bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR PHYSICAL PROGRESS MEASUREMENT
Authors: Komurlu Ruveyda , Er Akin
Published: January 2020

Project stakeholders frequently have problems while monitoring the progress of the projects during execution. Since an unbiased measurement system could not be established, progress figures are mainly based on project stakeholders’ own experiences or subjective judgements. Considering the size of the projects, small to medium scale projects suffer the most from this problem. Usually, planning and site organizations of such scale projects are not set up adequately due to tight budgets or limited number of qualified personnel. Therefore, progress calculation method could not be defined efficiently or the data required for calculating project progress could not be gathered accurately. In order to overcome aforementioned difficulties and measure the progress correctly, simplified progress measurement techniques can be a solution. This article intends to describe how a simplified and convenient physical progress measurement method can be established. By separating the project into main elements and defining the most indicative commodities of them, number of parameters, which should be followed in the project can be decreased to a manageable level. Project weights of the elements can be calculated by taking into account standard man-hours required to complete each of them. Finally, construction milestones of the elements can be scheduled in a table, which helps to track and calculate the progress. A footbridge example is simply illustrated in the article to describe the method to readers explicitly.
IMPACT OF COVERING IRRIGATION CANALS ON EVAPORATION RATES IN ARID AREAS
Authors: El Baradei Sherine , Alsadeq Mai
Published: January 2020

Water is the essence of life; thus preserving enough quantities and good quality of water will elevate the standards of living and health of communities. Egyptian government approved Toshka New Valley project to help deal with the rapidly growing population of the country. The project entails building a series of canals; the main is Sheikh Zayed canal - to irrigate portions of the Western Desert of Egypt. It is expected that the recovered land will become home to three million residents by 2020 and cultivate about 550000 feddans. Toshka is a very arid area with high air temperatures; thus very high evaporation rate; about 3 billion m3/year. Researches showed that in the near future Egypt will face scarcity of water. So saving water from Sheikh Zayed canal by reducing evaporation will provide additional source of water to the area. This research aim is to estimate evaporation rate from the canal and its main branches. Variable configurations and spacing of covering canals were chosen to reduce evaporation and at same time allow for re-aeration and other water quality parameters to meet their standards. It was found that full coverage calculated evaporation amount is about 9 million m3/year which could drip irrigate 35000 feddans of wheat per year which is about 7% of the total area of the land intended to be cultivated in Toshka project.
INFLUENCE OF COLLABORATIVE BEHAVIOR ON CLAIM NEGOTIATION
Authors: Awwad Rita , Atallah Stephanie , Menassa Carol
Published: January 2020

The high cost incurred by the resolution of conflicts is largely affected by the existing adversarial nature of the construction industry along with the use of non-efficient dispute resolution methods in construction projects. This paper studies opinion dynamics in the negotiation of construction disputes while trying to understand the behavior and extremism of each contractual party. The developed model uses an agent-based approach to show how each agent’s attitude can influence the negotiation process when solving a dispute. It can also be used to highlight the importance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods and the use of a mediator in helping parties initiate negotiation and decrease the number of negotiation cycles needed to converge. The results showed that negotiation is not only affected by the attitude and character of the agents involved but it is also influenced by the delivery method of the project and the level of intensity of each agent. It was found that when the project is delivered through an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method, parties are more flexible and cooperative and will reach agreement within few negotiation cycles.
MULTI-METHOD MODEL FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Authors: Fitch Gregory J. , Odeh Ibrahim , Kautz Frederick
Published: January 2020

Management practices have a direct impact on the cost of capital used for financing the operations and maintenance of existing infrastructure on a concurrent basis with planning and constructing new projects. This paper identifies best management practices that can improve credit rating, which in-turn theoretically lowers the interest paid on debt. As a result, these best management practices lower the weighted average cost of capital used to maintain existing assets on a concurrent basis with the construction of new infrastructure. As a practical example, this paper identifies the best management practices from the perspective of municipal credit rating agencies in the United States. The current research then constructs a deterministic integer programming model based on these best management practices. The deterministic model is part of multi-method model that will be mathematically embedded into a system dynamics model that can then be used as a facilities management plan. The facilities management plan aims at lowering the weighted average cost of capital for maintaining existing assets while planning and constructing new infrastructure. While the multi-method model is based on municipal credit rating in the U.S., the research goal is to nevertheless show how a system dynamics model is used to implement best management practices that are generally accepted as economically sustainable worldwide.
PRODUCT VERSUS PROCESS: A JUNGLE COMMUNITY CASE STUDY FOUR YEARS LATER OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Authors: Villacis Enrique , Rodriguez Maria Lorena , Ayarza Cynthia
Published: January 2020

