bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ni-γ-AL2O3 catalysts for obtaining nanocarbon by decomposition of natural gas
Authors: Ibrahimov Hikmet , Malikli Sara , Ibrahimova Zenfira , Babali Rahim , Aleskerova Sevinc 
Published: February 2021

Abstractγ-Al2O3 was synthesized by the Sol–gel method, Ni (NO3)2 was placed in the pores by the impregnation method, and Ni-γ-Al2O3 was obtained by pyrolysis in a hydrogen stream in a CVD device. By the method of chemical vapors phase deposition (CVD) on Ni-Al2O3 catalytic converter with decomposition of methane in the natural gas produced carbon nanotubes (CNT) (Chunduri et al. in Mater Express 4(3):235–241, 2014; Zhou et al. in Appl Catal B 208:44–59, 2017). The catalytic activity of the catalysts in methane decomposition was examined from 650 °C to 900 °C by the method of chemical vapors phase deposition (CVD), the yield of CNTs tends to increase with the growth at the ratio of natural gas supply to hydrogen. The specific surface increases with an increase of nickel content and can reach 265.5 m2/g for a sample of 2% Ni-A12O3 at 850 °C. Growth at the temperature of methane decomposition leads to reduction in its specific surface. It has been established that the use of the Ni-Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalytic system, in which copper acts as a stabilizing additive, makes it possible to double the maximum yield of the carbon product during the decomposition of natural gas.
Woodlot management and livelihoods in a tropical conservation landscape
Authors: Bailey Karen , Salerno Jonathan , Newton Peter , Bitariho Robert , Namusisi Shamilah , Tinkasimire Rogers , Hartter Joel 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn biodiversity hotspots, there is often tension between human needs and conservation, exacerbated when protected areas prevent access to natural resources. Forest-dependent people may compensate for exclusion by managing unprotected forests or cultivating planted woodlots. Outside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, household wood product needs are high and population growth puts pressure on the environment. We investigated the role of privately and collectively managed woodlots in provisioning wood products and supporting local livelihoods. We found that households relied heavily on woodlots for daily needs and as resources during time of need. We also found that locally relevant social institutions, called stretcher groups, played a role in the management of woodlots, providing shared community resources. Privately and collectively owned woodlots support local livelihoods and wood product needs in the region. Long-term management of forests in Uganda should consider the value of woodlots and the mechanisms required to support them.
The semiclassical limit on a star-graph with Kirchhoff conditions
Authors: Cacciapuoti Claudio , Fermi Davide , Posilicano Andrea 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe consider the dynamics of a quantum particle of mass m on a n-edges star-graph with Hamiltonian $$H_K=-(2m)^{-1}\hbar ^2 \Delta $$

H
K

=
-

(
2
m
)

-
1

ħ
2

Δ

and Kirchhoff conditions in the vertex. We describe the semiclassical limit of the quantum evolution of an initial state supported on one of the edges and close to a Gaussian coherent state. We define the limiting classical dynamics through a Liouville operator on the graph, obtained by means of Kreĭn’s theory of singular perturbations of self-adjoint operators. For the same class of initial states, we study the semiclassical limit of the wave and scattering operators for the couple $$(H_K,H_{D}^{\oplus })$$

(

H
K

,

H

D

⊕

)

