bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evaluatıon Of The Actıvıtıes In The Fourth Grade Turkısh Textbooks Based On Lıteracy Strategıes
Authors: Erdem Yasemin , Dedeoğlu Hakan
Published: December 2024

Based on the fact that knowledge, skills and behaviors are tried to be gained through the curriculum, it is tried to be reflected in the Turkish textbooks based on the linguistic, mental and social developments of the students in the dimensions of listening/watching, speaking, reading and writing. Therefore, Turkish textbooks should be well prepared for this purpose and provide students with strategies that support literacy development through activities included in their content. From this point of view, the main purpose of this research is to reveal the general situation of the activities in the fourth grade Turkish textbooks in terms of literacy strategies. For this reason, the activities in the Turkish textbooks prepared and approved by the Ministry of National Education in the 2022-2023 academic year were examined by Antonacci and C'ollaghan (2020) in the context of the strategies that support the development of literacy in the dimensions of reading and writing. In the research, the document analysis method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. As a result of the research, 840 activities in Turkish textbooks were evaluated within the scope of the purpose of the research, and 439 of these activities could be associated with strategies in the dimensions of reading and writing. In particular, the reflections of the strategies in the reading dimension were determined in 338 activities and in the writing dimension in 101 activities. It was determined that the literacy strategies, which were reflected in the activities, were repeated in the activities and that different literacy strategies were not sufficiently included. From this point of view, it has been concluded that Turkish textbooks are not sufficient in terms of literacy strategies that support literacy development.
Effect of Full Mouth Oral Rehabilitation on Bite Force and Body Mass Index in Patients with Early Childhood Caries: A Study Protocol
Authors: Patil Rutuja Pralhad , Khubchandani Monika , Kanani Harikishan
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a common condition affecting children, including chewing, aesthetics, the development of permanent teeth and phonetics. Full-mouth rehabilitation is crucial for addressing both immediate dental consequences and long-term oral health. Rehabilitating bite force can help detect stomatognathic system diseases and in understanding mandibular movements. Untreated dental caries can lead to malnutrition, linear growth failure and a negative Body Mass Index (BMI).

Need of the Study: Bite force assessment in the context of full-mouth rehabilitation of ECC will help measure functionality, monitor stability, finding issues early, ensuring treatment effectiveness and recommend any necessary adjustments for the child’s best dental health, to improve post-treatment quality of life.

Aim: The study aims to evaluate the effects of comprehensive oral rehabilitation on ECC patients by measuring bite forces and assessing changes in BMI in a paediatric population with primary dentition.

Materials and Methods: An experimental study will be conducted in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Maharashtra, India, from August 2024 to December 2025. The Maximum Bite Force (MBF) in young children aged 4-5 years will be recorded at the central incisors and the right and left molar regions using a Portable Bite Force Measurement Device (BYTE). Anthropometric measurements of height and weight will be taken using scales, a portable stadiometer and a calibrated electronic device. The child’s BMI will be derived through weight and height calculations using an established equation. Participants will undergo bite force measurements and BMI evaluations both pre- and post-full mouth rehabilitation (which includes patient education along with preventive treatments like fluoride application and restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns and extractions). Anthropometric measurements will be taken post-treatment and results will be compared before and after the treatment. Statistical analysis will be done using the paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation test. Results will be considered statistically significant when the p-value is <0.05.
Clinical and Radiological Features of Lung Abscesses and their Management: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Prajapati Dhruminkishan , Modi Bina , Nayudu Sai Aditya , Patel Nisarg
Published: December 2024

Introduction: A lung abscess is a localised area of destruction of lung parenchyma in which infection by pyogenic organisms results in tissue necrosis and suppuration. It is one of the common diagnosis in patients presenting to the respiratory Outpatient Department (OPD) and accounts for up to 4.0 to 5.5 per 10,000 hospital admissions each year.

Aim: To study the clinical profile, predisposing factors, anatomical location and response to medical treatment in patients with lung abscesses.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted on patients who had lung abscesses from the outpatient and inpatient departments of Respiratory Medicine at LG Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India during January 2019 to December 2020. Parameters such as clinical profile, demographic profile, predisposing factors, radiological profile and response to medical treatment were assessed in all patients. All data were collected and analysed statistically using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software version 21.0.

