bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPARATIVE CASE ANALYSIS: THE IMPACT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY METHODS ON ENHANCING FUNCTION IN GRADE II PATELLAR CHONDROMALACI
Authors:   Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija /  Higher Education Institution, Lithuania, Aleknavičiūtė-Ablonskė Vaida , Isajevaitė Iveta ,   Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, Mikulėnienė Rita
Published: March 2024

Patellar chondromalacia represents a prevalent form of knee joint pathology, particularly among physically active young women (Smith et al., 2017). However, the scientific literature remains deficient in data regarding the comparative efficacy of diverse physiotherapy techniques. The principal objective of this investigation was to assess the differential effects of various physiotherapy methods on alterations in knee function in the context of Grade II patellar chondromalacia. Findings indicate that when contrasting physiotherapy and shockwave therapy against balance and muscle strength training conducted on a motorized HUBER 360 platform, physiotherapy, and shockwave therapy were notably superior in augmenting the strength of the thigh and gluteal muscles. Training on the motorized HUBER 360 platform exhibited greater efficacy in alleviating pain in the femur-patella joint and enhancing the range of motion in the knee joint. Nevertheless, both interventions had no discernible impact on the progression of femur-patella joint damage or alterations in the femur-patella Q angle.
THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT PHYSIOTHERAPY METHODS ON IMPROVING FUNCTION IN GRADE II PATELLAR CHONDROMALACIA: A COMPARATIVE CASE ANALYSIS
Authors:   Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, Aleknavičiūtė-Ablonskė Vaida , Isajevaitė Iveta
Published: March 2024

Patellar chondromalacia represents a prevalent form of knee joint pathology, particularly among physically active young women (Smith et al., 2017). However, the scientific literature remains deficient in data regarding the comparative efficacy of diverse physiotherapy techniques. The principal objective of this investigation was to assess the differential effects of various physiotherapy methods on alterations in knee function in the context of Grade II patellar chondromalacia. Findings indicate that when contrasting physiotherapy and shockwave therapy against balance and muscle strength training conducted on a motorized HUBER 360 platform, physiotherapy, and shockwave therapy were notably superior in augmenting the strength of the thigh and gluteal muscles. Training on the motorized HUBER 360 platform exhibited greater efficacy in alleviating pain in the femur-patella joint and enhancing the range of motion in the knee joint. Nevertheless, both interventions had no discernible impact on the progression of femur-patella joint damage or alterations in the femur-patella Q angle
Education 4.0 and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching
Authors: Lima Lucas Alves de Oliveira , Lima Rafael de Abreu , Matos Jacinto da Silva Gomes , Leite Fabiane Lemos , Novo Júnior Darcilio Dantas Dias , Saraiva Ana Cristina Gonçalves Teixeira , Carballo Fábio Peron , Silva Danilo Américo Pereira da , Alcântara Júnior Lourival Queiroz , Silva Leandro dos Santos
Published: March 2024

The objective of this research was to analyze the impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary education, investigating how its implementation has influenced teaching and learning methods, as well as educational outcomes. As for the methods, the research adopted a quantitative exploratory approach, applying questionnaires to 102 teachers from different educational institutions. The questionnaires, conducted in person or virtually, encompassed a five-point Likert scale to capture perceptions about artificial intelligence in education, and the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and graphs. As a result, the analysis of the results of the questionnaires applied to teachers evidenced a perception about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on contemporary education. The majority of participants agreed on the effectiveness of AI in personalizing teaching, recognizing its role in tailoring the educational process to the individual needs of students, reflecting a substantial acceptance of technology as a transformative force in the educational landscape. However, there was a significant portion of teachers who expressed concerns and disagreements regarding the use of AI in education, especially regarding student assessment and feedback. These divergences highlighted challenges such as the lack of technological infrastructure, resistance to change, ethical issues, and the need for teacher training for the effective use of AI. In light of this, fostering a collaborative dialogue between educators, researchers, technology professionals, and policymakers was key to addressing these challenges and fully exploiting the potential of AI in positively transforming education, preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.
Malaria
Authors: Ribeiro Filho Gilmar Pascoal , Simião Arthur Monteiro , Souza Gabriela Carolina Alves de , Oliveira Sara dos Santos , Alvarenga Janaina Sousa Campos , Alvarenga Ângela Cardoso de
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Malaria is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted by the bite of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 241 million cases and 627 thousand deaths from the disease. This figure represents an increase from an estimated 227 million cases and 558,000 deaths recorded in 2019. In Brazil, the Amazon region is considered an endemic area for malaria, accounting for 99% of autochthonous cases. Objectives: The study of this chapter is to present all the main aspects relevant to the understanding of malaria and its consequences on the individual and society. Etiological Agent: Protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, with the species Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae being the main species found in Brazil. Transmission: Malaria is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Biological cycle: The biological cycle of Plasmodium sp. involves two hosts, the human and the female infected Anopheles mosquito. Clinical manifestations: The interval period between apyretic events varies according to the species of each etiological agent, which presents distinct intervals to complete the schizogonic cycle in red blood cells. The species of P. vivax and P. ovale (found in Africa) have a cycle of approximately 48 hours, the cycles of P. malariae are around 72 hours, while P. falciparum does not show synchronicity between symptomatic events. Diagnosis: The signs and symptoms of malaria are quite nonspecific and can commonly be confused with other infections. Slides stained with Giemsa and observed under light microscopy are widely used and analyzed by thick drop and blood smear. One of the options is rapid tests, currently offered in resource-scarce areas where microscopy services are not feasible or unavailable. Treatment: Treatment of malaria will vary according to the infecting species. Prophylaxis: For individuals who are outside the endemic area, it is necessary that they inform themselves before traveling to these regions. Attention should be paid to the departure time, avoiding being outside the premises during night periods, since the vector usually leaves soon after dusk. Repellents and barrier methods should be used, such as clothing that covers the body area well, as well as mosquito nets and screens on beds and doors. Conclusion: The chapter allows the deepening of the main topics about malaria, thus ensuring greater knowledge about the disease, the care of the infected individual, and the care that society needs to have in the face of this disease.
Frequency and factors associated with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in patients treated at a referral center in western Brazil
Authors: Ferraz Raphael Lopes , Gomes Camilla Soares , Fernandes Milena Cecília Barroso , Silva Letícia Soares da , Melo Monica Maria Bandeira de , Ferreira Marcio Antônio Couto , Paolino Bruno Monção , Maestá Izildinha
Published: March 2024

