bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXPLORING PASSIVE INNOVATION RESISTANCE — AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF PREDICTORS AND CONSEQUENCES AT THE COGNITIVE AND SITUATIONAL LEVEL
Authors: KOCH JULIAN , KRAEMER TOBIAS , HEIDENREICH SVEN
Published: April 2020

Developing and marketing innovations is a major challenge for organisations. Thus, a large body of research has analysed factors influencing innovation adoption and identified passive innovation resistance (PIR) as a crucial inhibitor. However, extant studies failed to examine whether predictors and consequences vary for the two different types of PIR — cognitive and situational PIR. This research strives to address this gap by analysing data of 238 consumers using PLS structural equation modelling. With respect to predictors, corresponding results show that cognitive PIR is strongly enhanced by neuroticism and increases with age, while it is reduced by openness to experience. Situational PIR is reduced by openness to experience and is lower among men. The results also highlight that cognitive and situational PIR substantially differ with respect to consequences. Cognitive PIR represents a strong inhibitor for behavioural innovations, whereas situational PIR is a strong inhibitor of functional innovations.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Fertility: No Impact on Ovarian Reserve in Premenopausal Women
Authors: Savino Sciascia , Massimo Radin , Elisa Menegatti , Alice Barinotti , Federica Sini , Irene Cecchi , Elena Rubini , Silvia Foddai , Dario Roccatello
Published: April 2020

Objective: To investigate possible differences in levels of ovarian reserve between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) asymptomatic carriers and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients, by measuring the levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH).

Methods: We enrolled 69 premenopausal women divided in 2 groups: a) patients with APS, either primary (PAPS) or secondary (SAPS), according to the Sydney classification criteria; b) asymptomatic aPL carriers. Aged-matched premenopausal healthy donors (HDs) were also recruited. Complete aPL testing was performed and AMH levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Among the 69 patients included in the study, 22 were diagnosed with PAPS, 13 with SAPS, and 14 patients were asymptomatic aPL carriers. No differences in AMH levels were observed among the three groups [mean AMH: PAPS 3.09 ng/ml ± 1.9 (range 1.02 − 7.1); SAPS 3.1 ng/ml ± 2.2 (range 1.1 − 7.6); aPL carriers 2.2 ng/ml ± 5.4 (range 1 − 6.3)] and between patients/aPL carriers and HDs [mean AMH 2.82 ng/ml ± 2.9 (range 1 − 6.9)]. Any correlation between the global APS score (GAPSS) and AMH levels failed to be found (rho = 0.31; p = 0.073).

Conclusion: With the limitations of the current study, as observed in women with APS, we confirm that ovarian reserve, assessed with AMH levels, is not reduced in premenopausal women with isolated aPL positivity. Moreover, when granulating the aPL profile in terms of risk assessment, using the GAPSS, no impact on fertility was observed.
A Generic Framework for Engineering Graph Canonization Algorithms
Authors: Andersen Jakob L. , Merkle Daniel
Published: April 2020

The state-of-the-art tools for practical graph canonization are all based on the individualization-refinement paradigm, and their difference is primarily in the choice of heuristics they include and in the actual tool implementation. It is thus not possible to make a direct comparison of how individual algorithmic ideas affect the performance on different graph classes.

We present an algorithmic software framework that facilitates implementation of heuristics as independent extensions to a common core algorithm. It therefore becomes easy to perform a detailed comparison of the performance and behavior of different algorithmic ideas. Implementations are provided of a range of algorithms for tree traversal, target cell selection, and node invariant, including choices from the literature and new variations. The framework readily supports extraction and visualization of detailed data from separate algorithm executions for subsequent analysis and development of new heuristics.

Using collections of different graph classes, we investigate the effect of varying the selections of heuristics, often revealing exactly which individual algorithmic choice is responsible for particularly good or bad performance. On several benchmark collections, including a newly proposed class of difficult instances, we additionally find that our implementation performs better than the current state-of-the-art tools.
Continuous Detection of Physiological Stress with Commodity Hardware
Authors: Mishra Varun , Pope Gunnar , Lord Sarah , Lewia Stephanie , Lowens Byron , Caine Kelly , Sen Sougata , Halter Ryan , Kotz David
Published: April 2020

Timely detection of an individual’s stress level has the potential to improve stress management, thereby reducing the risk of adverse health consequences that may arise due to mismanagement of stress. Recent advances in wearable sensing have resulted in multiple approaches to detect and monitor stress with varying levels of accuracy. The most accurate methods, however, rely on clinical-grade sensors to measure physiological signals; they are often bulky, custom made, and expensive, hence limiting their adoption by researchers and the general public. In this article, we explore the viability of commercially available off-the-shelf sensors for stress monitoring. The idea is to be able to use cheap, nonclinical sensors to capture physiological signals and make inferences about the wearer’s stress level based on that data. We describe a system involving a popular off-the-shelf heart rate monitor, the Polar H7; we evaluated our system with 26 participants in both a controlled lab setting with three well-validated stress-inducing stimuli and in free-living field conditions. Our analysis shows that using the off-the-shelf sensor alone, we were able to detect stressful events with an
F
1-score of up to 0.87 in the lab and 0.66 in the field, on par with clinical-grade sensors.
Native Language Identification of Fluent and Advanced Non-Native Writers
Authors: Sarwar Raheem , Rutherford Attapol T. , Hassan Saeed-Ul , Rakthanmanon Thanawin , Nutanong Sarana
Published: April 2020

