bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization, and performance analysis of carbon molecular sieve‐embedded polyethersulfone mixed‐matrix membranes for the removal of dissolved ions
Authors: Qadir Danial , Nasir Rizwan , Mukhtar Hilmi B. , Keong Lau K. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES‐15 wt.%) mixed‐matrix membranes were prepared by incorporation of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) with varying concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt.%). Physicochemical characterization of synthesized membranes was carried out using field emission scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential analyzer, porosity, and mean pore sizes. Performance analysis of synthesized mixed‐matrix membranes was carried out by varying the operating parameters such as pressure (2–10 bar), feed concentration (100–1,000 mg/L), and cations type (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Sn2+). Effect of operating parameters and CMS concentration was investigated on pure water flux (PWF), permeate flux, and rejection of membranes. It was found that mixed‐matrix membrane containing 15 wt.% PES with 1 wt.% CMS displayed the superior physicochemical characteristics in terms of hydrophilicity (37.9°), surface charge (−13.8 mV), mean pore diameter (6.04 nm), and thermal properties (Tg = 218.5°C), and overall performance. E5C1 membrane showed 1.5 times higher PWF (75.5 L m−2 hr−1) and incremented in rejection for all salts than the nascent membrane.Practitioner points

Carbon molecular sieve‐embedded mixed‐matrix membranes were synthesized by phase inversion method.

The resultant membranes experienced improved hydrophilicity, roughness, surface charge, porosity, and mean pore diameter with 1 wt.% CMS loading.

The pure water flux was improved from 55.77 to 75.05 L m−2 hr−1 when 1 wt.% CMS was added in pure PES.

The observed rejection of a mixed‐matrix membrane with 1 wt.% CMS was the maximum for all salts.
Passive Seismic Imaging of Stress Evolution with Mining-Induced Seismicity at Hard-Rock Deep Mines
Authors: Ma Xu , Westman Erik , Counter Dave , Malek Farid , Slaker Brent 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis work aims to examine the stress redistribution with evolving seismicity rates using a passive seismic tomographic tool. We compiled a total of 26,000 events from two underground mines and partitioned them into multiple clusters in a temporal sequence, each of which contains 1000 events. To image stress redistribution associated with seismicity rates, we then run the tomographic studies using each cluster to yield seismic tomograms and computed the corresponding seismicity rate. We found that high velocity anomalies grew with the increase of seismicity rates, and they switched to a shrinking tendency under low seismicity rates. Results of this study imply that seismicity rates increase with increasing stress concentration and decrease with decreasing stress concentration. This study highlights the value of utilizing passive seismic tomography for estimating stress evolution associated with the change of seismicity rates at underground mines. Our findings illuminate the applications of using mining-induced seismicity to assess stress redistribution associated with seismicity rates at hard-rock mines, providing insights into seismic hazards for deep mining.
Towards understanding leydigioma: do G protein-coupled estrogen receptor and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor regulate lipid metabolism and steroidogenesis in Leydig cell tumors?
Authors: Kotula-Balak M. , Gorowska-Wojtowicz E. , Milon A. , Pawlicki P. , Tworzydlo W. , Płachno B. J. , Krakowska I , Hejmej A. , Wolski J. K. , Bilinska B. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLeydig cell tumors (LCT) are the most common type of testicular stromal tumor. Herein, we investigate the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) implication in regulation of lipid homeostasis including the expression of steroidogenesis-controlling molecules in clinical specimens of LCTs and tumor Leydig cells (MA-10). We showed the general structure and morphology of LCTs by scanning electron and light microscopy. In LCTs, mRNA and protein analyses revealed increased expression of GPER and decreased expression of PPARα, β, and γ. Concomitantly, changes in expression pattern of the lutropin receptor (LHR), protein kinase A (PKA), perilipin (PLIN), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), translocator protein (TSPO), HMG-CoA synthase, and reductase (HMGCS, HMGCR) were observed. Using MA-10 cells treated with GPER and PPAR antagonists (alone and in combination), we demonstrated GPER-PPAR–mediated control of estradiol secretion via GPER-PPARα and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentration via GPER-PPARγ. It is assumed that GPER and PPAR can crosstalk, and this can be altered in LCT, resulting in a perturbed lipid balance and steroidogenesis. In LCTs, the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mTOR pathway was disturbed. Thus, PI3K-Akt-mTOR with cGMP can play a role in LCT outcome and biology including lipid metabolism.
Gender differences in health in Havana versus in Mexico City and in the US Hispanic population
Authors: Kühn Mine , Díaz-Venegas Carlos , Jasilionis Domantas , Oksuzyan Anna 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHealth progress in the 1960s and 1970s placed Cuba at the vanguard of longevity in Latin America and the Caribbean. This success has often been attributed to equity of access to the health care system and its cost-effectiveness in the country. Cuba also has a small gender gap in life expectancy. In this study, we examined how this pattern is reflected in the gender differences in health among the population aged 60+ in Havana. We compared gender differences in health in samples drawn from Havana, Mexico City, and the US Hispanic population: three geographic settings with very different political, health care, and social systems. The data come from the Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean and the 2000 Health and Retirement Study. Age-adjusted prevalence and logistic regressions were estimated for poor self-rated health, limitations on activities of daily living, depression, and mobility limitations. While an absolute female disadvantage in health was apparent in all three populations, the relative gender differences were inconsistent across all four health domains. Gender differences were most pronounced in Havana, even after adjusting for age, socio-economic status, family characteristics, and smoking behaviour. Despite having higher overall life expectancy and more equitable and universal access to primary care and preventive medicine, women in Havana appear to have a larger burden of ill health than women in less equitable societies. The study provides indirect evidence that Cuba faces challenges in combating the health threats posed by chronic diseases and other diseases and conditions common among the population aged 60+.
Drift-preserving numerical integrators for stochastic Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Chen Chuchu , Cohen David , D’Ambrosio Raffaele , Lang Annika 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe paper deals with numerical discretizations of separable nonlinear Hamiltonian systems with additive noise. For such problems, the expected value of the total energy, along the exact solution, drifts linearly with time. We present and analyze a time integrator having the same property for all times. Furthermore, strong and weak convergence of the numerical scheme along with efficient multilevel Monte Carlo estimators are studied. Finally, extensive numerical experiments illustrate the performance of the proposed numerical scheme.
Cardiac Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases: Roles and Therapeutic Potential in Heart Failure
Authors: Preedy Michael E. J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe cyclic nucleotides cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) maintain physiological cardiac contractility and integrity. Cyclic nucleotide–hydrolysing phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are the prime regulators of cAMP and cGMP signalling in the heart. During heart failure (HF), the expression and activity of multiple PDEs are altered, which disrupt cyclic nucleotide levels and promote cardiac dysfunction. Given that the morbidity and mortality associated with HF are extremely high, novel therapies are urgently needed. Herein, the role of PDEs in HF pathophysiology and their therapeutic potential is reviewed. Attention is given to PDEs 1–5, and other PDEs are briefly considered. After assessing the role of each PDE in cardiac physiology, the evidence from pre-clinical models and patients that altered PDE signalling contributes to the HF phenotype is examined. The potential of pharmacologically harnessing PDEs for therapeutic gain is considered.
Highly selective two-step laser ionization schemes for the analysis of actinide mixtures
Authors: Kneip Nina , Düllmann Christoph E. , Gadelshin Vadim , Heinke Reinhard , Mokry Christoph , Raeder Sebastian , Runke Jörg , Studer Dominik , Trautmann Norbert , Weber Felix , Wendt Klaus 
Published: March 2020

