bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Rate Estimates and Equipment Utilization
Authors: Sessions John , Berry Michael , Sup-Han Han
Published: May 2021

As mechanization increases, the percentage of the total cost of the logging operation due to equipment purchase and operation increases. This makes assumptions about machine life, machine maintenance costs, and fuel consumption more critical in understanding the costs of logging operations. For many years machine rate calculations have followed a fixed format based on the concept of scheduled and productive machine hours. When equipment utilization is less than 100%, the traditional machine rate calculation assumes that the machine continues to depreciate and machine wear occurs during the non-productive time at the same rate as during the productive time. This can lead to overestimates of the hourly cost of machine operation by effectively shortening the machine lifetime productive hours as the utilization decreases. The use of inflated machine rates can distort comparisons of logging systems, logging strategies, equipment replacement strategies, and perhaps the viability of a logging operation. We propose adjusting the life of the machine to account for non-productive time: machine life in years should be increased with a decrease in machine utilization, while cumulative machine life in hours remains the same. Once the life has been adjusted, the traditional machine rate calculation procedure can be carried out as is normally done. We provided an example that shows the traditional method at 50% utilization yielded a machine rate per productive hour nearly 30% higher than our modified method. Our sample analysis showed the traditional method consistently provided overestimates for any utilization rate less than 100%, with lower utilization rates yielding progressively increasing overestimates. We believe that our modified approach yields more accurate estimates of machine costs that would contribute to an improved understanding of the machine costs of forest operations.
Bearing Capacity Standards for Forest Roads Constructed Using Various Technologies from Mechanically and Chemically Stabilised Aggregate
Authors: Czerniak Andrzej , Grajewski Sylwester M. , Kurowska Ewa E.
Published: May 2021

Forest roads are essential for adequate forest management and environmental protection. They enable tourism and recreation activity, while at the same time playing a very important role in fire protection. When open to the local traffic, they significantly supplement the public traffic networks. Costs of constructing permanent roads in forested areas are considerable, because they need to have adequate bearing capacity. Forest roads are predominantly constructed using natural or anthropogenic aggregate stabilised mechanically and chemically. A tangible parameter verifying the proper construction of road structure is provided by its bearing capacity, i.e. the capacity of the pavement to carry loads generated by traffic without excessive strains hindering normal use of the pavement or reducing its durability. Some forest road networks are also constructed as temporary roads composed of cheaper aggregates. It seems reasonable to assume different bearing capacity standards for such roads than for permanent roads.The aim of the studies presented in this paper was to develop bearing capacity standards for forest roads constructed using various technologies. The adopted research hypothesis assumes that each of the analysed technologies is characterised by a different bearing capacity required during road construction inspections. An example of such a structure may be provided by the so-called geotextile mattress and crushed stone constructed on wetland soils. When developing the standards, the analyses included the predicted traffic intensity, assumed operation time before rehabilitation is required, soil conditions and the type of construction material.Bearing capacity of the testing road sections was assessed based on values of strain moduli calculated from the static plate load tests (VSS). As a result, bearing capacity standards were obtained for structures constructed using aggregates and chemical stabilisers as well as geotextiles potentially facilitating reduction of the layer thickness without deterioration of road durability.
Boron Facilitates Rice Growth, Development, and Related Attributes Under Saline Soil Conditions
Authors: Uddin Md. Rasel , Nuruzzaman Mohammed , Briste Preangka Saha , Islam Md. Morshedul , Bhuiyan Ashik Karim , Joy Md. Istiak Hossain , Ahmed Shakil , Khatun Amena
Published: May 2021

Salinity is a severe environmental threat causing low productivity in field crops. Rice is a staple crop of the world whose yield and quality is highly affected by the salt content in the root zone. Nutrient management, however, is a key factor that can be used to boost rice production in saline soils. Boron (B), a micronutrient with diverse functions, plays a significant role in rice yield. However, little is known about the effects of B under saline conditions on the yield of rice components. ‘Swarna,’ is a local and salt-sensitive rice variety from Bangladesh. A field experiment was conducted in salt-treated soils to assess the possible functions of B for the improvement of ‘Swarna’ yield. The current study showed that B applications substantially improved the length and weight of panicles, number of tillers and grains, seed weight as well as the yield of grain and straw, indicating its role in rice production in saline environments.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in National Parks – diagnosis and forecast of sustainable tourism
Authors: Niezgoda Agnieszka , Markiewicz Ewa
Published: May 2021

Tourist attractiveness of many areas in Poland is based on exceptional natural values, especially those protected by national parks. Recreation opportunities offered by national parks proved to be important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the conditions for tourism changed. Many tourists gave up previously planned trips abroad in favour of staying in Poland. This raises the question whether tourists visiting national parks during the pandemic rested in compliance with the principles of sustainable tourism. The article is an attempt to diagnose changes caused by the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable tourism by analysing the case of national parks in Poland. The article presents: a) a diagnosis of changes triggered at different stages of restrictions introduced by the government to prevent the spread of the pandemic; b) a forecast of how the pandemic may affect the development of tourism in terms of supply (tourist companies, hotels, catering, attractions) and demand (tourists). The summary provides recommendations for national parks, which can be helpful in achieving sustainable tourism objectives.
Five Poems
Authors: Coșovei Traian , Sorkin Adam , Scridon Andreea
Published: May 2021

