bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frailty and mortality: Braden Scale is associated with mortality among elderly, infected patients admitted to an emergency department
Authors: Sørensen Rune Husås 
Published: May 2019

Background: Infections can lead to serious clinical condition among the frail and elderly population and is associated with high mortality. Currently, no consistent use of frailty risk assessment tools is implemented outside geriatric departments. The Braden Scale (BS) for predicting pressure sore risk is used routinely in hospital settings and has also been associated with mortality in some studies. The aim of this study was to examine the association between BS and 28-day mortality among infected elderly patients admitted to an emergency department (ED).
Methods: A prospective study conducted between 1st October 2017 and 31st March 2018 among elderly (≥65 years) patients admitted to the ED at Slagelse Hospital with an infection. Information on BS (low-risk: BS≥19; intermedium risk:13<BS<18; high-risk:BS≤12), and other relevant data was obtained from the patient records. Information on 28-day mortality was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. We have used logistic regression analysis to adjust for potential confounders of the association between BS and mortality. Changes in model fit were analyzed by the log-likelihood test.
Results: A total of 1468 patients (52.0% female) aged ≥65 years with median age of 78.9 years (interquartile range 72.8-86.0) were included. BS was registered among 1072 (73.0%) patients. A total of 89 patients (8.3%) were in the high-risk group (BS≤12), 508 (47.4%) were in the intermedium-risk group and 475 patients (44.3%) in the low-risk group. The overall 28-day mortality was 10.0%. Unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for mortality, with low-risk group as reference, was 2.21 (95% confidence interval (CI)1.42-3.45) for intermedium risk and 7.66 (95% CI 4.34-13.51) for the high-risk group. Odds ratio for the patients with missing BS was 0.60 (95% CI 0.32-1.12). Adjusted OR was 2.02 (95% CI 1.29-3.17) and 7.46 (95% CI 4.16-13.35) for the intermedium and high-risk groups, respectively.
Conclusion: The Braden Scale can be used as a prognostic marker among elderly patients admitted to an ED with infection.
Hygiene perception and motivational factors of influence on high-quality hand hygiene performance among emergency medical service providers: Results from an international survey
Authors: Vikke Heidi Storm 
Published: May 2019

Background: Hand hygiene a cornerstone in infection prevention and control lacks quality in the EMS. Improvement is complicated and includes both individual and institutional aspects. However, little is known about EMS providers' perception and motivational factors leading to a high-quality hand hygiene. We aimed to describe 1) EMS providers’ perception on hand hygiene, 2) practical measures’ feasibility to improve compliance and 3) motivational factors related to high-quality hand hygiene among the cohort.
Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire consisting of 24 items (developed from WHOs Perception Survey for Health-Care Workers) provided information on demographics, improvement feasibility of practical measures, and various subjective, normative and control beliefs among EMS providers from Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Australia.
Results: Overall, 933 questionnaires were returned (response rate 15%). Most respondents were advanced-care providers, male and had > 5 years EMS experience. In total, 61% received hand hygiene training < 3 years ago, and 93% perceived hand hygiene a routine. Most perceived access to hand hygiene supplies, and training and education as feasible practical measures to improve overall hand hygiene compliance. The majority acknowledged the scope and severity of health-care associated infections and the preventive effect of hand hygiene. Overall, 55% believed that hand hygiene was an organizational priority, 26% that it was important to their managers, 36% to colleges, and 58% to patients. Also, 44% perceived their colleges' hand hygiene compliance high (≥ 80% compliance rate), 71% perceived hand hygiene relatively easy to perform. Organizational priority, peer pressure, and self-efficacy were separately associated with self-reported high-quality hand hygiene.
Conclusions: Hand hygiene supplies, simple and clear instructions, and training and education are highly warranted. Moreover, organizational priority, role models, and self-efficacy are motivational components with the potential to empower hand hygiene compliance within this cohort. Future interventional studies are needed to investigate the effect of a multimodal improvement strategy including both practical and behavioral aspects.
L’application extraterritoriale du droit communautaire de la concurrence et les entreprises canadiennes
Authors: Riel Jean-Pierre 
Published: May 2019

