bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women: serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns over five years in Eastern Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Genovese Carlo , D’Angeli Floriana , Di Salvatore Valentina , Tempera Gianna , Nicolosi Daria 
Published: July 2020

AbstractStreptococcus agalactiae(also known Group BStreptococcusor GBS) represents the main pathogen responsible for early- and late-onset infections in newborns. The present study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and the capsular serotypes of GBS isolated in Eastern Sicily over 5 years, from January 2015 to December 2019. A total of 3494 GBS were isolated from vaginal swabs of pregnant women (37–39 weeks), as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Capsular polysaccharide’s typing of GBS was determined by a commercial latex agglutination test containing reagents to serotypes I–IX. The antimicrobial resistance pattern of GBS was determined through the disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) and the double-disk diffusion test on Mueller-Hinton agar plates supplemented with 5% defibrinated sheep blood, according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Serotypes III (1218, 34.9%) and V (1069, 30.6%) were the prevalent colonizers, followed by not typable (570, 16.3%) and serotypes Ia (548, 15.7%), Ib (47, 1.3%), II (40, 1.1%), and IV (2, 0.1%). All 3494 clinical isolates were susceptible to cefditoren and vancomycin. Resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, levofloxacin, clindamycin, and erythromycin was observed in 6 (0.2%), 5 (0.1%), 161 (4.6%), 1090 (31.2%), and 1402 (40.1%) of the strains, respectively. Most of erythromycin-resistant GBS (1090/1402) showed the cMLSBphenotype, 276 the M phenotype, and 36 the iMLSBphenotype. Our findings revealed a higher prevalence of serotype III and a relevant resistance rate, among GBS strains, to the most frequently used antibiotics in antenatal screening.
Online recognition of unsegmented actions with hierarchical SOM architecture
Authors: Gharaee Zahra 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAutomatic recognition of an online series of unsegmented actions requires a method for segmentation that determines when an action starts and when it ends. In this paper, a novel approach for recognizing unsegmented actions in online test experiments is proposed. The method uses self-organizing neural networks to build a three-layer cognitive architecture. The unique features of an action sequence are represented as a series of elicited key activations by the first-layer self-organizing map. An average length of a key activation vector is calculated for all action sequences in a training set and adjusted in learning trials to generate input patterns to the second-layer self-organizing map. The pattern vectors are clustered in the second layer, and the clusters are then labeled by an action identity in the third layer neural network. The experiment results show that although the performance drops slightly in online experiments compared to the offline tests, the ability of the proposed architecture to deal with the unsegmented action sequences as well as the online performance makes the system more plausible and practical in real-case scenarios.
How physicians can empower patients with digital tools
Authors: Affinito Letizia , Fontanella Andrea , Montano Nicola , Brucato Antonio 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
While there is broad consensus that the use of digital tools would significantly improve patient empowerment, to date, an improvement in health outcomes has been elusive.

Objective
The objective of this study was to assess how to improve the ability of physicians to empower patients with digital tools.

Methods
We conducted a web-based survey using SurveyMonkey over nearly 6 months. A questionnaire was sent with an email, explaining the aims of the survey and providing a link to complete the web-based questionnaire, to the heads of each of the 37 medical national societies adhering to the EFIM (European Federation of Internal Medicine), inviting them to disseminate the questionnaire among their members.

Results
Two hundred and eighteen responses were received. They suggest that the main success factors in increasing and improving patient empowerment with digital tools and realizing health goals are clinical evidence, followed by patient/physician involvement in the design, tools designed around the real needs of the patient, and reimbursement. Most of the respondents who have already prescribed digital tools for patient empowerment are just enough satisfied with the results achieved by their patients. Interestingly, 18% of the respondents had spent more than 30 min on the visit of patient to doctor. However, the majority devoted only 5–9 min to illustrating the suggested digital tools.

