bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“bozalengo”, esta boca no es mia: la voz del sujeto popular negro en los testimonios (latino) americanos y caribenos
Authors: Zoungbo Victorien Lavou
Published: March 2018

Con el triunfo de la Revolución cubana en 1959, uno de los cometidos políticos de los revolucionarios era propugnar una cultura antiburguesa y antiimperialista. La práctica institucionalizada del testimonio constituía entonces uno de los espacios donde se fraguaba esta “nueva cultura”. Héroes populares, entre los cuales negros, tenían de esta manera acceso a la autoridad de la palabra escrita. Pero ¿qué significa realmente, en el caso del sujeto negro popular, “hablar” cuando durante siglos largos fue considerado onto políticamente y por ley como una “pieza” de Indias, un “instrumento útil” ¿Cómo “hablar” desde aquella vorágine cuya impronta sigue marcando las estructuras socio imaginarias de Américas/Caribes? Son unos planteos que contempla este recorrido crítico.Testimonio, “Bozalengo”, “Présence-histoire noire”, Caribe, Afrodes-cendientes.
Samba de roda: visibilidade, consumo cultural e estética musical
Authors: Döring Katharina
Published: March 2018

ResumoSamba de roda: visibilidade, consumo cultural e estética musicalO samba de roda representa valores estéticos e significados multifacetados enraizados na vida comunitária. Enquanto patrimônio imaterial, o samba de roda e seus protagonistas estão sendo submetidos a uma série de representações estéticas produzidas para públicos comunitários, estudantis, alternativos e comerciais. Este artigo descreve a diversidade geocultural, musical e estética de grupos de samba de roda e aprofunda a relação com a situação performática através de uma reflexão sobre a prática estética e recepção acadêmica do consumo cultural.Palavras-chaveSamba de roda, Patrimonialização, Consumo cultural, Estética musical.
Entrevista
Authors: Abbade Celina Márcia De Souza
Published: March 2018

Entrevista
Mulheres griôs quilombolas: um estudo inicial sobre identidade de gênero e identidade étnica
Authors: Sampaio Adriana Cardoso , Pacheco Ana Cláudia Lemos
Published: March 2018

O presente artigo buscou pesquisar em bases científicas e teóricas o que tem sido produzido sobre mulheres quilombolas e seu pertencimento étnico-racial e identidade de gênero. Os resultados encontrados neste estudo inicial revelam que pouco tem se investigado e produzido cientificamente sobre mulheres negras quilombolas, apontando para a urgência em conhecer e visibilizar as histórias de vida dessas mulheres e sua importância na constituição identitária e sociocultural da comunidade a qual fazem parte.Palavras-chave: Mulheres Quilombolas, Identidades, Gênero, Etnicidade, Raça.
Relações étnico-raciais em livros distribuídos pelo pnbe
Authors: Da Silva Paulo Vinícius Baptista , Venâncio Ana Carolina Lopes
Published: March 2018

Artigo apresenta análise de obras do Programa Nacional Biblioteca na Escola(PNBE) vinculada aos estudos brasileiros que investigam de forma crítica a criação e difusão de formas de hierarquização social (de idade, gênero, raça e relativos à deficiência) por meio de discursos e imagens veiculadas pela literatura infanto-juvenil. O presente texto relata os resultados obtidos acerca das questões étnico-raciais nas obras analisadas. Palavras-chave: Literatura infanto-juvenil. Diversidade. Relações étnico-raciais.
Representações sobre oralidade e escrita na tradição africana e sua presença/ausência na formação educacional brasileira
Authors: De Araujo Débora Cristina
Published: March 2018

São diversos estudos sobre oralidade e escrita que atribuíram à segunda condição de superioridade à segunda. Nessa lógica, a escrita seria capaz de desenvolver habilidades cognitivas mais abstratas que a oralidade. No caso do Brasil, a oralidade associada à cultura africana é apresentada nessa mesma lógica inferiorizante, refletindo tal processo na formação escolar. Torna-se imprescindível uma reflexão sobre a necessidade de valorizaçãode culturas com fortes marcas da oralidade e a superação de um modelo curricular eurocêntrico.Palavras-chave: Oralidade e escrita. Hierarquização. Tradição oral africana. Griots.
Hospitality, healing and haints: african american indigenous religion and activism
Authors: Harding Rosemarie Freeney , Harding Rachel Elizabeth
Published: March 2018

Este texto é um trecho do livro Remnants: A Memoir of Spirit, Activism and Mothering, publicado por Duke University Press em 2015. Remnants é uma colaboração entre Rachel e sua finada mãe, Rosemarie. Atraves de memórias da vida de Rosemarie enquanto militante no movemento negro dos anos 60, e da história oral da familia Freeney-Harding, o Remnants examina o papel de compaixão, e uma espiritualidade mística, afroindigena do sul dos estados unidos como recursos para militância social e racial na communidade negra norteamericana. O texto está escrito na voz de Rosemarie.Palavras-chave: Ativismo. Negros Sul-americanos. Espiritualidade. Misticismo. Família.
UM OLHAR FOUCAULTIANO SOBRE A PRODUÇÃO DE DISCURSOS NA CONSTRUÇÃO DO CORPO HETERONORMATIVO
Authors: Smith Herlan José da Silva , Abreu Rachel De Oliveira
Published: March 2018

