bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Argon–water DBD pretreatment and vapor‐phase silanization of silica: Comparison with wet‐chemical processes
Authors: Klages Claus‐Peter , Raev Vitaly , Murugan Divagar , Sai Vemulakonda Venkata Raghavendra
Published: March 2020

A dielectric‐barrier discharge (DBD) in an argon–water mixture is applied to plasma pretreatment (PP) of amorphous silica for subsequent vapor‐phase silanization (VS) in the same reactor. Comparison of amino‐silanization of silica fiber‐optic biosensor probes using a PP/VS sequence with strategies involving wet‐chemical pretreatment or silanization shows a considerable improvement in reproducibility by the completely dry process. Practical applicability is demonstrated by an immunoassay with human immunoglobulin G as analyte. Thanks to the advantages of shorter processing time, avoidance of washing steps, and improved reproducibility, PP/VS is highly promising for industrial use.
Effect of Morphology for Ammonium Dinitramide on the Mechanical and Combustion Properties of Composite Propargyl‐terminated Copolyether Propellant
Authors: Gong Li , Li Yonghui , Guo Yanpei , Li Jianmin , Yang Rongjie
Published: March 2020

Because the isocyanate‐crosslinked copolyether binder system has poor compatibility with ammonium dinitramide (ADN), the click‐chemistry propargyl‐terminated ethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran copolyether (PTPET) binder cured by multi‐functional azide is introduced. In the solid propellant, the effects of spherical ADN and flaky ADN on the mechanical and combustion properties of PTPET solid propellants were investigated. The results show that the mechanical properties of the propellant prepared with the ADN‐spherical were comprehensively better than those of the propellant prepared with the ADN‐flaky. The ϵb/ϵm of the propellant with ADN‐spherical was obviously lower than that of the propellant with ADN‐flaky when the temperature at −40 °C. There was a sharp peak around −40 °C, followed by a broad peak, and a step rise near 40 °C about the DMA curves of both propellants. The burning rate measurement results showed that propellant prepared with flaky ADN had the higher burning rate at 3–17 MPa. The flame structures of both propellants showed stable combustion but the size of aluminum particles in flame zone for the propellant prepared with flaky ADN was larger.
Development and Characterization of a Photopolymeric Binder for Additively Manufactured Composite Solid Propellant Using Vibration Assisted Printing
Authors: McClain Monique S. , Afriat Aaron , Rhoads Jeffrey F. , Gunduz Ibrahim Emre , Son Steven F.
Published: March 2020

An emerging area of research in the energetic materials community is the development of new manufacturing methods, such as additive manufacturing (AM), that can be used to selectively deposit energetic materials into complex geometries, which provides more control over how the energetics perform during combustion. Although ammonium perchlorate (AP) composite propellant has been 3D printed at solids loadings that are comparable to traditional formulations (85 wt.%) with vibration assisted printing (VAP), traditional propellant binders such as hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) are poorly suited for 3D printing large or complex structures because propellant made with HTPB deforms easily under its own weight and isocyanates do not crosslink HTPB fast enough to facilitate rapid polymerization after deposition. Ultraviolet (UV) curable photopolymers have been used for many types of AM processes, such as stereolithography, and there is a variety of commercially available binders with customizable chemical and mechanical properties. However, little work has been done to characterize the optimal cure characteristics of UV curable binders that are compatible with composite propellants. Furthermore, it has also been speculated that aluminized propellants may not be amenable to UV curing since opaque particles impede UV transmission. In this work, the curing properties of a photopolymer that has similar characteristics to HTPB with AP and aluminum were quantified. The ingredients consisted of a polybutadiene urethane acrylate and hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) polymer binder, which could be mixed in various ratios to control properties such as adhesion to particle surfaces and viscosity, as well as bisacylphosphine oxide (BAPO) which is a well‐known photoinitiator for deep curing in the coatings industry. The effect of wavelength, exposure time, and intensity on cure depth were quantified on the neat photopolymer. In addition, the effect of aluminum content (up to 20 %) on the cure depth of propellant with a solids loading of 85 wt.% was measured. It was shown that at higher intensities (∼20 mW/cm2), aluminized propellants could be cured to depths on the order of 1–2 mm, which is greater than the typical layer thickness of propellants printed via VAP (∼0.25 mm). In addition, it was shown that there were no visible interfaces in aluminized propellant (15 % aluminum) that was cured layer‐by‐layer. The approach taken could be applied to a wide range of other granular, opaque composite materials, such as metal, ceramic, and fibrous mixtures.
Decomposition‐based multiinnovation gradient identification algorithms for a special bilinear system based on its input‐output representation
Authors: Wang Longjin , Ji Yan , Yang Hualin , Xu Ling
Published: March 2020

This article considers the parameter estimation for a special bilinear system with colored noise. Its input‐output representation is derived by eliminating the state variables in the bilinear system. Based on the input‐output representation of the bilinear system, a multiinnovation generalized extended stochastic gradient (MI‐GESG) algorithm is proposed by using the multiinnovation identification theory. Furthermore, a decomposition‐based multiinnovation (ie, hierarchical multiinnovation) generalized extended stochastic gradient identification (H‐MI‐GESG) algorithm is derived to enhance the parameter estimation accuracy by using the hierarchical identification principle, and a GESG algorithm is presented for comparison. Compared with the existing identification algorithms for the bilinear system, the proposed MI‐GESG and H‐MI‐GESG algorithms can generate more accurate parameter estimation. Finally, a simulation example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Adaptive event‐triggered global fast finite‐time control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Sun Wenjun , Zhao Junsheng , Sun Wei , Xia Jianwei , Sun Zong‐Yao
Published: March 2020

