bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gallbladder perforation: management in a tertiary care centre
Authors: Tubachi Prashant , Kamath K. Sphurti , Desai Mallikarjun , Kodliwadmath Harsha
Published: September 2018

Background: Retrospective study in the management of perforated gallbladder and clinical outcome in a tertiary care centre.Methods: Total of 583 patients underwent laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy between 2015 to 2017. Out of these eleven patients had perforated gallbladder (1.9%). Niemeier’ classification used for gallbladder perforation. Both Ultrasonography and Abdominal computerized tomography was used in this study. The parameters like age, gender, method of management, diagnostic procedures, time between date of admission to time of surgery, surgical treatment, duration of hospital stay and post-operative morbidity were evaluated.Results: Out of the eleven cases, eight patients were male and three were female. Nine patients were above the age of fifty years. According to Niemer classification, seven patients had type I perforation, three patients had type II perforation and one had type one perforation. Out of the eleven cases, eight were clinically diagnosed to be acute cholecystitis and three were clinically diagnosed to have peritonitis. The cases diagnosed to have peritonitis- underwent immediate intervention. The remaining eight cases were initially managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics, imaging and workup was done, following which intervention was done.Conclusions: Early diagnosis and emergency surgical treatment of gallbladder perforation with peritonitis is of crucial importance. If the patient is stable then intervention after optimising has better outcome. Abdominal computerized tomography for acute cholecystitis patients may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder perforation.
Mesenteric lipomatosis presenting as abdominal mass with concurrent ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST): an unusual presentation
Authors: S. Suma , C. A. Shashirekha , H. R. Ravikiran , S. N. Vikranth
Published: September 2018

Lipomas are benign tumours consisting of mature fatcells and are perhaps the most common neoplasm. It can be solitary or multiple occurring throughout the whole body, but it can rarely originate in the intestinal mesentery. These tumours have very little potential for malignancy with the incidence of sarcomatous change in less than 1% of cases. Concurrent occurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumour which arises from the mesenchymal components of the gastric and small bowel mucosa is a rarity. Here we present a rare case of mesenteric lipomatosis presenting as mass per abdomen which on evaluation and exploration of abdomen turned out to be multiple mesenteric lipomas with another hard mass arising from the antimesenteric border of the small intestine (ileum), for which mesenteric lipoma excision and resection of hard mass along with the segment of ileum and end to end anastomosis was done.
Comparison of a low-frequency Butterworth filter with a symmetric SE-filter
Authors:   Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Street 83, Saratov, Russia, 410012, Medvedeva Kseniya
Published: September 2018

The article compares two filters: a Butterworth filter and an asymmetric SEfilter.The experimental studydetermines their advantages and disadvantages.Also,experiments based on the peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR) metricshowvisual evaluation. The results of experimentsshow that a symmetric filter better restores images usinga small set of continuous function parametersthatare distorted by a low-frequency Gaussian filter.
Wave skeletonization algorithm for raster images
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Kudrina Maria , Mishenev Vadim ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086
Published: September 2018

This article covers a wave skeletonization algorithm for raster images. It contains diagrams of algorithms for primary graph building and separating wave generation into wavelets. It is proposed to store the graph’s structure in nested form to save memory and make it easier to modify. Deming orthogonal regression is proposed for primary graph optimization as part of successive approximations method.
Algorithm for encoding nD spatial objects into GIS
Authors:   State University named after Alexander Grigorievich and Nikolai Grigorievich Stoletov, Gorky str. 87, Vladimir, Russia, 600000, Andrianov Dmitriy , Eremeev Sergey ,   State University named after Alexander Grigorievich and Nikolai Grigorievich Stoletov, Gorky str. 87, Vladimir, Russia, 600000, Kovalev Yuri ,   State University named after Alexander Grigorievich and Nikolai Grigorievich Stoletov, Gorky str. 87, Vladimir, Russia, 600000, Kuptsov Kirill ,   State University named after Alexander Grigorievich and Nikolai Grigorievich Stoletov, Gorky str. 87, Vladimir, Russia, 600000
Published: September 2018

In the article it is proposed to apply computer topology methods to create effective data structures that will allow storing and processing spatial scenes in n-dimensional space. The basis for the representation of nD-geoobjects is n-dimensional simplexes. For example, the representation of spatial data of high dimension will allow us to describe the topological relationships between 3D objects in time. The mathematical foundations and software for representation and processing of spatial data of high dimension are developed. The algorithm for encoding spatial objects nD in GIS will provide an opportunity to solve a wide range of tasks for processing complex graphic information.
A comparison of iris image segmentation techniques
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Semyonov Mikhail , Myasnikov Evgeny ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086
Published: September 2018

