bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drought propagation and construction of a comprehensive drought index based on the SWAT-KC': A case study for the Jinta River basin in Northwestern China
Authors: Liang Zheng , Su Xiaoling , Feng Kai
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Reliable drought monitoring and mastering the laws of drought propagation are the basis for regional drought prevention and resistance. Multivariate drought indicators considering meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological information may fully describe drought information; however, too short or missing hydrological variables in cold and arid regions make it difficult to monitor drought. This paper proposes a method combining SWAT and empirical Kendal distribution function (KC') for drought monitoring. The SWAT model, based on the principle of runoff formation, was used to simulate the hydrological variables of the drought evolution process. Three univariate drought indexes, namely meteorological drought (SPEI), agricultural drought (SSI), and hydrological drought (SDI) were constructed using parametric and non-parametric methods to analyze the propagation time of meteorological drought to agricultural drought and hydrological drought. The KC' was used to build a multivariable comprehensive Meteorology–Agriculture–Hydrology Drought Index (MAHDI) that takes into account meteorological, agricultural and hydrological drought to analyze the characteristics of a comprehensive drought evolution. The Jinta River in the inland basin of northwest China was used as the study area. The results show that agricultural and hydrological drought have a seasonal lag time for meteorological drought. The degree of drought in the river basin is high in the northern and low in the southern regions. The MAHDI captured drought conditions characterized by a univariate drought index; however, the ability to characterize mild and moderate droughts is stronger than severe droughts. The index also captured the occurrence and end of drought time; therefore, it is an acceptable comprehensive drought index. In addition, the comprehensive drought conditions showed insignificant drought trends in spring and summer, and showed insignificant warm and humidification trends in autumn, winter and annual scale. The results provided theoretical support for the drought control in the Jinta River Basin. This method may be applied for drought monitoring in other watersheds with a shortage of measured data.
Spatiotemporal clustering of flash floods in a changing climate (China, 1950–2015)
Authors: Wang Nan , Lombardo Luigi , Tonini Marj , Cheng Weiming , Guo Liang , Xiong Junnan
Published: August 2020

Abstract. The persistence over space and time of flash flood disasters – flash floods that have caused either economical or life losses, or both – is a diagnostic measure of areas subjected to hydrological risk. The concept of persistence can be assessed via clustering analyses, performed here to analyse the national inventory of flash flood disasters in China occurred in the period 1950–2015. Specifically, we investigated the spatiotemporal pattern distribution of the flash flood disasters and their clustering behavior by using both global and local methods: the first, based on the Ripley's K-function, and the second on Scan Statistics. As a result, we could visualize patterns of aggregated events, estimate the cluster duration and make assumptions about their evolution over time, also with respect precipitation trend. Due to the large spatial (the whole Chinese territory) and temporal (66 years) scale of the dataset, we were able to capture whether certain clusters gather in specific locations and times, but also whether their magnitude tends to increase or decrease. Overall, the eastern regions in China are much more subjected to flash flood disasters compared to the rest of the country. Detected clusters revealed that these phenomena predominantly occur between July and October, a period coinciding with the wet season in China. The number of detected clusters increases with time, but the associated duration drastically decreases in the recent period. This may indicate a change towards triggering mechanisms which are typical of short-duration extreme rainfall events. Finally, being flash flood disasters directly linked to precipitation and their extreme realization, we indirectly assessed whether the magnitude of the trigger itself has also varied through space and time, enabling considerations in the context of climatic changes.
Aeroelastic load validation in wake conditions using nacelle-mounted lidar measurements
Authors: Conti Davide , Dimitrov Nikolay , Peña Alfredo
Published: August 2020

Abstract. We propose a method for carrying out wind turbine load validation in wake conditions using measurements from forward-looking nacelle lidars. Two lidars, a pulsed- and a continuous-wave system, were installed on the nacelle of a 2.3 MW wind turbine operating in free-, partial-, and full-wake conditions. The turbine is placed within a straight row of turbines with a spacing of 5.2 rotor diameters, and wake disturbances are present for two opposite wind direction sectors. The wake flow fields are described by lidar-estimated wind field characteristics, which are commonly used as inputs for load simulations, without employing wake deficit models. These include mean wind speed, turbulence intensity, vertical and horizontal shear, yaw error, and turbulence-spectra parameters. We assess the uncertainty of lidar-based load predictions against wind turbine on-board sensors in wake conditions and compare it with the uncertainty of lidar-based load predictions against sensor data in free wind. Compared to the free-wind case, the simulations in wake conditions lead to increased relative errors (4 %–11 %). It is demonstrated that the mean wind speed, turbulence intensity, and turbulence length scale have a significant impact on the predictions. Finally, the experiences from this study indicate that characterizing turbulence inside the wake as well as defining a wind deficit model are the most challenging aspects of lidar-based load validation in wake conditions.
Test Writers’ Perceptions of English Language Tests in Relation to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) at a Saudi Arabian University
Authors: Shehata Gamal , Sheik Ayub
Published: August 2020

