bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the thermal decomposition of the elastomer containing fluoroolefin segment by DSC‐TG‐MS‐FTIR
Authors: Tang Weiqiang , Zeng Tao , Hu Jinghui , Li Jianmin , Yang Rongjie 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBased on the cross‐linking reaction of bisphenol A epoxy resin and liquid carboxy‐terminated poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐hexafluoropropylene‐vinylidene fluoride) copolymer (CTTHV), the elastomer containing fluoroolefin segment was prepared. The bis(2,2‐dinitropropyl)‐acetal/formal (BDNPA/F) was used as an energetic plasticizer for this fluoroolefin segment‐containing elastomer (FO elastomer). The compatibility of CTTHV and BDNPA/F was evaluated by the combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) methods. Thermal decomposition of the FO elastomers was investigated by TG‐DSC. The kinetic parameters of the FO elastomers were calculated by Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose method. DSC‐TG‐MS‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to detect the thermal decomposition products. The thermal decomposition mechanisms of the FO and FO/BDNPA/F elastomers were discussed. The results show that CTTHV has a good compatibility with BDNPA/F, and the prepared FO/BDNPA/F elastomers have good thermal stability. BDNPA/F can promote the thermal decomposition of the FO elastomer and bring more heat for the binder system according to the thermal decomposition behaviors and kinetic calculation results of FO/BDNPA/F elastomers. The FO elastomer preferentially undergoes depolymerization, HF elimination with the formation of polyene sequences, and subsequent main‐chain cleavage, polyaromatization. The H ion fragments of the decomposition of BDNPA/F can be an important factor in the improvement of HF concentration at the initial thermal decomposition of FO elastomer. An abundant HF released during all decomposition of FO/BDNPA/F elastomers may be beneficial to the ignition and combustion of aluminum particles in future applications.
Accounting for not‐at‐random missingness through imputation stacking
Authors: Beesley Lauren J. , Taylor Jeremy M. G. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractNot‐at‐random missingness presents a challenge in addressing missing data in many health research applications. In this article, we propose a new approach to account for not‐at‐random missingnessafter multiple imputationthrough weighted analysis of stacked multiple imputations. The weights are easily calculated as a function of the imputed data and assumptions about the not‐at‐random missingness. We demonstrate through simulation that the proposed method has excellent performance when the missingness model is correctly specified. In practice, the missingness mechanism will not be known. We show how we can use our approach in a sensitivity analysis framework to evaluate the robustness of model inference to different assumptions about the missingness mechanism, and we provide R packageStackImputeto facilitate implementation as part of routine sensitivity analyses. We apply the proposed method to account for not‐at‐random missingness in human papillomavirus test results in a study of survival for patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer.
Socioeconomic status and psychological stress: Examining intersection with race, sex and US geographic region in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study
Authors: Cundiff Jenny M. , Bennett Aleena , Carson April P. , Judd Suzanne E. , Howard Virginia J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSocioeconomic status (SES) is a well‐established determinant of health. Disparities in stress are thought to partially account for SES‐health disparities. We tested whether multiple indicators of SES show similar associations with psychological stress and whether race, sex, and geographic region moderate associations. Participants (n = 26,451) are from a well‐characterized national cohort of Black and White US adults aged 45 years or older. Psychological stress was measured using the 4‐item perceived stress scale. Income was assessed as annual household income and education as highest level of education completed. Occupation was assessed during a structured interview and subsequently coded hierarchically. For all sex‐race‐region groups, the largest SES‐stress associations were for income and the smallest were for occupation. Race moderated SES‐stress associations, such that income and education were more closely associated with stress in Black adults than White adults. Additionally, education was more strongly associated with stress in individuals living in the stroke belt region. Black Americans with lower income and education reported greater psychological stress and may be at higher risk for disease through stress‐related pathways. Thus, which SES indicator is examined and for whom may alter the magnitude of the association between SES and psychological stress.
Silencing of miR‐497‐5p inhibits cell apoptosis and promotes autophagy in Parkinson's disease by upregulation of FGF2
Authors: Zhu Wenjie , Zhang Hui , Gao Jun , Xu Yun 
Published: August 2021

AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with increasing prevalence in elderly individuals globally. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been confirmed to participate in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. MiR‐497‐5p is previously reported to be upregulated in PD. The present study was designed to further explore the function of miR‐497‐5p in PD. MiR‐497‐5p was significantly upregulated in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells. Inhibition of miR‐497‐5p suppressed the cell apoptosis and triggered autophagy of MPP+‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells. Further, miR‐497‐5p targeted fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF2) in MPP+‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells. Subsequently, rescue assays revealed that miR‐497‐5p regulated apoptosis and autophagy of MPP+‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells by mediation on FGF2. In addition, 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced PD mice models were established. The results exhibited that silencing of miR‐497‐5p improved mice bradykinesia, reduced cell apoptosis and induced autophagy in PD mice by FGF2. In conclusion, silencing of miR‐497‐5p alleviates PD by suppressing cell apoptosis and promoting autophagy in a FGF2 dependent manner, which will provide a novel target for Parkinson's disease management.
Quantum K-theory of quiver varieties and many-body systems
Authors: Koroteev Peter , Pushkar Petr P. , Smirnov Andrey V. , Zeitlin Anton M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe define quantum equivariant K-theory of Nakajima quiver varieties. We discuss type A in detail as well as its connections with quantum XXZ spin chains and trigonometric Ruijsenaars-Schneider models. Finally we study a limit which produces a K-theoretic version of results of Givental and Kim, connecting quantum geometry of flag varieties and Toda lattice.
Maximal characterisation of local Hardy spaces on locally doubling manifolds
Authors: Martini Alessio , Meda Stefano , Vallarino Maria 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe prove a radial maximal function characterisation of the local atomic Hardy space $${{\mathfrak {h}}}^1(M)$$

h

1

(
M
)

on a Riemannian manifold M with positive injectivity radius and Ricci curvature bounded from below. As a consequence, we show that an integrable function belongs to $${{\mathfrak {h}}}^1(M)$$

h

1

(
M
)

if and only if either its local heat maximal function or its local Poisson maximal function is integrable. A key ingredient is a decomposition of Hölder cut-offs in terms of an appropriate class of approximations of the identity, which we obtain on arbitrary Ahlfors-regular metric measure spaces and generalises a previous result of A. Uchiyama.
Anti-inflammatory HDL effects are impaired in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Holzwirth Erik , Fischer-Schaepmann Tina , Obradovic Danilo , von Lucadou Mirjam , Schwedhelm Edzard , Daum Günter , Hindricks Gerhard , Marsche Gunther , Trieb Markus , Thiele Holger , Kornej Jelena , Büttner Petra 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL), best known for cholesterol transport, also has anti-inflammatory effects. Previous studies suggest involvement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in modification of HDL. HDL bound Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been implied to be an essential protein regarding beneficial HDL effects. In this study, we analyzed anti-inflammatory HDL properties in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a disease involving atrial inflammation, compared to non-AF controls and whether anti-inflammatory properties improve upon catheter ablation. Additionally, association with serum concentrations of MPO and S1P were assessed. We isolated HDL from 25 AF patients, 13 non-AF individuals and 14 AF patients at follow-up (FU) after catheter ablation. S1P was measured in a cohort of 141 AF and 21 FU patients. Following preincubation with HDL from either group, bovine aortic endothelial cells were stimulated using tumor necrosis factor α and expression of pro-inflammatory genes intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), E-selectin (SELE) and P-selectin (SELP) was assessed using qPCR. Concentrations of circulating protein of these genes as well as MPO and S1P were measured in serum samples. Compared to non-AF individuals HDL from AF patients suppressed gene expression of the pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules ICAM1, VCAM1, SELE and SELP 27%, 18%, 21% and 57% less, respectively (p < 0.05 for all except SELE p = 0.06). In FU patients, the anti-inflammatory HDL activity was improved (suppression of ICAM1 + 22%, VCAM1 + 10%, SELE + 38% and SELP + 75%, p < 0.05 for all except VCAM1 p = 0.08). AF patients using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers had better anti-inflammatory HDL properties than non-users (gene expression suppression at least 28% more, p < 0.05 for all except ICAM1 p = 0.051). Circulating protein concentrations were not correlated with in vitro gene-expression, but circulating P-selectin was generally elevated in AF and FU patients compared to non-AF patients. MPO plasma concentration was positively associated with gene-expression of ICAM1, VCAM1 and SELP (r2 > 0.4, p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of S1P were increased in FU patients {1.201 µM [1.077–1.543]} compared to AF patients {0.953 µM [0.807–1.135], p < 0.01} but not correlated with ICAM1, VCAM1 and SELP gene expression. We conclude that the anti-inflammatory activity of HDL is impaired in AF patients, which might promote AF progression and AF-associated complications.
Coffee break has no impact on laparoscopic skills: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled parallel-group trial
Authors: Gerdes Christoph , Berghäuser Anna Maria , Hipp Julian , Bäumlein Martin , Hinrichs Svenja , Thomassen Jan-Christoph , Hoffmann Sebastian , Gerdes Berthold 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Coffee is a widely consumed beverage. Surgeons often drink coffee before performing surgery. Caffeine intake leads to tremor which might have a negative effect on surgeons’ fine motor skills.

