bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous quantification of perindopril erbumine, indapamide and amlodipine besylate in newer combination of anti‐hypertensive drugs in pharmaceutical dosage form by thin layer chromatography method
Authors: Patel Kirtan , Chhalotiya Usmangani , Kachhiya Hetaben , Patel Jay , Shah Dimal , Nagda Dhruti
Published: March 2020

A sensitive, precise, robust and accurate high performance thin layer chromatographic method was developed and validated base on ICH Q2 (R1) guideline for the simultaneous estimation of Perindopril erbumine, Indapamide and Amlodipine besylate in bulk and combined Triplixam marketed tablet dosage formulation. Pre‐coated silica gel aluminum plate 60 F254 was selected as the stationary phase and dichloromethane: methanol: toluene: glacial acetic acid (7: 1: 2: 0.1, v/v/v/v) was used as developing mobile phase. The common detection wavelength for Perindopril erbumine, Indapamide and Amlodipine besylate was carried out at 215 nm. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness, limit of detection and limit of quantitation as per ICH parameters. The correlation coefficient (r2) of Perindopril erbumine, Indapamide and Amlodipine besylate were found to be 0.9987, 0.9987 and 0.9996, respectively. The mean of percentage recovery of Perindopril erbumine, Indapamide and Amlodipine besylate were found to be 99.38‐101.81, 100.61‐102.68 and 99.87‐101.95%, respectively. The proposed thin layer chromatography method has potential qualitative as well as quantitative applications for simultaneous estimation of Perindopril erbumine, Indapamide and amlodipine besylate in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form.
Assessment of synergetic effect on microscopic and mechanical properties of steel‐polypropylene hybrid fiber reinforced concrete
Authors: Singh Niraj Kumar , Rai Baboo
Published: March 2020

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is presently being replaced with plain concrete for its superior performance. In most cases, FRC contains just a single kind of fiber. The utilization of at least two kinds of fibers in an appropriate mix can possibly improve the mechanical properties of concrete and result in performance synergy. This paper explores the effect of using steel fiber and polypropylene fiber for reinforcing the concrete to quantify the mechanical properties of the concrete composite. The purpose of this research was to analyze the flexural strength, tensile strength, sorptivity and elasticity modulus of steel, and polypropylene hybrid fiber composite. Crimped steel fibers in conjunction with polypropylene fiber at different volume fractions were utilized. A nondestructive methodology in light of ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements was utilized to evaluate the dynamic elastic modulus. The scanning electron microscope was used to assess the properties of the concrete mixtures, the interfacial bond between fiber and the concrete matrix. The results were analyzed to evaluate fiber synergy if any associated with different volume fractions of fiber. The paper identifies the volume fraction of hybrid fiber that demonstrates maximum synergy under the essential mechanical properties of steel‐polypropylene hybrid fiber reinforced concrete.
Fractional‐order freezing‐and‐thawing damage model for hydraulic concrete subjected to variable temperature processes
Authors: Huang Yaoying , Wang Yu , Wang Ronglu , Zhou Yong , Ding Qian
Published: March 2020

Since research on the freezing‐and‐thawing damage experienced by hydraulic concrete subjected to variable temperatures is currently rudimentary, it is difficult to use existing models to quantitatively reflect the damage of actual hydraulic engineering concrete under such conditions. This study first presents a formula to calculate the equivalent damage age through an analogy with the equivalent age theory, and the results of this formula can comprehensively reflect the relationship between the freezing‐and‐thawing process at variable temperatures and concrete damage. Then, this study establishes a fractional freezing‐and‐thawing damage model for hydraulic concrete subjected to freezing‐and‐thawing cycles at variable temperatures according to fractional calculus theory. New model parameters for freezing‐and‐thawing damage are identified and optimized with existing testing data acquired under variable freezing‐and‐thawing temperatures. Moreover, the applicability of the new model is verified with different freezing‐and‐thawing temperature data obtained from supplemental freezing‐and‐thawing tests performed in this study. The analysis results show that the new concrete freezing‐and‐thawing damage model can accurately reflect the changes in concrete strength during freezing‐and‐thawing cycles at variable temperatures.
Numerical evaluation of complex permittivity of silicone rubber based on Jonscher's law
Authors: Yang Zhenyu , Ito Seitaro , Hirai Naoshi , Ohki Yoshimichi
Published: March 2020

In this work, the two parts of complex permittivity in the frequency range 1–104 Hz were measured for sheet‐shaped samples of silicone rubber under various aging conditions. After that, fitting equations based on Jonscher's law were used to evaluate both the parts. As a result, it is clearly indicated that the fitting parameters in the equation of are linearly correlated with those in the equation of . This indicates that common information is contained in both and . A possible mechanism is also proposed to explain this phenomenon. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Tree-level splitting amplitudes for a quark into four collinear partons
Authors: Del Duca Vittorio , Duhr Claude , Haindl Rayan , Lazopoulos Achilleas , Michel Martin
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We compute in conventional dimensional regularisation the tree-level splitting amplitudes for a quark parent in the limit where four partons become collinear to each other. This is part of the universal infrared behaviour of the QCD scattering amplitudes at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO) in the strong coupling constant. Further, we consider the iterated limit when m′ massless partons become collinear to each other within a bigger set of m collinear partons, as well as the limits when one gluon or a q$$ \overline{q} $$

q
¯

pair or two gluons become soft within a set of m collinear partons.
The effect of training on workers’ perceived job match quality
Authors: Zhang Yi , Salm Martin , van Soest Arthur
Published: March 2020