Results: In the study of 50 patients, 36 (72%) were in the 41-60 years age group, with a mean age of 47.56 years; the maleto-female ratio was 3.2:1. The most common symptom in the study was cough with expectoration, which was present in all the patients. Poor oral hygiene was a predisposing factor in the majority of patients, i.e., 22 (44%). Other factors included low Body Mass Index (BMI), alcohol use, diabetes, seizures and pre-existing lung disease. Mixed organisms were found in the sputum culture reports. Upper zone distribution was the most common radiological finding, observed in 29 (58%) cases. The majority of lung abscesses were located in the upper lobes of both lungs. A total of 48 (96%) cases showed clinical improvement and 42 (84%) cases showed radiological improvement after 28 days of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Conclusion: The study found that lung abscesses are more common in males in the middle age group, particularly in individuals with addiction and co-morbidities such as diabetes, with upper lobe presentation being the most common. Most patients will improve if broad-spectrum antibiotics are started timely, at optimal doses and for the appropriate duration.
Prognostic Implications of Modified Gleason Score and Gleason Grade Group in Histopathologic Study of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kori Netra Prakash , Ranade Ranjana S , Patil Anuradha , . Malashree
Published: December 2024

Introduction: The Gleason Score (GS) is the most powerful prognostic indicator in prostatic carcinoma. The assignment of the GS is based on the histopathologic patterns of prostatic adenocarcinoma, which are classified according to the Gleason Pattern (GP). Periodic revisions in the definitions of the GP Score are attempted by the International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP), followed by the introduction of the Gleason Grade Group (GG) System, which aims to improve prognostication in prostate cancer.

Aim: To determine whether the ISUP 2014 GG group system is a better prognostic indicator compared to the ISUP 2005 Modified GS.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over four years, from January 2016 to December 2019, at the Department of Pathology, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshawara University, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. Core biopsies and transurethral resection biopsies of the prostate with a diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma were included in the study. Demographic details, Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) levels and follow-up data were retrieved from the case files. Histopathology slides from all patients were examined and assigned GS scores from 6 to 10 and GG scores from 1 to 5. The slides were also analysed for the presence or absence of Perineural Invasion (PNI) and Cribriform Pattern (CFP). The percentage of tumour involvement was documented. Patients were followed-up for a period of two to five years for evidence of metastasis and/or death due to prostatic carcinoma. Categorical variables were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The mean age of presentation was 70.21 years. A total of 52 cases were included in the study, with a histopathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in all cases. Three special variants were encountered, including one case each of Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC), pseudo hyperplastic adenocarcinoma and intraductal foamy gland carcinoma. The distribution of GG scores was as follows: 7 (13.46%) for GG 1, 5 (9%) for GG 2, 6 (11.5%) for GG 3, 8 (15.38%) for GG 4 and 26 (50%) for GG 5. There were 23 cases with metastasis, with most belonging to GG 5 and GG 4. PNI and CFP were noted in 34 (65.38%) and 25 (48.07%) cases, respectively. Tissue cores with greater than 50% tumour involvement were observed in 32 cases (61.53%).

Conclusion: The current study underscores the prognostic importance of the ISUP 2014 GG system over the ISUP 2005 GS system. Histomorphological parameters such as PNI, CFP and a percentage of tumour involvement greater than 50% significantly influence prostate cancer prognosis. These factors may provide valuable information for optimal clinical management.
Evaluation of Bony Defect Healing in Apicoectomised Teeth using Sticky Bone, Platelet-rich Fibrin and Guided Tissue Regeneration Membranes: A Randomised Clinical Trial
Authors: Bhattacharjee Sushovan , Mondal Parthasarathi , Das Siddhartha , Murmu Lugu Buru , Das Snigdho , Saha Kallol Kumar
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Periapical lesions resulting from endodontic infections pose challenges due to their inflammatory nature and bone resorption effects. Surgical intervention becomes necessary when conventional treatments fail, aiming to achieve complete wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of sticky bone, Platelet-rich Fibrin (PRF) membranes and Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) membranes in enhancing healing outcomes following periapical surgeries.

Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-centre, randomised clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India from July 2022 to December 2023 to evaluate the efficacy of sticky bone, PRF membranes and GTR membranes in enhancing healing outcomes following periapical surgeries. The study involved 30 patients with periapical lesions, who were randomly assigned to three groups: Group I (sticky bone alone), Group II (sticky bone+GTR membrane) and Group III (sticky bone+PRF membrane). The study received ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Outcome measures included periapical lesion size reduction and bone density increase, assessed via Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) over a 12-month follow-up period. Data analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics for Windows (Version 27.0), employing paired t-tests and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey’s tests, with a significance level of 5%.

Results: Significant reductions in periapical lesion size were observed in all groups: Group I (p=0.002), Group II (p=0.001) and Group III (p<0.001). Similarly, significant increases in bone density were noted in Group I (p<0.001), Group II (p<0.001) and Group III (p<0.001). Post-hoc analysis revealed superior outcomes in Group III compared to Group I for both parameters.

