bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of NOAC versus warfarin in AF patients with left atrial enlargement
Authors: Wu Victor Chien-Chia , Wang Chun-Li , Gan Shu-Ting , Wu Michael , Chen Shao-Wei , Kuo Chang-Fu , Huang Yu-Tung , Wen Ming-Shien , Chang Shang-Hung 
Published: December 2020

BackgroundLittle is known about the effects of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and left atrial enlargement (LAE).MethodsData of patients with AF were retrieved from Chang Gung Research Database during 2007–2016. We excluded patients who were not using oral anticoagulants, used anticoagulants for <30 days, used ≥2 agents concomitantly or switched anticoagulants, had left atrial diameter missing from their data, were aged <65, had received valve surgeries, had mitral stenosis, or had a history of cancer. The primary outcomes were ischemic stroke (IS)/systemic embolism (SE), major bleeding, and death from any cause.ResultsWe identified 40,777 patients who received a diagnosis of AF. After the exclusion criteria were applied, 6,445 patients remained, 4,922 with LAE, and they were followed up for 2.4 ±1.9 years. The mean age of the patients was 77.32 ± 0.18 in the NOAC group and 76.58 ± 6.91 in the warfarin group (p< 0.0001); 48.24% of patients in the NOAC group and 46.98% of patients in the warfarin group were men (p> 0.05). The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.26 ± 1.05 in the NOAC group and 3.07 ± 1.12 in the warfarin group (p< 0.0001). The mean HAS-BLED score was 3.87 ± 3.81 in the NOAC group and 3.86 ± 3.80 in the warfarin group (p> 0.05). Furthermore, the mean LA diameter was 4.75 ± 0.63 cm in the warfarin group and 4.79 ± 0.69 cm in the warfarin group (p> 0.05). Among patients with LAE, NOAC was associated with significantly reduced IS/SE events (CRR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.52–0.77), no difference in major bleeding (CRR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.78–1.05), and significantly reduced death from any cause (aHR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.52–0.80) compared with warfarin.ConclusionsIn elderly patients with AF and LAE, NOAC was associated with reduced IS/SE and death from any cause compared with warfarin, whereas no difference in major bleeding was observed between these treatments.
Rural Landscapes in Noricum: Studying the ancient hinterland of a Roman province
Authors: Hagmann Dominik 
Published: December 2020

Noricum was part of the Roman Empire from 15 BC to 488 AD. On the one hand, specific areas of this province, such as the so-called Danube Limes border zone of present-day Austria with its numerous military sites like watchtowers or camps, have been continuously in the focus of various archaeological investigations. On the other hand, hardly anything is known about the rural settlement (e.g., farmsteads or villages). Thus, the archaeological knowledge of the utmost parts of Noricum's hinterland requires an in-depth, scientific evaluation this applies particularly to the northern area located in the present-day federal state of Lower Austria. Consequently, the Danubian border's archaeological rural hinterland settlement activities of the Roman period's different phases are newly studied to improve the relatively low research state through the PhD-project
Roman Rural Landscapes in Noricum by Dominik Hagmann. The project is a critical landscape archaeological study and focuses on the rural component in the study area, which has received little attention for various reasons so far. The project has an inclusive approach. All available archaeological sources (ranging from single coin finds to whole military camps) are taken into account in a well-defined Area of Interest to provide new insights into the rural landscape through basic research. Besides, two known farmsteads (
villaeof Oberndorf a. d. Melk and Petzenkirchen) serve as exemplary case studies for rural sites.
Learn more:
rrl.univie.ac.at/en/

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Design of drones for monitoring of volcanic areas
Authors: Vorobioff Juan , Boggio Norberto , Gutierrez Marcelo , Checozzi Federico , Rinaldi Carlos 
Published: December 2020

