bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dioon oaxacensis (Zamiaceae): a new cycad species from the arid central valleys of Oaxaca (Mexico)

Authors: GUTIÉRREZ-ORTEGA JOSÉ SAID , PÉREZ-FARRERA MIGUEL ANGEL , VOVIDES ANDREW P. , SALAS-MORALES SILVIA H. , CHEMNICK JEFFREY
Published: November 2020

Dioon oaxacensis sp. nov. (Zamiaceae), a new cycad species from Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. The morphological traits of the new taxon are compared with its sister species, D. merolae. The species delimitation between the two species is consistent with previously published genetic evidence. Dioon oaxacensis can be easily identified by its flat, stiff, straight leaflets obliquely inserted to rachis, and by its large reproductive structures. Populations of D. oaxacensis usually occur in dry habitats, growing on rocky hillsides, and co-habiting with plants well recognized to be adapted to aridity.
A new tuberous species of Begonia L. (Begoniaceae) from southern Yunnan, China
Authors: DING HONG-BO , GONG YAN-XIONG , PAN RUI , LU XIAO-QIANG , TAN YUN-HONG
Published: November 2020

A new species, Begonia depingiana from southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, B. depingiana is similar to B. namkadingensis in habit, its tuberous rootstock and tepal number of the male and female flowers, but significantly differs by its 3 stigmas, and 3-locular ovary. It also resembles B. pellionioides in its pinnate leaf venation, but distinguished by the indumentum characters of its stem and ovary, tuberous rootstock, shorter plant, and unequally 3-winged capsule.
Oxaliplatin-loaded monomethoxy (polyethylene glycol)–poly(d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles induced neuropathic pain through the pro-inflammatory effect of microglia in the spinal dorsal horn mediated by Zic2/membrane adapter protein 12
Authors: Xie Li , Wang Fei , Liu Jie
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of oxaliplatin (OX)-loaded monomethoxy (polyethylene glycol)–poly(d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (mPEG–PLGA) nanoparticles on neuropathic pain induced by pro-inflammatory action of Zic2/membrane adaptor
protein 12 (DAP12) on microglia in the spinal dorsal horn. We have used websites, namely, String, Coexpedia, and Geneontology, for gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses as well as co-expression analysis. The obtained core genes served as targets for OX-induced neuropathic pain.
EMSEMBL and BDGF predicted the promoter site of DAP12. Further, mPEGPLGA nanoparticles loaded with OX were injected intravenously into the mice to construct a mouse model of OX-induced neuralgia. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qrt-qpcr) was used to detect the transcription
level of the target gene, while the target gene translation level was detected by western blot. The co-expression analysis of the first 250 genes revealed that the target genes were Tyrobp (DAP12), C1qb, Laptm5, Cd53, C1qc, Foxd1, Foxc1,
Tbx15, Mafb, and Zic2. PROMO was used to predict the binding site of Zic2 at DAP12. As expected, the protein and mRNA expressions of Zic2, Tyrobp, IL-1β, TNF-α increased in OX mice. Based on the results of the investigation, we conclude that one of
the mechanisms of OX-induced neuropathic pain may be related to IL-1β and TNF-α expression by microglial cells (in the spinal dorsal horn) through Zic2/DAP12.
Protective behavior of volatile corrosion inhibitor on atmospheric corrosion process of carbon steel under thin electrolyte liquid film of chloride solutions
Authors: Wang Dong , Wang Chenxi , Fang Changqing , Zhou Xing , Pu Mengyuan , Huang Yingwei
Published: November 2020

The corrosion process of carbon steel and corrosion resistance behavior of volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) under thin electrolyte liquid film containing chloride was investigated by electrochemical measurements and surface characterization. Results indicated that composite VCI was
composed of sodium molybdate and sodium benzoate, and exhibited higher corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution compared with absence of VCI. The corrosion current density obviously decreased with presence of VCI, and the synergies between binary components increased the corrosion inhibiting
rate on carbon steel to up to 90%. The corrosion current density of carbon steel increased with increased temperature after volatilization of VCI. A closed container was carried out to mimic atmospheric corrosion condition, and its vapor corrosion inhibition property was evaluated in this
closed container. Results showed that the VCI acted as an inhibitor by suppressing anodic dissolution and metallic ion transfer through the formation of protective film. It was also observed that the variation of carbon steel surface with volatilization of VCI was assessed by atomic force
microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The anodic process for carbon steel without VCI affected the corrosion rate due to accumulation of corrosion products, while the morphology of carbon steel was hardly changed with volatilization of VCI. The results showed that the VCI
volatilized to the surface and form to protect film. VCI was automatically volatilized into gas, which protected steel from corrosion. This composite VCI can then be applied as a significant corrosion inhibition method.
Death, emplaced security and space in contemporary Timor-Leste
Authors: Grenfell Damian
Published: November 2020