Conclusion: The PRF membranes demonstrated superior healing kinetics and bone regeneration compared to sticky bone alone. These findings underscore the potential of PRF membranes in enhancing surgical endodontic outcomes. Future multicentre studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted to corroborate these results and refine treatment protocols.
Nasal Rhinosporidiosis Diagnosed by Cytology: A Case Report
Authors: Pattanayak Yogamaya , Nayak Goutami Das , Mallick Ranjan Kumar , Prusty Gouranga Charan , Mohanty Lity
Published: December 2024

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous inflammation of mucosal sites caused by the fungus Rhinosporidium seeberi. The most common site of involvement is the nasal mucosa, followed by the lips, palate, uvula, maxillary antrum, epiglottis, larynx, pharynx and trachea and bronchi. It usually presents as a polypoidal, reddish, friable, painless, pedunculated, hyperplastic soft-tissue mass in the nasal area, typically with an indolent and chronic progression. It can be confused clinically with other benign lesions such as inverted papillomas, primary sinonasal tuberculosis, angiofibromas and malignancies like nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Hence, accurate and final diagnosis is vital, which is achieved through histopathology. This is a case of rhinosporidiosis in a 44-year-old male patient who presented with a polypoidal nasal mass. Cytosmears revealed numerous endospores and few sporangia of Rhinosporidium seeberi, along with inflammatory cells and foreign body-type giant cells. Biopsy highlighted sporangia with endospores in different stages of maturation and thus confirmed the final diagnosis. Although cytology is a simple, preliminary, rapid and inexpensive method, histopathology is the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis. Surgical removal of the lesion with cauterisation of the attachment base is curative in the majority of cases. Recurrence is variable in endemic areas, especially in mucosal sites like the oropharynx and paranasal sinuses. Since there is inadequate literature on the cytodiagnosis of rhinosporidiosis, this case report highlights the significance and utility of cytology in the early diagnosis of nasal rhinosporidiosis.
Response of Phosphorus and Vermicompost Application on Growth and Yield of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) under Rainfed Condition in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Govind  , Choubey Priyanshu , Mishra U.S. , Sirothia Pawan , Bais Bhoopendra Singh
Published: December 2024

The field experiment was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) during the Kharif season of 2021–2022. The objective was to evaluate the response of green gram to phosphorus and vermicompost on growth parameters, yield attributes, and overall yield under the rainfed conditions of the Chitrakoot area. The experimental soil had a sandy loam texture with medium phosphorus availability. A randomized block design was employed with 12 treatment combinations and three replications. The PDM 139 variety of green gram was cultivated following recommended agronomic practices. Results indicated that applying 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 7.5 tons vermicompost ha⁻¹ at 40 days after sowing (DAS) significantly enhanced growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches. Yield attributes, including the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and 1000-seed weight, also showed significant improvement. Additionally, the application of 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 7.5 tons vermicompost ha⁻¹ at 40 DAS markedly increased seed yield (q ha⁻¹) compared to the control.
Emergence of Colistin Resistance in Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Dairy Cows in Türkiye
Authors: Günaydin Elçin , Önat Kaan , Kaynar Pınar Mursaloğlu , Goncagül Gülşen
Published: December 2024

Background: In recent years, the reporting of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing and colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli)  in food-producing livestock animals is of great importance as a potential vector of multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli for the farm environment, farm workers, and veterinarians who are in close contact with these animals. In this study, it was aimed to determine antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli from diarrhoeic dairy cows,  and observe the resistance against beta-lactam group antibiotics and colistin in 3 years’ time.
Materials and Methods: For the isolation, 1g of sample was suspended into 9 mL of modified Tryptone Soya Broth and incubated overnight at 37 °C. After the incubation, the broth was inoculated on MacConkey Agar and EMB Agar and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24h. Identification was done according to biochemical tests. E. coli isolated from the fecal samples of diarrhoeic dairy cows were investigated for the antibiotic resistance with the six different antibiotic classes by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion Test.
Results: Fifty-four E. coli isolated from the fecal samples of diarrhoeic dairy cows were investigated for the multi-drug resistance. Fourty-four E. coli showed MDR resistance, including colistin; nine E. coli isolates showed MDR resistance profiles involving at least six to ten antibiotics , but not for colistin. It was discovered that MDR E. coli isolates were also resistant to colistin. Resistance to beta-lactams were observed 100% in 2021 and 2022, but not for 2020. Colistin resistance was found to have increased progressively year over year, reaching 0% in 2000 and 37.03% and 46.29% in the next two years, respectively.
Conclusion: As a conclusion, circulation of beta-lactamase producing E. coli accompanied with colistin resistant E. coli in live-stock animals reared for the purpose of milk production should be concerned as a potential public health problem in terms of one health concept and more detailed investigations should be planned to question the ground origins of gradual increase.
Exclusive Breast Feeding Practices, Knowledge and Challenges amongst Mothers with Children 0-6 Months in the Bamenda II Municipality of the Northwest Region of Cameroon
Authors: Mambo Akumah Bih , Garba Mary Chia , Landis Fongang C.
Published: December 2024

