bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A large sample analysis of European rivers on seasonal river flow correlation and its physical drivers
Authors: Iliopoulou Theano , Aguilar Cristina , Arheimer Berit , Bermúdez María , Bezak Nejc , Ficchì Andrea , Koutsoyiannis Demetris , Parajka Juraj , Polo María José , Thirel Guillaume , Montanari Alberto
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The
geophysical and hydrological processes governing river
flow formation exhibit persistence at several timescales, which may manifest
itself with the presence of positive seasonal correlation of streamflow at
several different time lags. We investigate here how persistence propagates
along subsequent seasons and affects low and high flows. We define the high-flow season (HFS) and the low-flow season (LFS) as the 3-month and the
1-month periods which usually exhibit the higher and lower river flows,
respectively. A dataset of 224 rivers from six European countries spanning
more than 50 years of daily flow data is exploited. We compute the lagged
seasonal correlation between selected river flow signatures, in HFS and LFS,
and the average river flow in the antecedent months. Signatures are peak and
average river flow for HFS and LFS, respectively. We investigate the links
between seasonal streamflow correlation and various physiographic catchment
characteristics and hydro-climatic properties. We find persistence to be more
intense for LFS signatures than HFS. To exploit the seasonal correlation in
the frequency estimation of high and low flows, we fit a bi-variate
meta-Gaussian probability distribution to the selected flow signatures and
average flow in the antecedent months in order to condition the distribution
of high and low flows in the HFS and LFS, respectively, upon river flow
observations in the previous months. The benefit of the suggested methodology
is demonstrated by updating the frequency distribution of high and low flows
one season in advance in a real-world case. Our findings suggest that there
is a traceable physical basis for river memory which, in turn, can be
statistically assimilated into high- and low-flow frequency estimation to
reduce uncertainty and improve predictions for technical purposes.
Validation of three-component wind lidar sensor for traceable highly resolved wind vector measurements
Authors: Oertel Stefan , Eggert Michael , Gutsmuths Christian , Wilhelm Paul , Müller Harald , Többen Helmut
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Conventional monostatic wind lidar (light detection
and ranging) systems are well-established wind speed
remote sensing devices in the field of wind energy that provide reliable
measurement results for flat terrain and homogeneous wind fields. These
conventional wind lidar systems use a common transmitting and receiving unit
and become unacceptably inaccurate as the wind fields become increasingly
inhomogeneous due to their spatial and temporal averaging procedure (large
measurement volume) that is inherent to the monostatic measurement principle.
The new three-component fiber laser-based wind lidar sensor developed by the
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) uses one transmitting unit (fiber
laser) and three receiving units to measure the velocity vector of single
aerosols in a spatially highly resolved measurement volume (with diameter
d and length l) in heights from 5 m (d=300 µm, l=2 mm) to 250 m (d=14 mm, l=4 m) with a resolution of about 0.1 m s−1.
Detailed comparison measurements
with a 135 m high wind met mast and a conventional lidar system have
proven that the high spatial and temporal resolution of the new, so-called
bistatic lidar leads to a reduced measurement uncertainty compared to
conventional lidar systems. Furthermore, the comparison demonstrates that the
deviation between the bistatic lidar and the wind met mast lies well within
the measurement uncertainty of the cup anemometers of the wind met mast for
both homogeneous and inhomogeneous wind fields. At PTB, the aim is to use the
bistatic wind lidar as a traceable reference standard to calibrate other
remote sensing devices, necessitating an in-depth validation of the bistatic
lidar system and its measurement uncertainty. To this end, a new, specially
designed wind tunnel with a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) as flow velocity
reference has been erected on a platform at a height of 8 m; this allows the
new wind lidar to be positioned below the wind tunnel test section to be
validated for wind vector measurements that are traceable to the SI units. A
first validation measurement within the wind tunnel test section is
presented, showing a deviation between the bistatic lidar system and the LDA clearly
below 0.1 %.
On the resolutions of ocean altimetry maps
Authors: Ballarotta Maxime , Ubelmann Clément , Pujol Marie-Isabelle , Taburet Guillaume , Fournier Florent , Legeais Jean-François , Faugere Yannice , Delepoulle Antoine , Chelton Dudley , Dibarboure Gérald , Picot Nicolas
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The DUACS system produces sea level global and regional maps that serve oceanographic applications, climate forecasting centers, geophysics and biology communities. These maps are constructed from optimal interpolation of altimeter observations and are provided on a global 1/4° × 1/4° (longitude × latitude) and daily grid resolution framework (1/8° × 1/8° longitude × latitude grid for the regional products) through the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS). Yet, the dynamical content of these maps is not ensured to have a full 1/4° spatial and 1-day resolution, due to the filtering properties of the optimal interpolation. In the present study, we estimate the effective spatial and temporal resolutions of the newly reprocessed delayed-time DUACS maps (aka, DUACS-DT2018). Our approach is based on the spectral coherence between maps and independent datasets (along-track and tide gauge observations), which represents the correlation between two sea level signals as a function of wavelength. We found that the spatial resolution of the DUACS-DT2018 global maps based on sampling by three altimeters simultaneously ranges from ~ 100 km-wavelength at high latitude to ~ 800 km-wavelength in the Equatorial band and the mean temporal resolution is ~ 28 days period. The mean effective spatial resolution at mid-latitude is estimated to ~ 200 km. The mean effective spatial resolution is ~ 120 km for the regional Mediterranean Sea product and ~ 140 km for the regional Black Sea product. An inter-comparison with former DUACS reprocessing systems (aka, DUACS-DT2010 and DUACS-DT2014) highlights the progress of the system over the past 8 years, in particular a gain of resolution in highly turbulent regions. The same diagnostic applied to maps constructed with two altimeters and maps with three altimeters confirms a modest increase of resolving capabilities and accuracies in the DUACS maps with the number of missions.
