bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural change in times of increasing openness: assessing path dependency in European economic integration
Authors: Gräbner Claudius , Heimberger Philipp , Kapeller Jakob , Schütz Bernhard 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This paper analyzes the dynamics of structural polarization and macroeconomic divergence in the context of European integration, where the latter is primarily understood as an increase in economic and financial openness. In the process of estimating the dynamic effects of such an openness shock on 26 EU countries, we develop a taxonomy of European economies that consists of four groups: core, periphery, and catching-up countries in Eastern Europe as well as financial hubs. We show that these four country groups have responded in a distinct way to the openness shock imposed by European integration and argue that the latter should be seen as an evolutionary process that has given rise to different path-dependent developmental trajectories. These trajectories are linked to the sectoral development of European economies and the evolution of their technological capabilities. We propose a set of interrelated policy measures to counteract structural polarization and to promote macroeconomic convergence in Europe.
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Sweden: a national cross-sectional study
Authors: Manousou Sofia , Andersson Maria , Eggertsen Robert , Hunziker Sandra , Hulthén Lena , Nyström Helena Filipsson 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Purpose
Voluntary salt iodization at 50 mg/kg salt ensures adequate iodine nutrition in Swedish school-aged children, but iodine status in pregnant women is uncertain.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional national study of 743 pregnant women, at median gestational age of 23 weeks (IQR 9, 38), recruited from maternal health care centers. We measured: urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and urinary creatinine concentration in spot urine samples; thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and total thyroxine (tT4) on dried blood spots (DBS); and thyreoperoxidase antibodies in serum samples. Data on dietary supplement use were obtained, and women were classified as supplement users (consuming multivitamins containing ≥ 150 µg iodine/day) and non-supplement users (no supplements or < 150 µg iodine/day from supplements).

Results
Overall median UIC [bootstrapped 95% confidence interval (CI)] was 101 µg/L (95, 108; n = 737): 149 µg/L (132, 164) in supplement users (n = 253) and 85 µg/L (79, 92) in non-supplement users (n = 440) (p < 0.001). Overall geometric mean DBS-Tg (95% CI) was 22.1 μg/L (20.8, 23.5; n = 675) and the prevalence of elevated DBS-Tg was 19%. DBS-Tg was lower in supplement users (n = 229) than in non-supplement users (n = 405) (19.1 vs 24.4 μg/L, p < 0.001). DBS-TSH, DBS-tT4, and S-TPOab positivity did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions
Pregnant women in Sweden have inadequate iodine nutrition. Women not taking iodine supplements containing ≥ 150 µg iodine/day are affected by mild iodine deficiency and are at higher risk for increased thyroid activity, while maintaining euthyroidism. Iodine intake should be improved in women both before and after conception by promotion of iodized salt instead of non-iodized salt. We urge regular monitoring of iodine status in the general Swedish population, as well as in risk groups.
Evaluating aeration and stirring effects to improve itaconic acid production from glucose using Aspergillus terreus
Authors: Nemestóthy Nándor , Bakonyi Péter , Komáromy Péter , Bélafi-Bakó Katalin 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The effects of the bioreactor conditions, in particular the mode and intensity of aeration and mixing were studied on itaconic acid (IA) fermentation efficiency by Aspergillus terreus strain from glucose substrate. IA was produced in batch system by systematically varying the oxygen content of the aeration gas (from 21 to 31.5 vol% O2) and the stirring rate (from 150 to 600 rpm). The data were analyzed kinetically to characterize the behavior of the process, and besides, the performances were evaluated comparatively with the literature. It turned out that the operation of the bioreactor with either the higher inlet O2 concentration (31.5 vol% O2) or faster stirring (600 rpm) could enhance biological IA generation the most, resulting in yield and volumetric productivity of 0.31 g IA/g glucose and 0.32 g IA/g glucose and 3.15 g IA/L day and 4.26 g IA/L day, respectively. Overall, the significance of fermentation settings was shown in this work regarding IA production catalyzed by A. terreus and notable advances could be realized by adjusting the aeration and stirring towards an optimal combination.

