bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate change adaptation strategies, productivity and sustainable food security in southern Mali
Authors: Diallo Aboubacar , Donkor Emmanuel , Owusu Victor 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMany people in African countries derive their livelihoods from agriculture. Therefore, unfavourable environmental and climatic conditions render them more vulnerable to increasing food insecurity and poverty rates. However, few studies have investigated how farmers’ adaptation strategies affect farm productivity and household food security in the Sahelian region, notably Mali. We analyse factors that influence adaptation strategies to climate change and the impacts of the adaptation strategies on maize productivity and household food security in southern Mali. Farmers use adaptation strategies such as organic fertilizers, changing planting dates and growing of short duration maize varieties to mitigate against the negative effects of climate change. We find that farmer experience, number of livestock owned, off-farm employment, access to credit, farmer association and technical training exert positive effects on the use of planting short-duration maize varieties as an adaptation strategy, while distance to the farm shows a negative effect. We observe that household size, experience in maize farming, number of livestock owned and technical training positively influence farmers to change planting dates as an adaptation strategy. The use of organic fertilizers and short-duration maize varieties promote maize productivity and food security. We conclude that building farmers’ adaptive capacity tends to reduce their vulnerability to climate change by increasing crop yields and food security.
Modelling and Motion Analysis of a Pill-Sized Hybrid Capsule Robot
Authors: Huda M. Nazmul , Liu Pengcheng , Saha Chitta , Yu Hongnian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper presents a miniature hybrid capsule robot for minimally invasive in-vivo interventions such as capsule endoscopy within the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. It proposes new modes of operation for the hybrid robot namely hybrid mode and anchoring mode. The hybrid mode assists the robot to open an occlusion or to widen a narrowing. The anchoring mode enables the robot to stay in a specific place overcoming external disturbances (e.g. peristalsis) for a better and prolonged observation. The modelling of the legged, hybrid and anchoring modes are presented and analysed. Simulation results show robot propulsions in various modes. The hybrid capsule robot consisting four operating modes is more effective for the locomotion and observation within GI tract when compared to the locomotion consisting a single mean of locomotion as the hybrid robot can switch among the operating modes to suit the situation/task.
Manifolds Pinned by a High-Dimensional Random Landscape: Hessian at the Global Energy Minimum
Authors: Fyodorov Yan V. , Le Doussal Pierre 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe consider an elastic manifold of internal dimension d and length L pinned in a N dimensional random potential and confined by an additional parabolic potential of curvature $$\mu $$μ. We are interested in the mean spectral density $$\rho (\lambda )$$ρ(λ) of the Hessian matrix $${{\mathcal {K}}}$$K at the absolute minimum of the total energy. We use the replica approach to derive the system of equations for $$\rho (\lambda )$$ρ(λ) for a fixed $$L^d$$Ld in the $$N \rightarrow \infty $$N→∞ limit extending $$d=0$$d=0 results of our previous work (Fyodorov et al. in Ann Phys 397:1–64, 2018). A particular attention is devoted to analyzing the limit of extended lattice systems by letting $$L\rightarrow \infty $$L→∞. In all cases we show that for a confinement curvature $$\mu $$μ exceeding a critical value $$\mu _c$$μc, the so-called “Larkin mass”, the system is replica-symmetric and the Hessian spectrum is always gapped (from zero). The gap vanishes quadratically at $$\mu \rightarrow \mu _c$$μ→μc. For $$\mu <\mu _c$$μ<μc the replica symmetry breaking (RSB) occurs and the Hessian spectrum is either gapped or extends down to zero, depending on whether RSB is 1-step or full. In the 1-RSB case the gap vanishes in all d as $$(\mu _c-\mu )^4$$(μc-μ)4 near the transition. In the full RSB case the gap is identically zero. A set of specific landscapes realize the so-called “marginal cases” in $$d=1,2$$d=1,2 which share both feature of the 1-step and the full RSB solution, and exhibit some scale invariance. We also obtain the average Green function associated to the Hessian and find that at the edge of the spectrum it decays exponentially in the distance within the internal space of the manifold with a length scale equal in all cases to the Larkin length introduced in the theory of pinning.
Online packing of d-dimensional boxes into the unit cube
Authors: Januszewski Janusz , Zielonka Łukasz 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAny sequence of d-dimensional boxes of edge length smaller than or equal to 1 with total volume not greater than $$(3-2\sqrt{2})\cdot 3^{-d}$$