Traian T. Coșovei (1954–2014) was a Romanian poet of the ’80s generation. He was a founding member of the “Cenaclul de Luni” literary circle, a group that would eventually set the tone for much of postmodern Romanian poetry. He was the recipient of a series of prizes, including the Prize of the Romanian Academy and the International Nichita Stănescu Prize. Coșovei published over twenty books of poetry, literary criticism, and prose. These poems are drawn from the collections Ninsoarea electrică (Bucharest: Cartea Românească Publishing House, 1979) and Greva căpşunelor (Bucharest: Libra Publishing House, 2004).
Contemporary Approaches to Translation Theory and Practice edited by Robert A. Valdeón
Authors: Tyulenev Sergey
Published: May 2021

Robert A. Valdeón, ed. Contemporary Approaches to Translation Theory and Practice. London and New York: Routledge, 2019. 165 pages.
SÍNTESE, CARACTERIZAÇÃO E AVALIAÇÃO DE BIOCARVÃO PRODUZIDO A PARTIR DE RESÍDUO RUMINAL BOVINO DE FRIGORÍFICO PARA SUBSTITUIÇÃO PARCIAL DO CIMENTO EM CONCRETO
Authors: Teixeira de Souza Alexandre , Luiza Garcia Lopes Molina Maria , Monique Iurrino Thaise
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, the cement industry faces several challenges, such as: fossil fuels reservation exhaustion, raw material scarcity, growing demand for building materials, as well as crescent environmental concerns, like air pollution and climate changes. The cement production is directly related to CO₂ emission, one of the main greenhouse gases. Therefore, this search’s objective is to demonstrate the biochar as a potential additive to replace cement in concrete, improving hydration due to its internal healing andnucleation effects. The biochar was prepared by bovine ruminal residue pyrolysis for 1 and 2% replacement of concrete cement. Immediate analyzes were also carried out to get information about biochar’s composition. It was observed in the compressive strength tests, a considerable increase in concrete strength with biochar’s partial replacement. During pyrolysis, the carbon from biomass raw material is sequestered in the chemical structure of the biochar produced that would be released into the atmosphere through decomposition or degradation of biomass. Using material produced by waste to partially substitute cement is an economic and sustainable strategy to achieve green concrete mixtures.
Materielle Kultur
Authors: Hahn Hans Peter
Published: May 2021

Material culture as a research topic currently receives increasing attention in numerous cultural science disciplines. The focus lies not only on the object and its material form, but also on the contexts, on the perception of our material environment and on the different ways of dealing with everyday and extraordinary things. The introduction volume shows the different approaches and research strands and explains the common basics concerning the research subject and methods.
Gradient Optimal Control of the Bilinear Reaction–Diffusion Equation
Authors: Hassan Zerrik El , Ait Aadi Abderrahman
Published: May 2021

In this chapter, we study a problem of gradient optimal control for a bilinear reaction–diffusion equation evolving in a spatial domain Ω⊂Rn using distributed and bounded controls. Then, we minimize a functional constituted of the deviation between the desired gradient and the reached one and the energy term. We prove the existence of an optimal control solution of the minimization problem. Then this control is characterized as solution to an optimality system. Moreover, we discuss two special cases of controls: the ones are time dependent, and the others are space dependent. A numerical approach is given and successfully illustrated by simulations.
Improvement of Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan Md. , Kabir Fahmid , Serajum Manir Md. , Saifur Rahaman Md. , Barua Prosenjit , Ghosh Bikrom , Mitsugi Fumiaki , Ikegami Tomoaki
Published: May 2021

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have aroused intense attention over the past three decades owing to their low cost, inexpensive raw materials, simple fabrication process, and employment of eco-friendly materials. Recently, to take advantage of their lower electrical resistance, excellent electrocatalytic operation, mechanical integrity, low cost, and flexibility, carbon nanotubes CNTs have been incorporated into DSSCs with a view to improve the efficiency further. CNT can be used in the anode, electrolyte, and counter electrode. The incorporation of CNTs into the anode’s semiconductor material decreases the host material’s resistance and increases thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and durability. CNTs in ionic liquids have been investigated as a potential alternative for traditional liquid electrolytes for DSSC application because of low viscosity, low vapor pressure, high diffusion coefficient, high electrochemical, and thermal stability. CNT based counter electrode has attracted considerable interest because of its fast electron transfer kinetics and large surface area. This book chapter provides an insight into the fabrication of DSSCs by incorporating CNT and its effects on cell conversion efficiencies.
Assessing the Impact of Spectral Irradiance on the Performance of Different Photovoltaic Technologies
Authors: Aminul Islam Mohammad , M. Kassim Nabilah , Ahmed Alkahtani Ammar , Amin Nowshad
Published: May 2021