By adopting a spatial approach to analysis, this article examines the significance of death in Timor-Leste and its relationship to security and peace. The main argument is that a person’s security in Timor-Leste is very often made possible via the sustaining of what is referred to here as ‘cognate communities’ which comprise both the living and the spirits of the ancestral dead. Grave-making as a form of ‘emplaced security’ – an expression of agency which results in the creation or transformation of a place in order to mitigate threat – enables a particular kind of space whereby the living as part of cognate communities are able to venerate their dead. In turn, engagement with the ‘spatial turn’ demonstrates how this form of emplaced security is not static, but rather is dynamic and adaptive as communities formed through custom constantly interact with broader social changes and spatial transformations. Even as grave-making represents a micro-form of emplacement, such acts both produce and respond to different spatial orders, including more abstract forms bound up with nation formation. As such, the ‘spatial turn’ shows how burial represents both an intimate and petite act of place-making while also intersecting with different spatial orders and scales that interact with meta-narratives including religion, modernisation and nationalism.
India’s Sectoral Growth Patterns and US$ 5 Trillion Trajectory: An Empirical Investigation on Macroeconomic Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Soni Swapnil , Subrahmanya M. H. Bala
Published: November 2020

The productive sectors—agriculture, industry and services—are pillars of growth and enablers to the dream of India’s US$ 5 trillion economic target. The collective growth and contribution of these productive sectors have exhibited dynamic patterns in the history of Indian economy attracting attention of researchers and policy makers. The investigation of the growth trajectory of these productive sectors aligning with US$ 5 trillion GDP objective becomes more important at the challenging time of unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nation-wide lockdown in the economy. This study investigates the economy’s and sectoral growth trajectory considering the disruption caused by pandemic and answers the pertinent question: ‘Will India attain its dream of US$ 5 trillion economy, if yes, when and how?’ The results of empirical analyses reveal that India will join US$ 5 trillion club by 2027–2028, 3 years later than the original target of 2024–2025. This growth trajectory requires that the productive sectors be bolstered consistently by reforms and stimulus and thereby they exhibit recovery post-COVID-19.

JEL Codes: A20, C01, C54, E20, O47
Self-stigma in patients with major depressive disorder: An exploratory study from India
Authors: Patra Bichitra Nanda , Patil Vaibhav , Balhara Yatan Pal Singh , Khandelwal Sudhir K
Published: November 2020

Background:

One of the barriers to effective care in patients with depression is stigma associated with having a mental disorder, which also acts as a barrier to recovery and increases the disability.

Aims:

To study the stigma and disabilities experienced by the patients with depressive disorders seeking treatment in a tertiary care hospital

Methodology:

Fifty patients diagnosed to have depressive disorder as per ICD-10 were recruited by convenient sampling. To measure the stigma, the Discrimination and Stigma Scale -12 was applied. The severity of depression was determined by applying Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The disability was calculated by using WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0

Results:

Fifty percentages of the participants reported unfair treatment and they experienced discrimination in at least one life domain. There was significant positive correlation between unfair treatment subscale of stigma and disability. Around one fourth of the participants reported to be treated unfairly by their own families. Seventy percent reported to have concealed their mental health problems, 54% have stopped themselves from having a close personal relationship and 32% didn’t apply for work in anticipating discrimination. Experienced and anticipated discrimination were significantly associated with concealing the mental health problem.

Conclusion:

Stigma due to having depression acts as a barrier to vocational & social integration and functional recovery. Concealment of the diagnosis of depression is itself barrier for help seeking and to receiving appropriate treatment. Small sample size and adopting the purposive sampling method are the limitations of the study.
Community-Based Service Providers’ Experiences With Activities for Persons With Dementia
Authors: Holden Richard J. , Cavalcanti Luiz , Vemireddy Sravani , Bateman Daniel R , Sheetz Nicole J , Fowler Nicole R. , Parmar Takshak , Karanam Yamani
Published: November 2020

Persons with dementia (PWD) benefit from participating in meaningful activities. This study’s objective was to learn the characteristics of successful meaningful activities from community-based service providers who work with PWD. Six group interviews were performed with 15 unique professionals from an adult day service or community-based coordinated care program. These were supplemented by 100 hr of researcher immersion through weekly volunteering. Data were analyzed by a team, using qualitative content analysis. Participants reported successful activity content incorporated personalization; continuity and incremental challenges; and social engagement. Successful delivery of activities required managing necessary resources; involving informal (family/friend) caregivers; having a backup plan; monitoring time of day and energy levels; facilitating a domino effect; and ensuring safety. Outcomes of successful activities were experiencing fulfillment and purpose; overcoming challenges; and unexpected triggers. Research and practice recommendations include testing innovative, dynamic, and technology-enabled approaches to providing such activities.
Benefits and Barriers to Professor Transparency
Authors: Neff Megan Anna , Dunkerley Jeffrey , McMinn Mark R. , Peterson Mary A.
Published: November 2020

