bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender in Electricity Policymaking in India, Nepal and Kenya
Authors: Govindan Mini , Palit Debajit , Murali Rashmi , Sankar Deepa 
Published: October 2019

AbstractElectricity is regarded as a basic amenity fundamental to improving human well-being and overall economic development. It also contributes to improving gender parity and social inclusion, especially in situations where women are challenged by harsh living conditions. This chapter examines how gender issues that were considered are addressed in the policies related to electricity in India, Kenya, and Nepal. The analysis reveals that whilst more than half of the reviewed documents were devoid of any explicit mention of gender concerns, an increasing number of electricity policies are now reflecting gender considerations. The predominantly “gender-blind” approach towards the potential benefits of electricity access emanates from a reluctance to explicitly acknowledge gender based differences in needs in creating equitable outcomes. The assumption that electricity access itself is enough for associated benefits to trickle down, that too equitably for men and women, stems from limited awareness. This is aggravated further by the absence of documented evidence on the merit of including gender elements in electrification policies and programmes. Based on the review of existing electricity policies, this chapter provides specific recommendations for incorporating gender in the electricity policies with a view to support and address the broader energy justice concerns.
Effects of the monoamine stabilizer (-)OSU6162 on cognitive function in alcohol dependence
Authors: Khemiri Lotfi , Steensland Pia , Guterstam Joar , de Manzano Örjan , Franck Johan , Jayaram-Lindström Nitya 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Alcohol dependence (AD) is associated with a dysregulated mesolimbocortical dopamine system—a pathway which is also implicated in both reward and cognition. The monoamine stabilizer (-)-OSU6162 (OSU) is a novel pharmacological compound with the ability to reduce ethanol intake and ethanol seeking in long-term drinking rats as well as reducing alcohol craving in AD patients. Dopaminergic drugs can both impair and improve cognitive functions, and the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of OSU treatment on cognitive functioning in AD patients.

Method
In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 56 individuals with AD received 14 days of OSU or placebo treatment. Neuropsychological tasks from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB®) and other tasks were used to evaluate treatment effect on executive function/impulsivity, working memory, attention, emotional recognition, and divergent thinking.

Results
Treatment with OSU did not impair neuropsychological function in any of the cognitive domains investigated (all p > 0.1). In fact, OSU treatment did, compared to placebo, improve future planning ability (F(1,46) = 6.9; p = 0.012; Cohen’s d = 0.54), verbal divergent thinking (F(1,44) = 10.1; p = 0.003; d = 0.96), and response time for emotional recognition (F(1,47) = 6.7; p = 0.013; d = 0.44).

Conclusion
OSU treatment did not cause short-term cognitive side effects, further supporting the potential of OSU as a clinically feasible pharmacological treatment in AD patients. OSU treatment might improve future planning, verbal divergent thinking, and emotional recognition latency, which in turn may have a beneficial impact on alcohol use outcomes. Future studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
[18F]Florbetapir PET/MR imaging to assess demyelination in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Carotenuto Antonio , Giordano Beniamino , Dervenoulas George , Wilson Heather , Veronese Mattia , Chappell Zachary , Polychronis Sotirios , Pagano Gennaro , Mackewn Jane , Turkheimer Federico E. , Williams Steven C. R. , Hammers Alexander , Silber Eli , Brex Peter , Politis Marios 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Purpose
We evaluated myelin changes throughout the central nervous system in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients by using hybrid [18F]florbetapir PET-MR imaging.

Methods
We included 18 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 12 healthy controls. Each subject performed a hybrid [18F]florbetapir PET-MR and both a clinical and cognitive assessment. [18F]florbetapir binding was measured as distribution volume ratio (DVR), through the Logan graphical reference method and the supervised cluster analysis to extract a reference region, and standard uptake value (SUV) in the 70–90 min interval after injection. The two quantification approaches were compared. We also evaluated changes in the measures derived from diffusion tensor imaging and arterial spin labeling.