Graphic abstract
Principal threats to the conservation of freshwater habitats in the continental biogeographical region of Central Europe
Authors: Grzybowski Mirosław , Glińska-Lewczuk Katarzyna 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In this paper, we discuss the threats to freshwater habitats that are highly important to the European Community in the Continental Biogeographical Region of Europe, specifically in Poland. The study covers nine freshwater habitat types distinguished in Natura 2000, Annex I of the Habitats Directive, which is a network of nature protection areas in the territory: standing water bodies (3110, 3130, 3140, 3150, and 3160) and running water (3260, 3220, 3240, and 3270), occurring in 806 Special Areas of Conservation in Poland. Of the 72,673 km2 total area of freshwater habitat covered by Natura 2000 in Poland, only 25.70% was classified, from the period 2006‒2018, as favourable status, whereas 68.72% was classified as unfavourable inadequate or unfavourable bad status. Based on a multivariate analysis, we found that significant differences in the conservation status of freshwater habitats resulted from a variety of threats, pressures, and activities, among which the most significant are urbanization and residential and commercial development; transportation and service corridors; decreased and unstable water resources; fishing and harvesting of aquatic resources; agricultural pollution; improper management and use of the agricultural catchment and forest catchment; changes in biocenotic evolution, invasive species succession, and more intense touristic exploration. The changes in conservation status of habitats 3110, 3130, 3140, 3160, and 3260 are also associated with climate change. Taking into account the threats identified, a list of recommended practices for the freshwater habitat types is presented, to be considered in habitat conservation programmes.
Evidence of a further emerging threat to lion conservation; targeted poaching for body parts
Authors: Everatt K. T. , Kokes R. , Lopez Pereira C. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The African lion, Panthera leo, has, like many of the world’s megafauna, become threatened with extinction over the past century. Loss of habitat and prey, persecution in retaliation of livestock depredation, by-catch by bushmeat poachers and unsustainable trophy hunting are all documented anthropogenic caused threats to lion conservation. Here we present data that indicate the emergence of a further threat to lion conservation: the targeted poaching of lions for body parts. We present lion abundance and mortality data from field surveys in southern Africa between 2011 and 2018 of a resident lion population. The targeted poaching of lions for body parts accounted for 35% of known human caused mortalities across the landscape and 61% of mortalities within Limpopo National Park with a clear increase in this pressure in 2014. Retaliatory killing for livestock conflict accounted for 51% of total mortalities, however in 48% of conflict cases body parts were also removed, suggesting that a demand for body parts may incentivize conflict related killing of lions. The use of poison was the most common means of killing lions and was recorded in 61% of mortalities. Teeth and claws were the body parts harvested most often from illegally killed animals in the study area, with an increase from 2014 onwards. This pressure threatens the viability of the species in our study area and the success of current conservation initiatives. We suggest that the results of this study be viewed as a warning to the global conservation community to be vigilant of the impact that illegal wildlife trade can have on the conservation of lions, just as a similar pressure has already had on other big cat populations.
Agro-ecological suitability assessment of Chinese Medicinal Yam under future climate change
Authors: Fan Dongli , Zhong Honglin , Hu Biao , Tian Zhan , Sun Laixiang , Fischer Günther , Wang Xiangyi , Jiang Zhiyu 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Chinese Medicinal Yam (CMY) has been prescribed as medicinal food for thousand years in China by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners. Its medical benefits include nourishing the stomach and spleen to improve digestion, replenishing lung and kidney, etc., according to the TCM literature. As living standard rises and public health awareness improves in recent years, the potential medicinal benefits of CMY have attracted increasing attention in China. It has been found that the observed climate change in last several decades, together with the change in economic structure, has driven significant shift in the pattern of the traditional CMY planting areas. To identify suitable planting area for CMY in the near future is critical for ensuring the quality and supply quantity of CMY, guiding the layout of CMY industry, and safeguarding the sustainable development of CMY resources for public health. In this study, we first collect 30-year records of CMY varieties and their corresponding phenology and agro-meteorological observations. We then consolidate these data and use them to enrich and update the eco-physiological parameters of CMY in the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) model. The updated CMY varieties and AEZ model are validated using the historical planting area and production under observed climate conditions. After the successful validation, we use the updated AEZ model to simulate the potential yield of CMY and identify the suitable planting regions under future climate projections in China. This study shows that regions with high ecological similarity to the genuine and core producing areas of CMY mainly distribute in eastern Henan, southeastern Hebei, and western Shandong. The climate suitability of these areas will be improved due to global warming in the next 50 years, and therefore, they will continue to be the most suitable CMY planting regions.
The Perspectives and Values of Children with a Mitochondrial Disorder with Regard to Everyday Activities
Authors: Lindenschot Marieke , Steultjens Esther M. J. , Zajec Jana , Nijhuis-van der Sanden Maria W. G. , Koene Saskia , de Groot Imelda J. M. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEngagement for children with mitochondrial disorder is not self evident. To develop personalised and value-based care for this population, we require knowledge about their perspectives and values with regards to everyday activities. To gain insight into children’s perspective on activities by (1) asking what activities they perform, (2) how they perform them, (3) how they experience these activities and (4) their wants and needs. Seven semi-structured content analyzed interviews. The interviews identified a variety of activities. The overarching themes on wants/needs were ‘I want to meet up with others whenever I want to’,‘I want to be able to…’, ‘I don’t want to…’ and ‘Dream’. These themes were interconnected to thirteen other themes that captured how children experience and perform activities, for example, ‘Because I can decide by myself’, ‘Because I can do it on my own’ and ‘It is more fun to do things with other people’. The activities children performed represent regular childhood activities. The identified themes fit with the three aspects of the self-determination theory: autonomy, competence and relatedness. This study exposed the broad child perspective and should provide better understanding of children’s choices in their participation in everyday activities.
