bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Materials, Innovations and Future Research Opportunities on Wind Turbine Blades—Insight Review
Authors: Karthikeyan N. , Anand R.B. , Suthakar T. , Barhate Shubham 
Published: October 2018

Nowadays, wind turbine blades are manufactured using several materials and methodologies to save cost and to increase their performance. This article gives a brief overview of blade materials and prevailing manufacturing traits to make them more reliable and cost‐efficient. The surface roughness, manufacturing defects, and fluctuating loads in flow fields significantly affect wind turbine power generation. However, these problems can be reduced by using appropriate materials. Therefore, selection of wind turbine materials is extremely important to maintain its performance even in harsh environmental conditions. This article describes an overview of current material solutions for overcoming material defects like delamination, structural distortion, and icing problems in the Polar Regions. It involves composites, smart alloys, protective coatings, etc. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13046, 2019Highlights

Types of loading, failure mechanisms and current manufacturing methods of wind turbine blades.
Innovative blade material approach: Morphing concepts, Glass or Carbon fiber/Nano‐/Bio‐Composites.
Active and passive strategies for anti‐icing or de‐icing of wind turbine blades.
What are the key factors influencing consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for meat products in EasternDRC?
Authors: Udomkun Patchimaporn , Ilukor John , Mockshell Jonathan , Mujawamariya Gaudiose , Okafor Christopher , Bullock Renee , Nabahungu Nsharwasi Léon , Vanlauwe Bernard 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDietary patterns for consumers among the elite and middle‐income classes in developing countries are shifting rapidly toward the consumption of more animal‐based products. Although this shift presents opportunities, there are significant market failures affecting their preferences and willingness to pay (WTP). This study used a multistage sample survey of 309 consumers from three different communities of Bukavu, EasternDRC, to examine the effect of socioeconomic/socio‐demographic characteristics and quality attributes on consumers’ purchasing decisions andWTPfor meat products. The results suggested that about 53% of the respondents were dissatisfied with meat products in the market due to their high price, low quantity, unhealthiness, and harmful effects. Older female respondents living in urban areas were more likely to purchase meat products. TheirWTPwas significantly determined by attributes such as color, in‐mouth texture, and availability. Nutrition, harmful effects, and availability of meat products are the important factors that influence purchasing decisions among higher income groups. Addressing these market failures could have an impact on the meat market, improving the nutrition of low‐income consumers and ensuring food safety standards inDRCand other developing countries with similar challenges.
Construction of integrated microRNA and mRNA immune cell signatures to predict survival of patients with breast and ovarian cancer
Authors: Ray Mondira , Ruffalo Matthew M. , Bar‐Joseph Ziv 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn the tumor microenvironment, immune cells have emerged as key regulators of cancer progression. While much work has focused on characterizing tumor‐related immune cells through gene expression profiling, microRNAs (miRNAs) have also been reported to regulate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Using regression‐based computational methods, we have constructed for the first time, immune cell signatures based on miRNA expression from The Cancer Genome Atlas breast and ovarian cancer datasets. Combined with existing mRNA immune cell signatures, the integrated mRNA‐miRNA leukocyte signatures are better able to delineate prognostic immune cell subsets within both cancers compared to the mRNA or miRNA signatures alone. Moreover, using the miRNA signatures, the anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophages emerged as the most significantly prognostic cell type in the breast cancer data (HR [hazard ratio]: 12.9; CI [confidence interval]: 3.09‐52.9;P = 4.22E−4), whereas the pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages emerged as the most prognostic immune cell type in the ovarian cancer data (HR: 0.2; CI: 0.04‐0.56,P = 5.02E−3). These results suggest that our integrated miRNA and mRNA leukocyte signatures could be used to better delineate prognostic leukocyte subsets within cancers, whereas continued investigation may further support the regulatory relationships predicted between the miRNAs and immune cells found within our signature matrices.
