bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Latex Carpet Compound Rheology
Authors: Triantafillopoulos Nick , Schreiner Bruce , Vaughn James , Bousfield Douglas
Published: June 2019

This is a study of three-phase foam rheology to qualify penetration in to backing webs during frothed carpet compounds applications. Transient viscosity as a function of shear rate under a short time period is proposed to characterize flow of these compounds in response to a rapidly changing shear field during their application. We developed a fluid dynamic model that predicts the shear and pressure distributions in the compound during its processing in a metering nip based on process parameters and rheological results. We tested frothed compound formulations that are empirically known to be “penetrating” and “non-penetrating” based on the choice of soap (frothing surfactant). Formulated at the same froth density, penetrating to carpet backing compounds had large froth bubbles, relatively low transient shear viscosity and showed increasing foam breakdown due to shear when compared to non-penetrating compounds. Such frothed compounds readily collapse under shear and have relatively low dynamic stability, so the transition from a three-phased (air/aqueous/solid) to a two-phased (water/solid) system occurs much easier and faster during application. The model predicts the shear rate development and a small difference in the pressure distributions in the applicator nip between these formulations, but reduction in drainage for the non-penetrating formulation.
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics – A Tool for Applied Rheologists
Authors: Öttinger Hans Christian
Published: June 2019

GENERIC is reviewed not only as a new general framework for modeling nonequilibrium systems, but also as a new way of thinking about nonequilibrium dynamics. This unified framework of nonequilibrium thermodynamics is shown to be deeply rooted in the ample accumulated experience with nonequilibrium systems and, provided that state variables with slow and fast time-evolution can be separated, the framework can actually be derived. In view of its natural capability of modeling systems on different levels of description, GENERIC is ideal for the highly topical attempts of “bridging scales” in science and engineering. The practical usefulness of GENERIC as a powerful tool in the phenomenological and structure-guided modeling of complex fluids is illustrated through two examples.
Modelling the Seepage of Groundwater: Application of the Viscous Analogy and Numerical Methods
Authors: Krusteva Ekaterina D. , Radoslavov Stefan Y. , Diankov Zdravko I.
Published: June 2019

The application of the viscous analogy, known as the Hele-Show model, for seepage investigation is demonstrated in the paper. The changes in the viscous properties of the model fluid (glycerine) resulting from the changes of the atmospheric conditions - temperature and humidity, have been taken under consideration as factors influencing the flow discharge in the model. A method has been substantiated for the exact quantitative comparison of discharges obtained under different boundary conditions of the seepage process using parallel rheological measurements of the model fluid. The results from the viscous and mathematical models are compared for a particular two-dimensional seepage process - the operation of a horizontal drainage. The complete coincidence of these results, proves the good grounds of the method as well as its applicability as a test method for the development of mathematical models.
Viscosity Measurements on Powders with a New Viscometer
Authors: Weigand Judith
Published: June 2019

At a closer look powder is found throughout all kind of industries. Dough and sugar in the food industry, pigments in the paint industry and drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, just to mention a few. Even though powder is obviously a common substance of a product or raw materials and therefore ingredients have to be handled as a powder, none or only little work has been done to characterize their flow properties. Probably the lack on suitable measuring devices gives reason for that. Therefore a new powder viscometer has been developed. Prior to the presentation of the achieved results from that new machine, an introduction to powder properties, examples for bulk materials in the industry and a comparison of adhesive forces in bulk materials will be given.
Five ICS cybersecurity myths based on Kaspersky Lab ICS CERT experience
Authors: Goncharov Evgeny , Kruglov Kirill , Dashchenko Yuliya
Published: June 2019

Today, industrial cybersecurity is in the early stages of its development, gradually evolving into a science and technology discipline that will become the cornerstone of industrial manufacturing and construction technologies, the infrastructure of modern cities, transportation, healthcare, etc. The community of researchers and engineers is constantly looking for solutions to protect both existing systems and future technologies. As we depart from the starting point, we must build our assumptions on an objective assessment of the current situation, because, at this stage, even seemingly insignificant misconceptions can cause major fluctuations that prevent us from choosing the right strategy. In this article, we will discuss typical misconceptions and common errors in assessing the security of industrial control systems that Kaspersky Lab ICS CERT experts encounter in their day-to-day communication with people from different industrial sectors and the community of information security experts. We will support our conclusions with the results of the past several years’ research into the various cyberthreats affecting industrial enterprises.
Automated security testing for web applications on industrial automation and control systems
Authors: Pfrang Steffen , Borcherding Anne , Meier David , Beyerer Jürgen
Published: June 2019

Industrial automation and control systems (IACS) play a key role in modern production facilities. On the one hand, they provide real-time functionality to the connected field devices. On the other hand, they get more and more connected to local networks and the internet in order to facilitate use cases promoted by “Industrie 4.0”. A lot of IACS are equipped with web servers that provide web applications for configuration and management purposes. If an attacker gains access to such a web application operated on an IACS, he can exploit vulnerabilities and possibly interrupt the critical automation process. Cyber security research for web applications is well-known in the office IT. There exist a lot of best practices and tools for testing web applications for different kinds of vulnerabilities. Security testing targets at discovering those vulnerabilities before they can get exploited. In order to enable IACS manufacturers and integrators to perform security tests for their devices, ISuTest was developed, a modular security testing framework for IACS.

