bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Fermentation Process Parameters for Ginsenoside Re Bioconversion by Plackett-Burman and Box-Benhnken Design
Authors: Wu Xiuhong , Zhang Lina , Sui Ailin , Qu Boqu , Wang Shaoyan
Published: November 2018

In this work, Plackett-Burman (PB) and Box-Behnken (BB) experiment design were used to investigate the medium components of fermentation forth of ginsenoside Re bioconversion to ginsenoside Rh1. Firstly, nine variables including cultivation time, temperature, pH, reactant concentration, inoculum’s size, peptone, MgSO4*7H2O, K2HPO4 and NaNO3 were screened. The most important effective factors were estimated according to the statistical regression. Subsequently, the steepest ascent experiment was used to approach the optimum response range for each effective factor. Then Box-Benhnken Design (BBD) was finally used to analyze the response surface of the screened factors for further optimization. The optimized conditions for the influential factors were: ginsenoside Re 1.0 g/L, pH 4.5 and 7 days. The bioconversion of ginsenoside Re to Rh1 could reach up to 51.76 %.
Influence of the combination of last sense codon and stop codon on expression efficiency of green fluorescent protein gene inEscherichia coliwhen the expression vector pKK223-3
Authors: Zhang Xing , Fei Aiping , Wang Yong , Fang Zhigang , Teng Yingxue , Hao Xiaoliang
Published: November 2018

In this paper, the influence of the combination of last sense codon and stop codon on expression efficiency was studied. By our study, for the last sense codon CCG, the RFI of GFP(CCG) was 2.1 fold when the stop codon was UAA, but in comparison, the RFI was 1.1 fold when the stop codon was changed from UAA to UAG. For last sense codon TAG, the RFI of GFP(TAG) with the stop codon UAG was stronger than that with the stop codons UAA and UGA.
Research on the parameters of producing filamentous textured soybean protein with soybean protein isolated and soybean protein concentrate
Authors: Fei Aiping , Hao Xiaoliang , Jiang Junyu , Wang Yong , Teng Yingxue , Wang Yongfei , Gao Yun
Published: November 2018

Textured soybean protein (TSP) is a product made from cooking and extrusion of soybean protein, which has been widely used in food, feed and other industries. This text made soybean protein isolated (SPI) and soybean protein concentrate (SPC) as the raw materials to produce filamentous protein production. By experiment, the influence of puffing temperature, screw speed and feed rate on the quality of the protein products was studied. Finally it was concluded that when the temperature of the barrel was 152 °C, the screw rotation speed was 119 rpm, the feed rate was 0.426 kg/min, the TSP product had the biggest expansion degree.
Experimental Study on Water Erosion Resistance Characteristics to Steam Turbine Blade Material
Authors: Zhang Zheyuan , Xie Yonghui , Zhang Di
Published: November 2018

An experimental system to assess the water erosion resistance of the steam turbine blade material was built. It can conduct the test of the blade material water erosion resistance characteristic with different water jet diameter and different impact velocity. The experimental investigation of the water erosion resistance characteristics of the blade materials with different surface treatment processes are carried out. By weighing the specimens of each stage, the curves of mass loss with time are obtained. The 2D metal micrograph, 3D surface topography and cross section pit curves are achieved with a laser 3D microscopy. The results reveal the characteristics of the specimens at all stages during the experiment. A method was proposed that the water erosion resistance characteristic can be evaluated by the volume loss based on the pit cross section size, which solves the problem that it's difficult to compare the masses with different material densities or coating densities. The experimental study in this paper has great value for the turbine blade material selection in the steam stages and surface protection technology.
Reinforcing high-density polyethylene by phenolic spheres
Authors: Zhu Lien , Wu Di , Wang Baolong , Zhao Jing , Liu Meihua , Jin Zheng , Zhao Kai
Published: November 2018

Phenolic spheres are synthesized through resorcinol and formaldehyde. The phenolic spheres were blended with HDPE to prepare binary composites. The rheological properties and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The composite materials have higher tensile strength and impact strength than pure HDPE, which extends the application of the material.
Analysis of multipoint cutting tool temperature using FEM and CFD
Authors: Nagaraj Meenaskshi Sundaram , Ezhilarasan Chakaravarthy , John Presin Kumar A. , Betala Rishab
Published: November 2018

Nimonic C-263 is a British nickel–chromium–cobalt–molybdenum alloy specially meant to be used in high-temperature and high-strength applications. Consequently, it produces high thermo-mechanical loads on the machining tool when machined. As a result, excessive heat is generated during dry drilling, between Nimonic C-263 and tungsten carbide tool coated with Alcorna, which in turn reduces the durability of the tool. In order to determine the temperature distribution of the tool, the coupling of finite element machining simulations along with computational fluid dynamics simulations is performed. The temperature distribution of the tool under dry condition is simulated via the DEFORM 3D software and the Altair AcuSolve software. Further investigation under cooling condition is performed using Altair AcuSolve software. The mass flow rate of the coolants is kept constant when the temperature distribution is obtained during the CFD analysis under cooling condition. Silver nano coolant has high heat reduction compared to other coolants and is found to generate 34% less heat than dry condition.
Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto: silencing of thioredoxin peroxidase impairs the differentiation of protoscoleces into metacestodes
Authors: Wang Hui , Li Jun , Zhang Chuanshan , Guo Baoping , Wei Qin , Li Liang , Yang Ning , Peter McManus Donald , Gao Xiaoli , Zhang Wenbao , Wen Hao
Published: November 2018