, where $$H_{D}^{\oplus }$$

H

D

⊕

is the Hamiltonian with Dirichlet conditions in the vertex.
Microimaging of a novel intracochlear drug delivery device in combination with cochlear implants in the human inner ear
Authors: Lehner Eric , Menzel Matthias , Gündel Daniel , Plontke Stefan K. , Mäder Karsten , Klehm Jessica , Kielstein Heike , Liebau Arne 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe effective delivery of drugs to the inner ear is still an unmet medical need. Local controlled drug delivery to this sensory organ is challenging due to its location in the petrous bone, small volume, tight barriers, and high vulnerability. Local intracochlear delivery of drugs would overcome the limitations of intratympanic (extracochlear) and systemic drug application. The requirements for such a delivery system include small size, appropriate flexibility, and biodegradability. We have developed biodegradable PLGA-based implants for controlled intracochlear drug release that can also be used in combination with cochlear implants (CIs), which are implantable neurosensory prosthesis for hearing rehabilitation. The drug carrier system was tested for implantation in the human inner ear in 11 human temporal bones. In five of the temporal bones, CI arrays from different manufacturers were implanted before insertion of the biodegradable PLGA implants. The drug carrier system and CI arrays were implanted into the scala tympani through the round window. Implanted temporal bones were evaluated by ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (µ-CT) to illustrate the position of implanted electrode carriers and the drug carrier system. The µ-CT measurements revealed the feasibility of implanting the PLGA implants into the scala tympani of the human inner ear and co-administration of the biodegradable PLGA implant with a CI array.
Graphical abstract
Modelling consumer perceptions of service quality for urban public transport systems using statistical models for ordinal data
Authors: Iannario Maria , Monti Anna Clara 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe paper deals with ordinal response models to evaluate urban public transport systems with the purpose of interpreting consumers’ responses with reference to their profiles. New methodological developments provide opportunities for a more thorough and accurate analysis of perceived service quality. The evaluation of the uncertainty component accounts for accuracy in the assessments. Diagnostic procedures allow to evaluate model specification, with respect to the proportional odds assumption, the adequacy of the mean structure and the occurrence of heterogeneity. The impact of the covariates on the discrete distribution of the observed response is appraised through their marginal effects. The selection of the appropriate covariates leads to the identification of clusters of users, which are compared through ordinal superiority measures. Consequently critical situations are detected.
Orthotopic Heart and Combined Heart Liver Transplantation: the Ultimate Treatment Option for Failing Fontan Physiology
Authors: Reardon Leigh C. , Lin Jeannette P. , VanArsdell Glen S. , Kaldas Fady M. , Lluri Gentian , Tan Weiyi , Whalen Katrina M. , Cruz Daniel , Nsair Ali , Deng Mario C. , Moore Melissa A. , Laks Hillel , Biniwale Reshma M. , Saab Sammy , Baird Andrew , Wilson James M. , Lubin Lorraine N. , Marijic Jure , Williams Tiffany M. , Wray Christopher L. , Meltzer Joseph S. , Gudzenko Vadim , Kratzert Wolf B. , Neelankavil Jacques , Venick Robert S. , Aboulhosn Jamil A. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose of the Review
This is a comprehensive update on failing Fontan physiology and the role of heart and combined heart and liver transplantation in the current era.

Recent Findings
Single ventricle physiology encompasses a series of rare congenital cardiac abnormalities that are characterized by absence of or hypoplasia of one ventricle. This effectively results in a single ventricular pumping chamber. These abnormalities are rarely compatible with long-term survival if left without surgical palliation in the first few years of life. Surgical treatment of single ventricle physiology has evolved over the past 60 years and is characterized by numerous creative innovations. These include the development of arteriopulmonary shunts, the evolution of partial cavopulmonary connections, and the eventual development of the “Fontan” operation. Regardless of the type of Fontan modification, the long-term consequences of the Fontan operation are predominantly related to chronic central venous hypertension and the multi-organ consequences thereof. Atrial arrhythmias can further compromise this circulation.Patients with single ventricle physiology represent a special sub-segment of congenital cardiac transplants and are arguably the most challenging patients considered for transplantation.

Summary
This review describes in detail the challenges and opportunities of heart and liver transplantation in Fontan patients, as viewed and managed by the experienced team at the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Center.
The identification of established modifiable mid-life risk factors for cardiovascular disease which contribute to cognitive decline: Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA)
Authors: Boo Yebeen Ysabelle , Jutila Otto-Emil , Cupp Meghan A. , Manikam Logan , Cho Sung-Il 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Introduction
We explored how different chronic diseases, risk factors, and protective factors highly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are associated with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in Korean elders, with a focus on those that manifest in mid-life.

Methods
A CVD-free cohort (n = 4289) from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging was selected to perform Cox mixed-effects proportional hazard regressions. Eighteen control variables with strong associations to CVD were chosen as explanatory variables, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score cut-off for dementia and MCI were used as outcome variables.

