bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A NEW MULTIPLE CLASSIFIER SYSTEM BASED ON A PSO ALGORITHM FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGES
Authors: Alizadeh Moghaddam S. H. , Mokhtarzade M. , Alizadeh Moghaddam S. A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Multiple classifier systems (MCSs) have shown great performance for the classification of hyperspectral images. The requirements for a successful MCS are 1) diversity between ensembles and 2) good classification accuracy of each ensemble. In this paper, we develop a new MCS method based on a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Firstly, in each ensemble of the proposed method, called PSO-MCS, PSO identifies a subset of the spectral bands with a high J2 value, which is a measure of class-separability. Then, an SVM classifier is used to classify the input image, applying the selected features in each ensemble. Finally, the classification results of the entire ensembles are integrated using a majority voting strategy. Having the benefit of the PSO algorithm, PSO-MCS selects appropriate features. In addition, due to the fact that different features are selected in different runs of PSO, diversity between the ensembles is provided. Experimental results on an AVIRIS Indian Pine image show the superiority of the proposed method over its competitor, named random feature selection method.
OPTIMIZING ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF VEHICLE SENSOR NETWORKS BASED ON THE K-MEANS CLUSTERING METHOD AND ANT COLONY ALGORITHM
Authors: Mashari M. , Pahlavani P. , Ebrahimi A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. With the world’s growing population, the number of vehicles has increased, but the capacity of roads and transportation systems has not. The increasing traffic and the pollution that it causes has therefore become a problem all over the world. Wireless Sensor Networks that detect traffic and prevent its pernicious effects have attracted the attention of many. Fast information transfers, easy installation, less repair and maintenance, compression and lower costs make WSNs more common than other network solutions (Nellore and Hancke 2016). Since more traffic congestion wastes time and energy, it is crucial to develop and present approaches to more accurately detect traffic patterns. Clustering is one of the best data analysis methods used for detecting traffic patterns. The approach proposed by this study assumes that all vehicles are equipped with GPS, and that sensors establish connections with each other through radio communication equipment. In this case, clustering is used to gather important traffic information and create intelligent urban transportation systems (ITS) to reduce sensor energy consumption in vehicular sensor networks. The K-means method and the ANT Colony optimization algorithm were used to cluster sensors and investigate their impact on reducing sensor energy consumption. The results show that the K-means algorithm and the ANT Colony algorithm reduce vehicular sensor energy consumption by 41.7 and 76.8 percent, respectively. The investigations showed that the ANT Colony algorithm outperformed the K-means algorithm by 84.2%.
A COMPARISON OF EFFICIENCY OF THE OPTIMIZATION APPROACH FOR CLUSTERING OF TRAJECTORIES
Authors: Moayedi A. , Abbaspour R. A. , Chehreghan A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Clustering is an unsupervised learning method that used to discover hidden patterns in large sets of data. Huge data volume and the multidimensionality of trajectories have made their clustering a more challenging task. K-means is a widely used clustering algorithm applied in the trajectory computation field. However, the critical issue with this algorithm is its dependency on the initial values and getting stuck in the local minimum. Meta-heuristic algorithms with the goal of minimizing the cost function of the K-means algorithm can be utilized to address this problem. In this paper, after suggesting a cost function, we compare clustering performance of seven known metaheuristic population-based algorithms including, Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). The results obtained from the clustering of several data sets with class labels were assessed by internal and external clustering validation indices along with computation time factor. According to the results, PSO, and SCA algorithms show the best results in the clustering regarding the Purity, and computation time metrics, respectively.
EXPLORING DRIVING FACTORS OF HIGHER PAID TAXI TRIPS USING ORIGIN–DESTINATION GPS DATA (CASE STUDY: GREEN TAXIS OF NEW YORK CITY)
Authors: Mojtabaee P. , Molavi M. , Taleai M.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Investigating the influential factors of the areas where people use taxis is a crucial step in understanding the taxi demand dynamics. In this study, we intend to analyze higher-paying taxi trips by putting forward an approach to explore a dataset of green taxi trips in New York City in January 2015 together with some demographic, housing, social and economic data. The final goal is to find out whether the chosen factors are statistically significant to be considered as potential driving forces of demand location for trips with a higher-paid fare. Since airports are major attracting sources for taxi travels, all the steps are taken separately for three scenarios that the trip drop-offs are in 1) LaGuardia Airport, 2) John F Kennedy Airport or 3) other areas. First, the spatial pick-up distribution of these higher-paying trips is mapped to enable visual comparison of the urban movement patterns. Then, taking into account the pick-up density as the response variable, the densities of: foreign-born’s population, number of houses with no vehicles, the private wage and salary workers’ population, the government workers’ population and the self-employed workers’ population in own not incorporate business were considered as the explanatory variables. These variables were examined to find important factors affecting the demand in each neighborhood and different results in each of the three scenarios were discussed. This study gives a better insight into discovering driving factors of higher-paid taxi trips when considering airports as destinations which attract travels with potentially different characteristics.
IRANIAN LAND COVER MAPPING USING LANDSAT-8 IMAGERY AND RANDOM FOREST ALGORITHM
Authors: Amani M. , Ghorbanian A. , Mahdavi S. , Mohammadzadeh A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Land cover classification is important for various environmental assessments. The opportunity of imaging the Earth’s surface makes remote sensing techniques efficient approaches for land cover classification. The only country-wide land cover map of Iran was produced by the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) using low spatial resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery and a basic classification method. Thus, it is necessary to produce a more accurate map using advanced remote sensing and machine learning techniques. In this study, multi-temporal Landsat-8 data (1,321 images) were inserted into a Random Forest (RF) algorithm to classify the land cover of the entire country into 13 categories. To this end, all steps, including pre-processing, classification, and accuracy assessment were implemented in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The overall classification accuracy and Kappa Coefficient obtained from the Iran-wide map were 74% and 0.71, respectively, indicating the high potential of the proposed method for large-scale land cover mapping.