Este artigo pretende realizar uma aproximação teórica entre os estudos de Foucault sobre a produção de discursos e o debate sobre heteronormatividade, mais precisamente, refletindo sobre a produção de discursos na construção do corpo heteronormativo via mecanismos de regulação e exclusão internos a uma ordem discursiva, objetivando imprimir um suposto olhar Foucaultiano nas nuances desse fenômeno que regula os corpos, questionando também, como a forma de operar a ciência e o papel do intelectual podem ressignificar um saber que domina.
ROMANCES GRÁFICOS COMO LEITURA ESCOLAR: WATCHMEN E A FICÇÃO AMPARADA NA HISTÓRIA
Authors: Arendt João Cláudio , Menegotto Roberto Rossi
Published: March 2018

No presente artigo, propomos a inserção de romances gráficos na sala de aula, especialmente nas disciplinas de literatura e língua portuguesa. Esse recente gênero textual, derivado das Histórias em Quadrinhos (HQs) tradicionais, surpreende, muitas vezes, por sua qualidade gráfica e temática. No caso específico de Watchmen, de Alan Moore, realizamos uma breve análise de fatos históricos nela presentes. Partimos de uma rápida definição de romance gráfico, passamos por dados biográficos do autor e por dados do contexto geral da obra e desembocamos na análise de duas capas de jornal com manchetes reais presentes em Watchmen, com o intuito de verificarmos a relação entre a graphic novel e eventos históricos da humanidade.
VIDA, TRABALHO E FORMAÇÃO COMO ELEMENTOS DA CONSTRUÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE LEITORA DOS PROFESSORES DA EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Costa Elisangela André da Silva , Lima Maria Socorro Lucena
Published: March 2018

Este estudo aborda a construção da identidade leitora de professores, partindo de elementos relacionados à vida, à formação e ao trabalho, que dialeticamente interferem neste processo. O objetivo geral foi compreender como, e a partir de que referenciais, são desenvolvidas as práticas de leitura dos professores nos anos iniciais do Ensino Fundamental. Metodologicamente optou-se pela pesquisa-ação crítico- colaborativa. Os resultados apontam para práticas profissionais e experiências formativas de leitura limitadas e limitantes por parte dos investigados.
THE RAVEN, DE EDGAR ALLAN POE: O POEMA, SUAS TRADUÇÕES E RECRIAÇÕES
Authors: Fiori Fernando Martins
Published: March 2018

Este trabalho procura investigar os processos que envolvem a tradução de uma obra literária, não somente entre idiomas diferentes (tradução interlingual), mas também entre mídias que trazem suas linguagens específicas (intersemiótica). A partir do poema The Raven, de Edgar Allan Poe, apresentaremos a discussão sobre sua tradução no âmbito da língua portuguesa bem como sua transposição para dois suportes: a xilogravura e o cinema. Analisaremos, brevemente, o diálogo entre o poema de Poe, as xilogravuras de Gustave Doré, de 1884, e o filme dirigido por Charles Brabin, em 1915. Nosso ponto de vista teórico consiste, principalmente, nas ideias sobre tradução propostas por Roman Jakobson, Júlio Plaza e Haroldo de Campos.
DUKUNGAN REVOLUSI MENTAL DALAM UPAYA MEMBENTUK ANAK HEBAT DAN TANGGAP
Authors: Nur Imamah Ida , Wijaya Gati Norman
Published: March 2018

School age children is where townhouse needed a good accompaniment in children. Mentoring is necessary to ensure the child is able to perform is development. The implementation of activities that teachers have a target servicecadres and elderly. The activities undertaken with the approach of the model of stress adaptation in Stuart. This approach models with adaptative and maladaptive response look. Outreach activities carried out on Thursday, August 3, 2017 started at 9 a.m. activities are implemented in the class room SDN Gonilan 02 Kartasuro Sukoharjo, followed by 7 teachers and 72 students composed of 3,4 and 5 classes with matter “How to be a Child”. Closed activities by providing reserved post test result and 83,3 % of the students answered correctly the question asked. Based on result of the post can be said knowledge test children increased 25 % compared to the result of a test that showed pre 58,3%.
AKUNTANSI: MODAL SOSIAL, SOSIAL EKONOMI, DAN IMPLEMENTASI CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) PT PUPUK KALIMANTAN TIMUR DI BONTANG
Authors: Hasiara La Ode
Published: March 2018

The research is aimed to find out: (1) the function of accounting in corporate social responsibility toward the surrounding societies, (2) social capital as a variety of different entities, with two elements in common: they all consist of some aspect of social structure, and they facilitate certain actions of actors-whether personal or corporate actors-within the structure, (3) the implementation of corporate social responsibility. Method used for the research is qualitative research. Researcher collected data based on interpretation and the depth and richness of data obtaining from the field. Research result indicated that (1) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a program conducted by a company as its social responsibility and awareness toward the society; (2) PT Pupuk Kaltim had fast and accurate strategy to win the competition; (3) PT Pupuk Kaltim had partnership with multi-stakeholders, such as Farmers, NGOs, firms, media, government, and higher education institutions) in order to gain power to win the competition. Conclusion. The essence of a multi partnership capital conducted by PT Pupuk Kaltim was community development program designed by involving various stakeholders. The partnership formed became effective, efficient due to continuous commitment and trust from the company to farmer and artisan (weaver), specifically.
EFEK MODERASI KEBIJAKAN DIVIDEN DALAM PENGARUH PROFITABILITAS TERHADAP NILAI PERUSAHAAN
Authors: Puspitaningtyas Zarah
Published: March 2018