Results
The statistically significant (P < 0.05) adverse factors that contribute in developing dementia were age (aHR 1.07, 1.05–1.09), Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) (aHR 1.17, 1.12–1.23), diagnosis with cerebrovascular disease (aHR 3.73, 1.81–7.66), living with diabetes (aHR 2.30, 1.22–4.35), and living with high blood pressure (HBP) (aHR 2.05, 1.09–3.87). In contrast, the statistically significant protective factors against developing dementia were current alcohol consumption (aHR 0.67, 0.46–0.99), higher educational attainment (aHR 0.36, 0.26–0.56), and regular exercise (aHR 0.37, 0.26–0.51). The factors with a statistically significant adverse association with progression to MCI were age (aHR 1.02, 1.01–1.03) and CESD-10 (aHR 1.17, 1.14–1.19). In contrast, the statistically significant protective factors against developing MCI were BMI (aHR 0.96, 0.94–0.98), higher educational attainment (aHR 0.33, 0.26–0.43), and regular exercise (aHR 0.83, 0.74–0.92).

Conclusion
In lieu of the protective factor of MCI and dementia, implementing regular exercise routine well before mid-life and cognitive decline is significant, with adjustments made for those suffering from health conditions, so they can continue exercising despite their morbidity. Further attention in diabetes care and management is needed for patients who already show decline in cognitive ability as it is likely that their MCI impacts their ability to manage their existing chronic conditions, which may adversely affect their cognitive ability furthermore.
Contract cheating by STEM students through a file sharing website: a Covid-19 pandemic perspective
Authors: Lancaster Thomas , Cotarlan Codrin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStudents are using file sharing sites to breach academic integrity in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper analyses the use of one such site, Chegg, which offers “homework help” and other academic services to students. Chegg is often presented as a file sharing site in the academic literature, but that is just one of many ways in which it can be used. As this paper demonstrates, Chegg can and is used for contract cheating This is despite the apparent existence of an Honour Code on Chegg which asks students not to breach academic integrity. With pandemic led safety considerations leading to increased online teaching and assessment, the paper analyses data relating to how Chegg is used by students in five STEM subjects, namely Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics and Chemistry. The results show that students are using Chegg to request exam style questions. They demonstrate that contract cheating requests can be put live and answered within the short duration of an examination. The number of student requests posted for these five subjects increased by 196.25% comparing the time period April 2019 to August 2019 with the period April 2020 to August 2020. This increase corresponds with the time when many courses moved to be delivered and assessed online. The growing number of requests indicates that students are using Chegg for assessment and exam help frequently and in a way that is not considered permissible by universities. The paper concludes by recommending that academic institutions put interventions in place to minimise the risk to educational standards posed by sites such as Chegg, particularly since increased online teaching and assessment may continue after the pandemic.
Das Fiktionalitätsdilemma
Authors: Bleumer Hartmut 
Published: February 2021

ZusammenfassungAusgehend von der Beobachtung, dass sich die Literaturwissenschaft offenbar immer wieder ihres Fiktionalitätsbegriffs vergewissern muss, stellt die Skizze die Frage, ob diese Wiederholung nicht Ausdruck eines Dilemmas sein könnte, das die wissenschaftliche Begriffsrationalität im Umgang mit narrativen Strukturen selbst erzeugt. Als Lösungsvorschlag wird am Beispiel des Iwein Hartmanns von Aue darauf hingewiesen, dass der erste programmatisch fiktionale Artusroman dieses Dilemma im Erzählen am Beispiel des Weltverständnisses seines Protagonisten vorführt und ästhetisch auflöst: in der paradoxen Korrelation narrativer Ebenen, die es einer historischen Narratologie erlauben müsste, die metaphorische Ästhetik des Artusromans genauer zu erschließen.
Medialität als Schlüsselkonzept eines sprachbewussten Literaturunterrichts am Beispiel einer Märchen-Stunde
Authors: Wolbring Fabian 
Published: February 2021