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells is influenced by solar irradiance as well as temperature. Particularly, the average photon energy of the solar spectrum is different for low and high light intensity, which influences the photocurrent generation by the PV cells. Even if the irradiance level and the operating temperature remain constant, the efficiency will still depend on the technological parameters of the PV cell, which in turn depends on the used PV material’s absorption quality and the spectral responsivity and cell structure. This study is devoted to the review of different commercially available technologies of PV cells include crystalline silicon (c-Si), polycrystalline silicon (pc-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). We tried to correlate the spectral response or the photocurrent of different PV cells with the variations of the solar spectrum, environmental conditions, and the material properties and construction of PV cells.
Phytochemical Profile and Antiobesity Potential ofMomordica charantiaLinn.
Authors: Anantrao Karale Pushpa , Dhawale Shashikant , Karale Mahesh
Published: May 2021

Momordica charantia L. is growing in many tropical and subtropical regions; the fruits of bitter melon are also gradually becoming popular for treating diabetes and associated diseases. Over 248 compounds belonging to the lipids, phenolics and terpenoids class are reported by diverse studies. However, M. charantia L. appears to be an inimitable species that synthesizes a diverse range of natural products in the fruits, leaves, stems and roots. The cucurbitane types of triterpenes exist in the various tissues of the plant in their aglycone as well as glycosylated forms. The bitter melon seems to exert their lipid lowering and antiobesity effects via several mechanisms like PPARs, LXRs, SREBPs, and Sirts mediated fat metabolism in various tissues, prevent adipocyte hypertrophy and visceral fat accumulation. M. charantia L. has been comprehensively studied worldwide for its therapeutic properties to treat a number of diseases like diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and certain cancers. This chapter apparently displays an encompassing literature review on vast potential of bitter melon as antiobesity agent and assembles data on complex phytochemistry.
Evaluating the Processes and Procedure of Digitalization Workflow
Authors: Takaingenhamo Chisita Collence , O. Durodolu Oluwole , Ngoaketsi Joseph
Published: May 2021

Digitisation is the practice of converting physical information into a digital (computer-readable format), by using digital technologies to modify the existing structure by enhancing the efficiency of an organisational process, foster reliability, and quality. This is a method of incorporating conventional records into a digitised form by eliminating redundancies and limiting the communications chain. This will help to improve accessibility and simplify better information exchange for users. The beginning of a digital revolution in any establishment is to appraise the manual methods with the view to improve and graduate to a user-friendly modern system. Digital workflow is a progressive, reliable arrangement of data, procedures, and responsibilities that make information is more permanent and management easy to access and enable the preservation of crucial data. This research set out to support workflow audit by revealing specific indicators to assist in processes that will enhance digital migration.
Model-Based Enterprise Continuous Improvement
Authors: Vallespir Bruno , Zouggar-Amrani Anne
Published: May 2021

The enterprise reengineering based on enterprise modelling is usually carried out within the framework of conventional projects. This leads to relatively long projects that are not compatible with a highly variable economic environment. The objective of the evolution management presented here is to use enterprise modelling and all the benefits it brings in a framework that allows for more continuous improvement than is generally observed. The proposed architecture is made up of three levels: a strategic level based on performance measurement, a tactical level that manages system migration and is based on enterprise models, and an operational level consisting of managing a portfolio of evolution projects. Together, these allow a shorter set of projects to be carried out, while remaining coherent and aligned with the company’s strategy. This approach puts enterprise modelling methods and continuous improvement/Lean management approaches into perspective, allowing complementarities and opening up interesting perspectives concerning enterprise re-engineering methods.
Multi-Parameter Estimation of Uncertain Systems Based on the Extended PID Control Method
Authors: Feng Jinping , Wang Wei
Published: May 2021

Parameter estimation is an important step in the identification of systems. With the extension of systems, there needs the multi-parameter estimation of systems. The estimation of multi parameters of complex systems based on the extended PID controllers is considered in this chapter. As the related references proved that the integral item of the nonlinear PID controller could deal with the uncertain part of the complex system (which can also be called new stripping principle, simple notes as NSP). Based on this theory, new multi-parameter estimation method is given. Firstly, the unknown parameters are expanded to new states of the system. Two cases, parameters are constant or changing with time, are separately analyzed. In the time-variant case, the unknown parameters are extended to functions which actual forms are uncertain. Secondly the method NSP could be applied to cope with the uncertain part, and then reconstruction state observation to estimate the states. If the states are observed, the unknown parameters are obtained at the same time. Finally the convergence analysis of the error systems and some simulations will be given in this chapter to indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Co-Composting of Various Residual Organic Waste and Olive Mill Wastewater for Organic Soil Amendments
Authors: Hassen Wafa , Hassen Bilel , Werhani Rim , Hidri Yassine , Hassen Abdennaceur
Published: May 2021

