bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Predictability of American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Staging System for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Limited Improvement Compared with the 7th Staging System
Authors: Lee Jong Woo , Lee Jae Hoon , Park Yejong , Lee Woohyung , Kwon Jaewoo , Song Ki Byung , Hwang Dae Wook , Kim Song Cheol
Published: March 2020

PurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic values of the 7th and 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging systems for patients with resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC).Materials and MethodsA total of 348 patients who underwent major hepatectomy for PHCC between 2008 and 2015 were identified from a single center. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared across stage groups with the log-rank test. The concordance index was used to evaluate the prognostic predictability of the 8th AJCC staging system compared with that of the 7th.ResultsIn the 8th edition, the stratification of each group of T classification improved compared to that in the 7th, as the survival rate of T4 decreased (T2, 31.2%; T3, 13.9%; T4, 15.1%; T1- T2, p=0.260; T2-T3, p=0.001; T3-T4, p=0.996). Both editions showed significant survival differences between each N category, except between N1 and N2 (p=0.063) in 7th edition. Differences of point estimates between the 8th and 7th T and N classification and overall stages were +0.028, +0.006, and +0.039, respectively (T, p=0.005; N, p=0.115; overall stage, p=0.005). In multivariable analysis, posthepatectomy liver failure, T category, N category, distant metastasis, histologic differentiation, intraoperative transfusion, and resection margin status were associated with OS.ConclusionThe prognostic predictability of 8th AJCC staging for PHCC improved slightly, with statistical significance, compared to the 7th edition, but its overall performance is still unsatisfactory.
Estimating the reproductive number and the outbreak size of COVID-19 in Korea
Authors: Choi Sunhwa , Ki Moran
Published: March 2020

OBJECTIVES: Since the first novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient in Korea was diagnosed on January 20, 2020, 30 patients were diagnosed until February 17, 2020. However, 5,298 additional patients were confirmed until March 4, 2020. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the reproduction number (R) and evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures.METHODS: A COVID-19 transmission model (SEIHR) was established to suit the Korean outbreak. The number of daily confirmed cases in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (NGP), the main area of outbreak, was used. The first patient’ symptom onset date in the Daegu/NGP outbreak was assumed as January 22, 2020. The R according to the start date of the effect of preventive measures was estimated.RESULTS: The estimated R in Hubei Province, China, was 4.0281, whereas the estimated initial R in Korea was 0.555, but later in Daegu/NGP, the value was between 3.472 and 3.543. When the transmission period decreases from 4-day to 2-day, the outbreak ends early, but the peak of the epidemic increases, and the total number of patients does not change greatly. It was found that, if transmission rate decreases, the outbreak ends early, and the size of the peak and the total number of patients also decreases.CONCLUSIONS: To end the COVID-19 epidemic, efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, such as social distancing and wearing masks, are absolutely crucial with the participation of the public, along with the policy of reducing the transmission period by finding and isolating patients as quickly as possible through the efforts of the quarantine authorities.
Residual Aligning Moment Test
Authors:   Highway Tire Committee
Published: March 2020

This SAE Recommended Practice describes the determination of tire pull force properties for an uninclined tire (SAE J670e) on a laboratory flat surface tire force and moment machine. It is suitable for accurately determining pull forces and residual aligning moments for passenger and light-truck tires. These properties are important determinants of vehicle trim (See section 2.1.2). They describe steady-state, free-rolling pull effects ascribable to tires.

The test method described in this document is suitable for comparative evaluation of tires for research and development purposes. The method is also suitable for modeling when followed carefully.
Insights into the Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior and Mechanism of Electroless Ni-P Coating in the CO2/H2S/Cl− Environment
Authors: Li Jiankuan , Sun Chong , Roostaei Morteza , Mahmoudi Mahdi , Fattahpour Vahidoddin , Zeng Hongbo , Luo Jing-Li
Published: March 2020

