bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intestinal occlusion by gynecological cancers treated by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and lanreotide: an Aviano National Cancer Institute experience
Authors: Budel Martina , Martella Luca , Zambon Laura , Morson Isabella , Giorda Giorgio , Cannizzaro Renato 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe Commentary reports on our experience in Centro di Riferimento Oncologico IRCCS Aviano about the integrated and combined treatment with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and lanreotide in patients with bowel obstructions by ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis. We treated patients with gynecological cancers and bowel obstruction with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and, when patients were partially responsive, with lanreotide. We registered a constant overall benefit for the quality of life and for the control of symptoms, which is very important especially during the home care follow-up of terminal patients.
An experimental investigation into the salt-weathering susceptibility of building limestones
Authors: Scrivano Simona , Gaggero Laura 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDimension and ornamental stones used for built heritage are frequently affected, under all climates, by intense weathering induced by the transport of saline solutions. Accordingly, researchers addressed the weathering mechanisms induced by salts (primarily Na2SO4), the stresses generated in the host material, and the durability of ornamental and dimension stones.This study investigates the behaviour of four sedimentary lithotypes, differing in texture and structure (Breccia Aurora, Rosso Verona, and fine- and coarse-grained Vicenza Stone) exposed to a selection of saline solutions, aiming at evaluating their susceptibility to weathering and the influence of petrographic features on durability. The chosen Na2SO4, MgSO4, Na2CO3, NaCl, and KNO3 solutions include the anions characterizing the major saline sources affecting built heritage: capillary rise, acid rain, atmospheric particulate deposition, bird or other animal scat, and de-icing salt contamination.The petrophysical properties of unweathered and salt-weathered samples were characterized by relative mass variation estimation, capillary rise, and hygroscopic absorption-based porosimetry. Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with microprobe allowed studying the morphological changes triggered by weathering and analysing the chemical composition of the efflorescence crust.The whole of data, consistently with literature, allowed inferring pore type and distribution as the main intrinsic parameters controlling salt weathering susceptibility. Moreover, Na2SO4 and Na2CO3 proved to be the most harmful, probably due to their ability to crystallize in different hydration stages at room temperature. The comparative analysis of the induced weathering can help to choose suitable dimension stones for new buildings or restoration replacements.
Perspective on experimental evaluation of adsorption energies at solid/liquid interfaces
Authors: Zeradjanin Aleksandar R. , Spanos Ioannis , Masa Justus , Rohwerder Michael , Schlögl Robert 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAlmost 15 years ago, first papers appeared, in which the density functional theory (DFT) was used to predict activity trends of electrocatalytic reactions. That was a major contribution of computational chemistry in building the theory of electrocatalysis. The possibility of computational electrocatalyst design had a massive impact on the way of thinking in modern electrocatalysis. At the same time, substantial criticism towards popular DFT models was developed during the years, due to the oversimplified view on electrified interfaces. Having this in mind, this work proposes an experimental methodology for quantitative description of adsorption energies at solid/liquid interfaces based on the Kelvin probe technique. The introduced approach already gives valuable trends in adsorption energies while in the future should evolve into an additional source of robust values that could complement existing DFT results. The pillars of the new methodology are established and verified experimentally with very promising initial results.
How are rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases used in clinical practice: a global survey by the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC)
Authors: Poole Stephen , Townsend Jennifer , Wertheim Heiman , Kidd Stephen P. , Welte Tobias , Schuetz Philipp , Luyt Charles-Edouard , Beishuizen Albertus , Jensen Jens-Ulrik Stæhr , del Castillo Juan González , Plebani Mario , Saeed Kordo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractNovel rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) offer huge potential to optimise clinical care and improve patient outcomes. In this study, we aim to assess the current patterns of use around the world, identify issues for successful implementation and suggest best practice advice on how to introduce new tests. An electronic survey was devised by the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) Rapid Diagnostics and Biomarkers working group focussing on the availability, structure and impact of RDTs around the world. It was circulated to ISAC members in December 2019. Results were collated according to the UN human development index (HDI). 81 responses were gathered from 31 different countries. 84% of institutions reported the availability of any test 24/7. In more developed countries, this was more for respiratory viruses, whereas in high and medium/low developed countries, it was for HIV and viral hepatitis. Only 37% of those carrying out rapid tests measured the impact. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ solution to RDTs: the requirements must be tailored to the healthcare setting in which they are deployed and there are many factors that should be considered prior to this.
Political leadership and the quality of public goods and services: Does religion matter?
