bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LİDER-ÜYE ETKİLEŞİMİNİN KARİYER MEMNUNİYETİNE ETKİSİNDE ALGILANAN GÜÇ MESAFESİNİN ARACILIK ROLÜ
Authors: PELENK Saadet Ela
Published: September 2020

Lider-üye etkileşimi, güven ve samimiyete dayalı bir iletişim sürecidir. Bu süreçte lider, üyelerini (çalışanları) ortalama bir değer ile değerlendirmek yerine bilgi, yetenek ve katkı açısından ayrı ayrı değerlendirmektedir. Bu süreç, hem bireysel hem de örgütsel açıdan, olumlu ya da olumsuz çıktılar sağlamaktadır. Kuşkusuz bir çalışanın başarılı olması, hem amiri ile sağlıklı iletişimine hem de örgüt kültürüne bağlıdır. Güç mesafesi; güç dağılımındaki eşitsizliğin, çalışanlar tarafından kabul görme derecesidir. Buna göre; düşük güç mesafesinde çalışanlar, eşit olarak kararlara katılırken; yüksek güç mesafesinde, emir-komuta hâkimdir. Güç mesafesi, kararların şeklini ve kariyer başarısını etkilemektedir. Kariyer memnuniyeti, çalışanın beklenen ve gerçekleşen karşısında hissettiği mutluluktur. Bu araştırmanın amacı; lider-üye etkileşiminin, kariyer memnuniyetine etkisinde güç mesafesinin aracı rolünü incelemektir. Bu amaçla, bir kamu bankasının 205 çalışanı ile anket yapılmıştır. Araştırma verileri, korelasyon ve hiyerarşik regresyon yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda; güç mesafesinin, lider-üye etkileşimi ve kariyer memnuniyeti ilişkisinde aracılık rolü tespit edilmiştir.
BORSA İSTANBUL SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİK ENDEKSİNDE YER ALAN İMALAT SANAYİİ İŞLETMELERİNİN SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİK PERFORMANSLARI İLE FİNANSAL PERFORMANSLARININ KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: ECE ÇOKMUTLU Meltem , KILIÇ Metin
Published: September 2020

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı; bir işletmenin sürdürülebilirlik performansının nasıl finansal sonuçlara yol açtığını görebilmek adına işletmenin sürdürülebilirlik performansı ile finansal performansını karşılaştırmaktır. Bu amaçla Borsa İstanbul (BIST) sürdürülebilirlik endeksinde yer alan imalat işletmelerinin sürdürülebilirlik performansları (ekonomik, sosyal, çevresel ve toplam) ve finansal performansları, belirli performans ölçüm göstergeleri üzerinden değerlendirilmiş ve işletmeler için bir puan elde edilmiştir. 2015-2017 yıllarında endekse dahil olan işletmeleri kapsayan bu çalışmada içerik analizi, entropi TOPSIS, oran analizi yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda işletmelerin ekonomik, sosyal, çevresel ve toplam sürdürülebilirlik performanslarına ilişkin başarılarının finansal başarılarına tam olarak yansıdığını söylemek mümkün değildir. İşletmelerin sürdürülebilirlik performans puanları ile finansal performans puanları genel olarak aynı doğrultuda hareket etmemiştir.
TÜRKİYE-EKONOMİK İŞBİRLİĞİ TEŞKİLATI ARASINDA İMALAT SEKTÖRÜNDE ENDÜSTRİ-İÇİ TİCARETİN AMPİRİK ANALİZİ
Authors: ERGÜN TATAR Havanur
Published: September 2020

İmalat sektörü günümüzde ülkelerin ekonomik gelişmelerinde önemli rol oynamaktadır. Ayrıca Endüstri-içi ticaret, imalat sektöründe yoğun şekilde yapılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada 2000-2017 döneminde Türkiye ve Ekonomik İşbirliği Teşkilatı arasında imalat sanayi kapsamında (SITC-Rev.3) endüstri-içi ticaret hesaplanmıştır. İmalat sektörünün endüstri-içi ticaret düzeyini incelemek için, SITC 5, SITC 6, SITC 7, SITC 8 ürün grupları ele alınmıştır. Endeks hesaplandıktan sonra, endüstri içi ticaretin ampirik analizi yapılmıştır. Gelir ortalaması, yabancı yatırım, açıklık ve uzaklık değişkenleri bağımsız değişkenler olarak ele alınmıştır. Yatay kesit bağımlılık, homojenlik, serilerin durağanlığı ve eşbütünleşme ilişkisi test edilmiştir. Eşbütünleşme ilişkisinin var olduğu tespit edildikten sonra, seçilen açıklayıcı değişkenler ve endüstri-içi ticaret arasında uzun dönemli ilişkinin varlığı ortaya koyulmuştur.
FİNANSAL PERFORMANS DEĞERLENDİRMESİNDE TOPSİS VE GRİ İLİŞKİSEL ANALİZ YÖNTEMLERİNİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: SÖYLEMEZ Yakup
Published: September 2020

