bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seedlings of alpine species do not have better frost-tolerance than their lowland counterparts
Authors: Rosbakh Sergey , Margreiter Vera , Jelcic Bernardica 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn contrast to adult plants, little is known about the frost-tolerance of seedlings of alpine species, despite the fact that frost has been considered as one of the main factors limiting plant recruitment in high elevation. Here we report the results of a comparative study on seedling frost-tolerance of nine congeneric species pairs with lowland (0–900 m a.s.l.) and alpine (1800–2700 m a.s.l.) distribution. Similarly to adult alpine plants, we expected seedlings of alpine species to be more frost-tolerant than their lowland counterparts. Frost-tolerance was estimated under laboratory conditions by exposing seedlings to frost events from − 1 to − 9 °C, calculated as the temperature at which 50% of the seedlings were lethally damaged by frost (LT50). The LT50 values varied between − 1.95 and − 6.11 °C suggesting that seedling of all tested species could potentially survive mild and/or short frosts, but might be lethally damaged by severe and/or continuous frost events. The LT50 values for lowland and alpine species did not differ statistically and were on average − 3.96 ± 0.18 °C and − 4.16 ± 0.43 °C, respectively. These findings did not confirm our hypothesis that seedlings of alpine species have higher frost-tolerance than seedlings of lowland species. Four possible reasons could explain this pattern. They include (1) comparable levels of negative-stress in both lowland and alpine habitats, (2) opportunistic seed germination strategy in alpine plants, (3) peculiarities of our experimental set up and (4) potentially stronger effects of drought on alpine seedling survival than frost.
Fracture characteristics of acetylated young Scots pine
Authors: Forsman Karin , Serrano Erik , Danielsson Henrik , Engqvist Jonas 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA study on the fracture characteristics of unmodified and chemically modified Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is presented. The investigated material consisted of small-dimension sawn timber originating from young logs (thinnings), aged 30–40 years. The modified samples were acetylated with acetic anhydride in an industrial scale process without the use of any catalyst, reaching an acetyl content of approximately 20%. Clear wood specimens, consisting of either heartwood or sapwood, were extracted and conditioned to equilibrium at a relative humidity of 60% and a temperature of 20 °C. The fracture energy for mode I loading in tension perpendicular to the grain was determined using single edge notched beam (SENB) specimens, subjected to three-point bending. Additionally, the modulus of elasticity along the grain and the tensile strength perpendicular to the grain were determined for sapwood specimens. The findings demonstrated a significant decrease (between 36 and 50%) in the fracture energy for the acetylated specimens, compared to the unmodified specimens. No significant effect of the acetylation process on the modulus of elasticity, nor on the tensile strength could be concluded. This study indicates that the acetylation process used results in an increased brittleness for Scots pine. Further studies are needed to analyse why the fracture energy is impaired, and to examine whether and how current timber engineering design provisions can or should be revised to account for the increased brittleness of acetylated Scots pine.
Female-female aggression and male responses to the two colour morphs of female common cuckoos
Authors: Moskát Csaba , Hauber Márk E. , Růžičková Jana , Marton Attila , Bán Miklós , Elek Zoltán 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFemale-only colour polymorphism is rare in birds, but occurs in brood parasitic cuckoos (Cuculidae). Obligate brood parasites leave incubation and parental care to other species (hosts), so female-female interactions can play a role in how parasites guard critical resources (host nests) within their laying areas. The plumage of adult female common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) is either rufous (typically rare) or grey (common), whereas adult male conspecifics are monochromatic (grey). In previous studies, hosts and conspecific males responded with less intensity toward the rare female morph in support of a negative frequency-dependent benefit of female plumage polychromatism. Here, we assessed responses of both conspecific females and males to vocal playbacks of female calls, coupled with one of two 3D models of the different morphs of female cuckoos. At our study population, the rufous female morph was as common as the grey morph; therefore, we predicted similarly high rates of conspecific responses in both treatments. Both female and male cuckoos responded to playbacks acoustically, which demonstrated the primary role of acoustic communication in social interactions amongst cuckoos. Following this, some cuckoos flew closer to the models to inspect them visually. As predicted, no significant differences were detected between the live cuckoos’ responses toward the two colour morphs in this population. We conclude that dichromatism in female cuckoos evolved to serve one or more functions other than conspecific signalling.
Things that help out: designing smart wearables as partners in stress management
Authors: Li Xueliang , Rozendaal Marco C. , Jansen Kaspar , Jonker Catholijn , Vermetten Eric 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe propose an approach to designing smart wearables that act as partners to help people cope with stress in daily life. Our approach contributes to the developing field of smart wearables by addressing how technological capabilities can be designed to establish partnerships that consider the person, the situation, and the appropriate type of support. As such, this study also contributes to healthcare by opening up novel technology-supported routes to stress treatment and care. We present the results of a phenomenological study conducted with three war veterans who suffer from chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. We describe how their experiences of dealing with their stress informed our design approach, and discuss the implications of these results on smart wearables and stress management in general. We conclude by reflecting on the limitations of this study and directions for future work.
Scaling for steady and traveling shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions
Authors: Touré P. S. R. , Schülein E. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions (SW–BLIs) play an important role in a wide range of transonic, supersonic and hypersonic applications. Fundamental studies on stationary interactions have been conducted extensively during the last 60 years. However, unsteady SWBLIs with traveling shock fronts have been little studied on canonical geometries. In the present experimental investigation, the influence of a uniformly moving impinging shock on the separated SWBLI flow is analyzed, with a freestream Mach number of 3 and a traveling Mach number in upstream direction of 0.5. To evaluate this effect, stationary reference SWBLIs have been investigated in a wide ranging study. A scaling method from the literature has been enhanced to drastically reduce the data scattering using a new approach accounting for the Reynolds number influence. The results gathered from the traveling interactions were within the spread of reference data, considering the true shock-wave Mach number of 3.5. The validity of the modified scaling approach to describe the interaction length in cases with steady and traveling shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interactions is discussed.