Introduction:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) is a rare complication in pregnancy that is divided into two groups: the benign form Hydatidiform Mole (MH) and the malignant form Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN). GTN is divided into four types of histopathological disorders, namely: invasive mole (MI), choriocarcinoma, placental site tumor (PTTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (TTE) Objectives: To identify the frequency of GTN in patients treated at the referral center of the Oncology Control Center Foundation of the State of Amazonas (FCECON) from 2011 to 2018, specifying their sociodemographic data, clinical data and disease characteristics and mortality. Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study that included patients diagnosed and treated with GTN at FCECON from 2011 to 2018. Data were obtained from medical records, then tabulated and descriptive statistics were performed. Results: The frequency of GTN was 11 patients, aged 29.8 years, most of them brown (72.7%), the most frequent clinical picture was vaginal bleeding (45.4%), IM was the most common form of GTN (54.5%), the low-risk classification was the most frequent (63.6%), the lung was the main site of metastases (54.5%) and mortality was 27.3% of the cases. Conclusion: Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment described in recent decades, GTN in Amazonas still has a high mortality rate.
Slavery and colonialist evil – Seen & not seen – In today’s brazilian society: For a social pride
Authors: Gonçalves Marcus Fabiano , Oliveira Terezinha Azevedo
Published: March 2024

This article will seek to raise a bibliographic reference on the social inequalities verified in Brazil in contemporary times. This theme is embodied in the book entitled Pathways to Recognition, Equality and Respect, by Jacques D'Adesky (2018). The common thread of this work brings reflections aimed at revisiting the past to launch us, at the same time, into questions about the future of race relations in Brazil and in the contemporary world with a view to broadening the debate about the limits of colonial practices and racism for the future of humanity and for the populations subordinated in their identities and cultural values. From this perspective, the questions raised in this study focus on race relations in Brazil in dialogue with the reflections elaborated by Brazilian black activism, namely: is there really equality of opportunity, principles of non-discrimination and merit in the face of affirmative action policies? Are such political practices effective in fostering equal opportunities, recognition and combating racism in contemporary times?
Appraisal of the Use of Metaphors in the Holy Qur’an
Authors:   Morogoro Muslim University, Msoke Zamda , Msuya Erasmus ,   University of Dar es Salaam
Published: March 2024

This study appraised the use of metaphors in the Holy Qur’an, guided by Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Theory of Metaphor (1980). Data were collected from thirteen chapters of the Holy Qur’an that were purposively selected out of one hundred and fourteen chapters through the purposive criterion sampling technique. Results revealed that structural metaphors occurred most, followed by orientational metaphors and lastly ontological metaphors. Impliedly, the Qur’anic metaphors observed from selected chapters of the Holy Qur’an are more structural than orientational or ontological. Thus, the study confirmed the existence of conceptual types of metaphors by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) in the Holy Book of the Holy Qur’an.
Charakterystyka emigracyjnej działalności Emanuela Scherera — przedstawiciela Bundu w II Radzie Narodowej RP w Londynie (1943–1945)
Authors: Dworski Michał
Published: March 2024