AbstractResonance ionization mass spectroscopy has proven to be a very efficient and selective method for the spatially resolved ultratrace determination of actinide contaminations, and the analysis of specific element and isotopic distributions on surfaces and environment particles. We report on the identification of highly element-selective optical excitation schemes identified for this purpose, with a particular focus on the precise determination of the isobaric ratios of 235U to 239Pu as well as 243Am to 241Pu. The chosen two-step ionization schemes were characterized with respect to their element selectivity on synthetic multi-element actinide mixtures, with an element ratio Pu : Am : U of 1 : 10 : 104, a composition which is typical, e.g., for spent nuclear reactor fuels.
Impact of rising body weight and cereal grain food processing on human magnesium nutrition
Authors: Rosanoff Andrea , Kumssa Diriba B 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Aim
The World Health Organisation (WHO) magnesium (Mg) estimated average requirement (EAR) is not adjusted for rise in human body weight (BW) and neglects body Mg stores depletion. Cereal grain food processing results in Mg loss and reduces dietary Mg intake which mainly originates from cereals. Here we reassess human dietary Mg deficiency risk considering actual human BWs and modern levels of cereal grain food processing.

Methods
Human Mg requirement was adjusted for rising BW plus low and high estimates to prevent body Mg store depletion. Magnesium supply was recalculated for cereal grain (maize, millet, rice, oats, sorghum, and wheat) food processing of none, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Resulting Mg deficiency risks in 1992 and 2011 were calculated at national, regional, continental and global scales using the EAR cut-point method.

Results
Globally, human Mg requirement increased by 4–118% under the three Mg requirement scenarios compared to the WHO EARs set in 1998. However, dietary Mg supply declined with increased cereal grain food processing. At 100% cereal grain processing, dietary Mg supply was reduced by 56% in 1992 and 51% in 2011. Global human Mg deficiency risk reached 62% in 2011 with 100% cereal grain processing and largest EAR set to prevent depletion of body Mg stores and corrected for BW rises.