More than four years have passed since the collaboration with the Kichwa jungle community of Santa Rita in Ecuador. While designing and building the Cocoa Cabin, we were able to see how technology transfer took place. Based on this case study we will refer to the negative and positive impacts of the technology transfer system over time, acknowledging the differences between a product versus process approach. Comparing three specific points in time where technology transfer was implemented in: the Cocoa City (2010-2015), the Cocoa Cabin (2013-2014), Bolivar´ Lookout (2017), demonstrating how imposed technology leads to misuse or disuse because of lack of participation and understanding, and how technology development, when escorted by people and collaborative processes, leads to successful technology transfer.
BIOMECHANICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND AGE-RELATED FEATURES OF PERSONIFICATION AND INDIVIDUALIZATION DURING QUICKNESS AND SPEED-STRENGTH QUALITIES ENHANCEMENT IN YOUNG WEIGHTLIFTERS
Authors: Isaev A , Khomenko R , Nenasheva A , Shevtsov A , Batueva A
Published: January 2020

Aim. The article deals with studying biomechanical, physiological, and age-related features in young weightlifters during quickness and speed-strength qualities enhancement. Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the precompetitive stage of preparation. Weightlifters aged 14–15 and 16–17 years (n = 15) participated in the experiment. Body composition was studied with the Tanita BC-418AA computer analyzer. The spatial characteristics of spine segments were investigated with the help of the MBN-Scanner computer equipment. Postural studies were conducted with the stabilometric systems produced by MBN Russia. Blood flow spectral analysis was performed using impedance rheography (the Centaur diagnostic system). Results. The body composition of young weightlifters was varied in the following range: muscle mass – 52.4–53.9%, fat mass – 9.0–10.2%. BMI was equal 25.64 kg/m2. The data of the orthostatic test in young weightlifters revealed significant changes in HR, total spectrum power (TSP), and stroke volume regulation (SV) in the experimental group (p < 0.05). In the control group, HR changes were higher than in the experimental group. In 50% of athletes from the groups of sports performance enhancement, eukinetic blood flow was revealed, in 32% – hypokinetic, and in 18% – hypertonic. After a year of training, a consistent increase in stroke volume (SV) was registered, as well as a decrease in HR, peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), heart index, and arterial blood pressure. Conclusion. The control system allows revealing in time the problems connected with weightlifters’ preparation, offering rehabilitation measures, and transforming the training process itself (its orientation, volume, intensity) to optimize body functioning in young weightlifters.
METHODS OF MENTAL HEALTH MAINTENANCE IN TEACHERS EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL STRESS
Authors: Clérico J.-B. , Ilyasov D , Cherepov E , Sevryukova A , Selivanova E , Nikolov N
Published: January 2020

Aim. The article deals with justifying theoretically and describing the authors’ methods of mental health maintenance in teachers experiencing emotional stress. Materials and methods. The proposed methods of mental health maintenance in teachers are based on the ideas of psychosomatics (S. Freud and I. Malkina-Pykh) and non-directive psychotherapy (C. Rogers). Three groups of methods have been described: self-analysis of a current life situation, energy recovery in teachers, and self-regulation of emotions in group interaction. Results. The authors studied neuro-psychological stress in teachers using Nemchin’s method. At the summative stage of the experiment, it was established that 56% of teachers experienced high neuro-psychological stress, and 26% – average. In 2018, the methods described were implemented at one of the comprehensive schools of the Russian Federation. The results of control diagnostics demonstrate a significant decrease in neuro-psychological stress in teachers who implemented these methods of mental health maintenance. This proves the effectiveness of the solutions proposed. Conclusion. This article contributes to the theoretical data on mental health maintenance in modern teachers. The scientific novelty and practical importance of this study are connected with the developed methods of mental health maintenance in teachers. The methods proposed can be used in practice for improving teachers’ expertise both in Russia and abroad.
THE EFFECT OF ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS AND STEP AEROBICS ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN FIRST-YEAR FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS NOT RELATED TO SPORT
Authors: Avdeeva M , Belicheva T
Published: January 2020

Aim. The article deals with establishing the effect of step aerobics and artistic gymnastics on physical performance in first year female university students. Materials and methods. 80 full-time female university students participated in the study. The first group practiced artistic gymnastics (Group 1, n = 40), the second group (Group 2, n = 40) – step aerobics. The mean age was 18.35 ± 0.04 years. In September and December 2017, their physical development, physical fitness, physical performance, respiratory and cardiovascular systems were assessed based on standard procedures using the data of maximum oxygen consumption and the step test. Results. At the beginning of the experiments, there were no statistically significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2. The mean maximum oxygen consumption values corresponded to satisfactory performance (39.85 ± 0.37 – Group 1, 38.92 ± 0.42 – Group 2, р = 0.1). At the end of the experiment, there were statistically significant differences in terms of the mean maximum oxygen consumption: 40.73 ± 0.21 – Group 1 and 41.61 ± 0.21 – Group 2. The results of the ranking showed that the majority of participants demonstrated an increase in physical performance. Group 1 showed an increase in the standing long jump, Group 2 improved 2000 m running time and the standing long jump. Group 2 also demonstrated a decrease in heart rate and an increase in adaptation capacities. Conclusion. The lessons of artistic gymnastics during a semester do not influence significantly physical performance but improve speed-strength characteristics. Step aerobics influences positively physical performance, speed-strength characteristics, and the cardio­vascular system in first-year female university students not related to sport.
EFFECT OF ASSISTED TRAINING ON THE SPECIAL RUNNING PREPARATION OF JUNIOR SPRINTERS FOR 100 AND 200 m
Authors: Stoyanov H
Published: January 2020