Methods
A double-blinded parallel-group trial was conducted in order to investigate if caffeinated coffee intake has a negative effect on laparoscopic skills and increases tremor, regardless of previous coffee consumption. 118 participants were selected during a congress of the German Society of Surgery. Exclusion criteria were immaturity and no given consent. Participants and investigators were blinded. Participants were randomized with a 1:1 allocation into interventional group receiving caffeinated coffee or placebo group receiving decaffeinated coffee. The motor skills were tested with two validated laparoscopic exercises at a laparoscopy simulator (LapSim®) before and 30 min after coffee intake. Data on influencing factors were recorded in a standardized questionnaire and tested for equal distribution in both groups. In both exercises four parameters were recorded: left and right hand path length and angular path. Their differences and the resulting effect scores were calculated for both groups as primary outcome to test which group showed greater improvement on the second round of exercises. Registration number DRKS00023608, registered retrospectively.

Results
Fifty nine subjects were assigned to each the interventional (54 analyzed) and placebo group (53 analyzed) with 11 drop outs. There was no significant difference between the placebo and interventional group in the two exercises in effect score 30 min after coffee intake [mean (SD); 38.58 (10.66) vs. 41.73 (7.40) and 113.09 (28.94) vs. 116.59 (25.63)]. A significant improvement from first to second measurement in the first exercise could be observed for both groups, demonstrating the training effect.

Conclusion
In our study, we verified that additional caffeinated coffee intake, e.g., during a coffee break, does not lead to deterioration of laparoscopic fine motor skills.
Corporate Social Responsibility in Liquid Times: The Case of Romania
Authors: Grigore Georgiana , Molesworth Mike , Vontea Andreea , Basnawi Abdullah Hasan , Celep Ogeday , Jesudoss Sylvian Patrick 
Published: August 2021