Results
[18F]florbetapir DVRs decreased from normal-appearing white matter to the centre of T2 lesion (P < 0.001), correlated with fractional anisotropy and with mean, axial and radial diffusivity within T2 lesions (coeff. = −0.15, P < 0.001, coeff. = −0.12, P < 0.001 and coeff. = −0.16, P < 0.001, respectively). Cerebral blood flow was reduced in white matter damaged areas compared to white matter in healthy controls (−10.9%, P = 0.005). SUV70–90 and DVR are equally able to discriminate between intact and damaged myelin (area under the curve 0.76 and 0.66, respectively; P = 0.26).

Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that [18F]florbetapir PET imaging can measure in-vivo myelin damage in patients with MS. Demyelination in MS is not restricted to lesions detected through conventional MRI but also involves the normal appearing white matter. Although longitudinal studies are needed, [18F]florbetapir PET imaging may have a role in clinical settings in the management of MS patients.
Monocytes reprogrammed with lentiviral vectors co-expressing GM-CSF, IFN-α2 and antigens for personalized immune therapy of acute leukemia pre- or post-stem cell transplantation
Authors: Bialek-Waldmann Julia K. , Heuser Michael , Ganser Arnold , Stripecke Renata 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults and overall survival remains poor. Chemotherapy is the standard of care for intensive induction therapy. Patients who achieve a complete remission require post-remission therapies to prevent relapse. There is no standard of care for patients with minimal residual disease (MRD), and stem cell transplantation is a salvage therapy. Considering the AML genetic heterogeneity and the leukemia immune-suppressive properties, novel cellular immune therapies to effectively harness immunological responses to prevent relapse are needed. We developed a novel modality of immune therapy consisting of monocytes reprogrammed with lentiviral vectors expressing GM-CSF, IFN-α and antigens. Preclinical studies in humanized mice showed that the reprogrammed monocytes self-differentiated into highly viable induced dendritic cells (iDCs) in vivo which migrated effectively to lymph nodes, producing remarkable effects in the de novo regeneration of T and B cell responses. For the first-in-man clinical trial, the patient’s monocytes will be transduced with an integrase-defective tricistronic lentiviral vector expressing GM-CSF, IFN-α and a truncated WT1 antigen. For transplanted patients, pre-clinical development of iDCs co-expressing cytomegalovirus antigens is ongoing. To simplify the product chain for a de-centralized supply model, we are currently exploring a closed automated system for a short two-day manufacturing of iDCs. A phase I clinical trial study is in preparation for immune therapy of AML patients with MRD. The proposed cell therapy can fill an important gap in the current and foreseeable future immunotherapies of AML.
Is Preoperative Fibrinogen Associated with the Survival Prognosis of Gastric Cancer Patients? A Multi‐centered, Propensity Score‐Matched Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhao Lin‐Yong , Zhao Yong‐Liang , Wang Jun‐Jiang , Zhao Qi‐Di , Yi Wen‐Qi , Yuan Qing , Chen Xin‐Zu , Li Yong , Yang Kun , Chen Xiao‐Long , Zhang Wei‐Han , Liu Kai , Pang Hua‐Yang , Galiullin Danil , Wang Hui , Sun Li‐Fei , Song Xiao‐Hai , Zheng Jia‐Bin , Yao Xue‐Qing , Zhou Zong‐Guang , Yu Pei‐Wu , Hu Jian‐Kun 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe prognostic significance of preoperative plasma fibrinogen in patients with operable gastric cancer remains under debate. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of fibrinogen in gastric cancer patients underwent gastrectomy.MethodsA total of 4351 patients with gastric cancer collected from three comprehensive medical centers were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were categorized by minimum P value using X‐tile, while the baseline confounders for fibrinogen was balanced through propensity score matching (PSM). The relationships between fibrinogen and other clinicopathologic features were evaluated, and nomogram was constructed to assess its prognostic improvement compared with TNM staging system.ResultsFibrinogen was significantly correlated with macroscopic type, tumor differentiation, tumor size, and T and N stage. The factors, fibrinogen and T stage as well as N stage, were identified to be independent prognostic factors after PSM. Nomogram based on fibrinogen demonstrated a smaller Akaike information criterion (AIC) and a larger concordance index (C‐index) than TNM staging system, illustrating that fibrinogen might be able to improve the prognostic accuracy.ConclusionsPreoperative plasma fibrinogen levels in gastric cancer patients were significantly correlated with tumor progression, which could be regarded as a reliable marker for survival prognostic prediction.
Vertical silicon nanowire-based racetrack resonator optical sensor
Authors: Sherif S. M. , Elsayed M. Y. , Shahada L. A. , Swillam M. A. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
We propose a highly sensitive optical sensor which is built from silicon nanowires. The silicon nanowires are arranged to form a ring resonator. The silicon nanowires cladding and voids are filled with the analyte. The sensor has a small footprint of 16 μm × 16.5 μm. The insertion loss of the sensor is only 0.4 dB, while it is characterized by its high sensitivity of 430 nm/RIU. As a biosensor, our device showed a 100 nm/RIU sensitivity when a thin biolayer of 10 nm thickness is attached to the silicon nanowire structures.
Sumbawanga Augencamp follow-up Studie 2019
Authors: Irle S. , Msigomba E. , Paust K. 
Published: October 2019