Graphic abstract
Role of high-resolution ultrasound in detection and monitoring of peripheral nerve tumor burden in neurofibromatosis in children
Authors: Winter Natalie , Dohrn Maike F. , Wittlinger Julia , Loizides Alexander , Gruber Hannes , Grimm Alexander 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are hallmark findings in neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2. With increasing size, they typically lead to neurological symptoms, and NF1 patients have a lifetime risk of 8–13% for developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Medical imaging is therefore highly needed for early detection and exact localization of symptomatic or potentially malignant tumors. This review will give an overview of the ultrasound characteristics of peripheral nerve sheath tumors and findings in patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.

Methods
A systematic search of electronic databases, reference lists, and unpublished literature was conducted including the keywords “schwannoma,” “neurofibroma,” “neurofibromatosis,” “benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.”

Results
The high-resolution allows a clear analysis of tumor echotexture, definition of margins, and the relation to the parent nerve. The use of color duplex/Doppler and contrast agent adds valuable information for the differentiation of benign and malignant tumors.

Conclusion
High-resolution ultrasound is a well-established, non-invasive, and easily repeatable first-line tool in diagnostic procedures of soft tissue tumors.
Significance of myeloperoxidase plasma levels as a predictor for cardiac resynchronization therapy response
Authors: Sultan A. , Wörmann J. , Lüker J. , v. d. Bruck J. -H. , Plenge T. , Rudolph V. , Klinke A. , Heijman J. , Mollenhauer M. , Ravekes T. , Baldus S. , Steven D. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to determine if changes in myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels correlate with response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and the potential role of MPO as a predictor of response to CRT.

Background
CRT is a well-established treatment option in chronic heart failure (CHF) with 50–80% of patients benefiting. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in CHF pathophysiology. Previous studies have demonstrated increased levels of MPO in CHF patients, but the correlation with CRT response remains incompletely understood.

Methods
Fifty-three patients underwent CRT implantation. During follow-up, patients were divided into two groups, responders and non-responders to CRT, based on improved physical capacity and NYHA classification. Levels of MPO and NT-pro-brain-natriuretic-peptide (NT-proBNP) were determined prior to implantation, 30 and 90 days after. Physical capacity, including a 6-min walking-test, NYHA class, and LVEF were evaluated at baseline and during follow-up.

Results
Thirty-four patients (64%) responded to CRT, showing improved physical capacity and LVEF. All responders revealed a significant decrease of MPO levels (503.8 ng/ml vs. 188.4 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Non-responding patients did not show any significant changes in clinical parameters or MPO levels (119.6 ng/ml vs. 134.3 ng/ml; p = 0.672) during follow-up. At baseline, physical capacity and NYHA class, as well as MPO levels differed significantly between both groups (p < 0.001). A ROC analysis identified an MPO cut-off value for response to CRT of 242 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 93.5% and specificity of 71.4%. There was a strong correlation between MPO and improvement of LVEF (Spearman’s rho: − 0.453; p = 0.005) and physical capacity (Spearman’s rho: − 0.335; p = 0.042).

