bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extraordinary first jejunal arterial variation associated with annular pancreas undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: a case report
Authors: Iwao Yasuhito , Ban Daisuke , Muro Satoru , Kudo Atsushi , Tanaka Shinji , Menon Krishna , Tanabe Minoru 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Annular pancreas encountered in adults and jejunal arterial variations are rare. Anatomical variations can cause conflicts between oncology and surgical safety.

Methods
Case report of a 68-year-old man suffering from vomiting because of an annular pancreas and a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas head invading the second portion of the duodenum.

Results
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed multiple arterial variations describing the absence of the coeliac trunk such that the left gastric artery (LGA), splenic artery and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were arising separately from the aorta. The accessory left hepatic artery arose from the LGA; and both the common hepatic artery and combined trunk of the replaced right hepatic artery with the higher replaced first jejunal artery separately arose close to the root of the SMA. The patient underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy which achieved 3 years of recurrence-free survival.

Conclusion
This was an extraordinary case of annular pancreas with first jejunal arterial variation detailing an embryological interpretation as well as considerations for balancing short- and long-term outcomes.
Age- and gender-related reference values of cardiac morphology and function in cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Authors: Riffel Johannes H. , Mayo Rebecca , Mueller-Hennessen Matthias , Giannitsis Evangelos , Katus Hugo A. , Andre Florian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference standard for the quantitative assessment of cardiac morphology and function. The aim of the study was to determine age- and gender-related reference values for cardiac morphology and function according to current recommendations. 454 healthy volunteers (235 men, median age 52.0 (44.0–59.0) years) underwent a standard CMR scan and were divided into six groups of nearly equal size with regard to sex (male, female) and age (21–47 years, 48–57 years, 58–84 years). Left ventricular end-diastolic (LV-EDV) and end-systolic (LV-ESV) volumes and LV mass (LV-M) were measured at end-diastole and end-systole in steady-state free precession series with including papillary muscles and trabecular tissue in the LV-M. Absolute and indexed volumetric parameters were significantly different between gender groups with higher values in men compared to women (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant age-dependent decline could be observed for left ventricular and right ventricular volumes (all p < 0.001), while LV-M did not show differences between the different age-groups. Parameters of longitudinal function for the left and right ventricle were higher in female compared to male subjects with a significant age-dependent decline. We provided normal values for cardiac volumes, function, and mass derived in accordance with current guidelines from a large population of healthy subjects, which can be implemented in clinical routine as a standard of reference.
Regulation of Abusive Debt Collection Practices in the EU Member States: An Empirical Account
Authors: Stănescu C.-G. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe article seeks to establish, in a comprehensive manner, if and how abusive debt collection practices are regulated in the respondent EU Member States. Using empirical data gathered from consumer and supervisory agencies as well as debt collection associations in 26 EU Member States, it provides an insight into (a) the existence of a licencing regime for debt collectors; (b) the potential transboundary dimension of debt collection and its implications for the common market; (c) the types of abusive debt-collection practices encountered in the Member States; (d) the efficacy of self-regulation via Codes of Conduct; and (e) the potential traditional remedies available to consumer-debtors. The article concludes that the existence of different national models creates potential issues and discrepancies in the legal status and defences available to consumer-debtors across the EU, which ultimately affects the proper functioning of the single credit servicing market. The advocated solution is that of a harmonized sector-specific regulation of abusive debt collection practices at EU level.
Can Gender Differences in Distress Due to Difficult Voices Be Explained by Differences in Relating?
Authors: Schlier Björn , Sitara Xenia , Strauss Clara , Rammou Aikaterini , Lincoln Tania M. , Hayward Mark 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Research on gender differences has found that women relate to negative voice hearing experiences with more negative emotions and report more distress due to voices, which may be rooted in differences in relating to voices. This study used a robust methodology and a large sample to explore gender differences in relating to voices and voice distress.

Methods
Matched samples of male (n = 124) and female (n = 124) voice hearers were drawn from a survey for secondary analysis. Voice severity (e.g., frequency or loudness), voice distress, and different types of dysfunctional (i.e., passive or aggressive) and functional (assertive) relating were measured. Group comparisons, mediation models, and network analyses were calculated.

Results
Female voice hearers reported more severe voices, more voice distress, more passive, and less assertive relating. Mediation and network analyses yielded evidence for pathways from gender to voice distress via relating and via differences in voice severity.