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest omówienie działalności Emanuela Scherera na emigracji po 1939 roku, zwłaszcza w kontekście jego uczestnictwa w pracach II Rady Narodowej RP w Londynie. Scherer został wyznaczony członkiem „emigracyjnego parlamentu” w 1943 roku w miejsce tragicznie zmarłego Szmula Zygielbojma. Reprezentował w nim partię Bund. Przez niemal półtora roku pełnił on funkcję radnego, chcąc wykorzystać wszelkie możliwości, jakie dawał mu ten mandat w czasie II wojny światowej. W artykule zaprezentowano różne obszary działalności Scherera w tym okresie. Przedstawiono jego najważniejsze inicjatywy uchwałodawcze i opiniodawcze na forum II Rady Narodowej RP, polemiki oraz dyskusje z innymi radnymi, a także kierunki myślenia politycznego dotyczące spraw bieżących i przyszłych, także w kontekście powojennego funkcjonowania wolnej Rzeczypospolitej. Priorytetowym tematem w aktywności Scherera były kwestie żydowskie oraz relacje polsko-żydowskie. Zagadnienie zagłady stanowiło centralny punkt odniesienia w wielu jego inicjatywach, czy to w obrębie polskiego życia emigracyjnego, czy szerzej: zachodniego. Poświęcił on wiele czasu na informowanie międzynarodowej opinii publicznej o zbrodniach niemieckich na narodzie żydowskim czy organizację wsparcia materialnego dla polskich Żydów w kraju i na emigracji. Był także istotnym kontaktem w logistyce przekazywania środków finansowych do podziemnego Bundu w kraju, które często samodzielnie organizował. Scherer zamierzał uporządkować stan stosunków polsko-żydowskich, rozszerzając ustalenia z okresu wojny na czas powojenny. Chciał zobowiązać polskie czynniki rządowe w Londynie do określonych postaw w przyszłości, także w wymiarze ustawodawczym. Wskazywał na błędy i porażki dotychczasowego stanu tych relacji i był asertywny w artykułowaniu różnych problemów, zwłaszcza na tle antysemityzmu.
The Polish Contribution to Egyptian Motifs in the Architecture of Synagogues
Authors: Zinkow Leszek
Published: March 2024

Egyptomania is a specific strategy related to the reception of the heritage of ancient Egypt and incorporation of Egyptian elements into various aspects of modern culture, such as art, crafts, literature, intellectual speculation, and others. This phenomenon manifested itself in architecture, too, especially in the 19th century. We can also point out various Egyptian (or rather, “quasi-Egyptian”) motifs and details in the design and construction of some synagogue buildings around the world. In the 1879s, a Polish architect, Stanisław Adamczewski, proposed the idea of a monumental synagogue in Warsaw, incorporating interesting elements reminiscent of ancient Egyptian buildings. He also planned other Egyptian-styled structures in Warsaw, but none of them, like the synagogue itself, were ever constructed.
Menschenschreck. Losy Żydów w Międzyrzecu Podlaskim w okresie II wojny światowej
Authors: Mańko Sławomir
Published: March 2024

W artykule zostały omówione losy Żydów w Międzyrzecu Podlaskim w okresie II wojny światowej. W pierwszej jego części została ukazana sytuacja ludności żydowskiej przed wybuchem wojny. Istniejące podziały majątkowe i polityczne, a także zaognione stosunki z chrześcijanami miały bowiem duży wpływ na rozwój sytuacji po wybuchu wojny. W drugiej części omówiono okres okupacji sowieckiej i wkroczenie wojsk niemieckich. Sprawy bytowe, utworzenia i funkcjonowania getta zostały poruszone w kolejnych rozdziałach. Szczegółowo została ukazana złożoność życia w getcie, różnice między bogatymi i biednymi, między członkami Judenratu i policji żydowskiej a zwykłymi mieszkańcami dzielnicy zamkniętej. W pracy zamieszczono opisy reakcji Żydów na poszczególne akcje likwidacyjne getta — począwszy od apatii, poprzez wyparcie rzeczywistości, a skończywszy na podjęciu działań na rzecz ratowania życia swego i swoich bliskich. Ostatnie rozdziały pracy dotyczą strategii przetrwania, stosunków polsko-żydowskich i prób odbudowania życia żydowskiego w powojennym Międzyrzecu.
Enhancing A2 Speaking Skills through Mobile-Assisted Language Learning: A Study of 1st Year Students at ESPOCH- Sede Orellana
Authors: Guamán Condoy Erich Gonzalo , Monar Monar Joffre Stalin , Guapi Guamán Fausto Iván , Silvia Licett Ramos Idrovo , Yaulema Brito Luis Miguel
Published: March 2024