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of Ni-P coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution-containing CO2 and H2S was investigated using electrochemical methods and surface characterization techniques. The results show that the presence of H2S can enhance the CO2 corrosion of Ni-P coated carbon steel by affecting both anodic and cathodic processes. The adsorbed layer only exists in the very early stage of corrosion and barely improves the anticorrosion performance of the coating. The formation of corrosion products (NiO and Ni3S2) renders temporary protection during immersion, but the addition of H2S accelerates the diffusion process at the electrolyte/coating interface and promotes the electrolyte penetration through the coating, causing severe localized corrosion and coating disbondment. A corrosion model is proposed to illustrate the corrosion and degradation process of Ni-P coated steel in the CO2/H2S/Cl− environment.
Impact of poleward heat and moisture transports on Arctic clouds and climate simulation
Authors: Baek Eun-Hyuk , Kim Joo-Hong , Park Sungsu , Kim Baek-Min , Jeong Jee-Hoon
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Many general circulation models (GCMs) have difficulty simulating
Arctic clouds and climate, causing substantial inter-model spread. To
address this issue, two Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP)
simulations from the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) and Seoul
National University (SNU) Atmosphere Model version 0 (SAM0) with a unified
convection scheme (UNICON) are employed to identify an effective mechanism
for improving Arctic cloud and climate simulations. Over the Arctic, SAM0
produced a larger cloud fraction and cloud liquid mass than CAM5, reducing
the negative Arctic cloud biases in CAM5. The analysis of cloud water
condensation rates indicates that this improvement is associated with an
enhanced net condensation rate of water vapor into the liquid condensate of
Arctic low-level clouds, which in turn is driven by enhanced poleward
transports of heat and moisture by the mean meridional circulation and
transient eddies. The reduced Arctic cloud biases lead to improved
simulations of surface radiation fluxes and near-surface air temperature
over the Arctic throughout the year. The association between the enhanced
poleward transports of heat and moisture and increase in liquid clouds over
the Arctic is also evident not only in both models, but also in the
multi-model analysis. Our study demonstrates that enhanced poleward heat and
moisture transport in a model can improve simulations of Arctic clouds and
climate.
Convective distribution of dust over the Arabian Peninsula: the impact of model resolution
Authors: Bukowski Jennie , van den Heever Susan C.
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, convective dust storms are a
considerable source of mineral dust to the atmosphere. Reliable predictions
of convective dust events are necessary to determine their effects on air
quality, visibility, and the radiation budget. In this study, the Weather
Research and Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) is used to
simulate a 2016 summertime dust event over the Arabian Peninsula and examine
the variability in dust fields and associated vertical transport due to the
choice of convective parameterization and convection-permitting versus
parameterized convection. Simulations are run at 45 and 15 km grid
spacing with multiple cumulus parameterizations, and are compared to a 3 km
simulation that permits explicit dry and moist convective processes. Five
separate cumulus parameterizations at 15 km grid spacing were tested to
quantify the spread across different parameterizations. Finally, the impact
these variations have on radiation, specifically aerosol heating rates is
also investigated. On average, in these simulations the convection-permitting case produces
higher quantities of dust than the parameterized cases in terms of dust
uplift potential, vertical dust concentrations, and vertical dust fluxes.
Major drivers of this discrepancy between the simulations stem from the
convection-permitting case exhibiting higher surface wind speeds during
convective activity; lower dust emission wind threshold velocities due to
drier soil; and more frequent, stronger vertical velocities which transport
dust aloft and increase the atmospheric lifetime of these particles. For
aerosol heating rates in the lowest levels, the shortwave effect prevails in
the convection-permitting case with a net cooling effect, whereas a longwave
net warming effect is present in the parameterized cases. The spread in dust
concentrations across cumulus parameterizations at the same grid resolution
(15 km) is an order of magnitude lower than the impact of moving from
parameterized towards explicit convection. We conclude that tuning dust
emissions in coarse-resolution simulations can only improve the results to
first-order and cannot fully rectify the discrepancies originating from
disparities in the representation of convective dust transport.
A predictive group-contribution model for the viscosity of aqueous organic aerosol
Authors: Gervasi Natalie R. , Topping David O. , Zuend Andreas
Published: March 2020

Abstract. The viscosity of primary and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) has important implications for the processing of aqueous organic aerosol phases in the atmosphere, their involvement in climate forcing, and transboundary pollution. Here we introduce a new thermodynamics-based group-contribution model, which is capable of accurately predicting the dynamic viscosity of a mixture over several orders of magnitude (∼10-3 to >1012 Pa s) as a function of temperature and mixture composition, accounting for the effect of relative humidity on aerosol water content. The mixture viscosity modelling framework builds on the thermodynamic activity coefficient model AIOMFAC (Aerosol Inorganic–Organic Mixtures Functional groups Activity Coefficients) for predictions of liquid mixture non-ideality, including liquid–liquid phase separation, and the calorimetric glass transition temperature model by DeRieux et al. (2018) for pure-component viscosity values of organic components. Comparing this new model with simplified modelling approaches reveals that the group-contribution method is the most accurate in predicting mixture viscosity, although accurate pure-component viscosity predictions (and associated experimental data) are key and one of the main sources of uncertainties in current models, including the model presented here. Nonetheless, we find excellent agreement between the viscosity predictions and measurements for systems in which mixture constituents have a molar mass below 350 g mol−1. As such, we demonstrate the validity of the model in quantifying mixture viscosity for aqueous binary mixtures (glycerol, citric acid, sucrose, and trehalose), aqueous multicomponent mixtures (citric acid plus sucrose and a mixture of nine dicarboxylic acids), and aqueous SOA surrogate mixtures derived from the oxidation of α-pinene, toluene, or isoprene. We also use the model to assess the expected change in SOA particle viscosity during idealized adiabatic air parcel transport from the surface to higher altitudes within the troposphere. This work demonstrates the capability and flexibility of our model in predicting the viscosity for organic mixtures of varying degrees of complexity and its applicability for modelling SOA viscosity over a wide range of temperatures and relative humidities.
A new age model for the Pliocene of the southern North Sea basin: a multi-proxy climate reconstruction
Authors: Dearing Crampton-Flood Emily , Noorbergen Lars J. , Smits Damian , Boschman R. Christine , Donders Timme H. , Munsterman Dirk K. , ten Veen Johan , Peterse Francien , Lourens Lucas , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Published: March 2020