Conclusions
Response to CRT and course of MPO levels correlate significantly. MPO levels differ between responders and non-responders prior to CRT, which may indicate an additional value of MPO as a predictor for CRT response. Further randomized studies are required to confirm our data in larger patient cohorts.
Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion is effective in patients with ocular melanoma and cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Schönfeld Leon , Hinrichs Jan B. , Marquardt Steffen , Voigtländer Torsten , Dewald Cornelia , Koppert Wolfgang , Manns Michael P. , Wacker Frank , Vogel Arndt , Kirstein Martha M. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion (CS-PHP; Hepatic CHEMOSAT® Delivery System; Delcath Systems Inc, USA) is a novel interventional procedure, which delivers high doses of melphalan directly to the liver in patients with liver tumors while limiting systemic toxicity through hemofiltration of the hepatic venous blood. We have previously shown promising efficacy for patients with ocular melanoma (OM) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) within our single-center and multi-center experiences. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of CS-PHP after 141 treatments at Hannover Medical School, Germany.

Methods
Overall response rates (ORR) were assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST1.1). Median Overall survival (mOS), median progression-free survival (mPFS), and median hepatic PFS (mhPFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier estimation.

Results
Overall, 60 patients were treated with CS-PHP in the salvage setting from October 2014 until January 2019 at Hannover Medical School with a total of 141 procedures. Half of the patients were patients with hepatic metastases of ocular melanoma (OM) (n = 30), 14 patients had CCA (23.3%), 6 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (10%), and 10 patients were treated for other secondary liver malignancies (16.7%). In total, ORR and disease stabilization rate were 33.3% and 70.3% (n = 25), respectively. ORR was highest for patients with OM (42.3%), followed by patients with CCA (30.8%). Independent response-associated factors were normal levels of lactate dehydrogenase (odds ratio (OR) 13.7; p = 0.015) and diagnosis with OM (OR 9.3; p = 0.028). Overall, mOS was 9 months, mPFS was 4 months, and mhPFS was 5 months. Patients with OM had the longest mOS, mPFS, and mhPFS with 12, 6, and 6 months, respectively. Adverse events included most frequently significant, but transient, hematologic toxicities (80% of grade 3/4 thrombopenia), less frequently hepatic injury up to liver failure (3.3%) and cardiovascular events including two cases of ischemic insults (5%).