The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life remains low globally and in Cameroon, despite strong evidence supporting its benefits. This study aimed to assess the practice, knowledge, and challenges of exclusive breast feeding among mothers in the Bamenda II municipality of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 100 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of exclusive breast feeding, level of practice, and potential barriers to its uptake. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate logistic regression, with significance set at p<0.05 at a 95% confidence level. Results showed that, 43% of participants practiced exclusive breast feeding for up to 6 months of life. 95% had heard about exclusive breast feeding, about 97% knew the effects of not Exclusively breast feeding.  83% had a good knowledge on exclusive breast feeding. Results also showed that single or divorced participants were 4times more likely (95% Cl =1.3-12.5: P = 0.02) to breastfeed exclusively than married participants. Participants who were multipara, were 0.1time less likely (95%Cl = 0.1-0.95: P = 0.045) to breastfeed compared to those who were Primipara. Participants who faced difficulties were 0.4times less likely (95%Cl = 0.2-0.96: P = 0.04) to practice exclusive breast feeding compared to those that faced no difficulties. Those who had a good knowledge on exclusive breast feeding were 1.1 times (95%Cl=0.4 – 3.2; P=0.86) more likely to practice EBF, but it was not significant. Also participants who lived in rural areas were 3.1 times (95% Cl=1.6– 3.7; P=0.002)   more likely to practice exclusive breast feeding compared to those that were from urban settings. Despite high levels of awareness and knowledge of exclusive breast feeding among participants, its practice was suboptimal, with only 43% adherence—well below WHO standards. To address this, facilities, programs, and reminder systems should be implemented to monitor and encourage exclusive breast feeding. Additionally, regular campaigns and educational programs should be organized to promote and sustain the practice.
Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Highly Regioselective Azide‐Internal Thiocyanatoalkyne Cycloaddition under Mild Conditions: Experimental and Theoretical Studies
Authors: Song Wangze , Li Ming , Dong Kun , Zheng Yubin
Published: September 2019

Fully substituted heterofunctionalized triazoles can be prepared by indirect and direct approaches. The indirect strategies are well‐established but have limitations. Herein, we developed a direct methodology to access fully substituted 5‐thiocyanato‐1,2,3‐triazoles with high regioselectivity from the azide‐internal thiocyanatoalkyne cycloaddition reaction under mild conditions. This is the first time that fully substituted 5‐thiocyanato‐1,2,3‐triazoles have been prepared and the first time an AAC/nucleophilic substitution cascade reaction have been used to generate various fully substituted triazolyl−organosulfurs, such as 5‐sulfur‐triazoles and 5‐sulfinylcyanato‐triazoles from common internal thiocyanatoalkyne precursors. This approach features a broad substrate scope (34 examples), good compatibility with water and air, high yields (up to 85%) and excellent regioselectivity (more than 20:1).

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A Molecular Approach for Mitigation of Aluminum Pitting based on Films of Zinc(II) and Gallium(III) Metallosurfactants
Authors: Weeraratne A. D. K. Isuri , Hewa‐Rahinduwage Chathuranga C. , Gonawala Sunalee , Luo Long , Verani Cláudio N.
Published: September 2019

The use of metallosurfactants to prevent pitting corrosion of aluminum surfaces is discussed based on the behavior of the metallosurfactants [ZnII(LN2O2)H2O] (1) and [GaIII(LN2O3)] (2). These species were deposited as multilayer Langmuir–Blodgett films and characterized by IR reflection absorption spectroscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy images, potentiodynamic polarization experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to assess corrosion mitigation. Both metallosurfactants demonstrate superior anticorrosion activity due to the presence of redox‐inactive 3d10 metal ions that enhance the structural resistance of the ordered molecular films and limit chloride mobility and electron transfer.
Design, development, and scientific performance of the Raman Laser Spectrometer EQM on the 2020 ExoMars (ESA) Mission
Authors: Moral Andoni G. , Rull Fernando , Maurice Sylvestre , Hutchinson Ian B. , Canora Carlos P. , Seoane Laura , López‐Reyes Guillermo , Rodriguez Prieto Jose A. , Rodríguez Pablo , Ramos Gonzalo , Parot Yann , Forni Olivier
Published: September 2019

The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) is one of the three Pasteur Payload instruments located within the rover analytical laboratory drawer (ALD), for ESA's Aurora exploration programme, ExoMars 2020 mission. The instrument will analyse the crushed surface and subsurface samples that are positioned below the Raman optical head by the ALD carousel.