Aim. To test the effect of the assisted training tools on the most important indicators affecting speed development and the results in 100 and 200 min junior sprinters. Particular tasks were chosen to test the effect of assisted training on the development of speed, maximum speed, and speed endurance. Materials and methods. The study included a group of 8 junior athletes and lasted seven weeks (the pre-competition mesocycle – 4 weeks; competition mesocycle – 3 weeks). The study focused on the assisted training tools having crucial importance for the results in 100 and 200 m. The effect of these tools on the development of speed, sprint, and speed endurance was tested by establishing the correlations between them. Results. The study revealed that using the 30 m series with assisted training promotedthe maximum speed and start acceleration. There was also a strong correlation between 30 m assisted speed and the result in 100 m, which indicated that this training tool improved both the starting acceleration and maximum speed deve­lopment. Also, it was found out that the 200 m result depended on 30 m AST run and the 100 m time. Conclusion. The results showed that using assisted training tools promoted speed deve­lopment by the improvement of the nervous and muscular capacity in young sprinters.
CHANGES IN THE FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY WHEN PERFORMING CYCLIC MOVEMENTS
Authors: Klendar V , Gross N , Korzhenevsky A
Published: January 2020

Aim. The article aims at improving functional activity in children with cerebral palsy based on the features of adaptation to cyclic motions. Materials and methods. 23 children with cerebral palsy aged from 2 to 14 years participated in the study regardless of the form of disease. Functional shifts were assessed under the effect of cyclic load on the cardiovascular system. The following methods were used for the study: heart rate variability analysis based on the changes in total power spectrum (TPw, mc2), relative values of heart rate spectrum characteristics (HF%, LF%, VLF%), and the Stress Index (SI). Results. It was established that long-term hyponesia affected negatively hemodynamics in children with cerebral palsy and contributed to a decrease in adaptation mechanisms. The initial functional status of children with cerebral palsy was characterized by low values of adaptation reserves, aerobic power, and recovery potential. Adaptive capabilities in children when growing up from 3 to 12 years decrease to asthenization. Conclusion. Motor performance is the most effective factor influencing improvement of functional capabilities in children with cerebral capabilities. The movements of the cyclic type contribute to an increase in excitability and muscle lability, as well as to the development of general endurance.
Refleksi Ajaran Shinto Dalam Omamori
Authors: Rahmah Yuliani
Published: January 2020

(Title: Shintoism Reflection InOmamori) Shinto handed down from generation to the next generation. Shintoism have had a strong influence on the lives of Japanese people, from festival activities to objects in their surroundings. Omamori is known as one form of that influence and became a culture part of the harmonization of the Shintoism and Buddhism. As one of the sacred objects which are still trusted by Japanese people, the existence of omamori is so popular even in modern society. Through a literature review, this article aims to describe what parts of the omamori are a reflection of Shintoism. The results obtained show that the reflection can be seen among others in the omamori user's belief in the existence of kamisama (Gods), and evil spirits, also can be seen from the material of the omamori itself.
REKLAMDA ETİK
Authors: AY Canan , AYTEKİN Pınar
Published: January 2020

Reklamcılık, pazarlamanın en etkin araçlarından birisidir. Reklam çok sayıda tüketiciye ulaştıkça pazar ve toplum üzerinde daha etkili olmakta fakat bu etki her zaman pozitif olmamaktadır. İnsanlar içeriğinden veya sunuluş şeklinden dolayı reklamlara olumsuz tepki verebilmektedirler. Reklamlara karşı toplumda giderek artmakta olan bu tepkiler, aldatıcı, abartılı, tek yönlü karşılaştırmalar, aşırı seksüel içerik ve çocukları uygun olmayacak biçimde hedeflemek gibi çok sayıda meseleyi kapsayan reklamda etik konusunu gündeme getirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, konuyla ilgili literatürü gözden geçirdik ve Türk reklamcılığındaki son dönem örnek ve trendlerini değerlendirdik. Değerlendirmemiz, birçok popüler reklamın ahlaki düşünceleri gözardı ettiğini göstermiştir. Düşüncemize göre kanunlar, düzenlemeler, sosyal tepki ve kritikler, firmaları daha etik düşünmeye ve davranmaya yöneltebilmekte ve reklamcılığın negatif etkisini azaltabilmektedir.
The drivers and evolution of competing forest certification schemes in the Chilean forestry industry
Authors: Tricallotis M. , Kanowski P. , Gunningham N.
Published: January 2020

Forest certification was introduced to Chile twenty years ago, to promote sustainable forest management, address the degradation of natural forests, and ameliorate social issues associated with an economically-successful industrial plantation forestry industry. Adoption of certification
in Chile offers an informative case study of competition between the two international schemes, FSC and the PEFC-endorsed CERTFOR. This qualitative study explores the reasons why forestry businesses in each of the plantation and native forestry sectors sought, promoted and maintained certification
under one or both schemes. Results show that their motivations to adopt and maintain a particular certification scheme depend not only on market access or social licence to operate but also on contextual factors, including the structure of the forest industry and historical land tenure disputes.
The current situation reflects the history of certification: notwithstanding that the schemes have converged, the FSC still dominates the SFM discourse, but Chile's forestry industry has maintained CERTFOR for political reasons.
Quaternionic equiangular lines
Authors: Et-Taoui Boumediene
Published: January 2020

