BEP) were investigated. The individual PAE concentrations ranged from 0.005 – 2.738 µg/L while the total concentration of PAEs in the different brands ranged from 0.023 - 4.361 µg/L. The predominant PAEs across the ten brands were DMP and BEP however DBP had the highest total concentration (4.392 μg/L) making it the main contributor to PAE levels in bottled drinking water brands. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in the concentration of PAEs detected in the different bottled drinking water brands (p˃0.05). Health risk assessment indicated little non-carcinogenic risks from five controlled PAEs and little carcinogenic risk from DEHP. Continuous monitoring is however recommended to ensure than PAE levels in bottled drinking water remain within permissible limits. Our results therefore provides important information for the understanding of the distribution and potential health risks of PAEs in different bottled drinking water brands in Delta State.
Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Wieczorek Grzegorz , Niedzialek Dorota
Published: May 2020

Molecular dynamics (MD) is a handy computer simulation method which unveils principles of a large variety of fundamental processes by mimicking the real life perpetual motion of atoms triggered by interatomic forces. In MD, these forces are expressed through analytical functions and associated parameters, which are commonly referred to as the force field. The forces' effect on the movement of atoms is determined by Newton's second law. Most importantly, MD simulations are able to retrace the exact trajectories of interacting atoms by following their spatial evolution in time from a defined initial configuration. The resulting integrated trajectory of the system can be visualised and analysed with rigorous mathematical expressions of statistical mechanics, which relate averaged microscopic states to macroscopic properties relevant to the problem at hand.

Key Concepts

Molecular dynamics is a computation tool successfully used to unveil principles of a large variety of fundamental processes down to the atomic resolution.

Thanks to recent advances in computer simulations, atomistic MD can reach millisecond timescales, thus emerging as a powerful alternative method that successfully complements experimental measurements in biology.

Computational efficiency of molecular dynamics algorithms continues to pose challenges.

The collective efforts of many groups of researchers have enabled a great deal of force fields applied to many problems in biology.

Biomolecular simulations require the presence of solvent; hence, a reliable representation of water is crucial for achieving realistic results.

Several specialised methods stemming from MD allow to investigate various processes of biomolecules: REMD, SMD and TMD.
A robust VMAT delivery solution for single‐fraction lung SABR utilizing FFF beams minimizing dosimetric compromise
Authors: Burton Alex , Offer Keith , Hardcastle Nicholas
Published: May 2020

Peripheral lung lesions treated with a single fraction of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) utilizing volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery and flattening filter‐free (FFF) beams represent a potentially high‐risk scenario for clinically significant dose blurring effects due to interplay between the respiratory motion of the lesion and dynamic multi‐leaf collimators (MLCs). The aim of this study was to determine an efficient means of developing low‐modulation VMAT plans in the Eclipse treatment planning system (v15.5, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA) in order to minimize this risk, while maintaining dosimetric quality. The study involved 19 patients where an internal target volume (ITV) was contoured to encompass the entire range of tumor motion, and a planning target volume (PTV) created using a 5‐mm isotropic expansion of this contour. Each patient had seven plan variations created, with each rescaled to achieve the clinical planning goal for PTV coverage. All plan variations used the same field arrangement, and consisted of one dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT) plan, and six VMAT plans with varying degrees of modulation restriction, achieved through utilizing different combinations of the aperture shape controller (ASC) in the calculation parameters, and monitor unit (MU) objective during optimization. The dosimetric quality was assessed based on RTOG conformity indices (CI100/CI50), as well as adherence to dose–volume metrics used clinically at our institution. Plan complexity was assessed based on the modulation factor (MU/cGy) and the field edge metric. While VMAT plans with the least modulation restriction achieved the best dosimetry, it was found that there was no clinically significant trade‐off in terms of dose to organs at risk and conformity by reducing complexity. Furthermore, it was found that utilizing the ASC and MU objective could reduce plan complexity to near‐DCAT levels with improved dosimetry, which may be sufficiently robust to overcome the interplay effect.
Impaired cerebral autoregulation is associated with poststroke cognitive impairment
Authors: Chi Nai‐Fang , Hu Han‐Hwa , Chan Lung , Wang Cheng‐Yen , Chao Shu‐Ping , Huang Li‐Kai , Ku Hsiao‐Lun , Hu Chaur‐Jong
Published: May 2020

Objective

To investigate whether dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) and neuroimaging characteristics are determinants of poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).