Native Language Identification
(NLI) aims at identifying the
native
languages of authors by analyzing their text samples written in a
non-native
language. Most existing studies investigate this task for educational applications such as
second language acquisition
and require the learner corpora. This article performs NLI in a challenging context of the
user-generated-content
(UGC) where authors are fluent and advanced non-native speakers of a second language. Existing NLI studies with UGC (i) rely on the content-specific/social-network features and may not be generalizable to other domains and datasets, (ii) are unable to capture the variations of the language-usage-patterns within a text sample, and (iii) are not associated with any outlier handling mechanism. Moreover, since there is a sizable number of people who have acquired non-English second languages due to the economic and immigration policies, there is a need to gauge the applicability of NLI with UGC to other languages. Unlike existing solutions, we define a topic-independent feature space, which makes our solution generalizable to other domains and datasets. Based on our feature space, we present a solution that mitigates the effect of outliers in the data and helps capture the variations of the language-usage-patterns within a text sample. Specifically, we represent each text sample as a
point set
and identify the top-
k
stylistically similar text samples (SSTs) from the corpus. We then apply the

probabilistic
k
nearest neighbors’

classifier on the identified top-
k
SSTs to predict the native languages of the authors. To conduct experiments, we create three new corpora where each corpus is written in a different language, namely,
English, French
, and
German
. Our experimental studies show that our solution outperforms competitive methods and reports more than 80% accuracy across languages.
Determination of the Level of Selected Elements in Canned Meat and Fish and Risk Assessment for Consumer Health
Authors: Kowalska Grażyna , Pankiewicz Urszula , Kowalski Radosław
Published: April 2020

The objective of the study was to determine the content of cobalt, silver, tin, antimony, lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel, and uranium in canned meat and canned fish by means of ICP-MS apparatus and mercury analyzer. Also, probabilistic risk assessment (non carcinogenic) was estimated by models including target hazard quotient (THQ). It was found that Mn was the element with the highest concentration in the analyzed products, with average concentration of 0.216 mg·kg−1 in canned meat and 1.196 mg·kg−1 in canned fish. The average contents of other elements were as follows (respectively, for canned meat and fish): Co 0.018 and 0.028 mg·kg−1, Ag 0.0386 and 0.0053 mg·kg−1, Sn 0.059 and 0.200 mg·kg−1, Sb 0.0268 and 0.0377 mg·kg−1, Pb 0.202 and 0.068 mg·kg−1, Hg 0.00003 and 0.02676 mg·kg−1, Cd 0.00496 and 0.0202 mg·kg−1, As 0.002 and 0.857 mg·kg−1, V 0.0003 and 0.095 mg·kg−1, Cr 0.244 and 0.590 mg·kg−1, Mn 0.216 and 1.196 mg·kg−1, Ni 0.004 and 0.088 mg·kg−1, and U < LOQ and 0.047 mg·kg−1. The concentration of As was the highest among other toxic elements in canned fish; therefore, the THQ value of this element revealed the highest level amounting up to 0.77576 (THQmax).
Injection Site Erythema in a Patient on Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Low Molecular Weight Heparin after Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Rare Presentation of Heparin- and Protamine-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Holaubek Caroline , Simon Paul , Eichinger-Hasenauer Sabine , Gremmel Franz , Steinlechner Barbara
Published: April 2020

Previous exposition to heparin and protamine in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative therapeutic anticoagulation with LMWH may lead to the development of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and/or protamine-induced thrombocytopenia (PIT). This case deals with a rare clinical presentation of circulating IgG antibodies against heparin/platelet factor 4 complexes and heparin/protamine complexes after cardiac surgery. Ensuing purpura and skin necrosis (blisters) at the injection sites of LMWH and clinical symptoms improved rapidly after replacement of LMWH by an alternative anticoagulant. The aim of this report is to draw attention to the several different clinical manifestations of heparin- and/or protamine-induced thrombocytopenia and shows a possible course of treatment and recovery.
The Diffusive Model for West Nile Virus on a Periodically Evolving Domain
Authors: Tarboush Abdelrazig K. , Zhang Zhengdi
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we investigate the impact of a periodically evolving domain on the dynamics of the diffusive West Nile virus. A reaction-diffusion model on a periodically and isotropically evolving domain which describes the transmission of the West Nile virus is proposed. In addition to the classical basic reproduction number, the spatial-temporal basic reproduction number depending on the periodic evolution rate is introduced and its properties are discussed. Under some conditions, we explore the long-time behavior of the virus. The virus will go extinct if the spatial-temporal basic reproduction number is less than or equal to one. The persistence of the virus happens if the spatial-temporal basic reproduction number is greater than one. We consider special case when the periodic evolution rate is equivalent to one to better understand the impact of the periodic evolution rate on the persistence or extinction of the virus. Some numerical simulations are performed in order to illustrate our analytical results. Our theoretical analysis and numerical simulations show that the periodic change of the habitat range plays an important role in the West Nile virus transmission, in particular, the increase of periodic evolution rate has positive effect on the spread of the virus.
Supplementation of L‐Arginine, L‐Glutamine, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, and Green Tea Extract Enhances Serum Nitric Oxide Content and Antifatigue Activity in Mice
Authors: Chen Yi-Ming , Li Huashuai , Chiu Yen-Shuo , Huang Chi-Chang , Chen Wen-Chyuan
Published: April 2020