(
3
-
2

2

)

·

3

-
d

can be packed online into the d-dimensional unit cube.
Individual variable pay for performance, controlling effects, and intrinsic motivation
Authors: Kuvaas Bård , Buch Robert , Dysvik Anders 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA core question in research on compensation and motivation is whether individual variable pay for performance (IVPFP) can undermine intrinsic motivation in the workplace. We investigated the mediating role of a controlling effect on the relationship between the amount of IVPFP received and intrinsic motivation. In a three-wave study of 304 employees from eight European countries, we found that a controlling effect mediated the negative association between IVPFP and intrinsic motivation. These findings support the proposition from self-determination theory that financial rewards can have a controlling effect that decreases intrinsic motivation. Theoretical and practical implications for compensation and motivation in the workplace are discussed.
Aristotelian Character Friendship as a ‘Method’ of Moral Education
Authors: Kristjánsson Kristján 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe aim of this article is to make a case for Aristotelian friendship as a ‘method’ of moral educationquamutual character development. After setting out some Aristotelian assumptions about friendship and education (and revising some of those) in the “Aristotle and Beyond: Some Basics about Character Friendship and Education”section , I devote the “Role-Model Moral Education Contrasted with Learning from Character Friends” section to role modelling and how it differs from the idea of cultivating character through friendships. “The Mechanisms of Learning from Character Friends” section then explores the mechanisms of Aristotelian friendship education directly: those identified by him and those which can be elicited more obliquely from his texts. I end in the “Concluding Remarks and Classroom Applications” section with some reflections on how this model of friendship as a moral method could be applied in current educational contexts. While the idea of character friendship as an educational method comes with many assets, it also imports various liabilities that may lead to painful friendship terminations. I have put the spotlight on those liabilities in two previous articles. In contrast, the goal here is to impart a new edge and added force to the idea that a certain Aristotle-defined type of deep friendships may have a unique role to play in facilitating moral growth, above and beyond other developmental learning mechanisms.
Health-relevant ground-level ozone and temperature events under future climate change using the example of Bavaria, Southern Germany
Authors: Hertig Elke 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRelationships of larger scale meteorological predictors with ground-level daily maximum ozone (O3max) and daily maximum air temperature (Tmax) for stations in Bavaria were analysed. O3max and Tmax as well as threshold exceedances of these variables were assessed under the constraints of ongoing climate change until the end of the twenty-first century. Under RCP8.5 scenario conditions, a substantial increase of Tmax in the months from April to September arose, with a mean value of 5 K in the period 2081–2100 compared with the historical period 1986–2005. Statistical downscaling projections pointed to a mean O3max rise of 17 μg/m3. The frequency of threshold exceedances showed also large changes. Hot days may occur in the future at about 30% of all days. Exceedances of O3max > 100 μg/m3 were projected to increase to about 40% of all days at urban traffic sites and up to about 70% in the rural regional background. Days with O3max > 120 μg/m3 occurred still at about 20% of all days at urban traffic sites and at about 45% in rural regional background locations. With respect to combined Tmax > 30 °C and O3max > 100 μg/m3 events in the future, an occurrence of such events at about 27–29% of all days in the summer months from April to September was assessed. The increases were mainly associated with the strong temperature rise until the end of the century. In summary, the projected Tmax and O3max changes point to a considerable increased health burden in Bavaria until the end of the century, resulting from strong changes of both variables and their associated individual and combined impact on human health.
The Effects of the Rome IV Criteria on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Practice