Authors: Prinz Aloys L. , Sander Christian J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDespite some indications to the contrary, religion still plays an important role in contemporary society. In this paper, the association between religion and the quality of public goods and services, measured by the so-called “delivery quality” index of the Worldwide Governance Indicators project, is empirically investigated. Besides religion, different political regimes may also have a crucial impact on the quality of public goods and services. In the paper, a distinction is made between theocratic, autocratic and democratic systems. It is hypothesized that the delivery quality is lower in theocratic and autocratic regimes than in democracies. In addition, religious diversity may enhance the quality of public goods and services in otherwise autocratic and democratic regimes. The level of religious goods and services provision should be lower in religiously diverse societies, because the costs of these goods are higher due to a lack of economies of scale. This may leave more potential for the provision of high-quality public goods and services by the state. These hypotheses are tested empirically with data from 190 countries. The empirical estimates confirm that both theocratic and autocratic regimes provide lower average delivery quality than democracies. Furthermore, a positive association of religious leadership with delivery quality is found in strict autocracies. Greater religious diversity is thus linked to a better quality of pubic goods and services in democracies, but not in autocracies.
Non-excisional laser therapies for hemorrhoidal disease: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Longchamp Gregoire , Liot Emilie , Meyer Jeremy , Toso Christian , Buchs Nicolas C. , Ris Frederic 
Published: September 2020

AbstractNon-excisional laser therapies are emerging treatment for grades II and III hemorrhoidal disease (HD). However, so far, their efficiency is based on low-level evidence. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the efficiency of non-excisional laser therapies for HD. MEDLINE/Pubmed, Web of science, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from database implementation until the April 17th, 2020. We included studies reporting at least one of surgical indicators of postoperative outcomes of laser therapies, encompassing laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LH) and hemorrhoidal laser procedure (HeLP). Fourteen studies describing LH and HeLP were included, representing 1570 patients. The main intraoperative complication was bleeding (0–1.9% of pooled patients for LH, 5.5–16.7% of pooled patients for HeLP). Postoperative complications occurred in up to 64% of patients after LH and 23.3% after HeLP. Resolution of symptoms ranged between 70 and 100% after LH and between 83.6 and 90% after HeLP. Moreover, four randomized controlled trials included in our review reported similar resolution after LH compared with hemorrhoidectomy or mucopexy and after HeLP compared with rubber band ligation. Recurrence rate was reported to range between 0 and 11.3% after LH and between 5 and 9.4% after HeLP. When compared with hemorrhoidectomy, LH showed conflicting results with one randomized controlled trial reporting similar recurrence rate, but another reporting decreased recurrences associated with hemorrhoidectomy. Laser therapies showed lower postoperative pain than hemorrhoidectomy or rubber band ligation. LH and HeLP are safe and effective techniques for the treatment of grades II and III HD.
Numerical Study of Quenching Distances for Side-Wall Quenching Using Detailed Diffusion and Chemistry
Authors: Zirwes Thorsten , Häber Thomas , Zhang Feichi , Kosaka Hidemasa , Dreizler Andreas , Steinhausen Matthias , Hasse Christian , Stagni Alessandro , Trimis Dimosthenis , Suntz Rainer , Bockhorn Henning 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe numerical investigation of quenching distances in laminar flows is mainly concerned with two setups: head-on quenching (HOQ) and side-wall quenching (SWQ). While most of the numerical work has been conducted for HOQ with good agreement between simulation and experiment, far less analysis has been done for SWQ. Most of the SWQ simulations used simplified diffusion models or reduced chemistry and achieved reasonable agreement with experiments. However, it has been found that quenching distances for the SWQ setup differ from experimental results if detailed diffusion models and chemical reaction mechanisms are employed. Side-wall quenching is investigated numerically in this work with steady-state 2D and 3D simulations of an experimental flame setup. The simulations fully resolve the flame and employ detailed reaction mechanisms as well as molecular diffusion models. The goal is to provide data for the sensitivity of numerical quenching distances to different parameters. Quenching distances are determined based on different markers: chemiluminescent species, temperature and OH iso-surface. The quenching distances and heat fluxes at the cold wall from simulations and measurements agree well qualitatively. However, quenching distances from the simulations are lower than those from the experiments by a constant factor, which is the same for both methane and propane flames and also for a wide range of equivalence ratios and different markers. A systematic study of different influencing factors is performed: Changing the reaction mechanism in the simulation has little impact on the quenching distance, which has been tested with over 20 different reaction mechanisms. Detailed diffusion models like the mixture-averaged diffusion model and multi-component diffusion model with and without Soret effect yield the same quenching distances. By assuming a unity Lewis number, however, quenching distances increase significantly and have better agreement with measurements. This was validated by two different numerical codes (OpenFOAM and FASTEST) and also by 1D head-on quenching simulations (HOQ). Superimposing a fluctuation on the inlet velocity in the simulation also increases the quenching distance on average compared to the reference steady-state case. The inlet velocity profile, temperature boundary condition of the rod and radiation have a negligible effect. Finally, three dimensional simulations are necessary in order to obtain the correct velocity field in the SWQ computations. This however has only a negligible effect on quenching distances.