The paper compares three different methods of iris image segmentation, namely the method using the Daugman`s integro-differential operator, the method using the Hough transform for the detection of circles, and the method based on the analysis of the distribution of edge points. The accuracy and run time of the implemented methods were estimated in the experimental study conducted using the MMU Iris Image Database. The carried out research has shown that the method using the Daugman`s integro-differential operator has the greatest accuracy, and the method based on the analysis of the distribution of boundary points has the shortest operating time.
Detection of malignant breast tumors on the background of fibrocystic breast disease
Authors:   Murom Institute (branch) Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Vladimir State University named after Alexander Grigoryevich and Nickolay Grigoryevich Stoletovs, Orlovskaya Street 23, Murom, Russia, 602264, Podgornova Yuliya , Sadykov Sultan ,   Murom Institute (branch) Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Vladimir State University named after Alexander Grigoryevich and Nickolay Grigoryevich Stoletovs, Orlovskaya Street 23, Murom, Russia, 602264
Published: September 2018

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing every year. The mammography screening is the only method of diagnosing the disease. The mammograms analysis is complicated by the existence of various types of mastopathy - the most common breast disease caused by changes in the woman's endocrine profile. More than 40 per cent of the female population is exposed to this disease according to the WHO statistics. An algorithm for the detection of malignant neoplasms was developed by the authors in the context of fibrosis-cystic mastopathy. The experimental research on mammography images from the MIAS database showed that malignant tumors were available in 80 per cent of cases (21 mammograms), in other cases (5 mammograms) the tumor area was vaguely separated from the surrounding tissue.
Detecting forgery in image time series based on anomaly detection
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Evdokimova Nadezhda , Myasnikov Vladislav ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086,   Image Processing Systems Institute - Branch of the Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of Russian Academy of Sciences, Molodogvardeyskaya str. 151, Samara, Russia, 443001
Published: September 2018

Increasing complexity of image forgery methods is an actual problem nowadays. This problem rises due to the expansion of fields that use digital images in their work. Image time series show the dynamics of the scene and allow it to be compared over time. This paper proposes a new algorithm for detecting forgeries of the single digital image in an image time series described a scene. This algorithm uses analysis of errors set that were computed during reconstruction of the analyzed image using other images of series. The first part of the paper describes the proposed algorithm consisted of three stages. The second part of the paper describes forgery detection using morphological image filtering based on guided contrasting. The third part of the paper contains comparison of considered algorithms and investigation results of intra-image copy-move and inter-image copy-move detection.
Methods of detection and ecological state evaluation of protective forest belts using complex ground survey and remote sensing data processing
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Kavelenova Ludmila , Korchikov Evgeny ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Prokhorova Nataly ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Terentyeva Darya ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Fedoseev Victor ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086,   Image Processing Systems Institute - Branch of the Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of Russian Academy of Sciences, Molodogvardeyskaya str. 151, Samara, Russia, 443001
Published: September 2018

The protective forest belt system of Samara region consists of several components created from the late 19th to the early 20th century, in the middle of the 20th century, in the 60-70s of the 20th century, and more recent plantings. In the forest-steppe and steppe regions with a high level of agricultural transformations, the natural biological equilibrium of ecosystems is significantly disturbed. The protective forest belts play an important role in natural and anthropogenic landscapes conservation in Samara region. Because of numerous dispersed forest belt distribution throughout the Samara region territory, their different ownership and the lack of sufficient funds for their monitoring, it is difficult to organize belt state monitoring on the ground. The use of space imagery, which is processed during verification using data obtained from reference polygons, can help to overcome this situation. The peculiarity of forest belts as an extended object of relatively small width actualizes the task of developing the methods for their condition assessing. In this paper, some results of this work are analyzed for reference areas of field shelterbelts and roadside forest belts of the Samara region.
CFA Artifacts Analysis for Image Splicing Detection
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Varlamova Anna , Kuznetsov Andrey ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086,   Image Processing Systems Institute - Branch of the Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of Russian Academy of Sciences, Molodogvardeyskaya str. 151, Samara, Russia, 443001
Published: September 2018

Image splicing is one of the widespread image forgery techniques. It represents pasting in image parts of other images. The paper is devoted to one of the methods of image splicing localization based on analysis of CFA artifacts that appear in an image during the capturing process. The proposed method is based on measuring a feature that characterizes the presence/absence of CFA artifacts for each image block. Obtained values of the feature define the probability of each block to be pasted. In the experimental part of the paper, we analyse the accuracy of the splicing detection method and its robustness against different types of distortions such as additive Gaussian noise, JPEG compression, and linear enhancement. The results showed that the suggested method reveals pasted regions of different shape, size, and nature in images. The method possesses stability against additive Gaussian noise and linear enhancement, but it is not steady against JPEG compression. The advantage of the method is the ability to localize splicing regions even at the smallest 2×2 block level.
Video-based age and gender recognition in mobile applications
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya str. 20, Moscow, Russia, 101000, Kharchevnikova Angelina , Savchenko Andrey ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya str. 20, Moscow, Russia, 101000
Published: September 2018