Corporate value is a condition that describes the achievement of a company during the process of operation. Increased corporate value is an achievement that reflects an increase in wealth for shareholder. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of moderation dividend policy in the influence of profitability to the value of the company in manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2012-2016. Based on purposive sampling technique, there are 24 companies that meet the criteria as the research sample. Data analysis was done by using moderated regression analysis method. The results of the analysis prove that, at the 5% level of significance, dividend policy is not able to moderate the effect of profitability on firm value.
Sistem Pemetaan Ruangan 2D Menggunakan Lidar
Authors: Prayoga Senanjung , Budianto Asti , Kusuma Atmaja Ardian Budi
Published: March 2018

Agar dapat membantu pekerjaan dalam sistem pembuatan peta pada suatu ruangan yang memiliki tingkat bahaya yang tinggi, dibutuhkan sebuah robot yang dapat mengganti proses pembuatan peta. Sehingga robot tesebut harus memiliki sistem pemetaan 2D yang baik, agar dapat menggambarkan bentuk peta yang benar. Area berbentuk kotak dengan ukuran 2,44 m x 1,6 m dilengkapi adanya labirin di dalamnya dipilih sebagai area penelitian. Permasalahan yang muncul adalah bagaimana cara  mengukur sekeliling ruangan dan membentuk gambar peta ruangan yang diukur. Pada penilitian ini akan dikembangkan sistem pemetaan ruangan dengan menggunakan sensor lidar yang mampu melakukan pengukuran ruangan dengan jarak ukur panjang maksimal 6 m dan dapat berputar 360o. Pada penelitian ini terdapat mobile robot yang berfungsi untuk membawa sensor lidar yang memiliki navigasi untuk menelusuri ruangan, sehingga sistem pemetaan ruangan pada penelitian ini mampu menggambarkan peta ruangan secara keseluruhan. Untuk input pembuatan peta didapat dari hasil proses sensor lidar berupa nilai jarak dan sudut. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan menghasilkan sistem pemetaan 2 dimensi secara langsung di komputer dengan ukuran peta terhadap objek sebenarnya. Setelah penelitian dilakukan, hasil pemetaan dari software yang dibuat telah memiliki kesamaan bentuk dengan lapangan yang sebenarnya. Terdapat rata rata error pengukuran dengan menggunakan sensor LIDAR sebesar 0,87%.
The Problems and Solution Offers, Faced During The 3d Modeling Process of Sekiliyurt Underground Shelters With Terrestrial Laser Scanning Method
Authors: Yakar Murat , Ulvi Ali , Toprak Ahmet Suat
Published: March 2018

The aim of this research
is, to find out the practicality of using terrestrial laser scanners in the
area of 3D modeling of underground cities and underground shelters and to offer
a suggestion for possible problems. Our research concluded that the terrestrial
laser scanners are suitable for mapping and modeling the underground shelters
and cities and terrestrial laser scanning is a useful technique to obtain
sensitive and detailed results for hastily scanned objects. Generated maps and
measurements can be used as a base for future restoration and recreation works
of the scanned objects.
High resolution mapping of urban areas using SPOT-5 images and ancillary data
Authors: SERTEL Elif , AKAY Semih Sami
Published: March 2018

This research aims to propose new rule sets to be used for object based classification of SPOT-5
images to accurately create detailed urban land cover/use maps. In addition to SPOT-5 satellite
images, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index
(NDWI) maps, cadastral maps, Openstreet maps, road maps and Land Cover maps, were also
integrated into classification to increase the accuracy of resulting maps. Gaziantep city, one of the
highly populated cities of Turkey with different landscape patterns was selected as the study area.
Different rule sets involving spectral, spatial and geometric characteristics were developed to be
used for object based classification of 2.5 m resolution Spot-5 satellite images to automatically
create urban map of the region. Twenty different land cover/use classes obtained from European
Urban Atlas project were applied and an automatic classification approach was suggested for high
resolution urban map creation and updating. Integration of different types of data into the
classification decision tree increased the performance and accuracy of the suggested approach. The
accuracy assessment results illustrated that with the usage of newly proposed rule set algorithms in
object-based classification, urban areas represented with seventeen different sub-classes could be
mapped with 94 % or higher overall accuracy.
Shoreline Extraction and Change Detection using 1:5000 Scale Orthophoto Maps: A Case Study of Latvia-Riga
Authors: BAYRAM Bülent , JANPAULE İnese , OĞURLU Mustafa , BOZKURT Salih , REİS Hatice Çatal , ŞEKER Dursun Zafer
Published: March 2018