Authors: Baaleman Desiree F. , Di Lorenzo Carlo , Benninga Marc A. , Saps Miguel 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo evaluate the impact of the implementation of the Rome IV criteria on pediatric gastrointestinal practice.Recent FindingsIn 2016, the Rome IV criteria were published, providing an update of symptom-based criteria to diagnose children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs).SummaryFor neonates and toddlers, Wessel’s criteria for diagnosing infant colic were abandoned, and a differentiation was made between toilet-trained and non-toilet-trained children in the diagnosis of functional constipation. For children and adolescents, two new disorders (functional nausea and functional vomiting) are described, and in the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, pain does not have to be the chief complaint anymore. This change has made functional dyspepsia the most common functional abdominal pain disorder, exceeding the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Lastly, the diagnosis of abdominal migraine was narrowed, causing an appropriate drop in its prevalence.
Efficacy and safety of antiviral therapy for HBV in different trimesters of pregnancy: systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Yuchao , Liu Jinfeng , Feng Yali , Fu Shan , Ji Fanpu , Ge Long , Yao Naijuan , Luo Xufei , Zhao Yingren , Chen Yaolong , Yang Yuan , Chen Tianyan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundSeveral antiviral agents licenced for blocking mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV, but their relative efficacy beginning fromdifferent trimestershas scarce been evaluated. We aimed to conduct a network meta-analysis to statistically differ the efficacy and safety of each antiviral agents initiating on different timings in preventing mother-to-infant transmission of HBV.MethodsStudies were included from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases through July 1, 2019. Eligible studies recruited randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies reporting about infant or/and maternal efficacy and safety outcomes and were screened by two investigators independently. Extracted data were analyzed by pair-wised and network meta-analysis, respectively.Results3 Randomized and 32 nonrandomized studies enrolling 6738 pregnant female were included. Using network analysis, any antiviral agent interrupted HBV vertical transmission much more effectively than placebo. No agent showed significant efficacy different from others, but a strong trend toward significance was found in telbivudine and tenofovir, of which had the highest probability of being ranked the first- or second-best treatment for reducing MTCT of HBV. The treatment applied in the first and second trimester had a similar efficacy in preventing MTCT. Compared with the initiation during the third trimester, lower rate of MTCT was revealed when antiviral therapy was administrated before third trimester, (RR = 0.045, 95% CI 0.0053 to 0.20); a similar effect at delivery on suppressing maternal HBV DNA level and converting serum HBeAg were achieved if the timing of antiviral treatment started prior, but an obvious improvement of normalizing ALT flare was calculated out; no statistically differences among maternal and fetal safety outcomes were found if mothers received antiviral agents before pregnant 28 weeks.ConclusionThis network meta-analysis recommended the earlier use of telbivudine or tenofovir, tends to be better to prevent MTCT of HBV in pregnancy with no increased adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.
Reliability of repeat golf club testing sessions with modified club moment of inertia
Authors: Turner Josh , Forrester Stephanie E. , Mears Aimée C. , Roberts Jonathan R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe moment of inertia of a golf club, quantified about an axis at the butt of the handle, normal to the swing plane, has the potential to influence both clubhead and ball velocity. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of clubhead and ball velocity with changes to moment of inertia over repeat testing sessions and, if reliable, to quantify the effect of modifying moment of inertia. Eleven skilled male golfers hit 20 golf shots with three golf clubs, each with a different moment of inertia achieved through adding mass inside the club shaft and repeated this protocol over three sessions. A commercially available launch monitor was used to measure both velocity variables. Test–retest reliability was assessed via (1) limits of agreement, to determine reliability from a change in magnitude perspective and (2) linear-weighted kappa, to determine reliability from a directional perspective. The effect of moment of inertia on clubhead and ball velocity was determined using one-way, repeated measures analysis of variance tests, with partial eta squared being used to quantify the size of the effect. Increasing golf club moment of inertia reliably decreased clubhead and ball velocity, with fair to substantial kappa results revealed between sessions. The magnitude of decrease in these velocities, however, could not be reliably quantified. Statistically, the influence of moment of inertia was considered large (η2 ≥ 0.662 and 0.404) and significant (p < 0.001 and ≤ 0.006) for both clubhead and ball velocity, respectively.
Digitalisierung für alle? Zur Auswirkung digitaler Angebote auf Teilhabechancen von Wohnungslosen
Authors: Sowa Frank , Rösch Benedikt , Holzmeyer Tanja , Neberich Marcel , Opferkuch Frank , Proschek Katrin , Reindl Richard , Scheja Joachim , Zauter Sigrid 
Published: March 2020