This research delves into the perspectives of 1st Year students at Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo - Sede Orellana regarding the utilization of TikTok as a mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) tool within and beyond the classroom. With the aim of comprehensively exploring this innovative approach, a multifaceted methodology was employed. The study involved 30 participants aged 18 to 24, possessing English language proficiency levels spanning CEFR A2 to B1. Quantitative data were amassed through structured questionnaires, enabling a quantitative assessment of students' attitudes, motivations, and linguistic competencies. Qualitative insights were procured via semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. Preliminary results divulged nuanced student attitudes, with a majority showcasing positive inclinations towards TikTok integration in language learning contexts. Motivations included the platform's accessibility, interactive features, and engagement potential. Moreover, qualitative data unearthed multifaceted experiences, with students highlighting the platform's ability to enhance listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and cultural awareness. The study uncovered that students perceived TikTok as a versatile tool fostering autonomous language learning beyond the classroom confines. This research contributes to the evolving discourse on MALL, emphasizing the significance of aligning digital resources with students' preferences and learning styles. By bridging pedagogical theory with contemporary digital platforms, educators can craft more engaging and effective language learning experiences. These findings underscore the need for educators to integrate platforms like TikTok purposefully, harnessing their potential to cultivate language proficiency and digital literacy.
Sensory processing abilities in relation to motor capabilities in children with different types of cerebral palsy
Authors: Youssef Amal Abdelwahab , Eltohamy Amira Mohamed , Shokry Kamal Elsayed , Sarhan Engi E. , Barakat Nesma EM.
Published: March 2024

Background and purpose. children with cerebral palsy have sensory processing issues as well as motor problems, which lead to severe developmental disability. In this study, we aimed to assess correlation between sensory processing abilities and motor capabilities in children with cerebral palsy and assess the effect of cerebral palsy types on sensory processing abilities and motor capabilities.
Materials and methods. One hundred cerebral palsy children of both sex were included in the study; their age ranged from 4-10 years old were selected from pediatric rehabilitation out clinic of faculty of Physical Therapy Cairo University, fulfilling inclusion criteria. All children were assessed by Short sensory profile: to measure sensory processing ability, Gross Motor Function Classification System: to measure the gross motor skills and Manual Ability Classification System: to measure the fine motor skills.
Result. there was a significant correlation between GMFCS, MACS and the total score of SSP as well as Low energy weak, tactile sensitivity score, taste smell sensitivity, Movement sensitivity, and Under-responsive seeks sensation (P ≤ 0.05*). There was no significant correlations between both auditory filtering and Visual-auditory sensitivity with GMFCS and MACS (P = 0.676 and 0.266, respectively). There was statistical variation among different CP types regarding SSP and motor assessment (P ≤ 0.05*).
Conclusion. the study showed: sensory processing abilities effect on motor capabilities in children with cerebral palsy.
Determination of L-Ascorbic Acid Quantities in Vegetables by Using 3% Acid-Alcohol in Iodine Redox Titrimetric Method
Authors:   Siaya Institute of Technology, Onyango Stephen , Okumu Fredrick ,   Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Mung'au Philemon ,   Siaya Institute of Technology, Randa Daniel ,   Siaya Institute of Technology, Oyie Julius ,   Siaya Institute of Technology, Ouko Lemmy
Published: March 2024

The main objective of this study was to determine the suitability of using 3% acid-alcohol in iodine redox titrimetric determination of L-ascorbic quantities in chlorophyll-green vegetables. The main challenge in the protocol has been detection of titration end-point vegetables samples with high concentration of chlorophyll in the leaves. Chlorophyll doesn’t contrast with the blue-black color noticed at the end-point. This project therefore developed a modified iodine titration procedure that enhances the accuracy of end-point detection using an acid-alcohol. The analysis of vitamin C content was done by using iodine titration. In the titration, a 0.005molL-1 Iodine solution as a titrant, 0.5% starch as an indicator solution and vegetable samples containing the analyte L-ascorbic acid were used. The quantities of L-ascorbic acid content in different vegetables were determined using the novel titration method. For control experiments, vitamin C in orange fruits juice was determined. The visibility of the end points in orange fruit and vegetables were compared. The vegetables tested were Sukuma wiki, green pepper, spinach and cabbages. Three titration experiments were done to determine the average titer volumes of iodine solution used. The volume was used to determine the mass of ascorbic acid reacted in the samples of vegetables analyzed. The results were Orange 53.0gma/100g, collard greens 35.0gms/100g, green pepper 80gms/100g, spinach 27.5gms/100g and cabbage 36gms/100g of fresh weight. A two-sample t-test assuming equal variances used in the analysis of significant difference between the mean of masses of L-ascorbic acid in this study and the mean of masses in the previous study. Given α=0.05 and p =0.99, it was confirmed that there was no significant difference between the means. The results of the study were thus consistent with those of previous findings. A 3% acid-alcohol proves to be efficient in decolorization of chlorophyll to achieve a clear end–point during titration of vegetable samples. However, more studies should be done on other vegetables to validate the findings of this study Key words: L-ascorbic acid, 3% acid-alcohol, titration, vegetables
Analysis Of Performance Supporting Factors For Micro, Small, And Medium Enterprises In Ku-Tai Kartanegara Regency
Authors: Anantri Feriska Ajeng
Published: March 2024