In this paper we develop the age and gender recognition mobile system using deep convolutional neural networks for mobile applications. The brief literature survey on the age/gender problem in retail applications is presented. The comparative analysis of classifier fusion algorithms to aggregate decisions for individual frames is provided. In order to improve the age and gender identification accuracy we implement the video-based recognition system with several aggregation methods. We provide the experimental comparison for IJB-A, Indian Movies, Kinect and EmotiW2018 datasets. It is demonstrated that the most accurate decisions are obtained using the geometric mean and mathematical expectation of the outputs at softmax layers of the convolutional neural networks for gender recognition and age prediction, respectively. As a result, the off-line application of the proposed system is implemented on the Android platform.
Data organization in video surveillance systems using deep learning
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Bolshaya Pecherskaya str. 25/12, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, 603155, Sokolova Anastasiia , Savchenko Andrey ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Bolshaya Pecherskaya str. 25/12, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, 603155
Published: September 2018

In this paper we propose to organize information in video surveillance systems by grouping the video tracks, which contain identical faces. Aggregation of the features of individual frames extracted using deep convolutional neural networks are used in order to obtain a descriptor of video track. The tracks with identical faces are grouped using the known face verification algorithms and clustering methods. We experimentally compare frame aggregation methods using the YouTubeFaces dataset and contemporary neural networks (VGGFace, VGGFace2, LightenedCNN). It is shown that the most accurate video-based face verification is achieved with the L2-normalization of average unnormalized features of individual frames of each video track. Finally, we demonstrate that the best video grouping is obtained by sequential and rank-order clustering methods.
Development of fuzzy fractal representation of the image
Authors:   Murom Institute, Vladimir State University, Orlovskaya str. 23, Russia, 602264, Privezentsev Denis , Zhiznyakov Arcady ,   Murom Institute, Vladimir State University, Orlovskaya str. 23, Russia, 602264, Pugin Egor ,   Murom Institute, Vladimir State University, Orlovskaya str. 23, Russia, 602264
Published: September 2018

The article considered the way of the fuzzy image representation with using fractal models of images. According to it, the image presented in the form of a tree range blocks which correspond to image blocks. Everyone range block represents the structure describing similarity of this block to another block of the image. As a result, it turns out treelike fractal representation of the image describing the distribution of property of self-similarity in the image. The basic possibilities of construction of algorithms of digital processing of the images which based on given representation are listed.
3d synthetic aperture radar image
Authors:   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Leukhin Anatolii , Rozentsov Alexandr ,   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Bezrodnyi Vladimir ,   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Voronin Aleksei ,   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Karasev Denis ,   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Kokovihina Natalia ,   Mari State University, Lenin square 1, Yoskar-Ola, Russia, 424000
Published: September 2018

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a coherent active microwave imaging method. In remote sensing it is used for mapping the scattering properties of the Earth’s surface in the respective wavelength domain. The algorithms for the formation of 3D radar images in multiposition interferometric systems for remote sensing of the Earth are considered. Examples of reconstruction of the relief map for systems with one and two transmit antenna are presented.
Modeling of polarization SAR system
Authors:   Volga State University of Technology, Lenin Sq. 3, Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, 424000, Karasev Denis , Leukhin Anatolii ,   Mari State University, Lenin Sq. 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Russia 424000, Voronin Aleksei ,   Mari State University, Lenin Sq. 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Russia 424000, Bezrodnyi Vladimir ,   Mari State University, Lenin Sq. 1, Yoshkar-Ola, Russia 424000
Published: September 2018

We have implemented a combined mathematical model for polarization SAR. It allows simulating reflective objects on the background of the earth. We define the characteristics of underlying surface as an approximation of real experimental data. Value of backscattered field dependent on the angle of incidence. We get polarization characteristics of metal objects from the geometry configuration. It is based on the methods of physical optics and the physical theory of diffraction.
Remote sensing investigation of inundation, elevation and land use assessment for vulnerability analysis in Moscow, Russia
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye Shosse34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Choudhary Komal , Boori Mukesh ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye Shosse34, Samara, Russia, 443086,   American Sentinel University, 2260 South Xanadu Way, Suite 310, Aurora, Colorado, USA, Kupriyanov Alexander ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye Shosse34, Samara, Russia, 443086,   Image Processing Systems Institute - Branch of the Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of Russian Academy of Sciences, Molodogvardeyskaya str. 151, Samara, Russia, 443001
Published: September 2018