ZusammenfassungDas an der Technischen Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm angesiedelte Forschungsprojekt „SIWo – Smart Inklusion für Wohnungslose“ widmet sich der Fragestellung, welche Informations‑, Unterstützungs- und Beratungsbedarfe bei wohnungslosen Menschen vorliegen und in welcher Form sich die Teilhabechancen für die heterogene Zielgruppe wohnungsloser oder von Wohnungsnot betroffener Menschen mittels digitaler Hilfe und Beratungsangebote verbessern lassen. Hierfür werden zum einen mit Gruppendiskussionen und qualitativen Interviews Bedarfe identifiziert. Zum anderen sollen im Rahmen des Projekts prototypische Lösungsansätze in Form einer plattformübergreifenden Hilfe-App entwickelt, getestet und mit Evaluationsverfahren begleitet werden. Charakteristisch ist dabei die enge interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit zwischen Sozialwissenschaft, Informatik und Energietechnik, die partizipative Begleitung des Projekts durch Wohnungslose und andere Stadtakteur*innen, sowie der Fokus auf interaktive Funktionen, die digitalisierte Begegnungsräume ermöglichen und Interaktionen auch zwischen Bevölkerungsgruppen fördern, die i. d. R. eher wenig miteinander zu tun haben. Dieses Vorgehen begreift somit Wohnungslosigkeit nicht ausschließlich als professionelles Arbeitsfeld der Sozialen Arbeit, sondern als gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgabe.
The Consequences of Incarceration for Mortality in the United States
Authors: Daza Sebastian , Palloni Alberto , Jones Jerrett 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Previous research has suggested that incarceration has negative implications for individuals’ well-being, health, and mortality. Most of these studies, however, have not followed former prisoners over an extended period and into older adult ages, when the risk of health deterioration and mortality is the greatest. Contributing to this literature, this study is the first to employ the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to estimate the long-run association between individual incarceration and mortality over nearly 40 years. We also supplement those analyses with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). We then use these estimates to investigate the implications of the U.S. incarceration regime and the post-1980 incarceration boom for the U.S. health and mortality disadvantage relative to industrialized peer countries (the United Kingdom).
Kältearbeit
Authors: Groos Sandra , Thielmann Beatrice 
Published: March 2020