Conclusions
According to the respondents, clinical evidence, motivation, physician and patient’s involvement in design, and reimbursement, as well as organizations’ appropriate business models and support, are the main determinants of the diffusion and effective adoption of digital tools for successful patient empowerment in internal medicine.
Fifty Years of Atmospheric Boundary-Layer Research at Cabauw Serving Weather, Air Quality and Climate
Authors: Bosveld Fred C. , Baas Peter , Beljaars Anton C. M. , Holtslag Albert A. M. , de Arellano Jordi Vilà-Guerau , van de Wiel Bas J. H. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAn overview is given of 50-year Cabauw observations and research on the structure and dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer. It is shown that over time this research site with its 200-m meteorological tower has grown into an atmospheric observatory with a comprehensive observational program encompassing almost all aspects of the atmospheric column including its boundary conditions. This is accomplished by the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research (CESAR) a consortium of research institutes. CESAR plays an important role in the educational programs of the CESAR universities. The current boundary-layer observational program is described in detail, and other parts of the CESAR observational program discussed more briefly. Due to an open data policy the CESAR datasets are used by researchers all over the world. Examples are given of the use of the long time series for model evaluation, satellite validation, and process studies. The role of tall towers is discussed in relation to the development of more and better ground-based remote sensing techniques. CESAR is now incorporated into the Ruisdael observatory, the large-scale atmospheric research infrastructure in the Netherlands. With Ruisdael the embedding of the Dutch atmospheric community in national policy landscape, and in the European atmospheric research infrastructures is assured for the coming decade.
Postprocessing of standard finite element velocity fields for accurate particle tracking applied to groundwater flow
Authors: Selzer Philipp , Cirpka Olaf A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractParticle tracking is a computationally advantageous and fast scheme to determine travel times and trajectories in subsurface hydrology. Accurate particle tracking requires element-wise mass-conservative, conforming velocity fields. This condition is not fulfilled by the standard linear Galerkin finite element method (FEM). We present a projection, which maps a non-conforming, element-wise given velocity field, computed on triangles and tetrahedra, onto a conforming velocity field in lowest-order Raviart-Thomas-Nédélec ($\mathcal {RTN}_{0}$

R
T
N

0

) space, which meets the requirements of accurate particle tracking. The projection is based on minimizing the difference in the hydraulic gradients at the element centroids between the standard FEM solution and the hydraulic gradients consistent with the $\mathcal {RTN}_{0}$

R
T
N

0

velocity field imposing element-wise mass conservation. Using the conforming velocity field in $\mathcal {RTN}_{0}$

R
T
N

0

space on triangles and tetrahedra, we present semi-analytical particle tracking methods for divergent and non-divergent flow. We compare the results with those obtained by a cell-centered finite volume method defined for the same elements, and a test case considering hydraulic anisotropy to an analytical solution. The velocity fields and associated particle trajectories based on the projection of the standard FEM solution are comparable to those resulting from the finite volume method, but the projected fields are smoother within zones of piecewise uniform hydraulic conductivity. While the $\mathcal {RTN}_{0}$

R
T
N

0

-projected standard FEM solution is thus more accurate, the computational costs of the cell-centered finite volume approach are considerably smaller.
Polarisation changes in guided infrared thermography using silver halide poly-crystalline mid-infrared fibre bundle
Authors: Markham Sarah K. , Mani Aladin , Korsakova Elena A. , Korsakov Aleksandr S. , Zhukova Liya V. , Bauer Joanna , Silien Christophe , Tofail Syed A. M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBroadband mid-infrared (B-MIR) thermography using fibre optic waveguides can be critical in real-time imaging in harsh environments such as additive manufacturing, personalised medical diagnosis and therapy. We investigate the polarisation effect on thermal measurements through poly-crystalline fibre bundle employing a simple broadband cross-polarisation configuration experimental set-up. Silver halide poly-crystalline fibres AgCl1−xBrx (0 ≤ x≤1) (AgClBr-PolyC) have very wide transmission bandwidth spanning over the spectral range from 1 µm up to 31 µm FWHM. Moreover, they are non-toxic, non-hygroscopic, with relatively good flexibility, which make them very adequate for spectroscopic and thermal measurements in medical and clinical fields. In this study, we used a fibre bundle composed of seven single AgClBr-PolyC fibres, each with a core diameter of about 300 µm, inserted between two broadband MIR polarisers.
A silicon carbide filament source was placed at the entrance of the fibre bundle, while a FLIR thermal camera with a close-up lens was employed to measure the spatial temperature distribution over the fibre-bundle end. Indeed, polarisation dependence of temperature measurements has been clearly observed in which the orientation of temperature extrema (minima and maxima)
vary from one fibre to another within the bundle. Moreover, these observations have enabled the classification of AgClBr-PolyC fibres following their polarisation sensitivities by which some fibres are relatively highly sensitive to polarisation with polarisation temperature difference (PTD) that can reach 22.1 ± 2.8 °C, whereas some others show very low PTD values down to 3.1 ± 2.8 °C. Many applications can readily be found based on the advantages of both extreme cases.
DSC and histological analysis of decellularized porcine biograft
Authors: Fazekas Gábor , Jancsó Gábor , Lőrinczy Dénes 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDifferent types of biological grafts are useful for the replacement of infected prostheses in vascular surgery. In cases, when autologous grafts or homografts are not available, xenografts can be an alternative choice. To reduce immunogenicity, decellularization of the xenogeneic graft is necessary. Our goal was to determine the long-lasting stability of our decellularized porcine vascular grafts, in the mirror of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and routine histological examination. In the first experiment, light and electron microscopic confirmation of adequate decellularization of our used protocol was assessed. In the second series, DSC measurements were performed both on native and on treated samples; thereafter, histological evaluation of the analyzed samples was performed. Light and electron microscopy evaluation showed complete removal of cells and preserved connective tissue fiber structure after decellularization in the first series. In the second part of our investigation, DSC measurements demonstrated reversible change in the structure of elastic fibers and irreversible change in the structure of collagen fiber structure supported by histological findings. Our examination strengthens the earlier observations that decellularized biological grafts can tend to late aneurysmatic degeneration, due to their weakened fiber structure, besides the known immunological circumstances.
Effective boundary conditions at a rough wall: a high-order homogenization approach
Authors: Bottaro Alessandro , Naqvi Sahrish B. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractEffective boundary conditions, correct to third order in a small parameter $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
, are derived by homogenization theory for the motion of an incompressible fluid over a rough wall with periodic micro-indentations. The length scale of the indentations is l, and $$\epsilon = l/L \ll 1$$