Methods

Eighty patients within 7 days of acute ischemic stroke and 35 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were enrolled. In the patients with stroke, brain magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic CA were obtained at baseline, and dynamic CA was followed up at 3 months and 1 year. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was performed at 3 months and 1 year. Patients with a MoCA score <23 at 1 year were defined as having PSCI, and those with a MoCA score that decreased by 2 points or more between the 3‐month and 1‐year assessments were defined as having progressive cognitive decline.

Results

In total, 65 patients completed the study and 16 developed PSCI. The patients with PSCI exhibited poorer results for all cognitive domains than did those without PSCI. The patients with PSCI also had poorer CA (lower phase shift between cerebral blood flow and blood pressure waveforms in the very low frequency band) compared with that of the patients without PSCI and controls at baseline and 1 year. CA was not different between the patients without PSCI and controls. In the multivariate analysis, low education level, lobar microbleeds, and impaired CA (very low frequency phase shift [≤46°] within 7 days of stroke), were independently associated with PSCI. In addition, impaired CA was associated with progressive cognitive decline.

Interpretation

Low education level, lobar microbleeds, and impaired CA are involved in the pathogenesis of PSCI.
A Lithium Metal Anode Surviving Battery Cycling Above 200 °C
Authors: Fu Lin , Wan Mintao , Zhang Bao , Yuan Yifei , Jin Yang , Wang Wenyu , Wang Xiancheng , Li Yuanjian , Wang Li , Jiang Jianjun , Lu Jun , Sun Yongming
Published: May 2020

Lithium (Li) metal electrode cannot endure elevated temperature (e.g., >200 °C) with the regular battery configuration due to its low melting point (180.5 °C) and high reactivity, which restricts its application in high‐temperature Li metal batteries for energy storage and causes safety concerns for regular ambient‐temperature Li metal batteries. Herein, this work reports a Li5B4/Li composite featuring a 3D Li5B4 fibrillar framework filled with metallic Li, which maintains its initial structure at 325 °C in Ar atmosphere without leakage of the liquid Li. The capillary force caused by the porous structure of the Li4B5 fibrillar framework, together with its lithiophilic surface, restricts the leakage of liquid metallic Li and enables good thermal tolerance of the Li5B4/Li composite. Thus, it can be facilely operated for rechargeable high‐temperature Li metal batteries. Li5B4/Li electrodes are coupled with a garnet‐type ceramic electrolyte (Li6.5La3Zr0.5Ta1.5O12) to fabricate symmetric cells, which exhibit stable Li stripping/plating behaviors with low overpotential of ≈6 mV at 200 °C using a regular sandwich‐type cell configuration. This work affords new insights into realizing a stable Li metal anode for high‐temperature Li metal batteries with a simple battery configuration and high safety, which is different from traditional molten‐salt Li metal batteries using a pristine metallic Li anode.
Preparation and characterization of a class of self‐doping aromatic polyoxadiazole electrochromic materials
Authors: Yu Yuanyuan , Zhu Jiadeng , Gao Huihui , Yang Chen , Chen Sheng , Zhang Sihang , Jiang Mengjin
Published: May 2020

This article describes the preparation and characterization of six novel organic‐soluble aromatic polyoxadiazole sulfonates (PODs) containing different side groups through sulfation polycondensation, which can undergo reversible redox reactions and self‐doping. In order to further characterize its properties, they are assembled into solution type electrochromic devices (ECDs), which turn orange‐yellow, purple, pink, deep pink, blue‐ray green, and reddish‐purple, respectively, by applying a voltage. The assembled ECDs show extremely high color contrast, which has a range from 34 to 97.6% at the maximum absorption wavelength in coloring state. These POD materials are n‐doped type, so they have the potential to work with other p‐doped electrochromic polymers to produce colorful devices.
RETRACTED: Penfluridol triggers mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis and suppresses glycolysis in colorectal cancer cells through down‐regulating hexokinase‐2
Authors: Wang Ning‐Ning , Zhang Peng‐Zhen , Zhang Jing , Wang Hai‐Ning , Li Ling , Ren Feng , Dai Peng‐Fei , Li Hui , Lv Xiao‐Feng
Published: May 2020