The valorization of different organic residues like municipal solid wastes, sewage sludge and olive mill wastewater is becoming more and more worrying in the different modern communities and is becoming relevant and crucial in terms of environmental preservation. The choice of the treatment technique should not be only from the point of view of economic profitability but, above all, must consider the efficiency of the treatment method. Thus, an attempt to remove polyphenols from olive mill wastewater would have a double interest: on the one hand, to solve a major environmental problem and to recover and valorize the olive mill wastewater for advanced applications in food processing and soil amendments. It is also interesting to think of associating two harmful wastes by co-composting such as sewage sludge-vegetable gardens, sewage sludge-municipal solid waste, and green wastes-olive mill wastewater…, to get a mixed compost of good physical–chemical and biological qualities useful for agricultural soil fertilization. Finally, in order to be more practical, we will describe specifically in this chapter a new variant of composting and co-composting technology intended for waste treatment that is very simple, inexpensive and easy to implement.
XBot: A Cross-Robot Software Framework for Real-Time Control
Authors: Muratore Luca , Laurenzi Arturo , G. Tsagarakis Nikos
Published: May 2021

The widespread use of robotics in new application domains outside the industrial workplace settings requires robotic systems which demonstrate functionalities far beyond that of classical industrial robotic machines. The implementation of these capabilities inevitably increases the complexity of the robotic hardware, control a and software components. This chapter introduces the XBot software architecture for robotics, which is capable of Real-Time (RT) performance with minimum jitter at relatively high control frequency while demonstrating enhanced flexibility and abstraction features making it suitable for the control of robotic systems of diverse hardware embodiment and complexity. A key feature of the XBot is its cross-robot compatibility, which makes possible the use of the framework on different robots, without code modifications, based only on a set of configuration files. The design of the framework ensures easy interoperability and built-in integration with other existing software tools for robotics, such as ROS, YARP or OROCOS, thanks to a robot agnostic API called XBotInterface. The framework has been successfully used and validated as a software infrastructure for collaborative robotic arms as KUKA lbr iiwa/lwr 4+ and Franka Emika Panda, other than humanoid robots such as WALK-MAN and COMAN+, and quadruped centaur-like robots as CENTAURO.
Stereoscopic Calculation Model Based on Fixational Eye Movements
Authors: Tagawa Norio
Published: May 2021

Fixational eye movement is an essential function for watching things using the retina, which has the property of responding only to changes in incident light. However, since the rotation of the eyeball causes the translational movement of the crystalline lens, it is possible in principle to recover the depth of the object from the moving image obtained in this way. We have proposed two types of depth restoration methods based on fixation tremor; differential-type method and integral-type method. The first is based on the change in image brightness between frames, and the latter is based on image blurring due to movement. In this chapter, we introduce them and explain the simulations and experiments performed to verify their operation.
Improving Human Resource for Health in Rural Northern Nigeria
Authors: A. Adegoke Adetoro , Y. Afenyadu Godwin , L. Adamu Fatima , Findley Sally
Published: May 2021

Inadequate number of health workers in rural areas is a major concern in many countries. It causes underutilization, prevents equitable access of health services, and is a barrier to universal health coverage. To increase the number and improve retention of health workers in rural areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued global recommendations to improve the rural retention of the health workforce. This paper presents the experiences of adopting and implementing the WHO recommendations in four states in Northern Nigeria. It highlights the results, challenges and lessons learnt with the implementation. We used an implementation research approach and evaluated the implementation at three stages: the pilot; full implementation; and immediate post exit. A total of 477 midwives were recruited and deployed to rural health facilities over a period of four years. Of these, 196 (41%) were in Jigawa, 126 (26.4%) in Yobe, 78 (16.4%) in Zamfara and 77 (16.1%) in Katsina. Midwives’ retention rates increased gradually over the four years. In three (Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara) of the four states, midwives’ retention rates increased from 69.2% in Jigawa in 2013 to 98% in 2016; from 53.3% in Katsina in 2013 to 100% retention in 2016. Zamfara made the most progress with a poor retention rate of 42.8% in 2013 to 100% retention rate in 2016. In Yobe state, the retention rate of 47% in 2013 gradually increased to 100% in 2015. This however slightly dropped to 90% in 2016 as a result of the deteriorating security situation in 2015. Other effects of the initiative included: heightened determination of states to increase the production of indigenous midwives; reversal of policy directives that banned the recruitment of health workers including midwives; and to provide incentives such as safe and comfortable accommodation.
Toll-Like Receptors, Keys of the Innate Immune System
Authors: Fadhel Hassan Alaa
Published: May 2021

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of the integral glycoproteins family, which are consist of intracellular and endoplasmic domains. TLRs are widely distributed in body tissues and expressed by immune and nonimmune cells. They are able to identify pathogens that cause cell injury and distinguish them from harmless microbes, and pathogenic nucleic acids as their binding ligand. Upon binding to their ligands, TLRs first underwent conformational changes; either forming homodimers or heterodimers, starting signaling pathways involve adaptor molecules utilization and then signal transduction through either myeloid differential (MyD)-88 dependent or independent pathways. Ending with activation of several transcription factors (TF) and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (CK) and Type I interferons (IFN) and initiation of inflammation. TLRs are involved in almost all-inflammatory processes due to underlying disorders and diseases, which made them interesting targets for therapeutic development, via the synthesis of different agonists, antagonists, and even naturalized antibodies.
Ethical Issues Which Have Prevented the U.S. from Maximizing Quality of Life Years
Authors: Arbor Sage
Published: May 2021