Firmaların finansal performanslarının değerlendirilmesin çok kriterli karar verme yöntemleri yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Bu yöntemler içerisinde TOPSİS ve gri ilişkisel analiz yöntemleri de bulunmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı TOPSİS ve gri ilişkisel analiz yöntemlerinin kullanılarak finansal performans değerlendirilmesinin gerçekleştirilmesi ve her iki yöntemin sonuçlarının karşılaştırılmasıdır. Çalışma kapsamında veri seti olarak Borsa İstanbul (BİST) Ana Metal Sanayi sektöründe 2010-2019 yılları arasında faaliyet gösteren firmalara ait 25 finansal oran kullanılmıştır. Araştırma finansal performans değerlendirmesinde TOPSİS ve gri ilişkisel analiz yöntemlerinin benzer sonuçlar verdiğine dair bulgular elde etmiştir. Araştırma TOPSİS ve gri ilişkisel analiz yöntemlerinin karşılaştırılması ve BİST ana metal sanayi sektörüne uygulanması yönünden literatüre katkı sunmaktadır.
THE IMPACTS OF CORRUPTION ON BUDGET BALANCE AND PUBLIC DEBT IN TURKEY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
Authors: SONMEZ OZEKİCİOGLU Seda , YARAŞIR TÜLÜMCE Sevinç
Published: September 2020

Today, maintaining stability, transparency and budget balance are main indicators for developed and emerging countries. Corruption, causing deviation from these indicators and its results are important issues that should be researched. Because, corruption changes the composition of public expenditures leading to inefficient expenditures, as well as dissolving public revenues and affecting budget balance negatively. Increase in budget deficit causes an increase in public debt stock. In this study, the effect of corruption in Turkey on budget balance and public debt is analyzed by using Johansen cointegration, VAR (Vector Autoregressive Model) and Granger Causality methods for 1995-2019 years. Empirical findings state that there is not cointegration relationship among variables and there are causalities from budget deficits and public debt burden to corruption and from budget deficit to public debt. VAR method provides evidence that budget deficit and corruption affect each other.
Establishing reference intervals of 20 biochemical markers for children in Southwestern Fujian, China based on the UniCel DxC 800 system
Authors: Li Jiming , Zhang Huifen , Chen Haichen , Gan Yuebin , Li Juan , Huang Huibin
Published: September 2020

Background

To date, China has no industry standard for reference intervals of paediatric blood biochemical markers. This study aimed to evaluate changes in biochemical markers in the venous blood of healthy children aged 29 days to 12 years, derived from the UniCel DxC 800 system, and establish appropriate reference intervals.

Methods

We analysed venous blood from 1980 healthy children for 20 biochemical markers. Reference intervals were established according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute C28-A3c guideline and compared with those of adults in China.

Results

All markers except for sodium and chlorine required partitioning by age, but not by sex. The reference intervals of total protein, albumin, globulin, carbon dioxide, urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid consistently increased with age in children, but were always lower than those of adults. Children aged 29 days to 12 years had a single combined RI for sodium and chloride, respectively; although the reference intervals in children were similar to those of adults, their upper limits were lower. The reference intervals of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus continued to decline with age. The reference intervals of total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase initially declined followed by a slight rebound.

Conclusions

While establishing reference intervals, most markers required partitioning by age (aged 29 days to 12 years); the partitioning scheme differed for each marker, and paediatric reference intervals differed from those for adults. It is therefore necessary to establish separate paediatric reference intervals.
Enhancing the course teaching of power system analysis with virtual simulation platform
Authors: Wei Mingjie , Zhang Hengxu , Fang Tianyu
Published: September 2020

Power system analysis (PSA) is the first comprehensive curriculum for the major of electrical engineering at the undergraduate stage. It helps students obtain an overview of the power system, and systematically learn about fundamental theories. However, the traditional teaching of PSA course excessively focuses on the class lecture, and is combined with hardware-based experiments that are restricted due to concerns of security and cost. Enhancing the PSA course has been attempted at Shandong University, China, since 2016, which combines class lecture, laboratory exercises, and practical activities into the daily teaching. In laboratory exercises, project-based learning (PBL) is carried out by using the hardware experimental equipment and self-developed teaching software, VTPCE, hence to enhance students’ understandings of knowledge, hands-on abilities, and researching skills. Practical activities are organized by visiting the topic-related institutes to establish the relationships between theories and practices. This paper introduces the architecture, the intended learning objects (ILOs), and the detailed arrangement of the reformed PSA course. The assessment procedures for students are also presented, as well as the satisfaction surveys.
Transverse fastening reinforcement of sandwich panels with upcycled bottle caps core
Authors: Oliveira PR , da Silva LJ , Panzera TH , del Pino GG , Scarpa F
Published: September 2020

This work describes the use of transverse reinforcement in eco-friendly sandwich panels made from aluminium skins and a core of upcycled bottle caps. The Design of Experiments technique identifies the effect of the position of the metal rivets on the panel. The results show a moderate increase in strength and a significant enhancement of the sandwich panel stiffness when the rivets are placed on the upper skin, with a remarkable improvement in terms of the core shear modulus. The use of metal rivets has also increased the specific mechanical strength and stiffness of the panels, which highlights the effectiveness of the transverse reinforcement in bottle caps panels.
‘Zones of contention’ in industrial relations: Framing pluralism as praxis
Authors: Dobbins Tony , Hughes Emma , Dundon Tony
Published: September 2020

