bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel approach to lightweight alumina‐carbon refractories for flow control of molten steel
Authors: Chen Zhe , Yan Wen , Schafföner Stefan , Dai Yajie , Wang Qiang , Li Guangqiang 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTFunctional refractory materials for flow control devices of molten steel in continuous casting used to be prepared from Al2O3–C refractories containing dense corundum aggregates. According to the traditional concept, the denser the refractories, the higher the strength of refractories. However, we prepared a new lightweight Al2O3–C refractory material using microporous corundum aggregates instead of dense corundum aggregates, which were reinforced by in situ formed SiC whiskers. A comparative analysis of microstructures and properties was carried out for conventional and lightweight Al2O3–C refractories with and without Si powder addition. We showed that microporous aggregates formed a better aggregate/matrix interface bonding and an improved distribution of SiC whiskers. The SiC whiskers formed not only in the matrix, but also inside of the microporous aggregates and at the aggregate/matrix interface by a vapor‐solid reaction mechanism. Due to the formation of a microporous aggregate/matrix interface reinforced by SiC whiskers, the crack propagation along the aggregate/matrix interface was suppressed, whereas the percentage of cracks propagating within the aggregates was enhanced. Thus, the synergy between in situ formed SiC whiskers and microporous aggregates resulted in a significant higher strength of lightweight Al2O3–C refractories compared to conventional ones. The results therefore provide an original strategy to strengthen Al2O3–C refractories.
TRIM23 overexpression is a poor prognostic factor and contributes to carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Han Yudong , Tan Ye , Zhao Yuanyuan , Zhang Yongchun , He Xinjia , Yu Li , Jiang Haiping , Lu Haijun , Tian Haiying 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins play a great role in carcinogenesis. However, the expression pattern, prognostic value and biological functions of tripartite motif containing 23 (TRIM23) in colorectal cancer (CRC) are poorly understood. Here, we found that TRIM23 is up‐regulated and associated with tumour size, lymph node metastasis, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage and poor prognosis in CRC. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that TRIM23 overexpression could be identified as an independent prognostic factor for CRC. TRIM23 could promote the proliferation of CRC cell in vitro and in vivo; additionally, TRIM23 depletion induced G1­phase arrest. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that P53 and cell cycle signalling pathway‐related genes were enriched in patients with high TRIM23 expression levels. We show in this study that TRIM23 physically binds to P53 and enhances the ubiquitination of P53, thereby promoting tumour proliferation. Thus, our data indicated that TRIM23 acts as an oncogene in colorectal carcinogenesis and may provide a novel therapeutic target for CRC management.
Greater macrovascular and microvascular morbidity from type 2 diabetes in northern compared with southern China: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Li , Xing Ying , Yu Xinwen , Ming Jie , Liu Xiangyang , Li Xiaomiao , Fu Jianfang , Zhou Jie , Gao Bin , Hu Dayi , Pan Changyu , Ji Linong , Ji Qiuhe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAims/IntroductionThere are substantial differences in genes, diet, culture and environment between the northern and southern Chinese populations, which might influence treatment strategy and screening policy. We studied the differences in type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications between northern and southern China.Materials and MethodsWe carried out a cross‐sectional survey using data from the China Cardiometabolic Registries on blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose in 25,398 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. Macrovascular, microvascular and other complications were collected by self‐report or medical records, and then divided into the northern and southern groups by the boundary of the Yangtze River.ResultsNorthern patients were younger, and had heavier weight, greater body mass index and waist circumference, higher blood pressure, higher total cholesterol, higher low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher hemoglobin A1C. The prevalence of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and macrovascular complications were 1.76‐fold, 1.24‐fold and 1.47‐fold more in northern than that in southern Chinese patients. In addition, the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and microvascular complications in northern Chinese patients also increased. When stratified by age, the difference in both cardiovascular disease and ischemic stroke morbidity became significant, even in the 35–44 years age group.ConclusionsMore macrovascular and microvascular complications were found in northern compared with southern patients, and the largest difference also appeared in the younger age groups <55 years, which might be meaningful to a screening and treatment strategy according to geographic differences.