We study the causal effect of training on job match quality using longitudinal data for a representative sample of the Dutch population. We construct an index of workers’ perceived job match quality from five survey questions on job satisfaction and on how a worker’s education and skills match with the job. Based on a dynamic linear panel data model, which accounts for potential endogeneity in training, we find that training has significantly positive short- and long-term effects on job match quality. This is mainly driven by training for human capital accumulation. Further analysis incorporating job changes shows that training for job change purpose increases the probability to change jobs, but job changes immediately following this type of training do not significantly increase job match quality. On the other hand, those who change jobs 1 year after this training do tend to get a better-matched job.
Preoperative Low Vital Capacity Influences Survival After Esophagectomy for Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: Sugawara Kotaro , Mori Kazuhiko , Okumura Yasuhiro , Yagi Koichi , Aikou Susumu , Uemura Yukari , Yamashita Hiroharu , Seto Yasuyuki
Published: March 2020

Background

Assessment of preoperative physiological status is crucial for optimizing clinical outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal carcinoma (EC). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of pulmonary dysfunctions and their relationships with other physiological factors, especially sarcopenia, in EC patients receiving esophagectomy.

Methods

In total, 411 EC patients who underwent esophagectomy between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative pulmonary functions were evaluated based on %vital capacity (%VC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV) 1.0%. The thresholds were set as the lowest quartile (99% for %VC and 68.6% for FEV1.0%) in this cohort.

Results

One hundred and two patients (24.8%) had low %VC (%VC < 99%), which was significantly associated with age, comorbidity, sarcopenia and postoperative complications, while not correlating with pathological variables. The overall survival (OS) of patients in the low %VC group was significantly poorer than that of those in the high %VC group (P < 0.001), especially in those with pStage 0–II diseases (P < 0.001). In contrast, survival was not stratified by FEV1.0% (P = 0.80). Notably, patients with both low %VC and sarcopenia showed very poor 5‐year OS (30.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed low %VC to be independently associated with poor OS (P = 0.03). In the cause‐specific survival analyses, low %VC was an independent predictor of deaths from non‐EC‐related causes (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Preoperative low %VC was independently associated with poor survival outcomes, especially when present in combination with sarcopenia, due to an increased risk of death from non‐EC‐related causes. Preoperative spirometry testing is useful for predicting long‐term outcomes in EC patients undergoing esophagectomy.
Production of Mannosylerythritol Lipids (MELs) to be Used as Antimicrobial Agents Against S. aureus ATCC 6538
Authors: Ceresa Chiara , Hutton Simon , Lajarin-Cuesta Marta , Heaton Robert , Hargreaves Iain , Fracchia Letizia , De Rienzo Mayri A. Díaz
Published: March 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a current major health issue, both for the high rates of resistance observed in bacteria that cause common infections and for the complexity of the consequences of AMR. Pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis among others are clear examples of antibiotic-resistant threats. Biosurfactants have recently emerged as a potential new generation of anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm agents; mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are biosurfactants produced by a range of fungi. A range of structural variants of MELs can be formed and the proportion of each isomer in the fermentation depends on the yeast used, the carbon substrate used for growth and the duration of the fermentation. In order to allow assessment of the possible functions of MELs as antimicrobial molecules, small quantities of MEL were produced by controlled fermentation. Fermentations of the yeast Pseudozyma aphidis using rapeseed oil as a carbon source yielded up to 165 gMELs/kgSubstrate. The MELs formed by this strain was a mixture of MEL-A, MEL-B, MEL-C and MEL-D. The MELs produced were tested against S. aureus ATCC 6538 on pre-formed biofilm and on co-incubation biofilm experiments on silicone discs; showing a disruption of biomass, reduction of the biofilm metabolic activity and a bacteriostatic/bactericidal effect confirmed by a release of oxygen uptake $$p_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }}$$

p

O
2

, the reduction of citrate synthase activity and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that MELs are promising antimicrobial molecules for biomedical technological applications that could be studied in detail in large-scale systems and in conjunction with animal tissue models.
Early recovery after surgery for radical cystectomy: comprehensive assessment and meta-analysis of existing protocols
Authors: Wessels F. , Lenhart M. , Kowalewski K. F. , Braun V. , Terboven T. , Roghmann F. , Michel M. S. , Honeck P. , Kriegmair M. C.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Different enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols (EP) for radical cystectomy (RC) have been published. Protocols highly differ in number of included items and specific measures.

Materials and methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis on EPs in RC were performed using the databases MedLine, Cochrane Library, Web of science, and Google Scholar. The specific ERAS measures of the protocols were extracted, analyzed, and compared. Pooling of available outcome data was performed for length of stay, complications, readmission rate, and time to defecation.