This paper provides a classification of known types of web application vulnerabilities. Therefore, it makes use of the worst direct impact of a vulnerability. Based on this analysis, a subset of open-source vulnerability scanners to detect such vulnerabilities is selected to be integrated into ISuTest. Subsequently, the integration is evaluated. This evaluation is twofold: At first, willful vulnerable web applications are used. In a second step, seven real IACS, like a programmable logic controller, industrial switches and cloud gateways, are used. Both evaluation steps start with the manual examination of the web applications for vulnerabilities. They conclude with an automated test of the web applications using the vulnerability scanners automated by ISuTest.

The results show that the vulnerability scanners detected 53 % of the existing vulnerabilities. In a former study using commercial vulnerability scanners, 54 % of the security flaws could be found. While performing the analysis, 45 new vulnerabilities were detected. Some of them did not only break the web server but crashed the whole IACS, stopping the critical automation process. This shows that security testing is crucial in the industrial domain and needs to cover all services provided by the devices.
Health Care Home: Early Evidence from Linked Administrative Data in New Zealand
Authors: Dasgupta Kabir , Pacheco Gail
Published: June 2019

Our analysis presents a case study on the impacts of Health Care Home (HCH) – a large-scale technology-based healthcare innovation in New Zealand’s primary healthcare system. For our analysis, we link the registered population of health practices within the Wellington region to administrative hospital admission data for quarterly periods between 2014 and 2017. By employing variation in the timing of HCH implementation across practices (selected via propensity score matching), we estimate differences-in-differences models to investigate the effects of the intervention on multiple patient outcomes. Additionally, we incorporate a number of empirical specifications to test the robustness of estimates. HCH results in a statistically significant reduction in the likelihood of emergency department (ED) presentations by 6–8 %, with no significant impacts on other health outcomes. The impact on ED presentations aligns with the expectation that the HCH intervention would produce downstream effects of a reduced economic burden on public hospital services.
Students’ Social Origins and Targeted Grading
Authors: Tampieri Alessandro
Published: June 2019

We study an economy where a school can target grades according to students’social groups, and privileged students are more likely to obtain a high academic achievement. In this context, we analyse the welfare effects of introducing alternative policies. Banning targeted grading generally maximises welfare, through an increase in the wage of privileged students. This result does not hold though when the proportion of high achievers is large, and labour demand is high. In this case, banning wage discrimination among social groups maximises welfare, through an increase in the wages of underprivileged students.
Regular Equilibria and Negative Welfare Implications in Delegation Games
Authors: Tajika Tomoya
Published: June 2019

This study examines delegation games in which each player commits to a reaction function in advance. We focus on the regular subgame perfect equilibria of delegation games in the sense that the chosen reaction functions have an invertible Jacobian. Subsequently we provide a necessary condition under which an action profile is achieved as a regular equilibrium of n-player delegation games. In two-player games with misaligned preferences, each efficient action profile violates the necessary condition. We also show that almost action profiles other than efficient ones are achieved as regular equilibria of the delegation game in which the chosen reaction functions are linear. This finding implies that each delegatee’s objective is written as a quadratic function, which may justify the linear-quadratic specification of the objective functions in applications.
A Nitsche-eXtended Finite Element Method for Distributed Optimal Control Problems of Elliptic Interface Equations
Authors: Wang Tao , Yang Chaochao , Xie Xiaoping
Published: June 2019

This paper analyzes an interface-unfitted numerical method for distributed optimal control problems governed by elliptic interface equations.
We follow the variational discretization concept to discretize the optimal control problems and apply a Nitsche-eXtended finite element method to discretize the corresponding state and adjoint equations, where piecewise cut basis functions around the interface are enriched into the standard linear element space.
Optimal error estimates of the state, co-state and control in a mesh-dependent norm and the

L
2

{L^{2}}

norm are derived.
Numerical results are provided to verify the theoretical results.
Lagrangian Mixed Finite Element Methods for Nonlinear Thin Shell Problems
Authors: Karchevsky Mikhail M.
Published: June 2019

A class of Lagrangian mixed finite element methods is constructed for an approximate solution of a problem of nonlinear thin elastic shell theory, namely, the problem of finding critical points of the functional of potential energy according to the Budiansky–Sanders model.
The proposed numerical method is based on the use of the second derivatives
of the deflection as auxiliary variables.
Sufficient conditions for the solvability of the corresponding discrete problem
are obtained. Accuracy estimates for approximate solutions are established.
Iterative methods for solving the corresponding systems of nonlinear equations are
proposed and investigated.
Initiation and short crack growth behaviour of environmentally induced cracks in AA5083 H131 investigated across time and length scales
Authors: Gudla Visweswara C. , Garner Alistair , Storm Malte , Gajjar Parmesh , Carr James , Palmer Benjamin C. , Lewandowski John J. , Withers Philip J. , Holroyd N. J. Henry , Burnett Timothy L.
Published: June 2019

