bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoreceptor evaluation after successful macular hole closure: an adaptive optics study
Authors: Markan Ashish , Chawla Rohan , Gupta Vinay , Tripathi Manasi , Sharma Anu , Kumar Atul
Published: August 2019

Objective:

To study photoreceptor changes after a successful macular hole surgery using adaptive optics.

Materials and Methods:

Three patients who underwent a successful macular hole surgery were studied. Cone density, spacing, and number of nearest neighbors were analyzed at 2° and 4° of eccentricity in all four quadrants using adaptive optics.

Results:

All three patients gained a visual acuity better than logMAR 0.477 (Snellen equivalent 6/18) at 6 months following successful macular hole surgery. Following successful closure of the macular hole, photoreceptors were appreciated at 2° and 4° of eccentricity from the center. However, as compared with the fellow normal eye, cell density was reduced significantly in the inferior (12,929.33 ± 2047.50 versus 23,839.67 ± 3711.16 cells/mm2 at 2°) and temporal quadrant (13,890 ± 3424.26 versus 22,578.67 ± 5651.34 cells/mm2 at 2°), and intercell spacing was increased significantly in inferior (9.6 ± 0.92 versus 7.14 ± 0.545 µm) and nasal quadrant (8.83 ± 0.39 versus 7.49 ± 0.42 µm). Number of nearest neighbors was unaffected after the hole closure.

Conclusion:

Postoperative recovery of vision after successful closure of the hole occurs because of the migration or shifting of cells from parafoveal retina toward the center. Cells nearest to the hole margin (at 2° eccentricity) appear to shift more as compared with cells which are further away.
Targeting protease nexin-1, a natural anticoagulant serpin, to control bleeding and improve hemostasis in hemophilia
Authors: Aymonnier Karen , Kawecki Charlotte , Venisse Laurence , Boulaftali Yacine , Christophe Olivier D. , Lenting Peter J. , Arocas Véronique , de Raucourt Emmanuelle , Denis Cécile V. , Bouton Marie-Christine
Published: August 2019

Targeting natural anticoagulant proteins as a means to rebalance the hemostatic system is an emerging trend in the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for hemophilia. These 2 articles develop these concepts in the areas of hemostasis and contact activation. In the study by Aymonnier and colleagues, simple amino acid substitutions converted a serpin elastase inhibitor, α1-antitrypsin (α1AT), into a potent antithrombin, activated protein C inhibitor, or anti-PKa/FXIIa inhibitor. In the study by de Maat and colleagues, redesign of α1AT strongly altered its inhibitory behavior and enables it to be used for the treatment of contact system–mediated thrombosis and inflammation.
Bone marrow CX3CR1+ mononuclear cells relay a systemic microbiota signal to control hematopoietic progenitors in mice
Authors: Lee Seungwon , Kim Hyekang , You Gihoon , Kim Young-Min , Lee Seunghun , Le Viet-Hoan , Kwon Ohseop , Im Sin-Hyeog , Kim You-Me , Kim Kwang Soon , Sung Young Chul , Kim Ki Hean , Surh Charles D. , Park Yunji , Lee Seung-Woo
Published: August 2019

Lee and colleagues investigated the role of the intestinal microbiota in steady-state hematopoieisis, demonstrating that microbiota-derived DNA circulates to the bone marrow, where uptake by mononuclear cells leads to inflammatory cytokine production favoring myeloid-cell maturation of hematopoietic progenitors.
Clonal expansion of CAR T cells harboring lentivector integration in the CBL gene following anti-CD22 CAR T-cell therapy
Authors: Shah Nirali N. , Qin Haiying , Yates Bonnie , Su Ling , Shalabi Haneen , Raffeld Mark , Ahlman Mark A. , Stetler-Stevenson Maryalice , Yuan Constance , Guo Shuang , Liu Siyuan , Hughes Stephen H. , Fry Terry J. , Wu Xiaolin
Published: August 2019

Key Points

Reexpansion of CAR T cells led to further investigations which confirmed the clonal nature of this expansion.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of public hospital efficiency studies in Gulf region and selected countries in similar settings
Authors: Alatawi Ahmed , Ahmed Sayem , Niessen Louis , Khan Jahangir
Published: August 2019

Background

The assessment of hospital efficiency is attracting interest worldwide, particularly in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The objective of this study was to review the literature on public hospital efficiency and synthesise the findings in GCC countries and comparable settings.

Methods

We systematically searched six scientific databases, references and grey literature for studies that measured the efficiency of public hospitals in appropriate countries, and followed PRISMA guidelines to present the results. We summarised the included studies in terms of samples, methods/technologies and findings, then assessed their quality. We meta-analysed the efficiency estimates using Spearman’s rank correlations and logistic regression, to examine the internal validity of the findings.

Results

We identified and meta-analysed 22 of 1128 studies. Four studies were conducted in GCC nations, 18 came from Iran and Turkey. The pooled technical-efficiency (TE) was 0.792 (SE ± 0.03). There were considerable variations in model specification, analysis orientation and variables used in the studies, which influenced efficiency estimates. The studies lacked some elements required in quality appraisal, achieving an average of 73%. Meta-analysis showed negative correlations between sample size and efficiency scores; the odd ratio was 0.081 (CI 0.005: 1.300; P value = 0.07) at 10% risk level. The choice of model orientation was significantly influenced (82%) by the studied countries’ income categories, which was compatible with the strategic plans of these countries.