Depuis 1957, le Traité de Rome instituant la Communauté économique européenne, a créé un ordre juridique spécifique qui est structuré en fonction de ses objectifs. Ainsi, comme le droit de la concurrence à l’intérieur du Marché commun constitue un des pivot essentiel au bon fonctionnement de cette organisation, il est tout à fait inévitable que la C.E.E. soit confrontée au phénomène de l’application extraterritoriale du droit communautaire de la concurrence. Ces dernières années, la Cour de Justice des Communautés européennes a déjà appliqué les dispositions du Traité de Rome sur la concurrence à des entreprises établies à l’extérieur de son territoire sans avoir à s’appuyer sur la théorie des effets; en ce sens, le récent arrêt de la cour, communément dénommé « affaire Pâtes à papier », impliquant de nombreuses entreprises multinationales dont plusieurs établies au Canada, retient l’attention car la cour a confirmé sa compétence extraterritoriale tout en évitant, encore une fois, de justifier sa compétence par la théorie des effets.
Fiscalité des entreprises et paradis fiscaux : une étude sur données canadiennes
Authors: Martin Julien , Stratica Cristian 
Published: May 2019

Le recours à l’évitement fiscal est un phénomène largement documenté dans la littérature économique et comptable, quoique peu d’études traitent de l’évitement fiscal des multinationales canadiennes. Cet article dresse un portrait de l’évolution de l’imposition des entreprises canadiennes et de leur recours aux paradis fiscaux. Une évaluation des pertes associées au recours aux paradis fiscaux est proposée.
Les multinationales utilisent différentes méthodes pour réduire, voire se soustraire à la fiscalité. Elles peuvent, entre autres, déplacer leur endettement vers des pays à taux d’imposition élevés.
Elles peuvent aussi ajuster les prix de transferts, qui sont les prix imputés dans les transactions avec leurs filiales étrangères, de manière à transférer des profits vers des pays où le système de taxation est plus avantageux. Enfin, les multinationales ont également la possibilité de délocaliser leurs activités en faveur des juridictions à faible imposition.
La littérature suggère que les entreprises canadiennes entretiennent des relations étroites avec les juridictions à faible imposition. Collins et Shackelford (1995) ont calculé que les entreprises canadiennes ont un taux d’imposition effectif inférieur à celui des États-Unis, du Japon et du Royaume-Uni. Arnold et Wilson (2014) montrent que les autorités du Canada sont réticentes à l’idée d’adopter des mesures restrictives afin de ne pas désavantager les entreprises canadiennes vis-à-vis de ses concurrents internationaux. Hejazi (2007) met en évidence l’importance croissante des paradis fiscaux dans les investissements directs canadiens à l’étranger. Mintz et Smart (2004) montrent que les entreprises canadiennes procèdent à l’évitement fiscal entre les provinces en transférant leurs bénéfices vers des provinces ou des territoires à faible fiscalité.
Différentes sources de données microéconomiques et macroéconomiques sont mobilisées. Il ressort de cette étude que le taux d’imposition effectif des entreprises canadiennes se situe largement en deçà du taux d’imposition statutaire et qu’il n’a cessé de décroître au cours des 35 dernières années. La tendance baissière du taux d’imposition s’observe pour les petites et pour les grandes entreprises. Cependant, les niveaux et l’évolution des taux d’imposition effectifs sont assez hétérogènes entre secteurs d’activité. Les données montrent ensuite que la part des bénéfices générés à l’étranger par les entreprises canadiennes a plus que doublé au cours des 30 dernières années. Par ailleurs, les paradis fiscaux abritent environ 25 % des investissements canadiens à l’étranger.
The Borowski Case
Authors: Shumiatcher Morris C. 
Published: May 2019