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund
Im Jahr 2019 hat das deutsche Komitee zur Verhütung von Blindheit (DKVB) ein Augencamp in der tansanischen Stadt Sumbawanga durchgeführt. Bei Patienten mit maturer Katarakt und intakter Lichtscheinwahrnehmung wurden Katarakte als „manual small incision cataract surgery“ (MSICS) operiert. Erstmalig wurde bei diesem Camp die Ergebnisqualität der durchgeführten Kataraktoperationen gemessen.

Ziel der Arbeit
Ziel war es, die Qualität der durchgeführten Kataraktoperationen darzustellen und die Ergebnisse in Zusammenhang mit den Vorgaben der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) zu bewerten.

Methoden
Patienten, die in den ersten Tagen des Augencamps kataraktoperiert worden waren, wurden in der zweiten Woche im Hinblick auf die Parameter Visus, Refraktion, spaltlampenmikroskopischer Befund und Komplikationen nachuntersucht, die Daten retrospektiv ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit den Vorgaben der WHO verglichen.

Ergebnisse
Es konnten 42 Patienten des Augencamps nach 5 bis 9 Tagen nachuntersucht werden. Folgende Parameter wurden gefunden: mittlere postoperative Sehschärfe 0,26, sphärisches Äquivalent −2,82 dpt, Astigmatismus −2,2 dpt/113 Grad; Visus >0,3 in 14,2% (WHO 80%), Visus 0,1–0,3 62% (WHO 15%), Visus <0,1 in 23,8% (WHO 5%); verzögerter Heilungsverlauf in 29% der Fälle.

Schlussfolgerung
Obwohl es zu einer Besserung des Sehvermögens kam, sind die Ergebnisse ernüchternd im Vergleich zu den Vorgaben der WHO. Postoperativ zeigen sich ein myoper Shift und ein Astigmatismus gegen die Regel. Die Gründe sind: okuläre Komorbiditäten, eingeschränkte diagnostische und therapeutische Möglichkeiten, Ausbildungscharakter des Camps, erschwerte Rahmenbedingungen und fortgeschrittene Befunde. Die Ergebnisse der Studie sind wichtig, um die Qualität der eigenen Arbeit einschätzen zu können und um das Potenzial für künftige Verbesserungen ausloten zu können.
Demenzsensibilität in Akutkrankenhäusern
Authors: Kirchen Peters Sabine , Krupp Elisabeth 
Published: October 2019

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund
In Deutschland stellt sich immer noch die Frage, warum die Demenzsensibilität von Akutkrankenhäusern so wenig verbreitet ist, obwohl bereits fast vor zwei Dekaden die ersten Konzepte erfolgreich erprobt wurden.

Ziel des Beitrags
Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt in Form einer Übersicht Umsetzungsbarrieren und zeigt Wege zu einer besseren Praxis auf.

Material und Methoden
Die vorgestellten Ergebnisse der „Analyse zum Modellprogramm Demenz im Krankenhaus“ der Robert Bosch Stiftung basieren auf einer Dokumentenanalyse, auf der Auswertung von Fokusgruppen und Vernetzungstreffen sowie auf Experteninterviews. Zudem fließen Ergebnisse einer früheren Untersuchung des iso-Instituts für die Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft ein.