Conclusions

The studies showed methodological and qualitative deficiencies that limited their credibility. Our review suggested that methodology and assumption choices have a substantial impact on efficiency measurements. Given the GCC countries’ strategic plans and resource allocations, these nations need further efficiency research using high-quality data, different orientations and developed models. This will establish an evidence-based knowledge base appropriate for use in public hospital assessments, policy- and decision-making and the assurance of value for money.
Serum CCL20 combined with IL-17A as early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for human colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Dan , Yuan Weitang , Wang Yaping , Wu Qian , Yang Li , Li Feng , Chen Xinfeng , Zhang Zhen , Yu Weina , Maimela Nomathamsanqa Resegofetse , Cao Ling , Wang Dong , Wang Junxia , Sun Zhenqiang , Liu Jinbo , Zhang Yi
Published: August 2019

Background

Noninvasive and effective methods of early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) are underexplored. Inflammation is known to play an important role in the tumor microenvironment of CRC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate novel inflammatory biomarkers related to early diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.

Methods

Based on the results from a multiplex assay and a pan-cancer screening of TCGA data with 18 cancer types, we identified several targeted biomarkers. We further confirmed these results using a trial cohort of 112 CRC patients and 151 controls (59 healthy donors, 52 colitis and 40 colorectal adenoma patients) by Elisa and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The biomarkers expression levels in CRC patients of different clinical stages were compared. The targeted biomarkers panel was developed using logistic regression model and was then validated using an independent cohort including 75 CRC patients and 90 controls (35 healthy donors, 20 colitis and 35 colorectal adenoma patients). Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and overall survival analysis was used for prognosis. Gene ontology (GO) analyses and Gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) were performed to predict the function of the candidate biomarkers.

Results

CCL20 and IL-17A were identified as candidate biomarkers using multiplex assay and pan-cancer screening of TCGA data. Elisa and IHC demonstrated that both CCL20 and IL-17A levels were highly expressed in CRC patients, more especially in patients with advanced stage disease. A signature expression of the two biomarkers showed high diagnostic accuracy of CRC. Importantly, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were still satisfactory in the early stage and low carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level groups. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CCL20 and IL-17A may be involved in CRC progression. In addition, the diagnostic performance of CCL20 and IL-17A in combination was superior to that of either marker alone.

Conclusions

Serum CCL20 and IL-17A levels were identified as independent prognostic markers for CRC. The CCL20-IL-17A panel exhibited a good performance in the diagnosis of early stage CRC.
MicroPro: using metagenomic unmapped reads to provide insights into human microbiota and disease associations
Authors: Zhu Zifan , Ren Jie , Michail Sonia , Sun Fengzhu
Published: August 2019

We develop a metagenomic data analysis pipeline, MicroPro, that takes into account all reads from known and unknown microbial organisms and associates viruses with complex diseases. We utilize MicroPro to analyze four metagenomic datasets relating to colorectal cancer, type 2 diabetes, and liver cirrhosis and show that including reads from unknown organisms significantly increases the prediction accuracy of the disease status for three of the four datasets. We identify new microbial organisms associated with these diseases and show viruses play important prediction roles in colorectal cancer and liver cirrhosis, but not in type 2 diabetes. MicroPro is freely available athttps://github.com/zifanzhu/MicroPro.
Mental health financing challenges, opportunities and strategies in low- and middle-income countries: findings from the Emerald project
Authors: Chisholm Dan , Docrat Sumaiyah , Abdulmalik Jibril , Alem Atalay , Gureje Oye , Gurung Dristy , Hanlon Charlotte , Jordans Mark J. D. , Kangere Sheila , Kigozi Fred , Mugisha James , Muke Shital , Olayiwola Saheed , Shidhaye Rahul , Thornicroft Graham , Lund Crick
Published: August 2019

Background

Current coverage of mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries is very limited, not only in terms of access to services but also in terms of financial protection of individuals in need of care and treatment.

Aims

To identify the challenges, opportunities and strategies for more equitable and sustainable mental health financing in six sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries, namely Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda.

Method

In the context of a mental health systems research project (Emerald), a multi-methods approach was implemented consisting of three steps: a quantitative and narrative assessment of each country's disease burden profile, health system and macro-fiscal situation; in-depth interviews with expert stakeholders; and a policy analysis of sustainable financing options.

Results

Key challenges identified for sustainable mental health financing include the low level of funding accorded to mental health services, widespread inequalities in access and poverty, although opportunities exist in the form of new political interest in mental health and ongoing reforms to national insurance schemes. Inclusion of mental health within planned or nascent national health insurance schemes was identified as a key strategy for moving towards more equitable and sustainable mental health financing in all six countries.

Conclusions

Including mental health in ongoing national health insurance reforms represent the most important strategic opportunity in the six participating countries to secure enhanced service provision and financial protection for individuals and households affected by mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities.