Coastal management requires rapid, up-to-date, and
correct information. Thus, the determination of coastal movements and its
directions has primary importance for coastal managers. For monitoring the
change of shorelines, remote sensing data, very high resolution aerial images
and orthophoto maps are utilized for detections of change on shorelines. It is
possible to monitor coastal changes by extracting the coastline from orthophoto
maps. Along the Baltic Sea and Riga Gulf, Latvian coastline length is 496 km.
It is rich of coastal resources and natural biodiversity.  Around 120 km of coastline are affected by
significant coastal changes caused by climate change, storms, erosion, human
activities and other reasons and they must be monitored. In this study, an
object-oriented approach has been proposed to detect shoreline and detect the
changes by using 1:5000 scaled orthophoto maps of Riga-Latvia (3bands, R, G,
and NIR) in the years of 2007 and 2013. As many of the authors have mentioned,
object-oriented classification method can be more successful than the
pixel-based methods especially for high resolution images to avoid
mix-classification. In the presented study the eCognition object-oriented fuzzy
image processing software has been used. The results were compared to the
results derived from manual digitizing. Extracted and manually digitized
shorelines have been divided in 5 m segments in x axis. The y coordinates of
the new nodes were taken from the original “.dxf” file or computed by
interpolation. Thus, the RMS errors of selected points were calculated
The Project PILAE, For an Inventory of the Submerged Roman Piers. A Preliminary Overview
Authors: STEFANİLE Michele
Published: March 2018

In the coastal territories between northern Tuscany and southern Campania, on the Tyrrhenian Sea, constitute a privileged observation post for any study on the port facilities in the Roman time. Along these shores, in fact, there is an amazing concentration of ancient remains connected to port infrastructures, often not very far from the modern cities, and in many cases still recognizable beneath the sea or near it, despite the big changes suffered by the Italian coastal landscape over the past two millennia.
Law as computation in the era of artificial legal intelligence: Speaking law to the power of statistics
Authors: Hildebrandt Mireille
Published: March 2018

The idea of artificial legal intelligence stems from a previous wave of artificial intelligence, then called jurimetrics. It was based on an algorithmic understanding of law, celebrating logic as the sole ingredient for proper legal argumentation. However, as Oliver Wendell Holmes has noted, the life of the law is experience rather than merely logic. Machine learning, which determines the current wave of artificial intelligence, is built on data-driven machine experience. The resulting artificial legal intelligence may be far more successful in terms of predicting the content of positive law. In this article, I discuss the assumptions of law and the Rule of Law and confront them with those of computational systems. As a twin article to my Chorley lecture on law as information, this should inform the extent to which artificial legal intelligence provides for responsible innovation in legal decision making.
Transformative legal technology and the rule of law
Authors: Gowder Paul
Published: March 2018

This article distinguishes two types of legal technology: ‘cheaper lawyers’ (or simply replacing the cognitive operations of lawyers in their existing domains with technology) and ‘transformative artificial legal cognition’ (or introducing the cognitive operations characteristic of lawyers in contexts where human lawyers cannot economically be deployed at all). It then makes the case for finding advances in egalitarian access to justice and the rule of law primarily in the latter category.
How artificial intelligence will affect the practice of law
Authors: Alarie Benjamin , Niblett Anthony , Yoon Albert H
Published: March 2018

Artificial intelligence is exerting an influence on all professions and industries. We have autonomous vehicles, instantaneous translation among the world’s leading languages, and search engines that rapidly locate information anywhere on the web in a way that is tailored to a user’s interests and past search history. Law is not immune from disruption by new technology. Software tools are beginning to affect various aspects of lawyers’ work, including those tasks that historically relied upon expert human judgment, such as predicting court outcomes. These new software tools present new challenges and new opportunities. In the short run, we can expect greater legal transparency, more efficient dispute resolution, improved access to justice, and new challenges to the traditional organization of private law firms delivering legal services on a billable hour basis through a leveraged partner-associate model. With new technology, lawyers will be empowered to work more efficiently, deepen and broaden their areas of expertise, and provide more value to clients. These developments will predictably transform both how lawyers do legal work and resolve disputes on behalf of their clients. In the longer term, it is difficult to predict what the impact of artificially intelligent tools will be, as lawyers incorporate them into their practice and expand their range of services on behalf of clients.
American views of Sir Victor Horsley in the era of Cushing
Authors: Lehner Kurt R. , Schulder Michael
Published: March 2018