It has been reported that abundant nitric oxide content in endothelial cells can increase exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of a combined extract comprising L‐arginine, L‐glutamine, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and green tea extract (LVFG) on nitric oxide content to decrease exercise fatigue. Male ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and orally administered LVFG for 4 weeks. The 4‐week LVFG supplementation significantly increased serum nitric oxide content in the LVFG‐1X and LVFG‐2X groups. Antifatigue activity and exercise performance were evaluated using forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming test, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK) after an acute swimming exercise. LVFG supplementation dose‐dependently improved exercise performance and nitric oxide content, and it dose‐dependently decreased serum ammonia and CK activity after exhaustive swimming test. LVFG’s antifatigue properties appear to manifest by preserving energy storage (as blood glucose) and increasing nitric oxide content. Taken together, our results show that LVFG could have the potential for alleviating physical fatigue due to its pharmacological effect of increasing serum nitric oxide content.
Anesthetic Management for Cesarean Delivery in a Patient with a Gigantic Intracranial Tumor
Authors: dos Santos e Santos C. , Mason C. L. , Neill J. S. , Grayson B. E. , Calimaran A. , Bacon D. R.
Published: April 2020

A 31-year-old G5P1 patient with unremarkable past medical history at 29 weeks of gestation was diagnosed with a gigantic left frontotemporal brain mass. Initial clinical management as an inpatient achieved an improvement in the symptoms. The patient and surgical team agreed to schedule a cesarean delivery at 32 weeks of gestation if no neurological deterioration was observed. Intraoperative course with general endotracheal anesthesia and bilateral transversus abdominis plane block was uneventful and promoted efficient postoperative pain control. Seven days after delivery, the patient underwent craniotomy for brain tumor resection. This report describes the anesthetic management of a patient with an intracranial tumor during pregnancy.
Economic feasibility of a complete diet industrial production project for horses
Authors: Feltre Kátia , Gameiro Augusto Hauber , Gobesso Alexandre Augusto De Oliveira
Published: April 2020

This study evaluated the economic viability of industrial production of complete diets for equine species, using threesources of fiber (dehydrated whole corn plant, dehydrated elephant grass, or Tifton 85 hay) submitted to two typesof thermal processing (pelleting or extrusion). A survey and elaboration of costs from the agricultural production ofroughage to the commercialization of the final product was conducted. Three scenarios were compared: S1 – basalprice of complete diet (ingredients supplied together, but purchased separately); S2 – price of S1 plus 10%; S3 – priceof S1 plus 20%. Profitability indicators applied were internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV). Simplepayback was used to verify return on investment time. Sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the items thatmost influence the economic results. Simple payback ranged from one to six years. The highest values of IRR (>100%per year) and NPV were obtained for the extruded diets in scenario 3. Only the pelletized diet containing Tifton 85 hayin scenario 1 was not economically feasible, presenting negative IRR. The inputs make up the item with the greatestburden on the production process (mean 89%). Except for pelletized diet containing Tifton 85 hay in scenario 1, theother projects present IRR above the minimum attractiveness rate (MAR) and were considered economically feasible.
Lenisaphelenchus ulomae n. gen., n. sp. (Rhabditida: Aphelenchoididae) isolated from the body cavity of Uloma marseuli Nakane (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Japan
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Hamaguchi Keiko
Published: April 2020

A new aphelenchoidid entomoparasitic nematode was isolated from the body cavity of overwintering individuals of a tenebrionid beetle, Uloma marseuli, collected at Shiga, Japan. The nematode is characterised by its six equal-sized lips forming a dome shape continuous with body contour. It has a moderately thick stylet, with wide lumen, a long two-part long (conus + conophore) and elongate oval or pear-shaped metacorpus with glandular anterior part. The male spicules are separate with a well-developed condylus, triangular rostrum and smoothly and strongly curved calomus-lamina complex. A gubernaculum or apophysis is absent. There are two pairs of papilliform male genital papillae. Females lack a post-vulval uterine sac, have a seemingly vestigial rectum and anus, and conical tail. The combination of the typological characters of the species does not fit any currently accepted aphelenchoidid genus and is somewhat intermediate between the Ektaphelenchinae and Entaphelenchinae. The molecular phylogenetic analysis also suggested that the nematode is close to both Ektaphelenchoides (Ektaphelenchinae) and Peraphelenchus (Entaphelenchinae). Thus, the nematode is described and illustrated as Lenisaphelenchus ulomae n. gen., n. sp. and tentatively placed in the Ektaphelenchinae.
Politics of Paratextuality: The Glossary between Translation and the Translational
Authors: Ayoub Dima
Published: April 2020