Abstract. The mid-Piacenzian Warm Period (mPWP; 3264–3025 ka) represents the most
recent interval in Earth's history where atmospheric CO2 levels were
similar to today. The reconstruction of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and
climate modelling studies has shown that global temperatures were 2–4 ∘C warmer than present. However, detailed reconstructions of
marginal seas and/or coastal zones, linking the coastal and continental
climate evolution, are lacking. This is in part due to the absence of
precise age models for coastal sedimentary successions, as they are
generally formed by dynamic depositional systems with varying sediment and
freshwater inputs. Here, we present a multi-proxy record of Pliocene climate
change in the coastal southern North Sea basin (SNSB) based on the
sedimentary record from borehole Hank, the Netherlands. The marginal marine
setting of the Hank borehole during the late Pliocene provides an excellent
opportunity to correlate marine and terrestrial signals due to continental
sediment input mainly derived from the proto-Rhine–Meuse River. We improve
the existing low-resolution palynology-based age model for the Hank borehole
using stable oxygen and carbon isotope (δ18O and
δ13C) measurements of the endobenthic foraminifera species Cassidulina laevigata, integrated
with biochrono- and seismostratigraphy. Identification of hiatuses and
freshwater effects in the record allows us to isolate glacial–interglacial
climate signals in order to tune the endobenthic oxygen stable isotope record to a
global benthic δ18O stack. This results in a tuned age
framework for the SNSB for the late Pliocene (∼3190–2770 ka). Our multi-proxy climate reconstruction for the interval which covers
part of the mPWP (∼3190–3000 ka) shows a strong agreement
between lipid biomarker and palynology-based terrestrial temperature
proxies, which suggest a stable climate, 1–2 ∘C warmer than
present. In the marine realm, however, biomarker-based SSTs show a large
range of variation (10 ∘C). Nevertheless, the fluctuation is
comparable to other SST records from the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas,
suggesting that a common factor, possibly ocean circulation, exerted a
strong influence over SSTs in the North Atlantic and the North Sea at this
time.
Implementation of Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere model v1.0 into GEOS-Chem v12.0.0: a tool for biosphere–chemistry interactions
Authors: Lei Yadong , Yue Xu , Liao Hong , Gong Cheng , Zhang Lin
Published: March 2020

Abstract. The terrestrial biosphere and atmospheric chemistry interact
through multiple feedbacks, but the models of vegetation and chemistry are
developed separately. In this study, the Yale Interactive terrestrial
Biosphere (YIBs) model, a dynamic vegetation model with biogeochemical
processes, is implemented into the Chemical Transport Model GEOS-Chem (GC)
version 12.0.0. Within this GC-YIBs framework, leaf area index (LAI) and
canopy stomatal conductance dynamically predicted by YIBs are used for dry
deposition calculation in GEOS-Chem. In turn, the simulated surface ozone
(O3) by GEOS-Chem affect plant photosynthesis and biophysics in YIBs.
The updated stomatal conductance and LAI improve the simulated O3 dry
deposition velocity and its temporal variability for major tree species. For
daytime dry deposition velocities, the model-to-observation correlation
increases from 0.69 to 0.76, while the normalized mean error (NME) decreases
from 30.5 % to 26.9 % using the GC-YIBs model. For the diurnal cycle, the
NMEs decrease by 9.1 % for Amazon forests, 6.8 % for coniferous forests,
and 7.9 % for deciduous forests using the GC-YIBs model. Furthermore, we
quantify the damaging effects of O3 on vegetation and find a global reduction of
annual gross primary productivity by 1.5 %–3.6 %, with regional extremes of
10.9 %–14.1 % in the eastern USA and eastern China. The online GC-YIBs
model provides a useful tool for discerning the complex feedbacks between
atmospheric chemistry and the terrestrial biosphere under global change.
On the conceptual complexity of non-point source management: impact of spatial variability
Authors: Henri Christopher Vincent , Harter Thomas , Diamantopoulos Efstathios
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Non-point source (NPS) pollution has degraded groundwater quality of unconsolidated sedimentary basins over many decades. Properly conceptualizing NPS pollution from the well scale to the regional scale leads to complex and expensive numerical models: key controlling factors of NPS pollution – recharge rate, leakage of pollutants, and soil and aquifer hydraulic properties – are spatially and, for recharge and pollutant leakage, temporally variable. This leads to high uncertainty in predicting well pollution. On the other hand, concentration levels of some key NPS contaminants (salinity, nitrate) vary within a limited range (< 2 orders of magnitude), and significant mixing occurs across the aquifer profile along the most critical compliance surface: drinking water wells with their extended vertical screen length.
Given these two unique NPS contamination conditions, we here investigate the degree to which NPS travel time to wells and the NPS source area associated with an individual well can be appropriately captured, for practical applications, when spatiotemporally variable recharge, contaminant leakage rates, or hydraulic conductivity are represented through a sub-regionally homogenized parametrization.
We employ a Monte Carlo-based stochastic framework to assess the impact of model homogenization on key management metrics for NPS contamination. Results indicate that travel time distributions are relatively insensitive to the spatial variability of recharge and contaminant loading, while capture zone and contaminant time series exhibit some sensitivity to source variability. In contrast, homogenization of aquifer heterogeneity significantly affects the uncertainty assessment of travel times and capture zone delineation.
Surprisingly, the statistics of relevant NPS well concentrations (fast and intermediate travel times) are fairly well reproduced by a series of equivalent homogeneous aquifers, highlighting the dominant role of NPS solute mixing along well screens.
Tracking the spread of a passive tracer through Southern Ocean water masses
Authors: Zika Jan D. , Sallée Jean-Baptiste , Meijers Andrew J. S. , Naveira-Garabato Alberto C. , Watson Andrew J. , Messias Marie-Jose , King Brian A.
Published: March 2020