Environmentally induced cracking (EIC) in a sensitized high-strength AA5083 H131 alloy has been investigated using time-lapse synchrotron X-ray computed tomography combined with post-mortem correlative characterization. Small corrosion features deliberately introduced in a pre-exposure step were found to be the site of initiation for over 95% of the 44 EIC cracks that developed under slow strain rate testing. Detailed analysis using three-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis of a single crack confirmed the intergranular nature of the cracks from the start and that the pre-exposure corrosion was associated with an α-AlFeMnSi particle cluster. It also appears that several cracks may have initiated at this site, which later coalesced to form the 300-μm-long crack that ultimately developed. Of further note is the fact that initiation of the EIC cracks across the sample started below the yield strength and continued beyond the ultimate tensile strength. The most rapid crack propagation occurred during sample extension following a period of fixed displacement.
Simplified optimal modeling of resin injection molding process
Authors: Chwał Małgorzata , Muc Aleksander
Published: June 2019

A simplified procedure has been developed to optimize the molding processes of thermosetting resins. The proposed methodology involves the classical finite element commercial package (NISA II v. 17). Here, the theoretical background and numerical implementation of the procedure are described. Various design variables that can describe the RIM are discussed. The solved example represents the influence of the heating regime on the curing process. The results are compared with the results obtained with the use of full analysis conducted with the aid of the finite volume analysis (filling and curing stages). They demonstrate the evident advantages of using the simplified optimization approach.
Effect of coupling agent on the morphological characteristics of natural rubber/silica composites foams
Authors: Bayat Hossein , Fasihi Mohammad
Published: June 2019

The effect of coupling agent on the morphological characteristics of natural rubber/silica composite foams with various silica contents was studied. Bis 3-triet-hoxysilylpropyl tetrasulfide (TESPT) was used as coupling agent in this system. It could make a chemical bond with the silica particles. By increasing the silica content, cell size of foams was reduced more that 50% and foam density was increased up to 40%. However, compatibilized composites demonstrated about 20% lower foam density and higher cell size. In this case, strong adhesion between the components prevented gas from escaping out. While, in the foams excluded coupling agent the weak adhesion between particles and rubber created an escape path for gas from the interface of components. So, lower cell size and higher density were achieved.
A Multi-Thresholding Method Based on Otsu’s Algorithm for the Detection of Concealed Threats in Passive Millimeter-Wave Images
Authors: Işıker Hakan , Özdemir Caner
Published: June 2019

In this study, an algorithm to the detection and imaging of hidden arms for passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) imaging systems is proposed. This technique is; in fact, an improved version of our previously developed auto-classification algorithm by extending it by exploiting the Otsu’s multi-level thresholding method. The detailed derivation and the brief steps of the proposed algorithm are given. The proposed algorithm is tested and validated by real PMMW images obtained by a real radiometric imaging system. Resultant measured images are obtained with the employment of signal and image processing procedures of the suggested technique. It is demonstrated by the constructed PMMW images that proposed technique successfully detects a concealed metal threat and also predicts its size by drawing the shape outline based on Otsu’s multi-level thresholding routine that was specially tailored to our auto-classification technique.
ESR dating of fossil teeth: In which extent the thickness of adjacent tissues should be taken into account in the external beta dose rate evaluation?
Authors: Duval Mathieu , Martin Loїc
Published: June 2019

We used DosiVox to evaluate the impact of cement thickness on the dose effectively absorbed by the enamel layer. Until now, the thickness of the dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer was not considered by any of the most widely used combined US-ESR dating programs (DATA and USESR). Instead, if adjacent tissues are present, their thickness is by default assumed to be sufficient to fulfill the infinite matrix conditions.

Our result suggest that such an assumption may represent in first instance a fair approximation of the reality, as even with a thickness of only 1 mm, the cement contributes to at least 98% of the beta dose rate coming from the outer side of the enamel layer. However, when cement is < 1 mm thick, DATA or USESR would overestimate the external beta dose rate and the value should be corrected accordingly by considering the relative contribution of the sediment. The impact of this correction on the total dose rate may vary, as it is directly dependent on the radioactivity of the cement itself, as well as of the sediment or dentine. Our results show that a very thin cement layer (0.1 mm-thick) can significantly contribute to the beta dose rate and should therefore not be neglected. Consequently, based on these results, we recommend the systematic measurement of the thickness of the dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer during sample preparation, in order to proceed to beta dose rate corrections if necessary. Although this work has been especially focused on the case of fossil teeth showing cement, the conclusions stand for any other geometry involving different dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer dated by ESR.
Extractives and biological activities of Lamiaceae species growing in Uzbekistan
Authors: Mamadalieva Nilufar Z. , Akramov Davlat Kh. , Böhmdorfer Stefan , Azimova Shahnoz S. , Rosenau Thomas
Published: June 2019