Results

The search yielded a total of 860 studies of which 25 studies were included in qualitative and 22 in quantitative analysis. Oral bowel preparation (BP) was omitted in 24/25 (96%) EPs, optimized fluid management was administered in 22/25 (88%) EPs and early mobilization (postoperative day 1) in 21/25 (84%). Gum chewing (n = 12, 46%), metoclopramide (n = 11, 44%), and alvimopan (n = 6, 24%) were the most common measures to prevent postoperative ileus. Our meta-analysis revealed a significant benefit in favor of EPs for the outcome parameters length of stay [mean difference (MD) − 3.46 d, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 4.94 to − 1.98, p < 0.01], complications [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.76, 95% CI 0.61–0.94, p = 0.01] and time to defecation (MD − 1.37 d, 95% CI − 2.06 to − 0.69, p < 0.01). Readmission rate did not show a significant difference (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–1.03, p = 0.07).

Conclusion

Current EPs focus on omitting oral BP, early mobilization, and optimized fluid management while they differ in methods preventing postoperative ileus. Our meta-analysis revealed a benefit in introducing these protocols into clinical practice.
Do riblets exhibit fully rough behaviour?
Authors: Gatti Davide , von Deyn Lars , Forooghi Pourya , Frohnapfel Bettina
Published: March 2020

Trapezoidal riblets are experimentally investigated in both their drag-reducing and drag-increasing regimes in an air turbulent channel flow facility. The nondimensional riblet spacing $$s^+$$s+ and height $$h^+$$h+ in viscous units are varied by changing the bulk Reynolds number in the range $$5 \times 10^3<{\mathrm{Re}}_b<8.5 \times 10^4$$5×103<Reb<8.5×104. The change in skin-friction drag is accurately measured by comparing the pressure drop across the test section with smooth and ribbed walls at given values of $${\mathrm{Re}}_\mathrm{b}$$Reb. The results show that riblets in the drag-increasing regime behave like typical “k”-type roughness in the fully rough regime only up to $$h^+ \sim 30$$h+∼30, at odds with present understanding. Further increase in $$h^+$$h+ yields a constant relative change of wall shear stress and thus a clear deviation from the fully rough behaviour. The present results are accessible online at the following digital object identifier: 10.5445/IR/1000089978.

Graphic abstract
Infratentorial choroid plexus tumors in children
Authors: Trybula S. Joy , Karras Constantine , Bowman Robin M. , Alden Tord D. , DiPatri Arthur J. , Tomita Tadanori
Published: March 2020

Objective

Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) are rare pediatric intracranial neoplasms, and mostly occur in the lateral ventricle. CPTs located in the infratentorial location are considered to be rare in the pediatric population. We present a series of eight patients treated in the last decade at our institution focusing on clinical presentations and their outcome after excision.

Methods

We performed an institutional retrospective review of patients who underwent surgical resection of infratentorial CPTs during the period from 2008 to 2017. Patients’ charts were reviewed for demographic data, clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and follow-up.

Results

There were eight patients (6 females and 2 males), with mean age for the cohort at presentation was 9.0 years. They represent 75% of 12 CPTs of all locations treated at the same period in our institution. These 8 infratentorial CPTs were in the fourth ventricle in seven, and in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) in one. Seven patients had choroid plexus papillomas (WHO grade I) and 1 had an atypical choroid plexus papilloma (WHO grade II). Gross total resection was attempted in all patients. However, two of 3 patients with fourth ventricle floor invasion had subtotal resection with a thin layer of tumor left on the floor. The remaining 6 had a gross total resection. Six patients with preoperative hydrocephalus had a perioperative external ventricular drainage but none required permanent shunting after tumor resection. None showed recurrence/tumor progression without adjuvant therapy during the follow-up period of 20 months to 11 years.

Conclusion

Infratentorial dominance among pediatric CPTs in this series contradicts previous reports. Infratentorial CPTs are amenable to surgical resection. Unresected small residuals due to invasion to the fourth ventricle floor showed no regrowth during 2 to 3 years follow-up without adjuvant therapy. However, these patients with incomplete resection need watchful observations.
Hospitalization for epistaxis: a population-based healthcare research study in Thuringia, Germany
Authors: Kallenbach Max , Dittberner Andreas , Boeger Daniel , Buentzel Jens , Kaftan Holger , Hoffmann Kerstin , Jecker Peter , Mueller Andreas , Radtke Gerald , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Epistaxis is the most common ENT emergency. The aim was to determine population-based data on severe epistaxis needing inpatient treatment.

Methods

Retrospective population-based cohort study in the federal state Thuringia in 2016 performed on all 840 inpatients treated for epistaxis in otolaryngology departments (60.1% male, median age: 73 years; 63.9% under anticoagulation). The association between patients’ and treatment characteristics and longer inpatient stay (≥ 4 days) as well as readmission for recurrent epistaxis was analyzed using univariable and multivariable statistics.