Declaration of interest

D.C. is a staff member of the World Health Organization.
Health system strengthening for mental health in low- and middle-income countries: introduction to the Emerald programme
Authors: Thornicroft Graham , Semrau Maya
Published: August 2019

This paper gives an overview of the Emerald (Emerging mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries) programme and introduces the subsequent seven papers in this BJPsych Open thematic series. The aims of the Emerald research programme were to improve mental health outcomes in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), namely Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda, by building capacity and by generating evidence to enhance health system strengthening in these six countries. The longer-term aim is to improve mental healthcare, and so contribute to a reduction in the large treatment gap that exists for mental disorders. This series includes papers describing the following components of the Emerald programme: (a) capacity building; (b) mental health financing; (c) integrated care (d) mental health information systems; and (e) knowledge transfer. We also include a cross-cutting paper with recommendations from the Emerald programme as a whole. The inclusion of clear mental-health-related targets and indicators within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals now intensifies the need for strong evidence about both how to provide effective treatments, and how to deliver these treatments within robust health systems.
27-Hydroxycholesterol Promotes Adiposity and Mimics Adipogenic Diet-Induced Inflammatory Signaling
Authors: Asghari Arvand , Ishikawa Tomonori , Hiramitsu Shiro , Lee Wan-Ru , Umetani Junko , Bui Linh , Korach Kenneth S , Umetani Michihisa
Published: August 2019

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27HC) is an abundant cholesterol metabolite and has detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system, whereas its impact on adiposity is not well known. In this study, we found that elevations in 27HC cause increased body weight gain in mice fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet in an estrogen receptor α–dependent manner. Regardless of diet type, body fat mass was increased by 27HC without changes in food intake or fat absorption. 27HC did not alter energy expenditure in mice fed a normal chow diet and increased visceral white adipose mass by inducing hyperplasia but not hypertrophy. Although 27HC did not augment adipocyte terminal differentiation, it increased the adipose cell population that differentiates to mature adipocytes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that 27HC treatment of mice fed a normal chow diet induces inflammatory gene sets similar to those seen after high-fat/high-cholesterol diet feeding, whereas there was no overlap in inflammatory gene expression among any other 27HC administration/diet change combination. Histological analysis showed that 27HC treatment increased the number of total and M1-type macrophages in white adipose tissues. Thus, 27HC promotes adiposity by directly affecting white adipose tissues and by increasing adipose inflammatory responses. Lowering serum 27HC levels may lead to an approach targeting cholesterol to prevent diet-induced obesity.
Cardiothoracic manifestations of Erdheim-Chester disease
Authors: Das Jeeban Paul , Xie Lola , Riedl Chris C , Hayes Sara A , Ginsberg Michelle S , Halpenny Darragh F
Published: August 2019

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis which can have a broad range of clinical and radiological presentations. Typically, ECD affects multiple organ systems, with skeletal involvement present in almost all ECD patients and cardiothoracic manifestations in more than half. Cardiac and thoracic involvement contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in affected patients and may have prognostic implications. The diagnosis of ECD can be challenging due to its rarity and similarity to other systemic disease processes. Although the diagnosis can be suggested on imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry are required for confirmation. We describe the multimodal imaging features of mediastinal, cardiac, pleural and lung parenchymal ECD. This review identifies the most common radiological manifestations of cardiac and thoracic ECD on contrast-enhanced CT, fluorine18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT and cardiac MRI, and highlights the role of these cross-sectional techniques in disease diagnosis.
MRI examination of resected malignant bone tumor can be an option for assessment of the osseous surgical margin
Authors: Sakamoto Akio , Okamoto Takeshi , Ikeguchi Ryosuke , Matsuda Shuichi
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Confirming the surgical osseous margin of a resected malignant bone tumor macroscopically before reconstruction with a prosthesis is ideal. However, making the cut-surface of the femur specimen during surgery is difficult because of the hard bone tissue. In order to resolve this problem, the possibility of intraoperative MRI was considered.

Methods:

MRI was performed at the surgical unit for five malignant femoral bone tumors that included two osteosarcomas and one undifferentiated high-grade sarcoma, and two metastatic tumors immediately after the tumor resection. The specimens were prepared in plastic containers with saline.

Results:

The osseous surgical margins were confirmed to be those planned pre-operatively in all cases without metal-induced artifacts. The T  1 weighted image (WI) was useful for evaluation of the osseous surgical margin, whereas the T  2WI was useful for confirmation of extraosseous soft-tissue.

Conclusion:

The MRI was performed post-operatively as a preliminary evaluation of the technique. However, a limited sequence (i.e. coronal T  1WI) with short examination time could be performed during surgery for the sole purpose of assessing the osseous margin.

Advances in knowledge:

MRI examination of a resected malignant bone tumor specimen has not been reported, and can be an option for assessment of the osseous surgical margin.
The maxillary sinus: physiology, development and imaging anatomy
Authors: Whyte Andrew , Boeddinghaus Rudolf
Published: August 2019

Objectives:

The maxillary sinus is of paramount importance for otolaryngologists, rhinologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, head and neck and dental and maxillofacial radiologists. A comprehensive review article concerning the physiology, development and imaging anatomy was undertaken.