The cost of healthcare interventions varies greatly with age, with a significant fraction of cost being spent in the last two years of life. Treating a child can save orders of magnitude more life-years than an octogenarian treated for the same disease, such as cancer. While Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) can be used to plan a roadmap for how resources should be expended to maximize quality of life the execution of those plans often fail due to societal norms which trump the carefully measured QALYs, resulting in lowered average number and/or quality of years lived. The ethical issues concerning age, sex, lifestyle (smoking, drinking, obesity), cost transparency, and extreme examples (war, population explosion vs. collapse) will be discussed.
HIPEC for Ovarian Cancer: A Controversial Discussion
Authors: Friedrich Michael , Friedrich Dominique , Kraft Clayton , Kuhn Walther , Rogmans Christoph
Published: May 2021

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a sign of advanced disease of ovarian cancer. The prognosis of ovarian cancer is significantly improved after cytoreductive surgery with complete tumor debulking followed by platin based chemotherapy. If cytoreductive surgery results in a tumor free situation with remaining tumor less than 0.25 cm, HIPEC may further improve prognosis. Materials and methods: The results of the Krefeld study are presented and the literature is reviewed according to overall survival and progression free survival with or without HIPEC. In the Krefeld study, patients with ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis underwent cytoreductive surgery. In patients with optimal tumor debulking, HIPEC was performed. The peri- and postoperative course was observed. Adverse events were recorded after the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: 43 patients were treated with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. In all patients an optimal cytoreductive situation with remaining tumor less than 0.25 cm was achieved. HIPEC was performed with a cisplatin solution (50 mg/m2) at 41°C. The median age of the patients was 56 years (range: 32–74 years), the median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 13 (range: 4–21), the median operation time was 356 minutes (range: 192–507 minutes). The median time to postoperative systemic treatment with chemotherapy was 29 days (range 21–70). There was no postoperative surgically associated death. No adverse events were recorded in 16 (37.2%) of 43 patients, no grade III or IV adverse events were reported for 33 (76.7%) patients, and no grade IV adverse events were reported for 41 (95.3%) patients. Grade III adverse events occured in 19 (44.2%) of the 43 patients; a total of 29 grade III adverse events were reported in these 19 patients. Grade IV adverse events occured in 3 (7.0%) of the 43 patients; a total of 3 grade IV adverse events were reported. Two of them resulted in return to the operating room. This was a fistula of the distal small bowel caused by drainage and a revision of wound infection. Conclusion: In ovarian cancer multiple surgical procedures may be necessary in order to have macroscopically eradicated tumor tissue. Combined with HIPEC, this seems to have positive effects on the survival of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Since we have no marked additional adverse events caused by HIPEC in our case series, HIPEC seems to be an additional treatment option of peritoneal carcinomatosis in ovarian cancer. This statement is strengthened by the literature review in that metaanalysis show significant improved OAS and PFS.
Development of LDPE Crystallinity in LDPE/Cu Composites
Authors: Abdelmouleh Makki , Jedidi Ilyes
Published: May 2021

This chapter summarizes the study of the filler (ie copper) effect on LDPE phasic composition in LDPE/Cu composites prepared in solution. During this research work, a particular effort is focused on the use of DSC under non-standard conditions. Therewith, the presence of copper microparticles has a great effect on the network phase than on the crystalline long-range-order phase of LDPE structure. Furthermore, LDPE phasic composition in absence and presence of copper microparticles is investigated by FTIR spectroscopy followed by a spectral simulation of the band that appeared at 720 cm−1 corresponding to the CH2. Anywise, the two-phase model confirmed that no variation is observed of LDPE phase composition for all copper contents into LDPE/Cu films. However, with the three-phase model the orthorhombic phase fraction was found to be constant compared to the fraction of amorphous and that of network phase were found to increase and decrease respectively with increase in the copper particle load in the film. Overall, the thermal and structural behavior of LDPE in presence of copper particles allows this type to be used as phase change materials (PCMs) by adding a paraffin fraction in the LDPE/Cu composite. An update of the most relevant work carried out in the field of phasic characterization of polyethylene is presented in this chapter.
Psychoanalysis and Non-Adherence to Medical Advice: An Ethical Dilemma in Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Azzone Paolo
Published: May 2021

Mitigation measures required by Covid-19 pandemic have posed severe restrictions on individual freedom and have been met with persistent opposition in minority circles. As non-adherence to preventive measures is believed to increase health risks for the society at large, dissent from official policies has been a source of concern. Within this framework several eminent psychoanalysts have suggested psychoanalysis should be enrolled as a component of health related public opinion campaigns. The chapter will discuss the historical relation between mental health institutions and social control strategies and will formulate a psychoanalytic model of the social dialectic associated with the Coronavirus pandemic. The model will allow the author to offer grounded ethical perspectives on the issue.
Big Data Framework Using Spark Architecture for Dose Optimization Based on Deep Learning in Medical Imaging
Authors: Alla Takam Clémence , Tchagna Kouanou Aurelle , Samba Odette , Mih Attia Thomas , Tchiotsop Daniel
Published: May 2021