Abstract. A dynamically passive inert tracer was released in the interior South Pacific Ocean at latitudes of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Observational cross sections of the tracer were taken over 4 consecutive years as it drifted through Drake Passage and into the Atlantic Ocean. The tracer was released within a region of high salinity relative to surrounding waters at the same density. In the absence of irreversible mixing a tracer remains at constant salinity and temperature on an isopycnal surface. To investigate the process of irreversible mixing we analysed the tracer in potential density-versus-salinity-anomaly coordinates. Observations of high tracer concentration tended to be collocated with isopycnal salinity anomalies. With time, an initially narrow peak in tracer concentration as a function of salinity at constant density broadened with the tracer being found at ever fresher salinities, consistent with diffusion-like behaviour in that coordinate system. The second moment of the tracer as a function of salinity suggested an initial period of slow spreading for approximately 2 years in the Pacific, followed by more rapid spreading as the tracer entered Drake Passage and the Scotia Sea. Analysis of isopycnal salinity gradients based on the Argo programme suggests that part of this apparent change can be explained by changes in background salinity gradients while part may be explained by the evolution of the tracer patch from a slowly growing phase where the tracer forms filaments to a more rapid phase where the tracer mixes at 240–550 m2 s−1.
La traducción de Los Diálogos de Amor de León Hebreo: Notas para el entendimiento humano del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Authors: Del Pozo Marta
Published: March 2020

En las páginas que siguen se buscará trascender las nociones que relegan la traducción de Los Diálogos de Amor de León Hebreo por el Inca Garcilaso de la Vega a un mero ejercicio de carácter utilitarista. Me cuestionáné el porqué de la elección de este texto por parte del Inca y analizaré aspectos idiosincráticos y conceptuales de la obra, con el objetivo de arrojar luz sobre la compleja identidad del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
This paper aims at interpreting the translation of Los Diálogos de Amor (León Hebreo) by the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega beyond a mere exercise of pure utilitarianism. His election of this work to be translated and the analysis of the idiosyncrasies of the text aim at shedding some light on the identity complexities of el Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
La enseñanza de la gramática: un debate pendiente en el contexto de la educación argentina
Authors: Gaiser María Cecilia
Published: March 2020

Resumen
En la primera mitad del siglo XX, la enseñanza de la gramática tradicional no se cuestiona y su límite oracional no es un eje de discusión puesto que todavía las líneas de orientación textual estaban en ciernes. Entre los 60 y 70 el estructuralismo eclipsa los estudios del lenguaje y sus herramientas de análisis gramatical ingresan en las aulas. Es en los últimos 20 años cuando aparecen las dos líneas que direccionarán el destino de la gramática en la escuela: no dar gramática o reemplazar la gramática oracional por una lingüística/gramática textual y/o análisis del discurso. En este contexto, el objetivo del presente trabajo es indagar sobre el rol que ocupa la enseñanza de contenidos gramaticales del español en el sistema educativo argentino. Para ello, debemos preguntarnos lo siguiente: ¿existen fundamentos sólidos para eliminar la enseñanza de la gramática? y ¿se puede enseñar gramática textual sin una base en gramática oracional? Para responder a los interrogantes planteados, se utilizará como insumo una encuesta realizada a los estudiantes que ingresan al cursado de la materia Gramática I del Profesorado y la Licenciatura en Letras de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas de la UNLPam (Argentina). En este contexto, las respuestas de los estudiantes se configuran en un aporte sumamente valioso para iluminar el hoy todavía oscuro ámbito de la enseñanza de la gramática en las aulas.
Abstract
Grammar Teaching: a Pending Debate in the Argentine Education Context
During the first half of the twentieth century the teaching of traditional grammar were not questioned, and its limitations to sentence level grammar was not under scrutiny because guidelines for discourse level analysis were still being developed. Between the 60s and 70s, Structuralism eclipsed language studies and its grammatical analysis tools began to be used at school. In the last 20 years two tendencies have oriented the teaching of grammar at school: either by not teaching it at all, or by replacing sentence grammar by lingüistic/text grammar and/or discourse analysis. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the role and the relevance of teaching Spanish grammar content in the Argentine educational system. In order to do so, we should first ask ourselves if there is solid ground to eliminate traditional grammar teaching; and secondly, if it is proper to teach textbook grammar without a sentence grammar basis. So as to answer these questions, we used a survey completed by students attending Gramática I del Profesorado y la Licenciatura en Letras de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas de la UNLPam (Argentina). In this context, the students’ answers have provided an extremely valuable contribution to illuminate the rather dark field of teaching grammar in classrooms.
In situ mixed wh-coordination and the argument/adjunct distinction
Authors: Zyman Erik
Published: March 2020

