bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active Earth Pressure against Rigid Retaining Walls for Finite Soils in Sloping Condition considering Shear Stress and Soil Arching Effect
Authors: Hu Weidong , Liu Kangxing , Zhu Xinnian , Tong Xiaolong , Zhou Xiyu
Published: February 2020

The horizontal differential layer element method was used to study the active earth pressure of the finite‐width soil formed by the rigid retaining wall for the embankment or adjacent foundation pits. The cohesionless soil was taken as the research object, and the soil arch theory was introduced based on the translation mode of rigid retaining wall and the linear sliding fracture surface. The minor principal stress line was assumed as circular, considering the deflected principal stress as soil arching effect. The shear stress between level soil layers in the failure wedge was calculated, and the differential level layer method was modified. Then, the theoretical formula of the active earth pressure, the resultant earth pressure, and the point of application of resultant earth pressure were obtained using this revised method. The predictions by the proposed formula were compared with the existing methods combined with the cases. It is shown that the resultant finite pressure increases gradually and approaches to Coulomb active earth pressure values when the soil is infinite, with the increase of the ratios of the backfill width to height. Moreover, the horizontal pressure for limited soils is distributed nonlinearly along the wall height. Considering the shear stress between level soil layers and the soil arching effect, the position of application point of the resultant active earth pressure by the proposed formulation is higher than that of Coulomb’s solution. The wall is rougher, and the resultant pressure will be smaller. The application point distance from the bottom of the wall will increase. Finally, an experiment was conducted to verify the distribution of the active earth pressure for finite soil against rigid retaining wall, and the research results agree well with those of the experimented observations.
Spinal Subdural Abscess following Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Miura Isamu , Kubota Motoo , Momosaki Oji , Takebayashi Kento , Kawamata Takakazu , Yuzurihara Masahito
Published: February 2020

Spinal subdural abscesses are rare lesions. We report the case of surgical site infection complicated with meningitis and rapidly progressive spinal subdural abscess caused by P. aeruginosa following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of drop foot syndrome and sciatica caused by stenosis of the L5/6 intervertebral foramen accompanied by L5 lumbar vertebral fracture. Accordingly, TLIF of L5-L6 and balloon kyphoplasty of L5 were performed. On the 3rd postoperative day (POD), she was diagnosed with surgical site infection complicated with bacterial meningitis. Subcutaneous fluid, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures indicated P. aeruginosa. On the 7th POD, a repeat MRI showed a large dorsal fluid collection consistent with a subdural infection and massive cauda equina compression. We performed debridement and instrument removal and found a dural laceration that was not observed during the first operation. An intraoperative insensible dural laceration may cause bacteria intrusion into the subdural space.
Target Recognition in SAR Images Based on Multiresolution Representations with 2D Canonical Correlation Analysis
Authors: Tan Xiaojing , Zou Ming , He Xiqin
Published: February 2020

This study proposes a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) target-recognition method based on the fused features from the multiresolution representations by 2D canonical correlation analysis (2DCCA). The multiresolution representations were demonstrated to be more discriminative than the solely original image. So, the joint classification of the multiresolution representations is beneficial to the enhancement of SAR target recognition performance. 2DCCA is capable of exploiting the inner correlations of the multiresolution representations while significantly reducing the redundancy. Therefore, the fused features can effectively convey the discrimination capability of the multiresolution representations while relieving the storage and computational burdens caused by the original high dimension. In the classification stage, the sparse representation-based classification (SRC) is employed to classify the fused features. SRC is an effective and robust classifier, which has been extensively validated in the previous works. The moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition (MSTAR) data set is employed to evaluate the proposed method. According to the experimental results, the proposed method could achieve a high recognition rate of 97.63% for the 10 classes of targets under the standard operating condition (SOC). Under the extended operating conditions (EOC) like configuration variance, depression angle variance, and the robustness of the proposed method are also quantitively validated. In comparison with some other SAR target recognition methods, the superiority of the proposed method can be effectively demonstrated.
Food Safety Practice and Associated Factors among Meat Handlers in Gondar Town: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yenealem Dawit Getachew , Yallew Walelegn Worku , Abdulmajid Shafi
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients. However, meat composition makes it an ideal medium for the growth of a good number of microorganisms. Around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice. Thus, probing into meat handling practice will be an insatiable input for the intervention. This study aims to investigate the level of meat handling practice and associated factors among meat handlers in butcheries in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Method. The study was a community-based cross-sectional study among butcher shops in Gondar town from April 20 to 30, 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors among 214 meat handlers from butcher shops. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the factors significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. Result. More than half of the meat handlers 66.4% (95% CI: (59.8, 72.4)) in butcher shops had a good level of meat handling practice. Level of attitude (AOR = 4.45; 95% CI, 2.09–9.43) and knowledge (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.09–3.82) were significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. The majority of respondents wash their hands after disposing garbage (91.6%) with less vigilance after smoking, sneezing, or coughing (64.0%). Conclusion. The study revealed that the level of food handling practice was unsatisfactory among meat handlers. This result is a testimony to the prevailing potential risk faced by consumers due to the disregarding of hygienic behaviors by food handlers. Considering attitude and knowledge are associated with the outcome variable, investing time on behavioral change activities that will contribute to the improvement of meat handler’s attitude & practice, primarily focusing on reducing working while ill is essential. Therefore, much supervisory and coaching work will be expected from local health departments & regulatory bodies.
Jieyu Anshen Granule, a Chinese Herbal Formulation, Exerts Effects on Poststroke Depression in Rats
Authors: Du Yuan , Ruan Jian , Zhang Leiming , Fu Fenghua
Published: February 2020