ZusammenfassungAnalog zur disziplinären Einteilung in Sprach‑, Literatur- und Mediendidaktik werden Sprache, Literatur und Medien im Deutschunterricht häufig suggestiv zu unterrichtspraktisch separaten Phänomenen stilisiert. Der Beitrag wirbt dagegen für ein integratives Miteinander, bei dem die Sprache selbst offensiv als Medium be- und verhandelt wird, wobei insbesondere die ästhetisierte, entpragmatisierte Sprache der Literatur als Display sprachlicher Medialität fungieren kann (Zymner 2009). Nach einer einführenden theoretischen Skizzierung wird das Konzept am Beispiel einer Märchenstunde zum Rumpelstilzchen exemplifiziert. Auf der Suche nach heimlichen MitsprecherInnen erfahren die SuS hier, wie das Medium Sprache gleichzeitig eine Einstimmigkeit suggerieren und Mehrstimmigkeiten ermöglichen kann.
Flow chemistry for process optimisation using design of experiments
Authors: Taylor Connor J. , Baker Alastair , Chapman Michael R. , Reynolds William R. , Jolley Katherine E. , Clemens Graeme , Smith Gill E. , Blacker A. John , Chamberlain Thomas W. , Christie Steven D. R. , Taylor Brian A. , Bourne Richard A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractImplementing statistical training into undergraduate or postgraduate chemistry courses can provide high-impact learning experiences for students. However, the opportunity to reinforce this training with a combined laboratory practical can significantly enhance learning outcomes by providing a practical bolstering of the concepts. This paper outlines a flow chemistry laboratory practical for integrating design of experiments optimisation techniques into an organic chemistry laboratory session in which students construct a simple flow reactor and perform a structured series of experiments followed by computational processing and analysis of the results.
Experimental study on fatigue performance of Q420qD high-performance steel cross joint in complex environment
Authors: Cheng Haigen , Hu Cong , Jiang Yong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe steel structure under the action of alternating load for a long time is prone to fatigue failure and affects the safety of the engineering structure. For steel structures in complex environments such as corrosive media and fires, the remaining fatigue life is more difficult to predict theoretically. To this end, the article carried out fatigue tests on Q420qD high-performance steel cross joints under three different working conditions, established a 95% survival rate $$S{ - }N$$