VEGETATION DYNAMICS TREND USING SATELLITE TIME SERIES IMAGERY
Authors: Najafi Z. , Fatehi P. , Darvishsefat A. A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. In this study, the trend of vegetation dynamics in Kermanshah city assessed using NDVI MOD13Q1 product over the time period of 2000–2017. Based on time series imagery the pick of vegetation phenology stage (maximum NDVI) identified, then the trend of vegetation dynamic was investigated using the Ordinary Least Square regression and the Theil-Sen approaches. To generate a pixel-wise trend map, a pixel-based vegetation dynamics was also implemented. A non-parametric Mann-Kendall statistics approach was used to examine a statistically significant trend analysis. The mean maximum NDVI observed for the first half or second half of April. Trend analysis using regression and Theil-Sen methods indicated a no-trend in vegetation fractions. The pixel-based trend assessment using regression showed that a 50% of the study area faced a positive trend and reaming part faced a negative trend. The Theil-Sen method revealed the no-trend for a large majority of area. The Mann-Kendall test indicated that only 20 percent of the area shows a statistically significant trend.
APPLICATION OF SENTINEL-1 MULTI-TEMPORAL DATA FOR CROP MONITORING AND MAPPING
Authors: Nasirzadehdizaji R. , Sanli F. B. , Cakir Z.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technique superiority has provided various opportunities in agricultural studies mainly on crop monitoring and management. This has resulted in many different investigations and improvements in crop growth monitoring, crop disaster prediction and providing accurate information to precise farming. In this study, a time-series of Sentinel-1 SAR images were acquired throughout the agricultural season synchronously with the field measurements to investigate the temporal backscatter changes for different crop types. From the backscattering analysis, it was observed that each similar crop type in different test fields due to the distinct methods of irrigation and fertilization has shown different intensity values. However, they all follow a roughly identical backscattering trend during growing stages of the crop and useful information can be extracted, such as estimating irrigation and harvesting time according to the changes made in backscatters. In comparing with ascending orbit in VH and VV polarizations it has indicated that the homogeneity between SAR backscatters is high for each field with the same crop type in descending pass direction with VH polarization. In contrary, high-intensity values are recorded in VV polarization for entire crop types. It is also observed that polarimetric composite images for a different date are useful to roughly identify crop types, and validated with the application of classification methods in the study area. As preliminary results, it is demonstrated that SAR data provide useful information about crops status. Hence, Sentinel-1 SAR data are ideal preference due to its free availability and constant long-term data archive.
GENETIC ALGORITHM BASED FEATURE SELECTION FOR LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPPING IN NORTHERN IRAN
Authors: Nikraftar Z. , Rajabi-Kiasari S. , Seydi S. T.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Recognizing where landslides are most likely to occur is crucial for land use planning and decision-making especially in the mountainous areas. A significant portion of northern Iran (NI) is prone to landslides due to its climatology, geological and topographical characteristics. The main objective of this study is to produce landslide susceptibility maps in NI applying three machine learning algorithms such as K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forest (RF). Out of the total number of 1334 landslides identified in the study area, 894 (≈67%) locations were used for the landslide susceptibility maps, while the remaining 440 (≈33%) cases were utilized for the model validation. 21 landslide triggering factors including topographical, hydrological, lithological and Land cover types were extracted from the spatial database using SAGA (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses), ArcGIS software and satellite images. Furthermore, a genetic algorithm was employed to select the most important informative features. Then, landslide susceptibility was analyzed by assessing the environmental feasibility of influential factors. The obtained results indicate that the RF model with the overall accuracy (OA) of 90.01% depicted a better performance than SVM (OA = 81.06%) and KNN (OA = 83.05%) models. The produced susceptibility maps can be productively practical for upcoming land use planning in NI.
WATER SALINITY MAPPING OF KARUN BASIN LOCATED IN IRAN USING THE SVR METHOD
Authors: Ansari M. , Akhoondzadeh M.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Water salinity is a complex issue in coastal and estuarine areas. Currently, remote sensing techniques have been widely used to monitor water quality changes, ranging from river to oceans. The salinity of Karun River has been increasing due to some critical factors, therefore, This study aimed at building regression models to ascertain the water salinity through the relationship between the reflectance of the Landsat-8 OLI and In situ measurements. A total of 102 observed samples were divided into 70% training and 30% test from June 2013 to July 2018 along the Karun River. Spectral signature analysis showed that band 1 - Coastal/Aerosol (0.433–0.453 μm), band 2 - Blue (0.450–0.515 μm) and band 3 - Green (0.525–0.600 μm) are sensitive to salinity . Furthermore, to have a comprehensive investigation, the Support Vector Regression (SVR) method was applied. The outcomes related to the quality of the SVR depend on several factors e.g. proper setting of the SVR meta-parameters, therefore, to deal with this issue Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied. The SVR model resulted in values of R2 and RMSE for test data which are respectively obtained to be 0.7 and 390 μs cm−1. Eventually, Karun water salinity maps were prepared by SVR method to demonstrate the Karun water salinity on 1 February 2015 and 5 September 2018.
IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE PERDAS POR IMPROVISAÇÃO EM CANTEIROS DE OBRAS
Authors: Amaral Tatiana Gondim do , Brandão Camila Mariana , Elias Karinny Vieira
Published: October 2019

