bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and morphological features of combined hyperplastic diseases of the uterus against the background of adenomyosis
Authors: Rozhkovskaya N. M. , Sitnikova V. O. , Sivyi S. M. , Lomakina I. S.
Published: May 2020

To determine clinical and morphological features of combined uterine hyperplastic diseases in premenopausal women at the background of adenomyosis, 62 patients operated on for chronic abnormal uterine bleeding were examined. The control group consisted of 30 premenopausal patients who applied for preventive examination. Anthropometric and ultrasound examinations, assessment of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, histologic examination were done. It has been established that uterine hyperplasia patients often had lipid metabolism damages (dislipidemy) and damages of carbohydrate one (alimentary – constitutional obesity, metabolic syndrome) which worsen the clinical course of the main disease. According to histological examination data, the activity of adenomyosis foci in patients with comorbid uterine pathology correlated with the severity of clinical manifestations (abnormal uterine bleeding, pain) and the presence of comorbid lesions (concomitant endometrial hyperplasia, chronic endometriosis, fibroids, endometriosis).
Determining environmental predictors of subjective feeling of depressive symptoms among Polish medical students
Authors: Drożak Paulina , Bryliński Łukasz , Bura Agata , Duda Piotr , Augustowska Katarzyna , Mizerski Grzegorz
Published: May 2020

Introduction and objective. Depression is a disease that impairs daily functioning. According to research, as much as 27.2% of medical students suffer from depression or show depressive symptoms and 11.1% of them experience suicidal ideation. The aim of the research was to investigate the occurrence of subjective feeling of depressive symptoms among Polish medical students during the course of their medical studies and to determine predictors of this phenomenon that are related to student’s environment. Material and method. A total of 1023 medical students from each year of medical education and different Polish universities took part in the study. The research tool was an author’s questionnaire. Obtained data was subjected to a statistical analysis. To assess the relationship between two variables, the chi-square test of independence was used. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. The statistical analysis showed that most respondents (52.79%) had noticed symptoms that might had pointed to depression during their medical studies. A statistically significant link was found between subjective feeling of depressive symptoms during the course of medical studies and: mother’s level of education, relationship with parents, relationship with siblings, relationship with friends, knowing a person that one could count on in a difficult situation, knowing a person in which one could trust with all their problems, frequent feelings of loneliness and feeling that one doesn’t participate in social gatherings often enough. Conclusions. The prevalence of subjective feeling of depressive symptoms among medical students is high. Results suggest that good relationships with others are important in prevention of depression.
Development of a stabilized Fabry–Perot etalonbased calibrator for Hanle echelle spectrograph
Authors: Das Tanya , Banyal Ravinder K. , Sivarani T. , Ravindra B.
Published: May 2020

Accurate wavelength calibration is an important factor for any measurement with high-resolution spectrographs. The stellar spectrum comprises discrete absorption or emission lines whose position is precisely determined by calibrating the spectrograph using known reference lines generated from laboratory sources. For the spectrograph to measure small variations in Doppler shift, the wavelength calibration must be sufficiently stable during observation time. Instrument instability, mainly due to environmental factors like temperature and pressure variations and limitations of traditional calibration methods, for example, Th–Ar lamps, is the main challenge with high-precision spectroscopy. Through proper environmental control, by maintaining pressure at few mbar and temperature fluctuations within

±

0.05
∘

C

, Fabry–Perot etalon (FP) can yield a velocity precision of 1–10 m/s when used for wavelength calibration. We have developed a passively stabilized FP-based wavelength calibrator for a Hanle echelle spectrograph (HESP) installed on the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle, India. The etalon has been characterized using a Fourier transform spectrograph (FTS), and initial test runs have been performed with HESP. In this paper, we present the design and construction of the instrument along with preliminary test results obtained from HESP.
Microfabrication of a color filter array utilizing colored SU-8 photoresists
Authors: Jiang Linan , Kim Kyung-Jo , Reininger Francis M. , Jiguet Sebastien , Pau Stanley
Published: May 2020

Patterned color filter arrays are important components in digital
cameras, camcorders, scanners, and multispectral detection and imaging
instruments. In addition to the rapid and continuous progress to
improve camera resolution and the efficiency of imaging sensors,
research into the design of color filter arrays is important to extend
the imaging capability beyond conventional applications. This paper
reports the use of colored SU-8 photoresists as a material to
fabricate color filter arrays. Optical properties, fabrication
parameters, and pattern spatial resolution are systematically studied
for five color photoresists: violet, blue, green, yellow, and red. An
end-to-end fabrication process is developed to realize a five-color
filter array designed for a wide angle multiband artificial compound
eye camera system for pentachromatic and polarization imaging. Colored
SU-8 photoresists present notable advantages, including
patternability, color tunability, low-temperature compatibility, and
process simplicity. The results regarding the optical properties and
the fabrication process for a colored SU-8 photoresist provide
significant insight into its usage as an optical material to
investigate nonconventional color filter designs.
High-precision miniaturized low-cost reflective grating laser encoder with nanometric accuracy
Authors: Goudarzi Khouygani Mohammad Hossein , Jeng Jeng-Ywan
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a novel optical encoder, M-encoder, which can be used within high-precision metrology systems based on the technology of customized prism and homodyne detection. The M-encoder is an exposed encoder measuring reflective glass and metal scale, which is targeting the biggest area of the encoder market, 20 µm pitch, and has a resolution under 100 nm. The error of 23 nm for 100 mm traveling distance has been measured. The applied technology has successfully improved alignment tolerances, in which the tolerance of installation achieved to

