bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Innovation ecosystem model for commercialization of research results
Authors: Vlăduţ Gabriel 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Innovation means Creativity and Added value recognise by the market. The first step in creating a sustainable commercialization of research results, Technological Transfer – TT mechanism, on one hand is to define the “technology” which will be transferred and on other hand to define the context in which the TT mechanism work, the ecosystem. The focus must be set on technology as an entity, not as a science or a study of the practical industrial arts and certainly not any specific applied science. The transfer object, the technology, must rely on a subjectively determined but specifiable set of processes and products. Focusing on the product is not sufficient to the transfer and diffusion of technology. It is not merely the product that is transferred but also knowledge of its use and application. The innovation ecosystem model brings together new companies, experienced business leaders, researchers, government officials, established technology companies, and investors. This environment provides those new companies with a wealth of technical expertise, business experience, and access to capital that supports innovation in the early stages of growth.
Green controlling – concept and practice
Authors: Păunică Mihai , Mocanu Mihaela 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
The three-dimensionality of sustainability links the following fundamental areas: ecology, economy and society. Sustainability controlling focuses on a three-dimensional sustainability-oriented system of corporate goals, which equally includes economic, environmental and social goals. Therefore, the objective of sustainability controlling is the comprehensive support of sustainability management, namely formulating and implementing a corporate policy that comprehensively covers all three dimensions of sustainability – people, planet, and profit. One of the pillars in defining sustainability is the environmental pillar. Among the three pillars of sustainability, the environmental dimension is the one that receives constant attention from academia, organizations and policy-makers. Governments, international agreements, society and various stakeholders pressure organizations to improve their behavior towards the natural environment. Thus, authors chose to focus in the present research on green controlling. There is a variety of terms used to name “green controlling” such as environmental controlling, ecologically oriented controlling, ecological controlling, eco-controlling etc. The concept is widely spread and accepted in German-speaking countries, whereas the Anglo-American scholarly community conceptualizes “environmental management control systems” or “environmental management accounting”. The authors’ objective is first to clearly define the concept of “green controlling” and secondly, to thoroughly state the most relevant instruments of green controlling for each of the following areas of responsibility: supply area, disposal area, environment area, adaptation area and coordination area. The importance of the presented research lies in the need of both controllers and managers for a clear set of easily and efficiently applicable instruments of green controlling, in the lack of which any theoretical debate lacks on relevance.
The strategic role of partnerships between universities and private corporations as a driver for increasing workforce competitiveness in a global economy
Authors: Damoc Adrian-Ioan 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
A global economic context means increased competition as corporations face contenders from other countries, and there is a wider range of choices on the market available to consumers. This global competition drives economic actors to seek competitive edges to increase the efficiency of their operations; within this global economy, corporations seek these advantages, outsourcing their activities in order to make use of the opportunities of globalisation. The same situation can be encountered on the labour market. While the expansion of economic activities globally often means increased employment opportunities, it also means that job seekers from around the world need to become more competitive on the job market to attract better employment opportunities. Workforce competitiveness is determined by various factors, like availability and ease of access (i.e. job market legislation), level and quality of education, and cost. The level and quality of education are of particular concern, as it gauges the potential of the workforce, and is the cornerstone of the controversial “skills gap”, based on a common complaint of corporations regarding a shortage of skilled employees. Acknowledging the importance of this factor, numerous companies have concluded partnerships with local universities, leading to intimate connections between the business environment and education. Thus, in the same manner that supply and demand shape the markets for typical goods and determine the success of a market, these partnerships between universities and corporations influence the labour market, bringing together demand (i.e. the corporations seeking skilled employees) and supply (universities and education centres training the future workforce). There are numerous long-term benefits that such partnerships can bring to a country’s education sector. As such, the present paper seeks to examine the strategic importance of partnerships between academia and industry as a key driver in defining the competitiveness of the workforce, with a case study on Uzbekistan.
Design, preparation and properties of novel flame retardant thermosetting vinyl ester copolymers based on castor oil and industrial dipentene
Authors: Mao Wei , Li Shouhai , Li Mei , Huang Kun , Xia Jianling 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
A novel bio-based flame-retardant thermosetting vinyl ester resin monomer was synthesized from castor oil. The chemical structures of the monomer was characterized by FTIR and 1H-NMR. In order to improve its rigidity and expand its application in the field of bio-based materials, it was mixed with certain proportions of another reactive bio-based VER monomer, which had rigid and strong polar groups, and then a series of copolymers were prepared with thermal curing method. Then their tensile property, hardness, morphology of fractured surface, flame retardant property, DMA and thermostability were all investigated. The results indicated that the copolymers had relatively high tensile strength of 11.2 MPa, and the limiting oxygen index is above 23% in all prepared copolymers. DMA demonstrates that the glass transition temperature of the cured resins is up to 56.1°C. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the copolymers have excellent thermal stability.
Determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene in field and laboratory by means of cold fiber SPME equipped with thermoelectric cooler and GC/FID method
Authors: Tajik Leila , Bahrami Abdulrahman , Ghiasvand Alireza , Shahna Farshid Ghorbani 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
A simple and effective cooling device based on a thermoelectric cooler was applied to cool the SPME fiber. The device was used for quantitative extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons in the air. Several factors such as coating temperature, extraction temperature and relative humidity in the laboratory setting were optimized. Comparison of the results between the cold fiber SPME (CF-SPME) and NIOSH 1501 method on standard test atmosphere indicated a satisfactory agreement. The CF-SPME and SPME method were also compared. The results revealed that CF-SPME has the most appropriate outcome for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from the ambient air. The cold fiber SPME technique showed good results for several validation parameters. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.00019 to 0.00033 and 0.0006 to 0.001 ng ml−1, respectively. The intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) showed ranging from 4.8 to 10.5%.
Numerical investigation of a novel burner to combust anode exhaust gases of SOFC stacks
Authors: Pianko-Oprych Paulina , Jaworski Zdzisław 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
The aim of the present study was a numerical investigation of the efficiency of the combustion process of a novel concept burner under different operating conditions. The design of the burner was a part of the development process of a complete SOFC based system and a challenging combination of technical requirements to be fulfilled. A Computational Fluid Dynamics model of a non-premixed burner was used to simulate combustion of exhaust gases from the anode region of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stacks. The species concentrations of the exhaust gases were compared with experimental data and a satisfactory agreement of the conversion of hydrocarbons was obtained. This validates the numerical methodology and also proves applicability of the developed approach that quantitatively characterized the interaction between the exhaust gases and burner geometry for proper combustion modelling. Thus, the proposed CFD approach can be safely used for further numerical optimisation of the burner design.
Potential influence of compounds released in degradation of phytates on the course of alcoholic fermentation of high gravity mashes – simulation with analogs of these compounds
Authors: Mikulski Dawid , Rolbiecka Aleksandra J. , Kłosowski Grzegorz R. 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of high gravity media with mineral compounds and myo-inositol, at concentration which would be obtained as a result of degradation of phytates present in raw material during alcoholic fermentation. The process of alcoholic fermentation was conducted under laboratory conditions in a 72 h system at 37°C with the use of S. cerevisiae D-2 strain. Calcium chloride proved to be the most effective of all supplements tested. Final ethanol concentration increased by 1.2% v v−1 and the yield of process increased by ca. 7 dm−3 ethanol 100 kg−1 of starch in comparison with control. Selective supplementation with KH2PO4, ZnSO4 and MgSO4 also increased the ethanol concentration, but the effect was accompanied by a deterioration in composition of volatile products. The hydrolysis of phytate complexes with microbial phytases can be an alternative solution to supplementation of HG mashes presented in this work.
Investigation of Salt and precipitating agent effect on the specific surface area and compressive strength of alumina catalyst support
Authors: Mahmoudian Mostafa , Hemmati Alireza , Hashemabadi Hasan , Ghaemi Ahad , Shahhosseini Shahrokh 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Nowadays, catalyst supports are extensively used to decrease the costs and increase the contact surface area in chemical reactions. Specific surface area, compressive strength, pore volume and pore size are some of the most important characteristics of a catalyst support. In this work, Sol-gel and peptization methods were applied to produce alumina catalyst support. Also the roles of aluminum salts and precipitating agents on the specific surface area and compressive strength of alumina catalyst support were investigated. In addition, various additives and common methods in the increasing surface area, compressive strength and adjusting the porosity and pore size are used in this study. The results show that using caustic soda as precipitating agent and aluminum chloride salt yields catalyst supports with the best compressive strength. Also, using aluminum nitrate and ammonia as precipitating agent produced alumina catalyst support with the highest specific surface area.
Samo na informativnoj razini
Authors: Lozo Nikolina , Tafra-Vlahović Majda 
Published: August 2017