Plants of the Lamiaceae family are important ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants, with many of them producing essential oils that are used in traditional and modern medicine as well as in the pharmaceutical industry. This review summarizes research on selected Lamiaceae species from the Uzbekistan flora with regard to their chemical constituents and biological activity. These plants contain many bioactive compounds, such as ecdysteroids, iridoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics and alkaloids, exhibiting different antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. The botanical description, taxonomy, habitat and ethnopharmacology of the investigated Lamiaceae species that have been used in Uzbek traditional medicine are presented as well, including the local names.
Features of the language of law: A comparative study of Polish, English and Indonesian legal texts
Authors: Zozula Daria
Published: June 2019

Researchers studying the language of law agree that there is a number of certain features which are characteristic of the legal genre, regardless of the language of the legal text. Among the most commonly listed features of lingua legis are: conventionalised sentences, performative verbs, Latinisms, euphemisms, and time expressions. The paper provides a discussion of these features, as well as provides examples of their occurrence in Polish, English, and Indonesian legal texts. The analised corpus includes the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, The Constitution of the United States of America with amendments, Polish and Indonesian Civil Codes (clauses concerning obligations), together with a set of parallel texts of rental agreements and real estate sale contracts.
Surgical leadership in changing times: the American College of Surgeons perspective
Authors: Bass Barbara Lee
Published: June 2019

Surgeons around the globe are challenged by the rapid evolution of the environment in which they practice their profession. Changes in surgical technologies, the complexity of surgical patient care, and the regulatory and financial environment of surgical care delivery demand that surgeons be supported in their work with access to superb educational offerings and engagement to foster satisfaction and efficacy in their professional activities. The American College of Surgeons (ACS), the largest international surgical professional organization, is committed to supporting surgeons as leaders in the healthcare system to build programs to create the optimal environment for delivery of quality surgical care to our patients. A selected portfolio of the programs of the ACS is presented.
“And in the fourth year Egypt rebelled ...” The Chronology of and Sources for Egypt’s Second Revolt (ca. 487–484 BC)
Authors: Wijnsma Uzume Z.
Published: June 2019

Scholars continue to give different dates for Egypt’s second revolt against the Persians: Classicists generally date the revolt to 487–485 or 487/486–485/484 BC; Egyptologists and historians of the Achaemenid Empire generally date it to 486–485/484; while some scholars date it to 486/485–485/484. Such chronological differences may sound small, but they have important consequences for the way the rebellion is understood. The purpose of the present article is therefore twofold: first, it aims to clarify what we can and cannot know about the rebellion’s exact chronology. After a review of the relevant evidence, it will be argued that the best chronological framework for the rebellion remains the one provided by Herodotus’sHistories, which places the rebellion in ca. 487–484. Second, the article will show how this chronology influences our understanding of the geographical extent and social impact of the rebellion. The adoption of Herodotus’s chronological framework, for example, results in a larger number of Egyptian sources that can be connected to the period of revolt than was previously recognized. These sources, it will be argued, suggest that some people in the country remained loyal to the Persian regime while others were already fighting against it. Moreover, they indicate that the revolt reached Upper Egypt and that it may have affected the important city of Thebes.
Elementary abelian subgroups in some special 𝑝-groups
Authors: Xu Xingzhong
Published: June 2019

Let P be a finite p-group and p an odd prime.
Let

𝒜
p

⁢

(
P
)

≥
2

{\mathcal{A}_{p}(P)_{\geq 2}}

be a poset consisting of elementary abelian subgroups of rank at least 2.
If the derived subgroup

P
′

≅

C
p

×

C
p

{P^{\prime}\cong C_{p}\times C_{p}}

, then the spheres occurring in

𝒜
p

⁢

(
P
)

≥
2

{\mathcal{A}_{p}(P)_{\geq 2}}

all have the same dimension.
Assessment of retinal thickness as a marker of brain masculinization in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a pilot study
Authors: Onal Hasan , Kutlu Esra , Aydın Banu , Ersen Atilla , Topal Neval , Adal Erdal , Güneş Hatice , Doktur Hilal , Tanıdır Canan , Pirhan Dilara , Sayın Nihat
Published: June 2019

Objective

To investigate the relationship between brain masculinization and retinal thickness in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Methods

Forty-five patients with CAH aged between 4 and 18 years and 30 age-matched healthy controls were included in this prospective study. Macular area was examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT); central subfield thickness (CST), cube volume (CV) and macular retinal thickness (MT) were measured in each subject. A gender identity questionnaire (GIQ) was used for the evaluation of gender happiness index.