The impact of earthquake cycle variability on neotectonic and paleoseismic slip rate estimates
Authors: Styron Richard
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Because of the natural (aleatoric) variability in earthquake recurrence
intervals and coseismic displacements on a fault, cumulative slip on a fault
does not increase linearly or perfectly step-wise with time; instead, some
amount of variability in shorter-term slip rates results. Though this
variability could greatly affect the accuracy of neotectonic (i.e., late
Quaternary) and paleoseismic slip rate estimates, these effects have not been
quantified. In this study, idealized faults with four different,
representative, earthquake recurrence distributions are created with equal
mean recurrence intervals (1000 years) and coseismic slip distributions, and
the variability in slip rate estimates over 500- to 100 000-year measurement
windows is calculated for all faults through Monte Carlo simulations. Slip
rates are calculated as net offset divided by elapsed time, as in a typical
neotectonic study. The recurrence distributions used are quasi-periodic,
unclustered and clustered lognormal distributions, and an unclustered
exponential distribution. The results demonstrate that the most important
parameter is the coefficient of variation (CV = standard
deviation ∕ mean) of the recurrence distributions rather than the shape
of the distribution itself. Slip rate variability over short timescales
(< 5000 years or 5 mean earthquake cycles) is quite high, varying by
a factor of 3 or more from the mean, but decreases with time and is close to
stable after ∼40 000 years (40 mean earthquake cycles). This
variability is higher for recurrence distributions with a higher CV. The
natural variability in the slip rate estimates compared to the true value is
then used to estimate the epistemic uncertainty in a single slip rate
measurement (as one would make in a geological study) in the absence of any
measurement uncertainty. This epistemic uncertainty is very high (a factor of
2 or more) for measurement windows of a few mean earthquake cycles (as in a
paleoseismic slip rate estimate), but decreases rapidly to a factor of
1–2 with > 5 mean earthquake cycles (as in a neotectonic slip
rate study). These uncertainties are independent of, and should be propagated
with, uncertainties in fault displacement and geochronologic measurements
used to estimate slip rates. They may then aid in the comparison of slip
rates from different methods or the evaluation of potential slip rate changes
over time.
Components of standard metabolic rate variability in three species of gammarids
Authors: Shokri Milad , Ciotti Mario , Vignes Fabio , Gjoni Vojsava , Basset Alberto
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Standard metabolic rate is a major functional trait with large inter-individual variability in many groups of aquatic species. Here we present results of an experimental study to address variation in standard metabolic rates, over different scales of organisation and environments, within a specific group of aquatic macro-invertebrates (i.e. gammarid amphipods) that represent the primary consumers in detritus food webs. The study was carried out using flow-through microrespirometric techniques on male specimens of three gammarid species from freshwater, transitional water and marine ecosystems. We examined individual metabolic rate variations at three scales: (1) at the individual level, during an 8 h period of daylight; (2) at the within-population level, along body-size and body-condition gradients; (3) at the interspecific level, across species occurring in the field in the three different categories of aquatic ecosystems, from freshwater to marine. We show that standard metabolic rates vary significantly at all three scales examined, with the highest variation observed at the within-population level. Variation in individual standard metabolic rates during the daylight hours was generally low (coefficient of variation, CV<10 %) and unrelated to time. The average within-population CV ranged between 30.0 % and 35.0 %, with body size representing a significant source of overall inter-individual variation in the three species and individual body condition exerting only a marginal influence. In all species, the allometric equations were not as steep as would be expected from the 3∕4 power law, with significant variation in mass-specific metabolic rates among populations. The population from the transitional water ecosystem had the highest mass-specific metabolic rates and the lowest within-population variation. In the gammarid species studied here, body-size-independent variations in standard individual metabolic rates were higher than those explained by allometric body size scaling, and the costs of adaptation to short-term periodic variations in water salinity in the studied ecosystems also seemed to represent a major source of variation.
Aerodynamic characterization of a soft kite by in situ flow measurement
Authors: Oehler Johannes , Schmehl Roland
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Wind tunnel testing of large deformable soft kites for wind energy conversion
is expensive and in many cases practically not feasible. Computational
simulation of the coupled fluid–structure interaction problem is
scientifically challenging and of limited practical use for aerodynamic
characterization. In this paper we present a novel experimental method for
aerodynamic characterization of flexible membrane kites by in situ
measurement of the relative flow, while performing complex flight maneuvers.
We find that the measured aerodynamic coefficients agree well with the values
that are currently used for flight simulation of soft kites. For flight
operation in crosswind maneuvers during which the traction force is kept constant,
the angle of attack is inversely related to the relative flow velocity. For
entire pumping cycles, the measurements show considerable variations in the
aerodynamic coefficients, while the angle of attack of the kite varies
only in a narrow range. This finding questions the commonly used
representation of aerodynamic coefficients as sole functions of the angle of
attack and stresses the importance of aeroelastic deformation for this type
of wing. Considering the effect of the power setting (identical to the trim)
solely as a rigid-body pitch rotation does not adequately describe the
aero-structural behavior of the kite. We show that the aerodynamic
coefficients vary as functions of the power setting (trim) of the kite, the
steering commands and the flight direction.
Eficacia de los cuidados paliativos en el alivio del sufrimiento
Authors: de Antueno Pilar , Silberberg Agustín
Published: January 2019