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), a trend that is increasingly being manifested as a global movement towards active contribution of private sector in favour of more sustainable and ethical society, has only partially been recognised in Croatia as a source of competitive advantage for a company. In general, being fundamentally democratic in its nature, CSR is based on a dialogue with a whole range of stakeholders, who, thanks to developed technology, seek information and opportunity to engage in a dialogue on web pages of companies they are interested in. Do companies in Croatia which are recognised as socially responsible by the mere fact that they have been awarded the national awards as CSR leaders by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, which makes a sample of nine companies of different sizes, indeed use this easily accessible and unavoidable channel to communicate with their external stakeholders, and how they do it is a subject that would need to be further investigated. This research paves the way by analysing the allegedly most successful among them with methods of content analysis, comparison, interview and experiment.Four hypotheses have been constructed based on four research questions about the level of usage of web pages, the tools used to communicate with stakholders, usage of dialogic potential of web pages and use of social networks, all in function of CSR. The fourth hypothesis according to which they insuffi ciently use social networks for the same purpose was also confirmed. In addition the experiment has shown unwillingness of companies to engage in a dialogue with external stakeholder of high interest and low power to affect the company. The research has shown only informative use of web pages and absence of using their dialogue potential which somehow then raises a question of validity ofembedment of CSR principles in the company practice and points to a big area of improvement. The authors propose a set of recommendations to improve company web pages to use their full potential for CSR engagement.
Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery with Multiple versus Single Distal Target Grafts
Authors: Alherbish Aws , Norris Colleen M , Shavadia Jay , Almutawa Mohammad , Abualnaja Seraj , Nagendran Jayan , Graham Michelle M , Van Diepen Sean 
Published: August 2017