S
-
N

curves, and analyzed the effects of corrosive media and high fire temperatures on its fatigue performance. And refer to the current specifications to evaluate its fatigue performance. The results show that the fatigue performance of the cross joint connection is reduced under the influence of corrosive medium, and the fatigue performance of the cross joint connection is improved under the high temperature of fire. When the number of cycles is more than 200,000 times, the design curves of EN code, GBJ code, and GB code can better predict the fatigue life of cross joints without treatment, only corrosion treatment, and corrosion and fire treatment, and all have sufficient safety reserve.
Addressing skewed sex ratio at birth in China: practices and challenges
Authors: Tang Mengjun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe sex ratio at birth (SRB) in China began to rise rapidly in the 1980s and declined after 2009. The ratio has maintained a downward trend since 2009, but is still higher than the normal level. The government of China has committed to redress the distortions in SRB and has initiated multiple actions to accomplish that end. Against a background of economic development, accelerating modernization and the empowerment of women, China has strengthened governance and made significant progress in balancing the sex ratio at birth. This paper examines the trend for SRB in China, summarizes the practices that address gender imbalance at birth, and analyzes the challenges ahead.
Seasonal Disorder in Urban Traffic Patterns: A Low Rank Analysis
Authors: Karve Vaibhav , Yager Derrek , Abolhelm Marzieh , Work Daniel B. , Sowers Richard B. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis article proposes several advances to sparse nonnegative matrix factorization (SNMF) as a way to identify large-scale patterns in urban traffic data. The input to our model is traffic counts organized by time and location. Nonnegative matrix factorization additively decomposes this information, organized as a matrix, into a linear sum of temporal signatures. Penalty terms encourage this factorization to concentrate on only a few temporal signatures, with weights which are not too large. Our interest here is to quantify and compare the regularity of traffic behavior, particularly across different broad temporal windows. In addition to the rank and error, we adapt a measure introduced by Hoyer to quantify sparsity in the representation. Combining these, we construct several curves which quantify error as a function of rank (the number of possible signatures) and sparsity; as rank goes up and sparsity goes down, the approximation can be better and the error should decreases. Plots of several such curves corresponding to different time windows leads to a way to compare disorder/order at different time scalewindows. In this paper, we apply our algorithms and procedures to study a taxi traffic dataset from New York City. In this dataset, we find weekly periodicity in the signatures, which allows us an extra framework for identifying outliers as significant deviations from weekly medians. We then apply our seasonal disorder analysis to the New York City traffic data and seasonal (spring, summer, winter, fall) time windows. We do find seasonal differences in traffic order.
Biologia Futura: Emerging antigen-specific therapies for autoimmune diseases
Authors: Sármay Gabriella 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAutoimmune diseases are caused by breaking the central and/or peripheral tolerance against self, leading to uncontrolled immune response to autoantigens. The incidences of autoimmune diseases have increased significantly worldwide over the last decades; nearly 5% of the world's population is affected. The current treatments aim to reduce pain and inflammation to prevent organ damage and have a general immunosuppressive effect, but they cannot cure the disease. There is a huge unmet need for autoantigen-specific therapy, without affecting the immune response against pathogens. This goal can be achieved by targeting autoantigen-specific T or B cells and by restoring self-tolerance by inducing tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells (APC) and the development of regulatory T (Treg) cells, for example, by using autoantigenic peptides bound to nanoparticles. Transferring in vitro manipulated autologous tolerogenic APC or autologous autoantigen-specific Treg cells to patients is the promising approach to develop cellular therapeutics. Most recently, chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells have been designed to specifically deplete autoreactive B cells. Limitations of these novel autoantigen-specific therapies will also be discussed.
What Makes a Robot Social? A Review of Social Robots from Science Fiction to a Home or Hospital Near You
Authors: Henschel Anna , Laban Guy , Cross Emily S. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose of Review
We provide an outlook on the definitions, laboratory research, and applications of social robots, with an aim to understand what makes a robot social—in the eyes of science and the general public.

Recent Findings
Social robots demonstrate their potential when deployed within contexts appropriate to their form and functions. Some examples include companions for the elderly and cognitively impaired individuals, robots within educational settings, and as tools to support cognitive and behavioural change interventions.

Summary
Science fiction has inspired us to conceive of a future with autonomous robots helping with every aspect of our daily lives, although the robots we are familiar with through film and literature remain a vision of the distant future. While there are still miles to go before robots become a regular feature within our social spaces, rapid progress in social robotics research, aided by the social sciences, is helping to move us closer to this reality.
A Decade of Marketing Authorization Applications of Anticancer Drugs in the European Union: An Analysis of Procedural Timelines
Authors: Garsen Marjolein , Steenhof Maaike , Zwiers Alex 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Cancer is a serious global health problem and a major cause of death. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has established several regulatory initiatives to expedite the development and authorization of drugs to ensure timely access of patients. In this study, we analyzed the procedural timelines of marketing authorization applications for anticancer drugs in the EU, with a specific focus to special regulatory programs, scientific advice and company size.

Methods
Anticancer drugs that received an opinion from the EMA between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in the study. Public assessment reports were used to obtain publicly available information of the drugs.

Results
We identified 96 applications for new anticancer drugs. 34 applications were granted access to at least one expedited program offered by the EMA. Total procedure time was reduced from average 370 to 200–215 days when accelerated assessment was granted. Granting of a conditional marketing authorization or an orphan designation, as well as having scientific advice, only mildly affected total procedure time. Average total procedure time of small companies was much longer compared with medium-sized and large companies (483 versus 356 days), which was caused by an increased clock stop time.

Conclusion
Total procedure time for anticancer is mainly affected by the granting of accelerated assessment, which reduced the total procedure time, and company size, where total procedure time is much longer for small companies. Small companies are advised to have, and especially adhere to scientific advice to reduce procedure time and increase the chance of success.