This article considers the role of the glossary and related paratextual forms, such as introductions and notes, against the backdrop of an expanding corpus of translated Arabic fiction and fiction written in English by Arab authors, arguing that these paratextual elements have become mainstays of the translation industry. Through an analysis of the glossary in particular, this article considers how paratexts disrupt the impasse between translatability and untranslatability. It further examines the glossary beyond its functionality, even utility as a taxonomomical force, and argues that paratexts are a technology wielded by a complex mediating network that produces literary effects and further, a technology that functions in process alongside translation.
Situating Rifāʿah al-Ṭahṭāwī within an Islamicate Context
Authors: Lawandow Atoor
Published: April 2020

In this article, I read Rifāʿah al-Ṭahṭāwī (1801-1873) in an Islamicate, Ottoman context by comparing him to eighteenth and nineteenth-century authors who engaged Ibn Khaldūn’s ideas as transmitted by his Ottoman interpreters. Reading al-Ṭahṭāwī in light of Ibn Khaldūn’s political theories from the Muqaddimah, reveals that al-Ṭahṭāwī’s work constitutes a continuation of eighteenth-century intellectual history, as it shares the same conception of state, geography, and civilizational history found in Ottoman, Mughal, and Mamluk texts. Thus, taking into consideration his Ottoman context is important for helping us understand the intellectual development of Nahḍah authors, like al-Ṭahṭāwī.
Egyptian Movement Poetry
Authors: Colla Elliott
Published: April 2020

Poetry has long had a central place in the repertoires of modern Egyptian protest movements, but just as social science accounts of these movements downplay the role of expressive arts (such as poetry), literary studies of colloquial Egyptian poetry have downplayed the performative dynamic of this poetry, as well as its role within social movements. This essay develops the concept of “movement poetry” within the Egyptian social movements, with a special focus on the protest cycle of 1968-1977. In so doing, it discusses the work of Abdel Rahman el-Abnoudi (ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Abnūdī), Ahmed Fouad Negm (Aḥmad Fuʾād Nijm), Samīr ʿAbd al-Bāqī, and others, and considers the conventions and repertoires that extend to Egyptian activists in the present.
The Abdominal Sides as Containers: Some Indo-Aryan and Iranian Denominations
Authors: Filippone Ela
Published: April 2020

On the meaning of Ved. (dual) kukṣí, a denomination for pair body parts frequently equated to bodies of water in Vedic texts, different assumptions have been made by scholars. In particular, Stephanie Jamison suggested interpreting it as “the two cheeks”, Henk Bodewitz as “the two sides of the body”. The present paper supports Bodewitz’ claim that Ved. kukṣí- was used to refer to any of the sides of the abdomen. In fact, abdominal sides may be categorised as containers of liquids. This is also proved by the denominations for the abdominal side (as distinct from the thoracic side) recorded in some Iranian languages, which may be considered as part of the legacy of the ancient theory of humours and the microcosm-macrocosm theory.
The Story of a Lost Book: Two Recent Studies on the Khwadāynāmag
Authors: Bitsch Sebastian
Published: April 2020

The Arabic historiographical tradition is considered to be one of the most important textual sources for the reconstruction of Sāsānian history. Historians such as al-Ṭabarī, al- Masʿūdī or al-Thaʿālibī explicitly claimed to have used older material of Persian origin. The basis of their accounts seem to have been translations, excerpts and adaptations of translations, which commonly are traced back to the Middle-Persian “Book of Kings”, the Khwadāynāmag. While it may be assumed a scientific consensus that there were in the late Sāsānian period books dealing with Iran’s history, the opaque character of this historical tradition has repeatedly given rise to scientific controversy over the question of whether there was one or several books bearing the title Khwadāynāmag, when the content was first written down, whether the tradition could be regarded as sound or not, which earlier sources finally became a part of the Khwadāynamag, etc. In the following, two inspiring recent contributions to the research on the Khwadāynāmag will be presented.
The Evaluation of Individual Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopic Techniques
Authors: Yoon Dokyung , Kang Sun-Jung , Choi Jae-Boong , Kim Young-Jin , Baik Seunghyun
Published: April 2020

