bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal transport-based polar interpolation of directional fields
Authors: Solomon Justin , Vaxman Amir
Published: July 2019

We propose an algorithm that interpolates between vector and frame fields on triangulated surfaces, designed to complement field design methods in geometry processing and simulation. Our algorithm is based on apolarconstruction, leveraging a conservation law from the Hopf-Poincaré theorem to match singular points using ideas from optimal transport; the remaining detail of the field is interpolated using straightforward machinery. Our model is designed with topology in mind, sliding singular points along the surface rather than having them appear and disappear, and it caters to all surface topologies, including boundary and generator loops.
TriWild
Authors: Hu Yixin , Schneider Teseo , Gao Xifeng , Zhou Qingnan , Jacobson Alec , Zorin Denis , Panozzo Daniele
Published: July 2019

We propose a robust 2D meshing algorithm,
TriWild
, to generate curved triangles reproducing smooth feature curves, leading to coarse meshes designed to match the simulation requirements necessary by applications and avoiding the geometrical errors introduced by linear meshes. The robustness and effectiveness of our technique are demonstrated by batch processing an SVG collection of 20k images, and by comparing our results against state of the art linear and curvilinear meshing algorithms. We demonstrate for our algorithm the practical utility of computing diffusion curves, fluid simulations, elastic deformations, and shape inflation on complex 2D geometries.
Fractional gaussian fields for modeling and rendering of spatially-correlated media
Authors: Guo Jie , Chen Yanjun , Hu Bingyang , Yan Ling-Qi , Guo Yanwen , Liu Yuntao
Published: July 2019

Transmission of radiation through spatially-correlated media has demonstrated deviations from the classical exponential law of the corresponding uncorrelated media. In this paper, we propose a general, physically-based method for modeling such correlated media with non-exponential decay of transmittance. We describe spatial correlations by introducing the Fractional Gaussian Field (FGF), a powerful mathematical tool that has proven useful in many areas but remains under-explored in graphics. With the FGF, we study the effects of correlations in a unified manner, by modeling both high-frequency, noise-like fluctuations and
k
-th order fractional Brownian motion (fBm) with a stochastic continuity property. As a result, we are able to reproduce a wide variety of appearances stemming from different types of spatial correlations. Compared to previous work, our method is the first that addresses both short-range and long-range correlations using physically-based fluctuation models. We show that our method can simulate different extents of randomness in spatially-correlated media, resulting in a smooth transition in a range of appearances from exponential falloff to complete transparency. We further demonstrate how our method can be integrated into an energy-conserving RTE framework with a well-designed importance sampling scheme and validate its ability compared to the classical transport theory and previous work.
Bounded Independence versus Symmetric Tests
Authors: Boppana Ravi , Håstad Johan , Lee Chin Ho , Viola Emanuele
Published: July 2019

For a test
T
⊆ {0, 1}

n

, define
k
*
(
T
) to be the maximum
k
such that there exists a
k
-wise uniform distribution over {0, 1}

n

whose support is a subset of
T
.

For

H
t

= {
x
∈ {0, 1}

n

: | ∑

i

x
i

−
n
/2| ≤
t
}, we prove
k
*
(

H
t

) = Θ (
t
2
/
n
+ 1).

For

S
m, c

= {
x
∈ {0, 1}

n

: ∑

i

x
i

≡
c
(mod
m
)}, we prove that
k
*
(

S
m, c

) = Θ (
n
/
m
2
). For some
k
=
O
(
n
/
m
) we also show that any
k
-wise uniform distribution puts probability mass at most 1/
m
+ 1/100 over

S
m, c

. Finally, for any fixed odd
m
we show that there is an integer
k
= (1 − Ω(1))
n
such that any
k
-wise uniform distribution lands in
T
with probability exponentially close to |

S
m, c

|/2

n

; and this result is false for any even
m
.
A conversation with Santiago Montesdeoca
Authors: Anjum Bushra
Published: July 2019

In this series of interviews with innovation leaders, Ubiquity Associate Editor and software engineer, Dr. Bushra Anjum, sits down with Dr. Santiago Montesdeoca to discuss the evolution of the animation industry as well as the aesthetic constraints creatives face when reconciling their personal artistry with commerce and trends.
Has Dynamic Programming Improved Decision Making?
Authors: Rust John
Published: July 2019

Dynamic programming (DP) is a powerful tool for solving a wide class of sequential decision-making problems under uncertainty. In principle, it enables us to compute optimal decision rules that specify the best possible decision in any situation. This article reviews developments in DP and contrasts its revolutionary impact on economics, operations research, engineering, and artificial intelligence with the comparative paucity of its real-world applications to improve the decision making of individuals and firms. The fuzziness of many real-world decision problems and the difficulty in mathematically modeling them are key obstacles to a wider application of DP in real-world settings. Nevertheless, I discuss several success stories, and I conclude that DP offers substantial promise for improving decision making if we let go of the empirically untenable assumption of unbounded rationality and confront the challenging decision problems faced every day by individuals and firms.
NanoSIMS: Microscale Quantification of Biogeochemical Activity with Large-Scale Impacts
Authors: Mayali Xavier
Published: July 2019