The CEFR is currently being used globally as a guiding document for specifying the standards of language learning, teaching, and assessment. The university wherein this study takes place, assumes that its internally produced English language tests are CEFR-related because they are based on textbooks which claim affinity with the CEFR. This study investigates the validity of this assumption. The literature review suggests a wealth of studies which link a specific test or exam to the CEFR based on the technical procedures laid out in the Manual for Relating Language Examinations to the CEFR (the Manual). This study has a different approach as it investigates whether the internally produced English language tests at a Saudi Arabian university are linked/related to the CEFR from the perspectives of the academic staff who are responsible for producing the English language tests at the university wherein this study is conducted. As such, this study is situated within an interpretative case study paradigm and uses a mixed method methodology for data collection and analysis. The study showed that all the research participants share the view that the English language exams which they develop are CEFR linked/related because they are based on the learning outcomes of textbooks which, according to the publisher, are CEFR linked. In addition, the contextual issues related to the implementation of the Manual and the CEFR are to be considered. The study presents implications and recommendations for the institution and for ELT publishers who claim that their ELT materials are CEFR linked.
The Impact of E-Learning Strategy on Students' Academic Achievement. Case Study: Al- Quds Open University.
Authors: Abdel Jawad Yousef Abdel Latif , Shalash Basem
Published: August 2020

The study examines the effect of e-learning on the students’ academic performance at Al-Quds Open University. 382 students have been randomly selected from the university's official records where a statistical analysis of the study variables was performed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences program (SPSS.20).  The study hypotheses were tested by Paired Samples T-tests.The study has revealed that there are statistically significant differences in the students’ academic performance over the implementation of the e-learning strategy with regard to the level of the vast majority of students, gender, educational program, as well as their academic level.The study recommends the necessity of enhancing the e-learning strategy in the higher education institutions to foster the students’ academic performance taking into account the specificity of some learning programs such as the Arabic language programs and the social studies.
Development of latex wound models for the wound dressing training of nursing students
Authors: Bannaasan Benyaporn
Published: August 2020

A model is an essential instrument for the practical training of nursing students before field training in the ward, and an aid which creates skill and confidence for the students. The objective of this research is to develop a latex wound model for the wound dressing training of nursing students. Three research procedures are 1) to study documents and data relating to the development of latex wound models, 2) to construct the latex wound models and the research instruments, and 3) to try out the latex wound models, and evaluate the latex wound models efficiency.  Participants are the 60 second-year nursing students. A wet dressing type latex wound model efficiency evaluation form and a dry dressing type latex wound model efficiency evaluation form were used for data collection. A reliability of 0.884 and 0.889 was acquired. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. The finding of the studying results indicated that the mean scores of efficiency of both invented wet dressing type and dry dressing type latex wound model were higher than that of the original wound model of the Faculty of Nursing at statistical significance (p < .05). The finding indicated that the latex wound model had higher quality than those of the original wound model. Also, it helps the Faculty of Nursing save budget on purchasing expensive models.
Malignant Tumors of the Hand
Authors: Chapman Talia , Athanasian Edward
Published: August 2020

Primary malignant tumors in the hand are rare as compared to benign lesions; however, it is essential for orthopeadic surgeons to be familiar with their clinical presentation. The approach to working up a mass in the hand must be methodical and thorough, and clinicians must maintain high index of suspicion when evaluating these lesions. Successful identification and treatment of malignant tumors of the hand may include referral to a sarcoma center for staging, workup, and multidisciplinary treatment. Surgical treatment of malignant tumors in the hand is uniquely complicated by the increased number of critical structures that may be in close proximity to the tumor. It is therefore imperative to understand the principles of diagnosis, staging, biopsy, resection, and amputation before treating malignant tumors of the hand.
Revisit the Wishart Distributionm
Authors: Chen William W.S.
Published: August 2020

If S_pxp can be written as S=X' X , where X_nxp is a data matrix from N_p(0,V) , then S is said to have a Wishart distribution with scale matrix V of degree of freedom parameter n. We write S~W_p(V,n). When V=I,  the distribution is said to be in standard form. When p=1, the W_1(σ^2, n)  distribution is found to be Σ^n_i=1(x^2_i) , where the elements of x_i  are identically independently distributed unit normal variables; being the σ^2(x_n)^2 distribution. Although Anderson (1984, p248~249) has presented two theorems for the Wishart distribution. In the following we give an alternative proof.
Clustering Applied to the Education: A K-means and Hierarchical Application
Authors: Gil-Vera Víctor Daniel , Puerta-Lópera Isabel Cristina , Quintero-López Catalina
Published: August 2020