This article addresses debates in contemporary industrial relations about practical application of pluralism. We compare the potential efficacy of ‘radical-pluralism’ and ‘neo-pluralism’. Data comes from analysis of employment relationships in two unionised public transport sector organisations, in the comparative country contexts of the UK and Republic of Ireland. It is argued that radical-pluralist framing of the employment relationship is better equipped than neo-pluralism to provide deeper and contextually sensitive understandings of the realities of unequal employment relationships. Desired (pluralist) democratic values differ from real world application of joint regulation (praxis). This raises implications regarding constraints on state regulation and public policy goals institutionalising pluralism as fluid and uneven praxis.
Positive Psychosocial Outcomes and Fanship in K-Pop Fans: A Social Identity Theory Perspective
Authors: Laffan Derek A.
Published: September 2020

Korean pop culture (K-Pop) has spread its influence outside of Korea to a worldwide fan audience. The present study investigated the self-categorised K-Pop fandom characteristics that predicted higher levels of K-Pop fanship, and subsequent psychosocial outcomes. Social identity theory was applied as a theoretical framework. In total, 1477 K-Pop fans from 92 predominantly Western countries fully completed an extensive online survey measuring fanship, fandom and psychosocial outcomes (happiness, self-esteem and social connectedness). Results of this study indicated that K-Pop fanship was significantly predicted by a several K-Pop demographic and fandom characteristics. K-Pop fanship was a significant predictor of increased happiness, self-esteem and social connectedness. The study findings advance the application of social identity theory in a K-Pop fan context and the psychological fanship research more broadly.
Suspecting a fatal condition on a plain chest radiograph; Boerhaave syndrome
Authors: Hashmi Muhammad Adeel Rizwan , El-Badawy Moustafa , Agha Adnan
Published: September 2020

Spontaneous oesophagus rupture, also known as Boerhaave syndrome, is a rare but near-fatal medical condition and despite recent medical advancements, it remains a diagnostic challenge for front-door clinicians. The authors describe a similar presentation in an elderly gentleman who presented to the emergency department with sudden chest pain post vomiting. His initial chest radiograph showed bilateral dense consolidations and pleural effusions, and was treated as sepsis secondary to bilateral pneumonia. He underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiogram to rule out pulmonary embolism because of his chest pain with elevated D-dimer which confirmed the diagnosis of oesophagus rupture. His care was transferred to Surgical and Intensive care colleagues with plans for radiological chest drain insertion to limit contamination of mediastinum, however the patient became hypoxic and hypotensive and despite maximal organ support passed away within 6 hours of admission. Retrospect review of chest radiograph revealed Peri-oesophageal air tracking, a sign of Boerhaave syndrome. The aim of this case is to emphasise the importance of raising the suspicion of Boerhaave syndrome in patients with sudden chest pain, unexplained pleural effusion or pneumothorax with a history of recent vomiting as early diagnosis holds the key to prompt lifesaving management.
Persistent wheezing along with apparent stridor caused by a rare anomaly: double aortic arch
Authors: Gökçe Şule , Abdullayeva Nüsabe , Koç Feyza , Hüdaver Alper Hüseyin
Published: September 2020

Vascular rings are rare anomalies that occur as a result of abnormal development of the aortic arch complex, often manifested by signs of tracheo-oesophageal compression during the infant period. A double aortic arch anomaly is the most common type of vascular ring pathology. Here we report a case presenting with wheezing and stridor in a 10-month-old child.
Valve patch technique for repair of ventricular septal defect: long-term results
Authors: Afrasiabirad Abbas , Samadi Mahmoud , Vatani Parisa , Faridvand Yousef
Published: September 2020

Objective

This study aimed to show the long-term results in patients who underwent unidirectional valve patch repair of ventricular septal defect with pulmonary artery hypertension.

Methods

Thirty-five acyanotic patients aged 2 to 26 years (mean 9.3 years) with a large ventricular septal defect and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (mean 9.5 Wood units) underwent surgery in Madani Heart Hospital. The medical records and clinical outcomes were reviewed from March 1998 to March 2017.

Results

Five patients died in the first postoperative week. In the long-term follow-up (mean 11 years), two patients were lost to follow-up. Pulmonary artery hypertension gradually decreased in 17 patients within 6–12 months with significant improvement in right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, New York Heart Association functional class, and tricuspid regurgitation. Eleven patients with persistent pulmonary artery hypertension were divided into tolerable and non-tolerable groups. Six patients in the tolerable group had satisfactory conditions compared to before the operation, and gained weight with improved functional class despite echocardiographic findings of persistent elevated pulmonary artery pressure. One had a full-term delivery by caesarean section in the fifth postoperative year. Five patients in the non-tolerable group gradually developed right heart failure and complications such as extremity edema, ascites, pleural effusions, and died after 10–30 months.