One major objective of aquatic microbial ecology is to understand the distribution of microbial populations over space and time and in response to environmental factors. Perhaps more importantly, it is crucial to quantify how those microbial cells affect biogeochemical processes of interest, such as primary production, nitrogen cycling, or the breakdown of pollutants. One valuable approach to link microbial identity to activity is to carry out incubations with stable-isotope-labeled substrates and then quantify the isotope incorporation by individual microbial cells using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). This review summarizes recent efforts in this field, highlights novel methods, describes studies investigating rare metabolisms as well as widespread microbial activity, and hopes to provide a framework to increase the use and capabilities of NanoSIMS for microbial biogeochemical studies in the future.
Development of the Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Biliary Tract: A Framework for Understanding Congenital Diseases
Authors: Lemaigre Frédéric P.
Published: July 2019

The involvement of the biliary tract in the pathophysiology of liver diseases and the increased attention paid to bile ducts in the bioconstruction of liver tissue for regenerative therapy have fueled intense research into the fundamental mechanisms of biliary development. Here, I review the molecular, cellular and tissular mechanisms driving differentiation and morphogenesis of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. This review focuses on the dynamics of the transcriptional and signaling modules that promote biliary development in human and mouse liver and discusses studies in which the use of zebrafish uncovered unexplored processes in mammalian biliary development. The review concludes by providing a framework for interpreting the mechanisms that may help us understand the origin of congenital biliary diseases.
Cancer and the Circadian Clock
Authors: Shafi Ayesha A. , Knudsen Karen E.
Published: July 2019

The circadian clock is a master regulator of mammalian physiology, regulating daily oscillations of crucial biological processes and behaviors. Notably, circadian disruption has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for cancer and classified as a carcinogen. As such, it is imperative to discern the underpinning mechanisms by which circadian disruption alters cancer risk. Emergent data, reviewed herein, demonstrate that circadian regulatory functions play critical roles in several hallmarks of cancer, including control of cell proliferation, cell death, DNA repair, and metabolic alteration. Developing a deeper understanding of circadian-cancer regulation cross-talk holds promise for developing new strategies for cancer interception, prevention, and management.
Levels of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure and Their Relation to Incident Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Jung Ju Young , Oh Chang-Mo , Choi Joong-Myung , Ryoo Jae-Hong , Chung Pil-Wook , Hong Hyun Pyo , Park Sung Keun
Published: July 2019

Background: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and one third of individuals with hypertension simultaneously have MetS. However, the evidence is still unclear regarding the predictive ability of BP for incident MetS. Methods: In total, 5,809 Koreans without baseline MetS were grouped by baseline systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and monitored for 10 years to identify incident MetS. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the HR and 95% CI for MetS according to SBP and DBP. Subgroup analysis was conducted in the normotensive population based on a new guideline of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Results: High-BP groups tended to have worse metabolic profiles than the lowest-BP group in both SBP and DBP categories. In all of the participants, elevated SBP and DBP levels were significantly associated with the increased HR for MetS, even after adjusting for covariates. Subgroup analysis for normotensive participants indicated that the HR for MetS increased proportionally to both SBP (<110 mm Hg: reference, 110–119 mm Hg: HR = 1.60 [95% CI 1.40–1.84], and 120–129 mm Hg: HR = 2.12 [95% CI 1.82–2.48]) and DBP levels (<70 mm Hg: reference, 71–74 mm Hg: HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.09–1.58], and 75–79 mm Hg: HR = 1.51 [95% CI 1.25–1.81]). Conclusion: The risk of incident MetS increased proportionally to baseline SBP and DBP, and this was identically observed even in normotensive participants.
Subclinical Iron Deficiency in Non-Anemic Individuals: A Retrospective Analysis of Korean Health Examinees
Authors: Nah Eun-Hee , Cho Han-Ik , Cho Seon , Kim Suyoung
Published: July 2019

Objectives: Non-anemic individuals may have undetected subclinical iron deficiency (SID). The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of SID and identify the associated factors for SID. In addition, the screening performance of red blood cell (RBC) indices for SID in health check-ups was assessed. Methods: This study was conducted with 16,485 non-anemic health examinees (3,567 males and 12,918 females) who underwent tests for iron variables (serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, and iron saturation) at 16 health-promotion centers in 13 cities in Korea between January 2017 and June 2018. SID was defined as a decreased ferritin level (<24 µg/L in males and <15 µg/L in females) and either a decreased serum iron level (<44 µg/dL in males and <29 µg/dL in females) or a transferrin saturation of <20%. Results: The prevalence rates of SID were 0.6 and 3.3% in males and females, respectively. In terms of age and sex, SID was most prevalent in males aged ≥70 years (7.8%) and females aged 15–49 years (7.6%). There were significant differences in the hemoglobin (Hb) level, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), and RBC distribution width (RDW) between the SID and non-SID groups (p < 0.001). The factors associated with SID in males were older age (odds ratio, OR, 1.069, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.03–1.109, p = 0.004), lower Hb (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.345–0.976, p = 0.04), lower MCH (OR 0.433, 95% CI 0.298–0.629, p < 0.001), and higher RDW (OR 1.374, 95% CI 1.001–1.887, p = 0.049), while in females they were lower body mass index (BMI; OR 0.929, 95% CI 0.895–0.963, p < 0.001) and younger age (OR 0.954, 95% CI 0.945–0.963, p < 0.001), as well as lower Hb, lower MCH, and higher RDW. The AUC for the MCH (0.877, 95% CI 0.793–0.960 in males; 0.872, 95% CI 0.853–0.890 in females) indicates that the MCH at cut-offs of 29.2 and 29.3 pg are the best discriminators of SID in males and females, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Reproductive-age females with a lower BMI and elderly males are high-risk groups for SID. MCH is a reliable RBC index for the screening of SID. For the population with defined risk factors, including females with lower BMI and elderly males, screening for SID is needed to prevent the development of anemia.
A Case of Bernard-Soulier Syndrome due to a Novel Homozygous Missense Mutation in an Exon of the GP1BA Gene
Authors: Li Xingchuan , Wang Song , Wu Jiusi , Wang Haidong , Wang Jing , Dong Xiangyu , Zhang Ni 
Published: July 2019