AbstractExisting scholarly work on corporate social responsibility (CSR) frequently emphasizes either normative/ethical claims about social progress or instrumental/strategic claims about corporate effectiveness, yet less often acknowledges the moral conditions of those undertaking CSR within a specific cultural context. In this paper, we draw attention to the social conditions in which CSR takes place and the related ethics of the subjects that must enact it. Our approach is to document the lived experiences of practitioners in Romania, a post-communist society. Drawing from fifty-three depth interviews with both corporate responsibility practitioners, and managers in non-profit organizations who together work on CSR projects, we describe their experiences of the social and organizational environment, the CSR practices that are undertaken in this context, and the intended and unintended consequences of such work. Using Bauman’s theorization of ethics, including adiaphora and moral distancing, and Borţun’s interpretation of Romanianness, we then theorize liquid CSR as an ambivalence between adiaphoric practice (instrumental morality, careerism and self-interest) and the moral impulse to do good, resulting in both intended (short-term promotion and competitive victimhood) and unintended consequences (a potential for corruption and collateral beneficiaries).
Determinants of exercise intolerance symptoms considered non-specific for heart failure in patients with stage A and B: role of the left atrium in the transition phase to overt heart failure
Authors: Maffeis Caterina , Inciardi Riccardo M. , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb , Tafciu Elvin , Bergamini Corinna , Benfari Giovanni , Setti Martina , Ribichini Flavio L. , Cicoira Mariantonietta , Butler Javed , Rossi Andrea 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTo assess to what extent left atrial (LA) structure and function are associated with non-specific heart failure symptoms, so that patients were classified as HF stage A and B. Mechanisms underlying the transition to overt HF in patients with stage A and B HF are unclear. Consecutive outpatients undergoing echocardiography and clinical evaluation and classified as HF stage A and B with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were included. The association between LA measures [volume (LAVi), peak longitudinal-(PALS), contraction-(PACS) and conduit-strain] and non-specific HF symptoms was assessed using adjusted logistic regression analyses. The incremental value of atrial myopathy in symptoms prediction on top of clinical or echocardiographic confounders was assessed through ROC curves analyses. The cohort comprehended 185 patients (63 ± 16 years, 47% women) of whom 133 (72%) were asymptomatic, and 52 (28%) reported non-specific HF symptoms. After adjustment for clinical and echocardiographic confounders for HF symptoms, LAVi, PALS and PACS were associated with symptoms (p < 0.05). Among echocardiographic variables, only LA parameters were significantly associated with symptoms on top of clinical confounders (for LAVi OR [95% CI] 1.56 [1.21–2.00], p < 0.0001; for PALS 1.45 (1.10–1.91), p = 0.0009; for PACS 2.10 [1.33–3.30], p = 0.002). After adjustment for age, hypertension and COPD or E/E′, LV mass-i and mitral ERO, atrial myopathy added predictive value for symptoms presence compared to the clinical variables or echocardiographic parameters described (AUC increase 0.80 to 0.88, p = 0.004, and 0.79 to 0.84, p = 0.06, respectively). In patients with HF stages A–B and preserved LVEF, measures of LA structure and function were associated with non-specific HF symptoms. A comprehensive LA remodeling evaluation may help clinicians in the appropriate identification of overt HF.
A Critical Assessment of the Need for Harmonization of the Legal Framework Concerning Abusive Informal Debt Collection Practices in the European Union
Authors: Stănescu C.-G. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe loss of jobs and the decline in real incomes caused by the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected consumers’ ability to repay their debts. These have led to high ratios of non-performing loans (NPLs), which affect the stability of the financial industry and undermine economic recovery. The result has been a need for faster debt enforcement and a drastic increase in abusive informal debt collection practices (IDCPs). In the EU, the need to regulate and harmonize abusive IDCPs surfaced in 2018 in connection to the Proposal for a Directive on Credit Servicers, Credit Purchasers and the Recovery of Collateral (CSDP). The directive would enable banks to outsource the servicing of NPLs to a specialized debt collector, but it contained no protection rules against abusive IDCPs. In this article, the researcher critically assesses the need for harmonization of the legal framework concerning abusive IDCPs in the EU, mainly from the standpoint of the initial and current text of the CSDP. Where necessary, the researcher will refer to both historical and comparative law perspectives. The researcher focuses on the legal character of informal debt collection, its relation to financial services, and its potential sui generis character. After that, the researcher will address the arguments for and against establishing pan-EU sector-specific legislation dedicated to IDCPs. Next, the researcher discusses the constitutional authority of the EU to regulate abusive IDCPs. Finally, the researcher will examine the interaction of the CSDP with other consumer (financial) protection instruments to identify the best solution for harmonizing abusive IDCPs at the EU level. The researcher will juxtapose several dichotomies: general versus sector-specific, procedural versus substantive, minimum versus maximum harmonization, and hard versus soft regulation. In the conclusion, the researcher shall synthesize the core problems and suggest an approach.
Kink Oscillations of Coronal Loops
Authors: Nakariakov V. M. , Anfinogentov S. A. , Antolin P. , Jain R. , Kolotkov D. Y. , Kupriyanova E. G. , Li D. , Magyar N. , Nisticò G. , Pascoe D. J. , Srivastava A. K. , Terradas J. , Vasheghani Farahani S. , Verth G. , Yuan D. , Zimovets I. V. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractKink oscillations of coronal loops, i.e., standing kink waves, is one of the most studied dynamic phenomena in the solar corona. The oscillations are excited by impulsive energy releases, such as low coronal eruptions. Typical periods of the oscillations are from a few to several minutes, and are found to increase linearly with the increase in the major radius of the oscillating loops. It clearly demonstrates that kink oscillations are natural modes of the loops, and can be described as standing fast magnetoacoustic waves with the wavelength determined by the length of the loop. Kink oscillations are observed in two different regimes. In the rapidly decaying regime, the apparent displacement amplitude reaches several minor radii of the loop. The damping time which is about several oscillation periods decreases with the increase in the oscillation amplitude, suggesting a nonlinear nature of the damping. In the decayless regime, the amplitudes are smaller than a minor radius, and the driver is still debated. The review summarises major findings obtained during the last decade, and covers both observational and theoretical results. Observational results include creation and analysis of comprehensive catalogues of the oscillation events, and detection of kink oscillations with imaging and spectral instruments in the EUV and microwave bands. Theoretical results include various approaches to modelling in terms of the magnetohydrodynamic wave theory. Properties of kink oscillations are found to depend on parameters of the oscillating loop, such as the magnetic twist, stratification, steady flows, temperature variations and so on, which make kink oscillations a natural probe of these parameters by the method of magnetohydrodynamic seismology.
What affects the arrogant, proud or ashamed pre-service teacher in mathematics? Effects of social comparison, gender and self-concept on self-conscious emotions
Authors: Jenßen Lars 
Published: August 2021

AbstractEmotions are essential for the development of professional competence and identity of pre-service teachers. Thus, they can also be seen as an inherent part of teachers’ professional competence and identity. They also influence teachers’ later emotional experience when teaching at school. Mathematics, especially, triggers activating emotions in pre-service primary school teachers. Pride and shame can be understood as relevant achievement emotions, which are also closely linked to the self-concept of a person. Nevertheless, they have been insufficiently studied among pre-service mathematics teachers so far. The present study examines authentic and hubristic pride and shame amongn = 310 German prospective primary school teachers in relation to self-concept (ability vs. effort), gender and social comparison with fellow students regarding their own achievement. On the one hand, the results point to the difference between authentic and hubristic pride, and on the other hand, the study provides evidence for the dynamic closeness of shame and hubristic pride. Practical implications, especially for teacher education, are discussed against the background of the limitations of the study.