Conclusion
Gender differences in the emotional impact of voices can be partially explained by relating behavior. Psychological interventions for voice hearing could be optimized by exploring the influence of gender in the emergence of distressing voices. Nevertheless, gender differences need to be treated as one of several different possible mechanisms when working with individual patients.
Avoiding silent opera: the ‘grand’ performing right at work in nineteenth century Paris
Authors: Albinsson Staffan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe music industry has been made possible through performing rights based on a law introduced by the post-revolutionary French national assembly in 1791. However, it took until the mid-nineteenth century until a system of royalty collection was established in France (and another half a century or more in other countries). In France, this new system for non-dramatic performing rights was preceded by royalty regulations in theatres. This study describes how nineteenth century composers were compensated for their work in the Paris Opera through this performing right for drama, known as the ‘grand right’. The tariff-based compensation method had been put in place by a royalréglementin 1713. It created a classic winner-take-all phenomenon in which composers such as Auber, Meyerbeer, and Halévy thrived in the nineteenth century. A contributing fact was the opera house programming which, contrary to the programming of today, favoured new pieces. ‘Grand opéras’ were à la mode and they contributed to the financial success of their composers. However, these operas eventually lost their attraction. In 1884, the Paris Opera adopted a compensation system based on a percentage of box office revenues. The study is based on primary data for 1810–1866.
Automatic verification of concurrent stochastic systems
Authors: Kwiatkowska Marta , Norman Gethin , Parker David , Santos Gabriel 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAutomated verification techniques for stochastic games allow formal reasoning about systems that feature competitive or collaborative behaviour among rational agents in uncertain or probabilistic settings. Existing tools and techniques focus on turn-based games, where each state of the game is controlled by a single player, and on zero-sum properties, where two players or coalitions have directly opposing objectives. In this paper, we present automated verification techniques for concurrent stochastic games (CSGs), which provide a more natural model of concurrent decision making and interaction. We also consider (social welfare) Nash equilibria, to formally identify scenarios where two players or coalitions with distinct goals can collaborate to optimise their joint performance. We propose an extension of the temporal logic rPATL for specifying quantitative properties in this setting and present corresponding algorithms for verification and strategy synthesis for a variant of stopping games. For finite-horizon properties the computation is exact, while for infinite-horizon it is approximate using value iteration. For zero-sum properties it requires solving matrix games via linear programming, and for equilibria-based properties we find social welfare or social cost Nash equilibria of bimatrix games via the method of labelled polytopes through an SMT encoding. We implement this approach in PRISM-games, which required extending the tool’s modelling language for CSGs, and apply it to case studies from domains including robotics, computer security and computer networks, explicitly demonstrating the benefits of both CSGs and equilibria-based properties.
The Hilbert manifold of asymptotically flat metric extensions
Authors: McCormick Stephen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn [Commun Anal Geom 13(5):845–885, 2005], Bartnik described the phase space for the Einstein equations, modelled on weighted Sobolev spaces with local regularity $$(g,\pi )\in H^2\times H^1$$

(
g
,
π
)