Currently, most schools in the world use ICT, which is why students must make use of computers and mobile devices in and out of schools. Thanks to the use of technology, students are more interested and motivated to learn, considering that motivation is one of the main engines of learning, since it encourages activity and thought. On the other hand, motivation makes students spend more time working and therefore they are more likely to learn more. The aim of this paper was to present a clustering of European countries according to the number of desktop computers available to students in primary schools (ISCED 1), lower secondary schools (ISCED 2) and upper secondary schools (ISCED 3). Was used the database developed by the ES Open Data Portal for the year 2019 on "ICT in Education". For the classification were used the hierarchical clustering and K-means techniques and the statistical software Rcran 3.6.3. These techniques were used as they have the ability to group a large number of elements into clusters, based on the similarity learned. This paper concludes that the countries with the highest GDP are not the ones that have the most desktop computers in their schools. Bulgaria is the country with the major number of desktop computers in their schools.
Bases and Horizons of Person-Centered Women’s Health 40 Years after Alma Ata
Authors: Wilson C. Ruth , Hoope-Bender Petra ten , Mezzich Juan E. , Appleyard James , Helgesen Ann Karin , Snaedal Jon
Published: August 2020

Forty years after the Alma Ata Declaration, opportunities and challenges in achieving person-centered care for all people remain, particularly for women. This review describes the foundations and horizons of the Geneva Declaration Person-Centered Women’s Health 40 Years after Alma Ata, issued as a consensus statement of the International College of Person Centered Medicine (ICPCM) meeting in April 2018.

Person-centered medicine has as its central precept the relationship between a health professional and a person seeking care. This principle is the link to primary health care, which is built on a lasting relationship with individuals and populations. Women have particular health needs, partly based on reproductive health,
influenced by the social context of their lives.

There is a need for recommitment to the principles of Alma Ata if health for all is to be achieved. Equitable access to person-centered integrated care for women and men throughout the life course is a human right. Universal health care, based on primary health care as a general health strategy, is the precursor for achieving this aim.
A Person-Centered Approach to Oncology and Palliative Care
Authors: Glare Paul
Published: August 2020

The advent of evidence-based medicine (EBM) saw a marked improvement in clinical decision making when compared to the “this is what works best in my experience” approach, which preceded it. Aside from the fact that there is goodquality
evidence available for only a fraction of treatments, a limitation of EBM is that it focuses primarily on identifying the best treatment of a disease and does not allow for differences in patients’ goals, priorities, and expectations or how they cope with their illness. This biomedical focus of EBM is particularly problematic for patients with chronic, incurable illnesses (which include many cancers), for whom a person-centered approach is superior. This article explores
what it means to take a person centered approach to oncology and palliative care. In particular, the ambiguity of the term “personalized medicine” in oncology is considered, and seen to be represent a narrow version of “personalized”—in the sense of personalized car number plates and monogrammed shirts—not personalized in the sense of the treatment reflecting
the patient’s values, goals, and expectations for care. Furthermore, taking a person-centered approach is an active process that does not equate with acquiescing to whatever the patient requests. As an example, in the emotional, high stakes decision to transition from cancer treatment to palliative care/ hospice or not, patients may reject hospice even when it’s in their best interests
(i.e., hospice enrolment). A person-centered physician will understand this situation and attempt to advise the patient to choosing the initially disliked option that may be ultimately the right choice.
Fourth Latin American Conference on Person Centered Medicine: Program
Authors: Medicine International College of Person Centered
Published: August 2020

The Latin American Conference on Person Centered Medicine has been held annually since 2015 on the initiative of the Latin American Network of Person Centered Medicine, in close collaboration with Latin American medical academies and important university and professional institutions related to health, as part of a regional process of reflection on issues that affect wellbeing and health, and therefore the overall development of the Latin American population.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATIONS OF PERSON-CENTERED MEDICINE
Authors: Snaedal Jon
Published: August 2020

Person-centered medicine (PCM) is a concept that has gained increased acceptance, being a broader term than patient-centered medicine. With PCM the whole of a person is taken into consideration, whether healthy or in disease as well as his or her family. The person of the health professional is also incorporated
in this concept. In this article, ethical background to person-centeredness in universal declarations and some international central policies are addressed. Primarily, the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) will be discussed as well as official policy documents of the World Medical Association (WMA). Lastly, the content of a WMA Declaration on Medical Professionalism are discussed.
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FOURTH LATIN AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF PERSON CENTERED MEDICINE
Authors: Ocampo Dr. Horacio Toro
Published: August 2020

The Latin American Conferences of Person-Centered Medicine have been held annually since 2015 at the initiative of the Latin American Network of Person-Centered Medicine, in close collaboration with the International College of Person
Centered Medicine and local Person Centered Medicine organizations, and with the cosponsorship of a range of regional and local health and academic institutions.
2018 LIMA DECLARATION TOWARDS THE LATIN AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION OF PERSONS-CENTERED INTEGRAL HEALTH CARE
Authors: Mezzich Juan
Published: August 2020