Conclusion

Although relatively high mortality occurred during long-term follow-up, surviving patients were in a better condition and functional class despite persistent pulmonary artery hypertension. Therefore, fear of persistent pulmonary artery hypertension should not prohibit surgery in this group of patients.
Impact of tower spacing on the performance of multiple short natural draft dry cooling towers for calm conditions
Authors: Khamooshi Mehrdad , Anderson Timothy N , Nates Roy J
Published: September 2020

Natural draft dry cooling towers (NDDCTs) serve a fundamental role in the deployment of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. In a multi-tower cooling system, there is a need to be able to position them correctly so that their performance as a group is maximised. To do this, an understanding of the effect they have on one another is needed. Hence, this work investigated the effect of tower spacing on the performance of multiple cooling towers under calm conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The applied CFD methods were validated by comparing the current results with real cooling tower results. It found that towers in close proximity would compete for air at their inlet, resulting in distorted velocity and temperature distributions at the radiator surface. Furthermore, the results show that at a tower spacing of less than two tower diameters (2 D) where D is the diameter of the tower, a reduction in the scavenging area between the towers limits the air supply to the towers and this interaction decreases the cooling performance of the towers. The results of three NDDCTs showed that the heat rejection of the middle tower which is surrounded by two towers is highly influenced by the tower spacing and at very low tower spacings, the heat rejection decreases by up to 15%. This new finding holds particular design significance if multiple NDDCTs are deployed on CSP sites that experience a high frequency of calm (no-wind) conditions.
A numerical and scaled experimental study on ride comfort enhancement of a high-speed rail vehicle through optimizing traction rod stiffness
Authors: Bokaeian Vahid , Rezvani Mohammad Ali , Arcos Robert
Published: September 2020

In this research, the effect of rail vehicle carbody’s flexural modes on the ride comfort of an example high-speed railway vehicle is investigated. The vehicle is modeled as a rigid multi-body system, where the rigid body vertical, longitudinal, pitch, and roll degrees of freedom of the carbody and bogie frames and the rigid body vertical and roll degrees of freedom of the wheelsets are considered. An Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is used to account for the flexural motion of the carbody. The longitudinal interaction between carbody and bogie through the traction rod is modeled as a nonlinear spring element. The corresponding equations of motion of the system in the frequency domain are obtained by using the equivalent linearization method. The effect of the traction rod is explored by using this model. Also, the optimal stiffness of the traction rod element that minimizes the flexural vibrations of the carbody is obtained through a genetic algorithm. With the optimal stiffness for the traction rod, the ride quality index at the center of the carbody floor is improved by 41% at a speed of 300 km/h. For the validation of numerical results, a scaled model of the vehicle with a scale factor of 24.5 was constructed, and its associated results are presented. The model was excited by random input signals, which were generated based on the power spectral density of the track irregularity function. The agreement between the simulation results and the scaled experimental outcome when compared with the measured data from other sources is found to be satisfactory. In the framework of the physical scaled model, the filtering effect due to the vehicle bogie base is also examined.
Barrier Lyapunov function–based adaptive neural network control for incommensurate fractional-order chaotic permanent magnet synchronous motors with full-state constraints via command filtering
Authors: Lu Senkui , Wang Xingcheng
Published: September 2020

This article considers the problem of adaptive neural network control via command filtering for incommensurate fractional-order chaotic permanent magnet synchronous motors with full-state constraints and parameter uncertainties. First, a neural network state observer based on a K-filter is established to reconstruct unmeasured feedback information. Then, the command filtered technology is used to overcome the inherent “explosion of complexity” problem under fractional-order framework. Furthermore, to eliminate the errors generated by filters, an error compensation system is used. Meanwhile, the nonlinear unknown functions are approximated by using neural networks. In addition, the barrier Lyapunov functions are designed to avoid the violation of the state constraints. Finally, the availability of the proposed control algorithm is revealed by numerical simulations.
Grease film thickness measurement in rolling bearing contacts
Authors: Zhang Xingnan , Glovnea Romeo
Published: September 2020

Rolling bearings are the second most used machine components. They work in what it is called elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime. The geometry of rolling element bearings makes the direct measurement of the lubricant film thickness a challenging task. Optical interferometry is widely used in laboratory conditions for studying elastohydrodynamic lubrication however it cannot be used directly in rolling element bearings thus the only suitable methods are electrical techniques. Of these, film thickness measurement based on electrical capacitance of the contacts has been used in the past by a number of authors. One of the limitations of the capacitance method, when used in rolling bearings, is that it cannot distinguish between the contacts of every rolling element and raceway on one hand and on the other between the inner and outer ring contacts. In the present study the authors used an original test rig which can measure the film thickness for only one ball and separately for the inner and outer rings of a radial ball bearing. This paper thus shows for the first-time results of the lubricant film thickness, at the inner and outer raceways, in grease lubricated rolling bearings.
Building on the momentum: Sustaining telehealth beyond COVID-19
Authors: Thomas Emma E , Haydon Helen M , Mehrotra Ateev , Caffery Liam J , Snoswell Centaine L , Banbury Annie , Smith Anthony C
Published: September 2020