The Borowski case first establishes Borowski's status and right to represent the unborn in his action to have the provisions of the Criminal Code concerning abortion declared a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The author, Borowski's lawyer, then presents his arguments in favor of the rights of the unborn: Sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter, confirm his rights by guaranteeing the right of “everyone” to “life, liberty and security” and by protecting his against “discrimination based upon mental or physical disabilities”. In spite of the testimonies of the world's outstanding authorities in the fields of perinatology, neonatalogy, embryology, gynecology, neurosurgery and abortion, the Trial court, turning to Section 206 of the Criminal Code, concluded that until a child leaves the body of his or her mother in a living state, he or she is not a human being. Moreover, the unborn is not “someone” encompassed in the word “everyone” of Section 7 of the Charter.
English and Canadian jurisprudence is then reviewed by the author. He proceeds to analyze the impact of important decisions rendered in Spain, West-Germany and the United States and examines the consequences of the Morgentaler decision.
Les espaces publics urbains toulousains au prisme de la jeunesse : modes d’appropriation, usages et fonctions
Authors: Ruel Sophie , Bordes Véronique , Sahuc Philippe , Boutineau Gaëlle 
Published: May 2019

Cadre de la recherche : Les espaces publics présentent une diversité de formes et d’environnements qui peuvent être étudiés sous différents angles. La jeunesse, quant à elle, constituée d’un grand nombre de profils, est devenue un enjeu politique et social en France depuis les années 1980. Force est de constater que l’espace public de la jeunesse, ou les espaces publics, souffrent d’une vision traditionnelle qui considère la présence des jeunes comme un problème à résoudre.
Objectifs : Appréhender les modes d’appropriation, usages et fonctions des espaces publics urbains toulousains de jeunes âgés de 11 à 28 ans, tel est l’objectif du présent article. Comment se définit leur relation aux espaces publics urbains ? Comment ces espaces font-ils sens pour eux ? Quelles fonctions remplissent-ils ? De quelle manière les jeunes se les approprient-ils, les investissent-ils ? Quels sont leurs usages ? Qu'est-ce qui s'y joue ?
Méthodologie : Ces questions sont abordées et examinées à la lumière d’un travail de cartographie et d’observations ethnographiques qui permettent de saisir la problématique de la jeunesse et de sa place dans les espaces publics urbains. Ce présent travail est issu d’une étude commandée par la mairie de Toulouse, qui s’est déroulée entre décembre 2012 et juin 2013.
Résultats : Il permet de révéler que l’ensemble du territoire de la ville est couvert par une présence jeune et que les espaces publics urbains ne sont jamais prédéfinis, mais font l’objet d’une construction sociale à laquelle les jeunes prennent part.
Conclusions : Les espaces publics urbains sont, pour la jeunesse, un riche terrain d’expérimentations. Ils demeurent des espaces de socialisation et de développement de lien social au sein desquels les jeunes explorent le caractère public de la vie sociale et donnent à voir les conditions de leur visibilité.
Contribution : Cet article, qui pose la question de la jeunesse, de son image, de ce que la société souhaite pour elle et qui interroge le type d’inscription institutionnelle possible dans les espaces publics urbains, concourt à l’enrichissement des réflexions concernant les politiques jeunesse.
Effect of Balloon Catheter Angioplasty Alone for Recurrent Bilateral Renal Artery Restenosis and Quick Deterioration for Hemodialysis: An Alternative for in-Stent Restenosis
Authors: Lopes Mariana Pezzute , Fonseca Cafezeiro Caio Rebouças , Calderaro Daniela , Kajita Luiz Junya , Bortolotto Luiz Aparecido , Muela Henrique C. Simbo , Macedo Thiago Andrade 
Published: May 2019