Methods:

Relevant literature pertaining to the physiology of the sinonasal cavity, development of the paranasal sinuses and imaging anatomy of the maxilla and maxillary sinus from 2000 to 2019 was reviewed. Emphasis was placed on literature from the last 5 years.

Results:

Extensive recent research using imaging has provided new insights into the development of the maxillary sinus, the other paranasal sinuses and the midface. The fundamental physiological concept of mucociliary clearance and its role in sinus health is emphasized. The paranasal sinuses are an integral part of a common mucosal organ formed by the upper and lower airway. An in-depth understanding of the soft-tissue and neurovascular relationships of the maxillary sinus to the deep fascial spaces and branches of the trigeminal nerve and external carotid artery respectively is required to evaluate and report imaging involving the maxillary sinus. Sinusitis of rhinogenic, rather than odontogenic origin, originates from nasal inflammation followed by anterior ethmoid disease and secondary obstruction of the ostiomeatal unit. The role of anatomical variants that predispose to this pattern of disease is discussed in detail with illustrative examples. The maxillary sinus is intimately related to the roots of the posterior maxillary teeth; the high frequency of mucosal disease and sinusitis of odontogenic aetiology is now well recognized. In addition, an understanding of the anatomy of the alveolar process, morphology of the alveolar recess of the maxillary sinus and neurovascular supply are essential both for deliberate surgical intervention of the sinus and complications related to oral surgical procedures.

Conclusions:

An understanding of the fundamental principles of the development, physiology, anatomy and relationships of the maxillary sinus as depicted by multi-modality imaging is essential for radiologists reporting imaging involving the paranasal sinuses and midface.
Introducing high school students to the Gene Ontology classification system
Authors: Dedhia Mehek , Kohetuk Kenneth , Crusio Wim E. , Delprato Anna
Published: August 2019

We present a tutorial that introduces high school students to the Gene Ontology classification system which is widely used in genomics and systems biology studies to characterize large sets of genes based on functional and structural information. This classification system is a valuable and standardized method used to identify genes that act in similar processes and pathways and also provides insight into the overall architecture and distribution of genes and gene families associated with a particular tissue or disease. By means of this tutorial, students learn how the classification system works through analyzing a gene set using DAVID the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery that incorporates the Gene Ontology system into its suite of analysis tools. This method of analyzing genes is used by our high school student interns to categorize gene expression data related to behavioral neuroscience. Students will get a feel for working with genes and gene sets, acquire vocabulary, obtain an understanding of how a database is structured and gain an awareness of the vast amount of information that is known about genes as well as the online analysis tools to manage this information that is nowadays available. Based on survey responses, students intellectually benefit from learning about the Gene Ontology System and using the DAVID tools, they are better prepared for future database use and they also find it enjoyable.
Educação Física e Atenção Primária à Saúde: o apoio matricial no contexto das redes
Authors: Oliveira Braulio Nogueira de , Wachs Felipe
Published: August 2019

O presente artigo problematiza o trabalho da Educação Física na Atenção Primária Saúde (APS) com apoio matricial, na perspectiva das redes (setorial, intersetorial e social de apoio) e suas respectivas práticas desenvolvidas. A metodologia adotada foi qualitativa e as informações foram produzidas a partir de grupos focais e de observação da prática profissional. Os profissionais de Educação Física sinalizaram intervir com apoio matricial em cinco diferentes Redes de Atenção Saúde (RAS) e indicaram desenvolver sete práticas através das quais exercem esse apoio matricial: apoio matricial intersetorial, acolhimento, projeto terapêutico singular, interconsulta, intervisita, apoio a unidades básicas de saúde e apoio a grupos de práticas corporais cuidados por líderes comunitários ou por agentes comunitários de saúde. Conclui-se que a complexidade dos cenários e as práticas de apoio matricial da Educação Física na APS, no contexto das RAS, revelam a limitação de se restringir a intervenção prescrição de protocolos/procedimentos universais a partir de variáveis predeterminadas (de tempo e intensidade, por exemplo) por condição clínica. Aponta-se também para a necessidade de se considerar a estrutura operacional das redes (setorial, intersetorial e social de apoio), bem como as tecnologias/práticas centradas no trabalho interprofissional, pedagógico-formativo e centrado no usuário.
What Makes Geeks Tick? A Study of Stack Overflow Careers
Authors: Xu Lei , Nian Tingting , Cabral Luís
Published: August 2019

Many online platforms rely on users to voluntarily provide content. What motivates users to contribute content for free, however, is not well understood. In this paper, we use a revealed-preference approach to show that career concerns play an important role in user contributions to Stack Overflow, the largest online question-and-answer community. We investigate how activities that can enhance a user’s reputation vary before and after the user finds a new job. We contrast this reputation-generating activity with activities that do not improve a user’s reputation. After finding a new job, users contribute 23.7% less in reputation-generating activity; by contrast, they reduce their non–reputation-generating activity by only 7.4%. These findings suggest that users contribute to Stack Overflow in part because they perceive such contributions as a way to improve future employment prospects. We provide direct evidence against alternative explanations such as integer constraints, skills mismatch, and dynamic selection effects.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
Process Flexibility for Multiperiod Production Systems
Authors: Shi Cong , Wei Yehua , Zhong Yuan
Published: August 2019