The temporal signature of self: Temporal measures of resting‐state EEG predict self‐consciousness
Authors: Wolff Annemarie , Di Giovanni Daniel A. , Gómez‐Pilar Javier , Nakao Takashi , Huang Zirui , Longtin André , Northoff Georg 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe self is the core of our mental life. Previous investigations have demonstrated a strong neural overlap between self‐related activity and resting state activity. This suggests that information about self‐relatedness is encoded in our brain's spontaneous activity. The exact neuronal mechanisms of such “rest‐self containment,” however, remain unclear. The present EEG study investigated temporal measures of resting state EEG to relate them to self‐consciousness. This was obtained with the self‐consciousness scale (SCS) which measures Private, Public, and Social dimensions of self. We demonstrate positive correlations between Private self‐consciousness and three temporal measures of resting state activity: scale‐free activity as indexed by the power‐law exponent (PLE), the auto‐correlation window (ACW), and modulation index (MI). Specifically, higher PLE, longer ACW, and stronger MI were related to higher degrees of Private self‐consciousness. Finally, conducting eLORETA for spatial tomography, we found significant correlation of Private self‐consciousness with activity in cortical midline structures such as the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and posterior cingulate cortex. These results were reinforced with a data‐driven analysis; a machine learning algorithm accurately predicted an individual as having a “high” or “low” Private self‐consciousness score based on these measures of the brain's spatiotemporal structure. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Private self‐consciousness is related to the temporal structure of resting state activity as featured by temporal nestedness (PLE), temporal continuity (ACW), and temporal integration (MI). Our results support the hypothesis that self‐related information is temporally contained in the brain's resting state. “Rest‐self containment” can thus be featured by a temporal signature.
Spatial object recognition memory formation under acute stress
Authors: Lopes da Cunha Pamela , Villar Maria Eugenia , Ballarini Fabricio , Tintorelli Ramiro , Ana María Viola Haydée 
Published: October 2018

AbstractStress is known to have a critical impact on memory processes. In the present work, we focus on the effects of an acute stress event closely associated to an unrelated learning task. Here, we show that acute stress (elevated platform [EP] session) experienced 1 hr after a weak spatial object recognition (SOR) training, which only induces a short‐term memory (STM), promoted the formation of SOR‐long term memory (SOR‐LTM) in rats. The effect induced by stress was dependent on the activation of glucocorticoid‐ and mineralocorticoid‐receptors, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and protein synthesis in the dorsal hippocampus. In contrast, EP after a strong SOR impaired SOR‐LTM probably by interfering with the use of necessary resources. Moreover, we show that the EP session before training induced anterograde interference, which it was not reversed by a subsequent exposure to an open field. Our findings provide novel insights into the impact of stress on LTM formation in rodents and they are discussed under the behavioral analogue of the synaptic tagging and capture hypothesis.
Diffusion of advanced medical imaging technology, CT, and MRI scanners, in Iran: A qualitative study of determinants
Authors: Abedini Zahra , Sari Ali Akbari , Foroushani Abbas Rahimi , Jaafaripooyan Ebrahim 
Published: October 2018

SummaryBackgroundLow‐income and middle‐income countries have a lot of problems in providing the financial, human, and capital resources for advanced medical imaging technologies (AMITs). Proper distribution of such expensive equipment might increase access to these services and enhance the quality and efficiency of health care. The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the diffusion of AMITs including CT and MRI in Iran.MethodsThis is a qualitative research conducted in 2017. A number of purposively chosen policy makers and managers from Ministry of Health, medical universities, hospitals, health insurance, and vendor companies were approached for face‐to‐face and semistructured interviews. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis method.ResultsThree categories of influential factors were identified, including contextual, stakeholder related, and situational factors. With regards to the stakeholders, the ministry and physicians played the most important role in the diffusion process of the AMITs. Health insurance organizations and vendor companies played a minor role in distribution of the equipment. Application of political pressure by the authorities on the Ministry of Health to issue licenses for the acquisition of AMITs was taken as the most important factor and the greatest challenge in the diffusion of devices.ConclusionThe results sought to assist health system authorities to manage diffusion of AMITs effectively and assign an equitable access to the expensive resources. The diffusion management together with utilization management could largely improve efficiency and cost containment. Medical technology diffusion management de facto needs policy instruments in both supply and demand sides.
Assessing performance of Taiwan hospitals using data envelopment analysis: In view of ownership
Authors: Hsiao Bo , Chen Li‐Hsueh , Wu Huei‐Ting 
Published: October 2018

SummaryWith rapid economic development in Taiwan, people have greater awareness of health care and are paying more attention to it. From the perspective of hospital management, the scale of hospitals and efficiency improvement are of concern to hospital managers. However, the extent of efficiency will differ between public and private hospitals due to their different ownership and goals. The study aims to evaluate the efficiency of public and private hospitals and to investigate the influence of ownership on efficiency of hospitals. The differences between hospitals can be understood by analyzing the features of the organization of hospitals and their geographic environment. In this way, hospitals with relatively low efficiency will be able to make improvements based on concrete evidence. By means of the two‐stage method, the efficiency scores of 182 hospitals in Taiwan are compared. In the first stage, the data envelopment analysis is applied to obtain the efficiency scores of hospitals. The results show that private hospitals are more efficient than public hospitals. In the second stage, Tobit regression is used to investigate the factors influencing efficiency obtained by the data envelopment analysis. The results indicate that there are differences between ownership in market competition and the average length of stay.