Poverty is not only a crucial economic problem because it tends to increase and result in instability in various sectors of life, so handling it needs to be a shared responsibility. Regions that are rich in mineral resources also still have problems of poverty and unemployment, including in the Banua Enam region, South Kalimantan Province. This research analyzes the influence of mining sector growth, unemployment, and the capital expenditure ratio on poverty levels in the Banua Enam region, South Kalimantan Province. This type of research is explanatory and focuses on testing existing theories in the context of other research using panel data regression for 6 districts and 12 years. The results of this research suggest that the growth of the mining sector, unemployment, and the capital expenditure ratio, both partially and simultaneously, have a positive and significant effect on the poverty level. In other words, the higher the unemployment, the higher the poverty level. However, the higher growth of the mining sector and the capital expenditure ratio also increase poverty. Therefore, policies are needed that are pro-poor so that the growth of the mining sector and increased capital expenditure can overcome the problem of poverty.
Nanotechnology and Prosthetic Devices: Integrating Biomedicine and Materials Science for Enhanced Performance and Adaptability
Authors: Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Siddiqui Md Irfanul Haque , Assaifan Abdulaziz K. , Aijaz Muhammad Omer , Alnaser Ibrahim A.
Published: March 2024

Nanomaterials are revolutionizing prosthetic device development. Nanotechnology has made prosthetic devices that replicate natural limb behavior and respond to users’ intentions possible. Nanomaterials improve prosthetic functionality, comfort, and lifespan. Nanocomposites, smart sensors, and medication delivery systems have addressed mechanical strength, control, and biocompatibility, resulting in enhanced prosthetic devices that improve user freedom, mobility, and quality of life. Biomedicine and materials science have helped nanomaterials reach their full potential, enabling their seamless integration into prosthetic devices and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that advance prosthetics. The literature study shows substantial advances in nanomaterials for prosthetic devices; however, various gaps in present research and possible future research areas are indicated. First, long-term biocompatibility studies are needed to understand nanomaterials’ long-term effects on humans. Nanomaterial-based prosthetic devices must be tested and researched to assure safety and efficacy in real-world situations. Second, nanocomposites and nanoscale components must be standardized and quality-controlled to enable consistency and scalability in prosthetic devices. Third, nanoscale sensor and neural interface ethics must address privacy, security, and user consent issues. The nanomaterial-based prosthetic devices must be made more inexpensive and accessible to more disabled people. The study design was carried out to incorporate significant literature on the application of nanotechnology related to prosthetic devices. The literature was filtered from the Scopus database. The selected literature belongs to the original articles in which experimental work was carried out. Future research could combine nanotechnology with other developing technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics to produce more advanced and adaptable prosthetic devices.
A Hybrid Strategy Guided Multi-Objective Artificial Physical Optimizer Algorithm
Authors: Sun Bao , Guo Na , Zhang Lijing , Li Zhanlong
Published: March 2024

Artificial physical optimizer (APO), as a new heuristic stochastic algorithm, is difficult to balance convergence and diversity when dealing with complex multi-objective problems. This paper introduces the advantages of R2 indicator and target space decomposition strategy, and constructs the candidate solution of external archive pruning technology selection based on APO algorithm. A hybrid strategy guided multi-objective artificial physical optimizer algorithm (HSGMOAPO) is proposed. Firstly, R2 indicator is used to select the candidate solutions that have great influence on the convergence of the whole algorithm. Secondly, the target space decomposition strategy is used to select the remaining solutions to improve the diversity of the algorithm. Finally, the restriction processing method is used to improve the ability to avoid local optimization. In order to verify the comprehensive ability of HSGMOAPO algorithm in solving multi-objective problems, five comparison algorithms were evaluated experimentally on standard test problems and practical problems. The results show that HSGMOAPO algorithm has good convergence and diversity in solving multi-objective problems, and has the potential to solve practical problems.
Point Cloud Completion Based on Nonlocal Neural Networks with Adaptive Sampling
Authors: Xing Na , Wang Jun , Wang Yuehai , Ning Keqing , Chen Fuqiang
Published: March 2024

Raw point clouds are usually sparse and incomplete, inevitably containing outliers or noise from 3D sensors. In this paper, an improved SA-Net based on an encoder-decoder structure is proposed to make it more robust in predicting complete point clouds. The encoder of the original SA-Net network is very sensitive to noise in the feature extraction process. Therefore, we use PointASNL as the encoder, which weights around the initial sampling points through the AS module (Adaptive Sampling Module) and adaptively adjusts the weight of the sampling points to effectively alleviate the bias effect of outliers. In order to fully mine the feature information of point clouds, it captures the neighborhood and long-distance dependencies of sampling points through the LNL module (Local-NonLocal Module), providing more accurate information for point cloud processing. Then, we use the encoder to extract local geometric features of the incomplete point cloud at different resolutions.Then, an attention mechanism is introduced to transfer the extracted features to a decoder. The decoder gradually refines the local features to achieve a more realistic effect. Experiments on the ShapeNet data set show that the improved point cloud completion network achieves the goal and reduces the average chamfer distance by 3.50% compared to SA-Net.
A Thousand Miles of Dreams
Authors: Welland Sasha Su-Ling
Published: March 2024

*For the bibliography mentioned in the book, click here.