ϵ
=
l
/
L
≪
1

, with L a characteristic length of the macroscopic problem. A multiple scale expansion of the variables allows to recover, at leading order, the usual Navier slip condition. At next order the slip velocity includes a term arising from the streamwise pressure gradient; furthermore, a transpiration velocity $${\mathcal {O}}(\epsilon ^{2})$$

O
(

ϵ
2

)

appears at the fictitious wall where the effective boundary conditions are enforced. Additional terms appear at third order in both wall-tangent and wall-normal components of the velocity. The application of the effective conditions to a macroscopic problem is carried out for the Hiemenz stagnation point flow over a rough wall, highlighting the differences among the exact results and those obtained using conditions of different asymptotic orders.
Effectiveness of an Educational Video in Maternity Wards to Prevent Self-Reported Shaking and Smothering during the First Week of Age: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fujiwara Takeo , Isumi Aya , Sampei Makiko , Miyazaki Yusuke , Yamada Fujiko , Noma Hisashi , Ogita Kazuhide , Mitsuda Nobuaki 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate whether watching an educational video on infant crying and the dangers of shaking and smothering within 1 week after delivery at maternity wards reduces self-reported shaking and smothering, at a 1-month health checkup. A cluster randomized controlled trial, stratified by area and hospital function, was employed in 45 obstetrics hospitals/clinics in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. In the intervention group, mothers watched an educational video on infant crying and the dangers of shaking and smothering an infant, within 1 week of age, during hospitalization at maternity wards, without blinding on group allocation. Control group received usual care. A total of 4722 (N = 2350 and 2372 for intervention and control group, respectively) mothers who delivered their babies (still birth and gestational age < 22 weeks were excluded) between October 1, 2014, and January 31 were recruited. Outcomes were self-reported shaking and smothering behaviors, knowledge on infant crying and shaking, and behaviors to cope with infant crying, assessed via a questionnaire at a 1-month health checkup. In all, 2718 (N = 1078 and 1640) responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 58.3%), and analytic sample size was 2655 (N = 1058 and 1597 for intervention and control group, respectively). Multilevel analysis was used to adjust for correlation within the cluster. Prevalence of shaking was significantly lower in the intervention group (0.19%) than in the control group (1.69%). Intention-to-treat analysis showed an 89% reduction in the reported prevalence of self-reported shaking (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02–0.53) due to watching the educational video. However, self-reported smothering behavior showed no significant reduction (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.27–1.60). No side effects were reported. Watching an educational video on infant crying and the dangers of shaking and smothering within 1 week after delivery at maternity wards reduced self-reported shaking at 1 month of age. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry UMIN000015558.
Between Truth, Legitimacy, and Legality in the Post-truth Era
Authors: Lorusso Anna Maria 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe post-truth regime is a regime in which certain central categories of modernity seem to be inadequate: that of truth as correspondence, that of truth as verification, and that of truth as sincerity. This reflection aims at proposing a shift from the category of truth to the category of legitimacy, in order to rethink (replace?) those of correctness, objectivity, adequacy. The advantage potentially offered by the concept of legitimacy, with regards to that of truth, has to do with the reference to a given context (wherein truth tends to be a universal ideal), with an element of social recognition (wherein truth does not depend on recognition; it is valid per se) and a processual dimension (wherein truth does not become truthful), which makes the management of discourses more flexible, without abdicating to their deregulation.
Grounding theories of powers
Authors: Tugby Matthew 
Published: July 2020