Jieyu Anshen granule (JY) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating depression and anxiety. The aim of the study was to observe the effects of JY on poststroke depression (PSD) and investigate the underlying mechanism. PSD rat model was developed by middle cerebral artery occlusion following chronic unpredictable mild stress in conjunction with isolation rearing. We performed behavioral tests, Western blot, ELISA, and BrdU/NeuN staining. Treatment with JY showed significant antidepressant effect in open‐field and sucrose preference tests, as well as significant improvement in beam‐walking, cylinder, grip strength, and water maze tests. In addition, treatment with JY could restore the levels of neurotransmitters and decrease the levels of hormone and inflammation cytokines in serum and brain. Treatment with JY also showed significant regulation in the expression of neurotransmitter receptors and NF‐κB/IκB‐α signaling in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, the numbers of newborn neurons in the hippocampus were increased by treatment with JY. Our results suggest that JY could ameliorate PSD and improve the neurological and cognitive functions. The antidepressive effect may be associated with the modulation of JY on monoamine system, neuroendocrine, neuroinflammation, and neurogenesis.
A Trypanosoma cruzi Genome Tandem Repetitive Satellite DNA Sequence as a Molecular Marker for a LAMP Assay for Diagnosing Chagas’ Disease
Authors: Ordóñez Diego , Fernández-Soto Pedro , Fernández-Martín Ana M. , Crego-Vicente Beatriz , Febrer-Sendra Begoña , Diego Juan García-Bernalt , Vicente Belén , López-Abán Julio , Belhassen-García Moncef , Muro Antonio , Patarroyo Manuel A.
Published: February 2020

Chagas’ disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi which is endemic throughout Latin America and is spread by worldwide migration. Diagnosis is currently limited to serological and molecular techniques having variations regarding their sensitivity and specificity. This work was aimed at developing a new sensitive, applicable, and cost-effective molecular diagnosis technique for loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based detection of T. cruzi (Tc-LAMP). The results led to determining a highly homologous satellite repeat region (231 bp) among parasite strains as a molecular marker for diagnosing the disease. Tc-LAMP was performed correctly for detecting parasite DNA (5 fg for the CL Brener strain and 50 fg for the DM28, TcVI, and TcI strains). Assay results proved negative for DNA from 16 helminth species and 7 protozoa, including Leishmania spp. Tc-LAMP based on the highly repeated T. cruzi satellite region is thus proposed as an important alternative for diagnosing T. cruzi infection, overcoming other methods’ limitations such as their analytic capability, speed, and requiring specialized equipment or highly trained personnel. Tc-LAMP could be easily adapted for point-of-care testing in areas having limited resources.
Versions of Inequalities Related to p-Schatten Norm
Authors: Gao Fugen , Liu Xiaoxiao , Tian Mengyu
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we investigate some operator inequalities for the p-Schatten norm and obtain some other versions of these inequalities when parameters taking values in different regions. Let A1,…,An, B1,…,Bn∈BpH such that ∑i,j=1nAi∗Bj=0. Then, for p≥2, p≥λ>0, and 0<μ≤2, n21/p−1/λ∑i,j=1nAi±Bjpλ1/λ≤n1/2∑i=1nAi2+∑i=1nBi2p/21/2≤21/2−μ/4n1−μ/4∑i=1nAip4/μ+∑i=1nBip4/μμ/4. For 0<p≤2, p≤λ, and μ≥2, the inequalities are reversed. Moreover, we get some applications of our results.
Differential Evolution Optimized a Second-Order Divided Difference Particle Filter
Authors: Cao Ting , Gao Huo-tao , Sun Chun-feng , Ru Guo-bao
Published: February 2020

In order to improve the estimation accuracy of particle filter algorithm in a nonlinear system state estimation problem, a new algorithm based on the second-order divided difference filter to generate the proposed distribution and the differential evolution algorithm for resampling is proposed. The second-order divided difference based on Strling’s interpolation formula is used to generate approximations to nonlinear dynamics, which avoids the evaluation of the Jacobian derivative matrix and is easy to implement. Cholesky factorization is used to ensure the positive definiteness of the covariance matrix. The truncated errors of the local linearization are reduced to a certain extent, and the approximation degree of the proposed distribution to the posterior probability of the system state is improved. The differential evolution algorithm is used to replace the traditional resampling algorithm, which effectively mitigates the problem of particle degradation. Monte Carlo simulation experiments show the effectiveness of the new algorithm.
Pregnancy in Advanced Kidney Disease: Clinical Practice Considerations on a Challenging Combination
Authors: Snoek Rozemarijn , van der Graaf Rieke , Meinderts Jildau R. , van Reekum Franka , Bloemenkamp Kitty W.M. , Knoers Nine V.A.M. , van Eerde Albertien M. , Lely A. Titia
Published: February 2020