∈

H
2

×

H
1

. In particular, it was established that the space of solutions to the constraints form a Hilbert submanifold of this phase space. The motivation for this work was to study the quasi-local mass functional now bearing his name. However, the phase space considered there was over a manifold without boundary. Here we demonstrate that analogous results hold in the case where the manifold has an interior compact boundary, and the metric is prescribed on the boundary. Then, still following Bartnik’s work, we demonstrate the critical points of the mass functional over this space of extensions correspond to stationary solutions with vanishing Killing vector on the boundary. Furthermore, if this solution is smooth then it is in fact a static black hole solution. In particular, in the vacuum case, critical points only occur at exterior Schwarzschild solutions; that is, critical points of the mass over this space do not exist generically. Finally, we briefly discuss a version of the result when the boundary data is related to Bartnik’s geometric boundary data. In particular, by imposing different boundary conditions on the Killing vector, we show that stationary solutions in this case correspond to critical points of an energy resembling the difference between the ADM mass and the Brown–York mass of the boundary.
Antagonism of chloride and nitrate inhibits nitrate reductase activity in chloride-stressed maize
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Franzisky Bastian L. , Eigner Lars , Geilfus Christoph‐Martin , Zörb Christian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractChloride (Cl−) is required for photosynthesis and regulates osmotic balance. However, excess Cl−application negatively interacts with nitrate ($${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$$NO3-) uptake, although its effect on$${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$$NO3-metabolism remains unclear. The aim was to test whether Cl−stress disturbs nitrate reductase activity (NRA). A maize variety (Zea maysL. cv. LG 30215) was hydroponically cultured in a greenhouse under the following conditions: control (2 mM CaCl2), moderate Cl−(10 mM CaCl2), high Cl−(60 mM CaCl2). To substantiate the effect of Cl−stress further, an osmotic stress with lower intensity was induced by 60 g polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 L−1 + 2 mM CaCl2), which was 57% of the osmotic pressure being produced by 60 mM CaCl2. Results show that high Cl−and PEG-induced osmotic stress significantly reduced shoot biomass, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, but NRA was only decreased by high Cl−stress. The interference of NRA in chloride-stressed maize is supposed to be primarily caused by the antagonistic uptake of Cl−and$${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$$NO3-.
Home care vehicle routing problem with chargeable overtime and strict and soft preference matching
Authors: Malagodi Laura , Lanzarone Ettore , Matta Andrea 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA new scheduling problem arising in the home care context is addressed, whose novelty with respect to the literature lies in the way overtime is paid. In this problem, some clients are willing to pay a higher fee to cover the additional overtime cost, if such overtime is incurred because a caregiver works extra time with the client to preserve continuity of care. These overtime hours charged to clients unburden the company, which no longer has to balance between cost and continuity of care in a traditional way. The problem is also studied in a context that includes preferences expressed by both clients and caregivers. Strict preferences must be respected with a high priority, while soft preferences increase the satisfaction and should be preferably respected. We formalize the problem as a Mixed Integer Linear Problem and also propose a cluster-based decomposition to solve real-life instances. The problem is inspired by the real case study of a provider operating in the USA. Numerical results validate the model and confirm the capability of the decomposition approach to deal with real-life instances.
An improved method for precise genome editing in zebrafish using CRISPR-Cas9 technique
Authors: Gasanov Eugene V. , Jędrychowska Justyna , Pastor Michal , Wiweger Malgorzata , Methner Axel , Korzh Vladimir P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCurrent methods of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated site-specific mutagenesis create deletions and small insertions at the target site which are repaired by imprecise non-homologous end-joining. Targeting of the Cas9 nuclease relies on a short guide RNA (gRNA) corresponding to the genome sequence approximately at the intended site of intervention. We here propose an improved version of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing that relies on two complementary guide RNAs instead of one. Two guide RNAs delimit the intervention site and allow the precise deletion of several nucleotides at the target site. As proof of concept, we generated heterozygous deletion mutants of the kcng4b, gdap1, and ghitm genes in the zebrafish Danio rerio using this method. A further analysis by high-resolution DNA melting demonstrated a high efficiency and a low background of unpredicted mutations. The use of two complementary gRNAs improves CRISPR-Cas9 specificity and allows the creation of predictable and precise mutations in the genome of D. rerio.
Entanglement performance of light through the composite free space channel
Authors: Zhang Shujing , Shi Jianhong , Zhao Jiancheng , Zhang Hailong , Bao Wansu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEntanglement transmission is utilized widely in quantum communication. In this paper we establish a model, which characterizes the performance of entanglement state passing through the composite free space channel. This free space channel is compounded with atmosphere, sea surface and underwater channel. Based on the model, the entanglement photon pairs transmitted through composite channel are simulated. Simulation results show that the beam wandering, the incident angle of the beam on the sea surface, the concentration of chlorophyll in the seawater and other factors will lead to the degradation of the entanglement and these factors have a nonlinear relationship with transmittance. Moreover, the increase of the chlorophyll concentration is found to be a relatively heavy impact on the entanglement. In addition, expanding the aperture size of the receiving telescope will improve entanglement. The research of this paper has momentous meaning to the transmission of quantum entanglement in free space. What’s more, the results have an extremely vital reference value for quantum communications in diverse natural environments.
Exploring the Effect of Silicon on the High Temperature Corrosion of Lean FeCrAl Alloys in Humid Air
Authors: Sand T. , Edgren A. , Geers C. , Asokan V. , Eklund J. , Helander T. , Svensson J. E. , Johansson L. G. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA new approach to reduce the chromium and aluminium concentrations in FeCrAl alloys without significantly impairing corrosion resistance is to alloy with 1–2 wt.% silicon. This paper investigates the “silicon effect” on oxidation by comparing the oxidation behavior and scale microstructure of two FeCrAl alloys, one alloyed with silicon and the other not, in dry and wet air at 600 °C and 800 °C. Both alloys formed thin protective oxide scales and the Cr-evaporation rates were small. In wet air at 800 °C the Si-alloyed FeCrAl formed an oxide scale containing mullite and tridymite together with α- and γ-alumina. It is suggested that the reported improvement of the corrosion resistance of Al- and Cr-lean FeCrAl’s by silicon alloying is caused by the appearance of Si-rich phases in the scale.
Identifying the “Active Ingredients” of a School-Based, Workplace Safety and Health Training Intervention
Authors: Nykänen Mikko , Guerin Rebecca J. , Vuori Jukka 
Published: January 2021