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder clinically characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and a mucocutaneous bleeding tendency. A 1-year-old Chinese patient who was born to consanguineous parents was diagnosed with early onset of BSS. Gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted. We identified a novel homozygous missense mutation (c.790T>C) in the GP1BAgene that causes an amino acid residue substitution of a cysteine with an arginine that might have a deleterious effect on the protein function as predicted by bioinformatics analysis. If a patient has clinical manifestations that include recurrent mucocutaneous bleeding, a mean platelet volume and platelet-large cell ratio above normal levels, and giant platelets on a peripheral smear and has consanguineous parents, a diagnosis of BSS can be suspected. In these situations, gene sequencing for mutations in the GPIb-IX-V complex is necessary.
Substance Use and Prevention Programs in Berlin’s Party Scene: Results of the SuPrA-Study
Authors: Betzler Felix , Ernst Felicitas , Helbig Jonas , Viohl Leonard , Roediger Lukas , Meister Sarah , Romanczuk-Seiferth Nina , Heinz Andreas , Ströhle Andreas , Köhler Stephan
Published: July 2019

Background: Berlin is internationally known for its nightlife. In a nation-wide and Europe-wide comparison, the use of legal and illegal substances is comparatively higher in Berlin than in other similar cities. However, few data exist about the drug use in the party scene. Objective: This study aims to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of Berlin’s party scene and its patterns of substance use as well as expectations towards prevention in order to derive appropriate preventive measures. Methods: Using questionnaires, both online (n = 674) and in the field (n = 203), a total of 877 people of the Berlin party scene were interviewed. The questionnaires ascertained the demographic information of the participants and patterns of substance use in the scene. It also collected the demand for consulting services and personal assessments on the usefulness of prospective and existing prevention programs and offers. Results: The study participants were 29 years old (SD 7.5); 43% were female. Alcohol is the most common substance in the party scene, followed by cannabis, MDMA/Ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, and ketamine. In this particular cohort, methamphetamine and “legal highs” did not play a major role. The most demanded preventive measure was more education about drugs and the so called drug-checking. Conclusions: Prevention in this area is both needed and requested, and an expansion of the existing programs (e.g., by so far politically controversial drug-checking) should be considered.
Linked Color Imaging and the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis: Evaluation of Visibility and Inter-Rater Reliability
Authors: Takeda Tsutomu , Asaoka Daisuke , Nojiri Shuko , Nishiyama Mayu , Ikeda Atsushi , Yatagai Noboru , Ishizuka Kei , Hiromoto Takahumi , Okubo Shoki , Suzuki Maiko , Nakajima Akihito , Nakatsu Yoichi , Komori Hiroyuki , Akazawa Yoichi , Nakagawa Yuta , Izumi Kentaro , Matsumoto Kohei , Ueyama Hiroya , Sasaki Hitoshi , Shimada Yuji , Matsumoto Kenshi , Osada Taro , Hojo Mariko , Kato Mototsugu , Nagahara Akihito
Published: July 2019

Background/Aims: To compare white light imaging (WLI) with linked color imaging (LCI) and blue LASER imaging (BLI) in endoscopic findings of Helicobacter pylori presently infected, previously infected, and uninfected gastric mucosae for visibility and inter-rater reliability. Methods: WLI, LCI and BLI bright mode (BLI-bright) were used to obtain 1,092 endoscopic images from 261 patients according to the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis. Images were evaluated retrospectively by 10 experts and 10 trainee endoscopists and included diffuse redness, spotty redness, map-like redness, patchy redness, red streaks, intestinal metaplasia, and an atrophic border (52 cases for each finding, respectively). Physicians assessed visibility as follows: 5 (improved), 4 (somewhat improved), 3 (equivalent), 2 (somewhat decreased), and 1 (decreased). Visibility was assessed from totaled scores. The inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) was also evaluated. Results: Compared with WLI, all endoscopists reported improved visibility with LCI: 55.8% for diffuse redness; LCI: 38.5% for spotty redness; LCI: 57.7% for map-like redness; LCI: 40.4% for patchy redness; LCI: 53.8% for red streaks; LCI: 42.3% and BLI-bright: 80.8% for intestinal metaplasia; LCI: 46.2% for an atrophic border. For all endoscopists, the inter-rater reliabilities of LCI compared to WLI were 0.73–0.87. Conclusion: The visibility of each endoscopic finding was improved by LCI while that of intestinal metaplasia was improved by BLI-bright.
Effects of Cinnamaldehyde on Smooth Muscle Preparations
Authors: Sandor Zsolt Istvan , Bencsik Timea , Dekany Andras , Bartho Lorand
Published: July 2019