Background:Thanks to the advances in care, pregnancy is now attainable for the majority of young female CKD patients, although it is still a high-risk endeavor. Clinical decision-making in these cases is impacted by a myriad of factors, making (pre)pregnancy counseling a complex process. The complexities, further impacted by limited data and unknown risks regarding outcome, can cause discussions when deciding on the best care for a specific patient. Objectives:In this article, we provide an overview of the considerations and dilemmas we encounter in preconception counseling and offer our perspective on how to deal with them in daily clinical practice. Methods:The main topics we discuss in our counseling are (1) the high risk of pregnancy complications, (2) the risk of permanent CKD deterioration due to pregnancy and subsequent decreased life expectancy, (3) appropriate changes in renal medication, and (4) assisted reproduction, genetic testing, and prenatal or preimplantation genetic diagnostics. Results and Conclusions:In our clinic, we openly address moral dilemmas arising in clinical practice in pregnancy and CKD, both within the physician team and with the patient. We do this by ensuring an interpretive physician-patient interaction and shared decision-making, deliberating in a multidisciplinary setting and, if needed, with input from an expert committee.
Acerca da categoria de “pessoa” e de sua relação com o processo de reificação em "O capital" de Karl Marx
Authors: Sartori Vitor Bartoletti
Published: February 2020

Neste artigo, contrapondo-nos à abordagem corrente acerca da questão do Direito em Marx, defendida no Brasil por grandes autores como Márcio Naves, buscamos enxergar a relação entre a noção de pessoa que aparece em O capital e o processo de reificação, tratado no mesmo livro. Para tanto, procuraremos nos opor à tese pachukaniana segundo a qual, imediatamente, pode-se derivar a noção de sujeito de direito da obra magna de Marx.
O vício dogmático da teoria discursiva do Estado Democrático de Direito
Authors: Pinto Thiago Ferrare
Published: February 2020

O presente trabalho desenvolve a hipótese segundo a qual a teoria discursiva do Estado democrático de direito falha em sua pretensão de materialidade. A pressuposição de que o direito constitucional internaliza as tensões sociais e fornece a gramática do exercício da crítica envolve a naturalização das condições da liberdade. Sincronizando a história desde a perspectiva do Estado constitucional, a teoria discursiva não tem sensibilidade para as experiências de liberdade que não se deixam compreender nos marcos universalizantes da concepção jurídico-constitucional de realização da subjetividade.
Perfil do consumo de álcool entre estudantes universitários
Authors: Barros Mariana Salles Motta Rodrigues de , Costa Luciana Scarlazzari
Published: February 2020

O objetivo foi avaliar o perfil de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas entre estudantes de uma universidade brasileira. Quanto ao consumo de álcool, 76,6% foram classificados com baixo risco e 23,4% de risco/uso abusivo. Os estudantes que faziam uso de tabaco e drogas ilícitas apresentaram riscos potencialmente elevados de consumo de álcool (RP bruta = 3,69, IC95%: 2,01 – 6,79; RP bruta =2,44, IC95%: 1,32 – 4,50, respectivamente). Os estudantes apresentaram baixo risco de dependência, no entanto, os escores se mostraram diferenciados quando avaliado com características sociodemográficas e hábitos de vida.
Potencialidades e desafios do trabalho da equipe itinerante no cuidado ao usuário de drogas
Authors: Eslabão Adriane Domingues , Pinho Leandro Barbosa de , Camatta Márcio Wagner , Santos Elitiele Ortiz dos , Cassola Talita Portela , Silva Vanessa Alvez Mora da
Published: February 2020

OBJETIVO: identificar potencialidades e desafios do trabalho de uma Equipe Itinerante de Saúde Mental no cuidado aos usuários de drogas.MÉTODO: estudo qualitativo realizado com uma equipe itinerante de um município do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio da observação participante e entrevista semiestruturada com os profissionais no ano de 2015. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo Temática.RESULTADOS: entre as potencialidades, destaca-se a própria criação deste serviço para atuar com o setor judiciário. Com relação aos desafios, elencou-se a dificuldade de discutir sobre a internação com a família.CONCLUSÃO: as inovações e os desafios são inerentes ao modo psicossocial no qual as situações complexas envolvem o território e a organização dos serviços de saúde.
A antropologia de Rousseau no Anúncio do Prof. I. Kant de 1765-1766
Authors: Santos Leonardo Rennó Ribeiro
Published: February 2020