Nitrogen dynamics after two years of elevated CO2 in phosphorus limited Eucalyptus woodland
Authors: Andresen Louise C. , Carrillo Yolima , Macdonald Catriona A. , Castañeda-Gómez Laura , Bodé Samuel , Rütting Tobias 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIt is uncertain how the predicted further rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration will affect plant nutrient availability in the future through indirect effects on the gross rates of nitrogen (N) mineralization (production of ammonium) and depolymerization (production of free amino acids) in soil. The response of soil nutrient availability to increasing atmospheric CO2 is particularly important for nutrient poor ecosystems. Within a FACE (Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment) experiment in a native, nutrient poor Eucalyptus woodland (EucFACE) with low soil organic matter (≤ 3%), our results suggested there was no shortage of N. Despite this, microbial N use efficiency was high (c. 90%). The free amino acid (FAA) pool had a fast turnover time (4 h) compared to that of ammonium (NH4+) which was 11 h. Both NH4-N and FAA-N were important N pools; however, protein depolymerization rate was three times faster than gross N mineralization rates, indicating that organic N is directly important in the internal ecosystem N cycle. Hence, the depolymerization was the major provider of plant available N, while the gross N mineralization rate was the constraining factor for inorganic N. After two years of elevated CO2, no major effects on the pools and rates of the soil N cycle were found in spring (November) or at the end of summer (March). The limited response of N pools or N transformation rates to elevated CO2 suggest that N availability was not the limiting factor behind the lack of plant growth response to elevated CO2, previously observed at the site.
Prevalence and morphological changes of carotid kinking and coiling in growth: an echo-color Doppler study of 2856 subjects between aged 0 to 96 years
Authors: Di Pino Luigi , Franchina Antonio G. , Costa Serena , Gangi Stella , Strano Francesco , Ragusa Mario , Costanzo Luca , Tamburino Corrado , Capodanno Davide 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) kinking and coiling are the most frequently reported carotid anomalies in the literature. Embryogenic and acquired causes for such anomalies have been postulated but the prevalence of kinking and coiling has not been well characterized across age categories. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of EICA coiling and kinking among different age groups to better understand its potential causes and changes during the course of life.
A total of 2856 subjects aged 0 to 96 years were studied by echo-color Doppler (ECD). Morphology and anatomical anomalies of the EICA were assessed. Patients with anatomical anomalies were stratified by age groups and the prevalence of EICA abnormalities was calculated. The maximal velocity recorded at the level of the kinking was compared with that measured in the common carotid artery and the peak systolic velocity kinking ratio (PSVKR) was calculated.
A total of 284 subjects (9.94% of the sample) were found to have kinking or coiling of the EICA. The prevalence was significantly higher at the extremes of age (≤ 20 and > 60 years old, p < 0.001) supporting the hypothesis of a reduction with growth and a new increase in the elderly. PSVKR was higher in subjects with more severity kinking.
This study showed a higher prevalence of EICA coiling and kinking in the very young and in the elderly. This bimodal prevalence distribution supports the hypothesis of a congenital anomaly that resolves with somatic growth, while advanced age with its many anatomical changes leads to its reappearance or worsening. Studies with longitudinal follow-up and paired observation are required to support this hypothesis.
The Sintering of Au Nanoparticles on Flat {100}, {111} and Zigzagged {111}-Nanofacetted Structures of Ceria and Its Influence on Catalytic Activity in CO Oxidation and CO PROX
Authors: Bezkrovnyi O. S. , Kraszkiewicz P. , Mista W. , Kepinski L. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe thermal stability of Au nanoparticles on ceria support of various morphology (nanocubes, nanooctahedra, and {111}-nanofacetted nanocubes) in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres was investigated by electron microscopy. A beneficial effect of the reconstruction of edges of ceria nanocubes into zigzagged {111}-nanofacetted structures on the inhibition of sintering of Au nanoparticles was shown. The influence of different morphology of Au particles on various ceria supports on the reducibility and catalytic activity in CO oxidation, and CO PROX of Au/ceria catalysts was also investigated and discussed. It was shown, that ceria nanocubes with flat {110} terminated edges are more suitable as a support for Au nanoparticles, used to catalyze CO oxidation, than zigzagged {111}- nanofacetted structures.