±

0.5
∘

,

±

0.5
∘

, and

±

1
∘

for pitch, yaw, and roll angle, respectively. The accuracy of results has been verified by comparing them with one of the commercial encoders and also by using an HP interferometer. The results show the resolution and accuracy can be compatible with the market products. In addition, a new method of grating calibration has been described based on the Littrow configuration, and the pitch of the fabricated scale by a femtosecond laser has been measured with the accuracy of 2 nm.
Radiation-hardened configuration context realization for field
programmable gate arrays
Authors: Shinba Hiroki , Watanabe Minoru
Published: May 2020

In space environments and at nuclear power plants, data can be
destroyed by radiation, even data recorded on flash memories. To
realize a radiation-hardened configuration context for field
programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) under such radiation environments,
this paper presents a proposal of a method to increase the radiation
tolerance of configuration contexts used for FPGAs by introducing a
holographic memory technology and a new FPGA architecture. When
reading a configuration context from holographic memory, the context
robustness depends on the number of bright bits on the configuration
context. Our proposed method exploits that holographic memory property
and uses a new FPGA architecture to fit the property to increase the
radiation tolerance of configuration contexts from holographic memory.
This paper presents simulation results and an experimental
demonstration result.
Accurate method for the recognition of modulation format and transmission bit rate based on asynchronous delay tap plots
Authors: Zhou Junhe , Hu Jing
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a new method for the modulation format and bit rate recognition (MFR) is proposed. The method analyzes the asynchronously sampled signal data and uses the tools such as asynchronous delay tap plots (ADTP), principal component analysis (PCA), artificial neural network (ANN) and supported vector machine (SVM) to distinguish the different modulation format and bit rate. The mixed algorithm is able to provide accurate MFR for unprecedented number of signal modulation formats/bit rates. An example is demonstrated to recognize 18 different modulate formats/bit rates with higher than 96.17% accuracy. Such recognition performance is beyond the existing methods.
IT-Integration in Zeiten von Digitalisierung – (k)ein alter Hut?
Authors: Huber Melanie , Rentrop Christopher , Zimmermann Stephan
Published: May 2020

Durch die zunehmende Vernetzung und den Anstieg von eingesetzter Hard- und Software hat sich die Komplexität der Unternehmensarchitektur von Unternehmen über die Jahre stetig erhöht. Das Aufkommen nutzerfreundlicher Informationstechnologie (IT)-Lösungen befähigt außerdem Fachbereiche, IT innovativ einzusetzen. Dies erhöht die Heterogenität und damit nochmals die Komplexität der Unternehmensarchitektur. Darüber hinaus treibt dieser IT-Einsatz die Digitalisierung in den Unternehmen maßgeblich voran. Dies wirft die Frage auf, ob Unternehmen überhaupt noch eine Relevanz in der Reduktion der Komplexität durch IT-Integration sehen oder ob dies vor dem Hintergrund der Digitalisierung schon ein alter Hut ist. Experteninterviews und eine qualitative Datenanalyse zeigen, dass IT-Integration und Digitalisierung keine disjunkten Phänomene sind, sondern sich gegenseitig beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse betonen, wie unterschiedlich der Begriff aufgefasst werden kann und dass die einheitliche Nutzung damit essenziell ist. Darüber hinaus zeigen sie, dass Digitalisierung einerseits Treiber der IT-Integration ist, andererseits aber auch die Möglichkeiten zur Umsetzung verändert. Dabei ist die Integrationsentscheidung durch die Vielzahl an Vor- und Nachteile komplex. Fachbereichs-IT ist selten explizites Ziel von IT-Integrationsprojekten. Der Beitrag zeigt den wissenschaftlichen Forschungsbedarf in neuen technologischen Möglichkeiten zur IT-Integration und in der Balance von Flexibilität und IT-Integration in der Unternehmensarchitektur. Er beleuchtet, dass eine gemeinsame Sprache die Basis für IT-Integrationsprojekte ist und dass eine Kultur, in der Fachbereiche aktiv an IT-Integrationsentscheidungen teilhaben, das Ziel eines jeden Unternehmens sein sollte. Insgesamt zeigen die Analysen, dass IT-Integration noch lange kein alter Hut, sondern, im Gegenteil, brandaktuell ist.
Fecal Bile Acid Testing in Assessing Patients With Chronic Unexplained Diarrhea: Implications for Healthcare Utilization
Authors: Vijayvargiya Priya , Gonzalez Izundegui Daniel , Calderon Gerardo , Tawfic Sarah , Batbold Sarah , Camilleri Michael
Published: May 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Bile acid (BA) diarrhea is the cause in ∼26% of chronic unexplained (nonbloody) diarrhea (CUD) based on 75SeHCAT testing. To assess fecal BA excretion and healthcare utilization in patients with CUD.