Hospital competition under pay‐for‐performance: Quality, mortality, and readmissions
Authors: Lisi Domenico , Siciliani Luigi , Straume Odd Rune 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHealth outcomes, such as mortality and readmission rates, are commonly used as indicators of hospital quality and as a basis to design pay‐for‐performance (P4P) incentive schemes. We propose a model of hospital behavior under P4P where patients differ in severity and can choose hospital based on quality. We assume that risk‐adjustment is not fully accounted for and that unobserved dimensions of severity remain. We show that the introduction of P4P which rewards lower mortality and/or readmission rates can weaken or strengthen hospitals' incentive to provide quality. Since patients with higher severity have a different probability of exercising patient choice when quality varies, this introduces a selection bias (patient composition effect) which in turn alters quality incentives. We also show that this composition effect increases with the degree of competition. Critically, readmission rates suffer from one additional source of selection bias through mortality rates since quality affects the distribution of survived patients. This implies that the scope for counterproductive effects of P4P is larger when financial rewards are linked to readmission rates rather than mortality rates.
Kairomones effect on parasitic activity of Trichogramma japonicum against rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas
Authors: Murali‐Baskaran Ramasamy Kanagaraj , Sridhar Jandrajupalli , Chander Sharma Kailash , Jain Lata , Senthil‐Nathan Sengottayan , Hunter Wayne Brain , Kumar Jagdish , Kaushal Pankaj 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas, is a borer pest of low‐land rice in tropical regions of the world, reducing production and productivity. Chemical control of YSB is challenging and often less effective due to its cryptic larval feeding behaviour inside the rice culm. Biological suppression of YSB, using egg parasitoid, Trichogramma japonicum, has been well demonstrated. Kairomones, that are interspecific, play a vital role in deciding biocontrol efficiency of egg parasitoid against lepidopteran pests. However, the mechanisms involved in terms of emission of long‐ and short‐chain volatile chemicals from YSB and its by‐products and YSB damaged rice plants in attraction to T. japonicum to locate eggs of YSB are still poorly understood. In order to trace out the volatile compounds responsible for attraction of egg parasitoid, the hexane extract of YSB female whole body and acetone extract of YSB damaged rice culm were subject to GC‐MS analyses. Out of 20 chemicals, four chemicals belonging to carboxyl, alkane and saturated fatty acid [n‐hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid), tetradecane, octadecane, n‐octadecanoic acid (stearic acid)] from female YSB hexane extract and three sesquiterpenoids (β pinene, α pinene and caryophyllene) from YSB damaged rice plant extracts were detected in greater concentrations. In laboratory assays with the synthetic form of seven chemicals, three, n‐hexadecanoic acid, n‐octadecanoic acid and octadecane, were promising in enhancing the parasitic activity of T. japonicum on YSB eggs from 26.4% to 92.6% at 200 ppm, 27.3% to 96.5% at 500 ppm and 23.6% to 82.8% at 500 ppm, respectively, in contrast to untreated eggs (87.3% at 7th day after exposure) and hexane washed eggs (16.7% at 7th day after exposure). Evaluation of these compounds revealed the key chemical cues of biocontrol potential (n‐hexadecanoic acid, n‐octadecanoic acid and octadecane) for enhancing egg parasitism activity of T. japonicum on YSB eggs.