Objective: Volcanic eruptions are a serious threat to the environment. In order to assess more accurately the state of a volcanic zone, spatially distributed me­asurements are required.
Methodology: An electronic nose (eNose), a quad­copter drone with gas, temperature, and humidity sensors was developed. The drone was assembled with 3D printed parts and tested for properties like structural rigidity. The eNose samples gases, manages a sensor array, acquires data, extracts features, and classifies them with suitable classification algorithms.
Results: The eNose drone system provides a versati­le technology for autonomous monitoring of diverse environments. A logarithmic calibration curve was observed for the CO sensor.
Conclusions: The implementation of a eNose drone system and its application to the detection and study of gases in volcanic areas would be innovative in Argentina. The system can access remote dangerous areas and is versatile. Different gas sensors like H2S or SO2 can be added.
Etični konflikti med medicinskimi sestrami v intenzivni enoti
Authors: Naraločnik Katja , Donik Barbara , Kmetec Sergej , Fekonja Zvonka 
Published: December 2020

Uvod: Etični konflikt predstavlja resen poklicni problem. Medicinske sestre so na svojem delovnem mestu čedalje bolj obremenjene, še posebej v intenzivnih enotah, kjer je delo z življenjsko ogroženimi pacienti posebej težavno in je pojavnost etičnih konfliktov toliko večja. Namen je bil ugotoviti stopnjo izpostavljenosti etičnim konfliktom med medicinskimi sestrami v intenzivni enoti.Metode: Izvedena je bila kvantitativna presečna opazovalna raziskava. Vanjo je bilo vključenih 97 medicinskih sester, zaposlenih v intenzivnih enotah ene bolnišnice. Podatki so bili zbrani s pomočjo vprašalnika in statistično obdelani z uporabo univariatne statistike.Rezultati: Raziskava je pokazala, da so medicinske sestre v intenzivnih enotah zmerno izpostavljene etičnim konfliktom (x = 138,85, s = 89,08). Najpogosteje doživljajo etični konflikt ob situacijah, ko primanjkuje virov,ki zdravstvenemu timu omogočajo upoštevanje etičnih smernic za delovanje (x = 14,11, s = 9,13). Najmanj so izpostavljene etičnim konfliktom, ko je treba v okviru kliničnega preizkušanja dajati zdravila in pri tem ne prejmejo vseh potrebnih informacij, ki so po njihovem mnenju potrebne za izvajanje te naloge (x = 2,25, s = 3,70).Diskusija in zaključek: Pri pojavnosti stopnje etičnega konflikta pri medicinskih sestrah je bilo ugotovljeno, da se srečujejo s konflikti, ki so rahlo problematični in precej problematični. Največji etični konflikt se pojavi pri pomanjkanju časa za upoštevanje etičnih smernic za delovanje, kar kaže, da je medicinskih sester premalo za kakovostno oskrbo pacientov.
Automated diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy enabled by optimized thresholding-based blood vessel segmentation and hybrid classifier
Authors: Narhari Bansode Balbhim , Murlidhar Bakwad Kamlakar , Sayyad Ajij Dildar , Sable Ganesh Shahubha 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
The focus of this paper is to introduce an automated early Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) detection scheme from colour fundus images through enhanced segmentation and classification strategies by analyzing blood vessels.

Methods
The occurrence of DR is increasing from the past years, impacting the eyes due to a sudden rise in the glucose level of blood. All over the world, half of the people who are under age 70 are severely suffered from diabetes. The patients who are affected by DR will lose their vision during the absence of early recognition of DR and appropriate treatment. To decrease the growth and occurrence of loss of vision, the early detection and timely treatment of DR are desirable. At present, deep learning models have presented better performance using retinal images for DR detection. In this work, the input retinal fundus images are initially subjected to pre-processing that undergoes contrast enhancement by Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) and average filtering. Further, the optimized binary thresholding-based segmentation is done for blood vessel segmentation. For the segmented image, Tri-level Discrete Level Decomposition (Tri-DWT) is performed to decompose it. In the feature extraction phase, Local Binary Pattern (LBP), and Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrices (GLCMs) are extracted. Next, the classification of images is done through the combination of two algorithms, one is Neural Network (NN), and the other Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The extracted features are subjected to NN, and the tri-DWT-based segmented image is subjected to CNN. Both the segmentation and classification phases are enhanced by the improved meta-heuristic algorithm called Fitness Rate-based Crow Search Algorithm (FR-CSA), in which few parameters are optimized for attaining maximum detection accuracy.