METHODS:

In a retrospective review of 1,071 consecutive patients with CUD who completed 48-hour fecal BA testing, we analyzed the symptoms, diagnostic tests performed, and final diagnoses.

RESULTS:

After 135 patients were excluded because of mucosal diseases, increased BA excretion was identified in 476 (51%) of the 936 patients with CUD: 29% with selective increase in primary BA and 22% with increased total BA excretion (35% with normal primary BA excretion). There were no differences in demographics, clinical symptoms, or history of cholecystectomy in patients with elevated total or selective primary fecal BA excretion compared with patients with normal excretion. Before the 48-hour fecal BA excretion test was performed, patients completed on average 1.2 transaxial imaging, 2.6 endoscopic procedures, and 1.6 miscellaneous tests/person. Less than 10% of these tests identified the etiology of CUD. Total fecal BAs >3,033 µmol/48 hour or primary BAs >25% had a 93% negative predictive value to exclude mucosal disease. Among patients with increased fecal BA excretion, >70% reported diarrhea improved with BA sequestrant compared with 26% with normal fecal BA excretion. Patients with selective elevation in primary fecal BAs were 3.1 times (95% confidence interval, 1.5–6.63) more likely to respond to BA sequestrant therapy compared with those with elevated total fecal BAs.

DISCUSSION:

Increased fecal BA excretion is frequent (51%) in patients with CUD. Early 48-hour fecal BA evaluation has the potential to decrease healthcare utilization in CUD.
An Update on the Medical Management of Inflammatory Pouch Complications
Authors: Quinn Kevin P. , Raffals Laura E.
Published: May 2020

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical procedure of choice for patients with medically-refractory ulcerative colitis or ulcerative colitis with associated dysplasia. Although most patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis experience good functional outcomes, a number of complications may develop. Of the long-term complications, pouchitis is most common. Although most respond to antibiotic treatment, some patients develop chronic pouchitis, leading to substantial morbidity and occasionally pouch failure. In patients with pouchitis who are not responsive to conventional antimicrobial therapy, secondary causes of chronic pouchitis need to be considered, including Crohn's disease of the pouch. In recent years, more literature has become available regarding the medical management of chronic pouchitis and Crohn's disease of the pouch, including the use of newer biologic agents. We herein provide a concise review on inflammatory complications involving the ileal pouch, including a focused approach to diagnosis and medical management.
Long May He (Not) Reign? Literary Depictions of a 'Meddling' Future Monarch. Prince Charles in Mike Bartlett's Play King Charles III (2014) and in Catherine Mayer's Biography Charles: The Heart of a King (2015)
Authors: Stickel Marie-Theres
Published: May 2020

In her contribution to this volume, Marie-Theres Stickel discusses the question of how literary works may shape the public perception of a royal figurehead. She scrutinizes how Mike Bartlett's play King Charles III (2014) and Catherine Mayer's biography Charles: The Heart of a King (2015) represent Prince Charles' struggle with the political neutrality expected of the heir apparent. As both works toy with the idea of an outspoken (future) king meddling with political matters, Stickel's article elaborates on the evaluation of Charles' activist stance. Her literary studies perspective reveals how the works use their respective generic qualities to not only portray the heir, but also to imagine the future king and thus to contribute to political debates surrounding the monarchy.
The (In)Significance of Queen Victoria in Neo-Victorian Comics
Authors: Veith Natalie
Published: May 2020

Neo-Viktorianismus ist ein Versuch, sich mit der Vergangenheit auseinanderzusetzen, ohne auf einseitige Darstellungen, sentimentale Nostalgie oder komplette Ablehnung zurückzugreifen und ohne Prozesse der Manipulation und Mediatisierung zu verschleiern. Diese kritische Perspektive erstreckt sich auch auf Darstellungen Königin Viktorias, doch trotz der Bezeichnung »neo-viktorianisch« spielt die Königin selbst in diesen Werken meist nur eine Nebenrolle. Darüber hinaus fehlt es ihr an Einsicht in die Intrigen, die um sie herum gesponnen werden. Jedoch liegt ihre Relevanz gerade in dieser scheinbaren Insignifikanz, da hierdurch traditionelle Konzepte von »Britishness« und imperialer Macht dekonstruiert werden, welche sonst häufig mit ihr verknüpft werden. Außerdem spiegelt ihre visuelle Darstellung in den Comics oft die generelle anachronistische und intermediale Logik neo-viktorianischer Narrative. Der Beitrag zeigt dies anhand von Beispielen aus Alan Moore und Eddie Campbells »From Hell«, Grant Morrison und Steve Yeowells »Sebastian O« und Sydney Padua's »The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage«.
Der »Dschungel von Calais«
Authors: Agier Michel
Published: May 2020

Seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten ist das Gebiet um den französischen Hafen von Calais ein Durchgangsort für Tausende von Migrant_innen und Flüchtlingen. Auf dem Höhepunkt der »Flüchtlingskrise« im Jahr 2015 erlangte es weltweite Aufmerksamkeit, als alle dort lebenden Menschen in ein einziges Lager verlegt wurden, das als »der Dschungel« bekannt wurde. Bis zu seiner Auflösung im Oktober 2016 stand dieser unsichere Ort, der seine Bewohner_innen so unsichtbar wie möglich machen sollte, im Mittelpunkt der internationalen Sorge um die Notlage von Flüchtlingen. Der Anthropologe Michel Agier und sein Team untersuchen die Architektur des Lagers, rekonstruieren den Alltag und die Routinen und analysieren die gesellschaftlichen Reaktionen auf den Dschungel, von der feindlichen Regierungspolitik bis hin zu vielschichtigen Solidaritätsbewegungen. Somit entsteht ein umfassender Bericht über das Leben im »Dschungel von Calais« und dessen Zusammenhang mit der globalen Migrationskrise, der auch die Umwälzungen in unseren Gesellschaften aufzeigt - sowohl lokal als auch global. Die Studie wurde verfasst von Michel Agier mit Yasmine Bouagga, Mael Galisson, Cyrille Hanappe, Mathilde Pette und Philippe Wannesson.
Zur Performanz von Bildern im Theater
Authors: Gronau Barbara
Published: May 2020

Der Beitrag untersucht die spezifische Performanz von Bildlichkeit in theatralen Darstellungsformen. Die Bandbreite zeitgenössischer Formate reicht von stillgestellten »lebenden Bildern« über den Einsatz von digitalen Medienbildern bis hin zur Verwandlung der Theaterräume in bildhaft ausgestaltete Installationen. Bildlichkeit meint dabei stets mehr als die visuelle Doppelung äußerer Realität. Bilder im Theater ahmen nicht nur nach, sondern stellen vielmehr eigene Realitäten her.
Selection of Bali cattle based on birth weight and calving interval records at West Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia
Authors: Said S. , Putra W. P. B. , Muzawar M. , Kantong S. A.
Published: May 2020

Birth weight and calving interval are included of productivity traits that can be increased by selection program. However, the standard of desirable birth weight in cattle during the selection program is important to prevent dystocia incident risk. This study was aimed to select Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) based on Estimated Breeding Value of birth weight (EBVBW) and Most Probable Producing Ability of birth weight (MPPABW) and calving interval (MPPACI). Total of 758 records data of BW were collected from Lombok and Sumbawa islands, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Research showed the average of BW in Bali calves were 15.69±1.70 kg (Lombok) and 13.49±1.89 (Sumbawa). The average of CI in Bali cows at both islands were about 385 days. In addition, the heritability (h2) values of BW in both islands was about 0.90. The repeatability (r) values of BW in both islands were about 0.30. Meanwhile, the r value of CI in Sumbawa island was 0.39. The highest of EBVBW for sire was +4.25 kg by bull’s ID: 0838 (Sumbawa). Meanwhile, the highest of EBVBW for calves was +6.07 kg by calf’s ID: 0917 (Sumbawa). The highest of MPPABW was +2.67 kg by cow’s ID: 0872 (Sumbawa). The lowest of MPPACI was -25.70 days by cow’s ID: 02076 (Lombok).
The ammoniation of total mixed fiber with mineral organic supplementation in ration to increase beef cattle production
Authors: Imsya A. , Windusari Y. , Riswandi R.
Published: May 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of organic minerals and total mixed fiber ammoniation (TMFA) as basal feed on the performance of beef cattle. This study used the In Vivo technique and the experimental method using t-test. The t-test compares the best supplementation result on in vitro research and control treatment, each treatment got6 replications. The treatments tested were P1: 60% TMF ammoniation + 15% swamp legume without supplementation of organic minerals P2: 60% TMF ammoniation + 1.5 x Organic macrominerals (Ca, P, and S) NRC (2000) + 15% Swamp Legumes. The parameters measured in the in-vivo technique were nutrient digestibility consisting of dry and organic matters, crude protein, crude fiber, NDF, and ADF. The animal performance: ration and dry matter consumption, body weight gain and ration efficiency. The results showed that supplementation of minerals in rations with TMFA as basal feed had a significant effect (P<0.05) on nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter, crude fiber, NDF, and ADF) and animal performance. The conclusion of this study was supplementation of organic macrominerals 1.5 x (Ca, P, and S) NRC (2000) in a ration with TMF ammoniation as basal feed can improve the beef cattle performance.
On a comparison principle for Trudinger’s equation
Authors: Lindgren Erik , Lindqvist Peter
Published: May 2020

We study the comparison principle for non-negative solutions of the equation

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|
v
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p
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⁢
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)

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=

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)

,

1
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p
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.

\frac{\partial(|v|^{p-2}v)}{\partial t}=\operatorname{div}(|\nabla v|^{p-2}%
\nabla v),\quad 1<p<\infty.