A concept for disposal of highly acidic spent nuclear fuel solutions at PSI
Authors: Lin Mu , Kajan Ivan , Schumann Dorothea , Türler Andreas 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDuring previous radioanalytical studies at Paul Scherrer Institute ca. 30 L of acidic waste containing spent nuclear fuel was produced, and now they need to be disposed A flow sheet for conditioning of these waste was designed and the extraction chromatography technique is evaluated. Suitable sorbents, such as AMP_PAN, TBP impregnated resin and DGA resin, were selected for the task of Cs-removal, extraction of U and Pu, and extraction of minor actinides and lanthanides, respectively. A pilot device will be built for preliminary tests with simulated solutions, and the facility will be built and evaluated with the real spent fuel solutions.
A Misdirected Principle with a Catch: Explicability for AI
Authors: Robbins Scott 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
There is widespread agreement that there should be a principle requiring that artificial intelligence (AI) be ‘explicable’. Microsoft, Google, the World Economic Forum, the draft AI ethics guidelines for the EU commission, etc. all include a principle for AI that falls under the umbrella of ‘explicability’. Roughly, the principle states that “for AI to promote and not constrain human autonomy, our ‘decision about who should decide’ must be informed by knowledge of how AI would act instead of us” (Floridi et al. in Minds Mach 28(4):689–707, 2018). There is a strong intuition that if an algorithm decides, for example, whether to give someone a loan, then that algorithm should be explicable. I argue here, however, that such a principle is misdirected. The property of requiring explicability should attach to a particular action or decision rather than the entity making that decision. It is the context and the potential harm resulting from decisions that drive the moral need for explicability—not the process by which decisions are reached. Related to this is the fact that AI is used for many low-risk purposes for which it would be unnecessary to require that it be explicable. A principle requiring explicability would prevent us from reaping the benefits of AI used in these situations. Finally, the explanations given by explicable AI are only fruitful if we already know which considerations are acceptable for the decision at hand. If we already have these considerations, then there is no need to use contemporary AI algorithms because standard automation would be available. In other words, a principle of explicability for AI makes the use of AI redundant.
Comparison of Methods for Quantification of Topologically Close-Packed Phases in Ni-Based Superalloys
Authors: Wilson A. S. , Christofidou K. A. , Evans A. , Hardy M. C. , Stone H. J. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The ability to quantify accurately the formation of topologically close-packed phases in nickel-based superalloys is key to assessing their thermal stability and ensuring that their performances will not deteriorate during long-term exposure at high temperatures. To investigate the effectiveness of synchrotron XRD for the detection of such minority phases in Ni-based superalloys, the commercial polycrystalline alloy RR1000 was analyzed following exposures of varying times at 800 °C. Data were collected from both solid samples and extracted residues, and additional laboratory X-ray diffraction was performed on the residues. The minor phases were successfully detected in solid samples using synchrotron radiation, and a comparison of the results from these quantification methods shows that the extraction method gives results of the right order of magnitude to reflect the phase quantities that are present in the alloy. However, the results indicate that the synchrotron route is not a suitable method for the quantification of phases present in quantities less than approximately 0.3 wt pct.
Management of intractable bladder neck strictures following radical prostatectomy using the Memokath®045 stent
Authors: Nathan A. , Mazzon G. , Pavan N. , De Groote R. , Sridhar A. , Nathan S. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The incidence of vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) post radical prostatectomy varies from 1 to 26%. Current treatment can be challenging and includes a variety of different procedures. These range from endoscopic dilations to bladder neck reconstruction to urinary diversion. We investigated a 2-stage endoscopic treatment, using the thermo-expandable Memokath®045 bladder neck stent to manage patients with VUAS post radical prostatectomy. We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients, between 2013 and 2017, who underwent a Memokath®045 stent insertion following failed primary treatment (dilation and clean intermittent catheterisation) for VUAS. The mean interval time between prostatectomy and Memokath®045 stent insertion was 13 months. The mean follow-up time was 3.6 years with all patients having a minimum of 12-month follow-up. All patients had two previous attempts at endoscopic dilatation with or without incision and a trial of clean intermittent catheterisation. During stage 1, the anastomotic stricture is dilated/incised to diameter of 30 Fr, the stricture length is measured, and a catheter is left in situ. One to 2 weeks later, post haemostasis and healing, an appropriately sized Memokath®045 stent is inserted. The stent is then removed 1-year post-op. Our series of patients had a median age of 62 (54–72). Most patients (26) had a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) or salvage procedure. Results showed improvement in IPSS scores, IPSS quality of life scores, Qmax and PVR after the Memokath®045 stent was removed compared to pre-operation. With a minimum of 12 months post stent removal, 93% of patients were fully continent, whilst 7% of patients were socially continent. 2 (7%) patients had their stents removed and not replaced due to re-stricturing and stone formation. However, no urinary tract infections, stricture recurrence or urinary retention was observed in the rest of the cohort (93%). Overall, the Memokath®045 stent was successful in treating 93% of our patients with VUAS. Our series had minimal complications that were managed with conservative measures and in three patients’ re-operation was needed. In conclusion, the Memokath®045 stent is a minimally invasive technique with faster recovery time compared to other techniques such as bladder neck reconstruction or urinary diversion. Additionally, it provides superior patency results compared to other techniques such as bladder neck incision and injection of Mitomycin C. Therefore, this management option should be considered in the management of VUAS.