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a cosmopolitan parasitic disease caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) may play an essential role in the antioxidant defence system of E. granulosus s.l. as neither catalase nor glutathione peroxidase activities have been detected in the parasite. However, it is not known whether TPx affects the survival and growth of E. granulosus s.l. during development. In this study, three fragments of siRNA specific for EgTPx (siRNA-1/2/3) were designed and transfected into protoscoleces of E. granulosus sensu stricto by electroporation. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that siRNA-3 significantly reduced the expression of EgTPx. Coincidentally, knockdown of EgTPx expression in protoscoleces with siRNA-3 significantly reduced the viability of the parasite under oxidative stress induced by 0.6 mM H2O2. In vitro culture studies showed that protoscoleces treated with siRNA-3 reduced pre-microcyst formation. In vivo experiments showed that injecting mice intraperitoneally with protoscoleces treated with siRNA-3 resulted in a significant reduction in the number, size and weight of CE cysts compared with those of control animals. Silencing of EgTPx led to the impairment of growth of E. granulosus s.s. both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that EgTPx is an important factor for protoscoleces survival and plays an important role in the antioxidant defence against the host during development.
A new species of Peniculus (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) parasitizing mesopelagic myctophid fish: first discovery of colonization of the genus in deep water
Authors: Ohtsuka Susumu , Nishikawa Jun , Boxshall Geoffrey A.
Published: November 2018

Peniculus hokutoae n. sp. is described on the basis of an ovigerous adult female parasitizing the caudal fin of the myctophid fish Symbolophorus evermanni (Gilbert, 1905), collected from Suruga Bay, Japan. This is the first record of parasitism by this genus on mesopelagic myctophid fish. The new species is easily distinguished from other congeners in: (1) the presence of a conical process anterior to the rostrum; (2) the secondary elongation of the first pedigerous somite; (3) the incorporation of the third and fourth pedigerous somites into the trunk; (4) the unilobate maxillule bearing two unequal apical setae; (5) the lack of any processes on the first segment of the maxilla. Four morphological patterns of the cephalothorax, neck and anterior parts of the trunk can be found in the genus. We infer that initial colonization of a mesopelagic myctophid fish as host is likely to have occurred when the diurnally-migrating myctophid host was feeding in near-surface waters at night and was exposed to infective stages of Peniculus.
Molecular characterization and protective efficacy of the microneme 2 protein fromEimeria tenella
Authors: Yan Ming , Cui Xiaoxia , Zhao Qiping , Zhu Shunhai , Huang Bing , Wang Lu , Zhao Huanzhi , Liu Guiling , Li Zhihang , Han Hongyu , Dong Hui
Published: November 2018

Microneme proteins play an important role in the adherence of apicomplexan parasites to host cells during the invasion process. In this study, the microneme 2 protein from the protozoan parasiteEimeria tenella(EtMIC2) was cloned, characterized, and its protective efficacy as a DNA vaccine investigated. The EtMIC2 gene, which codes for a 35.07 kDa protein inE. tenellasporulated oocysts, was cloned and recombinant EtMIC2 protein (rEtMIC2) was produced in anEscherichia coliexpression system. Immunostaining with an anti-rEtMIC2 antibody showed that the EtMIC2 protein mainly localized in the anterior region and membrane of sporozoites, in the cytoplasm of first- and second-generation merozoites, and was strongly expressed during first-stage schizogony. In addition, incubation with specific antibodies against EtMIC2 was found to efficiently reduce the ability ofE. tenellasporozoites to invade host cells. Furthermore, animal-challenge experiments demonstrated that immunization with pcDNA3.1(+)-EtMIC2 significantly increased average body weight gain, while decreasing the mean lesion score and oocyst output in chickens. Taken together, these results suggest that EtMIC2 plays an important role in parasite cell invasion and may be a viable candidate for the development of new vaccines againstE. tenellainfection in chickens.
Social media and efficient computer infrastructure in smart city
Authors: Balicki Jerzy , Balicka Honorata , Dryja Piotr , Tyszka Maciej
Published: November 2018

Social media require an efficient infrastructures of computer and communication systems to support a smart city. In a big city, there are several crucial dilemmas with a home and public space planning, a growing population, a global warming, carbon emissions, a lack of key resources like water and energy, and a traffic congestion. In a smart city, we expect an efficient and sustainable transportation, efficient management of resources and a better urban planning. In this paper, social media are proposed to support smart city with efficient computer infrastructure. Moreover, some methods are described to increase the availability and efficiency of an information infrastructure. Two criteria have been formulated to assign some key resources in a smart city system. The process of finding some compromise solutions from Pareto-optimal solutions has been illustrated. Metaheuristics o
f collective intelligence, including particle swarm optimization PSO, ant colony optimization ACO, an algorithm of bee colony ABC, and differential evolution DE have been described due to smart city infrastructure improving. Other application of above metaheuristics in smart city have been also presented.
The impact of Business Support Instruments on the innovation activity of medium-high and high technology manufacturers in Poland
Authors: Dzikowski Piotr
Published: November 2018