The effects of cinnamaldehyde (CNA), known as a transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) agonist, on guinea-pig ileum and urinary bladder were studied in isolated organ experiments. Contractile effects were found to be present on both preparations. In the ileum, both cholinergic and purinergic (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid tetrasodium salt-sensitive) mechanisms are involved; the TRPA1 antagonist A967079 (1 µmol/L) significantly reduced the response. The contractile response to CNA in the bladder, but not in the ileum, was significantly reduced by in vitro capsaicin desensitization. In the bladder A967079 or the TRPV1 antagonist, BCTC failed to reduce the response. A direct relaxation on the smooth muscle was detected in the precontracted ileum. In the precontracted urinary bladder, CNA also caused relaxation that was insensitive to capsaicin pretreatment. It is suggested that CNA excites the muscles of the bladder via activation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves; in the ileum, it may interact with TRPA1 located on tissue elements that initiate both purinergic and cholinergic mechanisms. The relaxant effects of CNA may be due to the direct inhibition of the smooth muscles.
A América como consagração
Authors: Monteiro Michelli Cristine Scapol
Published: July 2019

Ettore Ximenes (Palermo, 1855/Roma, 1926) foi um escultor italiano de grande notoriedade internacional nas primeiras décadas do século XX. Autor do Monumento à Independência do Brasil, situado em São Paulo, sua maior obra escultórica, Ximenes construiu uma trajetória de grande relevo na América, desde que ganhou o concurso para o Monumento ao General Belgrano, em Buenos Aires, em 1898. Nos Estados Unidos, Ximenes realizou esculturas em homenagem a italianos célebres, como os monumentos a Giovanni da Verrazzano e a Dante Alighieri, encomendados por Carlo Barsotti, editor do jornal Il Progresso Italo Americano, na cidade de Nova York. Este artigo reconstitui o processo de encomenda destas duas obras e evidencia a relevância dos monumentos para os seus promotores e para a projeção da carreira de Ximenes, de modo a perceber como as ações de valorização da identidade italiana foram centrais na consagração do artista naquele país, ao mesmo tempo em que enalteciam a comunidade imigrante italiana e um de seus mais destacados líderes políticos.
A revogação do Bill Aberdeen e a Lei do Ventre Livre
Authors: Ré Henrique Antonio
Published: July 2019

Na década de 1860, agentes do governo brasileiro fizeram um acordo com a British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. Esta organização atuaria pela revogação da Lei Aberdeen e pelo restabelecimento das relações diplomáticas entre o Brasil e a Grã-Bretanha. Em contrapartida, o governo brasileiro adotaria medidas emancipacionistas. Esse acordo mostra que a Lei do Ventre Livre (1871) não foi uma decisão de caráter exclusivamente nacional e esteve relacionada a outros eventos políticos.
Diamantes, desenvolvimento e conflito
Authors: Alencastro Mathias
Published: July 2019

Este artigo analisa a relação entre o Estado e o setor de diamantes durante a “segunda ocupação colonial” de Angola. Começa em 1961 com o início de uma luta entre vários grupos pelo controle da Angola colonial e termina com a retirada dos portugueses da colônia após a derrubada do Estado Novo por um golpe militar em Lisboa em abril de 1974. Durante esse tempo, o poder colonial português, ao mesmo tempo em que recusou uma abertura política aos movimentos nacionalistas, envolveu-se em uma série de reformas legais e econômicas que colocaram a colônia em um caminho acelerado para a industrialização. No entanto, o setor de diamantes permaneceu essencial à defesa do poder do Estado em uma área estratégica, porém hostil, que ainda permanece, por razões históricas, além do alcance das instituições estatais formais.
Death, Afterlife and Corpse Pollution: The Meaning of the Expression ṭāmēˀ la-nepeš
Authors: Feder Yitzhaq
Published: July 2019

This article investigates the conceptual background of the notion of corpse pollution as represented by the Priestly expression ṭāmēˀ la-nepeš. Contrary to the growing tendency to view it as a late introduction to Israelite religion, the analysis will situate corpse impurity in relation to broader biblical and West Semitic conceptions of the afterlife. This discussion will serve as the basis for the further question whether this type of pollution was related to a fear of ghosts.
The Old Prophet’s Deceit, Jeroboam’s Golden Calves and the Disobedience of the Man of God (1 Kgs 12:25-13:34)
Authors: Kim Daewook
Published: July 2019