We have investigated the degree of dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in solution using laser spectroscopic techniques. SWNTs were suspended in aqueous media using a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant. SWNTs with different dispersion states were prepared by controlling
the intensity and duration of sonication and centrifugation. The absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques were employed to characterize the different dispersion state of the prepared samples. Nanotube suspensions with better dispersion showed higher fluorescence and sharper absorption
peaks. The fluorescence data were characterized as a function of the nanotube chirality, and absorption peak shifts were analyzed depending on the first and second van Hove singularities (vHs) of semiconducting nanotubes.
Unique Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Metals
Authors: Tsuji Nobuhiro
Published: April 2020

Recently, it becomes possible to fabricate bulk metals having ultrafine grained or nanocrystalline structures of which grain size is in nano-meter dimensions. One of the promising ways to realize bulk nanostructured metals is severe plastic deformation (SPD) above logarithmic equivalent
strain of 4. We have developed an original SPD process, named Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB) using rolling deformation in principle, and have succeeded in fabricating bulk nanostructured sheets of various kinds of metals and alloys. The ARB process and the nanostructured metals fabricated
by the ARB are introduced in this paper. The nanostructured metals sometimes perform quite unique mechanical properties, that is rather surprising compared with conventionally coarse grained materials. The unique properties seem to be attributed to the characteristic structures of the nano-metals
full of grain boundaries.
Electrothermal Properties of Porous Ceramic Fiber Media Containing Carbon Materials
Authors: Park Sung , Kwon Young Pil , Kwon Hyuck Chon , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Lee Hae-Weon , Lee Jae Chun
Published: April 2020

Electrically regenerable porous ceramic fiber media containing nanoporous carbon from 2.5% to 19.2% have been prepared for adsorption/regeneration system. An experimental apparatus was built for in situ measurement of the sample weight during adsorption and electrothermal desorption
of gaseous adsorbates. Adsorption and electrothermal desorption behavior of gaseous adsorbates on carbon contained porous ceramic fiber media was explained by physical and electrothermal properties of these materials measured in this work. In situ thermal desorption and adsorption experiments
showthat a considerable amount of water vapor is adsorbed on the carbon contained media exposed to ambient air.
Silicon Subiodide Clusters
Authors: Dmytruk Andriy , Park Yeon-Su , Kasuya Atsuo , Kikuchi Hideki , Takahashi Masae , Kawazoe Yoshiyuki , Watanabe Akira
Published: April 2020

Silicon subiodide clusters (SinIm, n = 1–20) produced by laser ablation of bulk powder silicone tetraiodide have been investigated by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Both experimental results and theoretical
calculations revealed a tendency to form different structures of the clusters depending on n: chain, ring, and cage structures for n ≤ 6, 6 < n < 16, and n ≥ 16, respectively. The results showed that iodine, like hydrogen, can be used for stable silicon
cluster termination.
Bio-Inspired Cell Concentration and Deformability Monitoring Chips
Authors: Cho Young-Ho , Youn Sechan , Lee Dong Woo
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a couple of biofluidic devices, whose functions are inspired from biological cell concentration and deformability monitoring functions. The cell concentration monitoring chip is inspired from RBC control mechanism in kidney, performing cell concentration monitoring
functions. The cell deformability chip, inspired from selective RBC destruction mechanism in spleen, performs mechanical cell deformability monitoring functions. The structures and principles of the bio-inspired chips are presented and compared with those of the biological organs. The unique
features and performance characteristics of the bio-inspired chips are analyzed and verified from experimental study. The bio-inspired cell concentration monitoring chips perform flow-rate insensitive concentration measurement, while the bio-inspired cell deformability monitoring chips achieve
size-independent cell deformability measurement. Common advantages of the bio-inspired chips include simple structures, digital signals and high integrability, thus making them suitable for use in integrated digital biomedical systems.
Experimental investigation of the low-velocity impact response of sandwich plates with functionally graded core
Authors: Gunes Recep , Ozkes Ismail , Nair Fehmi , Kemal Apalak M
Published: April 2020

In this study, the mechanical behavior of sandwich plates with functionally graded core under low-velocity impact loads was investigated experimentally. Sandwich plate with functionally graded core has two different structures (metal–ceramic), and the upper and lower surfaces are pure metal (Al) and the internal layers of the plate are manufactured with gradually varying material composition through the plate thickness. The low-velocity impact tests were conducted on both upper and lower surfaces of specimens using CEAST low-velocity impact device, and the contact force–time and the energy–time graphs were plotted. Metallographic and micromechanical examinations were carried out on the specimens after impact tests. As a result of the metallographic and micromechanical examinations, the material composition variation through the specimen thickness was obtained in accordance with the rule of the theoretical mixture. As a result of impact tests (v = 4 m/s) on upper surface (ceramic-rich side), crack damages occurs on the plates with n = 10.0 material composition, whereas the specimens with n = 1.0 and n = 10.0 material compositions have crack damages after impact tests on its lower surfaces (metal-rich side). Impact force on the ceramic-rich upper surface provides to meet the transferred load waves through the plate thickness by metal-rich bottom surface. This situation makes the structure more resistant against damage. Moreover, the upper and lower surfaces of the functionally graded structure reinforced by ductile pure metal layers provide an important contribution to protection of functional integrity of the structure against damage.
Expertise and policy-making: Main actors, debates and outcomes in the making of the Portuguese railway network (1850–90)
Authors: Pereira Hugo S
Published: April 2020