Land use/cover change analysis assists decision makers to ensure sustainable development and to understand the dynamics of our changing environment. This research work is to understand natural and environmental vulnerability situation and its cause such as intensity, distribution and socio-economic effect in the Moscow, Russia based on remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. A model was developed by following thematic layers: vegetation, LULC, geology, geomorphology and soil in ArcGIS 10.2 software using multi-spectral satellite data. With increasing scientific and political interest in regional aspects of global environmental changes, there is a strong stimulus to better understand the patterns causes and environmental consequences of LULC expansion in the elevation of Moscow state, one of the areas in the nation with fast economic growth and high population density. Satellite remote sensing images (Landsat TM, ETM and OLI) were employed to detect land cover changes. A 70 to 300 m inundation land loss scenarios for surface water and sea level rise (SLR) were developed using digital elevation models of study site topography through remote sensing and GIS techniques by ASTER GDEM and Landsat OLI data. The most severely impacted sectors are expected to be the vegetation, wetland and the natural ecosystem. Improved understanding of the extent and response of SLR will help in preparing for adaptation.
Short-term traffic flow forecasting using a distributed spatialtemporal model
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Agafonov Anton , Yumaganov Alexander ,   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we consider the problem of short-term traffic flow prediction. We propose a distributed model for short-term traffic flow forecasting based on the k nearest neighbors method, that takes into account spatial and temporal traffic flow distribution. To consider spatial-temporal correlations, we partition a transportation graph in clusters by an area and describe traffic flow by a feature vector defined for each cluster. The proposed model is implemented as a MapReduce based algorithm on an Apache Spark framework. The proposed traffic flow prediction model is tested using the actual average traffic speed data over a road network in Samara, Russia.
Hybrid face recognition solution for security
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Donon Yann
Published: September 2018

This article introduces a design that aims threw the combination of open source and closed source technologies, to make a, simple to implement,low-cost and high-performing face recognition solution. The solution provides identification, emotions and facial features recognition as well asdangerous objects spotting.This article exposes the concept of the solution, explains its importance on the market and provides details of a proof of concept prototype.
Reduction of the computational complexity of stochastic gradient algorithms of image parameters estimation for a priori optimization of the local sample volume
Authors:   Ulyanovsk State Technical University, Severny Venets str. 32, Ulyanovsk, Russia, 432027, Tashlinskii Alexander , Tsaryov Mikhail ,   Ulyanovsk State Technical University, Severny Venets str. 32, Ulyanovsk, Russia, 432027, Kraus Dmitrii ,   Ulyanovsk State Technical University, Severny Venets str. 32, Ulyanovsk, Russia, 432027
Published: September 2018

At stochastic gradient estimation of image parameters the estimates convergence character and computational expenses essentially depend on image samples local sample size used for obtaining the stochastic gradient. In the paper the possibility of a priori optimization of the volume of a local sample to minimize computational costs at geometrical images deformations estimation is considered. The minimum of the given computational costs for the conventional unit of expectation of the improvement of the evaluation is chosen as an optimization criterion. The block diagram of one of the algorithms and the examples of calculation results are presented.
Multidimensional signals interpolation based on NEDI for HGI compression
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoe Shosse 34А, Samara, Russia, 443086, Gashnikov Mikhail
Published: September 2018

Adaptive interpolation of multidimensional digital signals is considered. An adaptive algorithm for digital signals interpolation is proposed, intended for hierarchical compression. The prototype of the proposed interpolator is the NEDI (New Edge-Directed Interpolation) algorithm. In this paper, the NEDI interpolation algorithm is modified for use on special hierarchical grids, which are used for hierarchical signal compression. Experimental researches of the proposed interpolator are performed with the hierarchical compression of natural digital signals. Experiments confirm that the proposed adaptive interpolator allows improving the efficiency of hierarchical compression of digital signals
A public transport departure time prediction algorithm based on operation strategies and real-time monitoring data
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Moskovskoye shosse 34, Samara, Russia, 443086, Agafonov Anton
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we consider a public transport departure time prediction problem. The problem is considered in two notations: estimation of the mean expected departure time and estimation of the time interval required to ensure a predefined probability to depart on-time. We propose departure time estimation algorithms based on a real-time monitoring data, schedule and operation strategies for the public transport management. We consider a schedule-based holding strategy and a bus bunching prevention strategy. We also propose an algorithm for departure time interval estimation. Numerical tests based on real bus routes in Samara, Russia are used for a comparative study of different departure time prediction algorithms.
BASIS OF THE PROPERTIES OF WEIGHTED EXPONENTIAL SYSTEMS WITH EXCESS
Authors: Shukurov Aydin Shukur
Published: September 2018

The main aim of this paper is the determination of a class of such functions for which a weighted exponential system becomes complete and minimal in appropriate space when exactly one of its terms is eliminated. It is shown that the system, obtained in this way cannot be a Schouder basis in this space. The last fact shows that Muckenhoupt-type criterion for the exponential system to be the Schauder basis in Lebesgue spaces after elimination of an element does not exist. This paper generalizes the results of the paper by E.S. Golubeva.
PECULIARITIES OF VARIABILITY OF MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF SATUREJA HORTENSIS L. IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF DAGHESTAN
Authors: Guseynova Z. A. , Kuramagomedov M. K.
Published: September 2018