Sir Victor Horsley was a pioneering British neurosurgeon known for his numerous neurosurgical, scientific, and sociopolitical contributions. Although word of these surgical and scientific achievements quickly spread throughout Europe and North America in the late 19th century, much of modern neurosurgery’s view of Horsley has been colored by a single anecdote from John Fulton’s biography of Harvey Cushing. In this account, Cushing observes a frenetic Horsley hastily removing a Gasserian ganglion from a patient in the kitchen of a British mansion. Not long after, Cushing left Britain saying that he had little to learn from British neurosurgery. The authors of this paper examined contemporary views of Horsley to assess what his actual reputation was in the US and Canada. The authors conducted a thorough search of references to Horsley using the following sources: American surgical and neurosurgical textbooks; major biographies; diary entries and letters; PubMed; newspaper articles; and surgical and neurosurgical texts. The positive reception of his work is corroborated by invitations for Horsley to speak in America. Research additionally revealed that Horsley had numerous personal and professional relationships with prominent Americans in medicine, including William Osler, John Wheelock Elliot, Ernest Sachs, and (yes) Harvey Cushing. Horsley’s contributions to medicine and science were heavily reported in American newspapers; outside of neurosurgery, his strong opposition to the antivivisectionists and his support for alcohol prohibition were widely reported in popular media. Horsley’s contributions to neurosurgery in America are undeniable. Writings from and about prominent Americans reveal that he was viewed favorably by those who had met him. Frequent publication of his views in the American media suggests that medical professionals and the public in the US valued his contributions on scientific as well as social issues. Horsley died too young, but not without the international recognition that was rightly his.
On the convergence of soft potential dynamics to hard sphere dynamics
Authors: Wilkinson Mark
Published: March 2018

We address a question raised in the work of Gallagher, Saint-Raymond and Texier [ From Newton to Boltzmann: Hard Spheres and Short-range Potentials, European Mathematical Society (EMS), Zürich, 2013] that concerns the convergence of soft potential dynamics to hard sphere dynamics. In the case of two particles, we establish that hard sphere dynamics is the limit of soft sphere dynamics in the weak-star topology of [Formula: see text]. We view our result as establishing a topological method by which to construct weak solutions to the ODE of hard sphere motion.
On the Lp-Lq decay estimate for the Stokes equations with free boundary conditions in an exterior domain
Authors: Shibata Yoshihiro
Published: March 2018

This paper deals with the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] decay estimate of the [Formula: see text] analytic semigroup [Formula: see text] associated with the perturbed Stokes equations with free boundary conditions in an exterior domain. The problem arises in the study of free boundary problem for the Navier–Stokes equations in an exterior domain. We proved that [Formula: see text] provided that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Compared with the non-slip boundary condition case, the gradient estimate is better, which is important for the application to proving global well-posedness of free boundary problem for the Navier–Stokes equations. In our proof, it is crucial to prove the uniform estimate of the resolvent operator, the resolvent parameter ranging near zero.
Approximate state-space controllability of linear singularly perturbed systems with two scales of state delays
Authors: Glizer Valery Y.
Published: March 2018

A singularly perturbed linear time-dependent controlled system with multiple point-wise and distributed state delays is considered. The delays in the fast state variable are small of order of the small positive multiplier for a part of the derivatives in the system, which is a parameter of the singular perturbation. The delays in the slow state variable are non-small. Two types of the original singularly perturbed system, standard and nonstandard, are analyzed. For each type, two much simpler parameter-free subsystems (the slow and fast ones) are associated with the original system. It is established in the paper that the approximate state-space controllability of the slow and fast subsystems yields the approximate state-space controllability of the original system robustly with respect to the parameter of singular perturbation for all its sufficiently small values. Illustrative examples are presented.
Finding Shortest Triangular Path and its Family inside a Digital Object
Authors: Sarkar Apurba , Biswas Arindam , Dutt Mousumi , Mondal Shouvick
Published: March 2018

This article presents a combinatorial algorithm to find a shortest triangular path (STP) between two points inside a digital object imposed on triangular grid that runs in [Formula: see text] time, where n is the number of pixels on the contour of the object and g is the grid size. Initially, the inner triangular cover which maximally inscribes the object is constructed to ensure that the path lies within the object. An appropriate bounding parallelogram is considered with those two points in diagonally opposite corners and then one of the semi-perimeters of the parallelogram is traversed. Certain combinatorial rules are formulated based on the properties of triangular grid and are applied during the traversal whenever required to shorten the triangular path. A shortest triangular path between any two points may not be unique. Another combinatorial algorithm is presented, which finds the family of shortest triangular path (FSTP) (i.e., the region containing all possible shortest triangular paths) between two given points inside a digital object and runs in [Formula: see text] time. Experimental results are presented to verify the correctness, robustness, and efficacy of the algorithms. STP and FSTP can be useful for shape analysis of digital objects and determining shape signatures. 1
Plantar stimulation in parkinsonians: From biomarkers to mobility – randomized-controlled trial
Authors: Pagnussat Aline Souza , Kleiner Ana F.R. , Rieder Carlos R.M. , Frantz Anapaula , Ehlers Jaira , Pinto Camila , Dorneles Gilson , Netto Carlos Alexandre , Peres Alessandra , Galli Manuela
Published: March 2018

Background:

The decrease of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) serum levels has been related to the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases as well as to neural plasticity and rehabilitation. Automated Mechanical Peripheral Stimulation (AMPS) has been investigated as a complementary therapy for Parkinson Disease (PD).

Objectives:

(1) to investigate the effects of AMPS on BDNF and Cortisol serum levels of subjects with PD; (2) to evidence the interplay between BDNF and Cortisol serum levels and the functional mobility improvement after AMPS treatment.

Methods:

Thirty-three subjects with PD were randomized into two groups: effective stimulation (AMPS, n = 16) or placebo stimulation (AMPS SHAM, n = 17). Fourteen healthy aged-matched subjects were included as a reference group. Each AMPS group received eight sessions of treatment using a commercial medical device (Gondola™). BDNF and Cortisol serum levels, spatiotemporal gait parameters and TUG test were assessed at baseline and after eight sessions of treatment.