Resulting from the First Peruvian Encounter of Person Centered Medicine with multidisciplinary participation, held in Lima, Peru on December 14 and 15, 2018, organized by the Peruvian Association of Person Centered Medicine and under the auspices of the Latin American Network of Person-Centered Medicine, the Latin American Association of National Academies of Medicine (ALANAM), the Peruvian Association of Faculties of Medicine (ASPEFAM), the Representation in Peru of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), San Marcos National University (Peru), the Regional Council III – Lima of the Medical College of Peru, and the International College of Person Centered Medicine.
PERSON-CENTERED CARE PLANNING AND SHARED DECISION MAKING FOR MENTAL AND COMORBID CONDITIONS
Authors: Millar Helen , Salloum Ihsan
Published: August 2020

Developments in person-centered coordinated care are essential given the challenges of the growing epidemic of physical comorbidity in the mentally ill population. Excessive deaths due to comorbidity, especially cardiovascular disease, continue to contribute to the significant reduction in life expectancy in people with mental health problems.

Contemporary and proposed models are now available to provide evidence for a way forward in this field. Practical guidance on implementation using person-centered care planning has now been developed to promote a more collaborative and integrated approach as a solution to the current single disease focused model of care, which is failing this patient group. The WHO perspective supports this strategy with the recent global objectives outlining proactive and preventative strategies and interventions to tackle comorbidity. The emphasis is on a transformation of current systems using evidence-based approaches for more integration to support the delivery of more effective and efficient care for those with mental disorders and other comorbid chronic diseases.

Coordinated, collaborative, system-wide strategies encompass transparent shared decision making in prevention, early intervention, treatment options, lifestyle management and pharmacological rationalization. Hence urgent action is required to help create the conditions to enable the delivery of person-centered coordinated care in health care systems by involving commissioning bodies, clinicians, patient groups along with voluntary and other community providers.

Contemporary models of care for comorbidity emphasize the importance of coordination in the management of physical well-being from the onset of treatment of people with mental health problems in order to ensure better outcomes, improved overall well-being, and a longer life expectancy. Illustratively, no further funds are available to implement this shift in the model of care in the United Kingdom, so redesign and redistribution of current resources will be key to promote this more seamless coordinated system of care to improve the quality of life and life expectancy for this population.
REPORT OF THE FIRST PERUVIAN CONFERENCE ON PERSON-CENTERED MEDICINE
Authors: Mezzich Juan
Published: August 2020

In the first Peruvian Conference on Person-Centered Medicine, there are two concepts that were originally never separated: Comprehensive Health Care by All for All that Dr. David Tejada de Rivero articulated until his death at the end of 2018 and Person-Centered Medicine and Health that the International College of Person Centered Medicine and others have been promoting worldwide.
From this perspective, it is completely natural to talk about Integral Person-Centered Health Care, because who, but the human person, is to whom integral health care can be directed. They join in this way, Alma Ata of 1978 with Lima of 2018, paying just tribute to the vision of the future from Halfdan Mahler and David Tejada de Rivero and posing a motivating stimulation to health professionals.
Self-resolving Information Markets: A Comparative Study
Authors: Ahlstrom-Vij Kristoffer
Published: August 2020

Traditional information markets (TIMs) are resolved with reference to events external to the markets, such as some particular candidate winning an election. However, when making long-term forecasts or evaluating counterfactuals, such resolution is not an option. Hence, the need for self-resolving information markets (SRIMs), resolved with reference to features internal to the markets themselves. The present paper demonstrates experimentally that the market profiles of otherwise identical TIMs and SRIMs show significantly higher degrees of correlation than do randomly paired markets, and that the average accuracies of TIMs and SRIMs are practically equivalent. This supports the so-called face-value hypothesis, on which a convention will arise on SRIMs of taking the question under consideration at face value and betting accordingly, in the same way as on TIMs—in which case SRIMs have the potential of matching TIMs in accuracy while shedding their limitations in relation to long-term predictions and counterfactuals.
Grupos Diedrais: uma proposta concreta para uma apresentação inicial da Álgebra Abstrata para licenciandos em Matemática
Authors: Monteiro Andreza Thalia Menezes , Moura Luiz Felipe Costa Mesquita , Fonseca Rubens Vilhena
Published: August 2020

Este artigo traz uma sugestão para o ensino/aprendizagem de tópicos específicos, referentes à Teoria dos Grupos nos cursos de Licenciatura em Matemática. A problemática consiste, inicialmente, no fato de que o tópico Grupos é considerado um assunto central a ser estudado nos cursos de licenciatura em Matemática em quase todas as universidades. As razões para essa centralidade podem variar consideravelmente, mas o consenso é que tempo e esforço devem ser dedicados aoseu ensino e aprendizado. Por outro lado, os estudantes têm sérias dificuldades cognitivas e afetivas com álgebra abstrata, ou seja, eles têm dificuldades em se tornar competentes e, mesmo entre os que obtêm sucesso, muitos não conseguem ver o objetivo em estudar tal assunto. Este artigo é uma tentativa de abordar uma pequena parte dessa problemática do ensino e aprendizagem da Álgebra Abstrata, com base na experiência acumulada por anos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento na apresentação do assunto teoria de grupos para os alunos de Licenciatura em Matemática da Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA). Espera-se que a abordagem apresentada possa servir como uma base para novas propostas e sugestões adicionais que possam aperfeiçoar o que aqui se sugere. Ao considerar as rotações e translações de movimentos rígidos nos polígonos regulares, em particular no triângulo equilátero e no quadrado, para deduzir os conceitos iniciais de grupos, este artigo pretende ser um recurso útil e animado para professores da disciplina Álgebra Abstrata e aos licenciandos.
Quando a vida é fonte essencial da formação: Historicidade e subjetividade
Authors: González Fredy Enrique
Published: August 2020