One of the most important results of syntactic inquiry has been a detailed empirical and, to some extent, theoretical understanding of the argument/adjunct distinction, which underlies a wide array of superficially different phenomena. Therefore, any phenomena that appear to challenge the argument/adjunct distinction deserve scrutiny. This squib investigates an almost unremarked-upon phenomenon of just that type: apparent in situ mixed wh-coordination (ISMW: Mary ate WHAT and WHEN to impress Sue?!), in which argument and adjunct wh-phrases are apparently coordinated in situ. Two analyses of ISMW are compared: the Wh-Coordination Analysis, on which the conjuncts are the wh-phrases, and the VP-Coordination Analysis, on which the conjuncts are VPs whose head Vs undergo across-the-board head movement to v. The squib argues for the VP-Coordination Analysis on conceptual and empirical grounds. Conceptually, the VP- but not the Wh-Coordination Analysis is compatible with our understanding of the argument/adjunct distinction, and involves an unremarkable derivation that it would take a stipulation to rule out; hence, the VP-Coordination Analysis is preferable. Empirically, the VP- but not the Wh-Coordination Analysis makes several correct predictions: (a) that ISMW should be impossible with obligatorily transitive verbs; (b) that adverbs should be able to follow the first wh-phrase in ISMW that cannot follow it in the left periphery; and (c) that there should be apparent in situ coordination of argument wh-phrases with different θ-roles. That ISMW involves VP-coordination rather than wh-coordination indicates that it in fact does not threaten the argument/adjunct distinction, contrary to initial appearances, a theoretically welcome result.
Left lower abdominal pain in a premenarchal girl: A case of ovarian torsion
Authors: Cheng Chao , Condron Sarah
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Pediatric ovarian torsion is a rare surgical emergency. In premenarchal girls, ovarian torsion can occur with or without an ovarian cyst. Due to its nonspecific presentation, diagnosis can be very challenging.

Case Report: A healthy 9-year-old girl presented to the Emergency Department with a six day history of intermittent left sided abdominal and flank pain, associated with vomiting. She appeared well on triage, and was triaged for nonurgent review. In the Emergency Department, the patient reported that she was seen by family doctor three days prior for the same symptoms and was treated for urinary tract infection with cephalexin. She denied any bowel habit changes or other systemic symptoms. She examined well, with mild tenderness over the left iliac fossa without guarding. A renal tract ultrasound was requested, and it showed a bulky left ovary with no vascular flow, suggesting ovarian torsion. The patient was subsequently taken to operating theatre and underwent laparoscopic detorsion of her left ovary. She was followed up in outpatient clinic with a pelvic ultrasound done at six weeks postoperatively which showed normal vascular flow and follicles in both ovaries.

Conclusion: In conclusion, ovarian torsion in pediatric premenarchal population is a diagnostic challenge. Abdominal ultrasound is an essential diagnostic aid, and laparoscopy with detorsion is an accepted surgical management.
Soil nitrogen sequestration in a long-term fertilizer experiment in central China
Authors: Han Xuemei , Hu Cheng , Chen Yunfeng , Qiao Yan , Liu Donghai , Fan Jun , Li Shuanglai , Zhang Zhi
Published: March 2020

Aim of study: To evaluate the effects of a long-term manuring and fertilization experiment on the soil total N concentration and its storage and sequestration rates in the rice-wheat cropping system.Area of study: A rice-wheat rotation area in central China.Material and methods: A 35-yr long-term fertilizer experiment was conducted with 9 treatments: unfertilized (Control), N, P, and K fertilizers, manure (M) and M combined with N, P, and K fertilizers treatments. Soil total N input amount, total N concentration, total N storage amount and N sequestration rate in soil were calculated.Main results: The soil total N input amount, N concentration, N storage amount and N sequestration rate were significantly influenced by M and chemical fertilizers. In total, 0.017-0.021 g N/kg soil accumulated in the organic M plots, whereas only 0.005-0.007 g in chemical fertilizer alone plots. The highest soil total N storage amount was 6.09 t/hain the M alone plot, and the lowest value was 4.46 tN/ha in the N fertilizer alone plot. The highest N sequestration rate in soil was 0.061 t N/ha/yr in the high amount M plus NPK fertilizers plot, and the lowest value was 0.002 tN/ha/yr in the N fertilizer alone plot. A significant nonlinear regression relationship existed between the total N sequestration rate in soil and annual total N input amount. Moreover, the average soil total N concentration was significantly positively correlated with the average grain yield of crop and soil organic C concentration. The soil total N sequestration rate in M alone or M combined with inorganic fertilizer treatments were increased compared with inorganic fertilizer alone treatments.Research highlights: Considering crop yields and total N sequestration rate in soil, the use of manure combined with inorganic fertilizer should be recommended in the rice-wheat cropping system.
Exploring various models of hospice care worldwide that can be used and adapted to the context of Qatar: A review of the literature
Authors: Khan Aisha Noor Mohammad​ , Johnson Jessie , Al Bulushi Asma
Published: March 2020