Relationality and attachment to professors play a vital role for those interested in interweaving the relational work of psychology with aspects of faith, meaning, and identity, such as is done in the integration of psychology and religion. The present study investigated student and faculty perceptions of affective presence and transparency at explicitly Christian American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited doctoral programs. A total of 229 students and 51 faculty completed a questionnaire consisting of qualitative questions regarding barriers to transparency, formative experiences, and growth areas. Grounded-theory analysis revealed faculty are thoughtfully considering how to engage in transparency, while also considering boundary issues, power dynamics, and personal fears. Students valued professor transparency and attachment to the professor through mentorship. Implications are discussed surrounding reflective use of transparency, intersectionality, and the importance of cultivating co-regulating classroom environments.
Conjoined Fraternal Twins: Marking Something Other than Time in Matthew 13.44-46
Authors: Proctor Mark A.
Published: November 2020

While some read Mt. 13.44-46 as making the same point about the kingdom of heaven twice over, this article instead uses verbal markedness theory to suggest use of the perfect tense-form within Treasure in the Field (TIF) and Pearl of Great Price (PGP) indicates otherwise. Whereas TIF foregrounds the kingdom’s ‘hiddenness’ with κεκρυμμένῳ, PGP instead uses πέπρακεν to emphasize the toll its purchase exacts on investors. Hence, one might accurately describe the parables on the basis of verbal markedness theory, and their redactional similarities, as a set of fraternal twins the First Gospel conjoins within the parables discourse. While their individual points remain distinct, Matthew binds the implications of TIF and PGP together to suggest their mutual entailment. For those fortunate enough to uncover the hidden kingdom’s location, its entrance will cost them everything and so alter their lives forever. All experience difficulty obtaining the kingdom, and its discovery remains tentative even for those in the right line of work.
Legal indeterminacy and authoritarianism: Notes on William Scheuerman’s The End of Law
Authors: Caldwell Peter
Published: November 2020

Scheuerman’s book is one of the handful of significant attempts to rethink Schmitt’s work systematically over the past four decades. In so doing, he raises three key questions for me. First, is Schmitt’s work a sincere contribution to legal and political theory, or an attempt to argue for setting the rule of law aside for authoritarianism, that is, an instrumental critique of indeterminacy? Second, to what extent is Schmitt – critical of the ‘bourgeois’ rule of law, critical of globalization – really a thinker defending capitalism? Can he really be associated with the Ordoliberals (even if they adopted his arguments from 1931 to 1932 in their own writing of the time)? Third, to what extent were Schmitt’s early contributions to National Socialist law aimed at responding to legal indeterminacy, and to what extent did they in fact point towards a radicalism of German law within the Nazi system, especially insofar as they endorsed making decisions based on the principles of justice of the Nazi state – and potentially against the express language of statutes?
The people and the voters
Authors: Ferrara Alessandro
Published: November 2020

Cristina Lafont’s Democracy Without Shortcuts enriches the discussion of deliberative democracy with new insights. After discussing her three objections against Waldron’s denunciation of judicial review as antidemocratic, the main flaw of Waldron’s thesis is argued to remain out of focus. The constitution is understood by him as owned by the living citizens, in a pattern of serial sovereignty that raises three problems: (a) the ‘wanton republic’; (b) the under-individuation of the polity; (c) generational inequality. The answer to Lafont’s question ‘Can We Own the Constitution?’ (Section Three) is then argued to be that only ‘we the people’, including past, present and future ‘free and equal’ generations, own the constitution. The living citizens are the segment of ‘the people’ endowed with agency, have a voice, can modify the inherited political scheme, but cannot legitimately disfigure it, under penalty of destroying the regulatory function of the constitution.
Constitutional Alchemy
Authors: Lazar Nomi Claire
Published: November 2020

In ‘The End of Law’, Bill Scheuerman illustrates the ways normativity, context and decision interlace, putting the lie to Carl Schmitt’s claim that decision is pure will. In doing so, Scheuerman gestures toward a truth about the alchemical nature of constitutions. Like decisions, I argue, constitutions are alchemical mechanisms for actualizing norms and normativizing facts. They accomplish this in part through mediating between dynamic (individual and political) selves before and after the moment of decision or coming-into-force. Schmitt’s error – or perhaps his strategy – is to make static this dynamic process of political self-formation. Viewed as static, it is more difficult to discern the process of normativizing facts and concretizing norms. I show how contemporary populist authoritarians are particularly skilled at harnessing this strategy. Populist authoritarians often use constitutional change to consolidate not just power but constructed identity. They are able to do so because constitutions provide this strategy of dynamic identity formation, which, by generating new normative imperatives, in turn shores up legitimacy.
Suppression, Spikes, and Stigma: How COVID-19 Will Shape International Migration and Hostilities toward It
Authors: O’Brien Michelle L. , Eger Maureen A.
Published: November 2020