This paper seeks to determine the author(s)’s rhetorical purpose in 1 Kgs 12:25-13:34 by exploring the similarities and differences between the characters, and examining related passages. After this examination, the following conclusions are arrived at: first, because of the old prophet’s deceit and the disobedience of the man of God, the true and false prophets are not clearly distinguished in the narrative; second, the comparison between Jeroboam and the old prophet reveals that disobedience, which is equated with idolatry, is more evil than false prophecy; and third, Yhwh’s prohibitions, which are associated with Jeroboam and the man of God, serve the rhetorical purpose of denunciating Jeroboam’s innovations and stressing obedience to Yhwh, that is, an adherence to Mosaic law. Consequently, the Mosaic law, which condemns idolatry, is seen to be more important than prophecy.
Nineveh’s Pretensions to Divine Power in Nahum 3:16
Authors: Quine Cat
Published: July 2019

With the exception of Nahum 3:16, in the Hebrew Bible Yahweh alone has the power to multiply humans so that they will be as innumerable as the stars. Nineveh’s multiplication of her merchants “more than the stars of the heavens” (Nah 3:16) was, therefore, tantamount to a challenge to Yahweh’s divine power. The destruction of Nineveh demonstrated that Yahweh answered this challenge.
The Architectural Bias in Current Biblical Archaeology
Authors: Ben-Yosef Erez
Published: July 2019

This paper aims at highlighting a methodological flaw in current biblical archaeology, which became apparent as a result of recent research in the Aravah’s Iron Age copper production centers. In essence, this flaw, which cuts across all schools of biblical archaeology, is the prevailing, overly simplistic approach applied to the identification and interpretation of nomadic elements in biblical-era societies. These elements have typically been described as representing only one form of social organization, which is simple and almost negligible in historical reconstructions. However, the unique case of the Aravah demonstrates that the role of nomads in shaping the history of the southern Levant has been underestimated and downplayed in the research of the region, and that the total reliance on stone-built archaeological features in the identification of social complexity in the vast majority of recent studies has resulted in skewed historical reconstructions. Recognizing this “architectural bias” and understanding its sources have important implications on core issues in biblical archaeology today, as both “minimalists” and “maximalists” have been using stone-built architectural remains as the key to solving debated issues related to the geneses of Ancient Israel and neighboring polities (e.g., “high” vs. “low” Iron Age chronologies), in which— according to both biblical accounts and external sources—nomadic elements played a major role.
Resisting the Empire in Young Adult Fiction: Lessons from Hunger Games
Authors: Cronshaw Darren
Published: July 2019

Hunger Games are young adult fiction and movie franchises, which address issues of Empire, border control, politics of fear, human rights, gender, ethnicity, refugees and global inequity. The narrative of Hunger Games echoes the dilemmas of balancing personal sovereignty and self-fulfillment with the struggle that goes on for advocacy for social and political change. They make heroes of protagonists who rebel against the status quo and make a stand for justice in oppressive social-political contexts. The basic plot is ancient, but it is striking a chord with a generation of westerners who are disaffected with current societal and political trends. This article is a literary analysis of Hunger Games, analyzing its treatment of public theology, sovereignty and justice issues, especially for younger adults. It affirms the appeal of the books for resisting oppression, but questions unchallenged assumptions about ethnicity, gender, retributive violence and personal authenticity.
An Ecclesiological Praxis of Inclusivity toward Sexual Diversity and HIV: Learning from Singapore and the Philippines
Authors: Goh Joseph N. , Meneses Kristine C. , Messer Donald E.
Published: July 2019

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT), and people living with HIV (PLHIV) feel estranged from and misunderstood by their Christian communities. Churches, in turn, continue to wrestle with issues of theology and pastoral care pertaining to LGBT and PHIV. In response, this article aims to construct an ecclesiological praxis of inclusivity toward LGBT and PLHIV. Framed by Elisabeth Schüsler Fiorenza’s notion of Jesus’ basileia vision as the praxis of inclusive wholeness, we analyze, interpret and theologize narratives from elite interviews with three community leader-practitioners in Singapore and the Philippines who shared on their ministerial struggles, practices and visions. We suggest that churches can take the lead to engender an ecclesiological praxis of inclusivity by being (i) spaces of support, belonging and dignity for LGBT and PLHIV; and (ii) avenues for fostering dialogue with LGBT and PLHIV to articulate God’s inclusive love.
Religious Violence and the Ministry of Religion: ‘Public Religion’ in the Pancasila-based State of Indonesia
Authors: Intan Benyamin
Published: July 2019

Religious violence in Indonesia has its origins mainly in factors that are external to religion. One factor in particular is the striving for political power initiated by the Ministry of Religion wherein religion and the state seek to subordinate the other. Within the Pancasila-based state religions have been enabled to live together in peace and harmony; opportunities have been created in which each religion can play an active role in the public sphere. This principle allows all religions and beliefs to function in public life. In a society like Indonesia a civil society—and how a particular religion functions—must begin with the reality of religious diversity. On this foundation a ‘public religion’ in the service of a civil society has the potential to be a transforming and liberating power necessary for democratic socio-political life.
Amanita mansehraensis, a new species in section Vaginatae from Pakistan
Authors: SABA MALKA , HAELEWATERS DANNY , FIAZ MUHAMMAD , KHALID ABDUL NASIR , PFISTER DONALD H.
Published: July 2019