Results
The proposed DR detection model was implemented in MATLAB 2018a, and the analysis was done using three datasets, HRF, Messidor, and DIARETDB.

Conclusions
The developed FR-CSA algorithm has the best detection accuracy in diagnosing DR.
Psychometric test system for measuring cognitive reaction time
Authors: Koch Klaus Peter , Laigle Hoffmann Julien , Jung Lukas , Auer Eric , Schächinger Hartmut 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
For the assessment of human reaction time, a test environment was developed. This system consists of an embedded device with organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays with push buttons for the combined presentation of visual stimulation and registration of the haptic human reaction. The test leader can define the test sequence with the aid of a graphical user interface (GUI) on a personal computer (PC). The validation of the system was proved by measuring the latency times of the whole system, which are conditioned by the specific hard- and software constellation. Through the investigation of the display’s light radiation by a photodiode and the recorded current consumption, latency times and their variance were specified. In the fastest mode the system can reach an error limit of 60 μs.
Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of bifunctional cooper(ii) complexes with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flufenamic, mefenamic and tolfenamic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline
Authors: Hudecova Lenka , Jomova Klaudia , Lauro Peter , Simunkova Miriama , Alwasel Saleh H. , Alhazza Ibrahim M. , Moncol Jan , Valko Marian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCooper(ii) complexes represent a promising group of compounds with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. In the present work, a series of Cu(ii) complexes containing the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tolfenamic acid, mefenamic acid and flufenamic acid as their redox-cycling functionalities, and 1,10-phenanthroline as an intercalating component, has been studied. The antibacterial activities of all three complexes, [Cu(tolf-O,O′)2(phen)] (1), [Cu(mef-O,O′)2(phen)] (2) and [Cu(fluf-O,O′)2(phen)] (3), were tested against the prokaryotic model organisms Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and their antifungal activities were evaluated towards the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). The antibacterial activity of both strains has been compared with the antibiotic Neomycin. The calculated IC50 values revealed slight differences in the antibacterial activities of the complexes in the order 1 ∼ 3 > 2. The most profound growth inhibition of E. coli was observed, at its highest concentration, for the complex 1, which contains chlorine atoms in the ligand environment. The trend obtained from IC50 values is generally in agreement with the determined MIC values. Similarly, the complex 1 showed the greatest growth inhibition of the yeast S. cerevisiae and the overall antifungal activities of the Cu(ii) complexes were found to follow the order 1 > 3 ≫ 2. However, for complex 2, even at the highest concentration tested (150 μM), a 50% decrease in yeast growth was not achieved. It appears that the most potent antimicrobial and antifungal Cu(ii) complexes are those containing halogenated NSAIDs. The mechanisms by which Cu(ii) complexes cause antibacterial and antifungal activities can be understood on the basis of redox-cycling reactions between cupric and cuprous species which lead to the formation of free radicals. The higher efficacy of the Cu(ii) complexes against bacterial cells may be due to an absence of membrane-protected nuclear DNA, meaning that on entering a cell, they can interact directly with its DNA. Contrastingly, for the complexes to interact with the DNA in yeast cells, they must first penetrate through the nuclear membrane.
Evaluation of elastomeric heat shielding materials as insulators for solid propellant rocket motors: A short review
Authors: Amado Javier Carlos Quagliano , Ross Pablo Germán , Sanches Natália Beck , Pinto Juliano Ribeiro Aguiar , Dutra Jorge Carlos Narciso 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis review addresses a comparison, based on the literature, among nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM), and polyurethane (PU) elastomeric heat shielding materials (EHSM). Currently, these are utilized for the insulation of rocket engines to prevent catastrophic breakdown if combustion gases from propellant reaches the motor case. The objective of this review is to evaluate the performance of PU–EHSM, NBR–EHSM, and EPDM–EHSM as insulators, the latter being the current state of the art in solid rocket motor (SRM) internal insulation. From our review, PU–EHSM emerged as an alternative to EPDM–EHSM because of their easier processability and compatibility with composite propellant. With the appropriate reinforcement and concentration in the rubber, they could replace EPDM in certain applications such as rocket motors filled with composite propellant. A critical assessment and future trends are included. Rubber composites novelties as EHSM employs specialty fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS), nanofibers, nanoparticles, and high-performance engineering polymers such as polyetherimide and polyphosphazenes.
Fetal pulmonary choristoma: report of first case and literature review
Authors: Nanda Anupam , Nanda Rajinder , Thakur Seema , Gupta Tej Prakash , Jain Sudhir , Aggarwal Nisha 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Lung tissue choristoma is a very rare disorder where mature lung tissues develop in the site not normal to the lung.