The article shows the impact of Business Support Instruments (BSIs) on the innovative activity of medium-high and high technology manufacturers in Poland. The analysis includes 1355 industrial enterprises representing medium-high and high-level technology based in Poland. The scope of the research concerns innovation at company-level and takes into account the diffusion to the "new for the company". The work assumes that the innovative activity of MHT & HT manufacturers grows as a result of interaction with BSIs. Technological parks and business consulting centers have the greatest positive impact on stimulating innovation activity.
Analysis of the organizational climate assessment on the example of employees of the textile industry
Authors: Grodzicki Jacek , Kłusek-Wojciszke Bożena
Published: November 2018

Harmonization of the relationship between society, economy, and nature requires both the development of more environmentally friendly technologies or restrictions on its exploitation, as well as a change in the way of life and work. This is particularly about improving the quality of work to reduce energy consumption and/or pollution. In this context, the issue of the organizational climate that determines job satisfaction and increasing cooperation towards sustainable development is of particular importance. The article presents the results of research on the organizational climate carried out on a selected group of students employed in textile industry enterprises. The analysis of the results allows us to state the high assessment of the climate at work in its individual spheres and a high level of trust in the management of the organization.
Corporate social responsibility of the Port of Gdynia
Authors: Klimek Hanna , Dąbrowski Janusz
Published: November 2018

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a tool used by companies to establish positive relations with their surroundings and gain a competitive edge. This also relates to centres providing services, such as seaports. In the past, these served as loading/off-loading and storage stations as well as ship terminals. At present, they have become versatile complexes administering land and infrastructure as well as playing host to numerous enterprises which offer a wide range of services to carriers and freight forwarders. Not only individual businesses but also entire port service hubs can, or even should, be socially responsible nowadays. The topic of this research is the social responsibility of sea ports. This article will discuss the social responsibility of the Port of Gdynia. The objective is to present socially responsible actions taken by Gdynia Port Authority SA and the largest port operators and to assess the progress made on the implementation of CSR there.
National and landscape parks as a part of sustainable regional development in Northern Poland
Authors: Waśniewska Anetta , Kruk Hanna
Published: November 2018

Sustainable development at a local and regional level depends on many factors. One of them, strictly related to biodiversity conservation and proper ecosystem functioning, is the presence of such protected areas as national (NP) and landscape (LP) parks in the region. Such forms of nature conservation are established in places of high environmental values. However, this also means restrictions and prohibitions that may limit possibility of local development. The main aim of the research is an attempt to study an influence of LP and NP on socio-economic development of communes in three provinces in the north of Poland (Western Pomerania, Pomerania, Warmia and Mazury). The results of examination survey sent to local authorities were used in the research. The results are ambiguous and may depend on the location of a particular park. Moreover, the majority of research respondents did not believe that the presence of such protected areas have a strong negative impact on communes, the local development and also pointed to some benefits related to NP and LP, like enhancing tourist attractiveness of the area.
Roadmap to sustainable warehouse
Authors: Malinowska Magdalena , Rzeczycki Andrzej , Sowa Mariusz
Published: November 2018

Heading towards sustainable logistic is a popular tendency. However it is widely discussed in case of supply chain, there are many studies concerning warehouse and warehousing. Introducing and developing sustainable warehouse solutions is often a challenge. In the article, the authors analysed the literature sources (scientific publications and professional studies) to indicate directions and changes in technological, managerial, social, environmental and economic aspects of warehouse functioning that are required to go forward to sustainable tendency. To summarize the studies, the application model presenting assessment of the status of sustainable warehouse is proposed. The purpose of this model is to provide policy-makers insights to identify actual state of warehouse in a company and perspectives of its development.
Usability and functionality of websites of commune offices as stimulants of sustainable development of e-government
Authors: Tomaszewicz Agnieszka Agata
Published: November 2018

Sustainable development of e-government should be based on facilitating the meeting of society’s needs, mostly through enhancing access to information and providing public services which can be realized through the Internet, which is especially important in the time of dynamic increase in the number of its users. Creating useful and functional websites of offices, which will fully allow the enjoyment of benefits coming form new technologies, is an indispensable condition of this realization. Due to the above, research has been conducted the subject matter of which was the assessment of the content of the websites of commune offices of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in the context of adjusting them to the needs of local communities. The websites of the offices were analyzed in terms of their usability, functionality and the level of advancement of selected self-government e-services, where the criterion was, i.a. the substantial content, accuracy, technical and ergonomic quality. The results of the conducted research show that creating websites allowing smooth implementation of electronic services, employing standardized procedures related to the process of providing services makes the office more transparent and thus more citizen-friendly. This will also allow the improvement of the quality of their life as result-wise improvement of administrative serving the society thanks to offering an additional way of carrying out public services. These actions need to be recognized as an indispensable condition for enhancing the efficiency of e-government contributing to its sustainable development.
Eco-driving: knowledge and behavior of polish drivers
Authors: Czechowski Piotr Oskar , Oniszczuk-Jastrząbek Aneta , Czuba Tomasz
Published: November 2018