Conclusion
Salvage treatment with CS-PHP is safe and effective particularly in patients OM and CCA. Careful attention should be paid to possible, serious hepatic, and cardiovascular complications.
On the ability of virtual agents to decrease cognitive load: an experimental study
Authors: Brachten Florian , Brünker Felix , Frick Nicholas R. J. , Ross Björn , Stieglitz Stefan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWhen attempting to solve a problem, humans call upon cognitive resources. These resources are limited, and the degree of their utilisation is described as cognitive load. While the number of parameters to be taken into account and to be processed by modern-day knowledge workers increases, their cognitive resources do not. Research shows that too high a load can increase stress and failure rates and decrease the work satisfaction and performance of employees. It is thus in the interest of organisations to reduce the cognitive load of their employees and keep it at a moderate level. One way to achieve this may be the application of virtual assistants (VAs), software programs, that can be addressed via voice or text commands and respond to the users’ input. This study uses a laboratory experiment with N = 91 participants comparing two groups in their ability to solve a task. One group was able to make use of a VA while the other could not. Besides task performance, the cognitive load of the participants was measured. Results show that (a) cognitive load is negatively related to task performance, (b) the group using the VA performed better at the task and (c) the group using the VA had a lower cognitive load. These findings show that VAs are a viable way to support employees and can increase their performance. It adds to the growing field of IS research on VAs by expanding the field for the concept of cognitive load.
The long-term impact of trade with firm heterogeneity
Authors: Ourens Guzmán 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis paper explores the welfare effects of openness in a setting with firm heterogeneity and country asymmetry and presents results in terms of the well-known formula from Arkolakis et al. (Am Econ Rev 102(1):94–130, 2012). By allowing agents to save and the economy to grow, new channels for the welfare effects of openness appear, since firm selection affects the value of accumulated savings and the average efficiency of the economy, and therefore its future growth rate. Country asymmetry yields differentiated, and in some cases opposite, results between countries. In line with the empirical literature, net welfare effects in each region depend on countries’ specific conditions and losses may occur. A numerical exercise fits the model to the UK and EU economies to show the magnitude and direction that each effect can take if trade barriers increase between them. It is shown that welfare losses for UK consumers can be greatly underestimated if asymmetries and dynamics are removed from the analysis.
An automated and high-throughput-screening compatible pluripotent stem cell-based test platform for developmental and reproductive toxicity assessment of small molecule compounds
Authors: Witt Gesa , Keminer Oliver , Leu Jennifer , Tandon Rashmi , Meiser Ina , Willing Anne , Winschel Ingo , Abt Jana-Christin , Brändl Björn , Sébastien Isabelle , Friese Manuel A. , Müller Franz-Josef , Neubauer Julia C. , Claussen Carsten , Zimmermann Heiko , Gribbon Philip , Pless Ole 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe embryonic stem cell test (EST) represents the only validated and accepted in vitro system for the detection and classification of compounds according to their developmental and reproductive teratogenic potency. The widespread implementation of the EST, however, in particular for routine application in pharmaceutical development, has not been achieved so far. Several drawbacks still limit the high-throughput screening of potential drug candidates in this format: The long assay period, the use of non-homogeneous viability assays, the low throughput analysis of marker protein expression and the compatibility of the assay procedures to automation. We have therefore introduced several advancements into the EST workflow: A reduction of the assay period, an introduction of homogeneous viability assays, and a straightforward analysis of marker proteins by flow cytometry and high content imaging to assess the impact of small molecules on differentiation capacity. Most importantly, essential parts of the assay procedure have been adapted to lab automation in 96-well format, thus enabling the interrogation of several compounds in parallel. In addition, extensive investigations were performed to explore the predictive capacity of this next-generation EST, by testing a set of well-known embryotoxicants that encompasses the full range of chemical-inherent embryotoxic potencies possible. Due to these significant improvements, the augmented workflow provides a basis for a sensitive, more rapid, and reproducible high throughput screening compatible platform to predict in vivo developmental toxicity from in vitro data which paves the road towards application in an industrial setting.
Optimizing construction schedules and material deliveries in city logistics: a case study from the building industry
Authors: Nolz Pamela C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe consider the problem of designing a logistics system to assure efficient urban construction processes for an innovative urban building area in the city of Vienna. We address the challenges of coordinating workers and the timely delivery and storage of material with the objective of optimizing resource-efficiency as well as reducing traffic related to construction tasks. The problem is formulated as a hierarchical optimization problem, incorporating tactical construction logistics planning as well as operational construction logistics planning. On the tactical level a time schedule of tasks for different construction phases and the corresponding material transports and storage decisions are optimized on a weekly basis, while on the operational level the daily optimization of material transports, modeled as an inventory routing problem, is addressed. A mixed-integer programming formulation of the problem on each planning level is provided and solved using CPLEX. The suggested approach is tested on realistic data from the city of Vienna. The results associated with different scenarios are analyzed to illustrate the value of the proposed approach for the design of construction logistics processes.
In situ investigation of atmospheric plasma-sprayed Mn–Co–Fe–O by synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography
Authors: Grünwald Nikolas , Lhuissier Pierre , Salvo Luc , Villanova Julie , Menzler Norbert H. , Guillon Olivier , Martin Christophe L. , Vaßen Robert 
Published: June 2020

AbstractApplying atmospherically plasma-sprayed (APS) Mn1.0Co1.9Fe0.1O4 (MCF) protective coatings on interconnector steels minimized the chromium-related degradation within solid oxide fuel cell stack-tests successfully. Post-test characterization of the coatings disclosed a severe microstructural and phase evolution. A self-healing of micro-cracks, the formation and agglomeration of small pores, the occurrence of a dense spinel layer at the surface and a strong elemental de-mixing were reported in ex situ experiments. In the present publication, we prove for the first time these mechanisms by tracking the microstructure in situ at a single APS coating using synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Therefore, a 100-µm-long cylindrical sample with a diameter of 123 µm was cut from an APS-MCF free-standing layer and measured within a high-temperature furnace. All microstructural changes mentioned above could be verified. Porosity measurements reveal a decrease in the porosity from 9 to 3% during the annealing, which is in good accordance with the literature. Additionally, a partial detachment of an approximately 5-µm-thick layer at the sample surface is observed. The layer is dense and does not exhibit any cracks which are penetrating the layer. This kind of shell is assumed to be gastight and thus protecting the bulk from further oxidation.