RESUMO:  O making-do se destaca porque representa um potencial para gerar outras perdas, como redução de segurança, problemas de qualidade, produtividade e retrabalho. O principal objetivo da pesquisa é analisar e investigar as perdas por making-do, relacionadas à de gestão da produção de três empresas de Goiânia, com a finalidade de identificar as categorias de perda e seus possíveis impactos. A pesquisa é classificada como quantitativa e qualitativa, também como aplicada e exploratória. Com base nisso, foram analisados dados durante as visitas técnicas em cada obra, dentre as quais se destaca a observação direta não participante, a aplicação de questionário e a análise documental. Em acréscimo foram realizados registros fotográficos das atividades produtivas com ocorrência de perdas, além da análise da organização do canteiro de obras dos empreendimentos em estudo. Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que a maioria das improvisações está relacionada ao planejamento de curto prazo, logística e projetos. No entanto, os impactos mais importantes desses tipos de perdas são a necessidade de retrabalho e perda de material. Como resultados detaca-se a importância do estudo das perdas relacionadas ao making-do, uma vez que gera outros tipos de perdas, e vai além do desperdício de materiais, evidenciando-se questões relacionadas à saúde e segurança da mão de obra e impactos no processo de produção como um todo.

ABSTRACT: The making-do stands out because it represents a potential to generate other losses, such as security reduction, quality problems, productivity and rework. The main objective of the research is to analyze and investigate the losses by making-do, related to the management of the production of three companies of Goiânia, for the purpose of identifying the categories of loss and their possible impacts. The research is classified as quantitative and qualitative, also as applied and exploratory. Based on this, data were analyzed during the technical visits in each work, among which stands out the non-participant direct observation, the application of questionnaire and the documentary analysis. In addition, photographic records of the productive activities with the occurrence of losses were carried out, in addition to the analysis of the organization of the construction site of the projects in study. The results of this study indicated that most improvisations are related to short-term planning, logistics and projects. However, the most important impacts of these types of losses are the need for rework and loss of material. As a result, the importance of the study of the losses related to the making-do stands out, since it generates other types of losses, and goes beyond the waste of materials, evidencing issues related to the health and safety of the workforce and impacts in the process of Production as a whole.
Nitrogen and Phosphate Fertilization Maximize Grass BRS Zuri Performance
Authors: De Oliveira Neto Sebastião Soares , Gonçalves Ana Stella Freire , Pietramale Rita Therezinha Rolim , Bellíssimo Mário José
Published: October 2019

The low nutrients levels available in pasture formation reduces the forage yield. Soil correction and fertilization practices are considered priorities in the planning, renovation or recovery of pastures. The aimed of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and phosphate fertilization rate in productivity of the Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 3×4 factorial arrangement, with three doses of superphosphate (0.0, 80.0 and 160.0 kg.ha-1) and four doses of ammonium nitrate (0.0; 20.0; 40.0 and 60.0 kg.ha-1), with three replicates. The following parameters were evaluated at 120 days after implantation: green mass and dry matter yield, plant height, number of plants and tillers per square meter. The doses of 80.0 and 160.0 kg.ha-1 of P2O5 and 60.0 kg.ha-1 of nitrogen combined to each other showed the best results for forage yield.
Between Metaphysics and Physiology: Lewes’s Facultative Action and Eliot’s Realism of Failure
Authors: Thompson Scott C.
Published: October 2019

This article positions George Henry Lewes and George Eliot within nineteenth-century psychology’s methodological shift. In the Victorian period, the study of mind was transitioning from metaphysical philosophy’s subjective introspection to experimental psychology’s objective analysis. Both philosophers and psychologists attempted to theorize human agency and volition within a materialist paradigm, searching for a midpoint between free will and mechanistic determinism. In Problems of Life and Mind, Lewes posits his theory of “facultative action,” his physiological explanation for a human being’s limited range of agency and choice, which are conditioned by experience, within an otherwise determined world. Eliot takes this theory, gives it a moral urgency, and applies it to human interaction, most evident in the climax of Middlemarch. Complicating the familiar reading of Dorothea and Rosamond’s final encounter as the most mature moment of sympathetic connection in Eliot’s work, this article demonstrates how their encounter unfolds as a moment of misreading, rather than connection. Eliot’s late realism reveals how facultative action allows human beings to interpret connections with others, despite the inevitable failure to surpass the physiological limitations of embodied experience.
Global affiliation of juvenile fishes and invertebrates with mangrove habitats
Authors: Zu Ermgassen Philine SE , Grove Thomas , Nagelkerken Ivan
Published: October 2019