Modelling the sediment transport capacity of flows in steep nonerodible rills
Authors: Jiang Fangshi , Gao Pengyu , Si Xiaojing , Zhan Zhenzhi , Zhang Haidong , Lin Jinshi , Ji Xiang , Wang Ming Kuang , Huang Yanhe 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA precise estimation of sediment transport capacity (Tc) is key to establishing process‐based erosion models. However, few data are available for estimating transport capacity on steep slopes and test materials sorted at high coarse grain values of >2 mm. Colluvial deposits with loose, coarse material and steep slopes make up the packed materials underlying the collapsing walls in benggang, which collapse due to hydraulic pressure and gravity. The objectives of this study were to investigate how flow discharge and slope steepness affect Tc and to examine relationships between Tc and flow velocity, shear stress, stream power, and unit stream power for colluvial deposits found on steep slopes. A nonerodible rill flume of 4 m long and 0.12 m wide was used. Slope steepness values ranged from 18% to 84%, and unit flow discharge values ranged from 0.56 × 10−3 to 4.44 × 10−3 m2 s−1. Tc increased as a power function with flow discharge and slope steepness with a Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) value of 0.99, and the effects of flow discharge were stronger than those of slope steepness. Tc was overestimated for a colluvial deposit when the equations of the ANSWERS, Zhang et al. and Wu et al. models were considered and when Tc exceeded 5 kg m−1 s−1, as the slope steepness used in our study was much higher than those used (<47%) in the other models. Regression analyses show that Tc can be predicted from linear equations of flow velocity, stream power, and unit stream power, and Tc can be fit to shear stress with power function equation. Flow velocity optimizes to predict Tc with NSE = 0.97, and stream power and shear stress can also be successfully related to Tc (NSE = 0.91 and NSE = 0.81, respectively); however, unit stream power performs poorly (NSE = 0.67). These results provide a basis for establishing process‐based erosion models on steep colluvial slopes.
The determinants of profitability of Indian commercial banks: A panel data approach
Authors: Almaqtari Faozi A. , Al‐Homaidi Eissa A. , Tabash Mosab I. , Farhan Najib H. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe current study examines the determinants of profitability of Indian commercial banks. The analysis is conducted over a period of 10 years in which the Indian banking sector has gone under different changes such as demonetization and issues related to banking sector sustainability and banking sector frauds. The analysis is based on balanced panel data over a period ranging from 2008 to 2017 for 69 commercial Indian banks. Profitability of Indian banks is measured by two proxies, namely, return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), whereas bank size, assets quality, capital adequacy, liquidity, operating efficiency, deposits, leverage, assets management, and the number of branches are used as bank‐specific factors. Further, a set of macroeconomic determinants such as gross domestic product, inflation rate, interest rate, exchange rate, financial crisis, and demonetization are used as independent variables.Stationary test along with pooled, fixed, random effect models and panel correction standard error are used in this study. The results revealed that bank size, the number of branches, assets management ratio, operational efficiency, and leverage ratio are the most important bank‐specific determinants that affect the profitability of Indian commercial banks as measured by ROA. Furthermore, among the bank‐specific determinants, the results revealed that bank size, assets management ratio, assets quality ratio, and liquidity ratio are found to have a significant positive impact on ROE. With regard to the macroeconomic determinants, the results revealed that the inflation rate, exchange rate, the interest rate, and demonization are found to have a significant impact on ROA. However, in the case of ROE, the results show that all macroeconomic determinants except demonization have a significant impact on the bank's profitability as measured by ROE.
A simple mathematical programming model for countries' credit ranking problem
Authors: Niroomand Sadegh , Mirzaei Nima , Hadi‐Vencheh Abdollah 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis study proposes a new mathematical model that ranks the countries according to their investments. The proposed model compares countries based on specified factors and gives a score for each country. To set out the factors, after investigating on quite a lot of related studies, several macroeconomic factors are gathered, and the most important ones are selected for further investigation. An important advantage of the proposed model is that it can be solved manually by managers, investors, or researchers without a need for any professional optimization solver software. The key factor in this research is developing a mathematical model that ranks any set of countries rather than rating them. At the end of pair comparison, countries are ranked from higher to lower scores from the economical point of view. In addition, the accuracy of the obtained result is validated by comparing them with Moody's rating system (August 2016) using Jaccard similarity index. The results of the proposed are compared with multiple criteria decision‐making techniques as well.