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has resulted in tremendous growth in telehealth services in Australia and around the world. The rapid uptake of telehealth has mainly been due to necessity – following social distancing requirements and the need to reduce the risk of transmission. Although telehealth has been available for many decades, the COVID-19 experience has resulted in heightened awareness of telehealth amongst health service providers, patients and society overall. With increased telehealth uptake in many jurisdictions during the pandemic, it is timely and important to consider what role telehealth will have post-pandemic. In this article, we highlight five key requirements for the long-term sustainability of telehealth. These include: (a) developing a skilled workforce; (b) empowering consumers; (c) reforming funding; (d) improving the digital ecosystems; and (e) integrating telehealth into routine care.
Validation of the visual acuity iPad app Eye Chart Pro compared to the standard Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart in a low-vision population
Authors: Hazari Hassan , Curtis Rachel , Eden Karen , Hopman Wilma M , Irrcher Isabella , Bona Mark D
Published: September 2020

Introduction

A low-vision assessment (LVA) is central to developing a vision rehabilitation plan. However, access to LVAs is often limited by the quantity and geographic distribution of low-vision providers, as well as patient-centred transportation challenges. A tablet-based LVA tool kit, delivered virtually, has the potential to overcome many of these barriers. The purpose of this research was to validate a key component of the tablet-based tool kit – a commercially available iPad visual acuity (VA) test (Eye Chart Pro) iPad app – in a low-vision population.

Methods

Participants with low vision ( n = 26) and those who were normally sighted ( n = 25) underwent VA testing with both the iPad VA test application and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. The VA data were compared using a t-test, linear regression and Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

There was no significant difference in the mean absolute difference in VA (log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR)=0.11; p = 0.82). Eye Chart Pro and Standard ETDRS Chart measures were also not significantly different ( p = 0.98). However, there were significant differences between test methods in the low-vision group and the normally sighted group ( p > 0.0001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean bias (difference) of –0.0005 logMAR between methods, and 95% limits of agreement of 0.298 and –0.299 logMAR.

Discussion

The ETDRS chart function on the Eye Chart Pro application can reliably measure VA across a range, from normally sighted patients to those with low vision.
Breaking Down the Wall: The Strategic Plan of Cancer to Conquer the Brain
Authors: Valiente Manuel , M de la Prida Liset
Published: September 2020

[Box: see text]
Galectin-3 and soluble ST2 as complementary tools to cardiac MRI for sudden cardiac death risk stratification in heart failure: A review
Authors: Shah Niel N , Ayyadurai Puvanalingam , Saad Muhammad , Kosmas Constantine E , Dogar Muhammad U , Patel Upen , Vittorio Timothy J
Published: September 2020

Heart failure (HF) is recognized as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Every year about 500,000 new cases of HF are diagnosed in the United States. The predominant etiology of death in HF patients include sudden cardiac death (SCD) and pump failure. Prediction of mode of death may help in devising management decisions. In patients with HF, the presence of myocardial fibrosis has been a known risk factor for SCD and thus it could be used as a criterion in risk stratification for SCD. However, the underlying pathophysiology of SCD is uncertain and controversial, which makes it necessary to develop newer tools to enhance SCD risk stratification. The newer tools should be innovative enough either to complement or to replace the currently available tools. In this scoping review, we highlighted the utilization of novel biomarkers galectin-3 (gal-3) and soluble ST2 (sST2) and discussed that how they might complement currently available tools such as, cardiac MRI (CMR) for SCD risk stratification in HF patients.
Long-term prognostic utility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) triglyceride in real-world patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes or prediabetes
Authors: Jin Jing-Lu , Zhang Hui-Wen , Cao Ye-Xuan , Liu Hui-Hui , Hua Qi , Li Yan-Fang , Zhang Yan , Guo Yuan-Lin , Wu Na-Qiong , Zhu Cheng-Gang , Xu Rui-Xia , Gao Ying , Li Xiao-Lin , Cui Chuan-Jue , Liu Geng , Sun Jing , Dong Qian , Santos Raul , Li Jian-Jun
Published: September 2020

Background

Recent guidelines highlighted the association between atherosclerosis and triglyceride-enriched lipoproteins in patients with impaired glucose metabolism. However, evidence from prospective studies for long-term prognostic utility of low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (LDL-TG) in real-world patients with prediabetes (Pre-DM) or diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently not available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of LDL-TG on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with stable CAD under different glucose metabolism status.

Methods

A total of 4381 patients with CAD were consecutively enrolled and plasma LDL-TG level was measured by an automated homogeneous assay. They were categorized according to both status of glucose metabolism [DM, Pre-DM, normal glycaemia regulation (NGR)] and tertiles of LDL-TG. All subjects were followed up for the occurrence of MACEs.

Results

During a median of 5.1 (interquartile range 3.9 to 5.9) years’ follow-up, 507 (11.6%) MACEs occurred. Cubic spline models showed a significant association between LDL-TG and MACEs in DM and Pre-DM but not in NGR. When the combined effect of elevated LDL-TG and glucose disorders was considered for risk stratification, the medium tertile of LDL-TG plus DM, and the highest tertile of LDL-TG plus Pre-DM or plus DM subgroups were associated with significantly higher risk of MACEs after adjustment of confounders including triglyceride [hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.843 (1.149–2.955), 1.828 (1.165–2.867), 2.212 (1.396–3.507), all p < 0.05]. Moreover, adding LDL-TG into the original model increased the C-statistic from 0.687 to 0.704 (∆C-statistic = 0.016, p = 0.028) and from 0.734 to 0.749 (∆C-statistic = 0.014, p = 0.002) in Pre-DM and DM, respectively.