Penfluridol, a commonly used antipsychotic agent in a clinical setting, exhibits potential anticancer properties against various human malignancies. Here, we investigated the effect of penfluridol on the biological behavior of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Cell viability and clonogenic potential were detected by the cell counting kit‐8 and colony formation assay. The cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were quantified through flow cytometry. Caspase‐3 activity, glucose consumption, lactate production, and intracellular ATP levels were evaluated using the corresponding commercial detection kits. The protein levels of related genes were detected through western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected using JC‐1 staining. A CRC xenograft tumor model was used to validate the antitumor activity of penfluridol in vivo. Penfluridol reduced cell survival and promoted apoptotic cell death effectively through the mitochondria‐mediated intrinsic pathway in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, the process of glycolysis in HCT‐116 and HT‐29 cells was inhibited upon penfluridol treatment, as evidenced by the decrease in glucose consumption, lactate production, and intracellular ATP levels. Further mechanistic studies revealed that penfluridol influenced cell apoptosis and glycolysis in CRC cells by downregulating hexokinase‐2 (HK‐2). The proapoptotic effect and glycolytic inhibition‐induced by penfluridol were effectively reversed by HK‐2 overexpression. Consistent with in vitro results, penfluridol could also suppress tumor growth and trigger apoptosis in vivo. Penfluridol triggers mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis and induces glycolysis inhibition via modulating HK‐2 in CRC and provides a theoretical basis to support penfluridol as a repurposed drug for CRC patients.
An instrument for the evaluation of muscle dysmorphia: The Italian validation of the adonis complex questionnaire
Authors: Riccobono Giulia , Pompili Assunta , Iorio Carla , Carducci Giorgio , Parnanzone Serena , Pizziconi Giulia , Iannitelli Angela , Pacitti Francesca
Published: May 2020

Background and aims

Muscle dysmorphia (MDM), or bigorexia, is a subcategory of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known as “Adonis Complex” in nonscientific contexts. One of the most used tools to investigate MDM is the Adonis Complex Questionnaire (ACQ). The ACQ is a 13‐item US questionnaire, designed for male subjects only, related to the dissatisfaction and concerns about physical appearance. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the validity of the Italian version of the ACQ.

Methods

The instrument was administered to a sample of 322 male adults, recruited from the general population. We used the maximum‐likelihood confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), analyzing the covariance matrices with AMOS 24.0, to evaluate the different factorial models proposed in the literature.

Results

The evaluation of the factorial structure of the Italian version of the ACQ demonstrates the greater stability and internal consistency of the two‐factor model, compared to the original three‐factor model. The factors have no correlation with the demographic characteristics of the sample.

Conclusions

The present study confirms the validity and the reliability of the Italian two‐factor version of the ACQ and highlights the general tendency, among Italian males, to have concerns about their own physical appearance with recurring thoughts and eating behaviors finalized to improve it. Our study represents an advance in the use of adequate and reliable instruments to assess concerns about physical appearance in the Italian male population.
Circular economy in Latin America: A systematic literature review
Authors: Betancourt Morales Claudia Marcela , Zartha Sossa Jhon Wilder
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify circular economy concept trends of Latin America with regards to Europe, in which a systematic review of literature (SRL) was made using Scopus data in order to define the search, to select the relevant articles, and to analyze the results. Seventy‐one articles from Scopus were reviewed, and the analysis was complemented by the analysis with 57 documents from other scientific Web browsers such as Mendeley, Scopus, Academic Google, ScienceDirect, and SciELo which sum a total of 128 documents which the majority have come from Europe. Main concepts were identified, barriers and trends. The main conclusion was which the current concept is not very clear; in spite of Europe knows that limitation, Latin America is making the same mistake implementation.
Risk factors and predictors of lymph nodes metastasis and distant metastasis in newly diagnosed T1 colorectal cancer
Authors: Guo Kaibo , Feng Yuqian , Yuan Li , Wasan Harpreet S. , Sun Leitao , Shen Minhe , Ruan Shanming
Published: May 2020

Background

Lymph nodes metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis (DM) are important prognostic factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) and determine the following treatment approaches. We aimed to find clinicopathological factors associated with LNM and DM, and analyze the prognosis of CRC patients with T1 stage.