Border closures associated with COVID-19 constitute a response to an exogenous shock unrelated to migration. In this IMR Dispatch, we argue that the impact of policies initially implemented to halt movement and curb the spread of the disease will nonetheless have medium- and longer term consequences for international migration. Specifically, we argue that these initial border restrictions have set in motion demographic and sociological processes that are likely to culminate in greater support for restricting future migration. Based on demographic evidence, we posit that after extended suppression of migration, OECD countries and Russia will see a migration spike, akin to a “baby boom” for fertility rebounds. Drawing on sociological theory and research, we hypothesize that these spikes in migration will increase anti-immigrant sentiment among native-born residents in destination countries and mobilize political support for reintroducing restrictive migration policies — triggering a feedback loop. In an effort to help facilitate future research and empirical tests of our model, we identify key concepts, processes, and data sources for the analysis of the pandemic’s impact on international migration over time.
Existing in Discrete States: On the Techno-Aesthetics of Algorithmic Being-in-Time
Authors: Ernst Wolfgang
Published: November 2020

Against a remarkable hardware oblivion in discussions of algorithmic intelligence, this article insists that algorithmic thought, or abstract computation, cannot be separated from its technological implementation. It requires a material medium for an abstract mechanism to become a procedural event. Temporality is both the condition and the limiting (and irritating) factor in the computational function. ‘Radical’ media archaeology is proposed as a method for such an analysis, and the neologism of techno lógos to describe some aspects of algorithmic reason which only unfold in the moment of its techno-processual coming-into-being. Some core operations, such as the time-discrete rhythm of actual computing algorithms, are discussed, where the ‘tempoReal’ flashes up in computing. In a wider sense, the time-discreteness of digital computing is related to an aesthetics of existence which acknowledges the machine element within human reasoning itself, while at the same time re-actualizing previous cultural techniques of non-narrative chronology. Turing the ‘man’ himself, in the sense of the Turing machine, can be addressed ‘itself’, in its archival sense as a sequence of expressions by symbols.
Dilemmas of Political Agency and Sovereignty: The Omelian Allegory
Authors: Herzog Annabel
Published: November 2020

This essay is a political reading of Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas’, which examines agency and resistance in situations of political wrong. Le Guin’s short story allows us to reformulate the questions of the boundaries of popular sovereignty and the opposition to general consent. These concerns will be here regarded as elements of a critique of neoliberal capitalism, in which freedom and self-realization are founded on injustices that persist because of a prevalent conception of the good life. The case of ‘Omelas’, moreover, challenges our understanding of resistance in revealing the blurred boundary between political action and mere noncompliance. The question asked will be about the nature of noncompliance: is noncompliance a form of resistance, and, if so, can it transform the political reality?
Cognitive automation: A new era of knowledge work?
Authors: Richardson Sharon
Published: November 2020

There have been a number of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence since the beginning of the 21st century with machines now outperforming humans in cognitive tasks such as object detection, face recognition, language translation, and complex decision strategies. Computational advances enable machines to process and analyse information at a scale far beyond human capabilities and has led to a rise in demand for intelligent process automation (IPA) services. This article considers the potential for cognitive algorithms to disrupt knowledge work in the modern workplace. Benefits include augmenting and accelerating the intelligence-decision-action cycle that is central to knowledge work. However, there are also risks from becoming over-reliant on algorithms in ambiguous and uncertain real-world situations. The value from next-generation knowledge systems will come from bridging human and artificial intelligence for insights and innovation.
The effectiveness of early anticoagulant treatment in Covid-19 patients
Authors: Arslan Yakup , Yilmaz Gulden , Dogan Deniz , Hasirci Mine , Cetindogan Hatice , Ocal Nesrin , Savasci Umit , Fidan Gonca , Tasci Canturk
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is an emerging, fast-spreading and worldwide infectious disease that would be deteriorated with the precipitation of systemic or local thrombosis. The aim of current study was evaluating the effects of early anticoagulant treatment in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

Method

The present retrospective and comparative cohort study investigated 413 hospitalized Covid-19 patients treated with or without Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) (n = 187 and 226, respectively) in the Covid Clinics of Gulhane Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, between March 18 and May 03, 2020. The treatment groups were consisted of the patients evaluated before and after The Covid-19 Treatment Guide update on April 12, 2020 that included the anticoagulant treatment thereafter.

Results

The mean age of all 413 patients (204 male and 209 female) at disease onset was 50.6 ± 16.7 years. The LMWH-treated patients had significantly higher coagulation markers such as d-dimer and platelet count than LMWH-untreated patients (p values < 0.05). The inflammatory markers, ferritin, interleukin-6 and procalcitonin were significantly increased in LMWH-untreated patients (p values < 0.05). The presence of any comorbidity was significantly more common in LMWH-treated patients compared to LMWH-untreated group (39.6% vs 19.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most frequent comorbidities in both groups. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and longer length of hospital stay were more commonly observed in LMWH-untreated patients (p values <0.05).