This article designs an adaptive event‐triggered controller to solve the problem of global finite‐time stabilization for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. By using the symbol function technique, the event‐triggered error is completely compensated, the adaptive technique and the back‐stepping method are simultaneously applied to the controller design, and the new way of designing controller is completed on the basis of fast finite‐time stability theory. Subsequently, taking Lyapunov stability theorem into account, the system stability is proved, and the system is demonstrated by contradiction to be non‐zeno. Finally, giving a simulation example to display the feasibility of this method.
Modified instanton sum in QCD and higher-groups
Authors: Tanizaki Yuya , Ünsal Mithat
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We consider the SU(N) Yang-Mills theory, whose topological sectors are restricted to the instanton number with integer multiples of p. We can formulate such a quantum field theory maintaining locality and unitarity, and the model contains both 2π-periodic scalar and 3-form gauge fields. This can be interpreted as coupling a topological theory to Yang-Mills theory, so the local dynamics becomes identical with that of pure Yang-Mills theory. The theory has not only ℤN 1-form symmetry but also ℤp 3-form symmetry, and we study the global nature of this theory from the recent ’t Hooft anomaly matching. The computation of ’t Hooft anomaly incorporates an intriguing higher-group structure. We also carefully examine that how such kinematical constraint is realized in the dynamics by using the large-N and also the reliable semiclassics on ℝ3 × S1, and we find that the topological susceptibility plays a role of the order parameter for the ℤp 3-form symmetry. Introducing a fermion in the fundamental or adjoint representation, we find that the chiral symmetry becomes larger than the usual case by ℤp, and it leads to the extra p vacua by discrete chiral symmetry breaking. No dynamical domain wall can interpolate those extra vacua since such objects must be charged under the 3-form symmetry in order to match the ’t Hooft anomaly.
A MATLAB code for topology optimization using the geometry projection method
Authors: Smith Hollis , Norato Julián A.
Published: March 2020

This work introduces a MATLAB code to perform the topology optimization of structures made of bars using the geometry projection method. The primary objective of this code is to make available to the structural optimization community a simple implementation of the geometry projection method that illustrates the formulation and makes it possible to easily and efficiently reproduce results. A guiding principle in writing the code is modularity, so that researchers can easily modify the program for their own purposes. Another goal is efficiency, for which extensive use of vectorization is made. This paper details the formulation of the geometry projection, discusses implementation aspects of the code, and demonstrates some of its capabilities by presenting several 2D and 3D compliance minimization examples.
Tod bei der Arbeit – eine Analyse tödlicher Arbeitsunfälle von 2005 bis 2016 im Obduktionsgut des Instituts für Rechtsmedizin in Frankfurt am Main
Authors: Dieterich C. , Herrmann E. , Parzeller M.
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund

Das genaue Wissen um die Umstände eines jeden tödlichen Arbeitsunfalls ist Voraussetzung für die Identifizierung von Unfallschwerpunkten und ermöglicht eine effektive Präventionsarbeit. Mit dieser rechtsmedizinischen Studie zum Arbeitsunfallgeschehen soll ein Beitrag dazu geleistet werden, die Zahl tödlicher Arbeitsunfälle in Deutschland zu senken.

Material und Methode

Zur Untersuchung kamen die tödlichen Arbeitsunfälle, die sich im Einzugsbereich des rechtsmedizinischen Instituts Frankfurt am Main in den Jahren von 2005 bis 2016 ereigneten. Ausgewertet wurden Obduktionsprotokolle sowie die dem Institut zur Verfügung gestellten staatsanwaltschaftlichen Ermittlungsakten.

Ergebnisse

Es fanden sich 87 tödliche Arbeitsunfälle in dem genannten Zwölfjahreszeitraum. Die Altersstruktur reichte vom jugendlichen Alter bis in das Rentenalter. Betroffen waren zum größten Teil männliche Arbeiter (96,6 %, p < 0,0001), verhältnismäßig häufig ausländischer Nationalität (34,5 %). Die meisten Unfälle ereigneten sich in der 2. Jahreshälfte (58,6 %), an Montagen (26,4 %), kurz vor und nach der Mittagspause. In 3 Fällen lag die Blutalkoholkonzentration über 0,5‰. Die Baubranche (55,2 %) war der unfallträchtigste Wirtschaftszweig. Der Absturz (28,7 %) war der häufigste Unfallmechanismus und das Polytrauma (39,1 %) gemeinsam mit dem Schädel-Hirn-Trauma (24,1 %) gemäß dem ISS die häufigste Todesursache.