Neste ensaio são apresentadas algumas reflexões preliminares sobre o uso de narrativas na produção do conhecimento científico. Primeiro de tudo, o contexto de emergência deste discurso é levantado. Então, suas características gerais e a necessidade de sua consideração no trabalho científico são bre-vemente revisadas. Por fim, mostra como o discurso narrativo em matemática poderia ser aplicado, contrastando o hermetismo discursivo das soluções finais, passado para limpo, versus o uso dos Proto-colos escritos de resolução de problemas matemáticos.
Solutions focused on High-Level Assistive Technology: Perceptions and Trends observed from a Systematic Literature Mapping
Authors: Cardoso Rafael Cunha , Rodrigues Andréia Sias , Da Costa Vinícius Kruger , Tavares Tatiana Aires
Published: August 2020

This work presents the results achieved from the application of the Systematic Literature Mapping (SLM) methodology on the theme: Development of High-Level Assistive Technology (AT) Solutions. The article details the execution of this research technique to map the state-of-the-art on the proposed theme. Based on the obtained results, the paper proposes a taxonomy of the works, characterizing them according to the type of proposed solution and functionalities available in the applications. Additionally, the article highlights the architectural and technological aspects found in these studies. Finally, the paper discusses the main trends perceived throughout this analysis, as well as identifies potential gaps to be explored as a sequence of this research.
Strafprozessuale Beschlagnahme von Unterlagen über Gespräche im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojekts im Lichte der Wissenschaftsfreiheit nach Art. 5 Abs. 3 GG
Authors: Sachs Michael
Published: August 2020

Die Beschlagnahme von Unterlagen über wissenschaftliche Interviews schränkt die Forschungsfreiheit tatsächlich ein, weil sie die Gesprächsbereitschaft von Gesprächspartnern in Frage stellt. Dafür fehlt derzeit im Regelfall, dass der betroffene Forscher die Ergebnisse seiner Forschung publizieren will, angesichts der Ausnahmetatbestände eine gesetzliche Grundlage. Soweit das Gesetz die Beschlagnahme solcher Unterlagen zulässt, ist es Sache der rechtsanwendenden Richter, bei der Anwendung der Rechtsgrundlage Sorge zu tragen, dass keine Grundrechte unverhältnismäßig verkürzt werden.
Beweisverbote zum Schutz empirischer Sozialforschung – Zur Beschlagnahmefreiheit von Forschungsdaten
Authors: Gless Sabine
Published: August 2020

Sind Forschungsdaten der empirischen Kriminalitätsforschung vor dem Zugriff der Strafverfolgungsbehörden geschützt? Diese Frage erhält durch einen Beschlagnahmebeschluss des OLG München vom 23. Januar 2020 neue Aktualität (s. unten A.I.). Antworten auf der Grundlage des geltenden Rechts - einerseits §§ 53 Abs. 1 Satz 1 Nr. 5, Abs. 2, 97 Abs. 5 StPO (s. unten B.I.1.) und andererseits §§ 136, 136a StPO (s. unten B.I.2.) - bieten zwar behelfsmäßige Lösungen, aber ein klares Bekenntnis des Gesetzgebers zu robusten Bedingungen für empirische Sozialforschung fehlt und in der Praxis drohen Schutzlücken. Dadurch geraten empirische Sozialforscher, die sowohl durch Gesetz als auch durch wissenschaftsethische Vorgaben zur Geheimhaltung verpflichtet sein können, in ein Dilemma, dessen Auflösung im geltenden Recht die Strafverfolgungsbehörden und die Gerichte im Lichte der Forschungsfreiheit leisten müssten (vgl. unten B.II.). Initiativen zur Etablierung eines spezifischen Zeugnisverweigerungsrechts für empirische Sozialforscher und entsprechende Beschlagnahmeverbote scheiterten bisher am politischen Willen (s. unten A.II.). Das steht augenscheinlich im Widerspruch zu dem Wunsch nach belastbaren Ergebnissen empirischer Kriminalitätserforschung als Voraussetzung evidenzbasierter Kriminalpolitik und birgt Konfliktpotential, insbesondere mit dem Ausbau datenschutzrechtlicher Vorgaben für die Forschung und damit verbundener Vertraulichkeitszusagen. Sollte die Gesellschaft in der Zukunft die Erfüllung politischer Versprechen im Bereich der Kriminalpolitik an einer Zahlenbasis messen wollen, ist sie darauf angewiesen, dass der Gesetzgeber die Bedingungen dafür schafft. Der Zugriff von Strafverfolgungsbehörden auf Daten aus empirischer Kriminalitätsforschung muss explizit im Sinne der Forschungsfreiheit beschränkt werden.
„Schuster bleib bei deinem Leisten!“ – Unterschiede zwischen qualitativen Interviews und polizeilichen Vernehmungen
Authors: Lehmann Lena , Leimbach Katharina
Published: August 2020