Mangroves are critical fish and invertebrate habitats, however, identifying to what degree species are affiliated to mangrove systems remains challenging. Here we outline and apply two quantitative methods and one qualitative method for assessing the degree of mangrove affiliation globally
at a species level , based on habitat-specific fish and invertebrate species densities extracted from an exhaustive search of the literature , for mangroves and their associated coastal habitats. We assessed all 121 species for which we had ≥7 mangrove records and, where data allowed, quantified
the percent contribution of mangroves to the summed species density across all habitats. We set the threshold for identifying a species as "highly mangrove- affiliated" as ≥70% relative density, and examined its validity by subjecting a subset of species either side of the threshold to
a thorough review of evidence for mangrove affiliation in the peer-reviewed literature. We found that 53 species were highly mangrove-affiliated, including 24 fish and three invertebrate species from the Atlantic East Pacific (AEP) and nine fish and 15 invertebrate species from the Indo-West
Pacific (IWP; two species had global distributions). Thirty- six of the 53 species are of value to artisanal, subsistence, or commercial fisheries (AEP = 21, IWP = 13, Global = 2). While this list of highly mangrove-affiliated species is far from complete due to data limitations, it represents
the first attempt to undertake a global overview of highly mangrove- affiliated species, and a proof of concept for a quantitative and objective method of assessment.
Can the External Environment Generate Better Economic Performance in Academic Spin-Offs?
Authors: De Turi Ivano , Antonicelli Margaret
Published: October 2019

The strategic stimulus to economic development is innovation. It was defined by Schumpeter as the commercial or industrial application of something new (product, process, production method). New product developments grew out of process innovation, particularly the development of components made from new materials, and the techniques to produce them the value of process innovation is proportional to the level of output produced by a given firm. Based on this we can distinguish two different life cycles: the life cycle of product technology and life cycle process technology. It’s appropriate to understand if and how long these innovation processes lead to positive economic results. The innovation capabilities are the driver of long-term success. The relation should remain significant beyond short-term earnings or become even greater for earnings of a longer-term. The length of a firm’s innovation cycle appears to be a determinant of the relationship between enhanced innovation capabilities and future earnings. The paper proposes a framework to evaluate the impact of academic spin-offs at the local level. Spin-off creation is the most complex way of commercializing academic research but has the highest potential impact on the local context. We develop a framework that takes into account the direct and indirect impacts of spin-offs. In the empirical part of the paper, we apply this framework to a sample of Italian spin-offs between 2001 and 2017. The empirical analysis shows that measured in quantitative terms, the impact of spin-offs on the local economy is quite small. Using the selected variables, It's possible to affirm that the presence of business incubators represents an element capable of positively influencing the performance of academic spin-offs.
Pricing a Lease Contract in Presence of Late Payment Extra-Charges
Authors: Quattrocchio Luciano , Tibiletti Luisa , Uberti Mariacristina
Published: October 2019

Partial insolvency in leasing contracts may entail to afford additional late payment costs. In this paper we focus on the case that the lessee makes partial payments in due time and settles the debt augumented by the late payment interests later. The presence of the extra-costs drives the lease Effective Annual interest Rate (EAR) to deviate from the lease contract rate. The aim of this work is to illustrate how design the contract payback amortization to stick EAR to the lease contract rate, when the lease contract rate, the late payment rate and the contract term are exogeneously fixed. First we achieve a proxy for EAR given by the lease contract rate plus an extra-charge rate addendum. We show that this latter addendum is sensitive to the payback Macaulay Duration, a weighted size and timing average. Specifically, the longer the Macaulay Duration, the smaller the extra-charge rate addendum. As a consequence, two general rules to drive EAR close to the lease contract rate roll out, specifically: (1) the payment pattern should be set with a long Macaulay Duration; and (2) the surrender value of the leased good should be put large. As the contract settlement is given, we show that EAR is delimited by a lower bound and an upper bound. Then the payback amortizations with fixed instalments are studied. To get insight on the importance of EAR inputs we roll sensitivity analysis out through illustrative applications. The results of the paper are useful to provide policymakers a better knowledge about the effects on EAR of the contract conditions on the pattern of payments.
The Impact of Enhanced Teammate Evaluations on Important Individual and Team Outcomes
Authors: Eddy Erik R. , D’Abate Caroline P. , Costello Melinda
Published: October 2019