El alivio del sufrimiento es uno de los principales objetivos médicos. Mediante una escala de medición cuantitativa del sufrimiento se investigó la repercusión de la atención del servicio de cuidados paliativos. El estudio se realizó en pacientes con enfermedades avanzadas atendidos en el principal hospital de referencia de dicha especialidad en Argentina. El 88% de los participantes refirió sufrimiento en la primera consulta. Este porcentaje disminuyó al 44% luego del seguimiento clínico de cuidados paliativos. Este estudio evidencia que la atención médica competente de Cuidados Paliativos logra reducir el sufrimiento, asegurando una calidad de vida adecuada durante la enfermedad, hasta su final natural. De este modo, los Cuidados Paliativos constituyen una respuesta médica y ética válida frente a la eutanasia.
Familia, bioética y reivindicación contemporánea de los derechos
Authors: Hoevel Carlos
Published: January 2019

El punto de partida de este artículo es un acercamiento histórico a los orígenes contemporáneos del actual movimiento de reivindicación de derechos en el ámbito de la familia. Asimismo, por medio de una indagación filosófico-jurídica de sus rasgos esenciales, el autor propone una reflexión interdisciplinar sobre los vínculos entre dicho movimiento y una nueva concepción antropológica y jurídica de la familia potenciada por un uso particular de la biotecnología. El autor explora también algunas propuestas críticas alternativas a este modo de pensar por parte de autores provenientes del ámbito jurídico, psicoanalítico y filosófico. Finalmente, el artículo concluye con una discusión sobre la necesidad de un ensanchamiento de las bases filosóficas y antropológicas del debate sobre la familia con el objetivo de superar el sesgo ideológico de las reformas jurídicas actualmente en curso.
Questão urbana e habitacional e Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social no Brasil
Authors: Valente Santana Joana
Published: January 2019

O presente artigo discute a ocorrência da questão urbana e habitacional no âmbito da Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social no Brasil, nos últimos cinco anos, com base nos temas dos Grupos de Pesquisa, disciplinas ofertadas e produção acadêmica discente nos Programas de Pós-Graduação da Área de Serviço Social. Como procedimento metodológico realizou-se um levantamento na Plataforma Sucupira/CAPES (período de 2013 a 2017) para coleta de dados nos relatórios dos 34 PPG/Serviço Social, com ênfase nas “Disciplinas” e “Trabalhos de Conclusão” (mestrado e doutorado), bem como na página do CNPq para levantamento dos Grupos de Pesquisa. Os resultados apontam que: a) na Plataforma Lattes existem 24 grupos com o tema da questão urbana e habitacional; b) que os dados disponíveis nos Relatórios dos 34 PPG registram 17 disciplinas ofertadas sobre o tema, sendo Milton Santos o autor mais indicado para leitura nessas disciplinas; c) dos 2.545 trabalhos de conclusão de curso cadastrados (de 2013 a 2017), 3,6% (91) tratam da questão urbana e habitacional; d) desses 91 trabalhos de conclusão, 80,2% enfatizam especificamente o tema da habitação e 21% fazem articulação com a atuação profissional do Assistente Social. A pesquisa na área urbana e habitacional está em consonância com o projeto ético-político do Serviço Social brasileiro.
How to Make Living Labs More Financially Sustainable? Case Studies in Italy and the Netherlands
Authors: Gualandi Edoardo , L. Romme A. Georges
Published: January 2019

In many urban environments, so-called Living Labs have been created. A Living Lab (LL) is an emerging innovation methodology that may serve to reduce the gap between new technology development and the adoption of this new technology by users, by bringing together all key actors in the innovation process: public administration, education institutes, companies, and citizens. However, a substantial number of LLs struggle to translate the customer value created into a sustainable business model. As a result, many LLs are financially not sustainable. Several previous studies found that most LLs primarily rely on public grants; thus, they often stop their activities when public funding ends. In this paper, we draw on a comprehensive literature review and practical evidence from three cases, to develop a framework of various funding options which can be employed by any LL that seeks to become more financially sustainable.
On Democratic Leadership and Social Change
Authors: Davari Arash
Published: January 2019

Arash Davari’s essay examines the representation of contemporary social movements in popular culture and media, tracing the recent global shift from centralized models of self-governance to more collective forms that better align with modern democratic ideals. Black political culture is undergoing the same shift, rejecting the old form of male charismatic leadership. Davari questions whether this is the most effective strategy of achieving a democratic future oriented toward racial justice and radical democracy, and turns to the early writings of W. E. B. Du Bois as a model for better representation and articulation of social change. Du Bois’s early writings are reflections on social change for racial justice, and they affirm the idea that power cannot be eliminated, only reconstituted in ways that are compatible with democratic values.
RDX and the Army Air Forces
Authors: Baxter Colin F.
Published: January 2019