Case presentation
We hereby report a first case of fetal pulmonary choristoma in a 23–24 weeks fetus where antenatal ultrasound showed a mass in posterior fossa with severe ventriculomegaly. The mass extended inferiorly in cervical spinal column and thereafter extended in the skin over the back of fetus. Fetal autopsy confirmed these findings. Pathologic findings showed mature lung tissues with bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Clinical exome sequencing showed normal results.

Conclusions
We describe the antenatal ultrasound, fetal autopsy and pathologic findings of an intracranial and cutaneous pulmonary choristoma.
Keeping up with the Times: The Transformation of the Publicity Regime with New Movable Property Security Rights and Developments in Blockchain Technology
Authors: Gürsel Yaman 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
For a long time, the publicity regime over movable property has been associated with possession. Many modern legal systems still operate on Roman law principles concerning the validity of transactions: Whoever is in possession of a movable asset generates the legal presumption that he or she rightfully owns that asset. Immovable assets on the other hand are tied to a different concept due to the value and meaning ascribed to them. Whereas possession signals who has which rights to claim against whom, inscriptions made in a public registry (such as a land registry) determine the fate of immovable property. Over time, reforms in the law on secured transactions have resulted in a less strict approach adopted in executing transaction relating to movable property to enable the establishment of limited rights in rem and their implementation. Regardless, most civil law jurisdictions still deem the transfer of possession as compulsory for a valid right of pledge over movable property. This article elaborates on the most significant changes to the field of property law and why certain countries may reconsider their traditional approach, especially since yet another wave of change is coming in the form of Blockchain registries. Although certain countries’ legal systems are bound to the old-fashioned principle dating back to Germanic and Roman laws, many others like the Belgian, French and Turkish systems have modernized their publicity regime applied on movable assets and have a special registry, whether regional or nationwide, for transactions related to movables. While providing a few examples from common law countries, this article is an in-depth, comparative analysis into the current condition of Swiss law on this matter and the modifications implemented under French and Turkish law. In the last section, the article reviews the imminent interaction between the publicity regime of immovables and blockchain technology.
The influence of river training on the location of erosion and accumulation zones (Kłodzko County, South West Poland)
Authors: Witek-Kasprzak Matylda , Kasprzak Łukasz , Remisz Joanna 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The channels of the main rivers in the Kłodzko County, South West Poland, have been strongly influenced by human activities since the end of the nineteenth century. The reasons, type, and time frame of these changes are very similar to those which occurred in other European mountain regions but the magnitude is different. Kłodzko County is an area with a well-developed river network. Since the Middle Ages, human activities were noticed in the river valleys of this region. The main cause of the most anthropogenic transformations of the river channels was changes in the volume of sediment supply and, thus, the channel load and its erosive and transport capacities. The ultimate effects of human impact are manifested in the changes of channel pattern, depth and sinuosity, and the location of erosion and accumulation zones. Morphological transformations are most intensive immediately after the regulation works. The influence of channel training is noticeable; however, there is no clear correlation between the occurrence of engineering structures and the development of channel forms. The channel changes are mostly local. The highest efficiency of channel processes is observed in the direct vicinity of the damming objects and in the peripheral fragments of bank-protection structures. Below the damming structures, the rate of channel downcutting increases because of sediment retention in dam and weir reservoirs, and above the transversal structures bed aggradation takes place; lateral erosion intensifies below the bank reinforcements, and sediment shadows are common below the transversal structures. The types of morphological changes observed in the regulated channels of the Kłodzko County are in most cases similar to the effects of training works in other mountain river systems in Poland and around the world; however, the scale of morphological influence is much smaller, which indicates greater stability of the river channels of the Sudetes than the Carpathian and Alpine river channels.