Deep learning and machine learning provide more consistent tools and powerful functions for recognition, classification, reconstruction, noise reduction, quantification and segmentation in biomedical image analysis. Some breakthroughs. Recently, some applications of deep learning and machine learning for low-dose optimization in computed tomography have been developed. Due to reconstruction and processing technology, it has become crucial to develop architectures and/or methods based on deep learning algorithms to minimize radiation during computed tomography scan inspections. This chapter is an extension work done by Alla et al. in 2020 and explain that work very well. This chapter introduces the deep learning for computed tomography scan low-dose optimization, shows examples described in the literature, briefly discusses new methods for computed tomography scan image processing, and provides conclusions. We propose a pipeline for low-dose computed tomography scan image reconstruction based on the literature. Our proposed pipeline relies on deep learning and big data technology using Spark Framework. We will discuss with the pipeline proposed in the literature to finally derive the efficiency and importance of our pipeline. A big data architecture using computed tomography images for low-dose optimization is proposed. The proposed architecture relies on deep learning and allows us to develop effective and appropriate methods to process dose optimization with computed tomography scan images. The real realization of the image denoising pipeline shows us that we can reduce the radiation dose and use the pipeline we recommend to improve the quality of the captured image.
Pharmacogenomic tests in Oncology - finding the right dose
Authors: Basso Jeziel , Schwartsmann Gilberto
Published: May 2021

A pharmacogenetics/genomics (PGx) anticancer drug testing program is being developed by Kurtz and his group at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA). Drug -gene pairs were selected for PGx testing based on the presence of clinically validated PGx associations and the availability of international guidelines with PGx-informed dosing recommendations. Fluoropyrimidines-DPYD, irinotecan-UGT1A1 and thiopurines-TPMT/NUDT15 were initially included. The current estimation of anticancer therapy doses usually does not reflect the complexities of metabolism. Therefore, efforts should be made in order to refine the ways we prescribe these drugs, being conventional cytotoxic or newer ones. This program is extremely welcome and may lead to more multi-institutional partnerships and should bring a broader discussion on the use of PGx and pharmacokinetics in routine oncology practice.
Real-life data from an oncology infirmary in a Brazilian universitybased teaching hospital
Authors: Silva Pedro Paulo Perroni da , Matos Humberto Pinto De , Buttros Luciana De Araujo Brito , Hatamoto Nadia Yumi , Capassi Ana Clara Salviato , Sales Gabriela Filgueiras , Delgado Gilson Luchezi , Pires Luis Antonio , Borin Julia Villa Rios , Alencar Mateus Sudario , Dias Bruna Carone , Maia Marina Vieira , Carvalho Fernanda Paiva De , Herculano Matheus
Published: May 2021

Objective: Analyze data regarding patients in need of hospital care admitted in our oncology infirmary aiming for better clinical practices, clinical support and scope for financial and structural needs for institutions. Methods: A prospective study of 191 patients admitted for in-hospital care during a year, who were stratified by diagnosis, age, sex, admission reason, duration of stay, re-admission rate and outcomes. Results: 97 male and 94 female patients were admitted, with a 61-year-old mean age; the mean stay was 13,4 days; and a re-admission rate of 9,4%. Main admission causes: terminality [defined by PSECOG=4, with a 30 day or less estimated life expectancy]: 30 patients (15,7%); total pain: 23 (12,0%); oncological emergencies [febrile neutropenia, malignant hypercalcemia, medullar compression, superior vena cava syndrome]: 20 (10,4%); clinical deterioration [defined as worsening of patients performance or malnutrition]: 15 (7,8%); abdominal pain [without acute abdomen]: 14 (7,3%). Most common primary tumor sites were: colorectal=30 (15,7%), breast=28 (14,6%), stomach=20 (10,4%), lung=14 (7,3%), ovary=12 (6,2%) and prostate=10 (5,2%). Results: 99 deaths (mortality rate 52,1%). Patients in terminality presented a 90% ratio of mortality within an average of 6,6 days of hospital care. Febrile neutropenia (42,8%) and abdominal pain (35,7%) both achieved above expected mortality rates. 91 patients were discharged from the hospital and went back to ambulatory care. Conclusion: Our analysis pointed at an admission rate of 1,2%, pointing at good clinical ambulatory practices. The mean in-hospital stay comparison between patients who were discharged and those who died, not considered terminal ill, was unexpectedly similar, 11,7 versus 13,4 days, respectively, suggesting that in-hospital care should be focused on symptoms - not outcomes. Patients with febrile neutropenia and gastrointestinal cancer should be evaluated with caution due to higher than expected mortality rates
La especial vulnerabilidad como circunstancia agravante. Resultados de una investigación sobre la jurisprudencia penal española
Authors: Moya Guillem Clara
Published: May 2021