The Air Force requested the explosive Composition B filling for all of its bombs. The production capacity of RDX and Comp B was insufficient to meet this demand. The controversy over the Comp B2 bomb, which did not have the 1 percent wax additive found in the regular Comp B bomb. The suspicion surrounding the Comp B2 bomb, and the mishandling of bombs generally, led to the issue of air crews jettisoning their bombs. The Metfield incident seriously compromised the use of Comp B2 bombs.
Canada and RDX
Authors: Baxter Colin F.
Published: January 2019

The early involvement of Canada in the development of RDX. Dr. J. H. Ross and R. W. Schiessler discovered a different process for making RDX, which for a brief time was considered the most economical way to make large quantities of RDX. The Canadian-American RDX Committee was composed of scientists from both countries.
Protocolo y Administración áulica: la Casa Real de José Napoleón I
Authors: Sánchez González Dolores del Mar
Published: January 2019

Nada más llegar a España, lo primero que hizo José Napoleón I fue establecer una reglamentación nueva para la Casa Real. Con ello pretendía fortalecer las figuras de su entorno más cercano en un deseo de dotarlas de un especial papel en el entorno propagandístico y legitimador que pretendía crear y que le dotaría de los mejores elementos visuales con los que presentarse ante la población._______________________Upon arrival in Spain, the first thing that José Napoleón I did was to establish a new regulation for the Royal Household. With this he intended to strengthen the figures of his closest environment in a desire to give them a special role in the propaganda and legitimating environment that he intended to create and that would provide him with the best visual elements with which to present himself to the population.
Los vínculos entre el jefe del Estado y los ministros análisis protocolario de actos oficiales celebrados durante el régimen franquista
Authors: Castillero-Ostio Elizabet , Castillo-Esparcia Antonio
Published: January 2019

En el presente artículo se realiza un recorrido por las carteras ministeriales de las distintas formaciones gubernamentales sucedidas durante el régimen franquista a través del análisis de la presencia y ubicación de los ministros en los actos celebrados en el Día de la Hispanidad-Raza (12 de octubre) y en el de San José Artesano (1 de mayo). Hemos acudido a la argumentación de diferentes autores tratando de conocer las carreras políticas de cada uno de los componentes de los distintos gobiernos franquistas que más aparecen en los actos analizados o lo hacen en posiciones privilegiadas, además de detallar los posibles vínculos que los unían al Jefe del Estado. Todo ello, para tratar de determinar si existe algún indicio que indique la puesta en práctica de un criterio subjetivo a la hora de invitar y ordenar a las autoridades en los actos que responda a los intereses del Régimen, en concreto a la cabeza visible de este, su Jefe, permitiéndonos este hecho reflejar el estado de los vínculos que unen a la institución con sus públicos en cada momento.____________________In the present article we will provide an overview of the different ministerial portfolios in the government during the Franco regime by analyzing the presence and location of the ministers in the acts that took place during the Hispanic Heritage and Race Day (12th, October) and St. Joseph Artisan's Day (1st, May). We have looked through the argumentations made by different writers in order to know more about their political careers of each one of the members who seemed to appear more often in those acts, or appearing from privileged positions, along  the different governments during Franco times, as well as detailing the possible links between the Head of State and them. The purpose is to determine the existence of any evidence which indicates an actual subjective criteria at the time of inviting and positioning the different members of authorities in the above mentioned acts responding to the interests of the regime, particularly those of the Head of State. Thus, it would allow us to reflect the nature of the links between the institution and their audiences in any given time.
Aspectos transformadores de la experiencia humana a la luz de la práctica de la meditación de atención plena
Authors: Ibáñez Ramos Miguel
Published: January 2019

La experiencia humana, es resultado de un proceso complejo en el que se dan cita dos polos intrínsecamente unidos: por un lado, existen cambios en la relación corporal con el medio registrados por nuestro sistema perceptivo, y por otro, valoraciones mentales relacionales, que condicionan, no sólo la percepción, sino también la respuesta ante ese entorno. Ambos aspectos son inseparables: percepción y sensación sentida de un lado, y hermenéutica y lenguaje de otro. Ambos constituyen nuestra experiencia. El presente artículo es una reflexión desde la fenomenología y la filosofía perenne sobre estos aspectos de la experiencia humana y su relación con la práctica de la atención plena (mindfulness) como proceso transformador de la misma. Nos preguntamos ¿En qué medida puede la práctica de la atención plena modificar o influir en la consciencia y en qué sentido produce un cambio en la experiencia humana y en su interpretación?
La relevancia de la producción editorial budista en la visibilización del budismo en España
Authors: Díez de Velasco Abellán Francisco
Published: January 2019