Ergebnisse
Aus den Erfahrungen in Modellprojekten lassen sich typische Barrieren für eine demenzsensible Ausrichtung auf individueller, arbeitsorganisatorischer und übergeordneter Ebene beschreiben, deren Systematisierung einen Ansatzpunkt zur Überwindung dieser Hürden liefert. Zudem kann aus den Projekten eine Reihe von Gelingensfaktoren für die Umsetzung guter Praxis herausgearbeitet werden. So hat es sich als entscheidend herausgestellt, an der Haltung des Personals zu Menschen mit kognitiven Einschränkungen zu arbeiten und Abläufe an die besonderen Bedürfnisse dieser Patientengruppe anzupassen. In diesem Zusammenhang spielen die Leitungskräfte sowie eine fachlich fundierte Strukturierung von Veränderungsprozessen eine Schlüsselrolle.

Diskussion
Vielfältige Anregungen können Verantwortliche und Beschäftigte aus Akutkrankenhäusern zukünftig einem umfassenden Leitfaden des iso-Instituts zur modularen Implementierung demenzsensibler Krankenhäuser entnehmen, der durch erprobte und wirksame Handlungshilfen, Instrumente, Prozessbeschreibungen usw. unterlegt ist.
Attitudes towards emergent autonomous robots in Austria and Germany
Authors: Gnambs Timo 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Autonomous robotic systems are an indispensable component of work in many industries that are on the brink of entering many other areas of people’s lives such as transportation or healthcare. Because attitudes towards new technologies shape consumers’ decision to adopt these innovations, the present study examines the public opinion toward emergent robotic systems in Austria and Germany. The results showed that, in general, attitudes seemed rather positive in both countries. However, for Austria a rather ambivalent picture emerged: although Austrians exhibited the largest adoption rate of robotic technologies in Europe, at the same time they evaluated robots most unfavorably as compared to other European countries. Thus, experiences with robots seemed to have intensified potential downsides of automation that resulted in more concerns regarding the widespread use of robots.
Microbial diversity of bioaerosol inside sports facilities and antibiotic resistance of isolated Staphylococcus spp.
Authors: Małecka-Adamowicz Marta , Kubera Łukasz , Jankowiak Emilia , Dembowska Ewa 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In the modern world, healthy habits and physical and mental fitness are more important than ever. A growing number of people participate in sports to improve their overall health. However, the conditions in which people exercise are seldom examined. It is obvious that the air in buildings, including sports facilities, can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, causing infections and allergies. Our study was aimed at assessing microbial air quality inside several sports facilities (fitness room, martial arts room, swimming pool, sports hall, gym) and at a sports field. Another objective was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance of isolated Staphylococcus strains. Air samples were collected with MAS-100 sampler, using selective substrates. Antibiotic resistance of mannitol-positive staphylococci was assessed using a disk diffusion method in accordance with EUCAST recommendations. The results indicated large fluctuations in average concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria, ranging from 38 CFU m−3 (swimming pool) to 1036 CFU m−3 (sports hall). Generally, bacteria were more abundant inside the buildings, while fungi in the sports field (658 CFU m−3 on average). In all facilities, airborne fungal communities were dominated by the genus Cladosporium, followed by Penicillium, Fusarium and Acremonium. Alternaria and Aureobasidium constituted only a small percentage of isolated molds. We recorded only low concentrations of mannitol-positive staphylococci (on average ranging from 1 CFU m−3 at the swimming pool and sports field to 9 CFU m−3 in the martial arts room). Of all isolated Staphylococcus strains, 73% were resistant to benzopenicillin, while more than 90% were sensitive to gentamycin, levofloxacin and rifampicin.
Stochastic optimization strategies applied to the OLYMPUS benchmark
Authors: Silva V. L. S. , Cardoso M. A. , Oliveira D. F. B. , de Moraes R. J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn this work, we discuss the application of stochastic optimization approaches to the OLYMPUS case, a benchmark challenge which seeks the evaluation of different techniques applied to well control and field development optimization. For that matter, three exercises have been proposed, namely, (i) well control optimization; (ii) field development optimization; and (iii) joint optimization. All applications were performed considering the so-called OLYMPUS case, a synthetic reservoir model with geological uncertainty provided by TNO (Fonseca 2018). Firstly, in the well control exercise, we successfully applied an ensemble-based approximate gradient method in a robust optimization formulation. Secondly, we