Aim: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is one of the main causes of secondary hypertension and results in a progressive loss of renal function. This case reports recurrent hypertensive pulmonary edema and worsening renal function successfully treated with multiple percutaneous renal interventions.
Presentation of the Case: A 62-year-old female patient was admitted for carotid endarterectomy. She had uncontrolled blood pressure and worsened renal function. Bilateral renal artery stenosis was diagnosed and endovascular procedure plus stent was performed in both renal arteries. She was discharged with an improvement in renal function and blood pressure. Three months later, she presented a sudden onset of pulmonary hypertensive edema. Renal arteriography confirmed bilateral in-stent restenosis and a new bilateral angioplasty plus stent was fulfilled. Six months later, new worsening of dyspnea, severe renal dysfunction, and new hospitalization were indicated renal replacement therapy. Renal arteriography showed again bilateral renal artery in-stent restenosis and bilateral balloon catheter angioplasty with no stent was performed. She was discharged, with no need for hemodialysis, improved blood pressure and proposal for further discussion about surgical revascularization.
Discussion: When severe reduction of glomerular filtration rate occurs in hypertensive patients with high risk for atherosclerotic disease, it seems prudent to examine renal arteries. Once a diagnosis is made, if blood pressure control cannot be achieved, mainly associated with progressive renal dysfunction, it is recommended restoration of renovascular supply.
Conclusion: Percutaneous renal intervention with no-stenting in bilateral in-stent restenosis and recent onset of hemodialysis may contribute to reversion of renal dysfunction even in patients undergoing to previous interventions.
Simulating the Impact of Climate Change on Growth and Yield of Maize Using CERES-Maize Model under Temperate Kashmir
Authors: Lone Bilal Ahmad , Tripathi Shivam , Fayaz Asma , Singh Purshotam , Qayoom Sameera , Kumar Sandeep , Dar Zahoor Ahmad 
Published: May 2019

Climate variability has been and continues to be, the principal source of fluctuations in global food production in countries of the developing world and is of serious concern. Process-based models use simplified functions to express the interactions between crop growth and the major environmental factors that affect crops (i.e., climate, soils and management), and many have been used in climate impact assessments. Average of 10 years weather data from 1985 to 2010, maximum temperature shows an increasing trend ranges from 18.5 to 20.5°C.This means there is an increase of 2°C within a span of 25 years. Decreasing trend was observed with respect to precipitation was observed with the same data. The magnitude of decrease was from 925 mm to 650 mm of rainfall which is almost decrease of 275 mm of rainfall in 25 years. Future climate for 2011-2090 from A1B scenario extracted from PRECIS run shows that overall maximum and minimum temperature increase by 5.39°C (±1.76) and 5.08°C (±1.37) also precipitation will decrease by 3094.72 mm to 2578.53 (±422.12) The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of climate variability and change on maize growth and yield of Srinagar Kashmir. Two enhanced levels of temperature (maximum and minimum by 2 and 4°C) and CO2 enhanced by 100 ppm & 200 ppm were used in this study with total combinations of 9 with one normal condition. Elevation of maximum and minimum temperature by 4°C anthesis and maturity of maize was earlier 14 days with a deviation of 18% and 26 days with a deviation of 20% respectively. Increase in temperature by 2 to 4°C alone or in combination with enhanced levels of CO2 by 100 and 200 ppm the growth and yield of maize was drastically declined with an reduction of about 40% in grain yield. Alone enhancement of CO2 at both the levels fails show any significant impact on maize yield.
Root Growth Responses of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Soybean (Glycine max L.) to Soil Compaction and Fertilization in a Ferric Acrisol
Authors: Bawa Seidu Iddrissu , Quansah Charles , Tuffour Henry Oppong , Abubakari Awudu , Melenya Caleb 
Published: May 2019