A new species of Amanita subgenus Amanita sect. Vaginatae is described and illustrated based on material collected in pine forests in district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw, Pakistan. Amanita mansehraensis is recognized by the presence of a light brown or light greyish olive pileus with strong brown or deep brown pileus center; non-appendiculate, rimose, sulcate or plicate striate pileus margin; subglobose to ellipsoid basidiospores; and a saccate volva. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU) were used for the delimitation of this species based on sequence data. The evolutionary relationships of A. mansehraensis with other species of Amanita were inferred by means of Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inferences of the nrLSU dataset and concatenated ITS+nrLSU dataset. Amanita mansehraensis is most closely related to A. brunneofuliginea, A. pseudovaginata, and the recently described A. glarea.
River Discharge Estimation based on Satellite Water Extent and Topography: An Application over the Amazon
Authors: Lan Anh Dinh Thi , Aires Filipe
Published: July 2019

River discharge (RD) estimates are necessary for many applications, including water management, flood risk, and water cycle studies. Satellite-derived long-term GIEMS-D3 surface water extent (SWE) maps and HydroSHEDS data, at 90-m resolution, are here used to estimate several hydrological quantities at a monthly time scale over a few selected locations within the Amazon basin. Two methods are first presented to derive the water level (WL): the “hypsometric curve” and the “histogram cutoff” approaches at an 18 km × 18 km resolution. The obtained WL values are interpolated over the whole water mask using a bilinear interpolation. The two methods give similar results and validation with altimetry is satisfactory, with a correlation ranging from 0.72 to 0.89 in the seven considered stations over three rivers (i.e., Wingu, Negro, and Solimoes Rivers). River width (RW) and water volume change (WVC) are also estimated. WVC is evaluated with GRACE total water storage change, and correlations range from 0.77 to 0.88. A neural network (NN) statistical model is then used to estimate the RD based on four predictors (SWE, WL, WVC, and RW) and on in situ RD measurements. Results compare well to in situ measurements with a correlation of about 0.97 for the raw data (and 0.84 for the anomalies). The presented methodologies show the potential of historical satellite data (the combination of SWE with topography) to help estimate RD. Our study focuses here on a large river in the Amazon basin at a monthly scale; additional analyses would be required for other rivers, including smaller ones, in different environments, and at higher temporal scale.
Performance of Various Forms of the Palmer Drought Severity Index in China from 1961 to 2013
Authors: Zhong Ziqian , He Bin , Guo Lanlan , Zhang Yafeng
Published: July 2019

A topic of ongoing debate on the application of PDSI is whether to use the original version of the PDSI or a self-calibrating form, as well as which method to use for calculating potential evapotranspiration (PET). In this study, the performances of four forms of the PDSI, including the original PDSI based on the Penman–Monteith method for calculating PET (ETp), the PDSI based on the crop reference evapotranspiration method for calculating PET (ET0), the self-calibrating PDSI (scPDSI) based on ETp, and the scPDSI based on ET0, were evaluated in China using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), modeled soil moisture anomalies (SMA), and the terrestrial water storage deficit index (WSDI). The interannual variations of all forms of PDSI agreed well with each other and presented a weak increasing trend, suggesting a climate wetting in China from 1961 to 2013. PDSI-ET0 correlated more closely with NDVI anomalies, SMA, and WSDI than did PDSI-ETp in northern China, especially in northeastern China, while PDSI-ETp correlated more closely with SMA and WSDI in southern China. PDSI-ET0 performed better than PDSI-ETp in regions where the annual average rainfall is between 350 and 750 mm yr−1. The spatial comparability of scPDSI was better than that of PDSI, while the PDSI correlated more closely with NDVI anomalies, SMA, and WSDI than did scPDSI in most regions of China. Knowledge from this study provides important information for the choice of PDSI forms when it is applied for different practices.
Where Regional Norms Matter: Contestation and the Domestic Impact of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
Authors: Witt Antonia
Published: July 2019

Twelve years after the adoption of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, scholars and policymakers are still pondering whether the regional document has had any actual effect. Based on case studies from Madagascar and Burkina Faso, this article demonstrates the Charter’s impact on political dynamics within both countries. By analysing contestations around the application of Article 25(4), which defines who is eligible to run in transitional elections, I show that various national and international actors (attempt to) use the Charter as a legal script to limit access to state power and restrict the electorate’s voting choices. That these attempts are highly contentious is evidence of the Charter’s effect. If it were seen as irrelevant, nobody would bother to contest it. I therefore suggest studying the effects of the Charter from a different analytical angle – that is, “bottom-up” – by focusing on the settings and places in which it is actually applied.
Quality of Voice and Prognostic Markers for the Recovery of Vocal Fold Paralysis After Thyroid Surgery
Authors: Reiter Rudolf , Heyduck Adrienne , Hoffmann Thomas Karl , Brosch Sibylle , Buchberger Maria Anna , Schorer Katharina , Weber Theresa , Pickhard Anja
Published: July 2019

Objectives:

This study is set to analyze clinicopathological factors predicting the recovery of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVP) in patients after thyroid gland surgery. The quality of voice was additionally assessed in these patients.