In Poland, similarly as in the entire Europe, the quality of air is shaped primarily by communal-living sources and road transport. Due to the steadily increasing share of city residents in the general population, the issue of providing clean air will become a more significant problem for human health over the years, and therefore a stronger incentive to intensify the research. Hence, the key challenge faced by a modern society is to limit the emissions of harmful substances in order to minimize the impact exerted by transport on air pollution and health. Increasingly stringent emission standards are imposed on car manufacturers while on the other hand, the problem of drivers is being ignored namely their awareness of possibilities to reduce the emissions and the ways in which they can help protecting also their own health and life by applying the rules related to the concept of eco-driving in practice. The aim of this paper is to present differences in perception of eco-driving principles in two random and nation-wide surveys: one carried out in 2015 and the other in 2017. Initial conclusions show a major increase (49.4% to 53.2%) of eco-driving awareness among respondents in 2017 when compared to 2015.
Methodology of environmental hazards monitoring in the aspect of air pollutions in sports facilities
Authors: Kuskowska Karolina
Published: November 2018

An overview of the existing literature on the quality of air pollution proves that the majority of research in this field, both in Poland and in the world, concerning particulate matter in atmospheric air, at workstations and less in residential buildings. Due to the above, the methodology in this area is widely available. The problem of particulate matter in sports facilities is decisively different and research conducted in this regards has been so far the subject of only a few publications. Therefore, there are no recommendations about the parameters which should be examined in sports facilities. This is a serious problem because the physical effort increases the frequency and depth of breath, making the PM particles reach more and deeper parts of the human respiratory tracts. Due to the lack of research in this area, this article presents review of methods for monitoring the physicochemical properties of air that are crucial for the health of sports facilities users.
Analysis of the episodes of tropospheric ozone concentration in relation with hot days and heat waves in Warsaw
Authors: Rozbicka Katarzyna , Rozbicki Tomasz
Published: November 2018

The study presents the characteristics of the occurrence of smog episodes - days with exceeded the limit value of 8-hour tropospheric ozone concentration (120 μg.m-3) with the occurrence of hot days (maximum air temperature greater than 25°C), very hot (maximum air temperature greater than 30°C) and heat waves during 13-year period 2004-2016 in the area of Warsaw, Poland. In the analyzed period, the average number of hot days was 45, and very hot days was 8. The highest number of these days occurred in 2015, 54 and 20 days respectively. Heat waves were short and lasted usually 3-4 days. The highest number of them was recorded in 2010 and 2015 (14 days). The highest ozone concentration value 189 μg.m-3was recorded on 28 May 2005, thus exceeding the information threshold (180 μg.m-3for the value of 1 hour ozone concentration). However, the number of days with the exceeded limit value of ozone concentration was not in any year exceeded the target value, i.e. 25 days in a calendar year. The relatively stronger relationship (R=0.513) in comparison to others obtained between average maximum temperature during LTO exceedance days and average ozone concentration during these days but it was not statistically significant.
Update Breast Cancer 2018 (Part 3) – Genomics, Individualized Medicine and Immune Therapies – in the Middle of a New Era: Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Wöckel Achim , Lux Michael , Janni Wolfgang , Hartkopf Andreas , Nabieva Naiba , Taran Florin-Andrei , Overkamp Friedrich , Hadji Peyman , Tesch Hans , Ettl Johannes , Lüftner Diana , Müller Volkmar , Welslau Manfred , Belleville Erik , Brucker Sara , Schütz Florian , Fasching Peter , Fehm Tanja , Schneeweiss Andreas , Kolberg Hans-Christian
Published: November 2018

In primary early breast cancer, the aim of treatment planning is to obtain an increasingly better understanding of the disease. The identification of patients with an excellent prognosis could help this group avoid unnecessary treatments. Furthermore, the planning of treatment is becoming increasingly patient-focussed. There is a growing understanding of those patients who benefit particularly from chemotherapy, as well as of those who could benefit from immunotherapy. Studies conducted on immunotherapies will be published shortly. Smaller individual studies offer an initial insight into the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD1/PDL1 therapies). Not least, one of the largest breast cancer studies of all times has recently come to an end. The use of a multigene test has shown that it is sufficient to identify patients with such a good prognosis that chemotherapy is unnecessary. This review article is intended to summarise the current studies and give an outlook on current developments.
Update Breast Cancer 2018 (Part 4) – Genomics, Individualized Medicine and Immune Therapies – in the Middle of a New Era: Treatment Strategies for Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Müller Volkmar , Wöckel Achim , Lux Michael , Janni Wolfgang , Hartkopf Andreas , Nabieva Naiba , Taran Florin-Andrei , Hadji Peyman , Tesch Hans , Ettl Johannes , Lüftner Diana , Welslau Manfred , Belleville Erik , Brucker Sara , Schütz Florian , Fasching Peter , Fehm Tanja , Kolberg Hans-Christian , Schneeweiss Andreas , Overkamp Friedrich
Published: November 2018