Results:

After the treatment, AMPS group showed significantly higher levels of BDNF and lower levels of Cortisol compared to AMPS SHAM. AMPS group also showed a positive effect on gait pattern as a higher improvement on gait velocity, stride length, and TUG performance was shown.

Conclusion:

Effective AMPS treatment increased BDNF and decreased Cortisol serum levels and produced improvements in functional mobility.
Axial diffusivity changes in the motor pathway above stroke foci and functional recovery after subcortical infarction
Authors: Liu Gang , Peng Kangqiang , Dang Chao , Tan Shuangquan , Chen Hongbing , Xie Chuanmiao , Xing Shihui , Zeng Jinsheng
Published: March 2018

Background:

Secondary degeneration of the fiber tract of the motor pathway below infarct foci and functional recovery after stroke have been well demonstrated, but the role of the fiber tract above stroke foci remains unclear.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate diffusion changes in motor fibers above the lesion and identify predictors of motor improvement within 12 weeks after subcortical infarction.

Methods:

Diffusion tensor imaging and the Fugl-Meyer (FM) scale were conducted 1, 4, and 12 weeks (W) after a subcortical infarct. Proportional recovery model residuals were used to assign patients to proportional recovery and poor recovery groups. Region of interest analysis was used to assess diffusion changes in the motor pathway above and below a stroke lesion. Multivariable linear regression was employed to identify predictors of motor improvement within 12 weeks after stroke.

Results:

Axial diffusivity (AD) in the underlying white matter of the ipsilesional primary motor area (PMA) and cerebral peduncle (CP) in both proportional and poor recovery groups was lower at W1 compared to the controls and values in the contralesional PMA and CP (all P < 0.05). Subsequently, AD in the ipsilesional CP became relatively stable, while AD in the ipsilesional PMA significantly increased from W4 to W12 after stroke ( P < 0.05). In all of the patients, changes in the FM scores were greater in those with higher changes in AD of the ipsilesional PMA. Only initial impairment or lesion volume was predictive of motor improvement within 12 weeks after stroke in patients with proportional or poor recovery.

Conclusion:

Increases of AD in the motor pathway above stroke foci may be associated with motor recovery after subcortical infarction. Early measurement of diffusion metrics in the ipsilesional non-ischemic motor pathway has limited value in predicting future motor improvement patterns (proportional or poor recovery).
Potential benefits of a cognitive training program in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Authors: Mendoza Laiz Nuria , Del Valle Díaz Sagrario , Rioja Collado Natalia , Gomez-Pilar Javier , Hornero Roberto
Published: March 2018

Background:

Dementia is a disease that is constantly evolving in older people. Its diverse symptoms appear with varying degrees of severity affecting the daily life of those who suffer from it. The rate in which dementia progresses depends on different aspects of the treatment, chosen to try to control and slow down the development of the illness.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of cognitive training through a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) and the NeuronUp platform in two age groups whose MMSE is between 18–23 MCI (mild dementia).

Method:

32 subjects took part in the study. There were 22 subjects in Group 1 (61–69 years of age) and 10 subjects in Group 2 (70–81 years of age). The criterium for the selection of the groups was to identify the age range with greater improvements due to the training. In order to estimate neuropsychological performance, the subjects were evaluated with the Luria-DNA neuropsychological battery before and after training. This design enables us to evaluate five cognitive areas: visuospatial, spoken language, memory, intellectual processes and attention.

Results:

After training, Group 1 showed significant improvements in almost all the variables measured when compared with Group 2. This reveals a significant increase in cognitive ability, the degree of which depends on the age.

Conclusion:

People with mild dementia may delay cognitive impairment with a suitable cognitive training program.
Clinical features of patients who might benefit more from walking robotic training
Authors: Morone Giovanni , Masiero Stefano , Coiro Paola , De Angelis Domenico , Venturiero Vincenzo , Paolucci Stefano , Iosa Marco
Published: March 2018

Background:

Robotic walking training improves probability to reach an autonomous walking in non-ambulant patients affected by subacute stroke. However, little information is available regarding the prognostic factors for identifying best responder patients. The purpose of the present study is therefore to investigate the clinical features of patients with subacute stroke that might benefit more from robotic walking therapy.

Methods:

One hundred subacute inpatients randomized in robotic or conventional gait training were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of training performed 5 times per week. Forward Binary Logistic Regression was performed using functional ambulation category (FAC) as dependent variable and as independent variables: trunk function (trunk control test), global ability (Barthel Index), age, sex, time from stroke and beginning of rehabilitation, side and type of stroke, and in the first analysis also type of treatment.

Results:

The parameters that have a significant effect on the FAC-score at discharge were a higher BI-score at admission, a higher TCT-score at admission, a short time from the ictus and a robotic therapy. The variance explained by these four factors was 78%. When the two groups were separately analysed for type of treatment, a higher BI-score and a short time from stroke resulted in good prognosis for conventional therapy, whereas only a high TCT-score improved efficacy of robotic training.