Diskussion

Nach den Ergebnissen dieser Studie sollten Alter der Arbeiter sowie die Tages‑, Wochen- und Jahreszeit bei der Ausführung risikoreicher Arbeiten im Baugewerbe berücksichtigt werden. Besonderes Augenmerk sollten Arbeitgeber auf die Kontrolle von Sicherheitsvorkehrungen bei Arbeiten in der Höhe sowie auf die Durchsetzung der Helmpflicht gerade auch bei ausländischen Arbeitnehmern legen.
Intratympanic application of triamcinolone in sudden hearing loss—radiologic anatomy in cone beam CT and its’ correlation to clinical outcome
Authors: Roßberg Willi , Goetz Friedrich , Timm Max Eike , Lenarz Thomas , Helmstaedter Victor
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To evaluate temporal bone cone-beam CT in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) being treated with primary and secondary intratympanic (IT) triamcinolone and to possibly correlate these results to the clinical outcome.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients treated with IT triamcinolone for ISSNHL at our department in 2018. Pre- and post-therapeutic audiologic examinations included four-tone average (FTA) at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz. Using a clinical questionnaire, pre-therapeutic CBCT scans were re-evaluated looking at items, which might interfere with adequate drug diffusion into the inner ear (e.g. bony overhangs or secondary membranes at the round or oval window).

Results

Thirty-one patients were included. Twenty-four (77%; group A) had experienced ineffective systemic steroid therapy before and seven (23%; group B) received primary IT injections. Four group A-patients (21%) and two group B-patients (33%) showed a post-therapeutic FTA improvement of more than 15 dB HL. Bony overhangs at the round window niche (RWN) were present in seven cases (26%), a secondary membrane at the RWN in four (15%) and soft tissue in eight (30%) cases, respectively.

Conclusion

Most patients present radiological findings in CBCT imaging, which might interfere with drug diffusion through the RW membrane. Interestingly, soft or bony tissue obstructing the RWN or the OWN was found in 50% of patients, who showed improvement of hearing. We conclude that radiologic ‘tiny’ findings are either clinically irrelevant or improvement in hearing is independent from intratympanic drug delivery.
Ischemic stroke and dose adjustment of oral Factor Xa inhibitors in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Stoll Svenja , Macha Kosmas , Marsch Armin , Gerner Stefan T. , Siedler Gabriela , Fröhlich Kilian , Volbers Bastian , Strasser Erwin F. , Schwab Stefan , Kallmünzer Bernd
Published: March 2020

Background

Oral Factor Xa inhibitors for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation require dose adjustment based on certain clinical criteria, but the off-label use of the reduced doses is common.

Methods

Data from an observational registry including patients admitted with acute cerebral ischemia while taking oral Factor Xa inhibitors for atrial fibrillation between April 2016 and December 2018 were investigated. The dose regimen of the Xa inhibitor was classified as “appropriate”, “underdosed” and “overdosed” in conformity with the European Medicines Agency labelling. The effect of underdosing on the functional factor Xa plasma level on admission, the clinical stroke severity and the functional outcome after 3 months were investigated.

Results

254 patients with cerebral ischemia while on Factor Xa inhibitors were included. The dose regimen of the Factor Xa inhibitor was appropriate in 166 patients (65%), underdosed in 67 patients (26%) and overdosed in 21 patients (8%). Underdosing was associated with female sex, diabetes mellitus and higher CHA2DS2–Vasc scores. Underdosing independently predicted lower anti-Xa plasma levels on admission [median 69.4 ng/ml (IQR 0.0–121.6) vs. 129.2 ng/ml (65.5–207.2); p < 0.001], was associated with higher NIHSS scores on admission [median 5 (IQR 1–10) vs. 3 (1–7); p = 0.041] and worse functional outcome after 3 months (favorable outcome 26.9% vs. 46.9%; p = 0.025).

Conclusion

One in three patients with ischemic stroke during treatment with oral Xa inhibitors used inappropriate dose regimens. Underdosing was associated with lower functional plasma levels, higher clinical stroke severity and worse functional outcome.
Prediction contribution of the cranial collateral circulation to the clinical and radiological outcome of ischemic stroke
Authors: Conrad Julian , Ertl Matthias , Oltmanns Meret H. , zu Eulenburg Peter
Published: March 2020

Background and Aim

The extent of penumbra tissue and outcome in stroke patients depend on the collateral cranial vasculature. To provide optimal individualized care for stroke patients in the emergency room setting we investigated the predictive capability of a stringent evaluation of the collateral vessels in ischemic stroke on clinical outcome and infarct size.

Methods

We retrospectively studied uniform clinical and radiological data of 686 consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected acute ischemic stroke. Cranial collateral vasculature status was graded using the initial CT-angiography. Outcome was measured by mRS, NIHSS and final infarct size at hospital discharge. All data were used to build a linear regression model to predict the patients´ outcome.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses showed significant effects of the whole brain collateral vessel score on all outcome variables. Atherosclerosis and piale collateral status were associated with the final infarct volume (FIV). Atherosclerosis and age were associated with the NIHSS at discharge. The presence of atherosclerosis, glucose level on admission and age were associated with the mRS at discharge. The multivariate models were able to predict 29% of the variance of the mRS at discharge, 24% of the variance in FIV and 17% of the variance of the NIHSS at discharge. The whole brain collateral status and the presence of atherosclerosis were the most relevant predictors for the clinical and radiological outcome.

Conclusion

The whole brain collateral vasculature status is clearly associated with clinical and radiological outcome but in a multivariate model seems not sufficiently predictive for FIV, mRS and NIHSS outcome at discharge in non-preselected patients admitted to the emergency department with ischemic stroke.
Reduced cement volume does not affect screw stability in augmented pedicle screws
Authors: Weiser Lukas , Sellenschloh Kay , Püschel Klaus , Morlock Michael M. , Viezens Lennart , Lehmann Wolfgang , Huber Gerd
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Cement augmentation of pedicle screws is able to improve screw anchorage in osteoporotic vertebrae but is associated with a high complication rate. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of different cement volumes on pedicle screw fatigue strength.