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with multiple distal target (MDT) grafts requires less graft material and reduces cardiopulmonary bypass time; however, there may be a higher incidence of graft failure. A real-world analysis reporting long-term outcomes associated with MDT grafts is lacking.Material and Methods: In 6262 consecutive patients who underwent an isolated first CABG from 2004-2012, patients with MDTs were propensity matched to those with single distal target (SDT) grafts. Logistic regression adjusted for traditional, anatomical, and functional definitions of complete revascularization (CR). Outcomes included 30-day, 1-year, and long-term mortality (median 6.29 years). Results: A total of 549 (8.8%) CABG patients had a MDT graft. CR defined using traditional (96.1% versus 92.0%, P = .005), anatomical (89.0% versus 80.20%, P < .001), and functional (90.7% versus 82.6, P < .001) definitions was more frequent in MDT patients. No significant differences in mortality were observed at 30 days (2% versus 3.3%, P = .18), 1-year (3.8% versus 4.9%, P = .37), or through end of follow-up (18.0% versus 16.6% P = .52) between the MDT and SDT groups, respectively. Similarly, no differences were observed after adjustment for all definitions of CR. Graft failure in MDT and SDT patients was 37.8% and 27.6%, respectively (P = .18).Conclusion: In a contemporary population-based cohort, no differences in mortality were observed between CABG patients with MDT and SDT grafts. Our findings support the safety of MDT grafts to facilitate CR in patients and when graft material is limited.
Association between Preoperative Cardiac Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Perioperative Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Kusumoto Go , Shigematsu Kenji , Iwashita Kouhei , Tominaga Kenji , Totoki Takaaki , Yamaura Ken 
Published: August 2017

Background: Prophylactic use of intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) reduces hospital mortality in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG); however, its association in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction is unclear. This retrospective study investigated the association between preoperative LV function and perioperative use of IABP in patients undergoing off-pump CABG (OPCAB) at a university hospital.Methods: 100 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB between January 1, 2011 and August 31, 2014 were studied. Preoperative LV function was categorized into four groups based on LV systolic and diastolic function determined with preoperative transthoracic echocardiography. The use of IABP was reviewed from medical records. The Mann-Whitney test, Pearson chi-square test, or Fisher exact test were used.Results: Patients were categorized into the following groups: normal LV function (n = 43), isolated LV systolic dysfunction (n = 13), isolated LV diastolic dysfunction (n = 21), and combined LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction (n = 14). Intraoperative IABP use was significantly more frequent in patients with isolated LV systolic dysfunction, isolated LV diastolic dysfunction, and combined LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction than in those with normal LV function (P < .05). Furthermore, IABP was used more frequently in patients who developed combined LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction postoperatively (P < .05). Conclusion: Not only the presence of preoperative systolic dysfunction but also LV diastolic dysfunction in the presence of normal LV systolic function were associated with increased use of IABP during and after OPCAB.
Effects of Preoperative Tricuspid Valve Diameters on Early Postoperative Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Tricuspid Valve Surgery
Authors: Ada Fatih , Ucanok Kemalettin , Akar Ahmet Ruchan , Inan Mustafa Bahadir , Durdu Serkan , Sirlak Mustafa , Yazicioglu Levent , Uysalel Adnan , Eryilmaz Sadik 
Published: August 2017