Methods

A total of 17 516 eligible patients with T1 CRC were retrospectively enrolled in the study based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 2004‐2016. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for LNM and DM. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival. We performed the cumulative incidence function (CIF) to further determine the prognostic role of LNM and DM in colorectal cancer‐specific death (CCSD). LNM, DM, and OS nomogram were constructed based on these models and evaluated by the C‐index and calibration plots for discrimination and accuracy, respectively. The clinical utility of the nomograms was measured by decision curve analyses (DCAs) and subgroups with different risk scores.

Results

Tumor grade, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and age accounted for the first three largest proportion among the LNM nomogram scores (all, P < .001), whereas N stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and tumor size occupied the largest percentage in DM nomogram (all, P < .001). OS nomogram was formulated to visually to predict 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐ year overall survivals for patients with T1 CRC. The calibration curves showed an effectively predictive accuracy of prediction nomograms, of which the C‐index were 0.666, 0.874, and 0.760 for good discrimination, respectively. DCAs and risk subgroups revealed the clinical effectiveness of these nomograms.

Conclusions

Novel population‐based nomograms for T1 CRC patients could objectively and accurately predict the risk of LNM and DM, as well as OS for different stages. These predictive tools may help clinicians to make individual clinical decisions, before clinical management.
Assessing the predictive validity of perceived globalness and country of origin of foreign brands in quality judgments among consumers in emerging markets
Authors: Han C. Min
Published: May 2020

Consumers in emerging markets are known to have strong preferences for well‐known foreign brands. Drawing on schema and categorization theories, this study empirically investigates how accessible two components of brand foreignness – globalness and country of brand origin – are in consumer perceptions of brand quality in emerging markets. In addition, we argue that brand globalness can be shaped by inferential reasoning and test how consumer perceptions of brand globalness are affected by both a brand's country of origin and its perceived quality. Two different studies were conducted with young‐adult consumers in China. The study found that in their evaluations of foreign brands consumers are more influenced by country of origin than by brand globalness. It also found that consumers tend to perceive a high level of globalness in high‐quality brands and brands from a favorable country‐of‐origin. Further, this tendency was found to differ between well‐known and lesser‐known brands. These findings confirm the predictive validity of country of origin, but contrast with extant literature on the role of brand globalness as a principal quality cue for foreign brands among consumers in emerging markets. Our findings also imply brand globalness can be an inferred attribute of perceived brand quality and country‐of‐origin image. Keywords: brand foreignness, brand globalness, country‐of‐origin effect, emerging markets.
Management of a patient presenting with anterior STEMI with concomitant COVID‐19 infection early in the course of the U.S. pandemic
Authors: Rothstein Eric S. , Welch Terrence D. , Andrus Bruce W. , Jayne John E.
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) is a viral illness with heterogenous clinical manifestations, ranging from mild symptoms to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2. The global healthcare community is rapidly learning more about the effects of COVID‐19 on the cardiovascular system, as well as the strategies for management of infected patients with cardiovascular disease. There is minimal literature available surrounding the relationship between COVID‐19 infection and acute coronary syndrome. We describe the case of a woman who presented with an acute anterior ST‐elevation myocardial infarction managed by primary percutaneous coronary intervention, who subsequently developed severe COVID‐19 infection and ultimately succumbed to multisystem organ failure.
Metabolic syndrome and concomitant diabetes mellitus are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular comorbidity in patients with primary glomerular diseases: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Xie Zhiyong , Li Zhilian , Dong Wei , Chen Yuanhan , Li Ruizhao , Wu Yanhua , Lin Ting , Tao Yiming , Liang Huaban , Wang Wenjian , Liu Shuangxin , Ye Zhiming , Shi Wei , Liang Xinling
Published: May 2020

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in general population. However, there was a paucity of studies investigating their impact in primary glomerular diseases (PGD).

Hypothesis

MS and concomitant DM are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular comorbidity in PGD.