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio de una muestra compuesta por 51 sentencias condenatorias en las que se aplica el subtipo cualificado basado en la especial vulnerabilidad de la víctima que aparece previsto en trece preceptos del Código penal. Por un lado, se describen las circunstancias que determinan la especial vulnerabilidad de la víctima (la edad, la discapacidad, la enfermedad y la situación) y cómo se valoran en función de la tipología delictiva cuya pena aumentan. Por otro lado, se identifican los principales problemas detectados por los tribunales en relación con esta circunstancia victimológica (especialmente, su compatibilidad con la alevosía) y las soluciones que ofrecen. La conclusión de este estudio es que el tratamiento que dispensa el Código penal a la agravante es absolutamente dispar y, en consecuencia, la jurisprudencia resulta contradictoria. Por ello, se sugieren algunas pautas interpretativas de lege lata y se esboza una propuesta de lege ferenda.This paper presents the results of the study of a sample made up of 58 convicting judgments in which the aggravated subcategory of offence is applied based on the special vulnerability of the victim, which is provided for in thirteen provisions of the Criminal Code. On the one hand, it describes the circumstances that determine the special vulnerability of the victim (age, disability, illness and situation) and how they are valued according to the type of crime the sanction of which it increases. On the other hand, the main problems identified by the courts in relation to this victimological circumstance (especially, its compatibility with malice aforethought) and the solutions they offer are identified. It is concluded that the treatment given by the Criminal Code to the aggravating circumstance is absolutely incoherent and, consequently, the jurisprudence is contradictory. For this reason, some interpretive guidelines de lege lata are suggested and a proposal de lege ferenda is outlined.
Finding Poetry in the Ground— a Kenning of Silver from Neble, Zealand
Authors: Pentz Peter
Published: May 2021

Abstract:
A circular pendant found near Neble, Zealand is interpreted as a double-sided amulet, decorated respectively on one side as a shield and as a wheel on the reverse. This dual iconography is suggested as a material reference to the kenning shield-wheel, known from Snorri Sturluson´s Skáldskaparmál.
Apresentação
Authors: Vieira Alboni Marisa Dudeque Pianovski
Published: May 2021

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A expografia do meio ambiente no museu de história natural: epistemologia, história e educação
Authors: Rodríguez Iván Borroto , Torales-Campos Marilia Adrade
Published: May 2021

Este artigo propõe uma análise da potencialidade educativo-ambiental das exposições em museus de história natural, no intuito de trazer reflexões pertinentes para o desenvolvimento de um discurso de caráter socioambiental. Apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa exploratória e bibliográfica, de caráter qualitativo, descritivo e reflexivo. Abase teórica que perpassa a contrastação das hipóteses com a análise dos dados se apoia em autores como Cury (2006, 2013), Floriani (2000, 2008), Fortin-Debart (2003), Hooper-Greenhill (2003, 2010), Marandino (2011) e Valente (2003). A primeira hipótese sugere que a exposição do museu de história natural apresenta potencialidades para a educaçãoambiental a partir da socialização de temas ambientais mediante inovações didáticas. Por outro lado, a segunda hipótese sugere o aparecimento de um discurso expositivo de caráter socioambiental que emerge das mudanças experimentadas nos contextos científicos, ambientais e cultural-sociais. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam que emrelação à primeira hipótese se reafirma a potencialidade das exposições para a educação ambiental dos visitantes a partir da socialização de ideias, conceitos e representações de meio ambiente por meio de inovações didáticas. Em relação à segunda hipótese a emergência de um discurso expositivo de caráter socioambiental pode estar sendo limitada pela permanência de elementos próprios do modelo de museu de história natural do século XIX.
A subcellular map of the human kinome
Authors: Zhang Haitao , Cao Xiaolei , Tang Mei , Zhong Guoxuan , Si Yuan , Li Haidong , Zhu Feifeng , Liao Qinghua , Li Liuju , Zhao Jianhui , Feng Jia , Li Shuaifeng , Wang Chenliang , Kaulich Manuel , Wang Fangwei , Chen Liangyi , Li Li , Xia Zongping , Liang Tingbo , Lu Huasong , Feng Xin-Hua , Zhao Bin
Published: May 2021

The human kinome comprises 538 kinases playing essential functions by catalyzing protein phosphorylation. Annotation of subcellular distribution of the kinome greatly facilitates investigation of normal and disease mechanisms. Here, we present Kinome Atlas (KA), an image-based map of the kinome annotated to 10 cellular compartments. 456 epitope-tagged kinases, representing 85% of the human kinome, were expressed in HeLa cells and imaged by immunofluorescent microscopy under a similar condition. KA revealed kinase family-enriched subcellular localizations and discovered a collection of new kinase localizations at mitochondria, plasma membrane, extracellular space, and other structures. Furthermore, KA demonstrated the role of liquid-liquid phase separation in formation of kinase condensates. Identification of MOK as a mitochondrial kinase revealed its function in cristae dynamics, respiration, and oxidative stress response. Although limited by possible mislocalization due to overexpression or epitope tagging, this subcellular map of the kinome can be used to refine regulatory mechanisms involving protein phosphorylation.
Functional dynamic genetic effects on gene regulation are specific to particular cell types and environmental conditions
Authors: Findley Anthony S , Monziani Alan , Richards Allison L , Rhodes Katherine , Ward Michelle C , Kalita Cynthia A , Alazizi Adnan , Pazokitoroudi Ali , Sankararaman Sriram , Wen Xiaoquan , Lanfear David E , Pique-Regi Roger , Gilad Yoav , Luca Francesca
Published: May 2021