Methods:

The charts and videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) examinations of 84 consecutive patients with a complete UVP after surgery of the thyroid gland were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who fully recovered from vocal fold paralysis and those who failed to recover after a follow-up of 12 months. The quality of voice was analyzed among other things by determining the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

Results:

The UVP fully recovered in 52 of 84 (61.9%) patients. Positive mucosal waves (pMWs) on the paralyzed side, a minimal glottic gap <3 mm seen at the first postoperative VLS, age ≤50 years, and surgery duration ≤120 minutes were associated factors for a complete recovery of nerve function. The voice parameters improved independently from recovery of the paralysis in 90% of the patients.

Conclusions:

For patients with a poor prognosis of a UVP, early intervention may be beneficial. Thus, predicting factors for a full recovery of vocal fold motion would be a valuable tool. In our cohort, about 60% of recoveries could have been predicted using the above-mentioned parameters. Good quality of voice was independently reached in 90% of the cases.
Analytical Solution to the Depth-of-Origin Profile of Transmission Raman Spectroscopy in Turbid Media Based on the Kubelka–Munk Model
Authors: Zhao Jun
Published: July 2019

An analytical formula to the depth-of-origin profile of transmission Raman spectroscopy in turbid media was derived from the one-dimensional (1D) Kubelka–Munk model. The depth-of-origin profile of the transmitted Raman is proportional to the excitation intensity profile and the transmittance profile, which are two functions of similar forms. The effect of scattering, absorption, and signal-enhancing reflectors are incorporated into the formula. Depth-of-origin profile of a model sample was measured at better than 0.2 mm resolution and fits the formula reasonably well. Conical reflective cavities placed at the front and/or back of the sample enhanced the signal significantly; the relationship among the enhancement functions is verified by the formula. Optical parameters derived from the fitting are compared to theoretical value predicted by optical ray tracing and direct measurements; discrepancies are related to deficiency of the 1D Kubelka–Munk model.
Public Good Provision and Traditional Governance in Indigenous Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Magaloni Beatriz , Díaz-Cayeros Alberto , Ruiz Euler Alexander
Published: July 2019

Can ethnically distinct communities ruled through “traditional” assemblies provide public goods and services better, than when they are ruled by leaders elected through “modern” multiparty elections? We exploit a unique institutional feature in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, where municipalities are ruled by traditional governance institutions, to explore the effect of these forms of governance on the provision of public goods. Using locality-level census data, we study the provision of local public goods through a geographic discontinuity approach. We demonstrate that communities ruled by traditional governance practices offer more effective provision of local public goods than equally poor communities ruled by political parties. Relying on qualitative fieldwork and household surveys, we argue that the significant differences in the provision of public goods according to governance regime derive from community practices that solve collective action problems, enhance citizen participation in public decisions, and restrain elite capture.
Static and fatigue behaviors of short glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites aged in a wet environment
Authors: Mansouri Lilla , Djebbar Arezki , Khatir Samir , Ali Hafiz Tauqeer , Behtani Amar , Wahab Magd Abdel
Published: July 2019

In this paper, a new experimental study of the bending static and fatigue behaviors of a composite material reinforced with 40% by mass of short glass fibers (type E) and polypropylene matrix is presented. The composite material is obtained in the form of plates by an injection process, which inevitably affects the distribution of the fibers and therefore the behavior of the material studied. To do this, several techniques are implemented on specimens by cutting them in transverse and longitudinal directions. The effect of aging in distilled water at 40℃ on the mechanical characteristics is studied under static and fatigue loading conditions. The static tests, three-point flexure up to failure, allow us to choose the levels of stress for the fatigue tests. The endurance curves as a function of the number of cycles are plotted by adapting the end-of-test criteria N5, N10, and N20, which represent a rigidity drop of 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. An interpretation of the Wöhler curve equations defined for the end-of-test criteria allows defining the kinetics of material damage. The results highlighted the influence of distilled water on the mechanical behavior and the lifetime of the material. We also perform macroscopic observations of fracture and microscopic facies in order to identify the damage mechanisms of the composite material.
The impact of creative drama activities on aggressive behaviour of preschool children
Authors: Korošec Helena , Zorec Marcela B
Published: July 2019

This article presents the findings of a research study examining the impact of creative puppetry activities on aggressive behaviour in preschool children. The aim of creative drama was to allow for experiences that help children understand interpersonal relations, put themselves in another’s shoes and see alternative possibilities of behaving or acting in given situations. Play with a puppet in small groups offers children opportunities to establish pro-social peer interactions and learn socialisation skills including solving minor conflicts. The research was conducted with 22 preschool teachers in Slovenian preschools and first grades of elementary schools (including 460 children aged 4–7). The teachers completed a scale of social behaviour for each child in the group before introducing the puppetry activities and after concluding them, i.e. after three months of intense, daily creative work with puppets. The paired difference t-test showed that according to the teachers’ assessments after the three-month conduct of creative puppetry activities in the group, the frequency of the occurrence of aggressive behaviour in the total population was diminished, especially in the children who had the lowest scores in the initial assessment.
‘Out of order’: The double burden of menstrual etiquette and the subtle exclusion of women from public space in Scotland
Authors: Moffat Natalie , Pickering Lucy
Published: July 2019

