bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tetrabutylammonium‐Bromide‐Promoted Synthesis of Spirooxindoles through Alkyne‐Aldehyde C−C Coupling and 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Using Ytterbium Triflate Catalyst
Authors: Teja Chitrala , Rahman Nawaz Khan Fazlur 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTetrabutylammonium‐bromide promoted, ytterbium triflate catalyzed one‐pot domino synthesis of spirooxindoles is described. The hydration‐condensation of alkyne, 1 aldehyde, 2 C−C coupling followed by 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of in‐situ generated azomethine ylide from Isatin, 3 and L‐proline, 4 a or sarcosine, 4 b furnished novel spirooxindoles, 5 under solvent‐free green‐chemical conditions, in high regio and stereo selectivities and yields. The regio and stereochemistry of the synthesized derivatives were characterized by 2D NMR Spectroscopic studies.
Bath Electrospinning of Continuous and Scalable Multifunctional MXene‐Infiltrated Nanoyarns
Authors: Levitt Ariana , Seyedin Shayan , Zhang Jizhen , Wang Xuehang , Razal Joselito M. , Dion Genevieve , Gogotsi Yury 
Published: June 2020

AbstractElectroactive yarns that are stretchable are desired for many electronic textile applications, including energy storage, soft robotics, and sensing. However, using current methods to produce these yarns, achieving high loadings of electroactive materials and simultaneously demonstrating stretchability is a critical challenge. Here, a one‐step bath electrospinning technique is developed to effectively capture Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes throughout continuous nylon and polyurethane (PU) nanofiber yarns (nanoyarns). With up to ≈90 wt% MXene loading, the resulting MXene/nylon nanoyarns demonstrate high electrical conductivity (up to 1195 S cm−1). By varying the flake size and MXene concentration, nanoyarns achieve stretchability of up to 43% (MXene/nylon) and 263% (MXene/PU). MXene/nylon nanoyarn electrodes offer high specific capacitance in saturated LiClO4 electrolyte (440 F cm−3 at 5 mV s−1), with a wide voltage window of 1.25 V and high rate capability (72% between 5 and 500 mV s−1). As strain sensors, MXene/PU yarns demonstrate a wide sensing range (60% under cyclic stretching), high sensitivity (gauge factor of ≈17 in the range of 20–50% strain), and low drift. Utilizing the stretchability of polymer nanofibers and the electrical and electrochemical properties of MXene, MXene‐based nanoyarns demonstrate potential in a wide range of applications, including stretchable electronics and body movement monitoring.
An application of confined concrete modeling to three‐dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis: The example of tunnel boring machine lining joints
Authors: Iasiello Cosimo , Pérez Caldentey Alejandro , Ĉervenka Jan , Pryl Dobromil 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to present through a practical example, some recommendations to properly model confined concrete in three‐dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis. The example chosen is of particular interest for tunneling and structural engineers as it compromises the joints between segments of the concrete lining used with the tunnel boring machine technique. These sections are designed to transmit high pressures, sometimes exceeding the Standards' recommendations. To carry out the nonlinear finite element analyses (NLFEAs) a dedicated software, was employed. A discussion about which parameters play a fundamental role to efficiently model the problem is carried out. Finally, a comparison between NLFEA results and an experimental campaign is presented highlighting the differences in terms of stress values within the steel bars, the failure mechanism and evaluation of the contribution of steel to the resistance of confined concrete.
Photocatalytic oxidative degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants in refinery wastewater using TiO2 as catalyst
Authors: Ul haq Ihtisham , Ahmad Waqas , Ahmad Imtiaz , Yaseen Muhammad 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study reports the photocatalytic oxidative degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants present in refinery wastewater under UV light using Fe2O3, MnO2, TiO2, and ZnO as catalysts. Among the catalysts, TiO2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation activity, that is, 92, 98.8, 91.5, and 93% conversion for benzene, toluene, phenol, and naphthalene, respectively, in the model refinery wastewater under the optimum reaction conditions of pH 3, 30°C, 90‐min reaction time, and 100 mg/L catalyst dose. The photocatalytic degradation of a real refinery wastewater sample containing 69.23% aliphatics, 25.36% aromatics, 3.2% oxygenates, and 2.21% naphthenic hydrocarbons under the optimum conditions revealed a net decrease in chemical oxygen demand (93.2%), that is, from 970 mg/L to 65 mg/L. GC‐MS analysis of the reaction products confirmed that using UV/TiO2 system, complete photodegradation of the parent hydrocarbons occurred, but some oxygenated byproducts were also observed. This study provides useful reference information for the treatment of wastewater from oil refineries to cope with the increasing environmental issues.Practitioner points

Benzene, toluene, phenol and naphthalene were successfully degraded by UV/TiO2 system, under 30°C, 1 hr, pH 3 and 100 mg catalyst.