Im Themenfeld der Sicherheitsforschung sind Analysen und das Voranbringen von Erkenntnissen ohne eine Kooperation zwischen Wissenschaft und Sicherheitsakteur*innen nicht möglich. Sicherheitsakteur*innen und Wissenschaftler*innen verfolgen unterschiedliche Handlungslogiken und verfügen somit über verschiedene Zugänge zu Themenbereichen, Daten und Personengruppen. Diese unterschiedlichen Zugänge sind für eine Analyse, Problematisierung und das Erkenntnisinteresse von großer Bedeutung. Ein Beispiel für eine kooperative und vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit stellt die Radikalisierungsforschung dar. Am Beispiel des qualitativen Interviews der sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschung und der polizeilichen Vernehmung werden die Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten dargelegt. Dabei wird verdeutlicht, worin die Gefahr besteht, wenn die Freiheit von Wissenschaftlichkeit konterkariert wird und warum es u. a. unabdingbar ist, dass der Artikel 5 des Grundgesetzes in seiner Form von allen Akteur*innen gewahrt wird.
Nano/Microparticles Encapsulation Via Covalent Drug Conjugation
Authors: Fasiku Victoria , K. Amuhaya Edith , M. Rajab Kingo , A. Omolo Calvin
Published: August 2020

Advancement in chemistry holds a great promise in improving drug encapsulation that leads to superior drug delivery efficiency and the therapeutic efficacy of nano/micro-delivery systems. Drugs are being designed to specifically access the infection sites via covalent conjugation to nano/micro-delivery systems. This chapter focuses on techniques for achieving covalent encapsulation of drugs in nano/micro-delivery systems, how conjugation is applied to selectively influence pharmacokinetic profile, intracellular, and extracellular uptake, specific targeting to disease sites, binding to specific receptors, and controlled/sustained release. In addition, the effect of conjugation on drug efficacy and biosafety of the micro/nanoparticulate drug delivery systems are discussed.
A New BEM for Modeling and Simulation of Laser Generated Ultrasound Waves in 3T Fractional Nonlinear Generalized Micropolar Poro-Thermoelastic FGA Structures
Authors: Abdelsabour Fahmy Mohamed
Published: August 2020

In this chapter, we introduce a new theory called acoustic wave propagation of three-temperature fractional nonlinear generalized micropolar poro-thermoelasticity and we propose a new boundary element technique for modeling and simulation of laser-generated ultrasonic wave propagation problems of functionally graded anisotropic (FGA) structures which are linked with the proposed theory. Since it is very difficult to solve general acoustic problems of this theory analytically, we need to develop and use new computational modeling techniques. So, we propose a new boundary element technique for solving such problems. The numerical results are shown graphically to depict the effects of three temperatures on the thermal stress waves propagation. The validity, accuracy, and efficiency of our proposed theory and the technique are examined and demonstrated by comparing the obtained outcomes with those previously reported in the literature as special cases of our general study.
Characterization of Selected Drought Tolerance Rice Landraces: A Case in Kerala, India
Authors: Gopi Divya Kallingil
Published: August 2020

Rice is a staple food of more than half of the world’s population. The successful cultivation of rice depends on a variety of climatic and soil conditions. There are lot of factors both biotic and abiotic, which affect the growth and yield of crops. Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses, which leads to drastic decline in the production of rice worldwide. In the present situation of severe climatic change, the scarcity of fresh water is diminishing at an alarming rate. Due to the sensitivity of rice crop and the enormous requirement for optimum yield, drought affects rice when compared to other food crops. Rice germplasm is endowed with scores of varieties and landraces that are reservoirs of genes which is capable of withstanding various abiotic stresses. These landraces can be used to tackle this abiotic stress and can fulfill the increasing demand of food.
Hepatic Arterial Blood Flow Index Is Associated with the Degree of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Wu Yiming , Gao Shuxing , Yin Xinguang , Zhang Lifang , Yao Ming , Wei Dahai
Published: August 2020

