bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimization of laser beam welding of steel parts made by additive manufacturing
Authors: Caiazzo Fabrizia , Alfieri Vittorio 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTo pursue all the benefits of additive manufacturing of metals, recent studies have been aimed at assessing a proper welding technology to obtain large products by means of joining smaller parts. Indeed, at present, two or more parts must be manufactured individually and then assembled to produce the final component, when the size is incompatible with the building chamber or severe deformations arise during building. In this paper, laser beam welding is explored to join stainless steel components made by the process of laser powder bed fusion, in order to benefit from all the known advantages of this joining technique, aiming at producing a welding bead with homogeneous mechanical features with respect to the unwelded counterpart: a factorial plan is built, and the response surfaces are presented; then, the consolidated method of the desirability function is used to find the optimum condition of welding with reference to the current international standards, taking into account the geometry, the welding imperfections, and the extent of the heat-affected zone. The suggested optimum is eventually assessed via tensile testing and compared to the unwelded sample.
Quality of Recovery of Patients Who Underwent Curative Pancreatectomy: Comparison of Total Intravenous Anesthesia Versus Inhalation Anesthesia Using the QOR‐40 Questionnaire
Authors: Joe Young‐Eun , Kang Chang Moo , Lee Hye‐Mi , Kim Ki‐Jun , Hwang Ho Kyoung , Lee Jeong‐Rim 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere has been increasing attention on the subjective recovery of patients undergoing cancer surgery. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and inhaled anesthesia with volatile anesthetics (INHA) are safe and common anesthetic techniques. Currently, TIVA and INHA have only been compared for less invasive and less complex surgeries. This prospective randomized trial aimed to compare the quality of recovery between TIVA and INHA in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) using the Quality of Recovery (QOR)‐40 questionnaire.MethodsWe enrolled 132 patients who were randomly assigned to either the desflurane (DES) (INHA, balanced anesthesia with DES and remifentanil infusion) or TIVA (effect‐site target‐controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil) groups and completed the QOR‐40 questionnaire postoperatively.ResultsThe mean global QOR‐40 score on postoperative day 3 was significantly higher in the TIVA group than in the DES group. In the PD group, the total QOR‐40 score was significantly higher in the TIVA group than in the DES group. Moreover, the TIVA group had significantly higher scores in the physical comfort and psychological support QOR‐40 dimensions than the DES group.ConclusionTIVA provides better quality of recovery scores on POD 3 for patients undergoing curative pancreatectomy.Clinical trial registration number: NCT03447691
Macrophage depletion in stellate ganglia alleviates cardiac sympathetic overactivation and ventricular arrhythmogenesis by attenuating neuroinflammation in heart failure
Authors: Zhang Dongze , Hu Wenfeng , Tu Huiyin , Hackfort Bryan T. , Duan Bin , Xiong Wanfen , Wadman Michael C. , Li Yu-Long 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCardiac sympathetic overactivation is involved in arrhythmogenesis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Inflammatory infiltration in the stellate ganglion (SG) is a critical factor for cardiac sympathoexcitation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias. This study aims to investigate if macrophage depletion in SGs decreases cardiac sympathetic overactivation and ventricular arrhythmogenesis in CHF. Surgical ligation of the coronary artery was used for induction of CHF. Clodronate liposomes were microinjected into bilateral SGs of CHF rats for macrophage depletion. Using cytokine array, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot analysis, we found that macrophage expansion and expression of TNFα and IL-1β in SGs were markedly increased in CHF rats. Flow cytometry data confirmed that the percentage of macrophages in SGs was higher in CHF rats than that in sham rats. Clodronate liposomes significantly reduced CHF-elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels and macrophage expansion in SGs. Clodronate liposomes also reduced CHF-increased N-type Ca2+currents and excitability of cardiac sympathetic postganglionic neurons and inhibited CHF-enhanced cardiac sympathetic nerve activity. ECG data from 24-h, continuous telemetry recording in conscious rats demonstrated that clodronate liposomes not only restored CHF-induced heterogeneity of ventricular electrical activities, but also decreased the incidence and duration of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in CHF. Macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes attenuated CHF-induced cardiac sympathetic overactivation and ventricular arrhythmias through reduction of macrophage expansion and neuroinflammation in SGs.