Let 𝔽 = ℝ, ℂ or ℍ. A p-set of equi-isoclinic n-planes with parameter λ in 𝔽
r
is a set of p
n-planes spanning 𝔽
r
each pair of which has the same non-zero angle arccos

λ

$\begin{array}{}
\sqrt{\lambda}
\end{array}$

. It is known that via a complex matrix representation, a pair of isoclinic n-planes in ℍ
r
with angle arccos

λ

$\begin{array}{}
\sqrt{\lambda}
\end{array}$

yields a pair of isoclinic 2n-planes in ℂ2r
with angle arccos

λ

$\begin{array}{}
\sqrt{\lambda}
\end{array}$

. In this article we characterize all the p-tuples of equi-isoclinic planes in ℂ2r
which come via our complex representation from p-tuples of equiangular lines in ℍ
r
. We then construct all the p-tuples of equi-isoclinic planes in ℂ4 and derive all the p-tuples of equiangular lines in ℍ2. Among other things it turns out that the quadruples of equiangular lines in ℍ2 are all regular, i.e. their symmetry groups are isomorphic to the symmetric group S
4.
The Crucial Role of Social Welfare Criteria and Individual Heterogeneity for Optimal Inheritance Taxation
Authors: García-Miralles Esteban
Published: January 2020

This paper extends the calibrations of Piketty and Saez (2013. “A Theory of Optimal Inheritance Taxation.” Econometrica 81 (5): 1851–86) to unveil the importance of the assumed social welfare criteria and its interplay with individual heterogeneity on optimal inheritance taxation. I calibrate the full social optimal tax rate and find that it is highly sensitive to the assumed social welfare criteria. The optimal tax rate ranges from negative (under a utilitarian criterion) to positive and large (even assuming joy of giving motives). A decreasing marginal utility of consumption does not affect the results qualitatively, given the underlying distribution of wealth and income. I also calibrate the optimal tax rate by percentile of the distribution of bequest received, as in Piketty and Saez, but accounting for heterogeneity in wealth and labor income. This leads to significant variation in the optimal tax rate among zero-bequest receivers, contrary to their finding of a constant tax rate.
The macroeconomic impact of shocks to bank capital buffers in the Euro Area
Authors: Kanngiesser Derrick , Martin Reiner , Maurin Laurent , Moccero Diego
Published: January 2020

While the global financial crisis revealed a need for macroprudential policy tools to mitigate the build-up of risk in the financial system, the impact of such policies on the banking sector and the macroeconomy remains largely uncertain. We contribute to the empirical literature that estimates the impact of shocks to bank capital buffers on bank lending and the macroeconomy by estimating a Bayesian VAR model identified with sign restrictions. We use bank-level data for large euro area listed banks to construct an aggregate bank capital buffer for the euro area, which is included as another variable in the model. We estimate three shocks affecting the euro area economy, namely a demand shock, a monetary policy shock and a shock to bank capital buffers. We find that banks curtail lending and reduce their relative exposure to riskier assets in response to a shock to the bank capital buffer. Historical shock decomposition analysis shows that shocks to bank capital buffers have contributed to impair bank lending growth and to widen bank lending spreads, hence depressing economic activity.
Optimal Sizing and Placement of Capacitor Banks and Distributed Generation in Distribution Systems Using Spring Search Algorithm
Authors: Dehghani Mohammad , Montazeri Zeinab , Malik O. P.
Published: January 2020

Integration of capacitor banks (CBs) and distributed generation units (DGs) in distribution systems aims to elevate the system performance. Optimal sizing and placement of CBs and DGs using Spring Search Algorithm (SSA) is proposed. The SSA aims to attain economic, technical, and environmental advantages. Various objective functions: total emissions produced by generation sources, voltage deviation, total electrical energy cost, and power losses are evaluated. SSA simulates Hawk’s Law among weights and springs. In SSA, agents are weights connected to each other by springs. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated on the IEEE 33-bus system. The results indicate superiority of SSA compared with other optimization algorithms.
Postmortem examination protocol and systematic re-evaluation reduce the proportion of unexplained stillbirths
Authors: Pekkola Maria , Tikkanen Minna , Loukovaara Mikko , Lohi Jouko , Paavonen Jorma , Stefanovic Vedran
Published: January 2020

Background

Stillbirth often remains unexplained, mostly due to a lack of any postmortem examination or one that is incomplete and misinterpreted.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, and comprised 214 antepartum singleton stillbirths from 2003 to 2015. Maternal and fetal characteristics and the results of the systematic postmortem examination protocol were collected from medical records. Causes of death were divided into 10 specific categories. Re-evaluation of the postmortem examination results followed.