Mechanical impedance to root growth is one of the most important factors determining root elongation and proliferation within a soil profile. Two pot experiments were conducted at the Department of Horticulture, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, to determine the impact of subsurface compaction and different fertilizer amendments on the root growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.). The experiments were arranged in a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Maize and soybean varieties, “Obaatanpa” and “Anidaso” were sown in 72 plastic buckets (36 for each crop) of 12 L volume filled with a Ferric Acrisol. The treatments were different levels of compaction, using bulk density as proxy – 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 Mg m-3, and fertilizer amendments of 100% poultry manure (15 g/pot), 100% NPK fertilizer (2.89 g/pot) and 50% each of poultry manure (7.5 g/pot) and NPK fertilizer (1.45 g/pot). The highest root growth occurred in the uncompacted soil and along the periphery of the soil core. The applied soil amendments significantly increased the root penetration ratio (RPR) of both crops in relation to the control. The shoot biomass of both crops decreased with increasing soil bulk density. All the applied soil amendments significantly increased the shoot biomass of maize and soybean over the control. The magnitude of response of the crops to the soil amendments was greater in soybean than in maize.
Nanomaterials in Superlubricity
Authors: Zhai Wenzheng , Zhou Kun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe vanishing friction, known as superlubricity, is potentially a significant performance indicator in the development of nanostructured materials and has become increasingly important for realizing energy saving and extending the life of mechanical components. Herein, a systematic review of recent progress in nanomaterials for achieving the superlubric state is provided, beginning with a brief introduction of nanostructured materials in superlubricity and its wide potential applications. Subsequently, a detailed discussion of experimental and simulation works on the different spatial structures of nanomaterials associated with size effects ranging from 0D to 3D nanostructures is given, with an emphasis on solid and liquid superlubricity. Finally, this work concludes with perspectives on the challenges and future directions for developing nanomaterials in the field of superlubricity.
A Review on Dielectric Breakdown in Thin Dielectrics: Silicon Dioxide, High‐k, and Layered Dielectrics
Authors: Palumbo Felix , Wen Chao , Lombardo Salvatore , Pazos Sebastian , Aguirre Fernando , Eizenberg Moshe , Hui Fei , Lanza Mario 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThin dielectric films are essential components of most micro‐ and nanoelectronic devices, and they have played a key role in the huge development that the semiconductor industry has experienced during the last 50 years. Guaranteeing the reliability of thin dielectric films has become more challenging, in light of strong demand from the market for improved performance in electronic devices. The degradation and breakdown of thin dielectrics under normal device operation has an enormous technological importance and thus it is widely investigated in traditional dielectrics (e.g., SiO2, HfO2, and Al2O3), and it should be further investigated in novel dielectric materials that might be used in future devices (e.g., layered dielectrics). Understanding not only the physical phenomena behind dielectric breakdown but also its statistics is crucial to ensure the reliability of modern and future electronic devices, and it can also be cleverly used for other applications, such as the fabrication of new‐concept resistive switching devices (e.g., nonvolatile memories and electronic synapses). Here, the fundamentals of the dielectric breakdown phenomenon in traditional and future thin dielectrics are revised. The physical phenomena that trigger the onset, structural damage, breakdown statistics, device reliability, technological implications, and perspectives are described.
Ultrathin and Ultrasmooth Gold Films on Monolayer MoS2
Authors: Yakubovsky Dmitry I. , Stebunov Yury V. , Kirtaev Roman V. , Ermolaev Georgy A. , Mironov Mikhail S. , Novikov Sergey M. , Arsenin Aleksey V. , Volkov Valentyn S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSub‐10 nm continuous metal films are promising candidates for flexible and transparent nanophotonics and optoelectronic applications. In this article, it is demonstrated that monolayer MoS2 is a perspective adhesion layer for the deposition of continuous conductive gold films with a thickness of only 3–4 nm. Optical properties of continuous ultrathin gold films deposited on 2D MoS2 grown by chemical vapor deposition are investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry over a wide wavelength range (300–3300 nm). Results show that optical losses in ultrathin films increase with decreasing thickness due to the fine‐grained structure and the presence of a small number of voids, however, they exhibit metallic properties down to a thickness of 3–4 nm. The atomic‐scale MoS2 interfaces can be transferred to any substrate and thus open up new opportunities for the creation of metasurfaces and a new type of van der Waals heterostructures with atomically thin metal layers.
The Role of Photochemical Reactions in the Development of Advanced Soft Materials for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Fernandez‐Villamarin Marcos , Brooks Laura , Mendes Paula M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn the biomedical field, many innovative materials to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases are currently being developed. The ability to respond to different stimuli is one of the more interesting properties of such materials. Light, as one of the nature's elementary stimuli, offers an attractive and flexible stimulus for controlling the properties and functions of biomedical‐related materials. As such, photoresponsive systems have been increasingly pursued and finding applications in various biomedical settings, ranging from tissue engineering for the fabrication of bespoke tissue scaffolds to drug delivery, aims at manipulating treatment distribution inside the human body. Efforts have also been devoted to the development of highly efficient methods to control biological activity and bring us closer to mimicking impressive biological actuators. In this progress report, an overview of recent developments in the field is provided and current challenges discussed. Key strategies tailored to address specific issues are examined, offering useful perspectives for future designs.