Protein expression plasticity contributes to heat and drought tolerance of date palm
Authors: Ghirardo Andrea , Nosenko Tetyana , Kreuzwieser Jürgen , Winkler J. Barbro , Kruse Jörg , Albert Andreas , Merl-Pham Juliane , Lux Thomas , Ache Peter , Zimmer Ina , Alfarraj Saleh , Mayer Klaus F. X. , Hedrich Rainer , Rennenberg Heinz , Schnitzler Jörg-Peter 
Published: April 2021

AbstractClimate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of warming and drought periods around the globe, currently representing a threat to many plant species. Understanding the resistance and resilience of plants to climate change is, therefore, urgently needed. As date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) evolved adaptation mechanisms to a xeric environment and can tolerate large diurnal and seasonal temperature fluctuations, we studied the protein expression changes in leaves, volatile organic compound emissions, and photosynthesis in response to variable growth temperatures and soil water deprivation. Plants were grown under controlled environmental conditions of simulated Saudi Arabian summer and winter climates challenged with drought stress. We show that date palm is able to counteract the harsh conditions of the Arabian Peninsula by adjusting the abundances of proteins related to the photosynthetic machinery, abiotic stress and secondary metabolism. Under summer climate and water deprivation, these adjustments included efficient protein expression response mediated by heat shock proteins and the antioxidant system to counteract reactive oxygen species formation. Proteins related to secondary metabolism were downregulated, except for the P. dactylifera isoprene synthase (PdIspS), which was strongly upregulated in response to summer climate and drought. This study reports, for the first time, the identification and functional characterization of the gene encoding for PdIspS, allowing future analysis of isoprene functions in date palm under extreme environments. Overall, the current study shows that reprogramming of the leaf protein profiles confers the date palm heat- and drought tolerance. We conclude that the protein plasticity of date palm is an important mechanism of molecular adaptation to environmental fluctuations.
Complementing regional ground GNSS-STEC computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) with ionosonde data assimilation
Authors: Ssessanga Nicholas , Yamamoto Mamoru , Saito Susumu , Saito Akinori , Nishioka Michi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA near-real-time computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) technique was developed over the East Asian sector to specify the 3-D electron density field. The technique is based on a plethora of Global Navigation Satellite System observables within the region of interest which is bounded horizontally 110°–160°E and 10°–60°N and extending from 80 to 25,000 km in altitude. Prior to deployment, studies validated the CIT results using ionosonde, middle-upper atmosphere radar and occultation data and found the technique to adequately reconstruct the regional ionosphere vertical structure. However, with room for improvement in estimating the peak height and avoiding physically unrealistic negative densities in the final solution, we present preliminary results from a technique that addresses these issues by incorporating CIT results into a data assimilation (DA) technique. The DA technique adds ionosonde bottomside measurements into CIT results, thereby improving the accuracy of the reconstructed bottomside 3-D structure. More specifically, on average CIT NmF2 and hmF2 improve by more than 60%. Further, during analysis, ionospheric electron densities are assumed to be better described by probability log-normal distribution, which introduces the positivity constraint that is mandatory in ionospheric imaging.