ZusammenfassungZur Kältearbeit zählen Arbeiten in technisch gekühlten Räumen (z. B. Kühl- und Tiefkühlhäuser) oder Tätigkeiten im Freien bei niedrigen Temperaturen. Der Mensch kann den Auswirkungen ungünstiger Umgebungsbedingungen lediglich in Grenzen durch autonome Regulationsmechanismen entgegenwirken. Daher sind zusätzliche Schutzmaßnahmen, wie bspw. geeignete Kälteschutzkleidung und abgestimmte Arbeitszeit-Pausenzeit-Regime zwingend erforderlich, um kurz- oder langfristige Folgen für die Gesundheit des Arbeitnehmers abzuwenden. Hierzu gehören Unterkühlungen bis hin zu Erfrierungen, aber auch chronische Erkrankungen können durch wiederkehrende Kälteexpositionen verstärkt werden. Die durch Kälte bedingte Abnahme der Beweglichkeit, insbesondere der Hände, kann zudem das Unfallrisiko erhöhen. Durch diese Risiken ergibt sich neben verbindlichen Regelungen zur Kälteschutzkleidung und zu den Arbeits- und Pausenzeiten auch die Notwendigkeit besonderer arbeitsmedizinischer Vorsorgemaßnahmen, die allerdings für viele Kältearbeiter kaum greifen. Dieser Beitrag liefert einen Überblick über die physiologischen Grundlagen zur Kältearbeit, Arbeits- und Pausenzeiten, Kälteschutzkleidung, arbeitsmedizinischen Vorsorgeuntersuchungen und Handlungsempfehlungen in Notfallsituationen.
Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: Retrospective case-matched study
Authors: Taesombat Wipusit , Nonthasoot Bunthoon , Sutherasan Methee , Nivatvongs Supanit , Sirichindakul Boonchoo 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:
Only few studies compared laparoscopic to open liver resection regarding degree of liver injury, inflammatory response and long-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare peri-operative and long-term outcomes between these two procedures in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Material and methods:
Laparoscopic cases were retrospectively matched to open cases. Peri-operative and long-term outcomes were compared.

Results:
Twenty-seven patients in laparoscopic group were matched to 27 patients in open group. On the first postoperative day, white blood cell count, serum AST and serum ALT in laparoscopic group were significantly lower than open group. Median follow up time was 58.07 months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year disease free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between laparoscopic and open group.

Conclusions:
Laparoscopic liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma has potentially lesser degree of postoperative inflammatory response and liver injury, but similar survival outcomes compared to open liver resection.

Highlights:
Geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous geothermal aquifers in the West Netherlands Basin – an overview
Authors: Willems Cees J.L. , Vondrak Andrea , Mijnlieff Harmen F. , Donselaar Marinus E. , van Kempen Bart M.M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn the past 10 years the mature hydrocarbon province the West Netherlands Basin has hosted rapidly expanding geothermal development. Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata from which gas and oil had been produced since the 1950s became targets for geothermal exploitation. The extensive publicly available subsurface data including seismic surveys, several cores and logs from hundreds of hydrocarbon wells, combined with understanding of the geology after decades of hydrocarbon exploitation, facilitated the offtake of geothermal exploitation. Whilst the first geothermal projects proved the suitability of the permeable Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones for geothermal heat production, they also made clear that much detail of the aquifer geology is not yet fully understood. The aquifer architecture varies significantly across the basin because of the syn-tectonic sedimentation. The graben fault blocks that contain the geothermal targets experienced a different tectonic history compared to the horst and pop-up structures that host the hydrocarbon fields from which most subsurface data are derived. Accurate prediction of the continuity and thickness of aquifers is a prerequisite for efficient geothermal well deployment that aims at increasing heat recovery while avoiding the risk of early cold-water breakthrough. The potential recoverable heat and the current challenges to enhance further expansion of heat exploitation from this basin are evident. This paper presents an overview of the current understanding and uncertainties of the aquifer geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata and discusses new sequence-stratigraphic updates of the regional sedimentary aquifer architecture.
The Politics of Minimum Income Protection in the Canadian Provinces
Authors: Noël Alain 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis article compares social assistance incomes, or minimum income protection, for four household types in the 10 Canadian provinces between 1990 and 2017 and relates these incomes to a number of factors, including partisan dominance over time, trade union density, the presence or absence of poverty reduction strategies, provincial social expenditures, overall redistribution efforts, debt service costs and social assistance recipiency rates. In line with findings for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) welfare states, partisan politics does not play a strong role but, as power resources theory predicts, union density and a province's overall redistribution efforts do. Social assistance recipiency rates, which capture the salience of social assistance incomes in a province, also have a significant, positive impact on welfare incomes, confirming the “welfare paradox” identified by Ivar Lødemel. Poverty reduction strategies, however, do not, and they even have a negative influence on welfare incomes.