Results

The overall incidence of epistaxis needing inpatient treatment was higher for men (42 per 100,000) than for women (28 per 100,000). The highest incidence was reached for men > 85 years (222 per 100,000). Most important independent predictors for longer inpatient stay were localization of the bleeding not in the anterior nose (OR = 2.045; CI = 1.534–2.726), recurrent bleeding during inpatient treatment (OR = 2.142; CI = 1.508–3.042), no electrocoagulation (OR = 2.810; CI = 2.047–3.858), and blood transfusion (OR = 2.731; CI = 1.324–5.635). Independent predictors for later readmission because of recurrent epistaxis were male gender (OR = 1.756; CI = 1.155–2.668), oral anticoagulant use (OR = 1.731; CI = 1.046–2.865), and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (OR = 13.216; CI 5.102–34.231).

Conclusions

Inpatient treatment of epistaxis seems to be variable in daily routine needing standardization by clinical guidelines and strategies to shorten inpatient treatment and to reduce the risk of readmission.
Interpretable machine learning models for classifying low back pain status using functional physiological variables
Authors: Liew Bernard X. W. , Rugamer David , De Nunzio Alessandro Marco , Falla Deborah
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the predictive performance of statistical models which distinguishes different low back pain (LBP) sub-types and healthy controls, using as input predictors the time-varying signals of electromyographic and kinematic variables, collected during low-load lifting.

Methods

Motion capture with electromyography (EMG) assessment was performed on 49 participants [healthy control (con) = 16, remission LBP (rmLBP) = 16, current LBP (LBP) = 17], whilst performing a low-load lifting task, to extract a total of 40 predictors (kinematic and electromyographic variables). Three statistical models were developed using functional data boosting (FDboost), for binary classification of LBP statuses (model 1: con vs. LBP; model 2: con vs. rmLBP; model 3: rmLBP vs. LBP). After removing collinear predictors (i.e. a correlation of > 0.7 with other predictors) and inclusion of the covariate sex, 31 predictors were included for fitting model 1, 31 predictors for model 2, and 32 predictors for model 3.

Results

Seven EMG predictors were selected in model 1 (area under the receiver operator curve [AUC] of 90.4%), nine predictors in model 2 (AUC of 91.2%), and seven predictors in model 3 (AUC of 96.7%). The most influential predictor was the biceps femoris muscle (peak $$\beta $$
β
  = 0.047) in model 1, the deltoid muscle (peak $$\beta $$
β
 =  0.052) in model 2, and the iliocostalis muscle (peak $$\beta $$
β
=  0.16) in model 3.

Conclusion

The ability to transform time-varying physiological differences into clinical differences could be used in future prospective prognostic research to identify the dominant movement impairments that drive the increased risk.

Graphic abstract

These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Thermal degradation of crab shell biomass, a nitrogen-containing carbon precursor
Authors: Sebestyén Zoltán , Jakab Emma , Domán Andrea , Bokrossy Péter , Bertóti Imre , Madarász János , László Krisztina
Published: March 2020

Waste and low-cost lignocellulosic biomasses are well studied and widely used as raw materials for porous carbon adsorbents. Much less attention is given to the exploration of the potential of marine biomasses, though these materials contain also nitrogen, which—if preserved during the processing—has a beneficial influence on the sorption properties of the porous carbon obtained. Here, we report a multi-technique investigation into the conversion of crab shell to porous carbon adsorbent. Thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-GC/MS studies were used to reveal the thermal degradation of this natural polymer and follow the decomposition process through the identification of the products. Almost 40 various volatile degradation products were distinguished released at 500 °C pyrolysis temperature. Based on the TGA/DTG results, two temperatures, 350 and 500 °C, were selected to obtain pyrolytic samples in macroscopic quantities in order to characterize the morphology and surface chemistry of the solid fraction. More than 50% of the nitrogen atoms were still in the carbonaceous matrix after the 500 °C pyrolysis in the C–N=C, C–NH and 3C–N-type bonds. The ash content < 1% included hydroxylapatite-type crystalline matter. Based on these results, we may conclude that crab shells have a high potential as precursor of nitrogen-containing biochar.
Evaluation of Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit’s performance to rapidly detect isoniazid and rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from various clinical specimens
Authors: Chumpa Nuntana , Kawkitinarong Kamon , Rotcheewaphan Suwatchareeporn , Sawatpanich Ajcharaporn , Petsong Suthidee , Tumwasorn Somying , Suwanpimolkul Gompol
Published: March 2020

To determine the accuracy of multiplex real-time PCR (Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit) in detecting Isoniazid (INH)- and Rifampin (RIF)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from various clinical specimens. The performance of Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit in detecting INH- and RIF-resistant M. tuberculosis compared to the conventional drug susceptibility tests by Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT). A total of 430 clinical samples had positive results for M. tuberculosis from both Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit assay and mycobacterial cultures by MGIT method. When compared to MGITs, the sensitivity and specificity of Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit in detecting INH-resistant TB were 85.71% and 99.75%, respectively. For the detection of MDR-TB, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 82.35% and 99.76%, respectively. The positive predictive values and negative predictive values to detect INH-resistant TB were 96.77% and 98.75%, respectively. Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit can be used to rapidly detect isoniazid and rifampicin resistances. It has a high sensitivity, specificity and PPV in detecting INH-resistant TB and MDR-TB. This test can be used as an alternative test to Xpert MTB/RIF because it can rapidly detect both INH-resistant TB and RIF-resistant TB.
Body composition and changes in health-related quality of life in older age: a 10-year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Mikkola Tuija M. , Kautiainen Hannu , von Bonsdorff Mikaela B. , Salonen Minna K. , Wasenius Niko , Kajantie Eero , Eriksson Johan G.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Most studies examining the associations between body composition and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older age have been cross-sectional and analyzed only fat or lean mass. Hence, it is poorly known whether fat and lean mass are independently associated with subsequent changes in HRQoL. We investigated whether baseline lean and fat mass are associated with changes in HRQoL over a 10-year period in older adults.