Critical Void Volume Fraction Identification Based on Mesoscopic Damage Model for NVA Shipbuilding Steel
Authors: Song Zijie , Hu Zhiqiang , Ringsberg Jonas W. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
NVA mild steel is a commonly used material in the shipbuilding industry. An accurate model for description of this material’s ductile fracture behaviour in numerical simulation is still a challenging task. In this paper, a new method for predicting the critical void volume fraction fc in the Guson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) model is introduced to describe the ductile fracture behaviour of NVA shipbuilding mild steel during ship collision and grounding scenarios. Most of the previous methods for determination of the parameter fc use a converse method, which determines the values of the parameters through comparisons between experimental results and numerical simulation results but with high uncertainty. A new method is proposed based on the Hill, Bressan, and Williams hypothesis, which reduces the uncertainty to a satisfying extent. To accurately describe the stress-strain relationship of materials before and after necking, a combination of the Voce and Swift models is used to describe the material properties of NVA mild steel. A user-defined material subroutine has been developed to enable the application of the new parameter determination method and its implementation in the finite element software LS-DYNA. It is observed that the model can accurately describe structural damage by comparing the numerical simulation results with those of experiments; thus, the results demonstrate the model’s capacity for structural response prediction in ship collision and grounding scenario simulations
Novel uses of thyroid hormones in cardiovascular conditions
Authors: Razvi Salman 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Thyroid hormone levels are reduced in cardiovascular diseases and this phenomenon is associated with worse outcomes. It is unclear whether the changes in thyroid hormone bioavailability to the affected myocardium are beneficial or if this is a maladaptive response. Experimental studies from animal models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) suggest that thyroid hormone treatment may be beneficial. There is limited data available on the use of thyroid hormones in patients with AMI and heart failure and this suggests that treatment to normalise thyroid hormone levels may be safe and potentially efficacious. Similarly, evidence of thyroid hormone therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or during cardiac transplantation is limited. It is therefore difficult to draw any firm conclusions about benefits or risks of thyroid hormone treatment in these conditions. Large scale clinical trials of thyroid hormones in patients with cardiac conditions are required to confirm safety and evaluate efficacy. Furthermore, it needs to be elucidated which hormone to administer (thyroxine or triiodothyronine), when in the disease pathway to treat, dose of thyroid hormone to administer, and which parameters to utilise to assess safety and efficacy. Until these important questions are answered thyroid hormone therapy in cardiovascular diseases must remain within the research domain.
Eco-Friendly Cutting Fluids in Minimum Quantity Lubrication Assisted Machining: A Review on the Perception of Sustainable Manufacturing
Authors: Sen Binayak , Mia Mozammel , Krolczyk G. M. , Mandal Uttam Kumar , Mondal Sankar Prasad 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn modern days, the conception of sustainability has progressively advanced and has begun receiving global interest. Thus, sustainability is an imperative idea in modern research. Considering the recent trend, this review paper presents a summary of the previously published research articles on minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) assisted machining. The requirement to stir towards sustainability motivated the researchers to revise the effects of substitute lubrication methods on the machining. Conventional lubri-cooling agents are still extensively employed when machining of engineering alloys, but the majority of the recent papers have depicted that the utilization of vegetable oil, nanofluids, and nanoplatelets in MQL system confers superior machining performances as compared to conventional lubrication technology. In actual, the definite principle of this manuscript is to re-examine modern advancements in the MQL technique and also explore the benefits of the vegetable oil and nanofluid as a lubricant. In brief, this paper is a testimony to the advancing capabilities of eco-friendly MQL technique which is a viable alternative to the flood lubrication technology, and the outcomes of this review work can be contemplated as a movement towards sustainable machining.