New therapeutic developments aimed at treating women with advanced breast cancer currently focus both on identifying patients eligible for targeted therapeutic concepts and on the continuing development of immune therapies. The data on CDK4/6 inhibitors are now complete and consistent in this class of substances (palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib). Further pathways under investigation are PI3K and AKT signalling pathways along with diverse approaches to their inhibition. Initial study results were also presented recently on both mechanisms of action. Insights into the PARP inhibitors, moreover, are increasing; studies in this respect are also examining in which population they can be used most effectively. This review offers a summary of the recent studies and an outline of the latest developments.
Akteure der Bewegungsförderung in Deutschland: eine Fragebogenstudie
Authors: Peters Stefan , Wäsche Hagen , Huber Gerhard
Published: November 2018

Hintergrund Um dem Bewegungsmangel in Deutschland entgegenzuwirken, sind Maßnahmen der Bewegungsförderung notwendig. Mit der zurückliegenden Erstellung der Nationalen Empfehlungen für Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung wurde hierzu eine potenzielle Voraussetzung für gemeinsame Ziele von Akteuren der Bewegungsförderung geschaffen. Zukünftig besteht die Aufgabe, diese Empfehlungen sektorenübergreifend in Deutschland zu disseminieren. Eine verstärkte Kenntnis über Akteure der Bewegungsförderung ist hierfür wichtig. Im Projekt SAMBA wurde eine explorative Fragebogenuntersuchung durchgeführt um zusätzliche Informationen zu den Akteuren zu gewinnen. Ziel der Befragung war die Ermittlung bestimmter Charakteristika von Akteuren, wie z. B. des Stellenwerts von Bewegungsförderung bzw. von Barrieren und Förderfaktoren.

Methode Es erfolgte eine onlinebasierte Fragebogenstudie. Aktuelle und potenzielle Akteure wurden über verschiedene relevante Quellen identifiziert und erhielten einen offenen Link zur Teilnahme an der Befragung. In die Auswertung wurden die Daten von 92 Befragungsteilnehmern einbezogen. Die Auswertung erfolgte mittels deskriptiver Analyse.

Ergebnisse Die meisten Befragten beschreiben einen sehr hohen bzw. hohen Stellenwert von Bewegungsförderung in ihrer Organisation aktuell wie zukünftig. Als Zielgruppen ihrer Maßnahmen zur Bewegungsförderung geben die Befragten das gesamte Spektrum von Kindern und Jugendlichen über Erwachsene, ältere Menschen, Menschen mit chronischer Erkrankung und die Gesamtbevölkerung an. Barrieren gegenüber Maßnahmen zur Bewegungsförderung liegen vornehmlich auf der Ebene von Ressourcen, während bei Förderfaktoren mehrere Aspekte gleichberechtigt nebeneinanderstehen, wobei die hohe Relevanz von Bewegungsförderung heraussticht.

Diskussion Dem hohen Stellenwert von Bewegungsförderung steht auch eine Vielzahl an Barrieren gegenüber, allerdings leiten sich aus den Förderfaktoren auch Möglichkeiten zur Einflussnahme ab. Als Zukunftsaufgaben sind mit Blick auf die Befragungsergebnisse Kommunikation, Kooperation und Wissenstausch angezeigt. Als erster Kanal für einen umfangreichen Wissensaustausch könnte eine entsprechende Webseite erstellt werden.
Axillary Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Breast-Conserving Surgery at German Breast Cancer Centers Within the Last 14 Years – Comparison of a University Center and a Community Hospital
Authors: de Gregorio Amelie , Widschwendter Peter , Albrecht Susanne , de Gregorio Nikolaus , Friedl Thomas , Huober Jens , Janni Wolfgang , Ebner Florian
Published: November 2018

Background Guideline recommendations for axillary surgical approach in breast cancer (BC) treatment changed over the last decade.

Methods Data from all invasive BC patients (n = 5344) treated with breast conserving surgery (BCS) at the breast cancer centers of the University Hospital Ulm (U-BCC) and the community hospital Dachau (D-BCC) were included into a retrospective analysis for assessing information on axillary surgery between 2003 and 2016 based on the documented cancer registry data.

Results The average annual rate of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was 85.5% and 87.2% in Ulm and Dachau, respectively. SNB was performed more precisely at the U-BCC with a median of 2.4 resected lymph nodes (LN) compared to a median of 3.2 resected LN in Dachau. Median number of resected LN for axillary lymph node dissection (ALNE) showed a statistically significant reduction over time in Ulm (rs = − 0.82; p < 0.001) and Dachau (rs = − 0.76; p = 0.002). The rate of secondary ALNE (after SNB; 2° ALNE) decreased significantly in U-BCC (rs = − 0.76; p = 0.002) while it remained stable in D-BCC. The influential publication of the Z0011 study in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction of secondary ALNE (24.1% preZ0011 and 14.4% postZ0011; p < 0.001) in Ulm.