Methods

We studied 1044 men and women from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (age 57–70 years at baseline). Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to derive baseline fat mass index (FMI, fat mass/height2) and lean mass index (lean mass/height2), dichotomized at sex-specific medians. HRQoL was assessed using RAND 36-item Health Survey at baseline and follow-up 10 years later.

Results

When controlled for lean mass and adjusted for potential confounders, high baseline FMI was associated with a greater decline in general health (standardized regression coefficient [β] = − 0.13, p = 0.001), physical functioning (β = − 0.11, p = 0.002), role physical (β = − 0.13, p = 0.003), vitality (β = − 0.08, p = 0.027), role emotional (β = − 0.12, p = 0.007), and physical component score (β = − 0.14, p < 0.001). High baseline FMI was also associated with low HRQoL in all physical domains at baseline (β: from − 0.38 to − 0.10). Lean mass was not strongly associated with HRQoL at baseline or change in HRQoL.

Conclusion

In older community-dwelling adults, higher fat mass is, independent of lean mass, associated with lower physical HRQoL and greater decline in HRQoL. Prevention of adiposity may contribute to preservation of a good quality of life in older age.
The Murderer as Writer, Storyteller and Protagonist: The Case of Krystian Bala
Authors: Struzińska Katarzyna
Published: March 2020

This paper presents the results of the semiotic analysis in which the story of Krystian Bala, a Polish author who was convicted of murder, is studied in detail. The presented case study focuses on the interactions between real and fictional worlds, in particular, on the possibility of amalgamation of a real author’s and a fictional storyteller’s roles. Furthermore, the double-dimensional analysis of reality and fiction is complemented and broadened by an in-depth examination of how this story has inspired other authors. By discussing real events and texts of culture based on them, this paper aims at presenting the process in which the writer who had turned to be the murderer became the protagonist of artistic creations of others, and, in consequence, a part of a broader socio-cultural phenomenon.
Pd3Ag(111) as a Model System for Hydrogen Separation Membranes: Combined Effects of CO Adsorption and Surface Termination on the Activation of Molecular Hydrogen
Authors: Svenum Ingeborg-Helene , Herron Jeffrey A. , Mavrikakis Manos , Venvik Hilde J.
Published: March 2020

The co-adsorption of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on Pd3Ag(111) alloy surfaces has been studied as a model system for Pd-Ag alloys in membrane and catalysis applications using periodic density functional theory calculations (PW91-GGA). We explored the effects of Pd–Ag surface composition, since segregation of silver towards and away from the surface has been suggested to explain the experimentally observed changes in H2activation, CO inhibition and reactivity. We found that CO pre-adsorbed on the surface weakens the adsorption of H on Pd3Ag(111) alloy surfaces irrespective of whether the surface termination corresponds to the bulk Pd3Ag composition, or is purely Pd-terminated. A higher coverage of H with CO present is obtained for the Pd-terminated surface; this surface also exhibits a larger range of chemical potentials for co-adsorbed hydrogen and CO. The barrier for H2activation increases with increasing CO coverage, but the surface composition has the largest impact on H2activation at intermediate CO coverage. The results imply that Pd-based membranes with typically ~ 23 wt% Ag are less prone to CO poisoning if the surface becomes Pd-terminated.
The effect of contrasting cases during problem solving prior to and after instruction
Authors: Loibl Katharina , Tillema Marcel , Rummel Nikol , van Gog Tamara
Published: March 2020

Research on productive failure suggests that attempting to solve a problem prior to instruction facilitates conceptual understanding compared to receiving instruction prior to problem solving. The assumptions are that during the problem-solving phase, students activate their prior knowledge, become aware of their knowledge gaps, and discover deep features of the target content, which prepares them to better process the subsequent instruction. Unclear is whether this effect results from merely changing the order of the learning phases (i.e., instruction or problem solving first) or from additional features, such as presenting problem-solving material in the form of cases that differ in one feature at a time. Contrasting such cases may highlight the deep features and provide grounded feedback to students’ problem-solving attempts. In addition, the effect of the order of instruction and problem solving on procedural fluency is still unclear. The present experiment (N = 181, mean age = 14.53) investigated in a 2 × 2 design the effects of order (instruction or problem solving first) and of contrasting cases in the problem-solving material (yes/no) on conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. Additionally, the quality and quantity of students’ solution attempts from the problem-solving phase were coded. Regarding the learning outcomes, the ANOVA results suggest that for procedural fluency instruction prior to problem solving was more beneficial than problem solving prior to instruction. Merely delaying instruction did not increase conceptual understanding. The contrasting cases did not affect the quality of solution attempts, nor the posttest results. As expected, students who received instruction first generated fewer, but higher-quality solution attempts.
DeepSurvNet: deep survival convolutional network for brain cancer survival rate classification based on histopathological images
Authors: Zadeh Shirazi Amin , Fornaciari Eric , Bagherian Narjes Sadat , Ebert Lisa M. , Koszyca Barbara , Gomez Guillermo A.
Published: March 2020