Methods

Twenty-five human vertebral bodies (T12–L4) were collected from donors between 73 and 97 years of age. Bone density (BMD) was determined by quantitative computed tomography. Vertebral bodies were instrumented by conventional pedicle screws, and unilateral cement augmentation was performed. Thirteen vertebrae were augmented with a volume of 1 ml and twelve with a volume of 3 ml bone cement. A fatigue test was performed using a cranial–caudal sinusoidal, cyclic load (0.5 Hz) with increasing compression force (100 N + 0.1 N/cycles).

Results

The load to failure was 183.8 N for the non-augmented screws and was increased significantly to 268.1 N (p < 0.001) by cement augmentation. Augmentation with 1 ml bone cement increased the fatigue load by 41% while augmentation with 3 ml increased the failure load by 51% compared to the non-augmented screws, but there was no significant difference in fatigue loads between the specimens with screws augmented with 1 ml and screws augmented with 3 ml of bone cement (p = 0.504).

Conclusion

Cement augmentation significantly increases pedicle screw stability. The benefit of augmentation on screw anchorage was not significantly affected by reducing the applied volume of cement from 3 ml to 1 ml. Considering the high risk of cement leakage during augmentation, we recommend the usage of a reduced volume of 1 ml bone cement for each pedicle screw.

Graphic Abstract

These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material .
Simulation of hysteresis in soil–water retention with a correlation between the invading pressure to the governing effective flow area
Authors: Sattari Amir Shoarian , Siebelist Marlena , Toker Nabi Kartal , Wuttke Frank
Published: March 2020

In order to determine the soil–water retention (SWR) behavior of a particulate medium, the invading phase pressure in the inter-particle level is correlated to the governing effective pore area in the wetting and drying paths. In a three-phase medium that consists of air, wetting fluid and solids, the invading phase on the drying path is air, whereas on the wetting path the wetting fluid advances into the cavities. On a drying path where the area of a cavity is minimum, the air-entry pressure (AEP) of a pore throat is determined by numerically solving the Young–Laplace curvature equation. This can be done using the finite difference method and Newton–Raphson (Jacobian) approximation technique. Next, a relation between the pore area and the value of AEP is developed by varying the distance between solids around the pore throat. Similarly, the water-entry pressure (WEP) is correlated to a maximum pore area of cavity. After packing the particulate domain with the given particle size distribution (PSD) and void ratio values, the primary/main drying and wetting paths of the wetting fluid are simulated and the effect of hysteresis in SWR is shown. It is considered that the total suction equals to matric suction value and the water bridges between two adjacent particles are formed in the form of pendular rings. In this study, the considered material is non-plastic and the shrinkage and swelling during the drying and wetting phases or any change in pore structure are neglected. The simulation results are compared to experimentally determined as well as estimated data from the literature and a great agreement between the results is found, which offers a reliable way around conducting tedious and expensive SWR tests.
Anhaltende Haushaltsüberschüsse — Zeit für Steuersenkungen?
Authors: Homburg Stefan , Schratzenstaller Margit , Peichl Andreas , Fuest Clemens , Hüther Michael , Bach Stefan , Truger Achim
Published: March 2020

Deutschland hat mittlerweile seit acht Jahren Überschüsse oder ausgeglichene öffentliche Haushalte zu verzeichnen. Entsprechend ist auch die Schuldenstandsquote so weit gesunken, dass das Maastricht-Kriterium wieder eingehalten wird. Diese durch einen langanhaltenden wirtschaftlichen Aufschwung begünstigte Entwicklung führt zu Streit darüber, wie die Überschüsse verwendet werden sollen. Einerseits gibt es einen Konsens, dass dringend Investitionen für die Klima- und Verkehrswende sowie für mehr Bildung und Innovationen benötigt werden, andererseits sehen einige die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Deutschlands gefährdet, weil Unternehmen steuerlich überdurchschnittlich belastet seien. Die gute Haushaltslage könnte es aber auch erleichtern, eine grundlegende Reform des Steuer- und Abgabensystems durchzusetzen. Dabei sollte beachtet werden, dass Änderungen im Steuersystem ganz unterschiedliche Wirkungen auf die oberen oder die unteren Einkommensgruppen haben.
Sicherungsziele für die Rente: empirische Messung und Ergebnisse
Authors: Dudel Christian , Schmied Julian , Werding Martin
Published: March 2020

Die Höhe gesetzlicher Altersrenten steht in Deutschland in den letzten Jahren wieder im Mittelpunkt öffentlicher Debatten. Überraschenderweise gibt es aber nur wenig Forschung zur Frage, wie hoch Renten eigentlich sein sollten. In diesem Beitrag werden empirisch fundierte Sicherungsziele aus der Literatur diskutiert und einige neue Berechnungen für Deutschland präsentiert. Die Sicherungsziele decken eine weite Bandbreite ab und entsprechen, gemessen am Einkommen vor dem Renteneintritt, Ersatzquoten von 33 % bis 50 %, wenn Armutsvermeidung das Ziel ist, und von 88 % bis 98 % zur Sicherung des Lebensstandards. Die in Deutschland durch gesetzliche Renten tatsächlich erreichten Ersatzquoten liegen in der Regel über den Werten zur Armutsvermeidung, aber unter der Lebensstandardsicherung.
Bahnsektor — Krise trotz erhöhter Finanzmittel
Authors: Böttger Christian
Published: March 2020