The structure of variability and intraspecific differentiation of Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae) are studied on the basis of a complex of morphological features along a high-altitude gradient. Biomorphological peculiarities in four geographically remote locations are studied. The volume of each sample is 30 plants. The dimensional and quantitative features are taken into account. The dry mass of plants, foliage and reproductive effort are determined. A decrease in the dimensional and quantitative features of Satureja hortensis with a set of altitudes above sea level is noted. In the studied populations a high variability of the number of lateral branches per plant (CV = 21,626,0 %) is observed. With a set of heights, the percentage of foliage (28,535,2 %) and reproductive effort (6,611,0 %) is increase. As a result of the conducted studies, it was revealed that a significant contribution to variability of the Satureja hortensis features is made by a complex of abiotic and biotic factors caused by a high-altitude gradient. The correlation coefficient reflects the negative relationship of all the counted features with a high-altitude gradient, except on of the inflorescences mass. In the studied populations a high degree of variability on the weight characteristics of separate fractions and shoot as a whole is observed.
CAPILLARY RISE WITH SIZE-DEPENDENT SURFACE TENSION AND CONTACT ANGLE
Authors: Sokurov A. A.
Published: September 2018

In this paper we consider the size dependent of surface tension in nanocapillary. Based on the analogueo f the Gibbs-Tolman-Koenig-Buff differential equation it is shown that for sufficiently small values of the capillary radius the Tolmans equation for the surface tension holds. Taking into account the size dependent of the surface tension and the contact angle the problem of the capillary rise is discussed.
Między lokalnością a wspólnotowością, czyli o wspólnototwórczych właściwościach scen miejskich
Authors: Klekotko Marta
Published: September 2018

Artykuł podejmuje problem procesów emergencji, reprodukcji i rekonstrukcji wspólnot lokalnych oraz relacji między wspólnotowością i lokalnością w kształtowaniu społeczności lokalnych we współczesnych miastach. Wychodząc od omówienia nurtu środowiskowego i psychospołecznego w analizie społeczności lokalnych oraz ich ewolucji w kierunku koncepcji nowej lokalności i nowej wspólnotowości, artykuł wskazuje na swoistą przepaść w analizowaniu zjawisk wspólnotowych we współczesnych miastach między tymi dwoma podejściami, a tym samym podkreśla konieczność rein­tegracji obu aspektów dla lepszego zrozumienia miejskich procesów wspólnototwórczych. Zapropo­nowana zostaje koncepcja scen miejskich jako wartościowego konceptualnie pola dla eksploracji tych procesów, w których przenikają się zjawiska z zakresu nowej lokalności, jak i nowej wspólnotowości. W konkluzji sformułowana zostaje koncepcja lokalnej struktury możliwości społeczno-kulturowych. Tym samym artykuł udziela odpowiedzi na pytanie o istotę mechanizmów kulturowych, za pomocą których praktyki kulturowe strukturują terytorialne całości społeczne.
Władza ideologiczna w parafiach: Rzeszów vs Dublin
Authors: Rykiel Zbigniew
Published: September 2018

W artykule omówiono pojęcia władzy (w tym tradycyjnej i ideologicznej), prze­mocy (w tym symbolicznej) i hegemonii kulturowej. W części empirycznej przedstawiono formy i mechanizmy kształtowania się i wykonywania władzy ideologicznej Kościoła katolickiego w śro­dowiskach polskich na przykładach dużych miast Polski i Irlandii. Przedstawiono mechanizm prze­mocy symbolicznej przy budowie nowego kościoła w Rzeszowie oraz niepowodzenia sprawowania niekontrolowanej władzy ekonomicznej w kościele polskim w Dublinie. Ideologię „przygniatającej większości” katolików w Polsce skonfrontowano z faktyczną ich liczebnością według różnych kry­teriów, w tym kanonicznego. Na tym tle pokazano mechanizm działania przemocy symbolicznej w parafiach w Polsce, który skonfrontowano z – wciąż aktualnymi – spostrzeżeniami Tadeusza Boya-Żeleńskiego sprzed dziewięćdziesięciu lat.
Cudzoziemcy we Wrocławiu
Authors: Kłopot Stanisław , Trojanowski Paweł
Published: September 2018

Artykuł podnosi problem zwiększonej różnorodności kulturowej mieszkańców Wrocławia, która jest rezultatem intensywnej migracji do miasta obywateli innych państw. Dla większości mieszkańców Wrocławia doświadczanie kulturowej i etnicznej różnorodności jest no­wym doświadczeniem, zapoczątkowanym w latach 90. XX wieku. Na podstawie danych empirycz­nych staramy się zaprezentować opinie obcokrajowców o ich relacjach z polskimi mieszkańcami Wrocławia, jak również stosunek polskich mieszkańców Wrocławia do obcokrajowców, którzy co­raz liczniej zamieszkują Wrocław. W świetle danych empirycznych, danych wtórnych i przeglądu literatury można postawić tezę o transformacji względnie jednorodnej etnicznie i kulturalnie spo­łeczności Wrocławia w wielokulturową społeczność charakteryzującą się zarówno pozytywnymi, jak i negatywnymi konsekwencjami owej wielokulturowości.
Walory krajoznawcze XXI Festiwalu Słowian i Wikingów na Wolinie
Authors: Kujawa Łukasz
Published: September 2018