Conclusions

Early anticoagulant treatment with relatively higher doses of LMWH may improve the clinical outcome of Covid-19 patients and shorten the length of hospital stay.
Transformative justice and restorative justice: Gender-based violence and alternative visions of justice in the United States
Authors: Kim Mimi E.
Published: November 2020

In the United States, the contemporary feminist movement against gender-based violence started in the early 1970s, just as ideologies and policies supporting mass criminalization launched what became a five-fold rise in U.S. rates of incarceration. Since the new millennium, people of color have taken the lead in re-envisioning fundamental notions of justice given the dramatic backdrop of mass incarceration and the recent upsurge in prison abolitionist possibilities. Central to this reformulation has been a social justice critique that recognizes the intersection of gender-based violence and other forms of interpersonal violence with the violence of the state, most concentrated within U.S. carceral institutions. While the U.S. roots of violence as well as resistance to this violence extend back to the earliest days of colonial occupation, the contemporary manifestation of the anti-violence struggle has taken on the labels of restorative justice and, more recently, transformative justice. This conceptual paper relies upon historical analysis of the contemporary anti-violence movement, secondary legal literature, and insider social movement knowledge to trace recent trends in the movement to redefine notions of justice in its application to gender-based violence, the contrasting trajectories of restorative justice and transformative justice, and the liberatory vision and practices of transformative justice.
Risk of nodal disease in patients with MRI-detected extramural vascular invasion in rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tripathi Pratik , Li Zhen , Shen Yaqi , Hu Xuemei , Hu Daoyu
Published: November 2020

Background:

The impact of magnetic resonance imaging–detected extramural vascular invasion (mrEMVI) in distant metastasis is well known but its correlation with prevalence of lymph node metastasis is less studied. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence of nodal disease in mrEMVI–positive and negative cases in rectal cancer.

Methods:

Following guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, a systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBase was carried out to identify relevant studies published up to May 2019.

Results:

Our literature search generated 10 studies (863 and 1212 mrEMVI–positive and negative patients, respectively). The two groups (mrEMVI–positive and negative) were significantly different in terms of nodal disease status (odds ratio [OR] 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12–4.67; p < 0.001). The prevalence of nodal disease was 75.90% vs 52.56% in the positive mrEMVI vs negative mrEMVI group, respectively ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of positive lymph node in positive mrEMVI patients treated with neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT/CRT) (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.65–3.69; p < 0.001) was less compared with the patients who underwent surgery alone (OR 6.25; 95% CI 3.74–10.44; p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The probability of positive lymph nodes in cases of positive mrEMVI is distinctly greater compared with negative cases in rectal cancer. Positive mrEMVI indicates risk of nodal disease prevalence increased by threefold in rectal cancer.
Tell el-Amarna, Autumn 2018 to Autumn 2019
Authors: Stevens Anna , Dabbs Gretchen R. , Bos Jolanda E. M. F. , Mérat Amandine , Garnett Anna , Tully Gemma
Published: November 2020

Fieldwork at Amarna from autumn 2018 through autumn 2019 included excavation at a previously uninvestigated cemetery, the North Desert Cemetery, located approximately 600 metres south-west of the North Tombs. Several post excavation projects also continued. Those reported on here comprise the study of skeletal materials from the North Cliffs Cemetery, hair and textiles from the North Cliffs and North Desert Cemeteries, and pottery from the North Cliffs Cemetery. A site management and outreach project also continued.
Tewfik Boulos and the Administration of Egyptian Heritage at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Shalaby Nora , Damarany Ayman , Kaiser Jessica
Published: November 2020

Much of the research conducted into the history of Egyptology as it transitioned during the first half of the twentieth century from a collector’s backyard into an area of western-sanctioned archaeological research focuses on the experiences and perceptions of western scholars, with little attention given to the involvement or presence of Egyptians. The recent discovery of thousands of archival documents in a storeroom inside the Temple of Seti I in Abydos represents a significant and valuable dataset that can contribute to a more holistic history of the discipline that involves actors who have traditionally been side-lined. In particular, this paper focuses on a ledger (1914–15) belonging to the antiquities inspector Tewfik Boulos, shedding light on his role and responsibilities in the day-to-day administration of sites in the inspectorates of Sohag and Assiut, contextualizing his experiences and ultimately working towards a history of the field that is inclusive and multi-layered.
Hybrid Elman Neural Network and an Invasive Weed Optimization Method for Bridge Defect Recognition
Authors: Mohammed Abdelkader Eslam , Moselhi Osama , Marzouk Mohamed , Zayed Tarek
Published: November 2020