Results

Girls with CAH had a higher CV (p = 0.002) and MT (p = 0.003) than healthy girls. No significant difference was found between boys with CAH and healthy boys regarding the retinal thickness measurements. Mean CST, CV and MT were significantly higher in boys than in girls in the control group (p = 0.013, p < 0.001, respectively), but there was no significant difference in those parameters between girls and boys with CAH. The gender happiness index was not different between healthy boys and boys with CAH, but was significantly lower in girls with CAH than healthy girls (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

As retina is part of the brain, our finding appears to be a morphological evidence of the excess androgen exposure on brain structures in girls with CAH. In addition, we suggest using retinal thickness measurements as a marker of prenatal excess androgen exposure in future studies.
Medieval Organ Tablature on a Manuscript Fragment from the National Museum Library
Authors: Horyna Martin
Published: June 2019

The manuscript fragment in the collection of the National Museum Library in Prague under shelf mark 1 D a 3/52 is a sheet of paper with writing on both sides, containing two strata of inscriptions. The first stratum consists of accounting records, one of which is dated to 1356. That is also the terminus post quem for the other stratum of inscriptions, namely the musical notation of two liturgical plainchants in two-voice organ paraphrases. This involves the introit Salve, sancta parens and the Kyrie magne Deus. The discant is written in black mensural notation on a staff, while the tenor, which quotes the plainchant melody, is partially written in musical notation on the same staff, partially notated by letters for note names, and partially only indicated by syllables of text of the original plainchant. This notation documents the transition from practise without notation to the written notation of music for keyboard instruments, and it significantly supplements the material found in treatises from the milieu of the ars organisandi, which are available to us from fifteenth-century manuscripts.
Preparation of polylactide scaffolds for cancellous bone regeneration – preliminary investigation and optimization of the process
Authors: Budnicka Monika , Trzaskowska Joanna , Gadomska-Gajadhur Agnieszka , Ruśkowski Paweł , Synoradzki Ludwik
Published: June 2019

Polylactide scaffolds were prepared for the cancellous bone regeneration by the phase inversion method with freeze-extraction variant. A preliminary investigation and the optimization of the process were performed. For the obtained scaffolds, regression equations determining the effect: PLLA concentration by weight in 1,4-dioxane; volume ratio of the porophore/PLLA solution in 1,4-dioxane; and implant-forming solution pouring temperature, on the open porosity and mass absorbability were determined. The conditions in which the obtained implants were characterized by the maximal absorbability with the open porosity greater than 90 % were obtained.
Insights into the photochemistry of 5-aminotetrazole derivatives with applications in coordination chemistry. Effect of the saccharyl moiety on the photostability
Authors: Ismael Amin , Abe Manabu , Fausto Rui , Cristiano Maria L. S.
Published: June 2019

The properties and applications of 2-methyl-(2H)-tetrazole-5-amino-saccharinate (2MTS) in catalysis and chelant-based chemotherapy stimulated investigations on its photostability. The photochemistry of monomeric 2MTS in solid argon (15 K) was compared with those of 2-methyl-(2H)-tetrazole-5-amine (2MT) and 1-methyl-(2H)-tetrazole-5-amine (1MT). Compounds were subjected to in situ narrowband UV-irradiation at different wavelengths. Reactions were followed by infrared spectroscopy, supported by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. Photochemical pathways for 2MT and 2MTS proved similar but photodegradation of 2MTS was 20× slower, unraveling the photostabilizing effect of the saccharyl moiety that extends into the nitrilimine formed from 2MTS and its antiaromatic 1H-diazirene isomer, which proved photostable at 290 nm, unlike the 1H-diazirene formed from 2MT. Analysis of the photochemistries of 2MTS/2MT (250 nm) and 1MT (222 nm), including energy trends calculated for the isomeric C2H5N3 species postulated/observed from photolysis and EPR results, enabled a deeper insight into the photodegradation mechanisms of 1,5-substituted and 2,5-substituted tetrazoles. We postulate a pivotal singlet state imidoylnitrene species,
sN1, as common intermediate, which undergoes a Wolff-type isomerization to a stable carbodiimide. Photo-extrusion of N2 from 1,5-substituted tetrazoles generates
sN1 directly but from 2,5-substituted tetrazoles it originates a nitrilimine, then a diazirene, which finally leads to
sN1. Selective formation of cyanamide from 1MT requires photoisomerization between
sN1 and
sN2, accessible at 222 nm. EPR studies enabled the detection of methyl nitrene, arising from photolysis of 1H-diazirene intermediate.
The semiotic web of the research proposal
Authors: Damaskinidis George , Christodoulou Anastasia
Published: June 2019

Signs in the early stages of research (e.g. pathways, thoughts/ideas, and structured feedback) form a web that we call the semiotic web of the research proposal. This web is based on the unlimited semiosis of signs, the semiotic square of education, and the semiotic web of law. We start weaving this web by formulating a raw thought and a number of research ideas. Βy travelling various pathways, we develop patterns of thinking which in turn lead to several potential research proposals, one of which will become the chosen research proposal. We use the concept “semiotics of education” as our theoretical base for a heuristic tool, the semiotic web of the research proposal, to explore an aspect of educational research methodologies. Recognizing that overcoming habitual dualisms is a distinguishing feature of the semiotics of education, we open up the discussion about the extent to which the research proposal should be an integral part of the main supervision process and explore some of the possibilities surrounding this goal. The study highlights the evidence arising from a lifelong distance-learning programme in research proposal development and provides illustrative examples of the way in which educational principles have been translated into practice in a Greek university.