Artykuł omawia wpływ walorów krajoznawczych na postrzeganie XXI edycji Festiwalu Słowian i Wikingów jako wydarzenia atrakcyjnego turystycznie. Przybliża także zarys aktywności, jaką jest rekonstrukcja historyczna/odtwórstwo historyczne. Prezentowane w nim są wyniki badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych w trakcie wydarzenia wśród odwiedzających oraz uczestników-rekonstruktorów mające za zadanie uwiarygodnienie tezy o wysokiej atrakcyjności turystycznej Festiwalu.
Andrzej Stasiuk, Osiołkiem, Wydawnictwo Czarne, Wołowiec 2016, ss. 200
Authors: Lewandowska Aleksandra , Okręglicka Katarzyna
Published: September 2018

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"Flourishing with music": from music students to well-rounded musicians of the 21st century
Authors: Cruywagen Sonja
Published: September 2018

People need music to sing, dance, play, work and listen to during a substantial part of their daily lives. Musicians understand and communicate life through music, a form of art that individuals and societies treasure. Tertiary music educators invest time and energy in order to assist music students in creating their own successful careers, but do their teaching and learning include holistic education approaches that develop the student into a well-rounded person? As a “think piece”, this article advocates a few important perspectives that will encourage undergraduate music educators to structure a music programme that will prepare music students to flourish in their lives and future work place. 21st-century skills for living and lifelong learning recommended by researchers, business leaders and education specialists are acknowledged and related to the challenges of teaching music as a well-rounded person. Wellbeing, flow and mindfulness are aspects that open up other dimensions such as meaningfulness and spirituality. Opsomming: Musiek speel ŉ belangrike rol in mense se alledaagse lewe. Hulle sing, dans op die maat van musiek, luister daarna wanneer hulle werk, kuier en sport beoefen. Musikante verstaan en kommunikeer die lewe deur musiek sodat individue en die samelewing dit as ŉ kunsvorm kan ervaar en koester. Tersiêre musiekopvoeders spandeer tyd en energie om musiekstudente vir produktiewe betekenisvolle musiekloopbane voor te berei. Maar word daar ooit aandag gegee aan holistiese onderrig en leer wat musiekstudente se menswees ook aanraak en afrond? In hierdie artikel beredeneer ek ŉ paar standpunte wat tersiêre musiekopvoeders sal aanmoedig om voorgraadse musiekkursusse so te struktureer dat musiekstudente in hul lewens en werkplek sal floreer. Ek ondersoek lewenslange leervaardighede wat deur sakeleiers, navorsers en onderrigdeskundiges aanbeveel word. Hierdie vaardighede word verbind met die uitdagings om musiekstudente te laat fokus op hul persoonlike welstand, die hier-en-nou, betekenisvolle lewe en hul verbintenis met spiritualiteit deur musiek en musiekaktiwiteite.
Role of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organizations in Malaysia-China Educational Exchange under Malaysian Ethnic Politics
Authors: Xia Nan , Yang Yanan
Published: September 2018

Educational exchange between Malaysia and China has an important interaction with the Chinese education in Malaysia and the political relations between Malaysia and China. Chinese education in Malaysia is twisted with Malaysian ethnic politics. Malaysian Chinese students were lack of opportunities at the public institutions of higher learning due to the preferential and affirmative action policies implemented by Malaysian government under the egis of New Economic Policy (NEP).Thus, Malaysia NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) carried out educational exchange with China to open up a more spacious study channels for students. The objective of this article is to investigate the role of Malaysian NGOs towards educational exchange between Malaysia and China under Malaysian ethnic politics. Primary data were collected through interviews and the informants were selected based on purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Totally, fourteen informants were selected and interviewed based on evidence of data saturation. Secondary data were collected from journal articles, newspapers, website pages and online resources. Meanwhile, structuration theory was used to guide the researcher to get the suitable answer. Findings of this study indicate that, there are three main important NGOs that play a significant role in promoting educational exchange between Malaysia and China, which are Dong Jiao Zong (the collective name of Dong Zong and Jiao Zong), the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges in China, Malaysia (AGUCCM) and Malaysia-China Friendship Association (MCFA). As the purposive actors, they conduct their actions based on different levels, which are to develop Chinese education in Malaysia, to continue and inherit Chinese culture. Their unconsciousness reason is based on Malaysian Chinese’s deep feeling to China. Moreover, the educational exchange in the aspect of Chinese education is conducted under the structure of Malaysian ethnic politics, which led to a dichotomy. Nowadays, with the rise of China and the promotion of “the Belt and Road”, educational exchange between Malaysia and China will become better and better.
100 Years of Medical Countermeasures and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
Authors: Jester Barbara J. , Uyeki Timothy M. , Patel Anita , Koonin Lisa , Jernigan Daniel B.
Published: September 2018

The 1918 influenza pandemic spread rapidly around the globe, leading to high mortality and social disruption.