This article examines the double burden of ‘menstrual etiquette’ and the implications for women’s inclusion in public spaces in Scotland today. Beginning from Laws’ work on ‘menstrual etiquette’, we explore how menstrual etiquette is characterised primarily by the burden of rendering menstruation invisible, both discursively and practically. However, women not only work to ensure that others remain unaware that they are menstruating; they depend on technologies, such as menstrual product dispensers and bins, to facilitate this process of rendering menstruation invisible. When these technologies are absent or poorly maintained, women experience a double burden: not only must they maintain the social invisibility of menstruation but do so without social or infrastructural support or drawing attention to this absence (for fear of breaching the discursive silence demanded of menstrual etiquette). We locate poor maintenance of facilities within the very same ‘civilising process’ that has pushed women’s bodily management to the furthest reaches of the private sphere. Socially invisible, these infrastructural supports are granted low status and poorly maintained. The pressure to maintain conceptual silence around menstruation limits women’s capacity to contest this neglect and, in turn, perpetuates their exclusion from public space. This article, then, exposes the nature and the compounding temporal and affective burden of menstrual etiquette and advocates for breaking discursive silences to facilitate much needed social change.
Uncomfortable stains: Cleaning labour, class positioning and moral worth among working-class Chilean women
Authors: Álvarez-López Valentina
Published: July 2019

This article explores ethnographically the ways in which working-class elderly and mature women position themselves in class and gender terms through the cleaning practices they carry out in their own households. Following contemporary research, it understands domestic labour as a site of production and negotiation of classed, gendered and ‘raced’ subject positions. Scholars researching on paid domestic labour have emphasised cleaning labour as devalued; however, this article argues that the unpaid cleaning labour the women carry out in their own households might become a source of self-worth. It does so by briefly depicting how the twentieth-century Chilean modernisation and processes of class formation were coupled with an emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness. It also provides an ethnographic description of working-class women’s cleaning practices, attending to the classed and gendered meanings and value the women attach to these practices, and discussing their negotiation of expected standards in relation to material conditions and the multiple demands and values of everyday life. It shows that the margin of negotiation is much reduced when the results of cleaning practices are more open to public view. It also argues that the women not only express their subjectivities through everyday negotiations of cleaning standards, but also produce particular modes of being working-class women.
Working out Douglas’s aphorism: Discarded objects, categorisation practices, and moral inquiries
Authors: Ablitt Jonathan , James Smith Robin
Published: July 2019

This article aims to reconsider Mary Douglas’s well-known aphorism – that, ‘where there is dirt there is system’ – through the work of street-cleaning in and the handling of detritus in the Upper Town district of Gibraltar. In ‘working out’ the aphorism, we adopt an ethnomethodological approach and focus upon the description of situated categorisation practices in the treatment of waste and dirt. The article is thus concerned with the methods in and through which objects are handled in the everyday work of street-cleaning. We describe these practices across three sections concerned with: the seeing of waste as a situated accomplishment; the practical distinction between objects to be removed and those to be left in situ; and the seeing of categories through discarded objects. In this way, rather than explaining the practices of street-cleaners via recourse to a notion of ‘system’, we recover the ways in which objects come to be treated, in a situated sense, as a potential ‘inference-rich’ resource for moral reasoning relating to residual categories and predicates of people and places.
From embodied shame to reclaiming the stain: Reflections on a career in menstrual activism
Authors: Quint Chella
Published: July 2019

How did I come to embody and then ultimately reject the idea that periods, and period stains, are inherently dirty? How did I get from scrubbing period stains off my clothes at age 12 to crowdsurfing with a stain at a period demo in front of Parliament nearly 30 years later? Who influenced me and how have I influenced others to reject the idea that menstrual blood stains make us dirty? This article traces my 30-plus-year history of adventures in menstruating and my trajectory from embodying shame to thinking critically about how periods are presented to people of all genders – whether we menstruate or not – and trying to move the discourse through art and comedy, menstruating with pride and encouraging others to join me.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Volunteerism Activities for Individuals Educated in Public and Private Schools
Authors: Cheng Albert , Sikkink David
Published: July 2019

Previous studies offer evidence that U.S. public and private high schools differentially influence volunteerism in adolescence. However, these studies are typically cross-sectional and only consider whether the individual volunteered or not. We address patterns of volunteering from adolescence into adulthood and the kind of volunteering activity in which individuals engage. We also theorize that distinctive civic values within public and private schools together with their respective organizational ties to other civic organizations channel students into particular volunteering activities. Relying on a longitudinal, nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents, we track volunteering from adolescence into young adulthood and identify the types of volunteering activities in which respondents engage. Results demonstrate that the likelihood of volunteering changes through the life course, and students from different schooling backgrounds systematically sort into specific volunteering activities as our theories predict.