Background: Liver fibrosis due to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is an important public health concern worldwide. An accurate assessment of liver fibrosis is crucial for the identification of susceptible patients to severe clinical conditions and selection of treatment for patients with Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) infection. Today, the development of simple, accurate, cost-effective, and non-invasive liver fibrosis tests is essential in clinical practice. Methods: According to liver biopsy as the reference standard, we compared the efficacy of hepatic arterial blood flow index (HBI) versus liver stiffness measurement (LSM), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet count ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis index based on 4 factors (FIB-4) to predict various degrees of liver fibrosis among 87 patients with CHB infection. Results: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of HBI versus the degree of liver fibrosis, according to the METAVIR scoring system, was 0.672 (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of HBI (0.884; 95% CI: 0.806 - 0.961; P = 0.000) was greater than that of LSM (0.807; 95% CI: 0.703 - 0.912; P = 0.00), APRI (0.684; 95% CI: 0.556 - 0.812; P = 0.009), and FIB-4 (0.757; 95% CI: 0.641 - 0.873; P = 0.000) for the diagnostic analysis of significant liver fibrosis (≥ F2); similar results were obtained for the prediction of other liver fibrosis stages. Conclusions: The present findings shed new light on the association of HBI with the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with CHB infection. Hepatic Arterial Perfusion Scintigraphy (HAPS) with the measurement of HBI is a promising diagnostic method of liver fibrosis stage, which can guide therapy in CHB patients, although further large-scale studies are needed.
Développement hydroélectrique québécois
Authors: Fréchette Camille
Published: August 2020

Cet article s’intéresse à la question du droit au consentement préalable, libre et éclairé (CPLE) dans le contexte de l’industrie hydroélectrique québécoise et à l’important rôle énergétique et économique qu’elle joue pour la province. En l’absence de législation spécifiquement axée sur la mise en oeuvre de la Déclaration des Nations unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA) au Québec, l’auteur analyse les dynamiques relationnelles entre Hydro-Québec et les nations crie et innue afin de vérifier dans quelle mesure les composantes et pratiques de l’industrie hydroélectrique peuvent permettre à elles seules de favoriser une mise en oeuvre adéquate du droit au CPLE. L’article révèle enfin l’absence de normes et de pratiques capables de garantir l’obtention d’un véritable CPLE et illustre une longueur d’avance dans la qualité du consentement obtenu chez les Cris d’Eeyou Istchee, en comparaison avec les Innus de la Côte-Nord. Des recommandations quant à la mise en oeuvre du CPLE font suite à ces constats.
Forgotten Values
Authors: Kramarz Teresa
Published: August 2020

An examination of the conflict between values and bureaucracy in World Bank biodiversity partnerships.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships have become an increasingly common form of global governance. Partnerships, usually between international organizations (IOs) or state agencies and such private actors as NGOs, businesses, and academic institutions, have even been promoted as the gold standard of good governance—participatory, innovative, and well-funded. And yet these partnerships often fail to live up to the values that motivated their establishment. In this book, Teresa Kramarz examines this gap between promise and performance by analyzing partnerships in biodiversity conservation initiatives launched by the World Bank.

Kramarz reviews World Bank biodiversity partnerships over a twenty-year period, with in-depth studies of two: the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the Global Invasive Species Program. She finds that partnerships fall short when established in the shadow of a large, mature bureaucracy. Bureaucrats have trouble relinquishing control, and they distrust partners who do not abide by set policies and procedures. The partnership's potential contribution to biodiversity conservation succumbs to the goals of bureaucratic efficiency. Kramarz develops a theoretical framework to explain the gap between values and practice, combining rationalist and constructivist approaches. Viewing World Bank biodiversity partnerships through this theoretical lens, she shows how the World Bank's risk aversion, hierarchy, focus on rules and procedures, and division of labor have a significant influence on partnership outcomes.
Social interactions drive efficient foraging and income equality in groups of fish
Authors: Harpaz Roy , Schneidman Elad
Published: August 2020

The social interactions underlying group foraging and their benefits have been mostly studied using mechanistic models replicating qualitative features of group behavior, and focused on a single resource or a few clustered ones. Here, we tracked groups of freely foraging adult zebrafish with spatially dispersed food items and found that fish perform stereotypical maneuvers when consuming food, which attract neighboring fish. We then present a mathematical model, based on inferred functional interactions between fish, which accurately describes individual and group foraging of real fish. We show that these interactions allow fish to combine individual and social information to achieve near-optimal foraging efficiency and promote income equality within groups. We further show that the interactions that would maximize efficiency in these social foraging models depend on group size, but not on food distribution, and hypothesize that fish may adaptively pick the subgroup of neighbors they ‘listen to’ to determine their own behavior.
Nongenetic inheritance and multigenerational plasticity in the nematode C. elegans
Authors: Baugh L Ryan , Day Troy
Published: August 2020