In the second half of the nineteenth century, Portugal built the main branches of its railway system. In this paper, I will use technical and military reports, parliamentary debates and sundry bibliography to analyse the influence of the different stakeholders. I investigated the expectations, priorities and agendas of engineers, army officers, policymakers and lobbyists in the design of the Portuguese railway network. I argue that historiography about Portuguese railways usually considers the rationale behind their discussion as entirely technological and focuses mainly on their outputs, taking railways for granted, or black-boxed. However, the planification of large transportation systems depends on the sociotechnical context and on hierarchies of power of their time. I will show that experts (mostly engineers) played a decisive role in the planning of the network, but a large part of its design was due to non-technical issues, including political machinations, budgetary constraints and corporative lobbying.
Forensic investigation of arson residue by infrared and Raman spectroscopy: From conventional to non-destructive techniques
Authors: Yadav Vijay Kumar , Nigam Kriti , Srivastava Ankit
Published: April 2020

Arson can result in highly challenging and complicated crime scenes. Much physical evidence undergoes chemical degradation because of the destructive nature of fire, while accelerants either completely burn or evaporate, and may be present in traces within any of the decomposed materials. To identify the original material and the accelerant involved, it is necessary to use advanced analytical techniques. Gas chromatography, with different detectors, is one of the most frequently used instruments in fire debris and accelerant analysis. Among other instruments, capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced thermal desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry are two major contributors. Vibrational spectroscopy, including infrared absorption and Raman scattering, is one of the major non-destructive tools for the analysis of evidence because of its advantages over other spectroscopic techniques. Most studies involving vibrational spectroscopy (i.e. infrared and Raman spectroscopy) have focused on the identification of commonly found household materials, while very few studies have considered the identification of ignitable liquids. This article reviews studies based on an analysis of fire debris and accelerants by vibrational spectroscopic techniques and considers the limitations and future perspectives of arson investigations in forensic science.
Investigation of Socioeconomic Determinants on Child Death in South Asian Countries: A Panel Cointegration Analysis
Authors: Kousar Shazia , Shabbir Aiza , Shafqat Rukia
Published: April 2020

This article is aimed to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and child mortality in South Asia because the relationship between child mortality and socioeconomic factors cannot be overlooked for better progress. Panel data were obtained from (World Development Indicators) and (Human Development Index) for the period 1990–2017. The data were quantitative. Levin, Lin, and Chu and I’m, Pesaran, and Shin test were used to check the stationarity of data. A cointegration test was applied to check the long-run association. Granger causality test was used to determine the direction of the relationship. Fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares techniques were used to examine the long-run and short-run impact of socioeconomic determinants on child mortality. The findings from this study showed the significant impact of education, unemployment, and health expenditure, access to improved water and sanitation facilities, and income inequality on child mortality. Overall results showed that there is a negative association between education and child mortality, access to improved water and access to sanitation facilities and child mortality, and health expenditure and child mortality, but there is a positive association between unemployment and income inequality with child mortality. The rate of child mortality is still very alarming in South Asian countries.
Arguments Against Realism and the Transcendence of Science
Authors: Siegemund Axel
Published: April 2020

Realism is questioned from two sides, the philosophy of science and religion. First, the “underdetermination of theories by data” and the revision of the “miracle argument” make it necessary to revise scientific realism. Second, the claim that a realistic interpretation of belief contradicts its religious character questions the consistency of theological realism. Both discussions show that we have to further develop realism. I propose to consider truth, meaning, experience, and transcendence as creative characteristics of a realistic thought. They enable us to make and receive meaning for facts.
The Unsuitability of “Unsubstitutability” in Theological Anthropology
Authors: Farris Joshua R.
Published: April 2020

When we wait for a significant other, it is not as if we are waiting for someone who looks like her, talks like her, or even walks like her. Instead, what we want is her. And, the same goes for the afterlife: if there is an afterlife, we long to see our loved ones. Not those who look like our loved ones, who sound like them, or even smell like them, but we actually want them. In the study of human nature, this is, arguably, one of the modern insights on humanity. The question of the “particularity” of human beings matters. In technical philosophical studies, the question of “particularity” is a question of thisness (i.e., the fact that objects are countable as discrete in virtue of some property or feature that makes an object what it is). What makes one person this person rather than that person? By showing how the concept of thisness is important in modern and contemporary theology, I will argue for a specific view as that which accurately captures both the historical consensus and the modern emphasis of personhood.
Neurochemical underpinning of hemodynamic response to neuropsychiatric drugs: A meta- and cluster analysis of preclinical studies
Authors: Mervin Lewis H , Mitricheva Ekaterina , Logothetis Nikos K , Bifone Angelo , Bender Andreas , Noori Hamid R
Published: April 2020