The RLS engineering and qualification model (EQM) was delivered to ESA at the end of 2017, after a wide technical and scientific test characterization campaign. The scientific campaign comprised instrument calibration and detailed evaluation of the scientific requirements and overall performance. For spectral calibration, continuous emission standard lamps (such as Hg‐Ar, Ne, and Xe) were utilized, as well as Raman spectra of pure liquids typically used as standards (cyclohexane and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)). In addition, Raman spectra of the RLS calibration target (CT), a small disc of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were obtained at various temperatures. This target, placed inside the rover, will be used for both Instrument health checks and calibration activities throughout Mars operations. For the scientific requirements and performance evaluations, several liquid and solid samples were analysed under a wide range of ambient conditions. The obtained spectral band parameters (peak position, relative peak intensity, peak width, and peak profile) were evaluated. Also, the instrument response (in terms of SNR) was characterized at different integration times and detector operating temperatures. In this paper, we provide a description of the development, verification, functional test, and overall scientific performance of the RLS instrument developed for ExoMars. Particular attention is placed on the performance of the EQM, which is the most representative instrument, in terms of engineering and functionality, of the flight model (FM) and in addition is used for performing all the mechanical, thermal, and radiation tests necessary for space qualification (for planetary applications). The data presented and analysed here, comprise part of the overall dataset obtained during the full instrument characterization campaign conducted at INTA before and during delivery and integration of the EQM in the rover ALD at TAS‐I facilities (Torino, Italy). The results obtained confirm that the full functionality and scientific performance of the RLS instrument was maintained after integration.
Binary Darboux transformation and soliton solutions for the coupled complex modified Korteweg‐de Vries equations
Authors: Zhang Yi , Ye Rusuo , Ma Wenxiu
Published: September 2019

This paper considers the coupled complex modified Korteweg‐de Vries (mKdV) equations and presents a binary Darboux transformation for the equations. As a direct application, we give a classification of general soliton solutions derived from vanishing and non‐vanishing backgrounds, on the basis of the dynamical behavior of the solutions. Special types of solutions in the presented solutions include breathers, bright‐bright solitons, bright‐dark solitons, bright‐W‐shaped solitons, and rogue wave solutions. Furthermore, dynamics and interactions of vector bright solitons are exhibited.
Learning and Adaptation to Detect Changes and Anomalies in High-Dimensional Data
Authors: Carrera Diego
Published: September 2019

The problem of monitoring a datastream and detecting whether the data generating process changes from normal to novel and possibly anomalous conditions has relevant applications in many real scenarios, such as health monitoring and quality inspection of industrial processes. A general approach often adopted in the literature is to learn a model to describe normal data and detect as anomalous those data that do not conform to the learned model. However, several challenges have to be addressed to make this approach effective in real world scenarios, where acquired data are often characterized by high dimension and feature complex structures (such as signals and images). We address this problem from two perspectives corresponding to different modeling assumptions on the data-generating process. At first, we model data as realization of random vectors, as it is customary in the statistical literature. In this settings we focus on the change detection problem, where the goal is to detect whether the datastream permanently departs from normal conditions. We theoretically prove the intrinsic difficulty of this problem when the data dimension increases and propose a novel non-parametric and multivariate change-detection algorithm. In the second part, we focus on data having complex structure and we adopt dictionaries yielding sparse representations to model normal data. We propose novel algorithms to detect anomalies in such datastreams and to adapt the learned model when the process generating normal data changes.
Enhancing Video Recommendation Using Multimedia Content
Authors: Deldjoo Yashar
Published: September 2019

Video recordings are complex media types. When we watch a movie, we can effortlessly register a lot of details conveyed to us (by the author) through different multimedia channels, in particular, the audio and visual modalities. To date, majority of movie recommender systems use collaborative filtering (CF) models or content-based filtering (CBF) relying on metadata (e.g., editorial such as genre or wisdom of the crowd such as user-generated tags) at their core since they are human-generated and are assumed to cover the ‘content semantics’ of movies by a great degree. The information obtained from multimedia content and learning from muli-modal sources (e.g., audio, visual and metadata) on the other hand, offers the possibility of uncovering relationships between modalities and obtaining an in-depth understanding of natural phenomena occurring in a video. These discerning characteristics of heterogeneous feature sets meet users’ differing information needs. In the context of this Ph.D. thesis [9], which is briefly summarized in the current extended abstract, approaches to automated extraction of multimedia information from videos and their integration with video recommender systems have been elaborated, implemented, and analyzed. Variety of tasks related to movie recommendation using multimedia content have been studied. The results of this thesis can motivate the fact that recommender system research can benefit from knowledge in multimedia signal processing and machine learning established over the last decades for solving various recommendation tasks.
Dynamic Application Autotuning for Self-aware Approximate Computing
Authors: Gadioli Davide
Published: September 2019

The energy consumption limits the application performance in a wide range of scenarios, ranging from embedded to High-Performance Computing. To improve computation efficiency, this Chapter focuses on a software-level methodology to enhance a target application with an adaptive layer that provides self-optimization capabilities. We evaluated the benefits of dynamic autotuning in three case studies: a probabilistic time-dependent routing application from a navigation system, a molecular docking application to perform virtual-screening, and a stereo-matching application to compute the depth of a three-dimensional scene. Experimental results show how it is possible to improve computation efficiency by adapting reactively and proactively.
Elevated temperature and decreased salinity both affect the biochemical composition of the Antarctic sea-ice diatom Nitzschia lecointei, but not increased pCO2
Authors: Torstensson Anders , Jiménez Carlos , Nilsson Anders K. , Wulff Angela
Published: September 2019