Disentangling the contributions of maternal and fetal factors to estimate stillbirth risks for intrapartum adverse events in Tanzania and Uganda
Authors: Hirose Atsumi , Alwy Fadhlun , Atuhairwe Susan , Morris Jessica L. , Pembe Andrea B. , Kaharuza Frank , Marrone Gaetano , Hanson Claudia 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the stillbirth risk associated with intrapartum adverse events, controlling for fetal and maternal factors.MethodsThe present study was an analysis of cross‐sectional patient‐record and facility‐file data from women with viable fetuses who experienced obstetric adverse events at 23 hospitals and 38 health centers in Tanzania (between December 2015 and October 2016), and 22 hospitals, 16 level‐4 health centers, and five level‐3 health centers in Uganda (between May 2016 and September 2017). Adverse events were categorized in three severity groups (postpartum, intrapartum non‐near‐miss, and intrapartum near‐miss) to calculate stillbirth rates and adjusted prevalence ratios.ResultsData from 3816 women in Tanzania and 8305 in Uganda were included. Compared with postpartum adverse events, intrapartum near‐miss was associated with a 3.73‐ and 4.55‐fold higher prevalence of stillbirth in Uganda and Tanzania, respectively. Most women who experienced near‐miss had organ dysfunction on arrival or developed it soon after. The risk of stillbirth was higher among preterm deliveries compared with term deliveries, and was 42% and 59% lower in Tanzania and Uganda, respectively, for cesarean deliveries compared with vaginal deliveries after intrapartum non‐near‐miss adverse events.ConclusionStillbirth risk increased with severity of complications and was higher among premature deliveries. Survival was higher for cesarean deliveries in intrapartum non‐near‐miss complications, identifying the opportunity to prevent deterioration by timely actions.
ICTs and development in developing countries: A systematic review of reviews
Authors: Lwoga Edda Tandi , Sangeda Raphael Zozimus 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis systematic review of reviews aimed to explore the contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development in developing countries. This systematic review of reviews determines and summarizes ICTD research trends, and methodologies and conceptual frameworks used in ICTD research discuss the findings and evidence and then suggest approaches for further research. We reviewed existing systematic reviews published on ICT and development between January 1990 and July 2017. The review of reviews shows that a growing number of ICTD research works have used qualitative research approaches for data collection and analysis. We note several attempts to develop and apply models/frameworks over explanatory and predictive theories, most notably in the area of social, sociotechnical, and technical. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence on the long‐term contribution of ICT use on livelihoods, patterns of economic inequality, human freedom, and well‐being in developing countries. This review of reviews synthesizes existing systematic reviews on the contribution of ICT for development than was previously available for developing countries. This review has the potential for several stakeholders, including the public and private sector, intermediaries, and nonprofit organizations, to utilize the accumulated evidence from selected systematic reviews to enable/improve the appropriate and sustainable use of ICTs for development.
An in vitro and in vivo study of the role of long non‐coding RNA‐HOST2 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human glioma cells
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhuang Zhong‐Wei , Cheng Yi‐Ming , Ma Ji‐Qiang , Xu Shi‐Yi , Zhong Chun‐Long , Zhang Kui‐Ming 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGliomas are the most commonly occurring primary malignant brain tumors in the central nervous system of adults. They are rarely curable and the prognosis for high grade gliomas is generally poor. Recently, long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) human ovarian cancer‐specific transcript 2 (HOST2) has been reported to be expressed at high levels in human ovarian cancer, involving tumorigenesis. However, little is still known about whether and how HOST2 regulates glioma development and progression. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of HOST2 in human glioma cells. Reverse transcription quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) was used to determine the expression of lncRNA HOST2, let‐7b, and PBX3 in human glioma cells. Cultured human glioma cells were treated with siRNA (si)‐lncRNA HOST2, let‐7b mimic, si‐lncRNA HOST2 + let‐7b inhibitor, and si‐PBX3. Parameters including cell viability, colony formation, cell migration, and cell invasion were detected by cell counting kit‐8 assay, colony formation assay, scratch test, and Transwell assay respectively to determine the effects of down‐regulated HOST2 on glioma cells. Tumor formation in nude mice was evaluated by subcutaneous tumor formation experiment. Results showed that HOST2 and PBX3 were highly expressed in glioma tissue whereas let‐7b was expressed at much lower levels. In response to treatment with si‐lncRNA HOST2, si‐PBX3, and let‐7b mimic, glioma cell lines exhibited decreased cell viability, suppressed cell migration, invasion, and reduced colony formation of glioma cells. This was accompanied by an attenuated tumor formation with smaller volume and weight in nude mice, suggesting that down‐regulated HOST2 could inhibit the tumorigenicity of glioma cells. Lastly, we found that lncRNA HOST2 was highly expressed in glioma tissues and its down‐regulation could inhibit the growth and invasion of glioma cells. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(1):93–104, 2019