The classical process flexibility literature has mostly focused on single-period models as finding the optimal multiperiod policy is difficult because of the curse of dimensionality. In “Process Flexibility for Multiperiod Production Systems,” Cong Shi, Yehua Wei, and Yuan Zhong study the design of sparse flexibility in dynamic make-to-order environments. Leveraging theories from applied probability, they propose a notion of “generalized chaining,” which allows one to design effective sparse flexibility structures in regimes in which capacity slacks are low. They then construct a structure that performs asymptotically close to full flexibility with only m + n arcs, where m and n represent the number of plants and product types, while also demonstrating that m + n is tight, that is, constructing systems in which even the best flexibility structure with m + n − 1 arcs cannot achieve the same asymptotic performance. These results provide insights into how design principles for process flexibility extend beyond the classical single-period model.
MACHINE-LEARNING ALGORITHM FOR SHIELDED SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALS DETECTION
Authors: Masala Eugene , Blomeley Laura
Published: August 2019

A machine-learning algorithm has been implemented by use of a neural network as a preliminary study on the applicability of this method to special nuclear materials detection. The algorithm predicts the presence of the 238U isotope when learning from a gamma spectrum data measured with a high-purity germanium detector from a sample of depleted uranium. In this work, both a fully connected neural network and a convolutional neural network have been implemented, and the performance of different configurations of the network has been studied. The use of convolutional network showed better performance over the fully connected network, with cost function and success rate values supporting a better prediction while avoiding overfitting. Furthermore, implemented network features such as filtering, max-pooling, dropout regularization, and momentum optimization also showed improved prediction performance.
BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO RIO JACUÍPE: INFLUÊNCIA DE CIDADES DO MÉDIO CURSO NO PROCESSO DE DEGRADAÇÃO AMBIENTAL
Authors: Araujo Oriana
Published: August 2019

O objetivo desse texto é examinar a influência das cidades situadas no médio curso da bacia do rio Jacuípe no processo de desmatamento a partir da retirada da cobertura vegetal, com consequente exposição dos solos aos processos erosivos. Para isso, utilizou-se imagens de satélite, técnicas de processamento digital de dados e de modelagem espacial, a fim de verificar o percentual total da cobertura vegetal até 5km das sedes urbanas, bem como da distribuição da cobertura vegetal em círculos projetados a cada km em um mapa de distâncias (buffers). Realizou-se uma pesquisa acerca do processo de ocupação dos municípios, coletando-se dados de população absoluta desde a década de 1970, bem como do avanço das principais atividades agropecuárias: o sisal e o gado bovino, para entender como tal processo articula-se aos processos de desmatamento presentes na área estudada. Constatou-se que há variados percentuais de desmatamento, desde 3% a 24% de cobertura vegetal dentre as cidades pesquisadas e seu entorno. Na média, há 11% de cobertura vegetal nas cidades do médio Jacuípe pesquisadas, o que denota um alto grau de retirada da vegetação. O tamanho das cidades ou sua existência há mais ou menos tempo não são condicionantes do desmatamento ou da manutenção da vegetação, conforme evidenciaram os dados. Outrossim, os municípios com tendência ao avanço da pecuária bovina apresentaram maiores variações na cobertura vegetal, com saldos mais negativos, especialmente Pé de Serra, Gavião, Nova Fátima e Riachão do Jacuípe, enquanto Capela do Alto Alegre e São José do Jacuípe vêm recuperando sua cobertura vegetal devido ao crescimento da algaroba (prosopis juliflora), que pode concorrer com a caatinga, promovendo-lhe fortes danos. Já nos municípios de Valente, Retirolândia e São Domingos, com tendência ao avanço dos sisalais, a cobertura vegetal manteve-se um pouco acima da média, indicando que essa atividade (nesse caso) é menos degradadora que as pastagens.
O(s) sujeito(s) do/no crime: efeitos de falta, resíduos incompletos
Authors: Ribeiro Patti Ane , Abrahão e Sousa Lucília Maria
Published: August 2019

Neste trabalho, retomando teoricamente o modo como a noção de sujeito é trabalhada na Análise de Discurso e na Psicanálise, analisamos como são constituídos dizeres aos e dos sujeitos do/no crime em uma charge de Angeli, publicada na Folha de São Paulo e intitulada “Da FEBEM para o presídio”. Mostramos como os sujeitos ali expostos na charge apagam outros sentidos de si não ligados à criminalidade e silenciam também a violência que sofrem pelo funcionamento dos Aparelhos Repressivos do Estado, sendo falar de sua dor, um quase impossível de enunciar.
Characteristics of Bolus Using Silicone Rubber with Silica Composites for Electron Beam Radiotherapy
Authors: Astuti Santi Yuli , Sutanto Heri , Hidayanto Eko , Jaya Gede Wiratma , Supratman Astri Suppa , Saraswati Galih Puspa
Published: August 2019