Areas in western Antarctica are experiencing rapid climate change, where ocean warming results in more sea ice melt simultaneously as oceanic CO2levels are increasing. In this study, we have tested how increased temperature (from −1.8 to 3 °C) and decreased salinity (from 35 to 20 and 10) synergistically affect the growth, photophysiology and biochemical composition of the Antarctic sea-ice diatomNitzschia lecointei. In a separate experiment, we also addressed how ocean acidification (from 400 to 1000 µatm partial pressure of CO2) affects these key physiological parameters. Both positive and negative changes in specific growth rate, particulate organic carbon to particulate organic nitrogen ratio, chlafluorescence kinetics, lipid peroxidation, carbohydrate content, protein content, fatty acid content and composition were observed when cells were exposed to warming and desalination. However, when cells were subjected to increased pCO2, onlyFv/Fm, non-photochemical quenching and lipid peroxidation increased (by 3, 16 and 14%, respectively), and no other of the abovementioned biochemical properties were affected. These results suggest that changes in temperature and salinity may have more effects on the biochemical composition ofN. lecointeithan ocean acidification. Sea-ice algae are important component of polar food webs, and their nutritional quality may be affected as a result of altered environmental conditions due to climate change and sea ice melt.
Richard Dean: The Value of Humanity in Kant’s Moral Theory
Authors: Wolemonwu Victor Chidi
Published: September 2019

This is critical review of Richard Dean’ book, The Value of Humanity in Kant’s Moral Theory. Dean’s book was evaluated, and some of his interpretations of Kant were critiqued. However, it concludes that Dean’s book is illuminating especially, as regards the distinction he made between consent and informed consent and their roles in biomedical practice.
A Low-Cost, Non-hazardous Protocol for Surface Texturing of Glass Particles
Authors: Ibekwe Anelechi , Tanino Yukie , Pokrajac Dubravka
Published: September 2019

We present a cheap, efficient, and non-hazardous protocol for altering the roughness of hard particles at the nanometer-scale using a stone tumbler, a tool which is normally used for polishing stones. Six different textures were achieved by lining the tumbler with sandpaper of mean grit diameters$$d_{\mathrm{g}}=201$$dg=201, 58.5, 18.3, 12.6, and$$8.4\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$8.4μm. Two textures were created by tumbling a batch of glass spheres for 4 h and for 12 h with the$$12.6\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$12.6μmsandpaper; all other textures were established by tumbling for 12 h. Surface roughness was characterized by the integral length scale,$$\xi$$ξ, evaluated from 7 nm/pix resolution scanning electron microscope images. Roughness size increased from$$\xi = 24$$ξ=24to 31 nm as the grit size decreased from$$d_{\mathrm{g}} = 201$$dg=201to$$18.3\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$18.3μm, and then decreased to$$\xi = 6.4\,\hbox {nm}$$ξ=6.4nmat the smallest$$d_{\mathrm{g}}$$dg. The largest$$\xi \,(= 34\,\hbox {nm})$$ξ(=34nm)was achieved using a$$12.6\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$12.6μmsandpaper and the shorter tumbling time of 4 h. The permeability of a packed column of the particles broadly decreased with increasing$$\xi$$ξ, indicating that permeability decreases with increasing roughness size.
Friction and wear characteristics of robust carbon-carbon composites developed solely from petroleum pitch without reimpregnation
Authors: Sharma Shishobhan , Patel Bharat , Patel Rasmika
Published: September 2019

Friction and wear characteristics correlating the fiber reinforcement percentage of carbon-carbon (C/C) composites solely developed from petroleum pitch matrices were investigated. This study exhibits the tribo-characteristics of C/C composites developed in a single-step carbonization process for varying loads for the first time without a reimpregnation process. A pin-on-disc tribometer with a sliding speed of 0.5 m/s and loads of 5, 10, and 20 N with a flat tool grade stainless steel pin as a static partner was employed. Further, polarized light optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) were utilized for a morphological analysis. Elastic modulus and strength were determined by a compression test. A result analysis is conducted to analyze sliding wear accompanied with minor abrasion. The composites with a high percentage of reinforcement exhibit credible wear resistance and mechanical robustness.
Precision Medicine and Big Data
Authors: Schaefer G. Owen , Tai E Shyong , Sun Shirley
Published: September 2019