Auf den ersten Blick ist die Lage für die Eisenbahn in Deutschland recht günstig. Die Bahn konnte in den letzten Jahren, trotz eher ungünstiger intermodaler Rahmenbedingungen, ihren Marktanteil leicht ausbauen. Angesichts der aktuell intensiven Debatte darüber, wie sich die Klimaziele erreichen lassen, genießt die Eisenbahn in Politik und Medien große Unterstützung. Der Bund hat die Mittel für die Schiene deutlich erhöht, aktuell zeigen sich jedoch ausgeprägte Krisensymptome: Die Zuverlässigkeit der Infrastruktur sinkt seit Jahren, die Gewinnmargen im Güterverkehr sind sehr niedrig, im Regionalverkehr sind die Margen aller Betreiber eingebrochen. Die Deutsche Bahn AG steckt in einer Führungs- und Finanzkrise.
Straßengüterverkehr: geplantes EU-Entsenderecht — ein protektionistischer Affront?
Authors: Eisenkopf Alexander , Knorr Andreas
Published: March 2020

Der Straßengüterverkehr ist das Rückgrat des Warenaustauschs im Europäischen Binnenmarkt, denn der überwiegende Teil der in Europa gehandelten Waren wird allen politischen Bekenntnissen zur Verlagerung auf die Schiene zum Trotz nach wie vor per Lkw transportiert. In dieser Branche kommt es jedoch, auch angesichts des starken Wachstums der letzten Jahre, zunehmend zu Verwerfungen. Vordergründig wird über das Problem des Fahrermangels diskutiert, der sich nicht nur in Westeuropa, sondern mittlerweile sogar in den osteuropäischen Staaten bemerkbar macht. Im Hintergrund stellt sich aber die Frage, ob die Prinzipien des Binnenmarkts — insbesondere die Dienstleistungsfreiheit — und die Wettbewerbssituation auf den nationalen Transportmärkten noch kompatibel sind.
Erfolgreiche Nachverhandlung des Freihandelsvertrags mit Mexiko
Authors: Scherrer Christoph
Published: March 2020

Das Freihandelsabkommen zwischen den USA, Mexiko und Kanada in der Nachfolge zum NAFTA ist seit Beginn 2020 Gesetz in den USA. Das Abkommen wird sowohl von den betroffenen Wirtschaftsbereichen als auch von den Gewerkschaften unterstützt. In den vom Kongress erzwungenen Nachverhandlungen wurden insbesondere arbeitsrechtliche Vorschriften vereinbart, die vor Lohndumping aus Mexiko schützen sollen. Diese Vorschriften könnten für weitere Handelsabkommen Vorbild sein.
Effects of Xuezhitong in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia: a Multicentre, Randomized, Double-Blind, Double Simulation, Positive Drug and Placebo Parallel Control Study
Authors: Jia Wenhao , Li Yan , Wan Jie , Cui Xiaoyun , Lu Jinjin , Liu Jing , Li Dong , Li Lei , Zou Ting , Ding Junpin , Lin Qian
Published: March 2020

Backgroud

Xuezhitong (XZT) is an extract of Allium macrostemon Bunge that has lipid-lowering properties.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of XZT on lipids in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) without severe dyslipidaemia.

Methods

A total of 358 subjects with HTG were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive XZT (2700 mg daily), xuezhikang (XZK) (1200 mg daily) or placebo. The primary endpoint was the reduction or percent reduction in the TG level over 12 weeks of treatment.

Results

At the 12-week follow-up, a reduction in the TG level from baseline was observed in both groups, but the XZT and XZK groups demonstrated a significantly greater reduction than the placebo group (30.77%, 24.02% vs 11.59%, P < 0.0167); 70.54% of subjects in the XZT group and 62.30% of subjects in the XZK group demonstrated reductions in TG levels of at least 20%, compared with 41.67% of the subjects in the placebo group (P < 0.0167). Treatment with XZT capsules also demonstrated superior performance compared with the placebo with respect to the control of lipids (17.97% vs 5.00%), total cholesterol (TC) (14.18% vs 3.89%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (17.98% vs 2.95%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (21.47% vs 2.16%). Daily use of XZT for 12 weeks resulted in statistically significant (65.22% vs 38.30%, 25.00%; P < 0.0167) and clinically meaningful increases in HDL-C levels by ≥4 mg/dl compared with XZK and placebo. XZT was safe and well tolerated; the safety and tolerability profiles were similar across treatment groups. No subject experienced myopathy or markedly elevated liver transaminases or creatine kinase.