This equation is related to extremals of Poincaré inequalities in Sobolev spaces. We apply our result to obtain pointwise control of the large time behavior of solutions.
Moral Education and Transcendental Idealism
Authors: Saunders Joe , Sticker Martin
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we draw attention to several important tensions between Kant’s account of moral education and his commitment to transcendental idealism. Our main claim is that, in locating freedom outside of space and time, transcendental idealism makes it difficult for Kant to both provide an explanation of how moral education occurs, but also to confirm that his own account actually works. Having laid out these problems, we then offer a response on Kant’s behalf. We argue that, while it might look like Kant has to abandon his commitment to either moral education or transcendental idealism, there is a way in which he can maintain both.
Guns and Butter: Stability and Robustness
Authors: Choi Gyoung-Gyu
Published: May 2020

abstract

The paper considers the problem of allocating resources to economic goods and military goods (protecting property rights) in a contest model under an anarchic system which can be defined by the absence of a common superior authority to each state. I characterize the equilibrium and discuss its stability and robustness. The main finding is that if economic goods of the two states are complementary with Cobb-Douglas utility characteristics, the essential factor that affects a state’s resource allocation is its own maximum military level of production out of its resource endowment. In this sense, there is a unique stable equilibrium. This equilibrium is robust with the sequence of the states’ decisions insofar as the second mover’s observability is imperfect even slightly.
Model-predictive reference trajectory planning for redundant pneumatic collaborative robots
Authors: Mayer Annika , Müller Daniel , Raisch Adrian , Sawodny Oliver
Published: May 2020

Collaborative robots have the potential to simplify the working day of the future. The goal in the development of these robots is to assist human operators by handling all sorts of tasks. A common underlying problem is to move the robot’s tool center point in a desired way. In this work we consider the generation of a feasible trajectory in joint space given a reference in task space. This is done at the example of the Bionic Handling Assistant (BHA), a compliant, redundant and pneumatically driven continuum robot. The trajectory for the BHA is obtained using a model control loop (MCL) which internally realizes a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC). We simplify the high dimensional and nonlinear model of the BHA to a computational efficient model which still covers the major effects of the original dynamics. This results not only in a feasible trajectory but also enables the model control loop to be real-time applicable. The proposed method is validated in simulation.
Safe and dynamic design of experiments
Authors: Schillinger Mark
Published: May 2020

This PhD thesis covers multiple approaches for dynamic design of experiments considering safety constraints. Special emphasis is put on the evaluation of these methods at real-world systems in the combustion engine domain.
Shadow Bank Run, Housing and Credit Market: The Story of a Recession
Authors: Ghiaie Hamed
Published: May 2020

This paper assesses the interaction between the housing and credit markets and shadow banks, with the possibility of bank runs. The findings illustrate how a negative TFP shock is amplified by macro-financial and macro-housing channels through household balance sheets, bank balance sheets, and liquidity channels. If the shock renders the shadow banking system insolvent, two equilibria coexist: the no-run equilibrium and the run equilibrium. In this instance, run is a sunspot coordination failure; if households receive a negative signal from fundamentals and stop rolling over deposits to the financial sector, banks are not able to fund their losses with new deposits. So they are forced to liquidate their assets at an endogenous fire sale price. The main finding of this paper is that the model with housing provides a comprehensive account of the consequences of economic crises, namely the house price double-dip, the output downward spiral, and the lengthy recovery period. To eliminate the bank-run equilibrium, this paper proposes macroprudential policy tools in the form of capital adequacy buffers and loan-to-value ratios. Then a welfare analysis is applied to determine the optimal policy mix.
Basic Income and Social Sustainability in Post-Growth Economies
Authors: Malmaeus Mikael , Alfredsson Eva , Birnbaum Simon
Published: May 2020

A central task in efforts to identify pathways to ecologically and socially sustainable economies is to reduce inequality and poverty while reducing material consumption, which has recently inspired future post-growth scenarios. We build a model to explore the potential of a universal basic income (UBI) to serve these objectives. Starting from the observation that post-growth trajectories can take very different forms we analyze UBI in two scenarios advanced in the literature. Comparing UBI in a “local self-sufficiency” economy to a UBI in an “automation” economy, we show that although both scenarios satisfy central sustainability criteria, the impact of a UBI would differ greatly between these contexts. Our analysis shows that a UBI is less compatible with a labor-intensive local self-sufficiency economy than a capital-intensive, high tech economy. We conclude that the feasibility and attractiveness of a UBI in a post-growth scenario depends greatly on the specific characteristics of the economy.
Developing a novel resorptive hydroxyapatite-based bone substitute for over-critical size defect reconstruction: physicochemical and biological characterization and proof of concept in segmental rabbit’s ulna reconstruction
Authors: Micic Milutin , Antonijevic Djordje , Milutinovic-Smiljanic Sanja , Trisic Dijana , Colovic Bozana , Kosanovic Dejana , Prokic Bogomir , Vasic Jugoslav , Zivkovic Slavoljub , Milasin Jelena , Danilovic Vesna , Djuric Marija , Jokanovic Vukoman
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study was to develop novel hydroxyapatite (HAP)-based bioactive bone replacement materials for segmental osteotomy reconstruction. Customized three-dimensional (3D) bone construct was manufactured from nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP) with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) coating using 3D models derived from the computed tomography (CT) scanning of the rabbit’s ulna and gradient 3D printing of the bone substitute mimicking the anatomical shape of the natural bone defect. Engineered construct revealed adequate micro-architectural design for successful bone regeneration having a total porosity of 64% and an average pore size of 256 μm. Radiography and micro-CT analysis depicted new bone apposition through the whole length of the reconstructed ulna with a small area of non-resorbed construct in the central area of defect. Histological analysis revealed new bone formation with both endochondral and endesmal type of ossification. Immunohistochemistry analysis depicted the presence of bone formation indicators – bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) within newly formed bone. Manufactured personalized construct acts as a “smart” responsive biomaterial capable of modulating the functionality and potential for the personalized bone reconstruction on a clinically relevant length scale.
The combined use of enzyme activity and metabolite assays as a strategy for newborn screening of mucopolysaccharidosis type I
Authors: Polo Giulia , Gueraldi Daniela , Giuliani Antonella , Rubert Laura , Cazzorla Chiara , Salviati Leonardo , Marzollo Antonio , Biffi Alessandra , Burlina Alessandro P. , Burlina Alberto B.
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) was added to our expanded screening panel in 2015. Since then, 127,869 newborns were screened by measuring α-L-iduronidase (IDUA) enzyme activity with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). High false positives due to frequent pseudodeficiency alleles prompted us to develop a second-tier test to quantify glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels in dried blood spot (DBS).