Conclusion Changes in axillary surgery over time can be seen in the annual statistics of the reviewed BCCs. With BCS, mostly SNB was performed and numbers of removed LN in ALNE have decreased. In the U-BCC, the rate of 2° ALNE dropped after the publication of the Z0011 data. The fact that no such decrease for 2° ALNE was found in D-BCC suggests that university hospitals implement new data and research results into clinical routine earlier than peripheral community hospitals.
Development of the Metabolic Syndrome: Study Design and Baseline Data of the Lufthansa Prevention Study (LUPS), A Prospective Observational Cohort Survey
Authors: Müller-Wieland Dirk , Altenburg Christiane , Becher Heiko , Burchard Janine , Frisch Anett , Gebhard Jan , Haas Jutta , Harth Volker , Heeren Jörg , Hengelbrock Johannes , von Karais Maximilian , Knebel Birgit , Kotzka Jörg , Löwe Bernd , Marx Nikolaus , Pinnschmidt Hans , Preisser Alexandra , Rose Matthias , Sawitzky-Rose Barbara , Scheja Ludger , Terschüren Claudia , Töller Monika , Vettorazzi Eik , Wegscheider Karl
Published: November 2018

The Lufthansa Prevention Study (LUPS) study is a prospective observation of a healthy worker cohort to identify early changes in metabolism leading to the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and to analyze their relation to behavioral factors like nutrition, physical activity, psychological status, and to underlying genetic conditions. The LUPS study recruited a sample of 1.962 non-diabetic healthy adults between 25–60 years, employed at a flight base of Lufthansa Technik GmbH in Hamburg, Germany. Baseline assessments included anthropometric measures, blood and urine samples and medical history. Psychosocial variables, dietary habits and life-style risk factors were assessed via self-reported questionnaires.

In this report we describe the study design and present baseline parameters including the prevalence of the MetS using different classification criteria. The MetS was present in 20% of male and 12% of female subjects according to the ‘Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome’ definition. The prevalence varies between 2.6% in male and 2.3% in female subjects up to 48% in male and 41% in female subjects according to different classification criteria of MetS.

In conclusion, this first cross-sectional view on the LUPS data confirms the expectation that this cohort is rather healthy and thus provides the opportunity to analyze early changes associated with the development of the MetS. The LUPS study is registered as a clinical trial NCT01313156.
Retrosigmoid Approach for Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Aref Mohammed , Kunigelis Katherine , Cass Stephen P. , Youssef A. Samy
Published: November 2018

Vestibular schwannoma is a benign tumor that affects 3% of the population, but accounts for 85% of tumors occurring at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). In this case, we present a 48-year-old female with history of cholesteatoma on the right and chronic suppurative otitis media on the left who presented with an 18 month history of bilateral hearing loss, worse on the right. Investigations revealed a right sided vestibular schwannoma measuring 1.6 cm in diameter. Audiogram revealed an AAO–HNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery) class C hearing on the right and class B on the left. There are several management options for this size of vestibular schwannoma including observation and radiosurgery. However, preserving cochlear nerve function remains a challenging enterprise. Furthermore, the ideal management that confers the highest chance of hearing preservation remains heavily debated. Given the patient's young age, the goal of hearing preservation and the tumor size/extension into the CPA, surgery was decided through a right retrosigmoid transmeatal approach for tumor resection with intraoperative brain auditory evoked responses monitoring. For hearing preservation, we emphasize few important dissection techniques: tumor debulking from the top first to avoid early manipulation of the cochlear nerve at the bottom of the tumor, sharp dissection from medial to lateral off the vestibular nerve which is kept intact as a tension band to minimize cochlear nerve manipulations, and limit the drilling of the posterolateral wall of the internal auditory canal (IAC) medial to the labyrinth and endolymphatic apparatus. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged home within 2 days, with imaging showing a gross total resection. Follow-up audiogram shows unchanged pure tone thresholds.

The link to the Video can be found at: https://youtu.be/Z5ftkpJN5k8.
A Case of Mitral Valve Endocarditis Complicated by Multiple Embolic Phenomena: Leaping from Adult Guidelines to Pediatric Critical Care Decisions
Authors: Choudhury Tarif A. , Flyer Jonathan N. , Ushay Henry M. , Ofori-Amanfo George
Published: November 2018

Early surgical intervention for children with infective endocarditis (IE) and cerebrovascular sequelae has significant risks, resulting in practice variation amongst pediatric cardiologists, intensivists, and cardiothoracic surgeons. The limited pediatric consensus recommendations make decision making for practitioners challenging. The added risk of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome can make these decisions even more difficult. We present the case of a 14-year-old with IE and resultant multiorgan dysfunction syndrome including cerebrovascular complication, successfully treated by primary valve repair within the 1st week of diagnosis.
Predictors and Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: The Current State of Literature
Authors: Fortune Brett , Karuppasamy Karunakaravel , Kapoor Baljendra , Ju Connie
Published: November 2018

Hepatic encephalopathy is a well-known sequela of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion, but objective clinical and laboratory predictors remain poorly elucidated. Numerous medical and interventional strategies have also been described, though little consensus has been reached on the optimal treatment technique to improve morbidity and mortality in patients who develop refractory encephalopathy. To improve TIPS candidate selection and prognostication, this review consolidates predictive factors for post-TIPS encephalopathy and offers an updated description of historical and contemporary interventional techniques for management. Despite the abundant literature on treatment strategies, large studies directly comparing outcomes between the various techniques are nonexistent.
Maternal Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy and the Risk of Pediatric Endocrine Morbidity in the Offspring
Authors: Eshkoli Tamar , Wainstock Tamar , Sheiner Eyal , Beharier Ofer , Fraenkel Merav , Walfisch Asnat
Published: November 2018

Objective Previous studies suggested maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy to be associated with cognitive impairment of the offspring. Scarce data exist regarding long-term endocrine health of the offspring. This study was aimed to assess whether children born to mothers with hypothyroidism during pregnancy are at an increased risk for long-term endocrine morbidity.