Health Worker Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators of Assisted Partner Notification for HIV for Refugees and Ugandan Nationals: A Mixed Methods Study in West Nile Uganda
Authors: Klabbers Robin E. , Muwonge Timothy R. , Ayikobua Emmanuel , Izizinga Diego , Bassett Ingrid V. , Kambugu Andrew , Tsai Alexander C. , Ravicz Miranda , Klabbers Gonnie , O’Laughlin Kelli N. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAssisted partner notification (APN) is recommended by the World Health Organization to notify sexual partners of HIV exposure. Since 2018, APN has been offered in Uganda to Ugandan nationals and refugees. Distinct challenges faced by individuals in refugee settlements may influence APN utilization and effectiveness. To explore APN barriers and facilitators, we extracted index client and sexual partner data from APN registers at 11 health centers providing care to refugees and Ugandan nationals in West Nile Uganda and conducted qualitative interviews with health workers (N = 32). Since APN started, 882 index clients participated in APN identifying 1126 sexual partners. Following notification, 95% (1025/1126) of partners tested for HIV; 22% (230/1025) were diagnosed with HIV with 14% (139/1025) of tested partners newly diagnosed. Fear of stigma and disclosure-related violence limit APN utilization and effectiveness. Prospective research involving index clients and sexual partners is needed to facilitate safe APN optimization in refugee settlements.
Emerging stock market volatility and economic fundamentals: the importance of US uncertainty spillovers, financial and health crises
Authors: Karanasos M. , Yfanti S. , Hunter J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper studies the US and global economic fundamentals that exacerbate emerging stock markets volatility and can be considered as systemic risk factors increasing financial stability vulnerabilities. We apply the bivariate HEAVY system of daily and intra-daily volatility equations enriched with powers, leverage, and macro-effects that improve its forecasting accuracy significantly. Our macro-augmented asymmetric power HEAVY model estimates the inflammatory effect of US uncertainty and infectious disease news impact on equities alongside global credit and commodity factors on emerging stock index realized volatility. Our study further demonstrates the power of the economic uncertainty channel, showing that higher US policy uncertainty levels increase the leverage effects and the impact from the common macro-financial proxies on emerging markets’ financial volatility. Lastly, we provide evidence on the crucial role of both financial and health crisis events (the 2008 global financial turmoil and the recent Covid-19 pandemic) in raising markets’ turbulence and amplifying the volatility macro-drivers impact, as well.
Reflections on the Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity
Authors: Groom Ben , Turk Zachary 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Dasgupta Review provides a rich overview of the economics of biodiversity, paints a bleak picture of the current state of biodiversity, and is a call to arms for action in anticipation of the CBD COP 15. The Review takes a global perspective aimed at the high level of international and national policy on biodiversity, while elucidating the very local nature of biodiversity threats and values. The approach is orthodox in its diagnosis via the language of externalities, natural capital, shadow pricing, asset returns, and the suite of remedial policies that follow. Yet, at its centre is an ‘unorthodox’ perspective: the economy is embedded in the environment and growth is limited. We offer reflections on this framing in light of its objectives for biodiversity. The limits to growth message will be criticised and applauded in equal measure by different economists. The central place of valuation and the aggregated concept of biodiversity will draw criticism from outside the discipline. Yet the Review provides a foundation for biodiversity economics, and its largely orthodox framing may invoke the intended step change in the mainstream approach to economic growth.
Coronary deaths during Midsummer festival in Finland: miseries of long, light nights
Authors: Näyhä Simo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper examines whether the anomalous summer peak in deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Finland could be attributed to adverse effects of the Midsummer festival and alcohol consumption during the festival. Daily deaths from CHD and alcohol poisoning in Finland, 1961–2014, that occurred during the 7 days centering on Midsummer Day were analysed in relation to deaths during 14 to 4 days before and 4 to 14 after Midsummer Day. Daily counts of deaths from CHD among persons aged 35–64 years were regressed on days around the Midsummer period by negative binomial regression. Mortality from CHD was highest on Midsummer Day (RR 1.25 (95% confidence interval 1.12–1.31), one day after the peak in deaths from alcohol poisonings. RR for CHD on Midsummer Day was particulary high (RR = 1.43; 1.09–1.86) in the 2000s, 30% of deaths being attributable to that day. In conclusion, the anomalous and prominent summer peak in deaths from CHD in Finland is an adverse consequence of the Midsummer festival. The most likely underlying reason is heavy alcohol consumption during the festival period, especially on Midsummer Eve. In the 2000s, one third of deaths from CHD on Midsummer Day are preventable.