Conclusions

XZT significantly reduced TG levels and was well tolerated. Longer-term studies in more diverse patient populations are needed to corroborate these findings.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.chictr.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR1900025854.
Awareness growth and dispositional attitudes
Authors: Mahtani Anna
Published: March 2020

Richard Bradley and others endorse Reverse Bayesianism as the way to model awareness growth. I raise a problem for Reverse Bayesianism—at least for the general version that Bradley endorses—and argue that there is no plausible way to restrict the principle that will give us the right results. To get the right results, we need to pay attention to the (dispositional) attitudes that agents have towards propositions of which they are unaware. This raises more general questions about how awareness growth should be modelled.
Eutrophication Induction Via N/P and P/N Ratios Under Controlled Conditions—Effects of Temperature and Water Sources
Authors: Diatta Jean , Waraczewska Zyta , Grzebisz Witold , Niewiadomska Alicja , Tatuśko-Krygier Natalia
Published: March 2020

The current research outlines the course of eutrophication processes emerging when some critical physical and chemical factors interact altogether. For this purpose, investigations were carried out, where nitrogen [N as (NH4)2HPO4 and KNO3] and phosphorus [P as (NH4)2HPO4] were added to three different water sources (double distilled water, DDW; tap water, TW; and lacustrine water, LW) and the solutions were incubated at two distinct temperatures (17 and 23 °C). Treatments were kept in 1 dm3 glass jars and the incubation time lasted 7 weeks. The eutrophication process emerged only at 23 °C and was stronger for the lacustrine water (LW). In the case of DDW treatments, this process was observed at N/P = 5.1 and even at 60.0, whereas for the TW, no algal blooming was detected (N/P ratio 17.7–640.0). The lacustrine water (LW) outlined patterns with strong eutrophication at N/P = 4.40, but also at ratios 20.9–71.1. Algal blooming significantly intensified according to LW > TW > DDW but was reversely dependent on the P/N ratios, which followed the range DDW (P/N, 1.6–3.78) > TW (P/N, 0.050–0.100) > LW (P/N, 0.016–0.023). At P = constant (P = 0.10 mg dm−3) and the N inputs varying from 0.010 to 2.0 mg dm−3, it appeared that the higher the N concentrations, the more intensive the eutrophication process. For N/P ratios, phosphorus regulated for most of the intensity of the process, whereas in the case of P/N, the role of N and P was interchangeable. The main finding of the research is that nitrogen revealed in many cases to be a powerful eutrophication-regulating factor than did phosphorus.
IoT scheduling for higher throughput and lower transmission power
Authors: Rajab Husam , Cinkler Tibor , Bouguera Taoufik
Published: March 2020

The massive increase in the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought a diverse long-range, low-power, and low bit-rate wireless network technologies. The LoRa a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) gained popularity as radio technology for the realization of many IoT applications. LoRa is typically employed together with LoRaWAN MAC protocol and operates in the license-free ISM bands. LoRa networks have an issue with scalability when the number of end nodes connected to one network is larger than the shared number of channels, that causes a collision and packets loss through receiving a wide range of different message sizes from various application. In this paper, we describe an accurate and efficient way confirmed by simulation to calculate the probability of collision rate and packet loss in LPWANs under various circumstances. Moreover, based on the LoRaWAN specification, we consider a dense network deployment of IoT devices. In the event of collisions, our proposed algorithms is classified to two approaches. Firstly a time scheduling algorithm is proposed for LoRaWAN networks that consist of devices supporting LoRaWAN class C mode for synchronization in the beginning between the gateway and the end nodes. Afterwards these devices switch to class A to significantly decrease the collision and to enhance scalability by assigning a Guard Time to each end node. Gateway acknowledgment (ACK) messages to the end nodes are used through class C. Secondly, we also propose a distance spreading factor algorithm according to the distance of the end nodes from the gateway to reduce the probability of collision. Furthermore, many of these devices are battery powered, therefore low power consumption is required.
Workplace Incivility and Work Engagement: The Chain Mediating Effects of Perceived Insider Status, Affective Organizational Commitment and Organizational Identification
Authors: Guo Ju , Qiu Yanjun , Gan Yongtao
Published: March 2020

The intention of this paper was to test the impact of workplace incivility (WPI) on work engagement of faculty members in private universities in China, exploring the correlation between them through chain mediators, which were perceived insider status (PIS), affective organizational commitment (AC), and organizational identification (OID). A quantitative analysis was used on a sample of 465 participants from 68 private universities in China. The conclusions show that WPI decreases faculty members’ work engagement through the chain mediation effects of PIS, AC and OID. This study attempted to establish a three-in-series mediator model to comprehend the influence mechanism of WPI on work engagement, and the results suggest managers in private universities in China to create a working environment with no tolerance for incivility.
Role of Antenatal Intervention and Pregnancy Outcome in Large Chorioangiomas
Authors: Dhingra Bindiya , Makam Adinarayan
Published: March 2020

Chorioangioma is a non-trophoblastic benign vascular tumour of the placenta affecting fetal outcome. It has no malignant potential. It is usually diagnosed during the 2nd trimester. These are usually found on the fetal side of the placenta, close to the umbilical cord insertion site protruding into the amniotic cavity. Chorioangiomas can be small or large. Small tumours (less than 5 cm) usually have favourable outcome. Large chorioangiomas (more than 5 cm) usually have an unfavourable outcome and may cause maternal complications like pre-eclampsia, preterm labour, placental abruption, placenta previa, polyhydramnios and post partum haemorrhage and fetal complications like anemia, thrombocytopenia, growth restriction, hydrops, cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure and intrauterine fetal demise. With the use of ultrasound and color Doppler, it has become possible to diagnose these early and provide timely intervention in order to prevent fatal complications. Here, we present a case of a large chorioangioma, 10 ⅹ 8.7 ⅹ 9.3 cm, with significant high vascularity and fetal anemia. There was a significant reduction in the size of tumour after interstitial laser coagulation. Following this, an intrauterine transfusion helped in correcting anemia. Other intervention options available for chorioangiomas are endoscopic surgical devascularization, alcoholic ablation and radiofrequency ablation. Polyhydramnios if present, is treated with therapeutic amniocentesis. Delivery is to be considered in case of complications after 34 weeks of gestation. Small chorioangiomas are usually favourable and require close fetal monitoring only.
EEWC: energy-efficient weighted clustering method based on genetic algorithm for HWSNs
Authors: Pal Raju , Yadav Subash , Karnwal Rishabh , Aarti
Published: March 2020