Background: Hospice care is an alternative for those patients who wish to die at home. Most clients who have a terminal illness would rather choose the services provided by healthcare workers who deliver hospice care in the client’s home. For some, it is important to have the ability to spend time with friends, family and to die with dignity and respect at their preferable place of death. Qatar has established end of life care services for patients with advanced stages of cancer, however these services are delivered on palliative care units housed within the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). Having the ability to provide at home hospice care is a necessity in order to carry out the wish of clients who wish to die at home, fulfil the gap in these facilities, and achieve the goal of Qatar’s national health strategy, which is to improve cancer services.Aim: To explore the literature for different models of at-home hospice care worldwide then find a model that can be adapted to the context of Qatar.Methods: A literature review approach was used. Nine scholarly articles were found that focused on and evaluated different at-home hospice models of care worldwide published between 2007 and 2018. Articles were critically appraised using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. The data were analysed by categorizing the included articles in a spreadsheet based on study design.Results: The most significant components of at-home models of hospice care were multidimensional care, staff competent in delivering end of life care services, and the ability to provide twenty-four-hour care in the home. These components had a positive impact on providing safe effective end of life care services at home.Conclusions: Taken together, all the necessary components identified in this literature review will go a long way in the successful development of hospice care in Qatar.
The Research-Teaching Nexus and Its Influence on Student Learning
Authors: Gros Begoña , Viader Manel , Cornet Albert , Martínez Miquel , Palés Jordi , Sancho Marta
Published: March 2020

The relationship between teaching and research in universities has been widely studied in the higher education literature, but no clear relationship between the two has been identified. Nevertheless, in recent years, research has been linked to a form of teaching that is more focused on the development of competences and learning capacity through enquiry and the generation of new knowledge. In this context, it is important for teachers and students to work together on the design of shared spaces for research and learning. This work examines the case of the University of Barcelona to analyse whether there is enough connection between research and teaching to allow students to experience this link and to successfully develop research competences. Teaching plans of the academic year 2018-19 were screened to identify research-related competences, the modules they appear in, and the descriptions of the evaluation systems. This information was compared to the students’ perceptions of the actual training they had received on these research competences. Results showed that teaching plans establish numerous competences related to research and generating new knowledge. However, students consider that this knowledge is not developed until the final year project.
Virtual Classroom: To Create A Digital Education System in Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Faieza
Published: March 2020

The use of web-based tools for educational purposes is a rapidly growing trend in Bangladesh. Most of the academic institutions in Bangladesh have decided to develop academic portals where teachers can create online versions of their courses. This paper addresses students’ opinions on the use of virtual classroom from their own personal experiences and identifies features of virtual classroom that are vital to create an interactive student-centered learning environment. We try to understand whether the use of virtual classroom can bring improvement in students’ learning and performance in the class. The results from binary logistic regression indicate that most of the participants have positive opinions regarding the usage of virtual classroom for learning purposes. As the present Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has urged all higher education institutions (HEIs) to take effective measures in order to implement ‘Integrated University Information Management Platform’, the findings from this study will help educators and administrators to understand how to construct an interactive student-friendly academic portal that will fulfill all the needs of the customers and to assess whether the features of the existing portals that they are currently using need any further improvements.
A Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Fami-ly Planning Methods among Women Residing in Peri-Urban Area of Bangalore City
Authors: Devaru Jagadish S , Jabeen Bushra , Puttaswmy M
Published: March 2020

Introduction: India is currently facing problems with pre-fix of ‘P’. They are “population explosion”, poverty, and pollution. Population explosion is directly perpetuating the other two problems. Family planning is the only safest and cost effective strategies to have impact on health of women. In many studies it was found that though people were aware of contraceptives but its usage was limited. To know the various factors influencing usage of family planning methods this study was conducted. The study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of various family planning methods.

Methodology: Cross–sectional study conducted by face to face interview of selected women using a questionnaire.

Results: Total of 80% of women were aware that family planning is about limitation of births but, 208 (64.8%) women had ever used contraceptive. And 22 (10.58%) of them have faced minor complications, which has either self-resolved or on medication. The most common reason for not using contraceptive was being uncomfortable (81.42%) to use them.

Conclusions: Women had good knowledge regarding contraceptives, but most of the women followed methods suggested by their elders. Advertisement regarding newer methods has to be strengthened.
What Factors Influence European Corporate Bond Spread?
Authors: Cristina Arcuri Maria , Gandolfi Gino , Monteux Manou , Verga Giovanni
Published: March 2020

This paper examines the main determinants of corporate euro-bond spread. We analyse a large sample of corporate euro-country bonds over the period May 2005 -January 2012, considering three sub-periods: May 2005- July 2007 (pre-crisis period), August 2007-April 2010 (worldwide financial crisis) and May 2010-January 2012 (European sovereign debt crisis).