solve the field development exercise using a genetic algorithm framework designed with special features for the problem of interest. Finally, in order to evaluate further gains, a sequential optimization approach was employed, in which we run one more well control optimization based on the optimal well locations. Even though we utilize relatively well-known techniques in our studies, we describe the necessary adaptations to the algorithms that enable their successful applications to real-life scenarios. Significant gains in the expected net present value are obtained: in exercise (i) a gain of 7% with respect to reactive control; for exercise (ii) a gain of 660% with respect to a initial well placement based on an engineering approach; and for (iii) an extra gain of 3% due to an additional well control optimization after the well placement optimization. All these gains are obtained with an affordable computational cost via the extensive utilization of high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. We also apply a scenario reduction technique to exercise (i), with similar gains obtained in the full ensemble optimization, however, with substantially inferior computational cost. In conclusion, we demonstrate how the state-of-the-art optimization technology available in the model-based reservoir management literature can be successfully applied to field development optimization via the conscious utilization of HPC facilities.
Uncertainties in Long-Term Twenty-First Century Process-Based Coastal Sea-Level Projections
Authors: van de Wal R. S. W. , Zhang X. , Minobe S. , Jevrejeva S. , Riva R. E. M. , Little C. , Richter K. , Palmer M. D. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Many processes affect sea level near the coast. In this paper, we discuss the major uncertainties in coastal sea-level projections from a process-based perspective, at different spatial and temporal scales, and provide an outlook on how these uncertainties may be reduced. Uncertainty in centennial global sea-level rise is dominated by the ice sheet contributions. Geographical variations in projected sea-level change arise mainly from dynamical patterns in the ocean response and other geophysical processes. Finally, the uncertainties in the short-duration extreme sea-level events are controlled by near coastal processes, storms and tides.
Think Tanks: New Organizational Actors in a Changing Swedish Civil Society
Authors: Åberg Pelle , Einarsson Stefan , Reuter Marta 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPolicy institutes, or “think tanks”, are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our societies. In this article, we conceptualize think tanks explicitly as a civil society phenomenon, linking the proliferation of this relatively new type of actor to the transformation of civil society structures and of systems of interest representation. Using the case of Sweden as an illustration, we argue that the recent decades’ rise of think tanks in institutional settings outside of the USA can only be understood if we take into account the particular features and institutional policy access opportunities of the domestic civil society in each national case, and that think tanks should be analytically understood as the allies of, rather than competitors to, the older, established forces in civil society.
Mild Zellweger syndrome due to functionally confirmed novel PEX1 variants
Authors: Lipiński Patryk , Stawiński Piotr , Rydzanicz Małgorzata , Wypchło Maria , Płoski Rafał , Stradomska Teresa Joanna , Jurkiewicz Elżbieta , Ferdinandusse Sacha , Wanders Ronald J. A. , Vaz Frederic M. , Tylki-Szymańska Anna 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Zellweger spectrum disorders (ZSD) constitute a group of rare autosomal recessive disorders characterized by a defect in peroxisome biogenesis due to mutations in one of 13 PEX genes. The broad clinical heterogeneity especially in late-onset presenting patients and a mild phenotype complicates and delays the diagnostic process. Here, we report a case of mild ZSD, due to novel PEX1 variants. The patient presented with an early hearing loss, bilateral cataracts, and leukodystrophy on magnetic resonance (MR) images. Normal results of serum very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and phytanic acid were found. Molecular diagnostics were performed to uncover the etiology of the clinical phenotype. Using whole exome sequencing, there have been found two variants in the PEX1 gene—c.3450T>A (p.Cys1150*) and c.1769T>C (p.Leu590Pro). VLCFA measurement in skin fibroblasts and C26:0-lysoPC in dried blood spot therefore was performed. Both results were in line with the diagnosis of ZSD. To conclude, normal results of routine serum VLCFA and branched-chain fatty acid measurement do not exclude mild forms of ZSD. The investigation of C26:0-lysoPC should be included in the diagnostic work-up in patients with cataract, hearing loss, and leukodystrophy on MR images suspected to suffer from ZSD.