Existing bridges are aging and deteriorating, raising concerns for public safety and the preservation of these valuable assets. Furthermore, the transportation networks that manage many bridges face budgetary constraints. This state of affairs necessitates the development of a computer vision-based method to alleviate shortcomings in visual inspection-based methods. In this context, the present study proposes a three-tier method for the automated detection and recognition of bridge defects. In the first tier, singular value decomposition ([Formula: see text]) is adopted to formulate the feature vector set through mapping the most dominant spatial domain features in images. The second tier encompasses a hybridization of the Elman neural network ([Formula: see text]) and the invasive weed optimization (I[Formula: see text]) algorithm to enhance the prediction performance of the ENN. This is accomplished by designing a variable optimization mechanism that aims at searching for the optimum exploration–exploitation trade-off in the neural network. The third tier involves validation through comparisons against a set of conventional machine-learning and deep-learning models capitalizing on performance prediction and statistical significance tests. A computerized platform was programmed in C#.net to facilitate implementation by the users. It was found that the method developed outperformed other prediction models achieving overall accuracy, F-measure, Kappa coefficient, balanced accuracy, Matthews’s correlation coefficient, and area under curve of 0.955, 0.955, 0.914, 0.965, 0.937, and 0.904, respectively as per cross validation. It is expected that the method developed can improve the decision-making process in bridge management systems.
A misdiagnosis of mesh extrusion treated as a psychiatric female pelvic pain
Authors: Illiano Ester , Mancini Vito , Trama Francesco , Maghlhàes Vasconcelos Larissa , Carrieri Giuseppe , Costantini Elisabetta
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Complications due to prosthetic surgery with mesh implantation may be misunderstood due to the insidious clinical presentation and inexperience of many surgeons if not adequately trained for the purpose.

Case report:

A 45-year-old female underwent a trans obturator tape procedure to correct severe stress urinary incontinence 3 months after surgery she developed urethral pain. The sling was partially removed, but the pain persisted. No residue sling was visualized by cystoscopies after surgery, and the pain was attributed to a psychiatric problem. She was treated with opioids, pregabalin without improvement of pain, until an extrusion of the sling into the urethra has been diagnosed by a careful urethrocystoscopy.

Conclusion:

It has been treated in our department by the removal of the residual sling, plus urethroplasty. The patient was followed up at 6 months with resolution of the painful symptoms.
A Synthesis of Academic Research related to Church-based Family Ministry
Authors: Mermilliod Edward P.
Published: November 2020

A body of academic research continues to grow to advance the church-based family ministry movement. There is a problem, however. The majority of the content produced by scholarship has, for the most part, been inaccessible to most Christian leaders. The purpose of this article is to provide a synthesis of the research regarding church-based family ministry in a format that could benefit local church leaders in their understanding and pursuit of family ministry.
A Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach to Improving District Attendance Policy
Authors: Lenhoff Sarah Winchell , Edwards Erica B. , Claiborne Joi , Singer Jeremy , French Kate Rollert
Published: November 2020

Collaborative problem-solving research approaches have the potential to support improvement in educational policy and practice beyond instruction, by facilitating the development of a shared understanding of complex problems and creating social structures where district, community, and research partners can work together to solve them. This study investigates how findings from a developmental evaluation of a district attendance initiative were incorporated into the initiation process of a networked improvement community to create a shared narrative about how members conceptualized the problem of absenteeism and how they should adapt their levers to better align to that problem. The developmental learning process created an infrastructure within which district leaders and community partners could develop a partnership culture that facilitated change in policy. This study suggests the need to revisit the assumptions that have driven non-instructional improvement efforts and highlights the potential of collaborative problem-solving to strengthen the implementation of district reforms.
Surface texture characterization of selective laser melted Ti-6Al-4V components using fractal dimension and lacunarity analysis
Authors: V Akhil , N Arunachalam , G Raghav , Devadula Sivasrinivasu
Published: November 2020

The Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process based additive manufacturing has wide applications in medical, aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. To qualify the components for certain tribological applications, the characterization of surface texture is very important. But the applicability of traditional methods and parameters to characterize the surface texture were under evaluation. As the nature manufacturing the components were very different and complex, the unconventional surface characterization methods also under evaluation to reveal much more meaningful information. This study demonstrates the surface characterization of Ti-6Al-4V SLM components using fractal analysis of the surface images. The computed fractal dimension using the Fourier transform method showed a strong correlation of more than 0.8 with the measured 3D surface roughness parameters. The change in anisotropic nature of the surface images with the process parameter variation is studied and found that the surface textures showed a weaker anisotropic nature at lower laser power ranges, high scanning speed, and high hatch distance values. The lacunarity analysis is carried out using the gliding box algorithm to study the homogeneity nature of the surface texture and found that the surface texture is more homogeneous at higher surface roughness conditions. The study results can be utilized for the development of a quick, low-cost surface monitoring system in real-time for additive manufacturing industries.
Mechanical testing of glutaraldehyde cross-linked mitral valves. Part two: Elastic and viscoelastic properties of chordae tendineae
Authors: Constable Matthew , Northeast Rhiannon , Lawless Bernard M , Burton Hanna E , Gramigna Vera , Goh Kheng Lim , Buchan Keith G , Espino Daniel M
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study was to assess whether the mechanical properties of mitral valve chordae tendineae are sensitive to being cross-linked under load. A total 64 chordae were extracted from eight porcine hearts. Two chordae (posterior basal) from each heart were subjected to uniaxial ramp testing and six chordae (two strut, two anterior basal and two posterior basal) were subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis over frequencies between 0.5 and 10 Hz. Chordae were either cross-linked in tension or cross-linked in the absence of loading. Chordae cross-linked under load transitioned from high to low extension at a lower strain than cross-linked unloaded chordae (0.07 cf. 0.22), with greater pre-transitional (30.8 MPa cf. 5.78 MPa) and post-transitional (139 MPa cf. 74.1 MPa) moduli. The mean storage modulus of anterior strut chordae ranged from 48 to 54 MPa for cross-linked unloaded chordae, as compared to 53–61 MPa cross-linked loaded chordae. The mean loss modulus of anterior strut chordae ranged from 2.3 to 2.9 MPa for cross-linked unloaded chordae, as compared to 3.8–4.8 MPa cross-linked loaded chordae. The elastic and viscoelastic properties of chordae following glutaraldehyde cross-linking are dependent on the inclusion/exclusion of loading during the cross-linking process; with loading increasing the magnitude of the material properties measured.
Bayesian mixture cure rate frailty models with an application to gastric cancer data
Authors: Karamoozian Ali , Baneshi Mohammad Reza , Bahrampour Abbas
Published: November 2020

Mixture cure rate models are commonly used to analyze lifetime data with long-term survivors. On the other hand, frailty models also lead to accurate estimation of coefficients by controlling the heterogeneity in survival data. Gamma frailty models are the most common models of frailty. Usually, the gamma distribution is used in the frailty random variable models. However, for survival data which are suitable for populations with a cure rate, it may be better to use a discrete distribution for the frailty random variable than a continuous distribution. Therefore, we proposed two models in this study. In the first model, continuous gamma as the distribution is used, and in the second model, discrete hyper-Poisson distribution is applied for the frailty random variable. Also, Bayesian inference with Weibull distribution and generalized modified Weibull distribution as the baseline distribution were used in the two proposed models, respectively. In this study, we used data of patients with gastric cancer to show the application of these models in real data analysis. The parameters and regression coefficients were estimated using the Metropolis with Gibbs sampling algorithm, so that this algorithm is one of the crucial techniques in Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. A simulation study was also used to evaluate the performance of the Bayesian estimates to confirm the proposed models. Based on the results of the Bayesian inference, it was found that the model with generalized modified Weibull and hyper-Poisson distributions is a suitable model in practical study and also this model fits better than the model with Weibull and Gamma distributions.
Overexpression of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 in retinoblastoma
Authors: Nair Rohini M , Prabhu Varsha , Manukonda Radhika , Mishra Dilip K , Kaliki Swathi , Vemuganti Geeta K
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1), one of the prognostic markers for colonic and other tumours was noted to be overexpressed in retinoblastoma (Rb) Y79 cancer stem cells. This prompted us to evaluate its expression in primary Rb tumour and serum samples with clinicopathologic correlation. The interacting partner, c-MET was also evaluated in primary tumour tissues to explore the activation of MACC1 signaling.

Methodology:

This study was done following institutional review board approval from participating institutes. Semiquantitative gene expression for MACC1 was evaluated using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections and unfixed tumour samples from primary Rb cases ( n = 44). Immunolocalization for MACC1 was assessed in primary Rb tumours ( n = 22), bone marrow aspirates with metastasis ( n = 3), and c-MET expression was also assessed in Rb tumours ( n = 17). Serum MACC1 levels were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in samples collected from Rb patients undergoing enucleation ( n = 31), Rb patients with proven clinical metastasis ( n = 3), and compared to appropriate controls. Clinicopathologic correlation of MACC1 expression was analysed using the medical records with specific reference to histologic risk factors (HRF) for metastasis and differentiation.

Results:

High expression of MACC1 gene was noted in all the tumour samples ( n = 44), more so in cases with versus without HRF ( p < 0.0001). In cases with HRF, MACC1 and c-MET showed diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic staining whereas it was predominantly cytoplasmic in cases without HRF. Mean immunoreactivity score of MACC1 and c-MET tissue immunolocalization revealed that cases with HRF showed significantly higher expression compared to cases without HRF ( p < 0.05). Unlike the findings in colonic tumours, serum levels of MACC1 were lower in patients compared to normal controls.