Study Design A retrospective population-based cohort study compared long-term endocrine morbidity of children born between the years 1991 and 2014 to mothers with and without hypothyroidism. Multiple gestations, fetuses with congenital malformations, and women lacking prenatal care were excluded. Hospitalizations of the offspring up to the age of 18 years involving endocrine morbidity were evaluated according to a predefined set of ICD-9 codes. Kaplan–Meier's survival curves were used to compare the cumulative risk and a Cox multivariable model was used to adjust for confounders.

Results During the study period, 217,910 deliveries met the inclusion criteria; 1.1% of which were with maternal hypothyroidism (n = 2,403). During the follow-up period, the cumulative incidence of endocrine morbidity among children born to mothers with hypothyroidism was 27 per 1,000 person-years and 0.47 per 1,000 person-years in the comparison group (relative risk: 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21–3.79). The Kaplan–Meier's survival curve demonstrated a significantly higher cumulative endocrine morbidity in children born to mothers with hypothyroidism (log-rank test, p = 0.007). In the Cox regression model controlled for maternal age, birth weight, preterm birth, maternal diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, induction of labor, and mode of delivery, maternal hypothyroidism was found to be independently associated with pediatric endocrine morbidity in the offspring (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.08–3.4, p = 0.025).

Conclusion Maternal hypothyroidism appears to be independently associated with long-term pediatric endocrine morbidity of the offspring.
Detection of scales and its thickness determination in industrial pipes using Compton backscattering system
Authors: Margret M. , Subramanian V. , Baskaran R. , Venkatraman B.
Published: November 2018

The ability to detect and quantify scales in pipes has been an important yardstick for efficient transfer of fluids in domestic as well as in application related industries. Knowledge of different kinds of scales formed has become a precondition for trouble-shooting in operational lines. In this paper, collimated Compton backscattered gamma rays from a radioactive source have been used to inspect the scales by automatic scanning in steps along the axial direction of different pipes. The methodology has been extended for the quantification of scales that prevails in the real functionality of extensive usage of fluids. To aid for descaling processes, the desideratum is the density determination of scales and this parameter is quantified non-destructively and is also validated with the standard density. The described non-intrusive gamma ray densitometry is quite promising, efficient and has highly reliable results for scale detection with the squared correlation coefficient of 0.98. The proposed technique shows a better linearity than the gammatography technique.
A novel concentric circular ring structure applied in AUV’s inductive power transfer system for resisting the disturbance of ocean current
Authors: Wen Haibing , Zhang Kehan , Yan Zhengchao , Song Baowei
Published: November 2018

Inductive power transfer (IPT) realizes no physical connection and make it possible to be a substitute for conductive charging in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) power feeding applications. However, in marine environment, the seawater stream vibration could bring disturbance and change the primary and secondary parameters, which reduces the stability of the power transmission system. This paper proposes a concentric circular ring structure applied in AUV’s IPT system for resisting the disturbance of ocean current. The study focuses on its misalignment tolerance. It is found that the 3rd coupler (19:24 turns) has better tolerance on axial misalignment among the three couplers with different secondary winding turns. It improves the coupling coefficient reduction from 34.7% to 23.6% when the axial misalignment varies from 0 to 50 mm and the radial displacement almost has no influence on coupling coefficient if radial misalignment is much smaller than the diameter of coils. Experiment results show that the system efficiency drops from 93.2% to 82.4%, when the axial misalignment changes from 0 to 50 mm.
Gas diffusion behavior in green camellia insulating oils
Authors: Huang Zhengyong , He Jianfeng , Xiang Chenmeng , Li Jian , Wang Feipeng , Zhou Jinghan , Jiang Tianyan
Published: November 2018

As a new environmentally friendly liquid dielectric material, vegetable insulating oil has been widely used in oil-filled power equipment. In oil-filled power equipment, ageing, faults of overheating and discharge cause the decomposition of insulating oil and insulating paper, resulting in dissolved gases in oils. The diffusion behavior of dissolved gases in oils is helpful for evaluation of health state of oil-filled power equipment. In this study, the molecular dynamics simulation based on polymer consistent force field (PCFF) is adopted to analyze diffusion processes of dissolved gases in camellia insulating oils. The diffusion coefficients and free volume of dissolved gases including hydrocarbons, carbon oxides and hydrogen are calculated. The diffusion trajectory of dissolved gases in oils are also given. In addition, impacts of gas species and temperature on molecular diffusion coefficients of oils were also studied. Results quantitatively describe the diffusion behavior of gases with different molecular weight in the oils under various temperatures. The research provides theoretic support for further application of vegetable insulating oils in power equipment.
Experimental and theoretical study on dissociative photoionization of cyclopentanone
Authors: Li Zhao-hui , Yu Ye-peng , Lin Xuan , Chen Jun , Zhang Hang , Li Yan-bo , Wang Huan-huan , Meng Qing-hui , Sun Rui-rui , Shan Xiao-bin , Liu Fu-yi , Sheng Liu-si
Published: November 2018