A rapidly growing body of literature in several organisms suggests that environmentally-induced adaptive changes in phenotype can be transmitted across multiple generations. Although within-generation plasticity has been well documented, multigenerational plasticity represents a significant departure from conventional evolutionary thought. Studies ofC. eleganshave been particularly influential because this species exhibits extensive phenotypic plasticity, it is often essentially isogenic, and it has well-documented molecular and cellular mechanisms through which nongenetic inheritance occurs. However, while experimentalists are eager to claim that nongenetic modes of inheritance characterized in this and other model systems enhance fitness, many biologists remain skeptical given the extraordinary nature of this claim. We establish three criteria to evaluate how compelling the evidence for adaptive multigenerational plasticity is, and we use these criteria to critically examine putative cases of it inC. elegans.We conclude by suggesting potentially fruitful avenues for future research.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals distinct patterns of cell state heterogeneity in mouse models of breast cancer
Authors: Yeo Syn Kok , Zhu Xiaoting , Okamoto Takako , Hao Mingang , Wang Cailian , Lu Peixin , Lu Long Jason , Guan Jun-Lin
Published: August 2020

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) contribute to intra-tumoral heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance. However, the binary concept of universal BCSCs co-existing with bulk tumor cells is over-simplified. Through single-cell RNA-sequencing, we found that Neu, PyMT and BRCA1-null mammary tumors each corresponded to a spectrum of minimally overlapping cell differentiation states without a universal BCSC population. Instead, our analyses revealed that these tumors contained distinct lineage-specific tumor propagating cells (TPCs) and this is reflective of the self-sustaining capabilities of lineage-specific stem/progenitor cells in the mammary epithelial hierarchy. By understanding the respective tumor hierarchies, we were able to identify CD14 as a TPC marker in the Neu tumor. Additionally, single-cell breast cancer subtype stratification revealed the co-existence of multiple breast cancer subtypes within tumors. Collectively, our findings emphasize the need to account for lineage-specific TPCs and the hierarchical composition within breast tumors, as these heterogenous sub-populations can have differential therapeutic susceptibilities.
On the cognitive bases of illusionism
Authors: Camí Jordi , Gomez-Marin Alex , Martínez Luis M.
Published: August 2020

Cognitive scientists have paid very little attention to magic as a distinctly human activity capable of creating situations that are considered impossible because they violate expectations and conclude with the apparent transgression of well-established cognitive and natural laws. This illusory experience of the “impossible” entails a very particular cognitive dissonance that is followed by a subjective and complex “magical experience”. Here, from a perspective inspired by visual neuroscience and ecological cognition, we propose a set of seven fundamental cognitive phenomena (from attention and perception to memory and decision-making) plus a previous pre-sensory stage that magicians interfere with during the presentation of their effects. By doing so, and using as an example the deconstruction of a classic trick, we show how magic offers novel and powerful insights to study human cognition. Furthermore, live magic performances afford to do so in tasks that are more ecological and context-dependent than those usually exploited in artificial laboratory settings. We thus believe that some of the mysteries of how the brain works may be trapped in the split realities present in every magic effect.
The role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment: a review of the infection control risk
Authors: Owen Lucy , Laird Katie
Published: August 2020

Background

Infectious diseases are a significant threat in both healthcare and community settings. Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in particular are a leading cause of complications during hospitalisation. Contamination of the healthcare environment is recognised as a source of infectious disease yet the significance of porous surfaces including healthcare textiles as fomites is not well understood. It is currently assumed there is little infection risk from textiles due to a lack of direct epidemiological evidence. Decontamination of healthcare textiles is achieved with heat and/or detergents by commercial or in-house laundering with the exception of healthcare worker uniforms which are laundered domestically in some countries. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for rigorous infection control including effective decontamination of potential fomites in the healthcare environment. This article aims to review the evidence for the role of textiles in the transmission of infection, outline current procedures for laundering healthcare textiles and review studies evaluating the decontamination efficacy of domestic and industrial laundering.

Methodology

Pubmed, Google Scholar and Web of Science were searched for publications pertaining to the survival and transmission of microorganisms on textiles with a particular focus on the healthcare environment.

Results

A number of studies indicate that microorganisms survive on textiles for extended periods of time and can transfer on to skin and other surfaces suggesting it is biologically plausible that HCAIs and other infectious diseases can be transmitted directly through contact with contaminated textiles. Accordingly, there are a number of case studies that link small outbreaks with inadequate laundering or infection control processes surrounding healthcare laundry. Studies have also demonstrated the survival of potential pathogens during laundering of healthcare textiles, which may increase the risk of infection supporting the data published on specific outbreak case studies.

Conclusions

There are no large-scale epidemiological studies demonstrating a direct link between HCAIs and contaminated textiles yet evidence of outbreaks from published case studies should not be disregarded. Adequate microbial decontamination of linen and infection control procedures during laundering are required to minimise the risk of infection from healthcare textiles. Domestic laundering of healthcare worker uniforms is a particular concern due to the lack of control and monitoring of decontamination, offering a route for potential pathogens to enter the clinical environment. Industrial laundering of healthcare worker uniforms provides greater assurances of adequate decontamination compared to domestic laundering, due to the ability to monitor laundering parameters; this is of particular importance during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimise any risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.