Conclusion:

Overexpression of MACC1 and c-MET in retinoblastoma tissues, specifically those with risk factors for metastasis, suggests its role in proliferation and possibly in invasion. However, the current data do not support it to be a clinical prognostic marker in retinoblastoma tumours. The inverse serum expression is an intriguing finding, which warrants further studies especially in retinoblastoma.
The right to revoke withdrawal notices from international organizations: The case of Brexit and the European Union
Authors: Naldi Gino , Magliveras Konstantinos
Published: November 2020

Following the 2016 referendum, the UK notified its intention to withdraw from the European Union pursuant to Article 50 TEU. Given the political and legal consequences of a much-questioned referendum and the strong opinion of many parts of British society that the UK’s membership should not be terminated, the question arose whether such a notification could be revoked unilaterally. In the absence of any mention in Article 50, expert opinion was divided. International law – that is, the law of treaties and the law of international organizations – does not appear to provide a definite answer, while state practice is rather scarce. The constituent instruments of international and regional organizations containing withdrawal clauses are also silent, except for African organizations and development/investment organizations, which invariably allow Member States to rescind withdrawal notices. As regards the EU Treaties, before the Lisbon Treaty they did not contain a withdrawal clause. In the preliminary ruling given in Wightman v. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which concerned whether an EU Member has the sovereign power under Article 50 to revoke unilaterally a withdrawal notice, the Court of Justice helped to clarify a critical question of EU Law but also of international law.
The Transformative Learning Potential in the Hybrid Space Between Technology and Intercultural Encounters
Authors: Jørgensen Mette , Mason Amanda , Pedersen Rikke , Harrison Roger
Published: November 2020

As many higher education institutions strive to internationalize and develop graduates as global citizens, new technologies are supposed to be creating opportunities for geographically dispersed students to meet and develop intercultural skills. We argue, however, that there is scant evidence that these opportunities are being fully exploited. In this article, we explore some of the reasons for this by using the lens of “third space” theories to interpret data from a preliminary study of an international virtual exchange project. We found that although the project afforded some scope for critical intercultural learning, this was limited by two key factors related to the second space of the traditional classroom: the skills and attitudes of the lecturers and asymmetries in project goals. We conclude by arguing that unless higher education institutions provide more fertile conditions for projects like these, further opportunities for intercultural learning will be missed.
Entertainment as an archival source for historical accounting research
Authors: Miley Frances , Read Andrew
Published: November 2020

This research champions indigenous voices and epistemes in accounting history. It corrects the hegemony of the coloniser’s voice in the archive and fills the archival vacuum with indigenous voices. This research presents the case of rice accounting in Cambodia. Cambodia was devastated by half a millennium of warfare and coups destroying written archives. The archives of the French coloniser are all that survive. That archive tells the coloniser’s version of rice accounting. To challenge that version of rice accounting, this research examines the story of rice accounting found in a traditional form of Cambodian entertainment: circus performance. Circus performance is a form of archive that captures collective memory, providing an indigenous voice and episteme. This research examines how, in preserving collective memory, traditional forms of entertainment can facilitate a richer understanding of accounting history when the written indigenous archive is impaired, destroyed or has failed to recognise the indigenous voice.
A Pilot Trial of Confident Body, Confident Child in the United States
Authors: Meskin Leslie A. , Colvin Marianna L. , Hart Laura M.
Published: November 2020

Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC) is a parenting program designed to enhance knowledge of ways to promote body appreciation and sustainable health habits in 2- to 6-year-old children. Following a randomized controlled trial in Australia, the current study explores the international applicability of CBCC with the first pilot trial in the United States. Using an uncontrolled pretest–posttest design, this study examines (a) parental knowledge, (b) weight bias internalization, and (c) body appreciation among parents before and after program participation. A total of 13 CBCC programs were conducted for parents ( n = 92 baseline; n = 40 pretest–posttest). Findings support CBCC as a means to increase parents’ levels of knowledge around body image across countries and across cultures and are discussed for practice implications and future research with diverse populations.
A fractional order model for electrochemical impedance of IPMC actuators based on constant phase element
Authors: Doregiraei Mohammad Javad , Moeinkhah Hossein , Sadeghi Jafar
Published: November 2020

The accurate modeling of electrical impedance over a wide range of frequency is essential for precise dynamic modeling and control problems of Electroactive Polymer (EAP) actuators. Recently, fractional order modeling has attracted more attention due to the high accuracy. This paper deals with a fractional order electrical impedance model and its identification procedure for a class of EAP actuator named Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC). To take IPMC’s fractional characteristic into account, constant phase element (CPE) is used to construct a model structure according to Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). By employing the Levy’s method in combination with genetic optimization algorithm, the unknown parameters of the resulting fractional transfer function are identified. Finally the proposed model is verified, by comparing with experimental EIS data. The results show that the fractional order model has high accuracy for representing the electrical impedance of IPMC actuator. The proposed modeling procedure is general and can also be used for any type of EAPs.