Histopathological whole slide images of haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained biopsies contain valuable information with relation to cancer disease and its clinical outcomes. Still, there are no highly accurate automated methods to correlate histolopathological images with brain cancer patients’ survival, which can help in scheduling patients therapeutic treatment and allocate time for preclinical studies to guide personalized treatments. We now propose a new classifier, namely, DeepSurvNet powered by deep convolutional neural networks, to accurately classify in 4 classes brain cancer patients’ survival rate based on histopathological images (class I, 0–6 months; class II, 6–12 months; class III, 12–24 months; and class IV, >24 months survival after diagnosis). After training and testing of DeepSurvNet model on a public brain cancer dataset, The Cancer Genome Atlas, we have generalized it using independent testing on unseen samples. Using DeepSurvNet, we obtained precisions of 0.99 and 0.8 in the testing phases on the mentioned datasets, respectively, which shows DeepSurvNet is a reliable classifier for brain cancer patients’ survival rate classification based on histopathological images. Finally, analysis of the frequency of mutations revealed differences in terms of frequency and type of genes associated to each class, supporting the idea of a different genetic fingerprint associated to patient survival. We conclude that DeepSurvNet constitutes a new artificial intelligence tool to assess the survival rate in brain cancer.
Plasma levels of acylated ghrelin in patients with insulinoma and expression of ghrelin and its receptor in insulinomas
Authors: Wu Hai-Yan , Li Nai-Shi , Song Yu-Li , Bai Chun-Mei , Wang Qiang , Zhao Yu-Pei , Xiao Yu , Yu Shuang , Li Ming , Chen Yuan-Jia
Published: March 2020

Background

Insulinoma is a subtype of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Many patients with insulinoma are obese due to frequent food intake. Ghrelin is associated with obesity and blood levels of insulin. It is not clear if plasma levels of ghrelin in insulinoma patients correlate with hyperinsulinemia and obesity. Expression of ghrelin and its receptor has not been well demonstrated in insulinoma.

Objective

To study if plasma levels of ghrelin is associated with obesity and hyperinsulinemia or hyperproinsulinemia in patients with insulinoma, and to detect the expression of ghrelin and its receptor in insulinoma.

Methods

Plasma levels of acylated ghrelin, insulin, and proinsulin were measured in 37 patients with insulinoma and 25 controls by ELISA. Expression of ghrelin and its receptor GHS-R1A was examined in 20 insulinoma and paired pancreatic specimens by immunostaining. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The plasma levels of acylated ghrelin in patients with insulinoma were significantly lower than that in the controls (median 15 pg/ml vs. 19 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.016). The reduced plasma levels of acylated ghrelin in patients were significantly correlated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperproinsulinemia (P = 0.029 and P = 0.028, respectively). Expression of ghrelin and its receptor GHS-R1A was shown in the majority of insulinoma specimens. The expression of GHS-R1A was positively correlated with ghrelin expression in insulinoma (P = 0.014).

Conclusions

Plasma levels of acylated ghrelin decreased in patients with insulinoma, probably due to the hyperinsulinemia and obesity in the patients. Expression of both ghrelin and its receptor is common in insulinoma.
A Hypersurface Containing the Support of a Radon Transform must be an Ellipsoid. I: The Symmetric Case
Authors: Boman Jan
Published: March 2020

If the Radon transform of a compactly supported distribution $$f \ne 0$$

f
≠
0

in $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

is supported on the set of tangent planes to the boundary $$\partial D$$

∂
D

of a bounded convex domain D, then $$\partial D$$

∂
D

must be an ellipsoid. As a corollary of this result we get a new proof of a recent theorem of Koldobsky, Merkurjev, and Yaskin, which settled a special case of a conjecture of Arnold that was motivated by a famous lemma of Newton.
Short-term results of a new self-locking cementless femoral stem: a prospective cohort study of the Lima MasterSL
Authors: Dlaska C. E. , Jovanovic I. A. , Grant A. L. , Graw G. , Wilkinson M. P. , Doma K. , Hazratwala K.
Published: March 2020

Background

Total hip arthroplasty is a successful treatment for hip osteoarthritis. Primary and secondary implant fixation is dependent on implant design and plays an important role in the longevity of an implant. In this study, we assessed the self-locking cementless MasterSL femoral stem.