Methods

Heparan-sulfate (HS) and dermatan-sulfate (DS) were measured with LC-MS/MS after methanolysis. DBSs were incubated with methanolic-HCl 3 N at 65 °C for 45 min. Chromatographic separation used an amide column with a gradient of acetonitrile and water with 10 mM ammonium acetate in a 9-min run. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, lower limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy and precision.

Results

Intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were <15% for both metabolites. Reference values in 40 healthy newborns were: HS mean 1.0 mg/L, 0–3.2; DS mean 1.5 mg/L, 0.5–2.7). The two confirmed newborn MPS I patients had elevated HS (4.9–10.4 mg/L, n.v. <3.2) and DS (7.4–8.8 mg/L, n.v. <2.7). Since its introduction in February 2019, the second-tier test reduced the recall rate from 0.046% to 0.006%. Among 127,869 specimens screened, the incidence was 1:63,935 live births. Both patients started enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) within 15 days of birth and one of them received allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at ht age of 6 months.

Conclusions

GAGs in DBS increased the specificity of newborn screening for MPS I by reducing false-positives due to heterozygosity or pseudodeficiency. Early diagnosis and therapeutical approach has improved the outcome of our patients with MPS I.
An Investigation of Chinese Undergraduates’ Ability to Translate Chinese Cultural Items into English and Predictors of Such Ability
Authors: Sun Haiyang , Gao Yuan
Published: May 2020

College English teaching in China has long focused on importing cultures of English countries while neglecting to enhance students’ English competence in home culture. The present research aims to investigate Chinese non-English major undergraduates’ competence in translating Chinese cultural items into English and the significant predictors of such competence. With a test and a questionnaire as research instruments, this study was conducted to assess 82 undergraduates’ ability to translate three different levels of Chinese culture-specific items into English and explored the factors which might have affected the students’ home culture translation ability. The results show that the participants did well in translating the surface layer cultural items, but their performance in sub-surface and deep layer culture translation tasks was far from being satisfactory. It was also found that students had positive attitudes towards Chinese culture and were willing to learn to express Chinese culture in English, but their English learning motivation in general was not strong enough, and they were not given much input on Chinese culture in their English class. Students’ Chinese cultural knowledge and their awareness of the importance of learning Chinese culture in English were found to be the two significant factors that can predict their performance in the translation tasks. These findings have implications for the teaching of culture and cross-cultural communications in EFL classes.
Humor as an inroad to qualitative minority representation: The case of Taboe, a humorous human interest-program
Authors: Ridder Anouk De , Bulck Hilde Van Den , Vandebosch Heidi
Published: May 2020

One of the challenges Public Service Media institutions face today is how to translate normative values such as universality and diversity into measurable and tangible content in an attempt to realize their “public value”. This contribution shows how the communicative functions of humor can help create public value by introducing audiences to minorities. As a case in point, we analyzed Taboe, a humorous human-interest program about minorities including, amongst others, the visually impaired and the obese, broadcast by Flemish public broadcaster VRT in 2018. Based on in-depth interviews with program makers and participants and a qualitative content analysis of the program, the study found that humor provided the program with a positive, funny yet emotional tone of voice that attracted and kept the audience’s attention. By giving various minorities an active voice, Taboe introduced mainstream audiences to the their perspective, encouraging increased knowledge and understanding and, in turn, tolerance of, and acceptance towards, the minority groups represented.
Upset with the refugee policy: Exploring the relations between policy malaise, media use, trust in news media, and issue fatigue
Authors: Arlt Dorothee , Schumann Christina , Wolling Jens
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we introduce the concept of policy malaise, which refers to citizens’ dissatisfaction with the way political institutions and processes handle specific problems such as the refugee issue in Germany. Based on a representative online panel survey with two waves conducted in 2016 and 2017 (N = 836), we explore the occurrence of policy malaise among the German population and its relation to issue-specific media use, trust in news media, and issue fatigue. First, the results indicate that policy malaise toward the refugee issue is widespread in Germany. Second, we found that media use relates differentially to policy malaise: While high exposure to public broadcasting was negatively associated with policy malaise, we found the opposite for private broadcasting. Third, policy malaise is higher for people who experience issue fatigue and lower for people who trust the news media. Finally, trust in media reinforces the negative and positive relations between media use and policy malaise. Implications concerning the associations between policy malaise and political alienation in its broader sense are discussed.
Advertising in disguise? How disclosure and content features influence the effects of native advertising
Authors: Beckert Johannes , Koch Thomas , Viererbl Benno , Denner Nora , Peter Christina
Published: May 2020