There is evidence that teamwork is proliferating in organizations and, in many ways, is replacing working individually. Academia has responded by integrating teamwork into curricula, but the use of teams as a pedagogical approach is also driven by evidence that it can lead to enhanced learning and more engaged learners. Researchers have examined factors in team effectiveness, activities and assignments for student teams and ways to optimize team formation. The current study was designed to focus on an under-explored and critical area of managing teamwork in classroom pedagogy: peer feedback. Students were placed into two conditions - a “conventional” approach using general, non-benchmarked feedback and an “enhanced” behaviorally-specific, benchmarked approach. Findings suggest enhanced teammate evaluations held substantial benefits over conventional evaluations resulting in better student perceptions of team processes (i.e., action, transition, and interpersonal processes) as well as more enthusiasm for teamwork. These findings have important implications for classroom pedagogy and student career development.
Samenloop tussen de Wkkgz en de Wet Bopz: een verbetering voor klachtenbehandeling?
Authors: Steen S.M.
Published: October 2019

Samenloop tussen de Wkkgz en de Wet Bopz: een verbetering voor klachtenbehandeling?

Wat betekent de vervanging van de Wkcz door de Wkkgz voor het klachtrecht van Bopz-patiënten? Om dat te onderzoeken worden de verschillende klachtbepalingen naast elkaar gelegd en wordt gekeken naar mogelijke oplossingen voor de knelpunten waar de verschillende bepalingen samenlopen. Het verruimen van de Bopz-klachtbepalingen kan hierin uitkomst bieden.
Conceptwetsvoorstel ‘zeggenschap lichaamsmateriaal’: nog niet goed doordacht
Authors: Ploem M.C.
Published: October 2019

Conceptwetsvoorstel ‘zeggenschap lichaamsmateriaal’: nog niet goed doordacht

In deze bijdrage wordt de inhoud van het – via een internetconsultatie uitgezette – conceptwetsvoorstel zeggenschap lichaamsmateriaal besproken en van commentaar voorzien. Geconcludeerd wordt dat de regering verschillende onderdelen van het wetsvoorstel, waaronder in het bijzonder de ruime werkingssfeer, nog eens goed tegen het licht zou moeten houden.
Het functioneren van de toetsingscommissies euthanasie
Authors: Legemaate J. , Ploem M.C. , Pronk R. , van de Vathorst S.
Published: October 2019

Het functioneren van de toetsingscommissies euthanasie

Dit artikel doet verslag van de voornaamste bevindingen van de derde evaluatie van de Wet toetsing levensbeëindiging op verzoek, met betrekking tot het functioneren van de RTE’s. We schetsen kort de hoofdlijnen van de huidige wettelijke regeling en geven een overzicht van de opvattingen in de literatuur uit de genoemde periode. Daarna volgt een samenvatting van het empirische onderzoek naar de RTE’s, waarna een beschouwing volgt over de voornaamste discussiepunten rond het functioneren van de RTE’s.
Synthesis of Novel Benzamide- piperazine-sulfonamide Hybrids as Potential Anticancer Agents
Authors: Ramalingeswara Rao B. , Rao Katiki Mohana , Kommula Dileep , Narayanan SaiShyam , Anto Ruby John , Murty M. S. R.
Published: October 2019

The synthesis of a series of substituted hippuric acid (2-benzamidoacetic acid) derivatives containing arylsulfonylpiperazine nucleus (3a–j, 4a–j) is described. The compounds were synthesized by coupling hippuric/4-fluorohippuric acid with various arylsulfonylpiperazines using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethylcarbodiimide (EDCI). The structures of all the new compounds were confirmed by IR, NMR and MS spectral data. All the synthesized compounds have been evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity towards five human cancer cell lines of different origins viz. HeLa (Cervical), A549 (Lung), A375 (Skin), MD-AMB-231(Breast) and T98G (brain) and their IC50 values were determined. Among the compounds tested, 3b, 3d, 3g, 4c and 4e displayed significant cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 24.2–38.2 µM). T98G was the most sensitive cell line towards the compounds studied followed by HeLa, A375, A549 and MD-AMB-231.
What is the best culture conversion prognostic marker for patients treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis?
Authors: Bastard M. , Sanchez-Padilla E. , Hayrapetyan A. , Kimenye K. , Khurkhumal S. , Dlamini T. , Fadul Perez S. , Telnov A. , Hewison C. , Varaine F. , Bonnet M.
Published: October 2019

INTRODUCTION: Identification of good prognostic marker for tuberculosis (TB) treatment response is a necessary step on the path towards a surrogate marker to reduce TB trial duration.METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on routinely collected data in 6 drug-resistant
TB (DRTB) programs. Culture conversion, defined as two consecutive negative cultures, was assessed, and performance of culture conversion at Month 2 and Month 6 to predict treatment success were explored. To explore factors associated with positive predicted value (PPV) and the specificity
of culture conversion, a multinomial logistic regression was fitted.RESULTS: This study included 634 patients: 68.5% were males; the median age was 35 years, 75.2% were previously treated for TB, 59.4% were resistant only to isoniazid and rifampicin and 18.1% resistant to fluoroquinolones.
Culture conversion at Month 2 and 6 showed similar PPV while specificity was much higher for culture conversion at Month 2: 91.3% (95%CI 86.1–95.1). PPV of culture conversion at Month 2 did not vary strongly according to patients' characteristics, while specificity was slightly higher
among patients with fluoroquinolone-resistant strains.CONCLUSION: Culture conversion at Month 2 is an acceptable prognostic marker for MDR-TB treatment. Considering the advantage of using an earlier marker, further evaluation as a surrogate marker is warranted to shorten TB trials.
Effect of tablet crushing on drug exposure in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Authors: Court R. , Chirehwa M. T. , Wiesner L. , de Vries N. , Harding J. , Gumbo T. , Maartens G. , McIlleron H.
Published: October 2019