Wireless sensor networks are widely used in monitoring and managing environmental factors like air quality, humidity, temperature, and pressure. The recent works show that clustering is an effective technique for increasing energy efficiency, traffic load balancing, prolonging the lifetime of the network and scalability of the sensor network. In this paper, a new energy-efficient clustering technique has been proposed based on a genetic algorithm with the newly defined objective function. The proposed clustering method modifies the steady-state phase of the LEACH protocol in a heterogeneous environment. The proposed objective function considers three main clustering parameters such as compactness, separation, and number of cluster heads for optimization. The simulation result shows that the proposed protocol is more effective in improving the performance of wireless sensor networks as compared to other state-of-the-art methods, namely SEP, IHCR, and ERP.
Assessment of the analgesic effectiveness of rectus sheath block in patients who had emergency midline laparotomy: Prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Melesse Debas Yaregal , Chekol Wubie Birlie , Tawuye Hailu Yimer , Denu Zewuditu Abdissa , Agegnehu Abatneh Feleke
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Postoperative pain is a major concern after midline abdominal surgeries. Rectus sheath block (RSB) has been indicated after midline laparatomy; however, the analgesic effect of landmark technique on postoperative pain was not well investigated.

Objectives:

we tested the hypothesis that RSB reduces pain scores, decreased total analgesic consumption and prolong first analgesic request time after emergency midline laparatomy.

Methods:

Prospective observational cohort study was done from February 1 to May 10, 2018. Eighty eight patients were observed in this study, 44 in the RSB group and 44 in the non-exposed group. Pain severity was assessed in first 24 h postoperative period in terms of total analgesic consumption, first analgesic request time and visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 1 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h, 10 h, 12 h and 24 h.

Results:

The RSB group had significantly reduced VAS score at rest and on movement at (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h), but not at (10, 12 and 24 h) point assessed. Patients in RSB group had reduced tramadol requirement compared to non-exposed group in 24 h (255.68 ± 80.13) VS (314.77 ± 97.40), P = 0.003). The 24 h diclofenac consumption was significantly lowered in RSB group (75(75–150) than non-exposed group (150(75–150), P = 0.031. Mean time to first analgesic request was significantly longer in RSB group (372.95 ± 131.41) than non-exposed group (50.34 ± 14.12), p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions:

The RSB group resulted in less pain scores, reduced total analgesic utilization and stayed for longer time for first analgesic request. Therefore we recommended RSB as part of multimodal analgesia after emergency midline laparatomy.

Highlights:
Prevalence and factors associated with preoperative parental anxiety among parents of children undergoing anesthesia and surgery: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ayenew Netsanet Temesgen , Endalew Nigussie Simeneh , Agegnehu Abatneh Feleke , Bizuneh Yosef Belay
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Parents experience anxiety and concern about their children's anesthesia and surgeries, which may affect their ability to function normally and the operating staff caring for the child. We aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with parental anxiety.

Methods:

Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from the 1st February to May 30th, 2019. 203 parents of children were enrolled in the study. The level of anxiety was measured using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results:

Overall prevalence of parental anxiety was 74.2%. Being mother (AOR = 4.45, 95% CI = 1.76–11.27), not informed about anesthesia (AOR = 7.02, 95% CI = 2.62–18.80), child age < 1 year (AOR = 4.10, 95% CI = 1.25–19.15), being farmer (AOR = 9.73, 95% CI = 1.86–50.76), living in rural area (AOR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.31–15.42), and fear of post-operative pain of the child (AOR = 6.63, 95% CI = 2.42–18.18) were significantly associated with parental anxiety.

Conclusion:

Prevalence of preoperative parental anxiety was high in our setup. Age of child, parent's gender, information about the anesthesia, fear of post-operative pain, and parent's occupation were associated predictor factors. The operating staff should consider these factors when interacting in the perioperative periods of their child's anesthesia and surgery.

Highlights:
The Men Who Stare at Cathedrals: Aesthetic Education, Moral Sentiment, and the German Critique of French Revolutionary Violence, 1793–1794
Authors: Minsky Amir
Published: March 2020

The despoliation of the Strasbourg Cathedral during the Jacobin Terror of 1793–94 has long been considered a high point of revolutionary iconoclasm, which manifested for some the anti-enlightened nature of the Terror regime and the violence inherent in the French Revolution itself. The hybrid space—linguistic, cultural, and political—in which these vandalizing acts took place, however, brings to the fore the problem of Franco-German cultural transfer and its politics of emotion as a significant, yet previously untapped, interpretative layer. This article explores the emotional vocabularies used by both French and German commentators, which substantiated their divergent stances regarding historical consciousness, aesthetic sensibility, and national identity in the debate on the legitimacy of revolutionary violence. It argues that while it contributed to the denouement of intercultural transfer in the German-speaking sphere, the vandalism debate also had long-term consequences for German communal identity formation in a sentimental key.
Public Criticism and Private Consent: Protestant Journalism between Theology and Nazism, 1920–1960
Authors: Unger-Alvi Simon
Published: March 2020