Results

Based on our systematic protocol, the cause of death was originally defined and reported as such to parents in 133 (62.1%) cases. Re-evaluation of the postmortem examination results revealed the cause of death in an additional 43 (20.1%) cases, with only 23 (10.7%) cases remaining truly unexplained. The most common cause of stillbirth was placental insufficiency in 56 (26.2%) cases. A higher proportion of stillbirths that occurred at ≥39 gestational weeks remained unexplained compared to those that occurred earlier (24.1% vs. 8.6%) (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

A standardized postmortem examination and a re-evaluation of the results reduced the rate of unexplained stillbirth. Better knowledge of causes of death may have a major impact on the follow-up and outcome of subsequent pregnancies. Also, closer examination and better interpretation of postmortem findings is time-consuming but well worth the effort in order to provide better counseling for the grieving parents.
Analysis of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its related indoles in cerebrospinal fluid of leukemic children by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Pingping , Wang Bo , Sun Yanmei , Gao Jian , Lian Kaoqi
Published: January 2020

Background

It is meaningful to quantify some neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for pathology and clinical diagnosis. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable method for detecting 5-hydroxyindole ethanol (5-HTOL), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in CSF by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and explore the clinical significance of the levels of these neurotransmitters in CSF from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods

The levels of 5-HTOL, 5-HIAA, 5-HTP and 5-HT in CSF from children with ALL and a control (CON) group were examined by the proposed GC-MS method.

Results

The GC-MS method showed good sensitivity and accuracy. 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents in the ALL group were significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in 5-HTP and 5-HTOL contents between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This sensitive and reliable method could be used in studies focusing on clinical pathogenesis of ALL.
Terahertz quantum plasmonics at nanoscales and angstrom scales
Authors: Kang Taehee , Bahk Young-Mi , Kim Dai-Sik
Published: January 2020

Through the manipulation of metallic structures, light–matter interaction can enter into the realm of quantum mechanics. For example, intense terahertz pulses illuminating a metallic nanotip can promote terahertz field–driven electron tunneling to generate enormous electron emission currents in a subpicosecond time scale. By decreasing the dimension of the metallic structures down to the nanoscale and angstrom scale, one can obtain a strong field enhancement of the incoming terahertz field to achieve atomic field strength of the order of V/nm, driving electrons in the metal into tunneling regime by overcoming the potential barrier. Therefore, designing and optimizing the metal structure for high field enhancement are an essential step for studying the quantum phenomena with terahertz light. In this review, we present several types of metallic structures that can enhance the coupling of incoming terahertz pulses with the metals, leading to a strong modification of the potential barriers by the terahertz electric fields. Extreme nonlinear responses are expected, providing opportunities for the terahertz light for the strong light–matter interaction. Starting from a brief review about the terahertz field enhancement on the metallic structures, a few examples including metallic tips, dipole antenna, and metal nanogaps are introduced for boosting the quantum phenomena. The emerging techniques to control the electron tunneling driven by the terahertz pulse have a direct impact on the ultrafast science and on the realization of next-generation quantum devices.
Environmentally stable black phosphorus saturable absorber for ultrafast laser
Authors: Jin Xinxin , Hu Guohua , Zhang Meng , Albrow-Owen Tom , Zheng Zheng , Hasan Tawfique
Published: January 2020

Black phosphorus (BP) attracts huge interest in photonic and optoelectronic applications ranging from passive switch for ultrafast lasers to photodetectors. However, the instability of chemically unfunctionalized BP in ambient environment due to oxygen and moisture remains a critical barrier to its potential applications. Here, the parylene-C layer was used to protect inkjet-printed BP-saturable absorbers (BP-SA), and the efficacy of this passivation layer was demonstrated on the stable and continuous operation of inkjet-printed BP-SA in harsh environmental conditions. BP-SA was integrated in an erbium-doped ring laser cavity and immersed in water at ~60°C during operation for investigation. Mode-locked pulses at ~1567.3 nm with ~538 fs pulse width remained stable for >200 h. The standard deviation of spectral width, central wavelength, and pulse width were 0.0248 nm, 0.0387 nm, and 2.3 fs, respectively, in this period, underscoring the extreme stability of BP-SA against high temperature and humidity. This approach could enable the exploitation of BP-based devices for photonic applications when operating under adverse environmental conditions.
Effect of graphene oxide on chloride penetration resistance of recycled concrete
Authors: Guo Kai , Miao Hang , Liu Lin , Zhou Jinghai , Liu Ming
Published: January 2020

Graphene oxide (GO) is a nanomaterial with ultra-high strength, good hydrophilicity, and dispersibility. To study the effect of GO on chloride penetration resistance of recycled concrete, the mechanism of action is investigated. The electric flux method is used to test the chloride penetration in recycled concrete specimens with 0, 0.03%, 0.06%, and 0.09% of GO. The volume change, microscopic pore distribution, and micro-structure morphology are characterized using laser rangefinder, and techniques such as X-ray tomography and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the "coagulation nodule" effect of GO provides a growth basis for cement hydration,which results in a more uniform distribution of the hydrate microcrystals. It fills the micro-cracks of the recycled concrete, reduces the most probable aperture, increases the number of harmless small apertures, and enhances the volume stability of recycled concrete, thereby improving the chloride penetration resistance, which is important for improving the durability of concrete.
Flow Development Through An S-Shaped Diffusing Duct
Authors: Teng Jinfang , Feng Junda , Wu Dongrun , He Pan , Zhu Mingmin
Published: January 2020