This article is based on our presentation “The semiotic web of the research proposal” delivered at the conference Semiosis in Communication – Knowing and Learning, Bucharest, June 16–18, 2016.
The importance of weak physical performance in older adults for the development of musculoskeletal pain that interferes with normal life. A prospective cohort study
Authors: Lilje Stina , Sanmartin Berglund Johan , Anderberg Peter , Palmlöf Lina , Skillgate Eva
Published: June 2019

Background and aims

There are associations between pain, comorbidity and risk of falling, and falling increases the risk of mortality in older persons, but few studies have investigated the development of pain as a result of impaired physical function. The aim of this study was to examine possible associations between weak physical performance and the development of musculoskeletal pain that interferes with normal life in a sample of older adults. The sample derived from a national, longitudinal multicenter study; the Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care; SNAC-B.

Methods

The participants (n = 490) were between 60 and 78 years at the baseline examinations. Three variables were chosen for the exposure physical function, from the baseline examinations; One Leg Stand, Grip strength and Sit-to-Stand. The outcome musculoskeletal pain that interferes with normal life was measured using EQ5D and SF-12 6 years later, and logistic regression was used to investigate possible associations between the exposures and the outcome.

Results

Maximum grip strength (Grippit) was inversely associated with musculoskeletal pain that interferes with normal life (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.15–4.61), and One-Leg Stand and Sit-to-Stand were not associated with the development of pain (OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.64–2.64) and (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.45–1.86), respectively.

Conclusions

Weak grip strength was inversely associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain that interferes with normal life in older adults.

Implications

Impaired proprioceptive function, strength and mobility in elderly with pain have been found in earlier research. Since pain increases the risk of falling, it is important to investigate if it may develop as a function of an impaired physical function. The results of the present study could be of importance for future prevention programs aiming to protect elderly from falling.
Recent Trends of Regional Development in China – Technological Portfolios and Economic Growth
Authors: Kroll Henning , Neuhäusler Peter
Published: June 2019

This paper analyses recent patterns and trends of technological development in Chinese provinces. It reflects on characteristic distinctions between these regions’ portfolios of technological activity as well as the local matches between scientific, technological and economic efforts within them. Building on both theoretical and country specific literature, it suggests that, in China, the internal structure of technological activities might play a lesser role for economic development than in established market economies while their external embeddedness could be more important. Based on a comprehensive dataset, it identifies characteristic profiles and pathways of development among China’s provinces. With a view to those, its findings suggest a continued relevance of existing legacies but, equally, newly emerging industrial dynamism. While related variety is now present in many leading regions, the local match between technological and economic activities remains the most relevant discriminator between already well-developed provinces and those catching up with the leading group.
Konzernorganisation und Haftungsbeschränkung
Authors: Hommelhoff Peter
Published: June 2019

Die konzernspezifische Risiko- und Haftungssegmentierung negieren eine ganze Reihe von Regelungen außerhalb des Gesellschaftsrechts in stetig zunehmendem Maße, allen voran das europäische und deutsche Wettbewerbsrecht. Ein wesentlicher Grund für diesen Trend: bis heute steht die Legitimation des faktischen Konzerns aus. Sie gründet auf sechs Elementen, die sich zur „arbeitsteiligen Konzernleitung in Dezentralität“ kondensieren lassen. Diese Kennzeichnung legitimiert zugleich die Haftungssegmentierung im faktischen Konzern. Sie muss in der Gesetzgebung ebenso wie bei derer Interpretation gegen widerstreitende Regelungsziele abgewogen werden. Das gilt auch und insbesondere für das Wettbewerbsrecht, um nicht den Konzern, die primärrechtlich geschützte modernste Organisationsform im europäischen Binnenmarkt und darüber hinaus, zu vernichten.
The Incidence and Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Sistan Region: an Update to Past Researches
Authors: Shirazinia Reza , Saadati Dariush , Zeinali Elyas , Panahi Mishkar Abolfazl
Published: June 2019

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease which spreads through respiration and
develops lesions in lung or other organs. The most usual kind of TB is pulmonary TB. The
highest incidence rate of TB is in the eastern neighbors of Iran rendering high TB incidence in
Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran. The current research was conducted to investigate the
epidemiology of TB in the north of the province, the Sistan region.
Methods: In this survey, data of all suspected and established TB cases in the Zabol city was
collected from their profiles in health care centers during 2010-2013. The trend of the disease,
and its prevalence based on residency and gender were assessed.
Results: In this period of time, a total of 1800 TB cases were detected. Of these, 485 (27%) were
from urban areas and 1315 (73%) were from rural areas. The trend of TB identification increased
with a slope of nearly 46.4. In this research, the most resistance to drug was related to Isoniazid
and Rifampin and the least resistance was to ethambutol and streptomycin.
Conclusion: Dust storms in this area because of successive droughts and other living conditions
can make the region susceptible to TB disease. Therefore, people in this area, especially in rural
regions, should be given sufficient education to be protected against this infection.
Accelerated Pavement Testing of Perpetual Pavement Test Sections under Heavy Aircraft Loading at FAA’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility
Authors: Garg Navneet , Li Qiang , Brill David
Published: June 2019