Bolus is a material that equal with the tissue and functions to increase the dose radiation in surface area in external radiotherapy, which uses electron beam. In this research, bolus was made using silicone rubber (SR) material, which was mixed with silicacomposites material. The bolus with a dimension of 12 x 12 x 0,5 cm3 was successfully made with a various amount of silica composite (2%, 4%, 6%). Bolus was then characterized using linear accelerator (LINAC) with an electron beam for percentage of surface dose (PSD) and using CT-Scan to measurement relative electron density (RED). The energy of electron beam used in this research was5 and 7 MeV. The result shows that RED value increased with increasing the amount of silica composite with higher RED value amounted to 1.186. PSD value increased with increasing the amount of silica composite, higher PSD value of energy in 5 and 7 MeV amounted 106.82% and 106.82% and 100.34%, respectively. The result certified that the silica composite material can increase the percentage of surface dose on electron beam radiotherapy.
Design of Integrated Polarizer to Evaluate Quality of Cooking Oil Based on the Fluorescence Polarization Method
Authors: Sugito, Heri , Firdausi Ketut Sofjan
Published: August 2019

An integrated polarizer was designed as an alternative test tool to evaluate quality of cooking oils. Integrated Polarizer was composed of light source with wavelength of 532 ± 10 nm, polarizer, analyser, cuvette, electrodes, and high voltage source. In this research, the tool works based on the fluorescence polarization method. Measurements were made by observing the fluorescence polarization angle changes that occur and by applying an external electric field at the samples using high voltage of 0-9 kV in the parallel plate. The results show that the expired cooking oil has a greater polarization angle than the edible cooking oil. The results also show that the change in the polarization angle will increase in proportion to the increase of the heating time. The condition of saturated fatty acids in each sample has an effect on the change of polarization angle.
Identification of "WS" geothermal field system by analyzing TE, TM, and TE-TM of 2D magnetotelluric inversion models
Authors: Triana Triana , Yulianto Tony , Harmoko Udi , Takodama Iqbal
Published: August 2019

Magnetotelluric data has been carried out at the "WS" geothermal field to analyze the resistivity model resulting from 2D inversion of magnetotelluric data in TE, TM and TE-TM modes. Base on the three models produced, the mode is determined to produce the most representative model to assist in the interpretation of the "WS" geothermal system. There is a step of modes separation, namely TE (Tranverse Electric) and TM (Transverse Magnetic) modes in processing MT data. Each mode produces a 2D model with different conductivity properties. The analysis results of the three modes explain that TE mode is dominated by low resistivity with a range of values of 10-35 Ωm and medium resistivity with a value range of 35-250 Ωm and a vertical resistivity contrast. The TM mode describes the high resistivity in the Southwest and the center of the track with a value of more than 470 sehinggam resulting in lateral resistivity contrast. While the TE-TM mode produces a model that is not much different from TM mode, only the distribution of the resistivity value is a combination with TE mode. This mode describes the distribution of resistivity both vertically and laterally. Based on the analysis of the three modes, it can be concluded that the TE-TM mode is the mode that produces the most representative model. Interpretation model shows that from the TE-TM mode we have a low resistivity distribution (10-35 Ωm) represent a cap rock zone, reservoir rock with a medium resistivity distribution (35-380 Ωm), resistive zone with a high resistivity distribution (more than 380 Ωm), and the existence of the three of faults structures ro be a controller system of the "WS" geothermal.
Evaluation of Rheological and Moisture Damage Properties of Crumb Rubber–Modified Asphalt Binder
Authors: Singh Dharamveer , Mishra Vinamra , Girimath Shashi Bhushan , Das Aditya Kumar , Rajan Bharat
Published: August 2019

This study investigates the influence of crumb rubber (CR) particles on the rheological and moisture damage properties of asphalt binder. A control neat asphalt binder (AC-10) and 30# CR are chosen for the preparation of CR-modified asphalt (CRMA) binder. A total of four different CR dosages (0, 5, 10, and 15 % by weight of binder) was selected for the preparation of four combinations of CRMA binder. The rheological performance of CRMA binders was investigated based on Superpave rutting parameter, multiple stress creep recovery, Superpave fatigue parameter, and linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test using dynamic shear rheometer. Moisture damage response of CRMA binder was evaluated using surface free energy and bitumen bond strength test. CR particles significantly enhanced rut resistance of neat asphalt binder at high temperatures with improved stiffness properties and elastic response. Superpave fatigue factor and LAS test results showed that CRMA binder containing a CR dosage up to 10 % has improved fatigue life and is less susceptible to strain amplitude at an intermediate temperature. CRMA binder with 5 % CR predominantly shows better resistance to moisture damage with good interfacial energy and compatibility ratio at the aggregate interface. However, BBS test results imply that the contribution of high dosages of CR (5 to 15 %) is significant in improving the bond strength and moisture damage resistance of CRMA binder.
Weld Metal Toughness of Autogenous Laser-Welded Joints of High-Strength Steel Domex 960
Authors: Kurc-Lisiecka Agnieszka , Lisiecki Aleksander
Published: August 2019