As opposed to a ‘one size fits all’ approach, precision medicine uses relevant biological (including genetic), medical, behavioural and environmental information about a person to further personalize their healthcare. This could mean better prediction of someone’s disease risk and more effective diagnosis and treatment if they have a condition. Big data allows for far more precision and tailoring than was ever before possible by linking together diverse datasets to reveal hitherto-unknown correlations and causal pathways. But it also raises ethical issues relating to the balancing of interests, viability of anonymization, familial and group implications, as well as genetic discrimination. This article analyses these issues in light of the values of public benefit, justice, harm minimization, transparency, engagement and reflexivity and applies the deliberative balancing approach found in theEthical Framework for Big Data in Health and Research(Xafis et al. 2019) to a case study on clinical genomic data sharing. Please refer to that article for an explanation of how this framework is to be used, including a full explanation of the key values involved and the balancing approach used in the case study at the end. Our discussion is meant to be of use to those involved in the practice as well as governance and oversight of precision medicine to address ethical concerns that arise in a coherent and systematic manner.
Microbial assembly, interaction, functioning, activity and diversification: a review derived from community compositional data
Authors: Liu Jiwen , Meng Zhe , Liu Xiaoyue , Zhang Xiao-Hua
Published: September 2019

Microorganisms play crucial roles in maintaining ecosystem stability. The last two decades have witnessed an upsurge in studies on marine microbial community composition using high-throughput sequencing methods. Extensive mining of the compositional data has provided exciting new insights into marine microbial ecology from a number of perspectives. Both deterministic and stochastic processes contribute to microbial community assembly but their relative importance in structuring subcommunities, that are categorized by traits such as abundance, functional type and activity, differs. Through correlation-based network analysis, significant progress has been made in unraveling microbial co-occurrence patterns and dynamics in response to environmental changes. Prediction of ecosystem functioning, based on microbial data, is receiving increasing attention, as closely related microbes often share similar ecological traits and microbial diversity often exhibits significant correlations to ecosystem functioning. The ecosystem functioning is likely executed not by the whole community, but rather by an active fraction of a community, which can be inferred from the marker gene transcription level of community members. Furthermore, the huge amount of microbial community data has significantly expanded the tree of life and illuminated microbial phylogenetic divergence and evolutionary history. This review summarizes important findings in microbial assembly, interaction, functioning, activity and diversification, highlighting the interacting roles of different aspects, derived from community compositional data.
Evaluation of Extramural Venous Invasion by Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography in Rectal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gursoy Coruh Aysegul , Peker Elif , Elhan Atilla , Erden Ilhan , Erden Ayse
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) to distinguish extramural venous invasion (EMVI) in rectal adenocarcinoma.

Materials and Methods

Fifty-eight patients who had been diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma (30 patients with EMVI and 28 patients without EMVI) were enrolled in the study. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the tumour and the EMVI (+) vein, the lengths of the tumours were measured on MRI. The diameters of the superior rectal vein (SRV)-inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) and distant metastatic spread were evaluated on CT. The ability of these findings to detect EMVI was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Pathology was accepted as the reference test for EMVI.

Results

Mean diameters of the SRV (4.9 ± 0.9 mm vs 3.7 ± 0.8 mm) and IMV (6.9 ± 0.8 mm vs 5.4 ± 0.9 mm) were significantly larger ( P < .001) and tumour ADC values were significantly lower (0.926 ± 0.281 × 10−3 mm2/s vs 1.026 ± 0.246 × 10−3 mm2/s; P = .032) in EMVI (+) patients. Diameters of 3.95 mm for the SRV (area under the curve [AUC] ± standard error [SE]: 0.851 ± 0.051, P < .001, sensitivity: 93.3%, specificity: 67.9%) and 5.95 mm for the IMV (AUC ± SE: 0.893 ± 0.040, P < .001, sensitivity: 93.3%, specificity: 71.4%) and an ADC value of 0.929 × 10−3 mm2/s (AUC ± SE: 0.664 ± 0.072, P = .032 sensitivity: 76.7%, specificity: 57.1%) were found to be cutoff values, determined by ROC analysis, for detection of EMVI. Distant metastases were significantly more prevalent in EMVI (+) patients ( P < .001).

Conclusion

The measurement of ADC values and SRV-IMV diameters seems to have contribution for diagnosis of EMVI in rectal adenocarcinoma. EMVI (+) patients appear to have higher risks of distant metastases at diagnosis.
CONSTRUCTIVE REFLECTIVITY PRINCIPLES FOR REGULAR THEORIES
Authors: FORSSELL HENRIK , LUMSDAINE PETER LEFANU
Published: September 2019

Classically, any structure for a signature ${\rm{\Sigma }}$ may be completed to a model of a desired regular theory ${T}}$ by means of the chase construction or small object argument. Moreover, this exhibits ${\rm{Mod}}\left(T)$ as weakly reflective in ${\rm{Str}}\left( {\rm{\Sigma }} \right)$.

We investigate this in the constructive setting. The basic construction is unproblematic; however, it is no longer a weak reflection. Indeed, we show that various reflectivity principles for models of regular theories are equivalent to choice principles in the ambient set theory. However, the embedding of a structure into its chase-completion still satisfies a conservativity property, which suffices for applications such as the completeness of regular logic with respect to Tarski (i.e., set) models.