AbstractYoung workers in many industrialized countries experience a higher rate of largely preventable occupation-related injuries compared with adults. Safety education and training are considered critical to the prevention of these incidents. This can be promoted by the dissemination and scale-out of an evidence-based, safety training programs in vocational education. The aim of this study was to identify the intervention core components that comprise the “active ingredients” of a safety training intervention for young workers and assess the impact on student outcomes of interest. Fidelity of implementation was operationalized using measures of adherence and quality of intervention delivery. For this study, data were collected through a school-based, cluster randomized trial conducted in 2015 in eight Finnish upper secondary-level vocational schools (n = 229 students in 22 groups, each with one teacher). Results indicate that the intervention core components (safety skills training, safety inoculation training, a positive atmosphere for safety learning, and active learning techniques) had differing associations with student outcomes. Adherence related to the acquisition of safety skills training was the strongest active ingredient in terms of positive effects. Furthermore, quality of delivery in terms of fostering positive learning atmosphere and utilizing active learning methods was associated especially with motivational outcomes. These findings indicate that different active ingredients complemented each other. Contrary to expectations, we found no statistically significant relationship between any of the core components and risk-taking attitudes. The current study advances prevention science by identifying the active ingredients of an evidence-based intervention, implemented in Finnish vocational school settings, that helps protect young workers from work-related morbidity and mortality.
Ordoliberalism: neither exclusively German nor an oddity. A review essay of Malte Dold’s and Tim Krieger’s Ordoliberalism and European Economic Policy: Between Realpolitik and Economic Utopia.
Authors: Horn K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe German intellectual tradition of ordoliberalism, a variant of neoliberalism particularly committed to a “functional and humane order,” was long ignored in the Anglo-Saxon world. More recently, this has changed to some degree, especially under the impression of the European sovereign-debt crisis, during which Germany’s insistence on rule-abiding behavior was critically attributed to the ordoliberal heritage. In the anthology edited by Malte Dold and Tim Krieger, ordoliberalism is discussed from many different angles, including the historical roots in the Freiburg School, the recent much-disputed strategies for dealing with the eurozone crisis, and a further development of the research program. The editors argue that scholarship in the spirit of ordoliberalism would benefit from being embedded within the interdisciplinary scientific cluster of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). The book makes a valuable contribution to a better-informed international discourse across the disciplines.
Establishment of a Cre-rat resource for creating conditional and physiological relevant models of human diseases
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Zheng Qi , Chen-Tsai Ruby Yanru 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe goal of this study is to establish a Cre/loxP rat resource for conditional and physiologically predictive rat models of human diseases. The laboratory rat (R. norvegicus) is a central experimental animal in several fields of biomedical research, such as cardiovascular diseases, aging, infectious diseases, autoimmunity, cancer models, transplantation biology, inflammation, cancer risk assessment, industrial toxicology, pharmacology, behavioral and addiction studies, and neurobiology. Up till recently, the ability of creating genetically modified rats has been limited compared to that in the mouse mainly due to lack of genetic manipulation tools and technologies in the rat. Recent advances in nucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9), as well as TARGATT™ integrase system enables fast, efficient and site-specific introduction of exogenous genetic elements into the rat genome. Here, we report the generation of a collection of tissue-specific, inducible transgenic Cre rats as tool models using TARGATT™, CRISPR/Cas9 and random transgenic approach. More specifically, we generated Cre driver rat models that allow controlled gene expression or knockout (conditional models) both temporally and spatially through the Cre-ERT2/loxP system. A total of 10 Cre rat lines and one Cre reporter/test line were generated, including eight (8) Cre lines for neural specific and two (2) lines for cardiovascular specific Cre expression. All of these lines have been deposited with the Rat Resource and Research Center and provide a much-needed resource for the bio-medical community who employ rat models for their studies of human diseases.