Photocatalytic oxidation of Refinery wastewater (Attock Oil refinery, Pakistan), UV/ TiO2 system resulted in 93.92% COD removal.

GC‐MS analysis shows complete removal of parent hydrocarbons from refinery wastewater, leaving only traces of oxygenated hydrocarbons as oxidation byproducts.
A numerical study for heat and fluid flow of couple stress fluid over a spiraling disk by Legendre wavelet spectral collocation method
Authors: Sadiq M. N. , Sajid M. , Javed T. , Ali N. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis article aims to explore the spiraling motion of a couple stress fluid over a disk rotating and radially stretching simultaneously. The spiraling motion is developed through the uniform rotation of the disk in addition to radial stretching. The logarithmic spirals in the disk velocity are produced due to the combined effects of stretching and rotation. The similarity transformations are invoked to obtain the coupled ordinary differential equations representing the flow. A Legendre wavelet spectral collocation method (LWSM) is employed for obtaining numerical solutions to analyze the effects of the pertinent parameters on the flow. The quantities of physical interest, i.e., radial and azimuthal skin friction coefficients, the wall shear stress, and the heat transfer rate are computed for the various values of the spiral angle, spiraling parameter, and couple stress parameter. It is found that enhancing the spiral angle declines the radial skin friction while enhancing azimuthal skin friction and the total wall shear stress. The temperature of the fluid is decreased for increasing the spiraling parameter and spiral angle, but increases for large couple stress parameter.
Levels of Extracellular Vesicles in Pulmonary and Peripheral Blood Correlate with Stages of Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Choi Byeong Hyeon , Quan Yu Hua , Rho Jiyun , Hong Sunghoi , Park Yong , Choi Yeonho , Park Ji ‐Ho , Yong Hwan Seok , Han Kook Nam , Choi Young Ho , Kim Hyun Koo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe extracellular vesicle (EV) concentration is known to be higher in cancer patients than in healthy individuals. Herein, we report that EV levels differ in the tumor‐draining pulmonary vein blood and the peripheral blood of animal models and human subjects at different pathological stages of lung cancer.MethodsTen rabbits and 40 humans formed the study cohorts. Blood was collected from the peripheral vein of members of all groups. Pulmonary blood was collected intraoperatively from all groups except for the healthy human controls. Quantitative analysis of EV levels was performed using a nanoparticle tracking assay, a CD63 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and western blotting.ResultsThe EV levels in the peripheral blood of animals and patients with lung cancer were higher than those in the peripheral blood of healthy controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, for both animals and patients with lung cancer, the EV levels in the pulmonary blood were significantly higher than those in the preoperative peripheral blood (p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001, respectively). In patients, the pathological stages of lung cancer showed a higher correlation with the pulmonary EV levels than the peripheral EV levels.ConclusionsEV levels increased with increasing lung cancer grade, and this trend was more prominent in the pulmonary blood than in the peripheral blood.