Conclusion:

Efficacy of robotic walking training was not associated with global ability at admission. Hence, more severely disabled patients may obtain greater benefit from robotic training, independently by other factors, except the need of a residual trunk control that was identified as a good prognostic factor for robotic walking training.
A graph-based approach for resolving incoherent ontology mappings
Authors: Li Weizhuo , Zhang Songmao , Qi Guilin
Published: March 2018

Ontology mappings are regarded as the semantic bridges that link entities from different yet overlapping ontologies in order to support knowledge sharing and reuse on the Semantic Web. However, mappings can be wrong and result in logical conflicts among ontologies. Such kind of mappings are called incoherent mappings. As an important part of ontology matching, mapping validation aims at detecting the conflicts and restoring the coherence of mappings. In this paper, we propose a graph-based approach which is complete for detecting incoherent mappings among DL-Lite ontologies. The lightweight DL-Lite family of description logics stand out for tractable reasoning and efficient query answering capabilities. Our approach consists of a set of graph construction rules, a graph-based incoherence detection algorithm, and a graph-based incoherence repair algorithm. We propose and formalize three repair principles in an attempt to measure the wrong mappings, where the notion of common closures w.r.t. a mapping arc in the constructed graph is introduced. These principles feature a global removal strategy that is independent of individual ontology matchers. In order to relieve the loss of information among ontologies in the repair process, we further define a mapping revision operator so that common closures related to the removed mappings can be preserved in the graph. We implement the graph-based algorithms and evaluate their performance in a comparison with state-of-the-art systems on real-world ontologies. Experimental results show that our approach can remove more wrong mappings and achieve better repairing results in most of the cases.
Collaborative ensemble learning under differential privacy
Authors: Xiang Tao , Li Yang , Li Xiaoguo , Zhong Shigang , Yu Shui
Published: March 2018

Ensemble learning plays an important role in big data analysis. A great limitation is that multiple parties cannot share their knowledge extracted from ensemble learning model with privacy guarantee, therefore it is a great demand to develop privacy-preserving collaborative ensemble learning. This paper proposes a privacy-preserving collaborative ensemble learning framework under differential privacy. In the framework, multiple parties can independently build their local ensemble models with personalized privacy budgets, and collaboratively share their knowledge to obtain a stronger classifier with the help of central agent in a privacy-preserving way. Under this framework, this paper presents the differentially private versions of two widely-used ensemble learning algorithms: collaborative random forests under differential privacy (CRFsDP) and collaborative adaptive boosting under differential privacy (CAdaBoostDP). Theoretical analysis and extensive experimental results show that our proposed framework achieves a good balance between privacy and utility in an efficient way.
Association of serum vitamin D3 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Anwar Taznuva , Rahman Md. Matiur , Mollah Forhadul Hoque , Biswas Subrata Kumar
Published: March 2018

Vitamin D has an important role and supposed to be a risk factor in the development of pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus by affecting either insulin sensitivity or β-cell function, or both. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relation of serum vitamin D3  and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Total 80 individuals were enrolled in this study. Forty newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic individual were enrolled as cases and 40 healthy glucose tolerant subjects were enrolled as controls. Serum vitamin D3 was measured by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. Fasting and 2 hours plasma glucose level were measured by hexokinase method using the Dimension clinical chemistry system. The mean serum vitamin D3 level was significantly low in type 2 diabetes mellitus than in controls (p= 0,007). The individual with vitamin D3 deficiency showed 3.4 times higher chances to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus compare to the individual with normal vitamin D status. Correlation test showed significant (r= -0.351) negative correlation (p=0.026)  between serum vitamin D3 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It can be concluded that vitamin D3 deficiency is related to type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Optimization of Mass Concrete Construction Using a Twofold Parallel Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Rita Mariane , Fairbairn Eduardo , Ribeiro Fernando , Andrade Henrique , Barbosa Helio
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a solution strategy, based on a parallel Genetic Algorithm (GA), to optimize the construction of massive concrete structures. The optimization process aims at minimizing the construction cost, considering the following design variables: the concrete mixes, the placing temperature, the height of the lifts, and the time intervals between placing the lifts. The cracking tendency is taken into account by a penalty scheme imposed to the fitness function of the GA. A thermo-chemo-mechanical model is used to calculate the transient fields of hydration, temperature, stress, strain, and cracking tendency. This model is implemented in a finite element code that is, in turn, parallelized. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology, the simulation of the construction of a structure similar to the real thick foundation of an industrial building is presented. It shows that the optimization procedure here presented is feasible and is ready to be used in real engineering applications.
Path Planning Strategy for Vehicle Navigation Based on User Habits
Authors: Chen Pengzhan , Zhang Xiaoyan , Chen Xiaoyue , Liu Mengchao
Published: March 2018

Vehicle navigation is widely used in path planning of self driving travel, and it plays an increasing important role in people's daily trips. Therefore, path planning algorithms have attracted substantial attention. However, most path planning methods are based on public data, aiming at different driver groups rather than a specific user. Hence, this study proposes a personalized path decision algorithm that is based on user habits. First, the categories of driving characteristics are obtained through the investigation of public users, and the clustering results corresponding to the category space are obtained by log fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm (LFCM) based on the driving information contained in the log trajectories. Then, the road performance personalized quantization algorithm evaluation is proposed to evaluate roads from the user’s field of vision. Finally, adaptive ant colony algorithm is improved and used to validate the path planning based on the road performance personalized values. Results show that the algorithm can meet the personalized requirements of the user path selection in the path decision.
Theoretical Urban Heat Island Circulation in the Temperature Inversion Profile
Authors: Li Yaokun , Chao Jiping
Published: March 2018