Conclusions

In this longitudinal cohort study on real-world practice, higher LDL-TG was associated with worse outcomes among Pre-DM and DM patients with stable CAD.
Abundant herds: Accumulation, herd management, and land-use patterns in a conservation area
Authors: Bollig Michael , Vehrs Hauke-Peter
Published: September 2020

North-eastern Namibia’s Zambezi Region became part of the world’s largest transboundary conservation area in the early 2010s: the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. While wildlife numbers and wildlife-based tourism are increasing rapidly in this conservation zone, cattle herds and livestock-based economies are expanding as well. More than conservation and wildlife-based tourism, cattle husbandry is a project of the local population and of the local elite in particular. Cattle are an expression of wealth and are regarded as a means of saving. At the same time, cattle can be used to plough fields, pull sledges, and produce milk and meat for home consumption and also for sale. Cattle also fulfil important social functions; they are necessary for bridewealth payments and are used in cattle loans with which wealthy herd owners furnish poorer relatives. Recent investments into self-financed boreholes have opened new rangelands for the wealthy, while the expansion of conservation areas in the region’s wetlands and the establishment of wildlife corridors have rendered other rangelands challenging due to prohibitions and increasing incidences of human–wildlife conflict. The needs and practices of expanding cattle husbandry often conflict with the demands and challenges of conservation and conservation-related tourism.

This contribution describes the emergence and expansion of cattle husbandry in a region which had hardly any cattle before the 1960s and which has seen a major expansion of conservation areas and a subsequent refaunation since the 1980s. The contribution analyses current cattle ownership patterns and management practices. We argue that livestock husbandry and conservation have to be considered together and not as competing land-use strategies that need to be kept apart but as separate visions and aspirations of different stakeholders relating to the same landscape.
Crack Propagation Analysis of Synthetic vs. Steel vs. Hybrid Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Digital Image Correlation Technique
Authors: Bhosale Aniket B. , Prakash S. Suriya
Published: September 2020

Improvement in fracture behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) due to the inclusion of various types and combinations of fibres is widely reported. The fracture behaviour of FRC needs to be fully understood for the optimum use of these fibres in structural elements. Fracture behaviours of synthetic fibre-reinforced concrete (SynFRC), hybrid fibre-reinforced concrete (HFRC) and steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) are investigated in this study using digital image correlation (DIC) technique. This work focuses on improvement in the structural performance of FRC through a comprehensive study of the change in the crack length, crack opening and fracture process zone (FPZ) due to different fibres addition and their combinations. Three distinct fibre dosages of 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00%, of macro-polyolefin fibres, hooked end steel fibres and their hybrid combination are regarded as research parameters. Test outcomes indicate that HFRC offers higher post-cracking resistance when compared to SynFRC. SFRC showcases superior fracture performance than that of HFRC and SynFRC. Full-field strain measurements from DIC are used to measure the crack openings at different load levels during the fracture tests. Results of DIC analysis show good agreement with experimental measurements. Continuous monitoring of strain contours using DIC reveals the effective engagement of fibres along the depth at higher dosages for HFRC when compared to that of SynFRC. Also, HFRC had longer cracks than SFRC at a particular load.
Trading stocks following sharp movements in the USDX, GBP/USD, and USD/CNY
Authors: Ni Yensen , Day Min-Yuh , Huang Paoyu
Published: September 2020

We hypothesized that sharp movement in the USDX, GBP/USD, and USD/CNY might result in stock market fluctuations owing to heightened investors’ sentiments. The subsequent performance of trading stocks right after such sharp movements in exchange rates is seldom explored in existing studies. We examined the historical data of the constituent stocks of the DJ 30, FTSE 100, and SSE 50 indexes and found that the share prices were more volatile after sharp movements in the CNY, even though the currency is less volatile because of China’s exchange rate policy. However, for the USD and GBP, share prices of the DJ 30 and FTSE 100, respectively, rose after sharp appreciation and depreciation of the currencies.
Parametric analysis of the dynamic characteristics of a long-span three-tower self-anchored suspension bridge with a composite girder
Authors: Shao Feifei , Chen Zhijun , Ge Hanbin
Published: September 2020