Dementia remains the major predictor of death among octogenarians. A study of two population cohorts of 85-year-olds examined 22 years apart
Authors: Wetterberg Hanna , Najar Jenna , Rydén Lina , Ribbe Mats , Rydberg Sterner Therese , Zettergren Anna , Guo Xinxin , Falk Erhag Hanna , Sacuiu Simona , Kern Silke , Skoog Ingmar 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDementia is the major predictor of death in old age. The aim of this paper was to determine whether 8-year mortality among 85-year olds with and without dementia, and if the contribution of dementia to mortality relative to other common diseases has changed. We used two population-based cohorts of 85-year-olds (N = 1065), born in 1901–02 and 1923–24, which were examined with identical methods in 1986–87 and 2008–2010 and followed for 8-year mortality according to data from the Swedish Tax Agency. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. Other diseases were diagnosed based on self-reports, close informant interviews, somatic examinations, and the Swedish National In-patient Register. Compared to cohort 1901–02, cohort 1923–24 had a lower 8-year mortality both among those with (HR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5–0.99) and without dementia (HR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5–0.9). Dementia was associated with increased mortality in both cohorts (cohort 1901–02, HR 2.6; 95% CI 2.0–3.2, cohort 1923–24, HR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.5), and remained the major predictor of death, with a population attributable risk of 31.7% in 1986–87 and 27.7% in 2008–10. Dementia remained the most important predictor of death in both cohorts. The relative risk for mortality with dementia did not change between cohorts, despite a decreased mortality rate in the population.
On the Status of Newtonian Gravitational Radiation
Authors: Linnemann Niels , Read James 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe discuss the status of gravitational radiation in Newtonian theories. In order to do so, we (i) consider various options for interpreting the Poisson equation as encoding propagating solutions, (ii) reflect on the extent to which limit considerations from general relativity can shed light on the Poisson equation’s conceptual status, and (iii) discuss various senses in which the Poisson equation counts as a (non-)dynamical equation.
A Non-local Phase Field Model of Bohm’s Quantum Potential
Authors: Mauri Roberto 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAssuming that the free energy of a gas depends non-locally on the logarithm of its mass density, the body force in the resulting equation of motion consists of the sum of density gradient terms. Truncating this series after the second term, Bohm’s quantum potential and the Madelung equation are identically obtained, showing explicitly that some of the hypotheses that led to the formulation of quantum mechanics admit a classical interpretation based on non-locality.
Conceptualizing content-related PD facilitator expertise
Authors: Prediger Susanne , Roesken-Winter Bettina , Stahnke Rebekka , Pöhler Birte 
Published: April 2021

AbstractStudies of facilitators of professional development (PD) for mathematics teachers have been increasing in order to improve their preparation for conducting PD. However, specifications of what facilitators should learn often lack a conceptualization that captures facilitators’ expertise for different PD content. In this article, we provide a framework for facilitator expertise that is in line with current conceptualizations but makes explicit the content-related aspects of such expertise. The framework for content-related facilitator expertise combines cognitive and situated perspectives and allows unpacking different components at the PD level and the classroom level. Using two illustrative cases of different PD content (probability education in primary school and language-responsive mathematics teaching in secondary school), we exemplify how the framework can help to analyze facilitators’ practices in content-related ways in adescriptive mode.This analysis reveals valuable insights that support designers of facilitator preparation programs to specify what facilitators should learn in aprescriptive mode. We particularly emphasize the importance of working on content-related aspects, unpacking the PD content goals into the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge elements on the classroom level and developing facilitators’ pedagogical content knowledge on the PD level (PCK-PD), which includes curricular knowledge, as well as knowledge about teachers’ typical thinking about a specific PD content. Situated learning opportunities in facilitator preparation programs can support facilitators to activate these knowledge elements for managing typical situational demands in PD.