Native advertising has recently become a prominent buzzword for advertisers and publishers alike. It describes advertising formats which closely adapt their form and style to the editorial environment they appear in, intending to hide the commercial character of these ads. In two experimental studies, we test how advertising disclosures in native ads on news websites affect recipients’ attitudes towards a promoted brand in a short and long-term perspective. In addition, we explore persuasion through certain content features (i. e., message sidedness and use of exemplars) and how they affect disclosure effects. Results show that disclosures increase perceived persuasive intent but do not necessarily decrease brand attitudes. However, disclosure effects do not persist over time and remain unaffected by content features.
“It is their job to make sure that the long-term vision for the show … stays intact”: Using insights from the television format industry to rethink the concept of media events
Authors: Skey Michael
Published: May 2020

The concept of media events continues to generate widespread debate among scholars around the globe. Studies that have challenged the concept’s functionalist foundations have undoubtedly sharpened our thinking. Conversely, approaches that have sought to expand the concept tend to confuse rather than clarify. In this paper, we argue that events that are planned, anticipated, and involve external organizations in their design demand a specific set of analytical tools. Furthermore, we draw a further distinction between one-off events and those that are cyclical in nature, with the latter being theorized using insights from studies of the television format industry. This approach not only focuses much needed attention on the production side of media events but also on the struggles between different interest groups (rights-holders, event hosts, media producers). We illustrate our arguments by drawing upon ethnographic material from the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.
Deformations of rational curves in positive characteristic
Authors: Ito Kazuhiro , Ito Tetsushi , Liedtke Christian
Published: May 2020

We study deformations of rational curves and their singularities in positive characteristic. We use this to prove that if a smooth and proper surface in positive characteristicpis dominated by a family of rational curves such that one member has all δ-invariants (resp. Jacobian numbers) strictly less than12⁢(p-1){\frac{1}{2}(p-1)}(resp.p), then the surface has negative Kodaira dimension. We also prove similar, but weaker results hold for higher-dimensional varieties. Moreover, we show by example that our result is in some sense optimal. On our way, we obtain a sufficient criterion in terms of Jacobian numbers for the normalization of a curve over an imperfect field to be smooth.
Ultrasound diagnosis of myelomeningocele: the role of 3D ultrasonography in determining surficial status of the pathological lesion
Authors: Kurasaki Akiko , Hasegawa Junichi , Homma Chika , Miura Ayako , Kondo Haruhiro , Suzuki Nao
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Spina bifida manifests in various forms, and the clinical imaging findings depend on the level of the vertebral defect. It is difficult to predict the severity of the neurological symptoms and the degree of urgency of early treatment antenatally.

Case presentation

In the present case report of fetal myelomeningocele (MMC), three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound showed accurate findings of fetal back surficial skin and tissue defect. The neonatologist and surgeons were able to decide upon appropriate treatment strategies on the basis of these findings.

Conclusions

3D ultrasound helps provide information to neonatologists and neurosurgeons about the initial treatment and illustrates the physical appearance of the disease for the parents of the unborn child.
Pragmatic approach and variations in the management of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus on insulin pump: a case series
Authors: Nargunan Varuna , Enakpene Christopher A. , Bennion Glen , Merugumala Praveen D. , Brown Elisa , Schlabritz-Loutsevitch Natalia
Published: May 2020

Background

According to a 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, there were 23.1 million Americans living with diagnosed diabetes. Diabetes-related complications in pregnancy are spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, fetal malformations, altered fetal growth, polyhydramnios, and unexplained fetal demise. Continuous insulin delivery through insulin pump is used for effective management of type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Case presentation

We present case reports of four patients who were on insulin pump for at least 1 year prior to pregnancy and continued throughout their pregnancy. Although these case reports demonstrated overall good pregnancy outcomes, it did not show how well their blood glucose was controlled during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Standard of care in diabetic management during pregnancy using insulin pump in the presented case reports supports the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommendation that insulin pump should be used for women with preexisting T1DM during pregnancy.
MaternalBabesiainfection associated with neonatal extramedullary hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia in late infancy
Authors: Brewer Mariana R. , Eid Dalia , Emeghebo Kristina , Kerby Eva , Kainth Mundeep K. , Boyar Vitaliya
Published: May 2020

Background

We describe a term neonate who was exposed to maternal mid-gestation infection withBabesia microtiand prenatal antimicrobic treatment with quinine, azithromycin, atovaquone, and clindamycin.