O impacto da antropologia rousseauísta no pensamento antropológico que Kant começou a formar no interior do seu curso sobre geografia física, sobretudo no que diz respeito à redefinição metodológica provocada pelo Segundo Discurso de Rousseau, não se encontra confirmado e nem mesmo completamente mapeado pela Kantsforschung. O presente artigo propõe uma interpretação que destaca essa influência no texto Anúncio do Prof. I. Kant de 1765-1766 e, em seguida, considera um ponto cego crucial nas posições assumidas por B. Erdmann (1882), J. Schmucker (1961) e H. Wilson (2006, 2018) a respeito da relevância da geografia física na estruturação da antropologia kantiana.
Reflexões sobre o Eu na teoria freudiana
Authors: Filla Munique Gaio
Published: February 2020

O presente artigo visa tanto a possibilidade de compreender a relação entre Freud e Kant, quanto a de determinar certos limites dessa aproximação, a partir da comparação proposta por Béatrice Longuenesse entre o Ich freudiano e a unidade transcendental da apercepção kantiana. Visto que tal comparação é sustentada pela caracterização do Eu de Freud como uma organização de eventos mentais regida pelo princípio de realidade e pelas leis dos processos secundários, será destacado que essa mesma instância psíquica carrega partes inconscientes no sentido dinâmico e traz as marcas do Isso, enquanto aquilo que há de mais irracional na vida psíquica.
A objeção de Thomas Reid à teoria humiana da identidade pessoal
Authors: Freitas Vinícius França
Published: February 2020

O artigo comenta a objeção de Thomas Reid à teoria da identidade pessoal de David Hume. A hipótese avançada afirma que a crítica reidiana não é efetiva porque se baseia numa compreensão equivocada da teoria humiana, a saber, que Hume teria admitido uma tese ontológica negativa – a inexistência de uma mente para além do campo das percepções – e uma tese ontológica positiva – a redução da mente apenas a um feixe de percepções. Após explicar em que medida a crítica de Reid se baseia nesta compreensão, o artigo mostra em que medida Hume não assume nenhuma das duas teses.
O Romance de Artista Alemão: arte e utopia no jovem Marcuse
Authors: Kunz Cibele Saraiva
Published: February 2020

Este artigo apresenta uma análise sobre a tese de doutorado de Marcuse, Der Deutsche Künstlerroman (O Romance de Artista Alemão). Obra ainda pouco explorada em língua portuguesa e que expõe de forma embrionária reflexões que serão a base da teoria estética de Marcuse nas décadas de 1960 e 1970, tais como a separação entre arte e vida e a alienação artística. Busca-se demonstrar a relação íntima entre arte e utopia no primeiro trabalho de Marcuse.
Art and History, 1969–2019
Authors: Burke Peter
Published: February 2020

The 1960s and 1970s marked a turning point in the encounters between generalist historians and art historians regarding the study of art. Before that moment, art history, from its very inception as an independent department in universities, had been entirely distinct from the discipline of generalist history. However, three case studies—art and the Reformation, the rise of the art market, and the proliferation of political monuments—reveal the convergence between the two disciplines that has unfolded during the last half-century, culminating in recent discussions of agency and attempts to answer the question, What is Art?
A new species of the genus Dendrelaphis (Squamata: Colubridae) from Yunnan Province, China, with discussion of the occurrence of D. cyanochloris (Wall, 1921) in China
Authors: JIANG KE , REN JIN-LONG , GUO JUN-FENG , WANG ZENG , DING LI , LI JIA-TANG
Published: February 2020

A new species of the genus Dendrelaphis is described from Xishuangbanna, southern Yunnan, China, based on molecular and morphological data. The new species can be differentiated from other congeners by the following combination of characters: 1) ground color of body bronze, a black postocular stripe extending onto the neck only; 2) pale and dark ventrolateral stripe absent; 3) relatively indistinct transverse bands on the anterior part of lateral body; 4) loreal single; 5) vertebral scales strongly enlarged; 6) dorsal scale rows 15-15-11, all smooth; 7) ventrals 193–197, subcaudals 130–135, paired; 8) SVL/TOL ratio 0.292–0.301; 9) supralabials 9, 4th through 6th touching the eye; 10) the outermost row of dorsal scales the same color as other dorsal scales; 11) retracted hemipenis extending to the 6–7th subcaudal scales. According to molecular and morphological data, D. ngansonensis likely belongs to the D. cyanochloris complex. We further discussed D. cyanochloris complex from Tibet, Yunnan and Hainan, China. A key to Chinese species of Dendrelaphis is provided.
A new species from India with a key to all known species of the genus Anaptygus Mistshenko, 1951 (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Authors: KUMAR HIRDESH , CHANDRA KAILASH , SAINI JAGDISH
Published: February 2020

A new species of the genus Anaptygus Mistshenko, 1951, Anaptygus shishodiai Kumar & Chandra sp. nov., from Valley of Flowers National Park, India is described in this paper. The new species is similar to A. qinghaiensis Yin, 1984, but differs from latter by length of fastigial foveolae 5.5 times its width in male and 3.2 times in female; apex of elytra reaching posterior margin of third abdominal tergite in male and reaching posterior margin of first abdominal tergite in female. A key to all the known species of Anaptygus Mistshenko, 1951 is also provided.
The mature larva of Poemenia albipes Cresson (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Poemeniinae) and a review of the biology of Nearctic Poemenia
Authors: WAHL DAVID B.
Published: February 2020