El presente trabajo repasa la producción editorial budista española, que resulta muy destacada, cercana a los dos millares de libros. El artículo tiene dos partes principales. En la que se titula "Las estrategias de publicación de los grupos budistas: las editoriales generalistas" se analizan las obras de autores budistas publicadas en editoriales no especializadas, entre las que destaca Kairós, con más de un centenar de títulos. En el siguiente apartado se repasan las editoriales de orientación budista evidenciando la importancia de las que se asocian con grupos del budismo tibetano entre las que destaca Ediciones Dharma. Esta producción de libros resulta un elemento notable en la visibilización del budismo en España que lleva a que tras el cristianismo sea la religión con mayor presencia editorial en el país
Estudio comparado del desarrollo histórico de la Psicopedagogía en Cuba y Chile
Authors: Espinoza Vásquez Rodrigo Alberto , Ortiz Torres Emilio Alberto
Published: January 2019

Psychopedagogy is an interdisciplinary science with great growth in Latin American countries, but there are few studies that address its historical evolution, according to its peculiarities. The objective of this article was to carry out a comparative study of the historical development of the Psychopedagogy between Chile and Cuba, two Latin American nations that share a peculiar past and presentto determinate coincidences and differences. The historical background, institutionalization and national contributions wereselected as indicators, which allowed showing the similarities and differences according to the historical, economic, cultural and political development peculiar to each country, with a previous evolution of Psychology and Pedagogy. , as basal sciences, from the influences of foreign conceptions deeply rooted in the educational field, but with a creative, contextualized and successful work of professionals in Psychopedagogy, adapting them to the historical needs of each country and achieving the solution of educational problems and at the same time enrich this science. Psychopedagogy has a certain maturity as an interdisciplinary science in full development in the current conditions of Cuba and Chile.
Tecnología para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras: revisión de la literatura
Authors: Trujillo Sáez Fernando , Salvadores Merino Carlos , Gabarrón Pérez Ángel
Published: January 2019

En plena era de revolución tecnológica, las tecnologías y su buen uso y consumo así como la capacidad de comunicarse en una o varias segundas lenguas contribuyen a la conexión de los habitantes de este mundo globalizado; nuestros espacios comunicativos se han ampliado exponencialmente y requieren por ello una formación adecuada. En este artículo se analiza la relación entre tecnología y enseñanza y aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras desde una perspectiva diacrónica y crítica. Se contempla, para ello, la aparición de distintas tecnologías en el ámbito de la enseñanza y aprendizaje de lenguas así como el análisis de su efectividad en el proceso de aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras, constatándose diversos ciclos de innovación tecnológica, entusiasmo en relación con sus posibilidades, escasez de evidencias de resultados y llamada a la precaución ante el impacto de la tecnología en sí. Como conclusión, se plantea un estado de alerta positiva pero precavida ante la aparición constante de tecnologías que generan nuevas oportunidades de aprendizaje memorable.
Learning about Careers: Open data and Labour Market Intelligence
Authors: Attwell Graham , Hughes Deirdre
Published: January 2019