Case description

The neonate was born with a “blueberry muffin rash” and was diagnosed with extramedullary hematopoiesis (EHM) after ruling out congenital infection and malignancy. At 8 months of age, he presented with M5 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a t(8:16)(p11;13) translocation. This translocation is described in adult patients with treatment-related AML, suggesting sensitivity of the genome to extrinsic toxicity.

Conclusion

We postulate that the biologic stress and treatment of maternal babesiosis played a role in the development of the rare form of AML seen in our patient.
Bounds on the discrepancy of linear recurring sequences over Galois rings
Authors: Vasin Anton R.
Published: May 2020

We study the discrepancy of linear recurring sequences over Galois rings. By means of an estimate of an exponential sum some nontrivial bounds on the discrepancy are derived. It is shown that these bounds are asymptotically not worse than known estimates for maximal period linear recurring sequences over prime fields.
An Anthropological Reimagining of Contract in Global Value Chains: The Governance of Corporate-community Relations in the Colombian Mining Sector
Authors: Knöpfel Laura D.
Published: May 2020

This contribution introduces an ant’s rather than a bird’s eye view on the legal institution global value chains (GVCs) have become. An ant’s view makes the abstract construct of the GVC tangible but at the same time reveals its unclear boundaries – where do GVCs begin and end? The article reflects on the role of contracts and contract law in the drawing and subsequent regulation of boundaries. It takes the reader into Colombia’s globalised natural resource sector where complex contractual constructs determine the relationships between firms, the state and local communities. These contractual constructs, together with the law, corporate codes of conduct and international standards that regulate them, create close and intertwined boundaries between the firm and its societal environment. In that closeness, the mining firm assumes and voices far-reaching responsibilities for the economic and social well-being of local communities. In regard to those corporate social responsibilities, contract law could and should play a pivotal role in the societal governance of GVCs.
Projecting the spread of COVID-19 for Germany
Authors: Donsimoni Jean Roch , Glawion René , Plachter Bodo , Wälde Klaus
Published: May 2020

We model the evolution of the number of individuals reported sick with COVID-19 in Germany. Our theoretical framework builds on a continuous time Markov chain with four states: healthy without infection, sick, healthy after recovery or despite infection but without symptoms, and deceased. Our quantitative solution matches the number of sick individuals up to the most recent observation and ends with a share of sick individuals following from infection rates and sickness probabilities. We employ this framework to study inter alia the expected peak of the number of sick individuals in Germany in a scenario without public regulation of social contacts. We also study the effects of public regulations. For all scenarios we report the expected end date of the CoV-2 epidemic.
Wood creep data collection and unbiased parameter identification of compliance functions
Authors: Tong Danyang , Brown Susan Alexis , Corr David , Cusatis Gianluca
Published: May 2020

Rising global emission have led to a renewed popularity of timber in building design, including timber-concrete tall buildings up to 18 stories. In spite of this surge in wood construction, there remains a gap in understanding of long-term structural behavior, particularly wood creep. Unlike concrete, code prescriptions for wood design are lacking in robust estimates for structural shortening. Models for wood creep have become increasingly necessary due to the potential for unforeseen shortening, especially with respect to differential shortening. These effects can have serious impacts as timber building heights continue to grow. This study lays the groundwork for wood compliance prediction models for use in timber design. A thorough review of wood creep studies was conducted and viable experimental results were compiled into a database. Studies were chosen based on correlation of experimental conditions with a realistic building environment. An unbiased parameter identification method, originally applied to concrete prediction models, was used to fit multiple compliance functions to each data curve. Based on individual curve fittings, statistical analysis was performed to determine the best fit function and average parameter values for the collective database. A power law trend in wood creep, with lognormal parameter distribution, was confirmed by the results.
Progestogens in luteal support
Authors: Carp Howard J.A.
Published: May 2020

Progestational agents are often prescribed to increase the clinical pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction. Progestogens affect implantation, cytokine balance, natural killer cell activity, arachidonic acid release and myometrial contractility. Progesterone production from the corpus luteum is essential for reproduction, but assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can impair luteal function. ART cycles can be classified into three, fresh cycles in which there may or may not be luteal insufficiency, agonist or antagonist cycles in which there is luteal insufficiency, and luteal support is essential, and donor cycles, in which there is no corpus luteum, and a luteal phase has to be created. However, there is no adequate diagnostic test for luteal insufficiency. This article summarises the effect of various progestogens, progesterone itself whether administered vaginally, intra-muscularly, rectally or subcutaneously, and the effect of the progestogen, dydrogesterone. The time of commencement and cessation of therapy are also discussed. Progestogens are also often used to treat threatened and recurrent miscarriage. In these patients progestogen supplementation may need to be prolonged. In threatened miscarriage, until after all bleeding stops, and in recurrent miscarriage, at least as long as the luteo-placental shift.