Methods

In a retrospective observational design, we analyzed 3622 hospitalized adult PGD patients and compared the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity in non‐MS, MS with and without DM. Risk factors for cardiovascular comorbidity were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Among 3622 PGD patients, 308 (8.5%) cases accompanied with MS, including 180 (5.0%) patients with DM and 128 (3.5%) without DM. One hundred and sixty four (4.5%) cases coexisted with cardiovascular comorbidity. Patients with MS and concomitant DM exhibited a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity than those without MS stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate and pathological types. Logistic regression showed that MS and concomitant DM (OR: 2.496, 95% CI: 1.600‐3.894, P < .001), older age (OR: 1.060, 95% CI: 1.047‐1.074, P < .001), male (OR: 1.536, 95% CI: 1.072‐2.200, P = .019), higher level of serum ti (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001‐1.003, P < .001), hyperuricemia (OR: 1.901, 95% CI: 1.327‐2.725, P < .001), idiopathic membranous nephropathy (OR: 2.874, 95% CI: 1.244‐6.640, P < .001) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (OR: 2.906, 95% CI: 1.147‐7.358, P < .001) were independently associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular comorbidity.

Conclusions

In PGD patients, MS and concomitant DM are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular comorbidity. More evidence for the causal link between MS/DM and cardiovascular outcomes is needed to be clarified.
Kikuyugrass germplasm collections in the United States and Australia show low levels of genetic diversity as revealed by DArTseq genotyping
Authors: Pudzianowska Marta , Mock Tyler J. , Martin Peter M. , Lukaszewski Adam J. , Baird James H.
Published: May 2020

Kikuyugrass [Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone (= Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.)] is a warm‐season grass native to Africa. It was introduced into the United States as forage in Hawaii and for erosion control in California. Kikuyugrass is considered invasive and currently is on the USDA's noxious weed list. Since complete eradication is difficult, it has become the primary species on several golf courses, athletic fields, and lawns. Kikuyugrass possesses exceptional quality with considerable cultural inputs, and little or no winter dormancy compared with other warm‐season turfgrasses. With breeding efforts directed specifically at reducing aggressiveness and improving texture, thus reducing inputs, it could become a valuable turf‐type species in coastal and inland California. The genetic diversity of kikuyugrass was investigated using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and silicoDArT (presence or absence) markers revealed by the Diversity Arrays Technology sequencing (DArTseq) platform. Accessions were sampled throughout California, Hawaii, and Australia, both from natural stands and various collections. Among the 254 accessions tested, two distinct groups were discovered, and there was no geographic pattern to this differentiation. The overall level of SNP polymorphism was low (polymorphic information content [PIC] average = .33, PIC median = .38). Most (76%) of the observed genetic variation was within populations, whereas 24% was among populations. Average genetic distances within populations ranged from 0.09 to 0.16, whereas distances among populations ranged from 0.13 to 0.36. Accessions from Hawaii and Australia were the most diverse; however, a detectable level of genetic diversity of kikuyugrass also exists in California, mostly because of the past introductions from Australia.
How to alleviate consumer skepticism concerning corporate responsibility: The role of content and delivery in CSR communications
Authors: Moreno Floritzel , Kang Jiyun
Published: May 2020

Due to heightened levels of consumer skepticism, it has become crucial for many companies to discern what corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to undertake and how to deliver CSR‐related information to consumers. We aim to examine the role of consumer evaluations of a company's CSR, from both content and delivery perspectives, in shaping consumer skepticism about overall corporate responsibility and advancing retail patronage intentions. We conducted an online nationwide survey with 402 U.S. consumers and used structural equation modeling for the data analysis. The results indicate that the fit between a company's core values and the CSR activities it communicates plays a significant role in alleviating skepticism, while the fit between a consumer's personal values and CSR activity does not have significant effects on skepticism. Both inauthentic information and self‐promotional tone significantly increase skepticism, and skepticism is found to be a significant mediator in the paths from CSR content and delivery factors to retail patronage intentions. Our supplementary analyses suggest that delivery of CSR information can be more important than the content itself in affecting skepticism. The results should inspire practitioners, when planning for CSR communication, to carefully consider fit, tone, and authenticity in order to minimize skepticism and avoid negatively impacting consumers' retail patronage intentions.