SETTING: Treatment outcomes in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are poor. Due to drug toxicity and a long treatment duration, approximately half of patients are treated successfully. Medication is often crushed for patients who have difficulty swallowing whole tablets.
Whether crushing tablets affects drug exposure in MDR-TB treatment is not known.OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We performed a sequential pharmacokinetic study in patients aged >18 years on MDR-TB treatment at two hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. We compared the bioavailability of
pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin, isoniazid (INH), ethambutol and terizidone when the tablets were crushed and mixed with water before administration vs. swallowed whole. We sampled blood at six time points over 10 h under each condition separated by 2 weeks. Non-compartmental analysis was used
to derive the key pharmacokinetic measurements.RESULTS: Twenty participants completed the study: 15 were men, and the median age was 31.5 years. There was a 42% reduction in the area under the curve AUC0–10 of INH when the tablets were crushed compared with whole
tablets (geometric mean ratio 58%; 90%CI 47–73). Crushing tablets of pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin, ethambutol and terizidone did not affect the bioavailability significantly.CONCLUSION: We recommend that crushing of INH tablets in the MDR-TB treatment regimen be avoided. Paediatric
INH formulations may be a viable alternative if the crushing of INH tablets is indicated.
Geographic distribution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence in Africa, Asia and Australasia
Authors: Blanco I. , Diego I. , Bueno P. , Fernández E. , Casas-Maldonado F. , Esquinas C. , Soriano J. B. , Miravitlles M.
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVE: To visualise spatial data on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence in Africa, Asia and Australasia using a Geographic Information System (GIS) inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique.DESIGN: Prevalence rates from population
surveys on individuals aged ≥40, with spirometry-confirmed COPD, were searched systematically. The prevalence observed in 59 selected surveys and the geographic coordinates of the places where they were conducted informed a GIS computer programme. The prevalence was represented by an ascending
chromatic scale (blue-green-yellow-orange-brown-red) in the GIS maps.RESULTS: IDW-interpolation GIS maps were obtained of all the geographic areas investigated, and even from regions lacking data. Areas of high/very high prevalence were found in: Southern Africa and in most of the
Central and Eastern Africa regions; in practically all of Central Asia; in the western regions of Southern Asia; in the southern regions of the East European Plain and the West Siberian Plain of Northern Asia; and in the Malay Archipelago. Intermediate prevalence predominated in Oceania and
in most of the other regions of Africa and Asia.CONCLUSION: Despite some biases inherent to the interpolation method used in the present study, our approach provided an understandable visual perspective of the COPD prevalence distribution in these geographic regions.
Virtual Reality for Stroke Rehabilitation: assessment, training and the effect of virtual therapy
Authors: Kiper Paweł , Turolla Andrea , Piron Lamberto , Agostini Michela , Baba Alfonc , Rossi Simonetta , Tonin Paolo
Published: October 2019

The motor function impairment deriving from stroke injury has a negative impact on autonomy and on the activities of daily living. Several studies have demonstrated that learning new motor skills is important to induce neuroplasticity and functional recovery. To facilitate the activation of brain areas and consequently neuroplasticity, it may be advantageous to combine traditional motor rehabilitation with innovative technology, in order to promote motor re-learning and skill re-acquisition by means of an enhanced training. Following these principles, exercises should involve multiple sensory modalities exploiting the adaptive nature of the nervous system, in order to promote active patient participation. Movement re-learning could be improved by means of training in an enriched environment focused on optimizing the affordances between the motor system and the physical environment: virtual reality technologies allow for the possibility to create specific settings where the affordances are optimized. Several autors report that patients treated in virtual representation could, in both acute and chronic stroke, improve their arm motor function. Reinforced Feedback in a Virtual Environment (RFVE), can incorporate the elements necessary to maximize motor learning, such as repetitive and differentiated task practice, feedback of performance and results, and reinforcement of the motivation. The RFVE approach may lead to better rehabilitation outcomes in the treatment of the upper limb in stroke patients.
Poland’s Security Policy.
Experiences
and Recommendations
Authors: Kośmider Tomasz
Published: October 2019