The mature larva of Poemenia albipes is figured and described, providing the first knowledge of the larval morphology of this genus. Poemenia is considered to be an ectoparasitoid on the basis of this information. The implications for the larval morphology of the Poemeniinae are discussed. The biology of Nearctic Poemenia is reviewed, with the conclusion that the genus is parasitic upon small xylophilous Apoidea that either make their tunnels or utilize those made by other insects.
Hydrodessus ducke sp. n. and new records of other species of the genus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Bidessini)
Authors: BENETTI CESAR J. , MICHAT MARIANO C. , HAMADA NEUSA
Published: February 2020

Hydrodessus ducke sp. n. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in Amazonas State (northern Brazil), bringing the total number of Hydrodessus species to 33. The new species can be distinguished from other species in the genus by body size and shape, coloration, and characteristics of the elytral carina, prosternal process, metaventral carina, and male genitalia. The male of H. latotibialis Miller, 2016 is described and illustrated for the first time from specimens collected in Pará State, northern Brazil. New records for 17 species from Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname are provided, and the newest existing key to species is updated to accommodate the new taxon.
A new species of genus Endasys Förster (Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) parasitizing Pristiphora (Tenthredinidae) and a key to species from China
Authors: DUAN CHUN-HUA , LI TAO , WU HAI-WEI , SHENG MAO-LING
Published: February 2020

A new species of Cryptinae, Endasys pristiphorae Sheng, sp.n. reared from cocoons of the tenthredinid sawflies Pristiphora erichsonii (Hartig), P. xibei Wei & Xia and P. (Stauronematus) compresicornis (Hartig) in Ningxia, Shandong and Shan’xi, China, is described and illustrated. A key to species of Endasys known from China is provided.
Addressing Higher Order Serial Correlation in Techniques for Gross Error Detection
Authors: Jeyanthi R. , Devanathan Sriram
Published: February 2020

Serial correlation present in the process measurement data may affect the performance of gross error detection (GED) techniques significantly. It has been our observation that most of the GED techniques assume that the data are not serially correlated. However, serial correlation can
occur in measurement data due to delay in the process loop, signal processing elements, and other process phenomena. Performance of GED techniques depends on accurate estimation of variances of measured variables. Serial correlation in measured data increases the variance. Therefore, it is
important to eliminate the effect of serial correlation in the measured data. Two approaches are proposed to handle serial correlation, one based on variance correction, and the other on prewhitening of residuals. This paper presents the performance of serial elimination techniques of higher
order correlation applied in the measurement test (MT).
Priority Based Centralized Scheduling for Time Slotted Channel Hopping Based Multihop IEEE 802.15.4 Networks
Authors: Martin K. M. , Seetha Ramanjaneyulu B.
Published: February 2020

To meet the growing demands of low power and determinism in Industrial Wireless applications, IEEE defined IEEE 802.15.4e amendment that includes many channel access methods. Time Slotted Channel Hopping protocol is one of the most popular MAC protocols under IEEE 802.15.4e. However,
scheduling of time slots for time slotted channel hopping, was not part of the protocol and so different scheduling algorithms were proposed by researchers. A new time slotted channel hopping scheduling mechanism that considers priorities to meet the time critical industrial applications is
proposed in this work. Latency improvements of about 40 percentage are obtained here, for slot allocations to higher priority devices, when compared with the conventional queuing methods.
An Algorithmic Approach for Real Time People Counting with Moving Background
Authors: Shukla Utkarsh , Verma Srishti , Verma Atul Kumar
Published: February 2020

The research paper implements the concept of real-time people counting. Real time people counting is a relevant source of information in various applications like security or people management, such as in shopping malls, footfall or fleet management in public transport, congestion management
and tourist flow estimation. Today, a major use of people counting is done there where we have a cluttered audience and hence we have to make the management of any kind. The proposed algorithm does real time people counting using mean shift with deep learning data sets. The camera used in
the system takes the video sequence as an input to the algorithm. The various steps of the algorithm then detect whether the object present in the video is a human or not. After the object is identified as a human, the counting algorithm is then applied to find the number of people in the
video and display the counted result.
Inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid receptor on colorectal cancer growth by inhibiting glycolysis through autophagy
Authors: Xu Zhiheng , Yang Kailun , Li Xiaohua
Published: February 2020