Yearly changes in dispersal and life‐history traits of Monochamus alternatus Hope with reference to its outbreak
Authors: Sugimoto Hiroyuki , Fukuta Miki , Togashi Katsumi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus Hope, is the primary vector of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle, the causative agent of pine wilt disease in East Asia. The range of B. xylophilus expands through the dispersal capability of its vectors and transport of host trees infested with the pathogenic nematode and its vector. Outbreaks of M. alternatus populations occur together with the epidemics of pine wilt disease, because the insect reproduces on host trees recently killed by the disease. We measured some dispersal and life‐history traits of adults for four years to determine the change in flight capability and life history of a field population of beetles in relation to an outbreak. The population monitored exhibited an outbreak and subsequent collapse. The greatest mean body mass, largest area of hind wings, smallest wing load, and shortest preoviposition period were observed in the year of outbreak. By contrast, there was no difference in the ovariole number between pre‐outbreak (latent) and outbreak years. The greatest mean hind wing area and smallest wing load suggest likely result in greater flight performance. As other studies showed, adult body mass is related positively to the flight performance and oviposition rate. Moreover, a shortened preoviposition period leads to a high reproduction rate. Thus, adults in outbreak populations are “superdispersers” because they are likely to have enhanced flight capability and reproduction power. This suggests that M. alternatus populations at the onset of a population outbreak enhance the expansion rate of B. xylophilus range more than those during the latent and pre‐outbreak periods.
Recovery from pathological skin picking and dermatodaxia using a revised decoupling protocol
Authors: Moritz Steffen , Rufer Michael , Schmotz Stella 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectivePathological skin picking (PSP) is characterized by repetitive scratching, biting, and picking of the skin. The disorder is subsumed under the section “obsessive‐compulsive and related disorders” in the DSM‐5. A related body‐focused repetitive disorder, which has received less empirical attention so far, is dermatophagia or dermatodaxia (eating or biting/gnawing of the skin). Habit reversal training (HRT) is regarded as the treatment of choice demonstrating improvement at a medium effect size relative to control conditions.MethodsThe present case report describes a 50‐year‐old man with a lifetime history of PSP and dermatodaxia of the fingertips who stopped excessive nail‐biting approximately 10 years ago using a treatment method known as decoupling. Yet, his PSP and dermatodaxia remained treatment‐refractory after treatment with both decoupling (conventional protocol) and HRT.ResultsUsing a revised protocol of decoupling, the man was able to fully stop PSP and dermatodaxia; only the tendency to fidget nervously with his hands remained. The case report describes the revised protocol. Scores on the Skin Picking Scale Revised (SPS‐R) dropped from 15 to 0.DiscussionThe revised decoupling protocol is an easy to use technique that holds promise in this underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. Yet, rigorous randomized controlled studies are needed to ascertain its efficacy.
Dietary guanidinoacetic acid improves the growth performance and skeletal muscle development of finishing pigs through changing myogenic gene expression and myofibre characteristics
Authors: Lu Yafei , Zou Tiande , Wang Zirui , Yang Jin , Li Lanhai , Guo Xiaobo , He Qin , Chen Liling , You Jinming 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary guanidine acetic acid (GAA) supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits and the expression of muscle growth‐related genes in finishing pigs. A total of 128 (81.03 ± 1.09 kg body weight) crossbred pigs (Duroc × Landrace ×Yorkshire) were blocked by body weight and allotted to 16 pens (eight pigs per pen), and pens were randomly assigned within blocks to one of five dietary treatments, with a basal diet (control group) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.03%, 0.06% and 0.09% GAA respectively. During the 60‐day trial, GAA increased the average dairy gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p < .05). The back fat thickness of pigs fed 0.06% GAA was lower than other groups (p < .05). Pigs fed 0.06% GAA had improved lean meat percentage, loin muscle area, shear force and cross‐sectional area of muscle fibre in comparison with control group (p < .05). The drop loss and the muscle fibre density in pigs fed 0.06% GAA were lower than control (p < .05). In addition, dietary GAA enhanced the expression of myosin heavy chain gene (MYH4), myogenic determination (Myod) and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) in longissimus dorsi and carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1(CPT‐1) in liver (p < .05). Meanwhile, GAA decreased the expression of Myostatin in longissimus dorsi and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in liver (p < .05). In conclusion, our results showed that appropriate dietary GAA supplementation (0.06%) promotes skeletal muscle development through changing myogenic gene expression and myofibre characteristics.