Six flexible pavements were constructed for construction cycle 7 (CC7) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Airport Pavement Test Facility in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Four test sections on the north side measure 200 mm (LFP-4), 250 mm (LFP-3), 300 mm (LFP-2), and 375 mm (LFP-1) that are made of hot mix asphalt (HMA) over an aggregate subbase (thickness varying between 850 and 1,025 mm) resting on a subgrade with a California bearing ratio of 5.5. The fifth test section, LFC-5, is conventional flexible pavement with 125 mm of HMA over aggregate base and subbase, and the LFC-6 structure is the same as LFC-5 except that the crushed stone base layer is replaced with asphalt-stabilized drainable base. The objective of CC7 tests is to develop perpetual pavement design criterion and to validate or refine the fatigue model for HMA in airport pavement thickness design software FAARFIELD. The HMA fatigue model is based on the ratio of dissipated energy change (RDEC). Four fiber optic strain plates were installed to measure transverse and vertical strains at top and transverse strains at bottom within the HMA layer. Full-scale accelerated pavement tests were performed. Traffic test load parameters were six-wheel gear, 245-kN wheel load (gear load 1,470 kN), and 4-kmph speed. Pavement performance was monitored using crack maps, straight edge rut depth, and surface profile measurements. LFC-5 and LFP-4 showed significant fatigue cracks and rutting. LFP-1 and LFP-2 performed well with no signs of cracking. This article presents a discussion on the RDEC fatigue model, pavement thickness design, pavement material characterization test results, pavement instrumentation, accelerated pavement tests under heavy aircraft gear loads, and pavement responses measured using embedded sensors. The test section performance shows that, under loading conditions used in the study, by increasing HMA thickness from 25.4 to 30.5 cm, fatigue cracking was eliminated for the duration of testing (38,000 passes).
Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young: Revealing the Etiology, Triggers, and Outcome (SECRETO): echocardiography performance protocol
Authors: Saeed Sahrai , Gerdts Eva , Waje-Andreassen Ulrike , Sinisalo Juha , Putaala Jukka
Published: June 2019

Background The incidence of ischemic stroke in young patients is increasing and associated with unfavorable prognosis due to high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. In many young patients the cause of stroke remains unknown, referred to as cryptogenic stroke. Neuroimaging frequently suggests a proximal source of embolism in these strokes. We developed a comprehensive step-by-step echocardiography protocol for a prospective study with centralized reading to characterize preclinical cardiac changes associated with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods and study design

SECRETO (Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young: Revealing the Etiology, Triggers, and Outcome; NCT01934725) is an ongoing multicenter case–control study enrolling patients (target n = 600) aged 18–49 years hospitalized due to first-ever ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology and age- and sex-matched controls (target n = 600). A comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and extensive cardiac imaging with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, electrocardiography and neurovascular imaging is performed. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms will be centrally read, following an extensive protocol particularly emphasizing the characteristics of left atrium, left atrial appendage and interatrial septum.

Conclusions A detailed assessment of both conventional and unconventional vascular risk factors and cardiac imaging with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are implemented in SECRETO, aiming to establish indirect and direct risk factors and causes for cryptogenic stroke and novel pathophysiological brain–heart pathways. This may ultimately enable more personalized therapeutic options for these patients.
Geodynamics and Nature of the Conrad Boundary by Results of the Deep Electromagnetic Soundings and the Superdeep Drilling
Authors: Abdulkhai A. Zhamaletdinov
Published: June 2019