Materials and methods

In this single-centre prospective study, 50 consecutive hips with the indication for total hip arthroplasty, who met the inclusion criteria, received the MasterSL stem from LIMA Corporate. Patients had pre- and post-operative clinical and radiological assessment and completed patient-reported outcome measures [Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS)] at the 6-week and 6-, 12- and 24-month mark. Post-operative X-rays were assessed for osteointegration (Engh Score), alignment and subsidence.

Results

After 2 years, aseptic survival was 100%. One hip had to be explanted due to early deep infection and was excluded from the study. At 2 years, the patients reported a significant improved HHS and OHS of 95.3 ± 5.8 and 46.1 ± 3.6 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively, compared to preoperatively. The mean ± standard deviation for the FJS was 86.4 ± 18.7 with two-thirds of the patients reporting a score above 85. The mean Engh score is 15.1 ± 5.9 (mean ± standard deviation) with no patient scoring below 1 which suggests good osteointegration in all femoral stems.

Conclusions

The MasterSL femoral stem performed well in this short-term follow-up study, with high patient satisfaction and good signs of osteointegration. Long-term follow-up will be necessary to evaluate longevity.

Level of evidence

Level 3, Prospective cohort study.

Trial registration

The study was registered on the 30.03.2016 with Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000550303).
The Stages of Igbo Conversion to Islam: An Empirical Study
Authors: Priest Chinyere Felicia , Uchendu Egodi
Published: March 2020

In recent years a very rare phenomenon was observed in Igboland, Southeastern Nigeria—the conversion of the Igbo to Islam. There exists a significant scholarly work on the stages of conversion or conversion process among different people group; however, to the best of our knowledge, little exists on the Igbo conversion to Islam. This could be as a result of the phenomenon being a relatively recent development in Igboland, commencing in the second half of the twentieth century (Uchendu in Soc Sci J 47(1):172–188, 2010). This article seeks to discover the stages of Igbo conversion to Islam; that is, the systematic phases involved in their conversion process to Islam To accomplish this, ethnographic interviews were conducted with thirty (30) former Igbo Christians, all now converts to Islam. Gerlach and Hine's (People, power, change: movements of social transformation, Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, 1970) stages of conversion theory were applied to this study, and the findings showed that Igbo converts to Islam underwent six stages in their conversion process to Islam. These are: “Initial contact with a practicing Muslim; focus of need through demonstration; re-education through group interaction; decision and surrender; commitment event; and group support for changed cognitive and behavioral patterns (consequence)”. The findings from this study reveal that tension and crisis do not often begin the stage of disaffiliating from one's original religion as some scholars claim. The study recommends that Igbo Christians should build strong ties with one another so that disaffiliation will not quickly occur.
South Africa’s port doctrine: dilemmas and the way forward
Authors: Meyiwa Ayanda , Chasomeris Mihalis
Published: March 2020

This study uses content analyses to examine 137 stakeholders’ submissions to the Ports Regulator of South Africa from 2009/2010 to 2018/2019, classifying themes into two broad categories, namely port authority pricing and port governance, which together define South Africa’s port doctrine. Results show that South Africa’s system of eight commercial seaports is unique and is financed and managed using a mix of elements from the Anglo-Saxon and Asian doctrines and attempts to charge port tariffs according to the Anglo-Saxon doctrine. The paper critiques the port authority pricing methodology employed in South Africa and shows its inconsistency with sound pricing principles and global best practices. The governance structure and how it has persistently defied legislation, which served to promote anticompetitive behaviour and at worst accommodated years of corrupt activities that have recently surfaced, are also discussed. The recommendation is a swift incorporation of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) as a stand-alone entity outside of Transnet. Incorporation of TNPA would help to remove the present conflicts of interests, improve transparency, accountability and regulation as well as incentivise improved productivity and infrastructure spending, and attract private investments into the ports system.
Biologia Futura: adaptive changes in urban populations
Authors: Liker András
Published: March 2020

Cities represent novel environments where altered ecological conditions can generate strong selection pressures leading to the evolution of specific urban phenotypes. Is there evidence for such adaptive changes in urban populations which have colonized their new environments relatively recently? A growing number of studies suggest that rapid adaptations may be widespread in wild urban populations, including increased tolerance to various anthropogenic stressors, and physiological, morphological and behavioural changes in response to the altered resources and predation risk. Some of these adaptive changes are based on genetic differentiation, although other mechanisms, such as phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic effects, are also frequently involved.
Distributed synergetic guidance law for multiple missiles with angle-of-attack constraint
Authors: You H. , Zhao F.-J.
Published: March 2020

Based on the missiles with adjustable thrust, a distributed synergetic guidance law for multiple missiles with angle-of-attack constraint is designed to achieve a cooperative attack by multiple missiles on a moving target. Divide the guidance law into two parts: the line of sight (LOS) direction and the normal direction of LOS. The guidance law is designed in LOS direction based on the multi-agent system cooperative control theory and super-twisting algorithm, which can control missiles’ time-to-go converging in finite time. In the normal direction of LOS, the other guidance law is designed to control missiles hitting the target with impact angle constraint based on zeroing LOS rate thought and finite-time sliding mode control theory. The two non-homogeneous disturbance observers are designed to estimate the target manoeuvring information in the two parts of the guidance law. The simulation results show that the guidance law designed by this paper can complete the cooperative attack task while suppressing the chattering phenomenon effectively.
The Relativity Apocalypse is Nigh
Authors: Alvarez José E.
Published: March 2020