By retracing the history of the Protestant journalEckart, this article examines a theological forum in which supporters and opponents of the Nazi movement came into direct contact. Specifically, the article evaluates political ambiguities among religious authors, who had openly rejected Nazism from the 1920s onward but would feel compelled by theological considerations to remain loyal to the regime after 1933. Analyzing contemporary discussions of the Protestant Two Kingdoms Doctrine, for example, puts historiographical distinctions between “resistance” and “collaboration” into question. This study shows that Protestant intellectuals were able to voice a limited degree of public criticism until World War II. Their criticism, however, was often so imbued with nationalism and ideals of loyalty that it effectively helped stabilize the Nazi regime. InEckart, even critics engaged deeply withvölkischand anti-Semitic ideology. Finally, this article also shows how these authors perpetuated nationalist ideas in West Germany after 1945.
Decentralization Without Democracy
Authors: Kosec Katrina , Mogues Tewodaj
Published: March 2020

Increasingly, decentralization is being adopted by countries in which assumptions made by formal models of decentralization, such as electoral accountability and population mobility, fail to hold. How does decentralization affect public service delivery in such contexts? The authors exploit the partial rollout of decentralization in the autocratic context of Ethiopia and use a spatial regression discontinuity design to identify its effects. Decentralization improves delivery of productive services, specifically, agricultural services, but has no effect on social services, specifically, drinking water services. This finding is consistent with a model in which local leaders have superior information about the public investments that will deliver the greatest returns and they are incentivized by decentralization to maximize citizens’ production—on which rents depend—rather than citizens’ utility. These findings shed light on nonelectoral mechanisms through which decentralization affects public goods provision and help to explain decentralization’s mixed effects in many nondemocratic settings.
King Rudolf I in Austrian Literature around 1820: Historical Reversion and Legitimization of Rule
Authors: Schneider Karin
Published: March 2020

Rudolf von Habsburg was a recurring motif in Austrian literature after the assumption of an Austrian imperial title by Emperor Francis II/I in 1804. These depictions were nourished by an enthusiasm for the Middle Ages circulating at the beginning of the nineteenth century and focused on the House of Habsburg and the establishment of Habsburg rule in Central Europe in the thirteenth century. As the ancestor of the ruling dynasty, Rudolf von Habsburg was idealized as the symbolic figure of identification for a collective state patriotism, a depiction that emphasized the historic mission of the dynasty and the legitimacy of its rule in the recently established empire. To this end, several complementary strategies—including divine providence, feudal approaches, classical genealogies, German-Austrian patriotism, and historical as well as contemporary references—were employed in texts to construct the Habsburg dynasty's claim to power in Central Europe. The past described in the texts, however, had little in common with historical reality but was rather an artificial design to justify Habsburg hegemony in the region.
Six Dimensions of Concentration in Economics: Evidence from a Large-Scale Data Set
Authors: Glötzl Florentin , Aigner Ernest
Published: March 2020

Argument

This paper argues that the economics discipline is highly concentrated, which may inhibit scientific innovation and change in the future. The argument is based on an empirical investigation of six dimensions of concentration in economics between 1956 and 2016 using a large-scale data set. The results show that North America accounts for nearly half of all articles and three quarters of all citations. Twenty institutions reap a share of 42 percent of citations, five journals a share of 28.5 percent, and 100 authors a share of 15.5 percent. A total of 2.8 percent of citations may be attributed to heterodox schools of thought. Also top articles are concentrated along these dimensions. Overall, concentration has strongly increased over the last six decades.
The superiority of economics and the economics of externalism – a sketch
Authors: Winzler Tim
Published: March 2020

Argument

The article takes as its starting point the relationship of academic economists and the wider society. First, various bodies of literature that deal empirically with this matter are discussed: epistemologically, they range from a bold structuralism via a form of symbolic interactionism to a form of radical constructivism. A Bourdieusian approach is recommended to complement these perspectives with a comprehensive perspective that is sensible to the cultural differences between social groups. Starting from the established notions of field, capital and habitus, the article then attempts to go the initial steps towards formulating a theory of the specificity of academic economics, taking Germany as its example. For that it uses and compares in-depth interviews of recognized and non-recognized German economics students. It shows the thorough interweaving of specific normative and positive dispositions into a conviction of objectivity and disinterestedness. This exploratory empirical induction furthers follow-up questions, the empirical answering of which may help to gain a more complete understanding of the actions and thoughts of economists in their specific contexts.
How many categories do we need?
Authors: Sartorius N.
Published: March 2020

Abstract of presentation by Prof. N. Sartorius.

The presentation will discuss the dependence of the classification of mental disorders on its use. While scientists searching for causes of mental disorders or assessing the effectiveness of a new treatment will need highly homogenous groups of people showing a particular well defined syndrome, practicing clinicians will wish to limit the number of categories in a classification of mental disorders to a level which makes a difference in treatment or management. The World Health Organization has recognized this difference in need and preference and produced in the framework of the 10th Revision of the International Classification of diseases (ICD) a classification of mental disorders in three versions–a version for practicing psychiatrists, a version for use in scientific investigations and a version for use in primary health care. The three versions were translatable (“telescoped”) into each other. The field tests of the three versions of the classification demonstrated that they are easy to use, can be used reliably and fit the syndromes usually encountered in health care services. These findings further supported the Sir Aubrey Lewis’ proposal to accept the division of classifications into a public and several (or many) private versions translatable into each other.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.