Genetic effects on gene expression and splicing can be modulated by cellular and environmental factors; yet interactions between genotypes, cell type, and treatment have not been comprehensively studied together. We used an induced pluripotent stem cell system to study multiple cell types derived from the same individuals and exposed them to a large panel of treatments. Cellular responses involved different genes and pathways for gene expression and splicing and were highly variable across contexts. For thousands of genes, we identified variable allelic expression across contexts and characterized different types of gene-environment interactions, many of which are associated with complex traits. Promoter functional and evolutionary features distinguished genes with elevated allelic imbalance mean and variance. On average, half of the genes with dynamic regulatory interactions were missed by large eQTL mapping studies, indicating the importance of exploring multiple treatments to reveal previously unrecognized regulatory loci that may be important for disease.
Signaling levels mold the RAS mutation tropism of urethane
Authors: Li Siqi , Counter Christopher M
Published: May 2021

RAS genes are commonly mutated in human cancer. Despite many possible mutations, individual cancer types often have a ‘tropism’ towards a specific subset of RAS mutations. As driver mutations, these patterns ostensibly originate from normal cells. High oncogenic RAS activity causes oncogenic stress and different oncogenic mutations can impart different levels of activity, suggesting a relationship between oncoprotein activity and RAS mutation tropism. Here, we show that changing rare codons to common in the murineKrasgene to increase protein expression shifts tumors induced by the carcinogen urethane from arising from canonical Q61to biochemically less active G12Krasdriver mutations, despite the carcinogen still being biased towards generating Q61mutations. Conversely, inactivating the tumor suppressor p53 to blunt oncogenic stress partially reversed this effect, restoring Q61mutations. One interpretation of these findings is that the RAS mutation tropism of urethane arises from selection in normal cells for specific mutations that impart a narrow window of signaling that promotes proliferation without causing oncogenic stress.
Low-dimensional learned feature spaces quantify individual and group differences in vocal repertoires
Authors: Goffinet Jack , Brudner Samuel , Mooney Richard , Pearson John
Published: May 2021

Increases in the scale and complexity of behavioral data pose an increasing challenge for data analysis. A common strategy involves replacing entire behaviors with small numbers of handpicked, domain-specific features, but this approach suffers from several crucial limitations. For example, handpicked features may miss important dimensions of variability, and correlations among them complicate statistical testing. Here, by contrast, we apply the variational autoencoder (VAE), an unsupervised learning method, to learn features directly from data and quantify the vocal behavior of two model species: the laboratory mouse and the zebra finch. The VAE converges on a parsimonious representation that outperforms handpicked features on a variety of common analysis tasks, enables the measurement of moment-by-moment vocal variability on the timescale of tens of milliseconds in the zebra finch, provides strong evidence that mouse ultrasonic vocalizations do not cluster as is commonly believed, and captures the similarity of tutor and pupil birdsong with qualitatively higher fidelity than previous approaches. In all, we demonstrate the utility of modern unsupervised learning approaches to the quantification of complex and high-dimensional vocal behavior.
EGFR mutation status yield from bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma compared to a venous blood sample and tissue biopsy
Authors: Yanev Nikolay , Mekov Evgeni , Valev Dinko , Yankov Georgi , Milanov Vladimir , Bichev Stoyan , Gabrovska Natalia , Kostadinov Dimitar
Published: May 2021

Background

In recent years, there has been a revolution in the genomic profiling and molecular typing of lung cancer. A key oncogene is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The gold standard for determining EGFR mutation status is tissue biopsy, where a histological specimen is taken by a bronchoscopic or surgical method (transbronchial biopsy, forceps biopsy, etc.). However, in clinical practice the tissue sample is often insufficient for morphological and molecular analysis. Bronchoalveolar lavage is a validated diagnostic method for pathogenic infections in the lower respiratory tract, yet its diagnostic value for oncogenic mutation testing in lung cancer has not been extensively investigated. This study aims to compare the prevalence of EGFR mutation status in bronchoalveolar lavage and peripheral blood referring to the gold standard - tissue biopsy in patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Twenty-six patients with adenocarcinoma were examined for EGFR mutation from tissue biopsy, peripheral blood sample and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Results

Thirteen patients had wild type EGFR and the other 13 had EGFR mutation. EGFR mutation from a peripheral blood sample was identified in 38.5% (5/13) of patients, whereas EGFR mutation obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was identified in 92.3% (12/13). This study demonstrates that a liquid biopsy sample for EGFR status from BAL has a higher sensitivity compared to a venous blood sample.