Conclusion
Global dietary Mg Supply adequately meets human Mg requirement given the global obesity epidemic. But, Mg intakes preventing body Mg store depletion plus high Mg losses due to cereal grain food processing start to show noteworthy risks of potential Mg deficit in populations consuming diets with >50% cereal grain food processing. These findings have ramifications for the global spread of the major chronic, non-communicable diseases associated with nutritional Mg deficiencies such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.
The Road to Higher Prices: Will Improved Road Standards Lead to Higher Housing Prices?
Authors: Theisen Theis , Emblem Anne Wenche 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe study the impact of improved road standards on housing prices in a region of Southern Norway, where towns are located along the coast, like pearls on a string, with sparsely populated areas between the towns. In this region towns have since long been linked together by a road, but in 2009 a new highway, roughly parallel to the old road, was opened. The new highway runs Eastwards from the main town in the region and reduced one-way commutes to the main town by 10–15 min. We examine how this change in transportation infrastructure has affected housing prices, using difference-in-difference regressions to identify the impact of the new highway. Three smaller towns located East of the main town constitute the treatment region, while four towns and communities West of the main town form the control region. We find that the new highway on average increased housing prices in the treatment region by about 5%, but the effect on price differed substantially between the towns. The full impact on housing prices materialized when the new highway was opened. We estimate that the increase in total housing capital in the treatment region amounts to almost 84% of the construction costs of the new highway.
State-level Federal Stimulus Funds and Economic Growth: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Authors: Staal Klaas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act encompassed a substantial federally-funded state-level fiscal stimulus. The objectives of the Act were to increase employment and stimulate economic growth. While the level of the fiscal stimulus was potentially endogenous, a direct analysis of its effects leads to biased results. To circumvent this, the effect of the stimulus on economic growth was studied using instrumental variable estimation, since the distribution of a large part of the funds was based on conditions exogenous to the economic downturn. A cross-state two-stage least squares estimation procedure was used to quantify the effect of the stimulus on economic growth and to show that the robust significant positive effect of the stimulus amounts to a fiscal multiplier of almost 1.6. The results further show that the positive effect of stimulus spending remained significant until the end of the first term of the Obama presidency.
Epidemiological characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bloodstream cultures at University Hospital in the Czech Republic
Authors: Neradova Katerina , Fridrichova Marta , Jakubu Vladislav , Pomorska Katarina , Zemlickova Helena 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to trace the dynamic changes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lineages in the local hospital in both the national and international context. We describe genotypic and phenotypic characterization of 62 non-duplicate MRSA isolates collected during 2010–2016 at University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. The isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing, and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing (SCCmec typing). Eight different genotypes were described; ST225-t003-II (32/62, 52%), ST5-t002-II (13/62, 22%), and ST225-t014-II (12/62, 21%) were constantly detected over the 7-year follow-up period. The genotypes ST225-t151-II, ST225-t1282-II, ST225-t1623-II, ST78-t2832-II, and ST225-t8799-II occurred only once in the period reported. The majority of the strains, represented by ST225, belonged to clonal complex 5 (CC5).
User-centred design and evaluation of a tele-operated echocardiography robot
Authors: Giuliani Manuel , Szczęśniak-Stańczyk Dorota , Mirnig Nicole , Stollnberger Gerald , Szyszko Malgorzata , Stańczyk Bartlomiej , Tscheligi Manfred 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe present the collected findings of a user-centred approach for developing a tele-operated robot for remote echocardiography examinations. During the three-year development of the robot, we involved users in all development stages of the robot, to increase the usability of the system for the doctors. For requirement compilation, we conducted a literature review, observed two traditional examinations, arranged focus groups with doctors and patients, and conducted two online surveys. During the development of the robot, we regularly involved doctors in usability tests to receive feedback from them on the user interface for the robot and on the robot’s hardware. For evaluation of the robot, we conducted two eye tracking studies. In the first study, doctors executed a traditional echocardiography examination. In the second study, the doctors conducted a remote examination with our robot. The results of the studies show that all doctors were able to successfully complete a correct ultrasonography examination with the tele-operated robot. In comparison to a traditional examination, the doctors on average only need a short amount of additional time to successfully examine a patient when using our remote echocardiography robot. The results also show that the doctors fixate considerably more often, but with shorter fixation times, on the USG screen in the traditional examination compared to the remote examination. We found further that some of the user-centred design methods we applied had to be adjusted to the clinical context and the hectic schedule of the doctors. Overall, our experience and results suggest that the usage of user-centred design methodology is well suited for developing medical robots and leads to a usable product that meets the end users’ needs.
Statistical modeling of annual maximum precipitation in Oued El Gourzi Watershed, Algeria
Authors: Bella Nassim , Dridi Hadda , Kalla Mahdi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study aims to model annual maximum precipitation based on extreme value theory for the Oued El Gourzi Watershed, Algeria. A generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution was used to determine the probability distribution of extreme values and their dependency on time for the five stations distributed across the watershed. The non-stationary models are used to represent the GEV parameters assumed an invariant shape parameter and linear functions as location and scale parameters. The best model was selected using Akaike’s information criterion and Bayesian information criterion. Stationary and non-stationary return levels for different return periods have been proposed for the study area.
Effect of contamination and adulteration of wax foundations on the brood development of honeybees
Authors: Alkassab Abdulrahim T. , Thorbahn David , Frommberger Malte , Bischoff Gabriela , Pistorius Jens 
Published: March 2020