Ganymede's Heavenly Descent
Authors: YUST JASON 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTSchubert's songGanymedhas attracted a great deal of interest from analysts on account of its progressive tonal plan, which is often seen as a challenge to Schenkerian theories of tonal structure, as well as its evocative text. This article draws upon a spatial theory of tonal meaning which helps both to resolve the epistemological impasse faced by reductive theories of tonal structure and to better access Schubert's interpretation of Goethe's text through spatial metaphors that derive from the harmony of the song. It also highlights an allusion to Beethoven's ‘Waldstein’ Sonata in the song, which has previously gone unremarked, and identifies this as part of a network of references to Beethoven's Sonata that act both as homage to and critique of his middle‐period style. These serve as a window both into the song and into Schubert's aesthetic stance vis‐à‐vis his musical forebear. It realises latent directional metaphors in the diatonic sharp‐flat and triadic dominant‐subdominant dimensions, which are of hermeneutic value for tonal music. Such a theory helps us interpret Schubert's tonal plan, explain his choices of keys and better understand his reading of Goethe's text and his aesthetic priorities in setting it to music.
Relationship between nurses' perceptions of nursing assistant roles and information‐sharing behaviors: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Saiki Masatoshi , Kunie Keiko , Takemura Yukie , Takehara Kimie , Ichikawa Naoko 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInformation‐sharing between nurses and nursing assistants is necessary for appropriate inpatient care. Nurses who perceive nursing assistant roles highly may display positive behaviors related to information‐sharing with nursing assistants. This study aims to examine the relationship between nurses' perceptions of nursing assistant roles and the frequency of their sharing information with nursing assistants. Using a self‐administered, cross‐sectional survey questionnaire, data from 2,642 nurses in 182 hospitals were collected. Nurses' perceptions of nursing assistant roles were measured with a scale containing four factors: (i) improving patients' abilities through daily care; (ii) caring for various patients using broad perspectives; (iii) facilitating co‐ordination and co‐operation among team members; and (iv) increasing the amount of information on patients among team members. Information‐sharing behaviors included “expressing,” “asking,” “linguistic response,” and “feedback.” Multiple regression analyses for each nurse's information‐sharing behaviors were conducted. Nurses' perceptions of nursing assistant roles were positively correlated with the frequency of sharing information with nursing assistants. The degree of the correlations differed, depending on the type of information‐sharing behavior. Therefore, improving nurses' understanding of nursing assistant roles might increase their information‐sharing behaviors.
Assessment of dense image matchers for digital surface model generation using airborne and spaceborne images – an update
Authors: Han Yilong , Qin Rongjun , Huang Xu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDigital surface model (DSM) generation is one of the fundamental issues in photogrammetry and the mapping industry. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of state‐of‐the‐art image matchers using nine open‐source and commercial software packages on aerial and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images and five software packages on spaceborne images. Two datasets provide an update on DSM generation software for both airborne and spaceborne data: a 5 × 5 UAV image block with high‐precision models; and a WorldView‐1 stereopair with lidar reference data. To understand the performance of the image matchers, accuracy analysis is additionally performed on five selected ground objects. The tested image matchers adopting hierarchical semi‐global matching fitted the reference DSM better, thus yielding better accuracy.