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an extensively used method for the investigation of normal and pathological brain function. In particular, fMRI has been used to characterize spatiotemporal hemodynamic response to pharmacological challenges as a non-invasive readout of neuronal activity. However, the mechanisms underlying regional signal changes are yet unclear. In this study, we use a meta-analytic approach to converge data from microdialysis experiments with relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) changes following acute administration of neuropsychiatric drugs in adult male rats. At whole-brain level, the functional response patterns show very weak correlation with neurochemical alterations, while for numerous brain areas a strong positive correlation with noradrenaline release exists. At a local scale of individual brain regions, the rCBV response to neurotransmitters is anatomically heterogeneous and, importantly, based on a complex interplay of different neurotransmitters that often exert opposing effects, thus providing a mechanism for regulating and fine tuning hemodynamic responses in specific regions.
Perfusion-based functional magnetic resonance imaging for differentiating serous borderline ovarian tumors from early serous ovarian cancers in a rat model
Authors: Cai Song-Qi , Li Ying , Li Yong-Ai , Wang Li , Zhu Jian , Zhao Shu-Hui , Qiang Jin-Wei
Published: April 2020

Background

Differentiation of borderline tumors from early ovarian cancer has recently received increasing attention, since borderline tumors often affect young women of childbearing age who desire to preserve fertility. However, previous studies have demonstrated that non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences cannot sufficiently differentiate these tumors.

Purpose

To investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) in differentiating serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOT) from early serous ovarian cancers (eSOCA).

Material and Methods

Twenty SBOT and 20 eSOCA rat models were performed with DCE-MRI and IVIM-DWI at 3.0-T MR scanner. Qualitative and quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI were acquired and compared between two groups and correlated with the microvessel density (MVD). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to determine their differentiating performances.

Results

SBOTs presented significantly lower values of the initial area under the enhancement curve (iAUC), volume transfer constant (Ktrans), and extracellular extravascular volume fraction (ve) ( P <  0.05) and a significantly higher value of true diffusion (D) ( P =  0.001) compared with eSOCAs. The diagnostic effectiveness of ve combined with D was significantly better than that of ve or Ktrans alone ( P ≤  0.039).

Conclusion

DCE-MRI may represent a promising tool for differentiating SBOTs from eSOCAs and may not be replaced by IVIM-DWI. Combining DCE-MRI with DWI may improve the diagnostic performance of ovarian tumors.
Influence of Perceptual-Motor Calibration on the Perception of Geographical Slope
Authors: Linkenauger Sally A. , Rose Readman Megan
Published: April 2020

Individuals drastically overestimate geographic slant. Research has suggested this occurs as the amount of energy it would take to ascend the slope modulates the perceived steepness. Numerous studies have provided evidence that alterations in current physiological potential can influence perceptions of geographical slant. However, it is unclear whether these influences are solely due to one’s actual physiological state or whether anticipation of energy expenditure also influences perceived slope. To investigate this, we manipulated anticipated energy expenditure while maintaining actual physiological state by altering the coupling between optic flow and gait. Using virtual reality, we calibrated individuals to either large changes (low anticipated expenditure) or small changes (large anticipated expenditure) in optic flow when walking at the same speed. Following optic flow calibration, individuals estimated slopes of various degrees. The results obtained provide evidence that perceptions of geographical slant are influenced by anticipated energy expenditure.
Case report: Headache and neurological deficits with CSF lymphocytosis (HaNDL) associated with P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies (CACNA1A)
Authors: Adib-Samii Poneh , Little Simon , Vincent Angela , Nirmalananthan Niranjanan
Published: April 2020

Background

Headache and Neurological Deficits with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Lymphocytosis (HaNDL) is an increasingly recognised syndrome but the aetiology remains unclear. HaNDL has striking clinical features similar to Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM), commonly related to gene mutations encoding the P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC).

Case report

We report a case of HaNDL associated with high P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies. Extensive investigations excluded alternative diagnoses and CSF lymphocytosis resolved within 3 months. The case was complicated by raised intracranial pressure resulting in an enlarged blind spot, papilloedema and bilateral lateral rectus palsies.