A Thousand Miles of Dreams is an evocative and intimate biography of two Chinese sisters who took very different paths in their quests to be independent women. Ling Shuhao arrived in Cleveland in 1925 to study medicine in the middle of a U.S. crackdown on Chinese immigrant communities, and her effort to assimilate began. She became an American named Amy, while her sister Ling Shuhua burst onto the Beijing literary scene as a writer of short fiction. Shuhua's tumultuous affair with Virginia Woolf's nephew during his years in China eventually drew her into the orbit of the Bloomsbury group. The sisters were Chinese "modern girls" who sought to forge their own way in an era of social revolution that unsettled relations between men and women and among nations. Daughters of an imperial scholar-official and a concubine, they followed trajectories unimaginable to their parents' generation.

Biographer Sasha Su-Ling Welland stumbled across their remarkable stories while recording her grandmother's oral history. She discovered the secret Amy had jealously hidden from family in the United States—her sister's fame as a Chinese woman writer—as well as intriguing discrepancies between the sisters' versions of the past. Shaped by the social history of their day, the journeys of these extraordinary women spanned the twentieth century and three continents in a saga of East-West cultural exchange and personal struggle.

Visit the author's website for more information and upcoming events. http://www.sashawelland.com/index.html
Oil in the Soil
Authors: Martin Pamela L.
Published: March 2024

Paradise may have been found in the Western Amazon, but it is on the brink of destruction. Oil in the Soil analyzes the campaign to save the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) block of Yasuní National Park in Ecuador's Amazon and the global networks that have resulted in one of the world's most innovative plans to save the Amazon and other biodiverse places on our planet. Pamela L. Martin examines the path-breaking global environmental governance mechanisms that have resulted from the transnational networks of the Yasuní-ITT campaign and their implications for replication around the world. The analysis of these networks reveals new dynamics of mobilization from the South, which may impact the future of global environmental negotiations. Martin also examines the alternative norms behind the initiative in the words of governmental and non-governmental actors. Such normative changes demonstrate the global struggles of the resource-dependent poor and provide insights toward new pathways of sustainable development for the planet.
Nazi Hunger Politics
Authors: Gerhard Gesine
Published: March 2024

During World War II, millions of Soviet soldiers in German captivity died of hunger and starvation. Their fate was not the unexpected consequence of a war that took longer than anticipated. It was the calculated strategy of a small group of economic planners around Herbert Backe, the second Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture. The mass murder of Soviet soldiers and civilians by Nazi food policy has not yet received much attention, but this book is about to change that.

Food played a central political role for the Nazi regime and served as the foundation of a racial ideology that justified the murder of millions of Jews, prisoners of war, and Slavs. This book is the first to vividly and comprehensively address the topic of food during the Third Reich. It examines the economics of food production and consumption in Nazi Germany, as well as its use as a justification for war and as a tool for genocide. Offering another perspective on the Nazi regime’s desire for domination, Gesine Gerhard sheds light on an often-overlooked part of their scheme and brings into focus the very important role food played in the course of the Second World War.
Food in the Air and Space
Authors: Foss Richard
Published: March 2024

In the history of cooking, there has been no more challenging environment than those craft in which humans took to the skies. The tale begins with meals aboard balloons and zeppelins, where cooking was accomplished below explosive bags of hydrogen, ending with space station dinners that were cooked thousands of miles below.

This book is the first to chart that history worldwide, exploring the intricacies of inflight dining from 1783 to the present day, aboard balloons, zeppelins, land-based aircraft and flying boats, jets, and spacecraft. It charts the ways in which commercial travelers were lured to try flying with the promise of familiar foods, explains the problems of each aerial environment and how chefs, engineers, and flight crew adapted to them, and tells the stories of pioneers in the field. Hygiene and sanitation were often difficult, and cultural norms and religious practices had to be taken into account. The history is surprising and sometimes humorous at times some ridiculous ideas were tried, and airlines offered some strange meals to try to attract passengers. It’s an engrossing story with quite a few twists and turns, and this first book on the subject tells it with a light touch.
Parenting Difficult Children
Authors: Hammond Michael
Published: March 2024

Parenting young children is a challenge, and dealing with difficult or problem behavior can set up an atmosphere of tension and strife—not just between the child and the parents, but between parents as well. Parenting Difficult Children provides a method of removing that tension with specific strategies for parents of children age three to twelve who are exhibiting difficult or common negative behaviors.

Here, a seasoned psychologist uses the expertise he’s attained through decades of clinical practice to provide parents with a practical and realistic approach to dealing with young children in order to extinguish negative behaviors and forge a stronger and more loving bond between parent and child. Using stories from his practice, coupled with the received knowledge of his field, he explores those actions and behaviors that result in more disciplined children, and happier families.