We show that both liquidity risk and risk related to the country of the issuing firms affect corporate bond spread. We also find that the market yield of corporate bonds issued in the main European countries is, other things being equal, strongly influenced by the risk of the corresponding sovereign bonds and Credit Default Swap (CDS). Finally, we compare the yields of bonds issued by banks with those of bonds issued by firms from other sectors and find that the spread, other things being equal, is significantly higher for banks. These findings may have operating implications for market activity, regulators and policy makers.
Sophisticated Textualism and Sanctions
Authors: Zyglewicz Tomasz
Published: March 2020

In this paper I present a difficulty for Matczak’s sophisticated textualism. I argue that, due to his claims about the descriptive character of legal language and the unity of the possible world postulated by the legal text, his theory cannot successfully account for norms that express factors that an authority should take into account when determining the measure of sanction. I reject two replies to this objection that do not require a modification of Matczak’s account. The upshot of my argument is that in order to accommodate norms pertaining to sanctions, Matczak should drop the assumption of unity of the possible world described by the legal text.
Alexa: Etwas Gutes für mich! Wie das Bistum Essen mit dem Amazon-Lautsprecher neue Zielgruppen erreichen will
Authors: Wiggen Simon
Published: March 2020

Mit Beginn der Fastenzeit 2019 veröffentlichte das Bistum Essen seinen ersten eigenen Alexa-Skill, also eine Art App für den smarten Lautsprecher Alexa von Amazon. Dieser Skill ermöglicht es den Nutzer_innen, sich passend zur eigenen aktuellen Gemütslage Beiträge der Radiosendung „Kirche in 1Live“ vorspielen zu lassen. Mit dem Skill „Etwas Gutes für mich“ sollen die Nutzer_innen mit einem guten Gefühl den smarten Lautsprecher nutzen und sich danach hoffentlich etwas besser fühlen. Das erste Fazit fällt positiv aus. Auch, weil das Angebot Menschen anspricht, die keine Berührungspunkte mit der Seelsorge in Pfarreien und Gemeinden haben.
Vertrauen in Lokaljournalismus. Redaktionelle Wege zur Stärkung des Vertrauens
Authors: Beham Sarah
Published: March 2020

„Systempresse“ oder „Fake News“ - nur einige Vorwürfe, denen Journalist_innen ausgesetzt sind. Daher ist die Frage für Redaktionen besonders wichtig, was sie zur Steigerung des Vertrauens ihrer Leserschaft beitragen können. Der Fokus dieser qualitativen Studie liegt dabei auf dem Lokaljournalismus, dem mitunter immer noch höchstes Vertrauen entgegengebracht wird. In drei Workshops wurden mit zwölf Leser_innen einer Lokalzeitung und der Redaktion selbst Vorschläge zur Vertrauensstärkung und -gewinnung erarbeitet. Aus den Ergebnissen lässt sich ableiten, dass Vertrauen im Lokalen mit den Ebenen Journalist_innen, Redaktion/Verlag und Inhalt zusammenhängt. Dabei spielen die Faktoren Nähe, Partizipation und Transparenz eine entscheidende Rolle.
Versorgungswettbewerb zwischen Krankenkassen – nur noch ein rhetorisches Relikt in der Großen Koalition?
Authors: Hermann Christopher , Graf Jürgen
Published: March 2020

Nach nahezu allen einschlägigen Gesetzesbegründungen der letzten Jahre sollen die gesundheitsrelevanten Vorhaben fast ausnahmslos einer Verbesserung der Versorgungsqualität und der Stärkung des Wettbewerbs zwischen den Krankenkassen dienen. Insbesondere das „Faire Kassenwettbewerb-Gesetz“ spricht dem Wettbewerb zwischen Krankenkassen eine tragende Funktion zu. Doch welcher Wettbewerb ist hier adressiert und wie kongruent sind die programmatischen Zuschreibungen mit der gesundheitspolitischen Gesetzgebung der Großen Koalition? Der Beitrag widmet sich der Frage des wettbewerblichen Status Quo sowie dessen Perspektiven im Rahmen der aktuellen politischen Verfasstheit unter Berücksichtigung technologischer Entwicklungen.
Der Politikstil von Jens Spahn – Von Konsensorientierung zu Konfliktbereitschaft
Authors: Bandelow Nils C. , Eckert Florian , Hornung Johanna , Rüsenberg Robin
Published: March 2020

Gesundheitsminister Jens Spahn zeichnet sich durch eine außerordentliche Reformaktivität aus. Die Maßnahmen folgen aber bisher keiner erkennbaren inhaltlichen Vision. Unter dem Schlagwort „viel Taktik, wenig Strategie“ lassen sich vier Stilelemente subsumieren: Eine durchsetzungsfähige, aber nur teilweise gesundheitspolitisch ausgerichtete strategische Kernexekutive, die Nutzung individueller Expertise des Ministers in Verbindung mit ausgewählter Fachkompetenz, eine verstärkte Öffentlichkeitsorientierung und die ausgeprägte Konfliktfreudigkeit.
Übertragbarkeit neuer Versorgungsformen in die Regelversorgung
Authors: Berger Elke , Busse Reinhard , Geissler Alexander , Spies Claudia , Weiß Björn
Published: March 2020