Unlike most constructive developments of predicate logic, we do not assume that equality between symbols in the signature is decidable. While in this setting, we also give a version of one classical lemma which is trivial over discrete signatures but more interesting here: the abstraction of constants in a proof to variables.
Activist sinology and accented documentary: China on the (Italian?) internet
Authors: Voci Paola
Published: September 2019

On the Italian internet, the dominant, Italian-centred – and arguably often nationalistic – discourse on Global China, and, by extension, Global Italy, emphasises economic growth and opportunities. The celebratory and homogenising rhetoric of this discourse has been challenged by a counter-discourse on subaltern China, which focuses on the many, localised social inequities and discriminations suffered by the Chinese – or, more accurately, sinophone – workers. In this counter- discourse, an important role is played by small-screen documentaries on displaced migrants both in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and in Italy. I propose that they provide meaningful evidence of anItalian-accented‘sinologia di sinistra’ oractivistsinology, which views research as a transnationalpracticeand advocates a stronger link between academic discourse and civil society.
Who Settles Disputes? Treaty Design and Trade Attitudes Toward the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
Authors: Hahm Hyeonho , König Thomas , Osnabrügge Moritz , Frech Elena
Published: September 2019

What type of trade agreement is the public willing to accept? Instead of focusing on individual concerns about market access and trade barriers, we argue that specific treaty design and, in particular, the characteristics of the dispute settlement mechanism, play a critical role in shaping public support for trade agreements. To examine this theoretical expectation, we conduct a conjoint experiment that varies diverse treaty-design elements and estimate preferences over multiple dimensions of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) based on a nationally representative sample in Germany. We find that compared to other alternatives, private arbitration, known as investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), generates strong opposition to the trade agreement. As the single most important factor, this effect of dispute settlement characteristic is strikingly large and consistent across individuals’ key attributes, including skill levels, information, and national sentiment, among others.
The host-specificity of Theileria sp. (sable) and Theileria sp. (sable-like) in African Bovidae and detection of novel Theileria in antelope and giraffe
Authors: Pienaar Ronel , Josemans Antoinette , Latif Abdalla A. , Mans Ben J.
Published: September 2019

Tick-borne diseases caused by Theileria are of economic importance in domestic and wildlife ruminants. The majority of Theileria infects a limited number of host species, supporting the concept of host specificity. However, some Theileria seem to be generalists challenging the host specificity paradigm, such as Theileria sp. (sable) reported from various vertebrate hosts, including African buffalo, cattle, dogs and different antelope species. We tested the hypothesis that T. sp. (sable) uses Bovidae as hosts in general using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay specific for T. sp. (sable) and a closely related genotype: T. sp. (sable-like). Various antelope species from the Tragelaphini (black wildebeest, blesbuck, blue wildebeest, gemsbuck, sable and waterbuck) tested positive for either T. sp. (sable) or T. sp. (sable-like). However, no African buffalo (n = 238) or cattle (n = 428) sampled in the current study tested positive, suggesting that these latter species are not carrier hosts. The results were confirmed using next-generation sequencing which also indicated at least 13 new genotypes or species found in various antelope and giraffes. Genotypes were found in single host species or in evolutionarily related hosts, suggesting that host specificity in Theileria may be a lineage specific phenomenon likely associated with tick-host-parasite co-evolution.
Authority and camaraderie: The delivery of directives amongst the ice floes
Authors: White Anne Elizabeth Clark
Published: September 2019

This analysis focuses on the institutional talk of sea-kayak guides and their clients in order to understand how guides negotiate the interactional balance of giving orders to maintain a safe and timely excursion while facilitating a fun and recreational experience. Using a mixed-method analysis including Conversation Analysis, ethnography, and statistics, this study examines 576 instances of directives found in video recordings of twenty-five Alaskan kayaking ecotourism excursions and explores the practices guides use in their talk to maintain control of an excursion while not coming across as domineering. By systemically examining directives’ design, directives are found to reveal both their temporal urgency in addition to the precipitating events that necessitate them, such as client behaviors or environmental stimuli. This study's analysis contributes to our understanding of how interactants mitigate face-threatening actions and focuses attention on the interactional work that directives and their accounts achieve in an institutional setting currently underinvestigated (Directives, mixed-methods, Conversation Analysis, ethnography, ecotourism)*
Plasmatic NT-proBNP could help to select cases for screening echocardiography in healthy infants with Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection
Authors: Rodriguez-Gonzalez Moises , Benavente-Fernandez Isabel , Castellano-Martinez Ana
Published: September 2019

In Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection, the early identification of infants at risk for severe disease in order to potentially decrease morbidity could be considered a major goal. Current guidelines recommend only clinical observation for this purpose in infants without known comorbidities. However, recent evidence shows that the presence of pulmonary hypertension in this population is a relevant risk factor for the development of a severe illness, even in healthy infants. The determination of plasmatic NT-proBNP levels could help to identify those cases that benefit of echocardiographic screening to detect pulmonary hypertension in this population during hospitalization.