Part one includes specific instruction on building a secure foundation of rules, discipline methods, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and reinforcers for positive, desired behavior. Part two focuses on problem behaviors and what to do about them. Millions of parents of young children around the world crave detailed, specific, behavioral interventions that can be easily understood and applied to ensure great parenting success. They will find a good start in these pages.
Meet Me in Venice
Authors: Ma Suzanne
Published: March 2024

When Ye Pei dreamed of Venice as a girl, she imagined a magical floating city of canals and gondola rides. And she imagined her mother, successful in her new life and eager to embrace the daughter she had never forgotten. But when Ye Pei arrives in Italy, she learns her mother works on a farm far from the city. Her only connection, a mean-spirited Chinese auntie, puts Ye Pei to work in a small-town café. Rather than giving up and returning to China, a determined Ye Pei takes on a grueling schedule, resolving to save enough money to provide her family with a better future.

A groundbreaking work of journalism, Meet Me in Venice provides a personal, intimate account of Chinese individuals in the very act ofmigration. Suzanne Ma spent years in China and Europe to understand why Chinese people choose to immigrate to nations where they endure hardship, suspicion, manual labor and separation from their loved ones. Today all eyes are on China and its explosive economic growth. With the rise of the Chinese middle class, Chinese communities around the world are growing in size and prosperity, a development many westerners find unsettling and even threatening. Following Ye Pei’s undaunted path, this inspiring book is an engrossing read for those eager to understand contemporary China and the enormous impact of Chinese emigrants around the world.
The Prenatal Bombshell
Authors: Azri Stephanie , Ilse Sherokee
Published: March 2024

Finding out your unborn child has been diagnosed with a poor or fatal prenatal diagnosis is devastating news sure to reverberate through your family’s life forever. The emotional aspects of such a pregnancy and the practical implications of an adverse diagnosis are difficult to navigate. The Prenatal Bombshell is a warm and understanding companion guide through the journey from diagnosis and beyond once you’ve decided to either continue or end your precious pregnancy. Issues such as managing the pregnancy, delivery, termination, creating memories, future babies, and the long term impact of such a traumatic experience are all covered in detail. The lived experiences of other women who have gone through this journey are also included to provide hope, support, and guidance through difficult times.

The Prenatal Bombshell does not attempt to convince women to make a particular choice about their pregnancy. It supports them from their choice onwards in a way that is honest, informative, and reliable. Filled with stories and testimonies, this is a helpful book to have during, and well beyond, a poor prenatal diagnosis.
Responsive Web Design in Practice
Authors: Clark Jason A.
Published: March 2024

Today's library patrons are browsing the Web on a variety of devices including tablets, e-readers, mobile phones, and desktops. Responsive web design employs techniques that will enable your library's website to automatically adapt to whatever screen size it's being viewed on. Learn how to utilize CSS techniques such as fluid grids and flexible images combined with responsive design techniques such as media queries to deliver an optimal experience for your library patrons regardless of device. Design one website to fit them all.

With both beginner and expert developers in mind, this complete handbook guides the reader through the process of developing and launching their own Responsive Web Designs and introduces the craft of building multi-screen experiences. Online demos and downloadable code files are included for all projects:

Adapting your Existing Layout into a Responsive Layout – A RWD Retrofit

Building a Responsive Layout from Scratch – A RWD Bookreader

Creating a Responsive Contact Form – “Get a Library Card”

Creating a Responsive Search Interface

Creating a Responsive Single Page Application – “Mobile Feed App”

Using an RWD Framework for a complete site: Twitter Bootstrap
How to Age-Proof Your Dog
Authors: Murphy Elizabeth U.
Published: March 2024

How to Age-Proof Your Dog: The Art and Science of Successful Canine Aging gives dog owners the information and tools they need to provide proactive and preventative health care starting early in their dog’s life and continuing throughout various stages and ages. In this book, readers are instructed not only how (and why) to do a regular physical examination of their dog's body, but also a regular exam of their dog's breed, behavior, personality - even of their dog's five senses. They are asked to consider why they chose that dog and how the dog fits in with their lifestyle, so that they can choose the right health maintenance goals for their dog. Specific information is provided about the most important things for owners to start young to help their dog become old. Health, activity, sensory and behavior trends in youth, middle age and old age are covered, along with breed-related health problems. How to Age-Proof Your Dog is a guide for dog owners so that they can start, and then keep, their dogs on a smooth, straight road to a successful old age.
Interpreting American Jewish History at Museums and Historic Sites
Authors: Decter Avi Y.
Published: March 2024

Jews are part and parcel of American history. From colonial port cities to frontier outposts, from commercial and manufacturing centers to rural villages, and from metropolitan regions to constructed communities, Jews are found everywhere and throughout four centuries of American history. From the early 17th century to the present, the story of American Jews has been one of immigration, adjustment, and accomplishment, sometimes in the face of prejudice and discrimination. This, then, is a narrative of minority-majority relations, of evolving norms and traditions, of ongoing conversations about community and culture, identity and meaning.