The characteristics of urban heat island (UHI) circulation are analytically expressed as functions of the surface temperature in both temperature inversion and non-temperature inversion (NTI) profiles, in which the temperature declines with increasing altitudes. To identify how the inversion layer affects UHI circulation, two temperature profiles are specified to be nearly similar except within the temperature inversion layer. Theoretical calculations suggest that the UHI circulation in the temperature inversion case is weaker and lower than in the NTI case and that there is no significant difference between the two cases. When the inversion layer thickness is fixed, the relative size difference between the weakening inversion intensity and the strengthening temperature influence above the inversion lid controls the decrease or increase in UHI circulation.
Test of Two Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage: Determination of the Global Heat Transfer Coefficient
Authors: Esteves Luís , Magalhães Ana , Ferreira Victor , Pinho Carlos
Published: March 2018

Laboratory scale experiments on the behaviour of two phase change materials, a salt and a paraffin, during fusion and solidification cycling processes, were accomplished. To do this, a system using thermal oil as the heat transfer carrier was used and the phase change material being tested operated in a fusion and solidification cycle. The heat transfer oil transferred heat to the phase change material during the fusion step and carried heat away from the change phase material during the solidification step. The influence of the mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, as well as of its temperature, in the response of the phase change material, was studied. Axial and radial temperature profiles inside the phase change materials were obtained during the experiments and subsequently analysed. From these temperature profiles and through an adequate mathematical treatment, global heat transfer coefficients between the heat transfer oil and the phase change material were determined, as well as average heat transfer coefficients for the phase change materials.
Superhydrophobic, Superoleophobic and Antimicrobial Coatings for the Protection of Silk Textiles
Authors: Aslanidou Dimitra , Karapanagiotis Ioannis
Published: March 2018

A method to produce multifunctional coatings for the protection of silk is developed. Aqueous dispersion, free of any organic solvent, containing alkoxy silanes, organic fluoropolymer, silane quaternary ammonium salt, and silica nanoparticles (7 nm in mean diameter) is sprayed onto silk which obtains (i) superhydrophobic and superoleophobic properties, as evidenced by the high contact angles (>150°) of water and oil drops and (ii) antimicrobial properties. Potato dextrose agar is used as culture medium for the growth of microorganisms. The protective coating hinders the microbial growth on coated silk which remains almost free of contamination after extensive exposure to the microorganisms. Furthermore, the multifunctional coating induces a moderate reduction in vapor permeability of the treated silk, it shows very good durability against abrasion and has a minor visual effect on the aesthetic appearance of silk. The distinctive roles of the silica nanoparticles and the antimicrobial agent on the aforementioned properties of the coating are investigated. Silica nanoparticles induce surface structures at the micro/nano-meter scale and are therefore responsible for the achieved extreme wetting properties that promote the antimicrobial activity. The latter is further enhanced by adding the silane quaternary ammonium salt in the composition of the protective coating.
The BKT Universality Class in the Presence of Correlated Disorder
Authors: Maccari Ilaria , Benfatto Lara , Castellani Claudio
Published: March 2018

The correct detection of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors still remains a controversial issue. Its main signatures, indeed, are often at odds with the theoretical expectations. In a recent work (Maccari, I.; Benfatto, L.; Castellani, C. Phys. Rev. B 2017, 96, 060508), we have shown that the presence of spatially correlated disorder plays a key role in this sense because it is the reason underlying the experimentally-observed smearing of the universal superfluid-density jump. In the present paper we closely investigate the effects of correlated disorder on the BKT transition, specifically addressing the issue of whether or not it changes the BKT universality class.
Thickness-Dependent Strain Rate Sensitivity of Nanolayers via the Nanoindentation Technique
Authors: Song Jian , Liu Yue , Fan Zhe , Zhang Xinghang
Published: March 2018

The strain rate sensitivity (SRS) and dislocation activation volume are two inter-related material properties for understanding thermally-activated plastic deformation, such as creep. For face-centered-cubic metals, SRS normally increases with decreasing grain size, whereas the opposite holds for body-center-cubic metals. However, these findings are applicable to metals with average grain sizes greater than tens of nanometers. Recent studies on mechanical behaviors presented distinct deformation mechanisms in multilayers with individual layer thickness of 20 nanometers or less. It is necessary to estimate the SRS and plastic deformation mechanisms in this regime. Here, we review a new nanoindentation test method that renders reliable hardness measurement insensitive to thermal drift, and its application on SRS of Cu/amorphous-CuNb nanolayers. The new technique is applied to Cu films and returns expected SRS values when compared to conventional tensile test results. The SRS of Cu/amorphous-CuNb nanolayers demonstrates two distinct deformation mechanisms depending on layer thickness: dislocation pileup-dominated and interface-mediated deformation mechanisms.