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) affects the development and progression of most malignant tumors by regulating autophagy. The GR gene is not expressed in colon cancer. To explore the role and mechanism of GR in colon cancer, dexamethasone (DXM) was used to stimulate the expression of GR.
The expression of the autophagy markers Beclin 1 (BECN1) and light chain 3 (LC3B) was then detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effects of the differential expression of GR on autophagy, ATP, lactic acid accumulation, and glucose utilization in colon cancer cells were studied. Differential
expression of GR affected glycolysis, apoptosis, and migration of colon cancer cells, as determined by flow cytometry and cell viability and migration assays, respectively. The DXM-induced elevation of GR expression significantly promoted the expression of the autophagy-related genes BECN1
and LC3B, and decreased the ATP production, lactic acid accumulation, and glucose uptake in colon cancer cells. These events resulted in the inhibition of colon cancer cell growth, which also involved decreased cell viability and mobility and increased rate of apoptosis. These findings indicate
that the GR can promote autophagy and inhibit glycolysis in colon cancer cells, reduce their proliferation and migration, and promote their apoptosis in vitro.
The Effects of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality as Training Enhancement Methods: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kaplan Alexandra D. , Cruit Jessica , Endsley Mica , Beers Suzanne M. , Sawyer Ben D. , Hancock P. A.
Published: February 2020

Objective

The objective of this meta-analysis is to explore the presently available, empirical findings on transfer of training from virtual (VR), augmented (AR), and mixed reality (MR) and determine whether such extended reality (XR)-based training is as effective as traditional training methods.

Background

MR, VR, and AR have already been used as training tools in a variety of domains. However, the question of whether or not these manipulations are effective for training has not been quantitatively and conclusively answered. Evidence shows that, while extended realities can often be time-saving and cost-saving training mechanisms, their efficacy as training tools has been debated.

Method

The current body of literature was examined and all qualifying articles pertaining to transfer of training from MR, VR, and AR were included in the meta-analysis. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the effects that XR-based factors, trainee-based factors, and task-based factors had on performance measures after XR-based training.

Results

Results showed that training in XR does not express a different outcome than training in a nonsimulated, control environment. It is equally effective at enhancing performance.

Conclusion

Across numerous studies in multiple fields, extended realities are as effective of a training mechanism as the commonly accepted methods. The value of XR then lies in providing training in circumstances, which exclude traditional methods, such as situations when danger or cost may make traditional training impossible.
Single-Cell Genomics and the Oral Microbiome
Authors: Balachandran M. , Cross K.L. , Podar M.
Published: February 2020

The human oral cavity is one of the first environments where microbes have been discovered and studied since the dawn of microbiology. Nevertheless, approximately 200 types of bacteria from the oral microbiota have remained uncultured in the laboratory. Some are associated with a healthy oral microbial community, while others are linked to oral diseases, from dental caries to gum disease. Single-cell genomics has enabled inferences on the physiology, virulence, and evolution of such uncultured microorganisms and has further enabled isolation and cultivation of several novel oral bacteria, including the discovery of novel interspecies interactions. This review summarizes some of the more recent advances in this field, which is rapidly moving toward physiologic characterization of single cells and ultimately cultivation of the yet uncultured. A combination of traditional microbiological approaches with genomic-based physiologic predictions and isolation strategies may lead to the oral microbiome being the first complex microbial community to have all its members cultivable in the laboratory. Studying the biology of the individual microbes when in association with other members of the community, in controlled laboratory conditions and in vivo, should lead to a better understanding of oral dysbiosis and its prevention and reversion.
Integrating Leadership Development Into Cross-Age Mentoring Programs
Authors: Mills-Guest Amy , Crippen C.
Published: February 2020

In British Columbia (BC), the use of cross-age mentoring programs, commonly referred to as buddy programs, is not systemically evaluated and there are no clear program goals. Although the use of buddy programs is widespread across school districts in BC, research remains scarce regarding both the origins of buddy programs and their purpose. Accordingly, integrating leadership development training for children into existing buddy programs could provide clarity for the use of buddy programs while providing elementary-aged children positive benefits, better equipping them for their professional lives after secondary school. Leadership development training is widely accepted as valuable to the elementary-aged child due to its positive impact on self-esteem, self-efficacy, school connectedness, citizenship, civic efficacy, and sense of social justice.
Two cheers for school bureaucracy
Authors: Labaree David F.
Published: February 2020

Bureaucracies are often perceived as inflexible, impersonal, hierarchical, and too devoted to rules and red tape. But David Labaree makes a case for these characteristics being a positive in the world of public education. U.S. schools are built within a liberal democratic system, where the liberal pursuit of self-interest is often in tension with the democratic pursuit of egalitarianism. In recent years, Labaree argues, schools have tilted toward the liberal side, enabling privileged families to game the system to help their children get ahead. In such a system, an impersonal bureaucracy stands as a check that ensures that the democratic side of schooling, in which all children are treated equally, remains in effect.
Effect of Peer Work Performance on the Focal Employee’s Voice Taking: The Role of Trust and Self-Construal
Authors: Zhang Guanglei , Chen Silu
Published: February 2020