Background: Many of the previous studies on tricuspid valve surgery were on the materials that were used and the advantages and disadvantages of them. In this study, effects of preoperative tricuspid valve diameter on early postoperative outcomes were investigated. Methods: A total of 43 patients who underwent tricuspid valve repair surgery with the ring between the years 2012-2014 were included in this study. Tricuspid valve diameters and other cardiac functions of patients undergoing tricuspid intervention were evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography.Patients included in this study were divided into 2 groups: those with minimal, minimal-to-1st degree and 1st-degree tricuspid valve regurgitation found on thoracic echocardiography in the early postoperative period were considered as having a successful tricuspid repair (Group 1). Those with 1st-2nd degree and higher degrees of tricuspid regurgitation were considered as having an unsuccessful tricuspid repair (Group 2).The relationship between tricuspid valve dimensions and early tricuspid valve regurgitation was assessed with the help of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data.Results: Thirty patients (Group 1) were found to have a successful tricuspid valve repair in the postoperative period. The mean annulus diameter of the tricuspid valve at end-diastole in patients from Group 1 was similar to Group 2 (4.24 ± 0.44 cm versus 3.99 ± 0.40; P = .080). Also, tricuspid valve end-systolic diameter in Group 1 was similar to patients in Group 2 (3.59 ± 0.38 cm versus 3.42 ± 0.33 cm; P = .151). Conclusion: A direct relationship was not found between tricuspid valve diameter and post-operative development of moderate to severe regurgitation in tricuspid valve surgery in this study.
Randomized Trial of Sternal Closure for Low Risk Patients: Rigid Fixation versus Wire Closure
Authors: Graham Graham , Kumar Jeevan , Unai Shinya , James Diehl T , Hirose, MD Hitoshi 
Published: August 2017

Background: A previous retrospective analysis of our cardiac surgery patients showed shortened ventilation time and hospital stay among patients receiving rigid sternal fixation compared to sternal wire fixation. We performed a prospective randomized study to further investigate these outcomes and determine if rigid closure can provide reduced pain after cardiac surgery.Methods: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery between July 2011 and May 2014 were prospectively randomized into wire closure (Group C) or rigid fixation using sternal plates (Group R) groups. Age above 80, emergency surgery, redo sternotomy, and immunosuppression were among major exclusion criteria precluding randomization. Intubation time was recorded for all patients. Pain scores were determined daily from postoperative day 1 until day 5 at 6 a.m. using a numeric rating scale. Narcotic pain medication requirements from day 1 to 5 were collected and converted into intravenous morphine equivalents.Results: Of 80 patients, 39 patients were in Group R (average age 65 ± 8; 31 male and 8 female) and 41 patients were in Group C (average age 66 ± 9; 34 male and 7 female). Group R patients had a higher body mass index than patients in Group C (Group R: 31 ± 5; Group C: 29 ± 5; P = .04). No significant differences in the end points of intubation time and postoperative pain were observed. Conclusion: This randomized study of cardiac surgery patients showed no significant benefits of rigid fixation over conventional sternal wire closure with regard to intubation time, postoperative pain, or length of hospital stay.
Racial/Ethnic Disparity in NICU Quality of Care Delivery
Authors: Profit Jochen , Gould Jeffrey B. , Bennett Mihoko , Goldstein Benjamin A. , Draper David , Phibbs Ciaran S. , Lee Henry C. 
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND:
Differences in NICU quality of care provided to very low birth weight (&lt;1500 g) infants may contribute to the persistence of racial and/or ethnic disparity. An examination of such disparities in a population-based sample across multiple dimensions of care and outcomes is lacking.

METHODS:
Prospective observational analysis of 18 616 very low birth weight infants in 134 California NICUs between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. We assessed quality of care via the Baby-MONITOR, a composite indicator consisting of 9 process and outcome measures of quality. For each NICU, we calculated a risk-adjusted composite and individual component quality score for each race and/or ethnicity. We standardized each score to the overall population to compare quality of care between and within NICUs.

RESULTS:
We found clinically and statistically significant racial and/or ethnic variation in quality of care between NICUs as well as within NICUs. Composite quality scores ranged by 5.26 standard units (range: −2.30 to 2.96). Adjustment of Baby-MONITOR scores by race and/or ethnicity had only minimal effect on comparative assessments of NICU performance. Among subcomponents of the Baby-MONITOR, non-Hispanic white infants scored higher on measures of process compared with African Americans and Hispanics. Compared with whites, African Americans scored higher on measures of outcome; Hispanics scored lower on 7 of the 9 Baby-MONITOR subcomponents.

CONCLUSIONS:
Significant racial and/or ethnic variation in quality of care exists between and within NICUs. Providing feedback of disparity scores to NICUs could serve as an important starting point for promoting improvement and reducing disparities.