Three-tower self-anchored suspension bridge (TSSB) is more and more favored because of its beautiful structure and strong adaptability to terrain and geological conditions. However, there are few engineering practices and related researches on super long-span three-tower self-anchored suspension bridges. A three-dimensional finite element model for the Fenghuang Yellow River Bridge, with the world’s longest span of its kind under construction, is established using the ANSYS finite element program, and the structural dynamic characteristics of the super long-span TSSB are studied and compared with those of several bridges of the same type or with similar spans. In addition, the influence of the key design parameters such as the stiffening girder stiffness, tower stiffness, main cable and suspender stiffness, central buckle, and longitudinal constraint system on the dynamic characteristics of the structure is analyzed. The results show that the first mode of the TSSB is longitudinal floating, the lower-order modes are dominated by vertical bending modes, while the higher-order modes are primarily vibration modes of the main cables, and the torsional modes exhibit strong coupling with the lateral sway of the towers and main cables. The frequency of the first antisymmetric vertical bending mode of the TSSB has an inversely proportional relationship with the main span length. Compared with a double-tower ground-anchored suspension bridge and cable-stayed bridge with similar spans, the TSSB has the lowest frequency for the first antisymmetric vertical bending mode and the highest frequency for the first symmetric vertical bending mode, with a more pronounced coupling with the towers and main cables in the torsional modes. Analysis of the structural parameters shows that the frequencies of the longitudinal floating mode, first antisymmetric vertical bending mode, first symmetric vertical bending mode, and first torsional mode are most sensitive to the longitudinal bending stiffness of the side tower, central buckle, vertical bending stiffness of the stiffening girder, and torsional stiffness of the stiffening girder, respectively. The research findings and relevant conclusions can provide basic data for response analysis of long-span TSSBs under dynamic loads and offer an engineering reference for the design of similar bridges around the world.
Use of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling for Predicting Drug-Food Interactions: an Industry Perspective
Authors: Riedmaier Arian Emami , DeMent Kevin , Huckle James , Bransford Phil , Stillhart Cordula , Lloyd Richard , Alluri Ravindra , Basu Sumit , Chen Yuan , Dhamankar Varsha , Dodd Stephanie , Kulkarni Priyanka , Olivares-Morales Andrés , Peng Chi-Chi , Pepin Xavier , Ren Xiaojun , Tran Thuy , Tistaert Christophe , Heimbach Tycho , Kesisoglou Filippos , Wagner Christian , Parrott Neil
Published: September 2020

The effect of food on pharmacokinetic properties of drugs is a commonly observed occurrence affecting about 40% of orally administered drugs. Within the pharmaceutical industry, significant resources are invested to predict and characterize a clinically relevant food effect. Here, the predictive performance of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) food effect models was assessed via de novo mechanistic absorption models for 30 compounds using controlled, pre-defined in vitro, and modeling methodology. Compounds for which absorption was known to be limited by intestinal transporters were excluded in this analysis. A decision tree for model verification and optimization was followed, leading to high, moderate, or low food effect prediction confidence. High (within 0.8- to 1.25-fold) to moderate confidence (within 0.5- to 2-fold) was achieved for most of the compounds (15 and 8, respectively). While for 7 compounds, prediction confidence was found to be low (> 2-fold). There was no clear difference in prediction success for positive or negative food effects and no clear relationship to the BCS category of tested drug molecules. However, an association could be demonstrated when the food effect was mainly related to changes in the gastrointestinal luminal fluids or physiology, including fluid volume, motility, pH, micellar entrapment, and bile salts. Considering these findings, it is recommended that appropriately verified mechanistic PBPK modeling can be leveraged with high to moderate confidence as a key approach to predicting potential food effect, especially related to mechanisms highlighted here.
Prehospital unfractionated heparin prior to primary PCI
Authors: Sealy Madison , Stuart Olivia , Ebbs Phillip
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Unfractionated heparin is an anticoagulant used by some, but not all, ambulance services in the treatment of patients who will undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) due to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Aims:

The purpose of this study is to review the effectiveness and safety of prehospital unfractionated heparin administration to STEMI patients prior to PPCI, and to consider whether this drug should be more widely used for these purposes across international ambulance services.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted to identify articles relevant to prehospital unfractionated heparin (UFH) administration prior to PPCI. Eighteen journal articles and ten clinical practice guideline compendiums from international ambulance services were selected for this review.

Results:

The reviewed literature unequivocally demonstrates that early anticoagulant administration is safe, effective and highly appropriate for STEMI patients who subsequently undergo PPCI. There are disagreements, however, about whether UFH is the more optimal anticoagulant when compared with enoxaparin.

Conclusion:

This study finds that anticoagulants—such as unfractionated heparin or, in some jurisdictions, enoxaparin—should be strongly considered as a standard feature of prehospital treatment regimens for STEMI patients who will subsequently undergo PPCI.
Disruptive innovation: barriers, opportunities and differences internationally
Authors: Newton Andy , Hunt Barry , Williams Julia
Published: September 2020

Around the world, the paramedic profession evolved from a small number of pilot programmes in the early 1970s, becoming a widespread trend in healthcare across much of the world. This case study focuses primarily on the UK, and England in particular, but also reflects on the international nature of the paramedic phenomenon, seeking to learn lessons from the successful features of individual programmes and approaches, in order that good practice can be promoted and shared. It also indentifies barriers to progress as well as opportunities. The purpose of all early paramedic initiatives described was to address the unmet needs of patients with serious injury and illness. Over the following decades, paramedics developed a clear identity which, in many countries, was professionally recognised and regulated. This trend can be termed ‘disruptive innovation’—something that creates a new market and value network while disrupting existing ones. The steep developmental trajectory of paramedics has not been mirrored by a comparable pace of reform and modernisation in all ambulance services or emergency medical systems, which in some cases have lagged behind and failed to adapt to significant changes in the pattern, quantity and epidemiological characteristics of patient demand. This has led to a mismatch between the capabilities offered by paramedics and the professional opportunities available to them in ambulance services, which have hampered practitioners' ability to make full use of their skills. This has often manifested as low levels of paramedic and other ambulance staff satisfaction, resulting in high rates of staff turnover in the UK and sometimes elsewhere. For many reasons, most evidently the reality of changing patient demand, an increasing number of ambulance services are gradually morphing into primarily urgent care organisations, de-emphasising the transport aspect of the service. Changes are therefore needed to its model of operation and to staff management and support.
Generation and propagation of hyperbolic secant solitons, Peregrine solitons, and breathers in a coherently prepared atomic system
Authors: Guan J. , Zhu C. J. , Hang C. , Yang Y. P.
Published: September 2020