The countermeasures available to mitigate the pandemic were limited and relied on nonpharmaceutical interventions. Over the past 100 years, improvements in medical care, influenza vaccines, antiviral medications, community mitigation efforts, diagnosis, and communications have improved pandemic response.

A number of gaps remain, including vaccines that are more rapidly manufactured, antiviral drugs that are more effective and available, and better respiratory protective devices.
Evaluating the Evidence on Sitting, Smoking, and Health: Is Sitting Really the New Smoking?
Authors: Vallance Jeff K. , Gardiner Paul A. , Lynch Brigid M. , D’Silva Adrijana , Boyle Terry , Taylor Lorian M. , Johnson Steven T. , Buman Matthew P. , Owen Neville
Published: September 2018

Sitting has frequently been equated with smoking, with some sources even suggesting that smoking is safer than sitting. This commentary highlights how sitting and smoking are not comparable.

The most recent meta-analysis of sedentary behavior and health outcomes reported a hazard ratio of 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09, 1.41) for all-cause mortality. The relative risk (RR) of death from all causes among current smokers, compared with those who have never smoked, is 2.80 (95% CI = 2.72, 2.88) for men and 2.76 for women (95% CI = 2.69, 2.84). The risk is substantially higher for heavy smokers (> 40 cigarettes per day: RR = 4.08 [95% CI = 3.68, 4.52] for men, and 4.41 [95% CI = 3.70, 5.25] for women). These estimates correspond to absolute risk differences of more than 2000 excess deaths from any cause per 100 000 persons per year among the heaviest smokers compared with never smokers, versus 190 excess deaths per 100 000 persons per year when comparing people with the highest volume of sitting with the lowest.

Conflicting or distorted information about health risks related to behavioral choices and environmental exposures can lead to confusion and public doubt with respect to health recommendations.
Determinants of Tenancy Sustainment Following Homelessness: A Systematic Review
Authors: Boland Leonie , Slade Anita , Yarwood Richard , Bannigan Katrina
Published: September 2018

Background. Tenancy sustainment—maintenance of a tenancy to avoid a premature end of tenure—is fundamental to prevention of homelessness. Understanding what enables a successful tenancy is essential in informing interventions designed to support people in leaving homelessness.

Objectives. To conduct a systematic review identifying determinants associated with tenancy sustainment following homelessness.

Search Methods. A detailed search of 12 electronic databases, as well as gray literature sources, was conducted in 2015 and updated in 2016.

Selection Criteria. We included all study designs with a population of homeless or formerly homeless individuals in which tenancy sustainment was the primary outcome. Two reviewers independently carried out abstract and full-text reviews. QualSyst, a validated quality appraisal tool, was used in assessing the methodological quality of articles.

Data Collection and Analysis. A data extraction form was developed for the review and was completed by a pair of reviewers to ensure accuracy. The heterogeneity of the studies included indicated that a narrative overview of the results was most appropriate.

Main Results. Forty-three articles reporting 38 studies were included. Determinants were categorized at 4 levels: individual, interpersonal, community, and structural. Participation in specific programs (e.g., Housing First), receipt of social support, and older age were identified as positive determinants of tenancy sustainment.

Conclusions. This systematic review is the first, to our knowledge, to focus solely on tenancy sustainment as a primary outcome. Although a range of determinants associated with tenancy sustainment were identified, it was difficult to draw strong conclusions owing to the heterogeneity of the studies. Despite being a fundamental concept in homelessness research, tenancy sustainment is poorly defined and conceptualized. A deeper understanding of tenancy sustainment will inform the development and evaluation of interventions that support people in leaving homelessness and maintaining tenancies.

Public Health Implications. Housing stability is central to preventing homelessness and addressing the numerous public health concerns that can co-occur with homelessness. Our review highlights that a standardized approach to measuring housing stability and more high-quality intervention studies are essential.
Promoting Condom Use Through a Youth-Focused Community-Wide Free Condom Distribution Initiative
Authors: Tibbits Melissa , Ndashe Tambu Phiri , King Keyonna , Siahpush Mohammad
Published: September 2018

We describe the implementation of a youth-focused condom distribution initiative in Omaha, Nebraska, developed by the Women’s Fund of Omaha. During a 2.5-year period, initiative partners distributed nearly 1.4 million free condoms to community members via outreach events and 197 condom distribution boxes. The Women’s Fund of Omaha also implemented seven media campaigns encouraging condom use. The number of condoms distributed per month increased from 9840 in September 2015 to 71 220 in February 2018. Condom distribution initiatives can play an important role in increasing condom access.
Gaining a Better Understanding of General Mattering Scale: An Application of Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory
Authors: SARI Halil İbrahim , KARAMAN Mehmet Akif
Published: September 2018