Left ventricular contractile performance and heart failure in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction more than 40%
Authors: Kitada Shuichi , Kawada Yu , Osaga Satoshi , Kato Marina , Kikuchi Shohei , Wakami Kazuaki , Seo Yoshihiro , Ohte Nobuyuki 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHeart failure (HF) with mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFmrEF) is considered a new category of HF and LVEF < 50%, which is the upper threshold of LVEF for HFmrEF, is thought to represent a mild decrease in LV contractile performance. We aimed to consider an LVEF threshold value to be taken as a surrogate for impairment of LV contractile performance, resulting in new-onset HF. We enrolled 398 patients with LVEF ≥ 40% that underwent cardiac catheterization. Using the LV pressure recording with a catheter-tipped micromanometer, we calculated the inertia force of late systolic aortic flow (IFLSAF), which was sensitive to the slight impairment in LV contractile performance. We evaluated the utility of the IFLSAF for predicting future cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF. We performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the best LVEF threshold value for distinguishing whether the LV maintained the IFLSAF. A multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model revealed that the loss of IFLSAF was significantly associated with the future adverse events (HR: 7.798, 95%CI 2.174–27.969,p = 0.002). According to the ROC curve analysis, an LVEF ≥ 58% indicated that the LV could maintain the IFLSAF. We concluded that the loss of IFLSAF, which could reflect even slight impairment in LV contractile performance, was a reliable indicator for new-onset HF in patients with LVEF ≥ 40%. LVEF ≥ 58% could be taken as a surrogate for the IFLSAF maintenance; this threshold could be useful for risk stratification of new-onset HF in patients with preserved LVEF.
Standsicherheitsnachweise von Gewichtsstaumauern mit CADAM2D
Authors: Staudacher Edwin , Zenz Gerald 
Published: June 2020

ZusammenfassungIm Talsperrenbau wird die Auslegung und Überwachung von Talsperren durch numerische Modelle unterstützt. Aufgrund der komplexen geometrischen und mechanischen Zusammenhänge ist es der Stand der Technik, dass die Finite-Elemente-Methode zum Einsatz kommt. In frühen Projektstadien oder zur überschlägigen Berechnung im Betrieb lassen sich die grundlegenden Standsicherheitsnachweise von Gewichtsstaumauern mit der frei verfügbaren Software CADAM2D unter Berücksichtigung der einschlägigen Richtlinien im Talsperrenwesen durchführen. Anhand der im englischsprachigen Raum bekannten „Gravity Method“ wird die Spannungsverteilung der Aufstandsfläche bzw. der Arbeitsfugen des Sperrenkörpers unter Berücksichtigung der Balkentheorie berechnet. Dabei kann bei Überschreiten der Zugfestigkeit auch ein Öffnen der Fugen zugelassen werden. Aufbauend auf dieser Berechnung gibt CADAM2D die Sicherheitsfaktoren wie z. B. Gleiten oder Kippen aus. Im Erdbebenlastfall werden die Trägheitskräfte durch Anwendung quasi-statischer Ansätze berechnet und in weiterer Folge mit den statischen Lasten kombiniert. Weitere Programmmodule ermöglichen probabilistische Sicherheitsberechnungen oder auch Sensitivitätsanalysen, welche die meist komplexe Beurteilung der Bauwerkssicherheit unterstützen. Die flache Lernkurve bei der Bedienung und die vielseitigen Funktionen stellen, zusammen mit der freien Verfügbarkeit des Programms, ein attraktives Paket vor allem im Ausbildungsbereich dar.
Hydrochemical evaluation of water resources and human impacts on an urban karst system, Jordan
Authors: Xanke Julian , Ender Anna , Grimmeisen Felix , Goeppert Nadine , Goldscheider Nico 
Published: June 2020

AbstractUrban karst aquifers are threatened by anthropogenic activities, especially in semiarid developing countries. Recent water-sampling campaigns assessed the extent of groundwater-quality impairment in the Wadi Shueib in Jordan by a comprehensive hydrogeological and hydrochemical characterization of groundwater, wastewater, and imported water with its endmembers Lake Tiberias, Yarmouk River and Mukheiba wellfield. The results of a ternary mixing model with the mass ratios of Cl−/Br− and Ca2+/Mg2+ indicate that Lake Tiberias and Yarmouk River provide most of the imported water at the time of sampling in 2017 and Mukheiba wellfield provided minor amounts. The similarity in seasonal variations of Br− concentrations in the springs and the imported water revealed that imported water has generally a greater impact on groundwater than wastewater. However, the Br− concentrations also showed that the spatial wastewater impact is more visible towards urbanized areas due to increased infiltration of pollutants. The analysis of historical data series demonstrated the long-term urban impact on groundwater by an electrical conductivity increase over several decades, particularly since the mid-1990s, which is related to a doubling of Jordan’s population since that time and the associated urban growth. In this context, increased chloride and sulfate concentrations are noticeable due to the increased impact of more highly mineralized imported water and wastewater and decreasing recharge of low-mineralized rainwater. This study showed the hydrochemical differences in the Wadi Shueib groundwater system and serves as an example for the spatial and long-term response of karst aquifers to anthropogenic, seasonally variable input of imported water and wastewater.