We study the generation and propagation of hyperbolic secant solitons, Peregrine solitons, and various breathers in a coherently prepared three-level atomic system, where two lower states are coherently prepared prior to the injection of a strong pump field and a weak probe field. We show that a flat dispersion without gain and loss along with a large Kerr nonlinearity can be achieved in a broad range of probe field frequency. Moreover, optical hyperbolic secant solitons can be easily achieved in such a broad range at a very low light intensity and propagate stably. Due to the enhanced Kerr nonlinearity, we also show that it is possible to generate optical rogue waves and breathers with very weak light stimulus, which is three orders of magnitude smaller than that used in nonlinear fibers. Because the gain/absorption is negligible and the quantum noise of the probe field can be significantly suppressed, our work may pave the way for realizing solitons, rogue waves, and breathers at the quantum level.
Enhanced transmission through sub-wavelength aperture in specific frequency band by using topology optimized metamaterials
Authors: Shi Pengfei , Cao Yangyang , Zhao Hongge , Gao Renjing , Liu Shutian
Published: September 2020

Aiming at achieving metamaterials (MTM)-based enhanced transmission through the sub-wavelength aperture on a metallic isolating plate in specific frequency band, the topology optimization method for MTM microstructure design was proposed. The MTM was inserted in the sub-wavelength aperture and perpendicular to the isolating plate. A piecewise preset function was employed to describe the expected enhanced and non-enhanced transmission frequency band. The transmission coefficient of the waveguide system with the designed MTM was mapped to a step mapping function. In the topology optimization of the MTM configuration, matching the mapping function to the preset function was chosen as the design objective. Three designs aiming at different specific enhanced transmission frequency band were carried out. The design satisfied the demand for the specific enhanced transmission frequency band, which was also validated by experiment.
Co-designed annular binary phase masks for depth-of-field extension in single-molecule localization microscopy
Authors: Lévêque Olivier , Kulcsár Caroline , Lee Antony , Sauer Hervé , Aleksanyan Artur , Bon Pierre , Cognet Laurent , Goudail François
Published: September 2020

Single-molecule localization microscopy has become a prominent approach to study structural and dynamic arrangements of nanometric objects well beyond the diffraction limit. To maximize localization precision, high numerical aperture objectives must be used; however, this inherently strongly limits the depth-of-field (DoF) of the microscope images. In this work, we present a framework inspired by “optical co-design” to optimize and benchmark phase masks, which, when placed in the exit pupil of the microscope objective, can extend the DoF in the realistic context of single fluorescent molecule detection. Using the Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) on localization accuracy as a criterion, we optimize annular binary phase masks for various DoF ranges, compare them to Incoherently Partitioned Pupil masks and show that they significantly extend the DoF of single-molecule localization microscopes. In particular we propose different designs including a simple and easy-to-realize two-ring binary mask to extend the DoF. Moreover, we demonstrate that a simple maximum likelihood-based localization algorithm can reach the localization accuracy predicted by the CRB. The framework developed in this paper is based on an explicit and general information theoretic criterion, and can thus be used as an engineering tool to optimize and compare any type of DoF-enhancing phase mask in high resolution microscopy on a quantitative basis.
Chiral graphene plasmonic Archimedes’ spiral nanostructure with tunable circular dichroism and enhanced sensing performance
Authors: Zhou Hengjie , Su Shaojian , Ma Huanxi , Zhao Zeyang , Lin Zhili , Qiu Weibin , Qiu Pingping , Huang Beiju , Kan Qiang
Published: September 2020

Circular dichroism spectroscopy is frequently used to characterize the chiral biomolecules by measuring the absorption spectra contrast between the left-handed circularly polarized light and the right-handed circularly polarized light. Compared with biomolecules, chiral metal plasmonic nanostructures also produce a strong circular dichroism response in the range of near-infrared. However, due to the large damping rate, the non-adjustable resonant frequency of the conventional metals, the applications of chiral metal plasmonic nanostructures in the fields of photoelectric detection and chemical and biochemical sensing are restricted. Here, we present a chiral graphene plasmonic Archimedes’ spiral nanostructure that displays a significant circular dichroism response under the excitation of two polarizations of circularly polarized light. By manipulating the material and geometric parameters of the Archimedes’ spiral, the stronger circular dichroism responses and modulation of the resonant wavelength are achieved. The optimized plasmonic nanostructure has outstanding refractive index sensing performance, where the sensitivity and figure of merit reach 7000nm/RIU and 68.75, respectively. Our proposed chiral graphene plasmonic Archimedes’ spiral nanostructure might find potential applications in the fields of optical detection and high performance of index sensing.