Der Innovationsfonds wurde ins Leben gerufen, um eine qualitative Weiterentwicklung der GKV zu erreichen. Dafür standen in den Jahren 2016 bis 2019 jährlich 300 Mio. Euro zur Verfügung, davon drei Viertel für die Erprobung neuer Versorgungsformen. Der Artikel befasst sich mit den Chancen und Herausforderungen der bisher 150 geförderten Projekte, die sich im Hinblick auf deren Überführung in die Regelversorgung ergeben, und thematisiert dabei auch die der Fördersystematik inhärente Finanzierungslücke sowie deren Folgen, insbesondere für telemedizinische Projekte. Abschließend werden mögliche Strategien zur Förderung des Übergangs in die Regelversorgung dargelegt.
Recent Advances in Photovoltaic-Trombe Wall System: A Review
Authors: K. Ahmed Omer
Published: March 2020

Management of energy consumption for building’s air conditioning is a vital issue for resource saving and environmental protection. The use of solar energy to generate electricity by solar cells is essential nowadays. However, the disadvantage of solar panels is the elevated temperature in work, especially in the hot sunny climate that leads to efficiency decline. Also, there is a problem with heating during the night and cloudy days. For the last 20 years, there has been a rapid development in the field of integrated solar technologies. A hybrid PV/Trombe wall (PV/TW) system suggested being an efficient and durable conversion system of solar energy. The design of the PV/TW system considered one of the focusing areas of the present research to make it more economically feasible. The idea of building the photovoltaic-Trombe wall has appeared as one of the green technologies. Several published works at that time are included for integrating PV/TW system. This chapter devoted to reviewing the theoretical and practical studies conducted on this system for developing and improving electrical and thermal performance.
Production of Medicinal Compounds from Endangered and Commercially Important Medicinal Plants through Cell and Tissue Culture Technology for Herbal Industry
Authors: Sood Hemant
Published: March 2020

Plant cell culture technologies have made possible the production of a wide variety of pharmaceuticals such as alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, monoterpenes, flavonoids and amino acids. The standardization of technologies for the production of plant metabolites through cell cultures helps in understanding the biology of their biosynthesis and accumulation. Various factors such as physical, chemical, nutritional, and genetic influence the production of metabolites in plant cell cultures. The controlled production of plant metabolites through cell cultures provides a suitable alternative not only in relieving pressure from natural habitats of plant species but also provides conditions suitable for year-round production of metabolites. The production of plant metabolites has been enhanced by exposing the cultured cells to biotic and abiotic elicitors. Off late, the induction of hairy roots has been found suitable in the production of metabolites synthesized in various parts of plants. The lack of proper understanding about the biology of biosynthesis of plant metabolites has been a major stumbling block, in addition to poor amenability of medicinal and aromatic plant species to in vitro conditions. Continuous efforts are required to be made in upscaling the production of metabolites on large scale. Least attention has been given towards working out the cost-effectiveness of metabolite production through cell cultures.
Post-Transfusion Haemolytic Reactions
Authors: Korsak Jolanta , Piotrowska Anna
Published: March 2020

Haemolytic post-transfusion reaction is caused by accelerated destruction of erythrocytes by immunological incompatibility between the donor and the recipient. It also occurs for non-immunological reasons: thermal, osmotic or mechanical damage and bacterial infection. Haemolysis can be endogenous (usually acute) and exogenous with macrophages in the reticuloendothelial system of spleen or liver (delayed). The pathophysiology: antibody binding erythrocyte antigens, antibody-coated erythrocytes interaction with monocytes/macrophages activating phagocytosis or antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and the production of inflammatory mediators. Antibodies destroying transfused blood cells are called clinically relevant antibodies that are active in vitro at 37°C. An interesting mechanism is the “bystander immune cytolysis”.
Slavery and Slave Codes in Overseas Empires
Authors: Patisso Giuseppe , Ermete Carbone Fausto
Published: March 2020

The paper proposed aims to analyze the slavery legislation born between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, the so-called Black Codes laws—enacted in all the greatest colonial powers of the Old Continent—which regulated life and transportation of slaves in the colonies. Spain, Portugal, England and France, between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, created legislative codes dedicated to the slave’s management in the colonies, which regulated all aspects of their life: from religion to marriage, from cohabitation to imprisonment, from crimes to corporal punishment. Particularly widespread in the Caribbean colonies of the seventeenth century, these slave laws were soon in force in almost all American colonies of European monarchies, forming the legal basis on which the slave societies of the European empires were founded. In the wake of the Spanish, Portuguese, English and French slave codes, even states that had a marginal role in the process of overseas colonization enacted similar slave codes. It was the case, for example, of Denmark and Sweden that in the management of some of their ultramarine possessions adopted slave codes inspired by those of the greatest colonizing powers.
The Ontological Nature of Intuition in Schelling
Authors: Fulvi Daniele ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: March 2020

In this paper, I focus on the concept of intuition (Anschauung) in Schelling’s philosophy. More specifically, I show how Schelling attributes to intuition an ontological value by essentially relating it to freedom and primal Being (Ursein). Indeed, for Schelling intuition is both the main instrument of philosophy and the highest product of freedom, by which we attain the so-called “God’s-eye point of view” and concretely grasp things in their immediate existence. That is, through intuition it is possible to grasp the absolute and original unity of the principles, namely of being and thought, subject and object and freedom and necessity. Accordingly, I argue that Schelling’s conception of intuition, rather being a merely theoretical speculation, is aimed at demonstrating the immanent nature of Being, which is one of the key points in Schelling’s philosophy.