The dissociative photoionization of cyclopentanone was investigated by means of a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RTOF-MS) with tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation in the photon energy range of 9.0—15.5 eV. The photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves for molecular ion and fragment ions were measured. The ionization energy of cyclopentanone was determined to be 9.23±0.03 eV. Fragment ions from the dissociative photoionization of cyclopentanone were identified as C5H7O+, C4H5O+, C4H8+/C3H4O+, C3H3O+, C4H6+, C2H4O+, C3H6+, C3H5+, C3H4+, C3H3+, C2H5+ and C2H4+. With the aid of the ab initio calculations at the ωB97X-D/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, the dissociative mechanisms of C5H8O+ are proposed. Ring opening and hydrogen migrations are the predominant processes in most of the fragmentation pathways of cyclopentanone.
Excitation of the 9·50 MeV (9/2+) State of 13C in Intermediate Energy Scattering Experiments
Authors: Rickus L , Collins SF , Amos KA , Spicer BM , Shute GG , Jones WP , Officer VC , Smith R , Dennis DW , Friesel DL , Morrison I
Published: November 2018

The differential cross section for the inelastic scattering of 135 MeV protons leading to the9/2+
(9·5 MeV) state in 13C has been measured. Microscopic DWBA analyses show that the angular
distribution is well described by a pure (or nearly pure) 1p3/2 to 1d5/2 neutron transition with a
total angular momentum transfer of 4, a description which is consistent with the previously observed
large asymmetry in inelastic π+ and π- scattering to this state.
Covariant Description of Dispersion in a Relativistic Thermal Electron Gas
Authors: Melrose DB
Published: November 2018

A covariant and gauge-invariant theorY is used to describe dispersion in an isotropic plasma in terms of two invariant functions. These invariants are evaluated explicitly for a relativistic Maxwellian (Jtittner-Synge) distribution. The relations between forms for the dispersion of a relativistic Maxwellian distribution obtained by some earlier authors and the forms obtained here are demonstrated.
Daily Observations of Three Period Jumps of the Vela Pulsar
Authors: McCulloch PM , Klekociuk AR , Hamilton PA , Royle GWR
Published: November 2018

Daily observations of the period of the Vela pulsar have been made since 8 October 1981. During this time three period jumps have been observed: in October 1981, August 1982 and July 1985. An empirical model is fitted to the period decay following each of these jumps, and the characteristics of the jumps compared.
Radio Emission Model of a 'Typical' Pulsar
Authors: Kazbegi AZ , Machabeli GZ , Melikidze G
Published: November 2018

The generation of radio waves in the plasma of the pulsar magnetosphere is considered taking into account the inhomogeneity of the dipole magnetic field. It is shown that the growth rate of the instability of the electromagnetic waves calculated in the non-resonance case turns out to be of the order of 1/ TO (where TO is the time of plasma escape from the light cylinder). However, the generation of electromagnetic waves from a new type Cherenkov resonance is possible, occurring when the particles have transverse velocities caused by the drift due to the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field. Estimates show that the development of this type of instability is possible only for pulsars with ages which exceed 104 yr. We make an attempt to explain some peculiarities of 'typical' pulsar emission on the basis of the model developed.
Spatial Distribution of Pulsars and Supernova Remnants
Authors: Allakhverdiyev AO , Guseinov OH , Yusifov IM
Published: November 2018

We show that the burst of Type I supernovas occurs about 108 years after the birth of the progenitor. This duration results in the main by the delay of the burst after the formation of a white dwarf of about one solar mass in a close binary system. The mass of the main component of this system is about 8M0 , and the mass of the secondary about 3M0 . These stars complete their evolution as Type I supernovas and are distributed along the galactic plane. Pulsars are formed about 107 years after the birth of their progenitors, and are accompanied by a Type II supernova. Pulsars therefore have an annular distribution in the Galaxy.
Decametric Emission by Pulsars
Authors: M Bruck Yu
Published: November 2018

A brief review of the main features of radio emission by pulsars in the decametre range is presented. Data on intensity, spectra, main pulse form, structure and properties of the interpulses are also presented.
General Dispersion Relation for Surface Waves on a Plasma?Vacuum Interface: Application to Magnetised Plasmas
Authors: Rowe GW
Published: November 2018

The general dispersion relation for electromagnetic surface waves on a plasma-vacuum interface, recently derived by Rowe (1991), is applied to the case of a cold magnetised plasma bounded by a vacuum. It is illustrated how the dispersion relation and the surface wave fields may be determined in practice, and some general results are given. It is remarked that a plasma of this type satisfies the consistency conditions which were derived for the general theory by Rowe. These general results are then used to reproduce the dispersion relation of Cramer and Donnelly (1983) for low frequency surface waves in an electron-ion plasma. This example illustrates the general principles of the theory. A major difference between the derivation in their paper and the calculation of this paper is that in the former the plasma was assumed to be infinitely conducting whereas here the plasma is strictly assumed to have finite conductivity.The transition to infinite conductivity, which involves a slight extension of the general theory to include surface currents, is thus also discussed.