Interpreting American Jewish History at Museums and Historic Sites begins with a broad overview of American Jewish history in the context of a religious culture than extends back more than 3,000 years and which manifests itself in a variety of distinctive American forms. This is followed by five chapters, each looking at a major theme in American Jewish history: movement, home life, community, prejudice, and culture.

The book also describes and analyzes projects by history organizations, large and small, to interpret American Jewish life for general public audiences. These case studies cover a wide range of themes, approaches, formats.

The book concludes with a history of Jewish collections and Jewish museums in North America and a chapter on “next practice” that promote adaptive thinking, continuous innovation, and programs that are responsive to ever-changing circumstances.
Historical Dictionary of Cuba
Authors: Kapcia Antoni
Published: March 2024

This work is a completely new Historical Dictionary for Cuba (the first since 1988). It gives a comprehensive and detailed coverage and analysis of all of the key elements, factors, biographies, narratives, and treaties in Cuban history from the 1400s to the present day, with an emphasis on the decades after 1959.

Historical Dictionary of Cuba, Third Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 1.000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Cuba.
Madrid
Authors: Paz Moreno Maria
Published: March 2024

As the capital city of Spain, Madrid is nowadays considered one of the most interesting “food towns” in the world. This is perhaps due to the wide variety of specialty dishes that its cuisine boasts, ranging from the old-fashioned and traditional to the modern, and even the futuristic; a cuisine that has consistently received high praise from the likes of New York Times’ critic Mark Bittman and TV celebrity chefs such as Anthony Bourdain and Mario Battali, to name just a few. But how did a once humble and unsophisticated city like Madrid become the vibrant food metropolis that it is today? How did contemporary madrileño cuisine come to be, and what are its main identifying dishes? What role have its legendary restaurants, cafés and markets played in putting Madrid in the map as one of the world’s top food destinations?

Maria Paz Moreno looks at the gastronomical history of Madrid throughout the ages. She traces the historical origins and evolution of Madrid’s cuisine, exploring major trends, most innovative chefs, restaurants and dishes, and telling the story of this fascinating city from the point of view of a food lover. She discusses the diverse influences that have shaped Madrid’s cuisine over the centuries, including the introduction of foods from the New World since the 16th century, the transition from famines to abundance during the second part of the 20th century, the revolution of the Michelin-starred young chefs at the beginning of the 21st century, and how madrileños’ sense of identity is built through their food. The sense of community created through communal eating experiences is also explored, focusing on the culture of sharing tapas, as well as traditional and avant-garde eating establishments, from restaurants to bars to chocolaterías, and even markets and festivals where food plays an important part. Anyone wishing to know more about the city, the culture, the richness of its food and people, will find a delightful review in these pages.
Ted Strong Jr.
Authors: Jenkins Sherman L.
Published: March 2024

Ted Strong Jr. (1917-1978) was a two-sport athlete, a major star of the Negro Leagues and one of the original Harlem Globetrotters. His prominence in the Negro Leagues led Branch Rickey and other white baseball league owners to consider Strong as one of several possible players to integrate major league baseball, and he was a key force on the basketball court when the Globetrotters defeated the then-invincible Minneapolis Lakers in 1948. Despite his athletic dominance in the 1930s and 40s, Strong Jr. has largely been forgotten in American sports history.

In Ted Strong Jr.: The Untold Story of an Original Harlem Globetrotter and Negro Leagues All-Star, Sherman L. Jenkins finally shares the fascinating story of this star athlete. Born Theodore Relighn Strong Jr. in South Bend, Indiana, Strong Jr., the eldest of fourteen children, was fortunate to have a positive influence in his father—a baseball player himself. Strong Jr. went on to play in seven Negro League Baseball East-West All-Star games, receiving the most votes in all of Black baseball history in 1939, and was a key member of the 1940 Harlem Globetrotter basketball team that won the World Professional Basketball Championship. Jenkins details all of this and more, including Strong Jr.’s frustrations with integration efforts promised by white baseball team owners and the eventual decline of the Negro Leagues after the entrance of Jackie Robinson into Major League Baseball.

Through hours of interviews with Strong Jr.’s father and with friends and teammates of his brother Othello, along with extensive research of newspaper archives, this book provides rich insights into an unsung hero in the American sports landscape. For baseball and basketball fans of all ages, Ted Strong Jr.’s biography displays for the first time the determination and guts of a man who was idealized by many African Americans in the early twentieth century.
Thomas Jefferson
Authors: Kaplan Lawrence S.
Published: March 2024

This biography of one of America's greatest political figures focuses on Thomas Jefferson's role as a maker of foreign policy. Although he was not the sole formulator of American diplomacy, Jefferson's voice was the most pervasive in the first generation of the republic's history. This text explores how the concept of the United States' westward expansion worked as the moving force in forming Jefferson's judgments and actions in foreign relations. Although much has been written about Jefferson, this volume is one of the few that explores the full range of his positions on foreign relations. Readable and authoritative, Thomas Jefferson: Westward the Course of Empire offers new insight into the man who shaped American foreign policy.