Continental Earth’s crust is subdivided into two parts – upper, brittle crust (namely geological) and low, ductile crust (namely physical). This idea has been investigated by many researchers on the base of seismical data, laboratory study of rock specimens at high thermo dynamic conditions and on the base of theoretical speculations [1, 2, 3]. In this presentation this idea is investigated on the base of the deep soundings with powerful controlled sources such as MHD-generator “Khibiny”, industrial power transmitting lines (experiment “FENICS”) and with taking into account results of superdeep drilling on Fennoscandian shield. The summary analysis of the obtained data allows to draw a conclusion that the upper part of continental crystalline earth's crust has a thickness of the order of 10-12 km. Its principal peculiarities are: the sharp horizontal heterogeneity of electrical properties, a wide range of variations of electrical resistivity from 10 till 104 Ohm∙m, a high porosity, brittleness, and a presence of fluids (meteoric waters) that penetrate from the day time surface to the depths of up to 5-10 km. Upper crust is the most actively involved in geological processes. The low crust belongs to the depth interval from 10–12 to 35–45 km (up to the Moho boundary). It is remarkable by horizontal homogeneity of electrical properties and high electrical resistivity in the range of 105–106 Ohm∙m, by the low porosity and increased ductility. Electrical conductivity of the low crust is mostly determined by influence of planetary physical–chemical parameters (pressure, temperature, and viscosity), phase transitions of substances depending on geodynamic peculiarities of evolution for different segments of the Earth crust. As an area of physical processes influence, the low crust is nearer by its origin to the upper mantle then to the geological Earth crust. The low and upper parts of the Earth crust are subdivided between each other by the boundary of the sharp increase of electrical resistivity at the depth around 10-12 km (so called Boundary of impermeability for DC currents, BIP zone). At the same depth the sharp increase of rocks solidity, viscosity has been met in the Kola superdeep hole. This transition zone between the upper and lower crust is related with hypothetic Conrad boundary predicted by seismic data by the stepwise increase of longitudinal waves from 6 to 6.5 km/s.
Experimental Investigation Thermal Performance of Loop Heat Pipe Operating with Different Working Fluids
Authors: Phuoc Hien Huynh  , Kyaw Zin Htoo  , Keishi Kariya  , Akio Miyara
Published: June 2019

Nowadays, due to the tremendous development of data centers (DCs), studying the effective cooling methods that can face to the challenges such as the high power or heat flux dissipation and the efficient electricity consumption in DCs has never been unnecessary. Loop heat pipe (LHP), a two-phase heat transfer device, is being considered as one of the potential solutions for the above problems. This paper introduces the experimental study on the thermal performances of LHP functioning under gravity assisted condition with different working fluids that are water and ethanol (C2H5OH). This LHP has the flat-rectangular evaporator with the stainless-steel (SS) sintering wick installed inside. The results demonstrate that under the same condenser cooling condition, water LHP performed better than ethanol LHP. In the case of water LHP, when heating power was increased from 33 to 535 W, the temperature at the top surface of the heating block raised from 38oC to 110oC. With the ethanol LHP, this temperature reached 133oC at the heating power of 395 W. If temperature limitation of microprocessors functioning inside the DCs is recognized at 85oC, the cooling capabilities of LHP are 220 W and 350 W corresponding to the working fluid are ethanol and water respectively. In addition, the discussions about the difference in boiling heating transfer characteristics as well as condenser performances between water LHP and ethanol LHP are also presented in this study.
A 2017 US Reference for Singleton Birth Weight Percentiles Using Obstetric Estimates of Gestation
Authors: Aris Izzuddin M. , Kleinman Ken P. , Belfort Mandy B. , Kaimal Anjali , Oken Emily
Published: June 2019

OBJECTIVE:

To provide an updated birth weight–for–gestational age (BW-for-GA) reference in the United States by using the most recent, nationally representative birth data with obstetric estimates of gestational age (GA).

METHODS:

We abstracted 3 285 552 singleton births between 22 and 42 weeks’ gestation with nonmissing race and/or ethnicity, infant sex, parity, birth weight, and obstetric estimate of GA from the 2017 US natality files. We used 2 techniques (nonlinear, resistant smoothing [4253H] and lambda-mu-sigma) to derive smoothed BW-for-GA curves and compared resulting BW-for-GA cut-points at the third, 10th, 90th, and 97th percentiles with US references from 1999 to 2009.

RESULTS:

The smoothed BW-for-GA curves from both techniques overlapped considerably with each other, with strong agreements seen between the 2 techniques (>99% agreement; κ-statistic >0.9) for BW-for-GA cut-points at the third, 10th, 90th, and 97th percentiles across all GAs. Cut-points from 2017 using the lambda-mu-sigma method captured 9.8% to 10.2% of births <10th and >90th percentiles and 2.6% to 3.3% of births below the third and above the 97th percentile across all GAs. However, cut-points from US references in 1999 and 2009 (when GA was based on last menstrual period) captured a much larger range of proportions of 2017 births at these thresholds, especially among preterm and postterm GA categories.

CONCLUSIONS:

We have provided an updated BW-for-GA reference in the United States using the most recent births with obstetric estimates of GA and information to calculate continuous measures of birth size that are sex or parity specific.
Saver types: An evolutionary-adaptive approach
Authors: Varga Gergely , Vincze János
Published: June 2019

We set up an agent-based macro-model that focuses on the consumption-saving decision. Agents do not maximize utility, but their behaviour features certain “rational” aspects of human choice based on the idea of ecological rationality. Three qualitatively different saving strategies are defined: 1, buffer stock saving (prudent and forward looking); 2, permanent income saving (forward looking without prudence); and 3, myopic saving (caring only about immediate consumption). It is found that prudent saving behaviour becomes prevalent when the selection pressure is very high, but an economy comprising only prudent households tends to accumulate capital in excess of what is implied by the Golden Rule. Lowering the intensity of evolutionary forces results in more diversity in saver types, and, somewhat puzzlingly, may be socially beneficial in some sense.