Based on persuasion theory, this study examines the influence of peer work performance on the focal employee’s voice-taking relationship. Our study purposes that peer work performance contributes to the focal employee’s cognition-based trust and that their interdependent self-construal moderates this relationship. Our study suggests that cognition-based trust mediates the relationship between peer work performance and the focal employee’s voice taking. Finally, we intend to show that the focal employee’s interdependent self-construal moderates the mediating role of cognition-based trust in transmitting the effect of peer work performance on the focal employee’s voice taking. Analyses of the data collected from China support these hypotheses.
Conceptualization of the Premature School Exit Phenomenon in Mashonaland Region of Zimbabwe: The Voice of Early School Leavers
Authors: Gatsi Roswitta , Omidire Margaret Funke , Human-Vogel Salome
Published: February 2020

School dropout is a major cause of attrition in schools globally, and its implications could be far-reaching. Evidence from previous studies has shown that the voice of those who have lived experiences of the phenomenon is missing. The present study investigated early school leavers’ conceptualization of school dropout from a Zimbabwean perspective. Twenty-two early school leavers from three sites in Zimbabwe participated in the study. The data collection strategies included focus group discussions, interviews, and life-story narratives. The findings indicated the need for an expanded definition of school dropout that goes beyond physical withdrawal from school. School dropout was understood as a traumatic personal experience, with psychological implications. It entailed deprivation of a meaningful future, retrieval of painful memories of school life, and a reflection of unresolved inequity in the education system. School policies and practices in the Zimbabwean education system should, thus, be sensitive to equity needs and provide professional counselling support to those affected and their families. Furthermore, skilled and emotionally stable personnel should be responsible for the country’s education system and economy.
Atypical infectious spondylitis with reduced bone marrow enhancement: “black vertebra sign”
Authors: Park Sung Eun , Yoo Hye Jin , Hong Sung Hwan , Choi Ja-Young , Chae Hee Dong
Published: February 2020

Background

A few patients suspected of having infectious spondylitis exhibited a reduced enhancement pattern on postcontrast T1-weighted (T1W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Purpose

To investigate the characteristics of infectious spondylitis patients who exhibited reduced vertebral enhancement.

Material and Methods

From January 2010 to November 2017, 456 patients with findings suspicious for infectious spondylitis on 706 postcontrast T1W imaging were retrospectively evaluated. When an affected vertebra exhibited markedly reduced enhancement compared to normal bone marrow (BM), the vertebra was termed a “black vertebra.” MRI and computed tomography (CT) imaging findings within two-week intervals and the patients’ clinical characteristics were reviewed.

Results

Ten patients (5 men, 5 women; mean age 66.4 years) whose MRI scans revealed the black vertebra sign were included. Among the 10 patients with black vertebrae, six patients exhibited signal voids in or around the affected vertebral bodies on T2-weighted (T2W) images. Eight patients showed air bubbles on CT images, suggestive of emphysematous infection. However, the typical image findings of infectious spondylitis were uncommon, namely, low BM signal intensity (SI) on T1W images (n=1) and intradiscal fluid-equivalent SI on T2W images (n=5) at an early stage. On follow-up MRI (average interval 7.2 weeks from initial MRI), available for five patients, marked progression of infection was evidenced by increased numbers of affected segments (n=3), low T1 SIs of the affected vertebrae (n=5), and increased contrast enhancement (n=3). Five patients underwent surgery to treat infections not controlled by antibiotics.

Conclusion

A black vertebra sign on postcontrast T1W imaging seems to reflect an early emphysematous infection.
Unusual coexistence of double inferior vena cava with nutcracker syndrome–a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Waśniewska Anna , Ruzik Kacper , Olewnik Łukasz , Stefańczyk Ludomir , Polguj Michał
Published: February 2020

Knowledge of vessel anomalies is significant for all specialists in clinical practice and may prevent serious complications following medical interventions. Here, the rare coexistence of a duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) and nutcracker syndrome in a 42-year-old female patient with atypical abdominal pain is presented, using two complementary radiological techniques (colour Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography). The right renal vein was found to be compressed when passing between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta. The lumen dimensions (width × height) of the right IVC and left IVC at the level of termination were 15.8 × 17.7 mm and 13.4 × 12.4 mm, respectively. Ultrasonography revealed low blood flow in the left IVC that was reversed, and thus blood travelled in the same caudal direction as in the aorta. In the right IVC, however, flow travelled in the cranial direction. The simultaneous existence of a duplicated IVC and nutcracker syndrome is an extremely rare vessel anomaly; nevertheless, this dual presence may result in clinical symptoms and would have an impact on medical operations and even minor medical procedures.
The unfinished chapter of Hong Kong’s long political transition
Authors: Lui Tai-Lok
Published: February 2020

In hindsight, that the institutional framework of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ (OCTS), the political and socio-economic blueprint for ensuring the continuity of Hong Kong as a capitalist economy, with guarantees of freedom of speech and a high degree of autonomy from China’s socialist and authoritarian rule after a change of sovereignty in 1997, gets caught in political crossfire is inevitable. OCTS was a historical compromise in the early 1980s when the deadlock of Hong Kong’s uncertain political future was resolved by finding a way to convince all the concerned parties that the colony’s prosperity and stability would be guaranteed after a change in its political status. But the premises and parameters of the pact have significantly changed since the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong by China and Britain in 1984. The storm over the Extradition Bill has its roots in the fissures inherent in the institutional framework of OCTS. This paper is an attempt to analyse social protests arising from the Extradition Bill in Hong Kong in 2019 in the light of the former British colony’s extended political transition.
Lumbar puncture rapidly improves olfaction in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: A cohort study
Authors: Becker Nils J , Enge Sören , Kreutz Katharina Maria , Schmidt Felix , Harms Lutz , Wiener Edzard , Hoffmann Jan , Kronenberg Golo , Kunte Hagen
Published: February 2020