This paper focuses on the internal flow development of an S-shaped diffusing duct. Based on the experimental result of total pressure recovery coefficient, the Reynolds stress model (RSM) was selected as a suitable turbulence model for the present study. The numerical results show that 6.2 times the area ratio of the exit to inlet and the aggressive deflection at the first bend of the lower wall lead to strong adverse pressure gradient and very large flow separation, and create a pair of counter-rotating vortices along streamwise direction. The duct diffuser efficiency is 72.37 %. The area-averaged total pressure recovery coefficient at the exit of the duct is 0.9814, and the synthesis distortion index DC (60) is 0.7081.
Extending the knowledge on the quaternary rare earth nickel aluminum germanides of the RENiAl4Ge2 series (RE=Y, Sm, Gd–Tm, Lu) – structural, magnetic and NMR-spectroscopic investigations
Authors: Witt Melina , Bönnighausen Judith , Eustermann Fabian , Savourat Aline , Scheifers Jan P. , Fokwa Boniface P.T. , Doerenkamp Carsten , Eckert Hellmut , Janka Oliver
Published: January 2020

The quaternary rare earth nickel aluminum germanide series RENiAl4Ge2 (RE = Y, Sm, Gd–Tm, Lu) has been extended by several members. The compounds were synthesized from the elements by arc-melting, and single crystals of YNiAl4Ge2, GdNiAl4Ge2, and LuNiAl4Ge2 were grown from an aluminum flux. All members crystallize isostructurally in the rhombohedral SmNiAl4Ge2-type structure (R3̅m, Z = 3). The compounds can be described as a stacking of RE
δ+ and [NiAl4Ge2]
δ−
slabs with an ABC stacking sequence, or alternatively as stacking of CsCl and CdI2 building blocks. The results of the magnetic measurements indicate that all rare earth atoms are in a trivalent oxidation state. Of the RENiAl4Ge2 series, the members with RE = Sm, Gd–Dy exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering with a maximum Néel temperature of T
N = 16.4(1) K observed for GdNiAl4Ge2. 27Al NMR spectroscopic investigations yielded spectra with two distinct signals, in line with the crystal structure, however, significantly different resonance frequencies of δ
iso
ms(YNiAl4Ge2) = 77(1) and 482(1) ppm as well as δ
iso
ms(LuNiAl4Ge2) = 90(1) and 467(1) ppm were observed. These indicate significantly different s-electron densities at the two crystallographically different Al atoms, in line with the results from DFT calculations. The Bader charge analysis confirms that the present compounds must be considered as germanides, as expected from the relative electronegativities of the constituent elements, while the low charges on Al and Y indicate significant covalent bonding.
Hamlet como ironía dominada. Una lectura desde Kierkegaard y la Bildungsroman
Authors: Guerrero M. Luis
Published: January 2020

Con el fin de explorar los aportes de Kierkegaard a la teoría literaria en conexión con la filosofía, este estudio aborda dos cuestiones: el modo específico como Goethe introduce en Los años de aprendizaje de Wilhelm Meister el drama shakesperiano Hamlet, como una forma paradigmática de la Bildungsroman. Este antecedente permite valorar la propuesta de Kierkegaard sobre lo que denominó «ironía dominada», en la cual Shakespeare tiene también un papel relevante. Mi objetivo es hacer una lectura de Hamlet, no exhaustiva pero sí detallada, desde los rasgos más específicos de la ironía kierkegaardiana.
Preliminares
Authors: Oliva Carlos
Published: January 2020

Premilinares
Reproducibility of Pop-Ins in Fracture Test of Heterogeneous Welds and Numerical Assessment of Crack Arrest
Authors: Kanna Sohei , Yamashita Yoichi , Kawabata Tomoya
Published: January 2020

For the occurrence of a “pop-in,” which represents the initiation, propagation, and arrest of a brittle crack in a three-point bending test, the evaluated fracture toughness may be very small. To experimentally verify whether the pop-in occurring at the specimen level is even included in the actual structure, the purpose of this study was to first induce pop-ins in a three-point bending test. It was possible to reproduce a pop-in at a local brittle zone (LBZ) by preparing heterogeneous weld specimens and considering the temperature dependence of the toughness of each welding material. Furthermore, a crack propagation analysis by the nodal release method was conducted. The crack opening stress including dynamic effects was compared before and after the pop-in. Because of the initiation of brittle cracks in the LBZ, the high-stress area shifted from the center with low toughness to the edge with high toughness. Decrease in the crack opening stress was determined as a factor contributing to the crack arrest.
Why Self-Report Measures of Self-Control and Inhibition Tasks Do Not Substantially Correlate
Authors: Wennerhold Lasse , Friese Malte
Published: January 2020