Las decisiones sobre el aprendizaje y el trabajo deben ubicarse en un contexto particular espacial, de mercado laboral: los individuos toman decisiones dentro de "estructuras de oportunidad" particulares y sus decisiones y aspiraciones se enmarcan dentro de su comprensión de tales estructuras. Este artículo examina formas en las que se puede aplicar el aprendizaje sobre carreras con datos abiertos e inteligencia del mercado laboral. Un estudio de caso ilustrativo del proyecto LMI for All en el Reino Unido muestra la viabilidad técnica del diseño y desarrollo de dichos sistemas y un modelo para su difusión e impacto. La tendencia hacia los datos abiertos y las aplicaciones cada vez más poderosas para procesar y consultar datos han cobrado impulso. Esto, combinado con la necesidad de información sobre el mercado laboral para la toma de decisiones en mercados laborales cada vez más inestables, ha llevado al desarrollo y pilotaje de nuevos sistemas de información del mercado laboral (LMI), que involucran a múltiples grupos de usuarios. Existen desafíos universales debido al uso cada vez mayor de LMI, especialmente en la asignación de empleos y el uso en rápida expansión de datos abiertos en diferentes entornos de educación y empleo. Destacamos seis temas emergentes que deben abordarse para que los datos abiertos y la inteligencia del mercado laboral puedan aplicarse de manera efectiva en diferentes contextos y entornos. Concluimos reflexionando sobre la urgente necesidad de ampliar el cuerpo de investigación y desarrollar nuevos métodos de co-construcción en asociaciones de colaboración innovadoras.
Quality of life and health status after Girdlestone resection arthroplasty in patients with an infected total hip prosthesis
Authors: Vincenten Cornelis M. , Den Brenda L. , Bos Pieter K. , Bolder Stefan B.T. , Gosens Taco
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Introduction: The Girdlestone resection arthroplasty (GRA) is a salvage procedure for a recurrent or persistent prosthetic joint infection of the hip. This procedure negatively impacts the functional outcome and presumably also diminishes health status (HS) and quality of life (QOL). However, studies investigating the QOL after GRA are lacking. This cross-sectional study compares patients with a Girdlestone situation after an infected total hip prosthesis with a normative population with regard to HS and QOL.Methods: Patients with a permanent GRA were suitable to be enrolled in the study. Subjects completed the World Health Organization Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the EuroQol 5 dimension 3 level version (EQ-5D-3L). Scores were compared with data from the normal population, from patients with a lower limb amputations and data from patients with a myocardial infarction.Results: Sixty-three patients who underwent GRA between January 2000 and March 2017 completed the questionnaire. The median time between the GRA and competing the questionnaire was 48 months (4 -436). All WHOQOL-BREF domain scores were significantly lower in GRA patients compared to the normative data (p<0.001), patients with myocardial infarction or lower limb amputation. EQ-5D-3L results showed that HS was significantly impaired in GRA patients when compared to normative data (p<0.001) and also impaired when compared to data from lower limb amputations and myocardial infarctions.Conclusion: HS and QOL scores in patients with a permanent Girdlestone situation after an infected hip prosthesis are significantly lower than Dutch normative scores. Patients with a permanent Girdlestone situation scored even lower on HS than patients with a lower limb amputation or a myocardial infarction.
Meta-analysis of sonicate fluid in blood culture bottles for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Li Cheng , Renz Nora , Thies Cristina Ojeda , Trampuz Andrej
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Introduction: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication after arthroplasty, and the diagnosis of PJI is still challenging with modern medical technology. To improve the diagnostic rate, combined diagnostic methods are gradually beginning to be used to diagnose PJI. Sonication is one accurate way to diagnose PJI, but there is minimal research regarding the diagnostic value of sonicate fluid (SF) in blood culture bottles (BCB). Therefore, we evaluated this combined diagnostic method by meta-analysis.Methods: We searched English publications in electronic databases regarding the use of sonicate fluid in blood culture bottles (SF-BCB) for diagnosing PJI, screened the literature according to inclusion criteria, assessed the quality of the selected literature, and collected information regarding SF-BCB.Results: This meta-analysis includes 4 studies that evaluated SF-BCB for the diagnosis of PJI. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) are 0.85 (95% Confidence interval [CI], 0.77 to 0.91), 0.86 (CI, 0.81 to 0.91), 5.34 (CI, 3.13 to 9.11), 0.16 (CI, 0.06 to 0.48) and 39.01 (CI, 9.04 to 168.35), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) is 0.9186 (standard error, 0.0205).Conclusion: SF-BCB has great value for the microbiological diagnosis of PJ, especially for patients with prior antibiotic treatment.
Decreased brain connectivity in smoking contrasts with increased connectivity in drinking
Authors: Cheng Wei , Rolls Edmund T , Robbins Trevor W , Gong Weikang , Liu Zhaowen , Lv Wujun , Du Jingnan , Wen Hongkai , Ma Liang , Quinlan Erin Burke , Garavan Hugh , Artiges Eric , Papadopoulos Orfanos Dimitri , Smolka Michael N , Schumann Gunter , Kendrick Keith , Feng Jianfeng
Published: January 2019

In a group of 831 participants from the general population in the Human Connectome Project, smokers exhibited low overall functional connectivity, and more specifically of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex which is associated with non-reward mechanisms, the adjacent inferior frontal gyrus, and the precuneus. Participants who drank a high amount had overall increases in resting state functional connectivity, and specific increases in reward-related systems including the medial orbitofrontal cortex and the cingulate cortex. Increased impulsivity was found in smokers, associated with decreased functional connectivity of the non-reward-related lateral orbitofrontal cortex; and increased impulsivity was found in high amount drinkers, associated with increased functional connectivity of the reward-related medial orbitofrontal cortex. The main findings were cross-validated in an independent longitudinal dataset with 1176 participants, IMAGEN. Further, the functional connectivities in 14-year-old non-smokers (and also in female low-drinkers) were related to who would smoke or drink at age 19. An implication is that these differences in brain functional connectivities play a role in smoking and drinking, together with other factors.
hdac4 mediates perichondral ossification and pharyngeal skeleton development in the zebrafish
Authors: DeLaurier April , Alvarez Cynthia Lizzet , Wiggins Kali J
Published: January 2019

Background

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic factors that function to repress gene transcription by removing acetyl groups from the N-terminal of histone lysines. Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), a class IIa HDAC, has previously been shown to regulate the process of endochondral ossification in mice via repression of Myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2C), a transcriptional activator of Runx2, which in turn promotes chondrocyte maturation and production of bone by osteoblasts.

Methods & Materials

In this study, we generated two zebrafish lines with mutations in hdac4 using CRISPR/Cas9 and analyzed mutants for skeletal phenotypes and expression of genes known to be affected by Hdac4 expression.

Results

Lines have insertions causing a frameshift in a proximal exon of hdac4 and a premature stop codon. Mutations are predicted to result in aberrant protein sequence and a truncated protein, eliminating the Mef2c binding domain and Hdac domain. Zygotic mutants from two separate lines show a significant increase in ossification of pharyngeal ceratohyal cartilages at 7 days post fertilization (dpf) (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). At 4 dpf, mutant larvae have a significant increase of expression of runx2a and runx2b in the ceratohyal cartilage (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). A subset of maternal-zygotic (mz) mutant and heterozygote larvae (40%) have dramatically increased ossification at 7 dpf compared to zygotic mutants, including formation of a premature anguloarticular bone and mineralization of the first and second ceratobranchial cartilages and symplectic cartilages, which normally does not occur until fish are approximately 10 or 12 dpf. Some maternal-zygotic mutants and heterozygotes show loss of pharyngeal first arch elements (25.9% and 10.2%, respectively) and neurocranium defects (30.8% and 15.2%, respectively). Analysis of RNA-seq mRNA transcript levels and in situ hybridizations from zygotic stages to 75–90% epiboly indicates that hdac4 is highly expressed in early embryos, but diminishes by late epiboly, becoming expressed again in larval stages.