Effect of calcination temperature on rare earth tailing catalysts for catalytic methane combustion
Authors: Zhao Ran , Tian ZiChen , Zhao Zengwu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBayan Obo tailings are rich in rare earth elements (REEs), iron, and other catalytic active substances. In this study, mine tailings were calcined at different temperatures and tested for the catalytic combustion of low-concentration methane. Upon calcination at 600°C, high catalytic activity was revealed, with 50% CH4 conversion at 587°C (space velocity of 12,000 mL/g h). The physicochemical properties of catalysts were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Compared to the raw ore sample, the diffraction peak intensity of Fe2O3 increased post calcination, whereas that of CeCO3F decreased. A porous structure appeared after the catalyst was calcined at 600°C. Additionally, Fe, Ce, Ti, and other metal elements were more highly dispersed on the catalyst surface. H2-TPR results revealed a broadening of the reduction temperature range for the catalyst calcined at 600°C and an increase in the reduction peak. XPS analysis indicated the presence of Ce in the form of Ce3+ and Ce4+ oxidation states and the coexistence of Fe in the form of Fe2+ and Fe3+. Moreover, XPS revealed a higher surface Oads/Olatt ratio. This study provides evidence for the green reuse of Bayan Obo mine tailings in secondary resources.
Characterization and biological activities of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using the extract of Acantholimon serotinum
Authors: Karimzadeh Mohammad Reza , Soltanian Sara , Sheikhbahaei Mahboubeh , Mohamadi Neda 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe present study reports the synthesis of ZnO-NPs using Acantholimon serotinum extracts followed by characterization and evaluation of biological activities. Field emission scanning electron microscope revealed irregular spherical morphology with a size in the range of 20–80 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of highly pure ZnO NPs with a hexagonal shape and a crystalline size of 16.3 nm. The UV-Vis spectroscopy indicates the synthesis of ZnO-NPs. FT-IR confirmed the presence of phytocomponents in the plant extract, which was responsible for nanoparticle synthesis. According to MTT results, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs showed cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer Caco-2 (IC50: 61 µg/mL), neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y (IC50: 42 µg/mL), breast cancer MDA-MB-231 (IC50: 24 µg/mL), and embryonic kidney HEK-293 (IC50: 60 µg/mL) cell lines. Significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured by the DCFH-DA assay after 24 h incubation with ZnO-NPs (200 µg/mL). ZnO-NPs caused apoptotic and necrotic effects on cells, which was confirmed by Annexin V-PE/7-AAD staining and 6.8-fold increase in pro-apoptosis gene Bax and 178-fold decrease in anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2. The well diffusion method did not show effective growth inhibition activities of the ZnO-NPs against bacteria. In conclusion, the ZnO-NPs induce cytotoxicity in cell lines through ROS generation and oxidative stress.
Practical Theologies in Chinese Speaking Societies—A Cross-Cultural Consideration
Authors: Shui-Man Kwan Simon 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
While having a history of several decades, the practical theology movement still finds itself rather rootless in Chinese speaking societies. This paper addresses three tasks: 1. It attempts a general sketch of the history and the state of the art of practical theology in Chinese societies; 2. It seeks to explain the ostensibly late development of Chinese practical theology by referring to the unique conception of practice embedded in the Chinese cultural traditions. By doing so, it argues that the development should not be understood as “late.” Rather, it should be understood cross-culturally. 3. With this cross-cultural sensitivity, it shows that there is a lot for both the Chinese and the international practical theology movements to learn from each other.