The processes of development and functioning of the State in the context of its security
certainly have to be considered not only in a multisectoral perspective, but
also in the perspective of the so-called “longevity,” the effects of which are perceived
in a broader sense. Capturing the essence of the described phenomena, the
regularities of which have a universal dimension, is crucial for research. It is impossible
to envisage a future, also in terms of security, without dialogue with the past.
The history of Poland does not coincide with a simple series of events substantiating
contemporary conditions or confirming confidence in the victory of historical
justice. In this context, the question of historical conclusions regarding the “nature”
of the Polish state and its future remains relevant. The assessment of strategic
directions of the Polish security policy, seen through the prism of rich (over a thousand)
years of experience proves that the creation of new assumptions of the national
security system without considering the conclusions drawn from history may
constitute a deficient concept, comprising incomplete or even erroneous recommendations.
Lotnictwo śmigłowcowe
w działaniach bojowych
odzyskiwania izolowanego
personelu (personnel recovery)
Authors: Lubiejewski Sylwester
Published: October 2019

Zdarzenia izolacji personelu podczas operacji wojsk negatywnie wpływają na bezpieczeństwo
operacji i morale żołnierzy, a także na stan emocjonalny rodzin oraz społeczną
akceptację prowadzonych działań. Odzyskiwanie personelu stanowi więc ważną
część działań militarnych zarówno w czasie pokoju, jak i kryzysu oraz wojny.
Autor omawia specyfikę odzyskiwania izolowanego personelu na teatrze działań
wojennych oraz rolę i przeznaczenie lotnictwa śmigłowcowego w tego typu działaniach.
Podkreśla znaczenie użycia śmigłowców dla powodzenia misji oraz przedstawia
procedury i taktykę załóg statków powietrznych podczas odzyskiwania izolowanego
personelu. Poszerza oraz porządkuje wiedzę o badanym obszarze.
Efeito pós-barragem nos municípios impactados por usinas hidrelétricas no estado do Tocantins/Brasil
Authors: Lima Adila Maria Taveira de , Buschbacher Robert John , Oliveira Nilton Marques de , Pinto Mac David da Silva , Alves Erisvaldo de Oliveira , Marques Elineide Eugênio
Published: October 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os efeitos pós-barragem da instalação de Usinas hidrelétricas nos municípios do Estado do Tocantins[1] e a contribuição no desenvolvimento local propagado por esses empreendimentos. Como metodologia foi analisado o índice de desenvolvimento regional (IDR) e as variáveis econômicas: Imposto sobre circulação de mercadoria e serviços (ICMS), Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) e número de empregos. Os principais resultados apontam que mesmo havendo uma melhoria do IDR, os efeitos positivos das barragens foram pontuais e em períodos específicos da construção, observados pelo comportamento das variáveis nos anos antes e depois dos empreendimentos. Essa observação nos permitiu fazer uma analogia com a teoria econômica do boom-colapso (boom and bust), que demonstra um alto índice de crescimento no período de implementação que depois não se mantém. As conclusões apontam que a promessa de desenvolvimento local propagada na aprovação do empreendimento, não se consolidou nas localidades pesquisadas. Podem ter ocorrido benefícios a nível nacional atendendo a necessidade de expansão energética, no entanto, não ficou demonstrado impactos positivos em nível local, além disso, as implicações ambientais e sociais podem ser maiores do que o retorno alcançado.
Convention collective et sécurité sociale
Authors: Cardin Jean-Réal
Published: October 2019

Le régime canadien des relations du travail repose sur la convention collective négociée au plan de l'établissement. Graduellement le contenu des conventions collectives s'est élargi pour comprendre non seulement la plupart des aspects de la vie au travail mais encore ceux de la vie du travailleur hors les cadres de l'entreprise même touchant sa sécurité économique et sociale ainsi que celle de sa famille. Quelle est l'extension de cette sécurité sociale dans les conventions collectives ? Quelles en sont les limitations ? Est-ce que la sécurité sociale organisée par l'État fera disparaître la forme contractuelle ? Voilà quelques-unes des questions auxquelles répond l'auteur.
An Inside Job: Engaging with Indigenous Legal Traditions through Stories
Authors: Napoleon Val , Friedland Hadley
Published: October 2019

There has been a growing momentum toward a greater recognition and explicit use of Indigenous laws in the past several years. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, the revitalization and recognition of Indigenous laws are essential to reconciliation in Canada. How, then, do we go about doing this? In this article, we introduce one method, which we believe has great potential for working respectfully and productively with Indigenous laws today. We engage with Indigenous legal traditions by carefully and consciously applying adapted common law tools, such as legal analysis and synthesis, to existing and often publicly available Indigenous resources: stories, narratives, and oral histories. By bringing common pedagogical approaches from many Indigenous legal traditions together with standard common law legal education, we hope to help people learn Indigenous laws from an internal point of view. We share experiences that reveal that this method holds great potential as a pedagogical bridge “into” respectful engagement with Indigenous laws and legal thought, within and across Indigenous, academic, and professional communities. In conclusion, we argue that, while this method is a useful tool, it is not intended to supplant existing learning and teaching methods, but rather to supplement them. In practice, we have seen that this method can be complementary to learning deeply through other means. There are many methods to engage with Indigenous laws, and there needs to be critical reflection and conversations about them all.
WSÁNEĆ Legal Theory and the Fuel Spill at SELEK̵TEL̵ (Goldstream River)
Authors: Clifford Robert YELḰÁTŦE
Published: October 2019

SELEK̵TEL̵ (Goldstream River), on Coast Salish territory on Southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, is an important salmon spawning river and fishing location for the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) people. On April 16, 2011, it was also the site of a diesel and gasoline spill.