The results of investigations on autogenous laser welding of 5.0-mm-thick high-strength steel Domex 960 are presented in this article. The experimental plates delivered directly from the steel manufacturer were used for butt joint welding. The disk laser with maximum output power (maximum capacity of the laser generator) of 3.3 kW, emitting at 1.03 μm, and with the beam spot diameter of 200 μm was used for the trails of welding. Initially, the bead-on-plate welding tests were carried out, and then the test butt joints were laser welded. The influences of basic technological welding parameters, especially the energy input of laser welding on the shape of the fusion zone, the microstructure of weld metal and heat affected zone, and the impact toughness were analyzed. Laser welding trials were conducted in a wide range of energy input from 100 to 400 J/mm. Despite the low energy input of the laser welding process and also the short cooling times t8/5, tendency to cold crack was found neither in the weld metal nor in the heat affected zone. The carbon equivalent (CET), determined by the chemical analysis of the experimental melt, was just 0.341, indicating moderate tendency to increase hardness after welding because of martensitic transformation. It was found that the energy input has a clear influence on the microstructure and the impact toughness of the weld metal. The weld metal of the test butt joint welded at the energy input of 198 J/mm showed the average impact toughness at approximately 80 % of the base metal, whereas the weld metal of the test butt joint welded at a lower energy input of 132 J/mm showed the average impact toughness at the level of just 60 % of the base metal of Domex 960 steel.
PIM-Related Kinases Selectively Regulate Olfactory Sensations inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kalichamy Karunambigai S. , Ikkala Kaisa , Pörsti Jonna , Santio Niina M. , Tuomaala Joel , Jha Sweta , Holmberg Carina I. , Koskinen Päivi J.
Published: August 2019

The mammalian PIM family of serine/threonine kinases regulate several cellular functions, such as cell survival and motility. Because PIM expression is observed in sensory organs, such as olfactory epithelium, we now wanted to explore the physiological roles of PIM kinases there. As our model organism, we used theCaenorhabditis elegansnematodes, which express two PIM-related kinases, PRK-1 and PRK-2. We demonstrated PRKs to be true PIM orthologs with similar substrate specificity as well as sensitivity to PIM-inhibitory compounds. When we analyzed the effects of pan-PIM inhibitors onC. eleganssensory functions, we observed that PRK activity is selectively required to support olfactory sensations to volatile repellents and attractants sensed by AWB and AWCONneurons, respectively, but is dispensable for gustatory sensations. Analyses ofprk-deficient mutant strains confirmed these findings and suggested that PRK-1, but not PRK-2 is responsible for the observed effects on olfaction. This regulatory role of PRK-1 is further supported by its observed expression in the head and tail neurons, including AWB and AWC neurons. Based on the evolutionary conservation of PIM-related kinases, our data may have implications in regulation of also mammalian olfaction.
Korea’s Migrants: From Homogeneity to Diversity
Authors: Shin Gi-Wook , Moon Rennie J.
Published: August 2019

Korea’s migrants have diversified in recent decades. This special section gathers articles that address this development by examining issues of class as an analytical lens in addition to ethnicity and citizenship, and also by considering the contributions of migrants from both human and social capital perspectives. By doing so, we aim to provide a better understanding of the varied experiences, realities, and complexities of Korea’s increasingly diverse migrant groups.
Skilled Migrants as Human and Social Capital in Korea
Authors: Shin Gi-Wook , Choi Joon Nak , Moon Rennie J.
Published: August 2019

South Korea faces a shortage of highly skilled labor, but with a low tolerance for diversity, it lags behind in its global competitiveness to retain mobile skilled talent. Using data on foreign students and professionals, we demonstrate the potential of skilled migrants as both human and social capital for Korea and suggest that the country is poised to adopt a study-bridge-work framework to compensate for its competitive weaknesses.
The recognition and modelling of a backbone and its deformity
Authors: Markauskas Ramūnas , Juozapavičius Algimantas , Saniukas Kęstutis , Bernotavičius Giedrius
Published: August 2019

In this article the authors present a method for the backbone recognition and modelling. The process of recognition combines some classical techniques (Hough transformation, GVF snakes) with some new (authors present a method for initial curvature detection, which they call the Falling Ball method). The result enables us to identify high-quality features of the spine and to detect the major deformities of backbone: the intercrestal line, centre sacral vertical line, C7 plumbline; as well as angles: proximal thoracic curve, main thoracic curve, thoracolumbar/lumbar. These features are used for measure in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, especially in the case of treatment. Input data are just radiographic images, meet in everyday practice.
Stability and bifurcation in a ratio-dependent Holling-III system with diffusion and delay
Authors: Zuo Wenjie , Wei Junjie
Published: August 2019

A diffusive ratio-dependent predator-prey system with Holling-III functional response and delay effects is considered. Global stability of the boundary equilibrium and the stability of the unique positive steady state and the existence of spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous periodic solutions are investigated in detail, by the maximum principle and the characteristic equations. Ratio-dependent functional response exhibits rich spatiotemporal patterns. It is found that, the system without delay is dissipative and uniformly permanent under certain conditions, the delay can destabilize the positive constant equilibrium and spatial Hopf bifurcations occur as the delay crosses through some critical values. Then, the direction and the stability of Hopf bifurcations are determined by applying the center manifold reduction and the normal form theory for partial functional differential equations. Some numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results.
Pattern formation in three species food web model in spatiotemporal domain with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response
Authors: Baghel Randhir Singh Singh , Dhar Joydip
Published: August 2019