By all rights, Prosper Weil's 1983 cri de coeur should be one of many best-forgotten law review articles. It targets, after all, concepts that few dispute today (namely jus cogens and erga omnes obligations, as well as shortcuts to finding universally applicable customary law based on “quasi-universal” treaties). Its other direct target—the distinction between international crimes and delicts—refers to once contentious debates over whether states can be charged with ordinary international delicts as well as international crimes. This has since been eclipsed by the International Law Commission's (ILC's) decision to include, in its Articles of State Responsibility, Article 41 (enumerating the consequences of “serious breaches” resulting from the violation of preemptory norms). And insofar as Weil's foil was the premise that international “delicts” can have a “variable geometry,” that too has been overtaken by events: neither the ILC's turn to “serious breaches” nor the far older proposition that individuals can be prosecuted for international crimes remains the subject of much controversy today.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Readiness to Practice Regarding Disaster Medicine and Preparedness Among University Health Students
Authors: Al-Ziftawi Nour Hisham , Elamin Fatima Mohamed , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham
Published: March 2020

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge (K), attitude (A), and readiness to practice (rP) levels regarding disaster medicine and preparedness among health profession students at Qatar University.

Methods:

A survey-based study was carried out to assess medical, pharmacy, and health sciences students’ KArP levels using pretested and validated questionnaire. Student’s t-test, analysis of variance, correlation, and linear regression were used with an alpha level of 0.05.

Results:

The difference in the mean KArP level between genders was not significant (P > 0.05). Students from the College of Health Sciences had significantly higher KArP levels than those from the College of Pharmacy (101.5 vs 90.0; P = 0.033). Overall, Qatari students had better knowledge, attitude, and readiness to practice scores and total KArP scores than non-Qatari students. Moreover, students who were born in Qatar also had better knowledge, attitude, and readiness to practice scores and total KArP scores than students who were born outside Qatar. Significant direct moderate correlations were found among the 3 KArP parameters (P < 0.001). Knowledge and attitudes were indicated to be significant predictors of readiness to practice (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Students from the health colleges at Qatar University have moderate disaster medicine preparedness
Regulating Fintech in the EU: the Case for a Guided Sandbox
Authors: RINGE Wolf-Georg , RUOF Christopher
Published: March 2020

New financial technology holds the promise of innovation and competition, challenging established products and services and frequently improving market processes. However, regulation of these new services faces a double challenge: to keep pace with innovation and facilitate new market entries while at the same time understanding and managing the regulatory risks that are involved.

At this stage, the existing EU regulatory framework is of little help: the bulk of the present body of financial regulation stems from a different time, with different regulatory problems in mind. EU regulation is also very slow to change and to adapt. Therefore, this paper proposes a regulatory “sandbox” – an experimentation space – as a step towards a regulatory environment where such new business models can thrive. A sandbox would allow market participants to test fintech services in the real market, with real consumers, but under the close scrutiny of the supervisor. The benefit of such an approach is that it fuels the development of new business practices and reduces the “time to market” cycle of financial innovation, while simultaneously safeguarding consumer protection. At the same time, a sandbox allows for mutual learning in a technical field which is sometimes poorly understood, both for firms and for the regulator. This would help to reduce the prevalent regulatory uncertainty for all market participants.

In the particular EU legal framework with various layers of legal instruments, the implementation of such a sandbox is not straightforward. In this paper, we propose a “guided sandbox”, operated by the EU Member States, but with endorsement, support, and monitoring by EU institutions. This innovative approach would be somewhat uncharted territory for the EU, and thereby also contribute to the future development of EU financial market governance as a whole.
Harmony in Business: Christian Communal Capitalism in the Early Republic
Authors: SLAUGHTER JOSEPH P.
Published: March 2020

Scholars increasingly acknowledge the contingent, varied, complex nature of capitalism, yet overlook a viable vision of the early nineteenth-century United States: communal capitalism. Communal societies proliferated in the early United States as a way to regulate the market. The most industrious, materially successful model of this approach was George Rapp’s Harmony Society, established in 1805. Rapp was a radical Pietist, immigrating with his followers from Württemberg in order to establish a purified community that would persevere into the millennium he predicted was imminent. Despite a ban on private property, the Harmonists embraced the market, building textile factories and conducting market activity under the moniker “Rapp & Associates.” Technologically innovative, shrewd in business, and dogged in pursuit of a “divine economy,” the example of the Harmony Society helps us better understand how religious businesses helped shape the early American capitalist system and, specifically, the contributions of German Pietism to economic thought in the Atlantic world. Ultimately, we discover how the Harmonists’ communal capitalism forsook wages and private property, while embracing stocks, bonds, leases, mortgages, patents, trademarks, licenses, litigation, and contracts as they built an incredibly successful and wealthy manufacturing community in the then-western United States, even as George Rapp’s authoritarian leadership style created tensions within his workforce of immigrant women, men, and children.