In this article, I explore the processes of revitalizing WSÁNEĆ law and how we might think about the revitalization of WSÁNEĆ law in the context of this fuel spill. While I do not present a definitive statement of the application of WSÁNEĆ law, I explore what is needed in order to understand WSÁNEĆ law on its own terms. I turn to WSÁNEĆ stories to ground my understanding of WSÁNEĆ law in a different cosmological and ontological framework, and begin to explore the implications this different framework has for understanding the fuel spill and a WSÁNEĆ approach to “law”. I argue that this framework requires a greater attribution of “being” and “agency” to land, with an emphasis on repairing and maintaining relationships in an encompassing way. In exploring the implications of this shift in framework, I problematize the notions of “jurisdiction” and “remedy”. Specifically, rather than approaching the relationship to land through the idea of jurisdictional authority over it, I argue that WSÁNEĆ law develops a perspective centred on our mutual responsibilities with and to land. I also argue that the notion of jurisdiction can compartmentalize and limit WSÁNEĆ law’s attention to the encompassing nature of our relationships to land. Similarly, as opposed to engaging WSÁNEĆ law only to find a remedy, we must step back and consider how the harm of the fuel spill would be characterized within the distinctive framework of WSÁNEĆ law.
Comprendre la normativité innue en matière d’« adoption » et de garde coutumière
Authors: Grammond Sébastien , Guay Christiane
Published: October 2019

Le présent article rend compte des résultats préliminaires d’un projet de recherche qui porte sur la garde et l’« adoption » coutumière au sein de la communauté innue d’Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, dans le nord-est du Québec. Dans une perspective de pluralisme juridique, les auteurs ont employé une méthode biographique pour comprendre le fonctionnement de l’institution juridique innue du ne kupaniem/ne kupanishkuem, que l’on peut comparer, à certains égards, à l’adoption des systèmes de droit occidentaux. Les auteurs présentent ici certaines caractéristiques de cette institution, afin de faire apparaître les limites des projets de loi qui visent à reconnaître l’« adoption coutumière autochtone » en droit québécois. L’« adoption » innue découle d’une entente entre les personnes concernées, qui peut se cristalliser graduellement, qui ne brise jamais le lien de filiation d’origine et qui n’entraîne pas immédiatement la création d’une nouvelle filiation. En principe, cette forme d’adoption n’est pas permanente. Or, une loi québécoise qui ne reconnaîtrait que des adoptions autochtones qui créent un nouveau lien de filiation risquerait soit d’être inefficace, soit de déformer l’ordre juridique innu.
The Weight of a Heavy Hour: Understanding Teacher Experiences of Work Intensification
Authors: Beck Jaime L.
Published: October 2019

The teachers in this study identified the experiences related to increases in the intensity of teachers’ work to be a misunderstood and under-discussed aspect of the profession. During research conversations that took place in the context of a year-long narrative inquiry, the term heavy hours was coined to describe these experiences. The salient features of heavy hours described include: rapid professional decision-making, being pulled in an excess of directions, and the residue that lingers long after the hour is over. After exploring the ways in which the teachers in this study experienced and defined heavy hours, this paper asserts that foregrounding this understanding has implications for the way in which we prepare and support teachers throughout their careers.
Becoming Authentic Teachers Through Transformative Inquiry: Final Practicum Challenges
Authors: Tse Vanessa V. , Abra Meaghan , Tanaka Michele T. D.
Published: October 2019

Within the final teaching practica, pre-service teachers encounter the crucial challenge of redefining their teacher identities. Leaving behind personas formed as students, professional settings necessitate asking themselves what kind of teacher they want to be in a new context. In collaboration with their professor, two pre-service teachers examined their final practicum experiences, highlighting how Transformative Inquiry (TI), a holistic investigative approach, supported them in becoming authentic teachers. We hear how the TI process helped them identify, honour, and strengthen their personal and unique teaching identities. Highlighted themes include: touchstone stories, the power of the circle, living the questions, and the importance of on-going reflection. These new teachers resisted traditional images of teachers by embracing imperfection and vulnerability.
Réflexions autour de l’éducation scolaire au Bénin : c’est comme si l’échec et la déperdition scolaire n’ont pas d’issues
Authors: Fidèle Kpoholo Senakpon Fabrice
Published: October 2019

Ce texte présente une réflexion approfondie autour de l’échec et de la déperdition scolaire en milieu rural au Bénin. Il est le fruit d’une recherche menée autour de l’échec et de la déperdition scolaire en milieu rural. La recherche originale a été orientée par les perspectives théoriques et méthodologiques des études du quotidien. À cet effet, une immersion a été réalisée dans la localité ayant servi de champ de recherche. Des observations et des entretiens semi-structurés ont été réalisés. En élargissant la base théorique aux perspectives historico-culturelles, il ressort que l’école béninoise doit se réinventer et accorder son fonctionnement à celui de la vie socio-économique et culturelle locale pour que l‘échec scolaire et le flux de déperdition s’améliorent.