Background

A lumbar puncture constitutes an important diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Chronic overflow of cerebrospinal fluid into the sheaths of the olfactory nerves appears to be related to olfactory impairment in these patients. Here, we asked whether cerebrospinal fluid drainage in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients improves olfactory function.

Methods

Fourteen idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients and 14 neurologic control patients were investigated before and after lumbar puncture using the extended Sniffin’ Sticks procedure. We assessed odor threshold, discrimination, and identification. In idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients, cerebrospinal fluid was drained until cerebrospinal fluid pressure had normalized. In addition, a third group of 14 healthy controls participated in the two smell tests at similar intervals.

Results

Relative to healthy controls, threshold, discrimination, and identification composite scores before lumbar puncture were significantly lower in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients and also in neurologic controls. Following lumbar puncture, threshold, discrimination, and identification scores for neurologic controls remained unchanged whereas idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients showed robust improvement on the composite score as well as on all three subscores (all changes: p < 0.003), quickly regaining olfactory function in the normal range. Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was significantly correlated with improvement in threshold, discrimination, and identification score upon cerebrospinal fluid drainage ( r = 0.609, p = 0.021).

Conclusion

Olfactory impairment is an important, yet underappreciated, clinical feature of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Lowering of increased intracranial pressure improves hyposmia. Our findings shed new light on the pathophysiology of cerebrospinal fluid circulation in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Development of Combined Pile-CPT Methods for Estimating the Ultimate Axial Capacity of PPC Piles Driven in Different Soil Categories in Louisiana
Authors: Abu-Farsakh Murad Y. , Amirmojahedi Mohsen , Voyiadjis George Z.
Published: February 2020

The cone and piezocone penetration tests (CPT, PCPT) have been widely acknowledged as useful in-situ testing tools for subsurface investigation, characterization of soil type, and evaluation of different soil properties. Because of similarity between the cone and pile, the evaluation of axial pile capacity was one of initial applications of the CPT/PCPT. A previous study conducted by the authors on 80 pile load tests of precast prestressed concrete (PPC) piles demonstrated that some pile-CPT methods are able to predict the ultimate axial pile capacity with better accuracy than other methods. These methods include: Schmertmann, De Ruiter and Beringen, Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC), European Regional Technical Committee 3 (ERTC3), University of Western Australia (UWA), probabilistic, and University of Florida (UF) methods. The results of these seven pile-CPT methods were compared and their performance was examined for different soil categories where different percentages of pile capacity contribution is because of sandy layers. The log-normal distribution of the estimated to measured pile capacity for these pile-CPT methods was adopted to develop combined pile-CPT methods that optimize the estimation accuracy of axial pile capacity in different soil categories. Reliability analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) was used to evaluate the resistance factors ( ϕ) and efficiency ( ϕ/ λR) of the individual and combined pile-CPT methods. Results of analysis of 80 pile load tests demonstrated the advantage of using the combined pile-CPT methods over the individual methods in relation to improving the accuracy of estimating the ultimate axial pile capacity and having better resistance factors.
Rheological and Molecular Characterizations of Tire Rubber Modified Asphalt Emulsion
Authors: Sarkar Md Tanvir Ahmed , Rahman Md Nafiur , Elseifi Mostafa A. , Mayeux Corey , Cooper Samuel B.
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical, molecular, and rheological properties of different asphalt emulsions including a newly introduced tire-rubber modified asphalt emulsion (CRS-2TR). Three emulsions (CRS-2TR, CRS-2P, and CRS-2) and one asphalt rubber binder (AC20-5TR) were evaluated in this study. The superpave performance grade (PG), surface performance grade (SPG), and the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test were conducted to evaluate the rheological properties of the binder residues. Evaluation of the differences in the functional groups, molecular weight distribution, and chemical composition of the asphalt binder residues was conducted using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-pressure gel permeation chromatography (HP-GPC), and saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes (SARA) fractionation, respectively. The chemical and molecular characterization test results indicated that the tire-rubber modified emulsion had lower carbonyl indices and colloidal instability indices as compared to the other conventional emulsions, indicating a higher resistance to aging. On the other hand, the rheological test results showed that the performance of CRS-2TR was comparable to CRS-2P and was expected to perform better than CRS-2. In addition, the moisture susceptibility of the binder residues from the bitumen bond strength (BBS) test showed that CRS-2TR had a greater pull-off tensile strength in both dry and wet conditions as compared to CRS-2 and had statistically equal performance results as compared to CRS-2P.