AbstractVarious reports recently informed about the effects of contaminated or adulterated wax foundations as a main cause of poor brood and colony development. Beekeepers reported that affected colonies were showing a holey brood pattern and a decline in population size. Twenty-five samples of wax foundations were collected from different sources in Germany. Samples were analyzed using a multi-residue analysis for 147 insecticides, acaricides, and varroacides to investigate the actual load of contamination in beeswax. Furthermore, the effect of selected contaminated and/or adulterated wax foundations on colony and brood development of honeybees was evaluated under field conditions. Our results show that 38 active substances in total were found in the wax samples. Acaricides used in-hive were the most frequently detected contaminants at high concentrations. Trace concentrations of plant protection products and biocides were also found. In the field trials, a significant influence of stearin-adulterated wax on population size, the number of capped brood cells, and termination rate was found compared with the reference. No detectable effects of other treatments on the investigated parameters were observed.
Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse in naturwissenschaftsdidaktischer Forschung unter Berücksichtigung von Gütekriterien: Ein Review
Authors: Göhner Maximilian , Krell Moritz 
Published: March 2020

ZusammenfassungIm Rahmen ihrer Entwicklung und Etablierung als empirisch arbeitende Disziplinen findet in den Naturwissenschaftsdidaktiken vermehrt eine Auseinandersetzung mit methodischen und methodologischen Fragen statt. Hierzu gehört unter anderem die Frage danach, wasgutefachdidaktische Forschung überhaupt ausmacht. Obwohl die qualitative Inhaltsanalyse in der naturwissenschaftsdidaktischen Forschung als ein etabliertes Verfahren gilt, unterscheiden sich Vorschläge hinsichtlich anzulegender Gütekriterien und umzusetzender Maßnahmen der Qualitätssicherung. Im Sinne einer exemplarischen Sammlung erprobter Forschungspraxis wird in diesem Beitrag ein Überblick über die in der deutschsprachigen naturwissenschaftsdidaktischen Forschung etablierten Gütekriterien und Maßnahmen zur Qualitätssicherung bei der Umsetzung von Verfahren der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse gegeben. Hierzu werden 50 in derZeitschrift für Didaktik der Naturwissenschaftenpublizierte Artikel, die eine qualitative Inhaltsanalyse umsetzen, mit einem deduktiv-induktiv erstellten Kategoriensystem untersucht. Es werden 11 Gütekriterien identifiziert, wobei vorwiegend die klassischen Gütekriterien Validität, Reliabilität und Objektivität in den untersuchten Artikeln beschrieben werden. Von 16 identifizierten Maßnahmen der Qualitätssicherung werden am häufigsten die Modi der Kategorienbildung und die Interrater-Übereinstimmung beschrieben. Es ergibt sich ein signifikant positiver Zusammenhang zwischen dem Publikationsjahr und der Zahl der durchschnittlich beschriebenen Maßnahmen zur Qualitätssicherung. Allerdings werden die einzelnen Maßnahmen der Qualitätssicherung, über alle Artikel hinweg betrachtet, nicht konsistent jeweils einem Gütekriterium zugeordnet. Die Ergebnisse sollen die Diskussion in den Fachdidaktiken anregen und zur weiteren Etablierung und Systematisierung des Verfahrens der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse in der naturwissenschaftsdidaktischen Forschung beitragen.
Hypergeometric decomposition of symmetric K3 quartic pencils
Authors: Doran Charles F. , Kelly Tyler L. , Salerno Adriana , Sperber Steven , Voight John , Whitcher Ursula 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe study the hypergeometric functions associated to five one-parameter deformations of Delsarte K3 quartic hypersurfaces in projective space. We compute all of their Picard–Fuchs differential equations; we count points using Gauss sums and rewrite this in terms of finite-field hypergeometric sums; then we match up each differential equation to a factor of the zeta function, and we write this in terms of global L-functions. This computation gives a complete, explicit description of the motives for these pencils in terms of hypergeometric motives.