Graphic Abstract
Size-exclusion chromatography of cellulose: observations on the low-molar-mass fraction
Authors: Pitkänen Leena , Sixta Herbert 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAccurate determination of molar mass distribution for disperse cellulose samples has proved to be a challenging task. While size-exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (DRI) detectors has become the most commonly used method for molar mass determination of celluloses, this technique suffers low sensitivity at the low-molar mass range. As discussed here, the universal method for accurate molar mass distribution analysis of cellulose samples not exists and thus thorough understanding on the differences of the various methodological approaches is important. In this study, the focus is in the accurate determination of the low-molar mass fraction. The results obtained by combining the two calibration strategies, MALS/DRI for polymeric region of a cellulose sample and conventional calibration for oligomeric region, was compared to the results obtained using only MALS/DRI (with extrapolation of the curve where signal-to-noise of MALS is low). For birch pulp sample, the results from the two approaches were comparable; it should be highlighted, however, that MALS/DRI slightly overestimates the molar masses at the low-molar-mass region.
Adolescence Predictors for Drug Crime Offending: A Follow-up Study of Former Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients
Authors: Kontu Mikaela , Hakko Helinä , Riala Kaisa , Riipinen Pirkko 
Published: September 2020

AbstractOur aim was to examine adolescent predictors (family- and school-related factors, substance use, and psychiatric disorders) for drug crime offending. The initial study population consisted of 508 former adolescent psychiatric inpatients aged between 13 and 17 years. Of them, 60 (12%) had committed a drug crime by young adulthood and they were matched with 120 (24%) non-criminal controls by sex, age and family type. During adolescent hospitalization, study participants were interviewed using valid semi-structured research instruments. Criminal records were obtained from the Finnish Legal Register Centre up to young adulthood. A distant relationship with a father, lying, and thieving, moderate/high nicotine dependence and weekly use of stimulants were shown to be the most prominent predictors for drug crime offending. Our findings encourage the use of modern child- and family-centered approaches in preventing youth involvement in illegal drug use and drug crimes.
Online summarization of dynamic graphs using subjective interestingness for sequential data
Authors: Kapoor Sarang , Saxena Dhish Kumar , van Leeuwen Matthijs 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMany real-world phenomena can be represented as dynamic graphs, i.e., networks that change over time. The problem of dynamic graph summarization, i.e., to succinctly describe the evolution of a dynamic graph, has been widely studied. Existing methods typically use objective measures to find fixed structures such as cliques, stars, and cores. Most of the methods, however, do not consider the problem of online summarization, where the summary is incrementally conveyed to the analyst as the graph evolves, and (thus) do not take into account the knowledge of the analyst at a specific moment in time. We address this gap in the literature through a novel, generic framework for subjective interestingness for sequential data. Specifically, we iteratively identify atomic changes, called ‘actions’, that provide most information relative to the current knowledge of the analyst. For this, we introduce a novel information gain measure, which is motivated by the minimum description length (MDL) principle. With this measure, our approach discovers compact summaries without having to decide on the number of patterns. As such, we are the first to combine approaches for data mining based on subjective interestingness (using the maximum entropy principle) with pattern-based summarization (using the MDL principle). We instantiate this framework for dynamic graphs and dense subgraph patterns, and present DSSG, a heuristic algorithm for the online summarization of dynamic graphs by means of informative actions, each of which represents an interpretable change to the connectivity structure of the graph. The experiments on real-world data demonstrate that our approach effectively discovers informative summaries. We conclude with a case study on data from an airline network to show its potential for real-world applications.
Moving SDG5 forward: women’s public engagement activities in higher education
Authors: Hirsu Lavinia , Quezada-Reyes Zenaida , Hashemi Lamiah 
Published: September 2020

AbstractUniversities play a critical role in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals through the third mission, i.e. public engagement activities. However, female academics miss opportunities to be part of this mission because they are caught in many roles that prevent them from getting involved in the SDGs. In light of SDG5, Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, we conducted interviews with twenty female academics from Iran and the Philippines to investigate their aspirations, opportunities and experiences with public engagement activities. Our findings show that, while recent gender policies have enabled female academics to develop robust careers, their contributions beyond the walls of the university remain limited because of longstanding patriarchal structures, distrust in women’s professional expertise and unchanged systemic constraints. By bringing women’s engagement activities forward and supporting them in the delivery of the SDGs, we reframe current debates on women’s roles in academia. We argue that HE institutions may enhance their third mission and better achieve the targets of SDGs by valuing women’s work and facilitating their engagement activities that may lead to significant societal impact. We conclude our paper with a series of recommendations for policy and practice that support women’s journeys in academia.