Exploring the Effects of Types of Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity on Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Svetek Mojca , Drnovsek Mateja 
Published: April 2021

AbstractEntrepreneurial activity has been seen as the single most important activity of individuals due to its role in the economic development of nations. However, little is known about the impact of entrepreneurial activity on the subjective well-being of nations beyond its economic impact. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of different types of entrepreneurial activity – total entrepreneurial activity, opportunity-driven entrepreneurial activity and innovative entrepreneurial activity – on subjective well-being across nations. We consider three distinct mechanisms by which entrepreneurship may influence subjective well-being at the national level. Our panel data includes representative country-level data from 2008 to 2015 from five different data sources for 31 European countries. We employ four econometric models for analyzing the panel data: pooled OLS regression (POLS), fixed effects model (FE), random effects model (RE), and simultaneous equations model (3SLS). Our results suggest that opportunity-driven entrepreneurial activity has a positive impact on subjective well-being. In addition, we find that subjective well-being affects the level of opportunity-driven and innovative entrepreneurial activity. These findings have implications for policy-makers seeking to promote not only economic development but also subjective well-being in the nation.
How Healthy and Unhealthy Values Predict Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being: Dissecting Value-Related Beliefs and Behaviours
Authors: Bojanowska Agnieszka , Kaczmarek Łukasz D. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDespite a strong link between values and well-being, little is known about dimensions moderating this link, e.g., whether individuals who act upon their values experience greater well-being for healthy values (e.g., self-transcendence) and lower well-being for unhealthy values (e.g., self-enhancement). Moreover, research on values and value-related behavior has rarely accounted for hedonic and eudaimonic well-being at the same time. Thus, we aimed to examine how values, value-related behaviors, and their interaction relate to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. We expected that ‘healthy’ values would correspond with higher well-being and unhealthy values with lower well-being. A community sample representative of young adults (N = 1161) reported their values, value-related behavior, and well-being. We found that for most values, behavior was an additional independent predictor of well-being related either to even more (e.g., self-transcendence) or less (e.g., self-enhancement) positive outcomes. For some values, behavior moderated the link between beliefs and well-being by boosting (self-transcendence) or suppressing it (conservation). We also found different links between hedonic versus eudaimonic well-being, e.g., self-enhancement and openness to change. This study presents the importance of asking about value-related beliefs, behaviors, their congruence, and specific facets of well-being when analyzing the value and well-being link. We conclude that some values are best for well-being when they remain passive, with little accompanying behaviors (self-enhancement or conservation), whereas others provide more benefits when individuals act upon them (self-transcendence).
Virtual Seminar on Coronavirus 2019 for the US-Mexico Border Region: Building Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration
Authors: Aceves Benjamin , Lopez-Galvez Nicolas , Rangel Gudelia , Gonzalez-Fagoaga Eduardo , Zapata-Garibay Rogelio , Rosales Cecilia 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWhile the US-Mexico border region has had increasing restrictions due to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the economically and socially integrated region continues to facilitate necessary movement between the two countries. Binational partners representing universities, government, and health delivery worked together to develop a COVID-19 Virtual Seminar for the US-Mexico Border Region, which consisted of weekly sessions in Spanish designed to better facilitate communication and collaborative systems between border states. In total 835 participants registered for the virtual seminar with attendance ranging from 394 in Session 1 to 269 in Session 6. From evaluation surveys (n = 297), organizers observed a large plurality of healthcare professionals, followed by students, researchers, and government employees. The seminar’s contribution to increasing collaborative and communication systems identified major needs in the region surrounding surveillance and monitoring; increased resources for migrant shelters to control outbreaks; an increase in personal protective equipment; tracking binational cases.