Discussion

Loss of function of hdac4 in zebrafish is associated with increased expression of runx2a and runx2b targets indicating that a role for hdac4 in zebrafish is to repress activation of ossification of cartilage. These findings are consistent with observations of precocious cartilage ossification in Hdac4 mutant mice, demonstrating that the function of Hdac4 in skeletal development is conserved among vertebrates. Expression of hdac4 mRNA in embryos younger than 256–512 cells indicates that there is a maternal contribution of hdac4 to the early embryo. The increase in ossification and profound loss of first pharyngeal arch elements and anterior neurocranium in a subset of maternal-zygotic mutant and heterozygote larvae suggests that maternal hdac4 functions in cartilage ossification and development of cranial neural crest-derived structures.
Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products: The Devil in Disguise or a Considerable Risk Reduction?
Authors: Lachenmeier Dirk W , Anderson Peter , Rehm Jürgen
Published: January 2019

Background: Heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products are not burnt but instead are inserted into a tobacco-heating system, which heats the tobacco at temperatures below that required to initiate combustion. This mechanism potentially results in significantly reduced concentrations of heat-generated toxicants in the inhalable aerosol.Method: The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied for quantitative risk assessment. The MOE is defined as the ratio between the toxicological threshold and the estimated human intake of the same compound. The higher the MOE, the lower the risk of a compound.Findings: The MOEs were increased by factors of 3 to 415 for the most toxic compounds in tobacco smoke, comparing use of HNB with smoking conventional tobacco products. The combined MOE for all compounds was increased 23-fold, excluding nicotine, or 10-fold including nicotine. Thus, the overall risk for cumulative toxic effects was markedly lower for HNB products.Conclusions: HNB tobacco reduced the risk of exposure to 9 out of the 20 most toxic compounds in tobacco beyond an MOE threshold of 10,000. While our results show that use of HNB products leads to a considerable risk reduction compared to conventional tobacco, the products cannot be considered completely “risk-free” due to risk of exposure to the remaining toxicants with MOE below the threshold.
GeO2 Encapsulated Ge Nanostructure with Enhanced Lithium‐Storage Properties
Authors: Yan Shancheng , Song Haizeng , Lin Shuren , Wu Han , Shi Yi , Yao Jie
Published: January 2019

Germanium (Ge)‐based nanostructures, especially those with germanium dioxide (GeO2), have drawn great interest for applications in lithium (Li)‐ion batteries due to their ultrahigh theoretical Li+ storage capability (8.4 Li/Ge). However, GeO2 in conventional Ge(s)/GeO2(c) (where (c) means the core and (s) means the shell) composite anodes with Ge shell outside GeO2 undergoes an irreversible conversion reaction, which restricts the maximum capacity of such batteries to 1126 mAhg−1 (the equivalent of storing 4.4 Li+). In this work, a porous GeO2(s)/Ge(c) nanostructure with GeO2 shell outside Ge cores are successfully fabricated utilizing the Kirkendall effect and used as a lithium‐ion battery anode, giving a substantially improved capacity of 1333.5 mAhg−1 at a current density of 0.1 Ag−1 after 30 cycles and a stable long‐time cycle performance after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. The enhanced battery performance is attributed to the improved reversibility of GeO2 lithiation/delithiation processes catalyzed by Ge in the properly structured porous GeO2(s)/Ge(c) nanostructure.
Unraveling the Mechanobiology of the Immune System
Authors: Kim Jeong‐Ki , Shin Yu Jung , Ha Leslie Jaesun , Kim Deok‐Ho , Kim Dong‐Hwee
Published: January 2019

Cells respond and actively adapt to environmental cues in the form of mechanical stimuli. This extends to immune cells and their critical role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Multiple recent studies have begun illuminating underlying mechanisms of mechanosensation in modulating immune cell phenotypes. Since the extracellular microenvironment is critical to modify cellular physiology that ultimately determines the functionality of the cell, understanding the interactions between immune cells and their microenvironment is necessary. This review focuses on mechanoregulation of immune responses mediated by macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, in the context of modern mechanobiology.
A UV‐Responsive Multifunctional Photoelectric Device Based on Discotic Columnar Nanostructures and Molecular Motors
Authors: Zou Cheng , Sun Jian , Wang Meng , Wang Jingxia , Wu Yuchen , Zhang Lanying , Zhu Zhongpeng , Xiong Guirong , Jiang Lei , Ikeda Tomiki , Yang Huai
Published: January 2019