Conclusion

This novel association of P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies with HaNDL has implications for the pathology of HaNDL and spectrum of voltage-gated calcium channel-antibody disorders. We compare the clinical features of FHM and HaNDL and the potential pathological role of these antibodies. This case also highlights that raised intracranial pressure is a common feature of HaNDL, rarely resulting in serious complications.
Polydopamine-doped virus-like mesoporous silica coated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for chemo-photothermal synergetic therapy
Authors: Liao Jieying , Zhang Huicong , Wang Xuandong
Published: April 2020

Multifunctional nanocarriers have been widely accepted and utilized for biomedical applications, because of their structural regularity, convenient post-modification and controllable structure and morphology. Herein, we reported polydopamine-doped virus-like mesoporous silica coated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO@PVMSNs) nanocomposites by a facile oil–water biphase stratification method. The synthesized rGO@PVMSNs nanocomposites performed excellent biocompatibility and photothermal performance. They could be employed as photoacoustic imaging contrast in vivo. Furthermore, the rGO@PVMSNs nanocarriers were used for loading the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX), the rGO@PVMSNs@DOX nanocomposites were also demonstrated to be with high inhibition of HepG2 cancer cells, especially with the help of near-infrared irradiation, which were more efficient than single chemotherapy or photothermal therapy. The rGO@PVMSNs@DOX nanocomposites of this work could be used as photoacoustic imaging and chemo-photothermal synergetic therapy agents, which show a new perspective for clinical tumor diagnosis and therapy.
Effects of circular trailing edge with the dimple on flow separation of NACA S1210 hydrofoil
Authors: Kundu Parikshit
Published: April 2020

Flow separation over a hydrofoil affects its hydrodynamic performance and ultimately reduces the power production of a turbine. Therefore, the different flow control methods have been proposed by the researchers to overcome these challenges. In this study, the combined effects of circular trailing edge with dimple have been investigated numerically on NACA S1210 hydrofoil to control the flow separation of the hydrofoil. The results showed that the coupled effects of the dimple and circular trailing edge modification appeared effective compared to baseline hydrofoil at a wide range of angles of attack. Maximum lift coefficient increments are 9 and 12% at an angle of attack of 10° and 12°, respectively, for circular trailing edge hydrofoil. The maximum increase of glide ratio for the coupled effect (circular trailing edge with outward dimple) is approximately 114% at an angle of attack of 12°. The outcome will be advantageous to design a proper blade profile for horizontal axis current turbines.
An analytical approach to evaluate the maximum load carrying capacity for pin-mounted telescopic hydraulic cylinder
Authors: Prakash Jatin , Gupta Sumit Kumar , Kankar PK
Published: April 2020

The hydraulic cylinder is an actuating mechanical maneuver used to transfer the power from one station to another. For industrial purposes, various types of cylinders are employed as per the requirement. Telescopic hydraulic cylinder, also known as the two-stage hydraulic cylinder is one of the widely used hydraulic cylinders in the industry. The closed center length of a telescopic cylinder is 20% to 40% of the open center length depending on the number of stages. The safe operation of such telescopic hydraulic cylinder is highly essential. One of the prominent failures includes the buckling failure of the hydraulic cylinder. Once the system fails, the operating parameters change abruptly and thus the proper working gets affected. In literature, there is no significant standard that governs the buckling load determination of two-stage hydraulic cylinder. Existing technical standard ISO/TS 13725 : 2016 approach is only prescribed for the single-stage cylinder. In this manuscript, the emphasis is kept upon the determination of the buckling load for the two-stage pin-mounted telescopic hydraulic cylinder. The buckling governing equation has been derived to obtain the buckling load using an analytical approach. Additionally, the stress condition of cylinder barrels of different stages has been discussed per thick cylinder theory. The finite element analysis has been performed for various dimensions of the hydraulic cylinder. The results obtained from analytical results show close vicinity with the finite element results.
Global antiphospholipid syndrome score and anti-ß2-glycoprotein I domain I for thrombotic risk stratification in antiphospholipid syndrome: A four-year prospective study
Authors: Nascimento Iana Sousa , Radin Massimo , Gândara Ana Paula Rossi , Sciascia Savino , de Andrade Danieli Castro Oliveira
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study aimed to assess prospectively the role of anti-ß2-glycoprotein I domain I antibody (aß2GPI-DI) and the Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score (GAPSS) in identifying antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients at higher risk of a new event.

Methods

Thrombotic APS patients were followed from May 2013 to July 2017. At baseline, we measured lupus anticoagulant, IgG/IgM anticardiolipin, anti-ß2-glycoprotein I, antiphosphatidylserine-prothrombin (aPS/PT) and IgG aß2GPI-DI, and calculated GAPSS for each patient.

Results

A total of 44 patients (age 43 ± 10 years, 89% female, 73% primary APS) were followed for 39 months (range 9–46 months). Four new thromboses occurred, two of them after vitamin K antagonist interruption. Recurrent patients presented higher GAPSS (median 20) and were triple and aß2GPI-DI positive; non-recurrent patients had lower GAPSS (median 10.5, range 0–20) and lower ratio of triple (33%) and aß2GPI-DI positivities (38%). aß2GPI-DI was associated with higher GAPSS (median 19 vs. 7, p < 0.001; Pearson correlation 0.82, p < 0.001) and had a greater proportion of triple (83% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and aPS/PT positivity (94% vs. 50%, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Our data show a significant correlation between a validated risk score such as GAPSS and the novel antiphospholipid antibody aß2GPI-DI. Future studies are needed. However, one could speculate a role of aß2GPI-DI as a risk-stratifying tool for thrombotic events in APS.