AbstractNecessitarianism, as we shall use the term, is the view that natural properties and causal powers are necessarily connected in some way. In recent decades the most popular forms of necessitarianism have been the anti-Humean powers-based theories of properties, such as dispositional essentialism and the identity theory. These versions of necessitarianism have come under fire in recent years and I believe it is time for necessitarians to develop a new approach. In this paper I identify unexplored ways of positing metaphysically necessary connections in nature, using the concepts of grounding and essential dependence. For example, I show that one could be a necessitarian by insisting that the properties of things necessarilygroundtheir powers, and that one can maintain this while rejecting dispositional essentialism. Using different combinations of claims about grounding and essential dependence (or lack thereof), I map out a spectrum of new positions and compare them to previous theories of natural modality. Some of these positions are compatible with Humean metaphysics (given certain readings of Hume’s Dictum) while others are not. The overall aim of the paper is to provide a new metaphysical framework for understanding theories of powers and thereby launch a new necessitarian research programme.
Shopping for truth pluralism
Authors: Gamester Will 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTruth pluralists say that the nature of truth varies between domains of discourse: while ordinary descriptive claims or those of the hard sciences might be true in virtue of corresponding to reality, those concerning ethics, mathematics, institutions (or modality, aesthetics, comedy…) might be true in some non-representational or “anti-realist” sense. Despite pluralism attracting increasing amounts of attention, the motivations for the view remain underdeveloped. This paper investigates whether pluralism is well-motivated on ontological grounds: that is, on the basis that different discourses are concerned with different kinds of entities. Arguments that draw on six different ontological contrasts are examined: (i) concrete versus abstract entities; (ii) mind-independent versus mind-dependent entities; (iii) sparse versus merely abundant properties; (iv) objective versus projected entities; (v) natural versus non-natural entities; and (vi) ontological pluralism (entities that literally exist in different ways). I argue that the additional premises needed to move from such contrasts to truth pluralism are either implausible or unmotivated, often doing little more than to bifurcate the nature of truth when a more theoretically conservative option is available. If there is a compelling motivation for pluralism, I suggest, it’s likely to lie elsewhere.
Bioelectrochemical treatment of municipal solid waste landfill mature leachate and dairy wastewater as co-substrates
Authors: Bolognesi Silvia , Cecconet Daniele , Callegari Arianna , Capodaglio Andrea G. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDespite solid wastes’ landfill disposal limitation due to recent European legislation, landfill leachate disposal remains a significant problem and will be for many years in the future, since its production may persist for years after a site’s closure. Among process technologies proposed for its treatment, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be effective, achieving both contaminant removal and simultaneous energy recovery. Start-up and operation of two dual-chamber MFCs with different electrodes’ structure, fed with mature municipal solid waste landfill leachate, are reported in this study. Influent (a mix of dairy wastewater and mature landfill leachate at varying proportions) was fed to the anodic chambers of the units, under different conditions. The maximum COD removal efficiency achieved was 84.9% at low leachate/dairy mix, and 66.3% with 7.6% coulombic efficiency (CE) at a leachate/dairy ratio of 20%. Operational issues and effects of cells’ architecture and electrode materials on systems’ performance are analyzed and discussed.
The perplexity of targeting genetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Barone Michele , Di Leo Alfredo , Sabbà Carlo , Mazzocca Antonio 
Published: July 2020

AbstractGenetic heterogeneity is a well-recognized feature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The coexistence of multiple genetic alterations in the same HCC nodule contributes to explain why gene-targeted therapy has largely failed. Targeting of early genetic alterations could theoretically be a more effective therapeutic strategy preventing HCC. However, the failure of most targeted therapies has raised much perplexity regarding the role of genetic alterations in driving cancer as the main paradigm. Here, we discuss the methodological and conceptual limitations of targeting genetic alterations and their products that may explain the limited success of the novel mechanism-based drugs in the treatment of HCC. In light of these limitations and despite the era of the so-called “precision medicine,” prevention and early diagnosis of conditions predisposing to HCC remain the gold standard approach to prevent the development of this type of cancer. Finally, a paradigm shift to a more systemic approach to cancer is required to find optimal therapeutic solutions to treat this disease.
Recovery characteristics of different tube materials in relation to combustion products
Authors: Karjalainen M. , Kontunen A. , Mäkelä M. , Anttalainen O. , Vehkaoja A. , Oksala N. , Roine A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCommon challenge in gas analyzers such as Ion Mobility Spectrometers (IMS) integrated into a measurement system is the reduced analysis speed that is partially limited by the temporal carry-over of sample molecules. It is caused by adsorption and absorption of the molecules into the gas tubes of the analyzer. We studied the recovery times of common tube materials: polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyethylene (PE), steel 316 L, parylene C coated steel and Silconert® coated steel from organic combustion products. The tests were performed in two temperatures, at 25 °C and at 70 °C. In addition, detailed analysis was performed for PTFE tube material at 33, 50, 70 and 100 °C to observe the temperature relation of desorption. Uncoated steel was found to have the best performance in increased temperature applications due lack of absorption. Major advantages from coatings compared to plane steel were not found. Plastics were found suitable materials in lower temperatures where adsorption exceeds absorption.