Orientation control of ordered materials would not only produce new physical phenomenon but also facilitate the development of fancy devices. Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) form 1D charge transport pathway by self‐organizing into columnar nanostructures via π–π stacking. However, controlling the electrical properties in such nanostructures with some direct and instant way is a formidable task for their high viscosity and insensitivity to external stimuli. Herein, the arbitrary control over electrical conductivity of such columnar nanostructures is achieved with UV light by incorporating DLCs with molecular motors. Highly ordered DLC microstripe arrays are generated on desired substrate through a capillary bridge dewetting strategy. The conductivity of the microstripes could be continuously modulated by 365 nm light due to the influence of molecular motion under UV irradiation on the electron orbital overlap of columnar nanostructures. This is so because the disorder degree of the DLC molecules is associated with the intensity of UV light and the doping concentration of molecular motors. Moreover, the device shows memory effect and reversible conductivity change. The DLC microstripe arrays are very promising for the applications in UV detectors, memory devices, optical switches, and so on.
Revisiting the Buckling Metrology Method to Determine the Young's Modulus of 2D Materials
Authors: Iguiñiz Nestor , Frisenda Riccardo , Bratschitsch Rudolf , Castellanos‐Gomez Andres
Published: January 2019

Measuring the mechanical properties of 2D materials is a formidable task. While regular electrical and optical probing techniques are suitable even for atomically thin materials, conventional mechanical tests cannot be directly applied. Therefore, new mechanical testing techniques need to be developed. Up to now, the most widespread approaches require micro‐fabrication to create freely suspended membranes, rendering their implementation complex and costly. Here, a simple yet powerful technique is revisited to measure the mechanical properties of thin films. The buckling metrology method, that does not require the fabrication of freely suspended structures, is used to determine the Young's modulus of several transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2) with thicknesses ranging from 2 to 10 layers. The obtained values for the Young's modulus and their uncertainty are critically compared with previously published results, finding that this simple technique provides results which are in good agreement with those reported using other highly sophisticated testing methods. By comparing the cost, complexity, and time required for the different methods reported in the literature, the buckling metrology method presents certain advantages that make it an interesting mechanical test tool for 2D materials.
Record‐High Superconductivity in Niobium–Titanium Alloy
Authors: Guo Jing , Lin Gongchang , Cai Shu , Xi Chuanying , Zhang Changjin , Sun Wanshuo , Wang Qiuliang , Yang Ke , Li Aiguo , Wu Qi , Zhang Yuheng , Xiang Tao , Cava Robert Joseph , Sun Liling
Published: January 2019

The extraordinary superconductivity has been observed in a pressurized commercial niobium–titanium alloy. Its zero‐resistance superconductivity persists from ambient pressure to the pressure as high as 261.7 GPa, a record‐high pressure up to which a known superconducting state can continuously survive. Remarkably, at such an ultra‐high pressure, although the ambient pressure volume is shrunk by 45% without structural phase transition, the superconducting transition temperature (TC) increases to ≈19.1 K from ≈9.6 K, and the critical magnetic field (HC2) at 1.8 K has been enhanced to 19 T from 15.4 T. These results set new records for both the TC and the HC2 among all the known alloy superconductors composed of only transition metal elements. The remarkable high‐pressure superconducting properties observed in the niobium–titanium alloy not only expand the knowledge on this important commercial superconductor but also are helpful for a better understanding on the superconducting mechanism.
Broncho‐Vaxom® (OM‐85 BV) soluble components stimulate sinonasal innate immunity
Authors: Triantafillou Vasiliki , Workman Alan D. , Patel Neil N. , Maina Ivy W. , Tong Charles C. L. , Kuan Edward C. , Kennedy David W. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D. , Waizel‐Haiat Salomon , Cohen Noam A.
Published: January 2019

Background

Broncho‐Vaxom® (OM‐85 BV) is an extract of infectious respiratory bacteria that is used as an immunostimulant outside of the United States for the prevention and treatment of bronchitis and rhinosinusitis. Prior studies have shown that use of OM‐85 BV is associated with reduction in frequency of respiratory infection and decreased duration of antibiotic usage. However, the effects of OM‐85 BV on respiratory mucosal innate immunity are unknown.

Methods

Human sinonasal epithelial cells were grown at an air‐liquid interface (ALI). Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and nitric oxide (NO) production in response to stimulation with OM‐85 BV was measured in vitro. Pharmacologic inhibitors of bitter taste receptor (T2R) signaling were used to determine if this pathway was taste‐receptor–mediated.

Results

Apical application of OM‐85 BV resulted in an NO‐mediated increase in CBF (p < 0.05) and increased NO production (p < 0.0001) when compared to saline‐stimulated control cultures. ALI pretreatment with taste receptor pathway inhibitors blocked OM‐85 BV–induced increases in NO.

Conclusion

OM‐85 BV has ciliostimulatory and immunogenic properties that may be partially responsible for its observed efficacy as a respiratory therapeutic. These responses were NO‐dependent and consistent with T2R activation. Further work is necessary to elucidate specific component‐receptor signaling relationships.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Intermolecular [2+2] Cycloaddition between Alkynes and Allenes
Authors: Ding Wei , Yoshikai Naohiko
Published: January 2019

An intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between an alkyne and an allene is reported. In the presence of a cobalt(I)/diphosphine catalyst, a near equimolar mixture of the alkyne and allene is converted into a 3‐alkylidenecyclobutene derivative in good yield with high regioselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of internal alkynes and mono‐ or disubstituted allenes bearing various functional groups. The reaction is proposed to involve regioselective oxidative cyclization of the alkyne and allene to form a 4‐alkylidenecobaltacyclopentene intermediate, with subsequent C−C reductive elimination.