The current study shows applications of both classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) to psychology data. The study discusses item level analyses of General Mattering Scale produced by two theories as well as strengths and weaknesses of both measurement approaches. The survey consisted of a total of five Likert-type items. Each student chose the best answers from the given categories (e.g., not at all, a little, somewhat, very much). We specifically run generalized partial credit IRT model. Overall, we discussed that while CTT provides comparatively superficial information but, IRT allows gaining deeper insight into the test items and response categories. We concluded that the meaning of item properties differ in CTT and IRT, and this difference may lead to different interpretations. We aimed to encourage psychologists and counsellors to give more consideration to the IRT applications when assessing the psychometric features of the items.
Monitoring of process performance by means of financial indicators
Authors: Turisová Renáta , Tkáč Michal , Pachta Miloš
Published: September 2018

The paper deals with problematic nature of measuring of process performance. It includes a designed procedure of process performance monitoring, evaluation of logistic processes quality, and also measuring of the impact of marketing activities on the profitability of process output, i.e. a product, by means of appropriate indicator.There are several performance indicators that companies use to monitor the performance of their processes and business strategies with respect to their objectives. To monitor these indicators, enterprises rely on dashboards that present one or more indicators along with contextual information to help decision makers identify deviations and their root causes. Associated benefits related to the process performance measurement system can be seen, for example, in better decision-making, flexible human resource management and process management structures. By using rolled steel sheets in a large metallurgical plant as an example, there will be shown how the performance of the rolling process can be improved by monitoring the tangible financial indicator. Subsequently, the experience was from case management companies presented to further incorporate a practical view of implementation and related issues. Finally, the reasons why the organization prefers the observed indicator during implementation of the process performance of measurement system is explored in order to understand the causes and consequences.
SURFACE EROSION STUDY ON CULTIVATED AND BARE LANDS USING 7BE
Authors: Marestoni Luiz Diego , Andrello Avacir Casanova , Appoloni Carlos Roberto
Published: September 2018

Monitoring geological and hydrological phenomena presents a great environmental and financial interest for which several natural and artificial radioisotopes have been used. In this work, 7Be was used to determine soil erosion in three areas: a soybean culture, following in the direction of a topographical slope, one perpendicular to the slope’s direction and another one on bare land. The samples were analyzed by gamma ray spectrometry. The relaxation mass constant (h0) was 4.71±0.36 similar to other researches. The bare soil had the largest soil erosion out of all the three studied areas, while the soil redistribution rate was lower when soybeans were cultivated perpendicular to the slope. The technique was useful to be able to see the soil path during erosion.
Adsorption of Cu2+ and mechanism by natural biofilm
Authors: Cheng Xiaoying , Xu Wenjia , Wang Ningyuan , Mu Yanan , Zhu Jiatian , Luo Jiaqi
Published: September 2018

The biofilm culturing device fixed on the slides was vertically placed in the commonly called small Li Lake of Jiangnan University. The adsorption experiment of Cu2+ was carried out by mature biofilm. Besides, scanning electron microscope (SEM), polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy spectrum (SEM-EDX) were used to analysis the effect of Cu2+ on the morphological structure of biofilm. The result indicated that when the initial concentration of Cu2+ was 5 mg·L−1, the absorption capacity of Cu2+ by unit mass biofilm is the maximum. More extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were released by biofilm due to the stimulation of Cu2+. EPS was beneficial to the adsorption of Cu2+ by biofilm. After the adsorption of Cu2+, the bacterial diversity index decreased, while there were no significant differences in microbial communities on biofilm. Moreover, the main groups combining Cu2+ were the hydroxyl groups and amide groups in S-EPS and B-EPS. Ion exchange is a mechanism of the adsorption of Cu2+ by EPS.
Biodegradation of main carbon sources in vinasse stillage by a mixed culture of bacteria: influence of temperature and pH of the medium
Authors: Ryznar-Luty Agnieszka , Cibis Edmund , Lutosławski Krzysztof
Published: September 2018

The aim of the study was to examine how temperature and the pH influence the progress and efficiency of an aerobic biodegradation process, where major organic pollutants are removed from beet molasses vinasse by a mixed culture of Bacillus bacteria. It was conducted in an aerated bioreactor with a stirring system in four experimental series, each composed of five processes run at temperatures of 27, 36, 45, 54 and 63 °C. In the first and second series, medium pH was not controlled, the initial pH amounted to 6.5 and 8.0, respectively. In the third and fourth series, medium pH was controlled at 6.5 and 8.0, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the pollution load of the vinasse stillage expressed as soluble chemical oxygen demand was removed with an 88.73% efficiency. The bacterial culture assimilated all organic pollutants simultaneously, but the rate of assimilation was different. An exception was the process of betaine assimilation, which intensified only when readily available carbon sources were depleted in the medium. Synthesis and assimilation of organic acids were observed in all experiments. Advantages of the proposed method include: possibility of its use at high temperatures, and no necessity for medium pH adjustment during the process.