Trait self-control is often defined as the ability to inhibit dominant responses including thoughts, emotions, and behavioral impulses. Despite the pivotal role of inhibition for trait self-control, a growing body of evidence found small-to-zero correlations between self-report measures of trait self-control and behavioral inhibition tasks. These observations seem puzzling considering that both types of measures are often seen as operationalizations of the same or at least closely related theoretical constructs. Previous explanations for this non-correspondence focused on psychometric properties of the measures. Here, we discuss three further factors that may explain the empirical non-correspondence between trait self-control scales and behavioral inhibition tasks: (1) the distinction between typical and maximum performance, (2) the measurement of single versus repeated performance, and (3) differences between impulses in different domains. Specifically, we argue that a) self-report measures of trait self-control are designed to assess typical performance, and relative to these, behavioral inhibition tasks are designed to assess maximum performance; b) self-report measures of trait self-control capture central tendencies of aggregates of many different instances of behavior, whereas behavioral inhibition tasks are momentary, one-time state measures; and c) most self-report measures of trait self-control are designed to measure general, cross-domain inhibition, whereas behavioral inhibition tasks also measure narrower, domain-specific inhibition to a substantial degree. In conclusion, we argue that it is implausible to hypothesize more than a low correlation between self-report measures of trait self-control and behavioral inhibition tasks as they genuinely focus on different aspects of the theoretical construct of self-control. We also discuss the broader implications of these issues for self-control as a theoretical construct and its appropriate measurement.
Klinefelter syndrome and testosterone treatment: a national cohort study on thrombosis risk
Authors: Chang Simon , Christiansen Christian Fynbo , Bojesen Anders , Juul Svend , Münster Anna-Marie B , Gravholt Claus H
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Klinefelter syndrome (KS), 47,XXY, can be viewed as a disease model for investigating the risk of thrombosis in male hypogonadism and the subsequent risk related to testosterone treatment. We describe rates of thrombotic risk factors, thrombosis and thrombosis mortality in KS and the association with testosterone treatment.

Methods

National registry-based matched cohort study with follow-up from 1995 to 2016 set in Denmark. For the study, 1155 men with KS were each matched by year and month of birth to 100 men from the background population. First thrombotic events and thrombosis mortality was evaluated by event rates and hazard ratios (HRs) and by applying testosterone treatment as a time-dependent covariate.

Results

The KS cohort had higher incidence of venous thromboembolism relative to the comparison cohort (HR, 3.95; 95% CI, 2.83–5.52). Total thrombotic deaths were increased in KS (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.18–2.62), and all-cause mortality was increased in KS following arterial thrombosis (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.22–2.47). Only 48.7% of men with KS redeemed prescriptions for testosterone. Untreated men with KS were on average born 12 years before those treated, and the majority of untreated men with KS with available biochemistry were hypogonadal. Testosterone treatment in KS was associated with a non-significant decrease in venous thromboembolism and thrombotic deaths.

Conclusion

Thrombosis and thrombotic deaths are increased in KS. Only half of the men with KS ever received testosterone treatment, despite overt hypogonadism in the non-treated. Testosterone treatment in Klinefelter syndrome was insignificantly associated with lower incidence rates of venous thrombosis and thrombotic deaths.
Sellar surprises: a single-centre experience of unusual sellar masses
Authors: Thakkar Kunal , Ramteke-Jadhav Swati , Kasaliwal Rajeev , Memon Saba Samad , Patil Virendra , Thadani Puja , Lomte Nilesh , Sankhe Shilpa , Goel Atul , Epari Sridhar , Goel Naina , Lila Anurag , Shah Nalini S , Bandgar Tushar
Published: January 2020

Background

Most common incidentally detected sellar-suprasellar region (SSR) masses are pituitary adenomas, followed by craniopharyngioma, rathke’s cleft cyst, hypophysitis, and meningioma. Besides these, certain unusual SSR lesions can sometimes present as diagnostic challenges, where diagnosis is often made post-operatively on histopathology, the pre-operative suspicion of which might have influenced the management strategies. Series describing such masses are few.

Objective

To present clinical, biochemical, and radiological characteristics and management outcomes of rare SSR lesions other than pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngioma, rathke’s cleft cyst, hypophysitis, and meningioma.

Design, setting, patients

Retrospective case record analysis of patients with uncommon SSR masses (from January 2006 to December 2016).

Results

Our series consisted of ten patients, five with neoplastic and five with non-neoplastic lesions. Neoplastic masses included granular cell tumor (n = 2), astrocytoma (n = 1), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST, n = 1), and metastasis from occult papillary carcinoma of thyroid (n = 1), while non-neoplastic masses were aspergillus abscess (n = 1), sterile abscess (n = 1), and tubercular abscess (n = 1), aneurysm of left internal carotid artery (n = 1), and ruptured dermoid cyst (n = 1). All patients (except one) presented with headache and/or visual disturbance. Only one patient had acromegaly while most others had hypopituitarism. We describe detailed MRI characteristics of each of the lesion. Seven patients underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery. Post-operatively, five patients had permanent diabetes insipidus, while two patients died in early post-operative period.