Association of TP53 rs1042522 with cervical cancer in the sub‐Saharan African population: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Kamiza Abram Bunya , Kamiza Steve , Singini Mwiza Gideon , Mathew Christopher George 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectiveTP53 plays a crucial role in preventing cancer development. Previous studies in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) reported inconclusive findings for the association of the TP53 rs1042522 C > G variant with cervical cancer. We therefore performed a meta‐analysis to summarise this association in the SSA population.MethodsOnline databases were searched to identify suitable articles according to the PRISMA guidelines. We included studies published in English or French that provided the sample sizes and genotype counts for both cases and controls and evaluated the association between TP53 rs1042522 and cervical cancer in the SSA population. A fixed‐effect model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).ResultsA total of 699 cervical cancer cases and 1008 controls from eight studies in SSA were included in this meta‐analysis. Women harbouring the variant G allele of the TP53 rs1042522 were at increased risk of cervical cancer in allelic (G vs. C; OR = 1.30, 95% Cl = 1.12–1.50), homozygous (GG vs. CC; OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.20–2.19) and recessive (GG vs. CG + GG; OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.34–2.25) genetic models. However, the dominant genetic model (CG + GG vs. CC; OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.96–1.48) was not significantly associated with cervical cancer.ConclusionsOur meta‐analysis revealed that harbouring variant G allele of TP53 rs1042522 is associated with cervical cancer risk in the SSA population.
Potential impact of a delayed ADAMTS13 result in the treatment of thrombotic microangiopathy: an economic analysis
Authors: Kim Chong H. , Simmons Sierra C. , Wattar Sarah F. , Azad Ameneh , Pham Huy P. 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundA pre‐plasma exchange ADAMTS13 measurement differentiates thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) from other forms of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Given that many hospitals do not perform the ADAMTS13 assay in‐house and that the turnaround time (TAT) differs among reference laboratories, we performed an analysis investigating the potential impact of a delay in obtaining the results on the healthcare system.MethodsAn economic model was developed to estimate the impact of a delay in obtaining the pretreatment ADAMTS13 results on patients admitted with TMA with cost (US dollars) as the primary outcome. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) as a composite outcome was calculated from both cost and life days [LDs], an effectiveness surrogate marker. Model parameters were gathered from the medical literature, except for the institutional cost of the ADAMTS13 test.ResultsIn patients with TMA, during the 6‐day study period, the incremental cost to the healthcare system ranged from approximately $4155 to $5123 for every 1‐day delay in obtaining the pre‐exchange ADAMTS13 results with virtually no change in the effectiveness marker. The ICER composite outcome established the cost‐effectiveness of having a fast TAT for pre‐exchange ADAMTS13 results. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses also confirmed the robustness of the model.ConclusionsIn patients with clinical presentations of TMAs, having a rapid TAT for pre‐exchange ADAMTS13 measurement appeared to be cost‐effective. If testing cannot be performed in‐house, then our findings support the necessity of contracting with a reference laboratory that can reliably provide the result, preferably within 1 day of admission.
Colony, post‐colony and world Englishes in the South African context
Authors: Mesthrie Rajend 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis article discusses the full implications of colonialism and its aftermath in coming to terms with the phenomena of world Englishes. Worldwide movements have brought to the fore the persistence of post‐colonial hierarchies, inequalities and forms of domination well beyond the pre‐colonial and colonial contexts that gave rise to them. South Africa is well suited as a site for researching sociolinguistic questions over the implications of these challenges to previous hierarchical and social orders. A number of communicative practices characterise the South African post‐colony, among them (a) the valorising of different kinds of multilingualism, (b) the greater play given to diversity in English in the media and public speech, and (c) greater contestation of L1 norms. These political, ideological and sociolinguistic developments call into question the largely consensual and linear characterisations of world English studies, especially Schneider's dynamic model. Moreover, it will be argued that South Africa is not an exception, but a crucial case that invites a re‐analysis of world Englishes models in terms of power and contingencies.
A Practical Validation Assessment Workflow
Authors: Wilson Brandon M. , Koskelo Aaron 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Validation assessments should respond to a diverse set of stakeholders, each with different questions and needs relevant to validation. A single metric designed to address each validation need can inadvertently lead to convoluted, misleading interpretations, especially as individual stakeholders interpret the details of the assessment in terms of their own (often unevaluated) intended use. We propose a validation assessment workflow composed of four necessary and distinct components: (1) model accuracy, (2) model acceptability, (3) validation evaluation, and (4) validation recommendations. We discuss the necessity and purpose of each component in the validation workflow and demonstrate the intent of each component with an example from high-energy-density physics.