A mathematical model is proposed to study a three species food web model of preypredator system in spatiotemporal domain. In this model, we have included three state variables, namely, one prey and two first order predators population with Beddington-DeAngelis predation functional response. We have obtained the local stability conditions for interior equilibrium and the existence of Hopf-bifurcation with respect to the mutual interference of predator as bifurcation parameter for the temporal system. We mainly focus on spatiotemporal system and provided an analytical and numerical explanation for understanding the diffusion driven instability condition. The different types of spatial patterns with respect to different time steps and diffusion coefficients are obtained. Furthermore, the higher-order stability analysis of the spatiotemporal domain is explored.
Fixed point theorems for alpha-contractive mappings of Meir–Keeler type and applications
Authors: Berzig Maher , Rus Mircea-Dan
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we introduce the notion of α-contractive mapping of Meir–Keeler type in complete metric spaces and prove new theorems which assure the existence, uniqueness and iterative approximation of the fixed point for this type of contraction. The presented theorems extend, generalize and improve several existing results in literature. To validate our results, we establish the existence and uniqueness of solution to a class of third order two point boundary value problems.
Compactons and topological solitons of the Drinfel'd–Sokolov system
Authors: Inc Mustafa , Fendoglu Eda , Triki Houria , Biswas Anjan
Published: August 2019

This paper presents the Drinfel’d–Sokolov system (shortly D(m, n)) in a detailed fashion. The Jacobi’s elliptic function method is employed to extract the cnoidal and snoidal wave solutions. The compacton and solitary pattern solutions are also retrieved. The ansatz method is applied to extract the topological 1-soliton solutions of the D(m, n) with generalized evolution. There are a couple of constraint conditions that will fall out in order to exist the topological soliton solutions.
Karol Brzozowski’s Poem about “Our Land”
Authors: Ożóg-Winiarska Zofia
Published: August 2019

This paper endeavours to renew the scientific description of Karol Brzozowski’s poem entitled Noc strzelców w Anatolii (The Night of Shooters in Anatolia) (1856), which was unjustly forgotten by literary critics, editors, and literary canons. The poem was inspired by the literary masterpieces of Polish romanticism, such as Adam Mickiewicz’s Pan Tadeusz (Mr. Tadeusz)(1834) and Wincenty Pol’s Pieśń o ziemi naszej (A Song of Our Land) (1843). This article reveals the aesthetic, poetic, and narrative qualities of the poem, the elements that constitute its beauty and novelty, particularly with regard to a poetic tale and description where it is possible to discern the elements of romantic improvisation, visual and linguistic disharmonies of expressionist character. The Brzozowski’s poem presents a symbolic expanse of the homeland, which consists of the full lushness of the flora, fauna, natural phenomena, the images of home, fields and forests as well as the landscapes of historical regions of Poland around Warsaw and the borderlands of Southwest Lithuania. This expanse is filled with inner landscapes of an archetype character, remembered and recorded through the senses and emotions in the subconscious of the author and the characters of the poem. These artistic and ideological features are seen as a presage of the future neo-romanticism.
The Clitics in Standard Lithuanian
Authors: Kazlauskienė Asta
Published: August 2019

A Lithuanian word is quite an autonomous prosodic unit. Nevertheless, in some cases a word loses stress, connects to an adjacent word, and becomes a part of a succeeding or preceding word. The aim of this research is to establish and describe the prosodic autonomy of the Lithuanian language word and its determinants.The database for this analysis consists of some audio recordings of novels, which were used in this study (11 h 20 min, 22 speakers). A computational programme was designed by Prof. Dr. G. Raškinis.The empirical data showed that the words with clitics comprise about ¼ of all the words. The data analysis suggests that the word autonomy depends on many factors: phonetic structure (monosyllabic words often lose their stress), morphological features (uninflected parts of speech, especially prepositions, often do not have a stress), the structure of a sentence (a potential clitic can get a stress in an elliptic sentence), pragmatic intentions (a word with a phrase stress will get a lexical stress), and the pressure of the rhythm (a potential clitic can keep stress due to the succeeding unstressed syllable). The latter factor is important for the rhythm of the speech for two reasons. First, a clitic can eliminate a stress clash, which might be formed if both words had stresses. Second, if clitic is connected to the word with a first stressed syllable, the second syllable would become stressed. Such word is articulated easier than the word which begins with a stressed syllable. However, the rhythm does not have a major impact on the word autonomy in the Lithuanian language. The phonetic structure and morphological features have the most significant influence on the prosodic autonomy of a word.
Socio-Cultural Analysis of Sport
Authors: Mazurkiewicz Michał
Published: August 2019

JARVIE, Grant, THORNTON, James, 2012. Sport, Culture and Society. An Introduction (second edition). London and New York: Routledge. p. 501. ISBN 978-0-415-48393-3