MongoDB Vs PostgreSQL: A comparative study on performance aspects
Authors: Makris Antonios , Tserpes Konstantinos , Spiliopoulos Giannis , Zissis Dimitrios , Anagnostopoulos Dimosthenis 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSeveral modern day problems need to deal with large amounts of spatio-temporal data. As such, in order to meet the application requirements, more and more systems are adapting to the specificities of those data. The most prominent case is perhaps the data storage systems, that have developed a large number of functionalities to efficiently support spatio-temporal data operations. This work is motivated by the question of which of those data storage systems is better suited to address the needs of industrial applications. In particular, the work conducted, set to identify the most efficient data store system in terms of response times, comparing two of the most representative of the two categories (NoSQL and relational), i.e. MongoDB and PostgreSQL. The evaluation is based upon real, business scenarios and their subsequent queries as well as their underlying infrastructures and concludes in confirming the superiority of PostgreSQL in almost all cases with the exception of the polygon intersection queries. Furthermore, the average response time is radically reduced with the use of indexes, especially in the case of MongoDB.
Can We Compare Conceptions of Democracy in Cross-Linguistic and Cross-National Research? Evidence from a Random Sample of Refugees in Germany
Authors: Jacobsen Jannes , Fuchs Lukas Marian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study addresses the heated academic and public debate on the compatibility and comparability of refugees’ and host societies’ democratic values. Comparative values research has long capitalized on global similarities and differences in support for Western democratic values. We argue that such cross-cultural comparisons of culturally diverse groups are challenged by (1) different conceptions of democracy determined by different experiences with democratic systems and (2) bias introduced by linguistic differences and translation processes. In order to analyze whether the conception of democracy is comparable between different nationalities and languages, we test data from the German IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees and the world values survey (WVS) for measurement invariance using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). Applying strict and conservative criteria for measurement invariance and fit indices, our results suggest that the applied democracy scales are problematic for comparing conceptions of democracy between refugees and Germans and across languages. However if more lenient criteria regarding partial invariance and fit indices are considered acceptable, mean comparisons could be carried out between language groups and between groups of refugees.
Pharmacotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: an Update of Published, Unpublished and Ongoing Studies
Authors: Stoffers-Winterling Jutta , Storebø Ole Jakob , Lieb Klaus 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurpose of the ReviewWe aim to identify the most recent evidence of randomised controlled trials evaluating continued drug treatments in people with a diagnosis of BPD, review the most recent findings, highlight trends in terms of currently ongoing studies and comment on the overall body of evidence.Recent FindingsWe identified seven new RCTs, plus newly available data for an older RCT. Only three of these RCTs have been published in full text, while we found study data posted at trial registry platforms for the others.SummaryThe new findings do not support fluoxetine as a treatment option for suicide and self-harm prevention. A large effectiveness study did not detect beneficial effects of lamotrigine in routine care. The prevalent use of medications in BPD is still not reflected or supported by the current evidence. More research is needed regarding the most commonly used substances and substance classes, i.e. SSRIs, and quetiapine, but also with respect to people presenting with distinct comorbid conditions.
Impact of plant defense level variability on specialist and generalist herbivores
Authors: Thiel Tatjana , Gaschler Sarah , Mody Karsten , Blüthgen Nico , Drossel Barbara 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMost organisms are defended against others, and defenses such as secondary metabolites in plants vary across species, individuals, and subindividual organs. Plant leaves show an impressive variability in quantitative defense levels, even within the same individual. Such variation might mirror physiological constraints or represent an evolved trait. One important hypothesis for the prevalence of defense variability is that it reduces herbivory due to non-linear averaging (Jensen’s inequality). In this study, we explore the conditions under which this hypothesis is valid and how it depends on the degree of specialization of the herbivores. We thus distinguish between generalists, non-sequestering specialists, and sequestering specialists that are able to convert consumed plant defense into own defense against predators. We propose a plant-herbivore model that takes into account herbivore preference, predation pressure on the herbivores, and the three herbivore specialization strategies we consider. Our computer simulations reveal that defense level variability reduces herbivory by all three populations when nutrient concentration is strongly correlated with defense level. If the nutrient concentration is the same in all leaves, the plant benefits from high defense level variability only when the herbivores are specialists that show a considerable degree of preference for leaves on which they perform best.