Conclusion

Our series expand the differential diagnostic considerations of SSR lesions. Most of the rare SSR masses present with symptoms of mass effects and hypopituitarism. Except for some non-neoplastic lesions like sellar abscesses, aneurysms, and dermoid cysts which can have some specific imaging characteristics that can provide clue to pre-operative diagnosis, most of the other neoplastic masses have overlapping radiological features, and pre-operative suspicion remains difficult.
Characteristic gut microbiota and predicted metabolic functions in women with PCOS
Authors: Zhou Ling , Ni Zhexin , Cheng Wen , Yu Jin , Sun Shuai , Zhai Dongxia , Yu Chaoqin , Cai Zailong
Published: January 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrine and metabolic disease. Gut microbiota is closely related to many chronic diseases. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional study and recruited 30 obese (OG) and 30 non-obese (NG) women with PCOS, 30 healthy women (NC) and 11 healthy but obese women (OC) as controls to investigate the characteristic gut microbiota and its metabolic functions in obese and non-obese patients with PCOS. The blood and non-menstrual faecal samples of all the participants were collected and analysed. As a result, the Hirsutism score, LH/FSH and serum T level in NG and OG both increased significantly compared with their controls (P < 0.05). High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiota changed in patients with PCOS. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) indicated that Lactococcus was the characteristic gut microbiota in NG, while Coprococcus_2 in OG. Correlation heatmap analysis revealed that the sex hormones and insulin levels in human serum were closely related to the changes in the gut microbiota of NG and OG. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated that the citrate cycle pathway enriched both in NG and OG, and other 12 gut bacterial metabolic pathways enriched in NG. This study highlighted significant differences in the gut microbiota and predictive functions of obese and non-obese women with PCOS, thereby providing insights into the role and function of the gut microbiota that may contribute to the occurrence and development of PCOS in obese and non-obese women.
Lipid accumulation product independently correlate with hepatic steatosis quantified by controlled attenuation parameter in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Zheng Silan , Tong Meifeng , Dong Lianqin , Du Chunmin , Zheng Xin , Wang Liying , Huang Peiying , Liu Wei , Lin Mingzhu , Liu Changqin
Published: January 2020

Objective

To explore the independent associations of the new adiposity indices lipid accumulation product (LAP) index, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and product of triglycerides and glucose (TyG) with the risks of hepatic steatosis (HS) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design

This is a cross-sectional study with 101 women with PCOS undergoing controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measurement who were recruited from November 2018 to August 2019. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the associations of adiposity indices with HS.

Result(s)

Among the 101 PCOS patients, the prevalence rate of HS was 70.3%. The PCOS patients with HS have higher percentage of overweight/obesity status, higher level of aminotransferase (AST and ALT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), LAP, VAI, TyG, waist circumference (WC), and BMI (P < 0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed LAP, WC and BMI were significantly positively associated with CAP (P < 0.05) after controlling for confounding factors. Besides, BMI, WC, and CAP were gradually elevated with the increase of LAP level. Further, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed adjusted odd ratio (OR) with associated 95% CI (OR (95% CI)) were respectively 1.09 (1.03–1.16) for LAP, 1.14 (1.05–1.23) for WC, 1.28 (1.08–1.51) for BMI, respectively.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that in women with PCOS, except for the traditional adiposity indices (WC and BMI), LAP is independently correlated with the risk of HS.
FOXE1 regulates migration and invasion in thyroid cancer cells and targets ZEB1
Authors: Morillo-Bernal Jesús , Fernández Lara P , Santisteban Pilar
Published: January 2020

FOXE1 is a thyroid-specific transcription factor essential for thyroid gland development and maintenance of the differentiated state. Interestingly, a strong association has been recently described between FOXE1 expression and susceptibility to thyroid cancer, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying FOXE1-induced thyroid tumorigenesis. Here, we used a panel of human thyroid cancer-derived cell lines covering the spectrum of thyroid cancer phenotypes to examine FOXE1 expression and to test for correlations between FOXE1 expression, the allele frequency of two SNPs and a length polymorphism in or near the FOXE1 locus associated with cancer susceptibility, and the migration ability of thyroid cancer cell lines. Results showed that FOXE1 expression correlated with differentiation status according to histological sub-type, but not with SNP genotype or cell migration ability. However, loss-and-gain-of-function experiments revealed that FOXE1 modulates cell migration, suggesting a role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our previous genome-wide expression analysis identified Zeb1, a major EMT inducer, as a putative Foxe1 target gene. Indeed, gene silencing of FOXE1 decreased ZEB1 expression, whereas its overexpression increased ZEB1 transcriptional activity. FOXE1 was found to directly interact with the ZEB1 promoter. Lastly, ZEB1 silencing decreased the ability of thyroid tumoral cells to migrate and invade, pointing to its importance in thyroid tumor mestastases. In conclusion, we have identified ZEB1 as a bona fide target of FOXE1 in thyroid cancer cells, which provides new insights into the role of FOXE1 in regulating cell migration and invasion in thyroid cancer.