DNA barcoding for identification of fish species from freshwater in Enugu and Anambra States of Nigeria
Authors: Ude George N. , Igwe David O. , Brown Chrysten , Jackson Myron , Bangura Alusine , Ozokonkwo-Alor Onyinye , Ihearahu Onyinye C. , Chosen Obih , Okoro Michael , Ene Christabel , Chieze Venatus , Unachukwu Mariam , Onyia Christie , Acquaah George , Ogbonna James , Das Aditi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWithin Enugu and Anambra States, Nigeria, identification of fishes has been based on morphological traits and do not account for existing biodiversity. For DNA barcoding, assessment of biodiversity, conservation and fishery management, 44 fish sampled from Enugu and Anambra States were isolated, amplified and sequenced with mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Twenty groups clustering at 100% bootstrap value including monophyletic ones were identified. The phylogenetic diversity (PD) ranged from 0.0397 (Synodontis obesus) to 0.2147 (Parachanna obscura). The highest percentage of genetic distance based on Kimura 2-parameter was 37.00 ± 0.0400. Intergeneric distances ranged from 15.8000 to 37.0000%. Congeneric distances were 6.9000 ± 0.0140–28.1000 ± 0.0380, withSynodontisas the existing synonymous genus. Confamilial distances in percentage were 16.0000 ± 0.0140 and 25.7000 ± 0.0300. Forty-two haplotypes and haplotype diversity of 0.9990 ± 0.0003 were detected. Nucleotide diversity was 0.7372, while Fu and Li’s D* test statistic was 2.1743 (P < 0.02). Tajima’s D was 0.2424 (P > 0.10) and nucleotide frequencies were C (17.70%), T (29.40%), A (24.82%), G (18.04%) and A + T (54.22%). Transitional mutations were more than transversions. Twenty species (99–100%) were identified with the e-value, maximum coverage and bit-score of 1e−43, 99–100 and 185–1194, respectively. Seventeen genera and 12 families were found and Clariidae (n = 14) was the most dominant among other families. The fish species resolution, diversity assessment and phylogenetic relationships were successfully obtained with the COI marker. Clariidae had the highest number of genera and families. Phylogenetic diversity analysis identifiedParachanna obscuraas the most evolutionarily divergent one. This study will contribute to fishery management, and conservation of freshwater fishes in Enugu and Anambra States, Nigeria.
Mindful medical practice: An innovative core course to prepare medical students for clerkship
Authors: Hutchinson Tom A. , Liben Stephen 
Published: June 2020

Background Medical students show a decline in empathy and ethical reasoning during medical school that is most marked during clerkship. We believe that part of the problem is that students do not have the skills and ways of being and relating necessary to deal effectively with the overwhelming clinical experience of clerkship.
Approach At McGill University in Montreal, starting in January 2015, we have taught a course on mindful medical practice that combines a clinical focus on the combination of mindfulness and congruent relating that is aimed at giving students the skills and ways of being to function effectively in clerkship. The course is taught to all medical students in groups of 20, weekly for 7 weeks, in the 6 months immediately prior to clerkship, a time when students are very open to learning the skills they need to take effective care of patients.
Evaluation The course has been well accepted by students as evidenced by their engagement, their evaluations, and their comments in the essays that they write at the end of the course. In a follow-up session at the simulation centre one year later students remember clearly and enact what they were taught in the course.
Reflection The next steps will be to conduct a formal evaluation of the effect of our teaching that will involve a combination of qualitative methods to clarify the nature of the impact on our students and a quantitative assessment of the difference the course makes to students’ experience and performance in clerkship.