bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between blending and identity concealment: Effects on non-binary people’s distress and experiences of victimization
Authors: Flynn Sana , Smith Nathan Grant
Published: March 2021

Identity concealment (whether or not a person is open with others about their transgender status) and passing/blending (how much a transgender person can, or chooses to, blend into the binary social environment) have been shown to impact transgender people’s experiences in various ways, but few studies examine these constructs in the lives of non-binary individuals (those whose gender identity does not fall exclusively into the categories of man or woman). This study analyzed the non-binary subset of the nationwide sample from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey (9,769 participants) to examine the effects of blending/passing and identity concealment on distress and victimization. When ethnicity and income were controlled for, low concealers reported higher distress and more victimization experiences than high concealers, and blenders reported more distress and fewer victimization experiences than non-blenders. Not concealing may put non-binary people at higher risk for victimization, but blending into the binary-gendered environment may increase distress through identity erasure. Implications are discussed and future research directions are suggested.
Analysis of anaesthesia services to calculate national need and supply of anaesthetics in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hofer Christoph Karl , Wendel Garcia Pedro David , Heim Christof , Ganter Michael Thomas
Published: March 2021

Background

In Switzerland, details of current anaesthesia practice are unknown. However, they are urgently needed to manage anaesthesia drug supply in times of drug shortages due to the pandemic.

Methods

We surveyed all Swiss anaesthesia institutions in April 2020 to determine their annual anaesthesia activity. Together with a detailed analysis on anaesthetic drug use of a large, representative Swiss anaesthesia index institution, calculations and projections for the annual need of anaesthetics in Switzerland were made. Only those drugs have been analysed that are either being used very frequently or that have been classified critical with regard to their supply by the pharmacy of the index institution or the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.

Results

The response rate to our questionnaire was 98%. Out of the present 188 Swiss anaesthesia institutions, 185 responded. In Switzerland, the annual number of anaesthesias was 1’071’054 (12’445 per 100’000 inhabitants) with a mean anaesthesia time of 2.03 hours. Teaching hospitals (n = 54) performed more than half (n = 572’231) and non-teaching hospitals (n = 103) provided almost half of all anaesthesias (n = 412’531). Thereby, private hospitals conducted a total of 290’690 anaesthesias. Finally, office-based anaesthesia institutions with mainly outpatients (n = 31) administered 86’292 anaesthesias. Regarding type of anaesthesia provided, two thirds were general anaesthesias (42% total intravenous, 17% inhalation, 8% combined), 20% regional and 12% monitored anaesthesia care. Projecting for example the annual need for propofol in anaesthesia, Switzerland requires 48’573 L of propofol 1% which corresponds to 5’644 L propofol 1% per 100’000 inhabitants every year.

Conclusions

To actively manage anaesthesia drug supply in the context of the current pandemic, it is mandatory to have a detailed understanding of the number and types of anaesthesias provided. On this basis, the Swiss annual consumption of anaesthetics could be projected and the replenishment organized.
Tracking down the White Plague. Chapter three: Revision of endocranial abnormally pronounced digital impressions as paleopathological diagnostic criteria for tuberculous meningitis
Authors: Spekker Olga , Hunt David R. , Berthon William , Paja László , Molnár Erika , Pálfi György , Schultz Michael
Published: March 2021

Abnormally pronounced digital impressions (APDIs) on the endocranial surface develop secondary to a prolonged rise in the intracranial pressure. This can result from a number of pathological conditions, including hydrocephalus due to tuberculous meningitis (TBM). APDIs have been described with relation to TBM not only in the modern medical literature but also in several paleopathological studies. However, APDIs are not pathognomonic for TBM and their diagnostic value for identifying TBM in past human populations has not been evaluated in identified pre-antibiotic era skeletons. To assess the diagnostic value of APDIs for the first time, a macroscopic investigation was performed on skeletons from the Terry Collection (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA). Our material consisted of 234 skeletons with tuberculosis (TB) as the cause of death (TB group) and 193 skeletons with non-tuberculous (NTB) causes of death (NTB group). The macroscopic examination focused on the stage of the prominence and frequency of APDIs in the TB group and NTB group. To determine the significance of difference (if any) in the frequency of APDIs between the two groups, χ2 testing of our data was conducted. We found that APDIs were twice as common in the TB group than in the NTB group. The χ2 comparison of the frequencies of APDIs revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In addition, APDIs with more pronounced stages were recorded more frequently in the TB group. Our results indicate that APDIs can be considered as diagnostic criteria for TBM in the paleopathological practice. With suitable circumspection, their utilization provides paleopathologists with a stronger basis for identifying TB and consequently, with a more sensitive means of assessing TB frequency in past human populations.
Effectiveness of a school-based programme of animal-assisted humane education in Hong Kong for the promotion of social and emotional learning: A quasi-experimental pilot study
Authors: Ngai Joe T. K. , Yu Rose W. M. , Chau Kathy K. Y. , Wong Paul W. C.
Published: March 2021

Background

Humane education, which focuses on the cultivation of kindness and empathy towards animals, the environment, and fellow humans, helps children to be less egocentric and more sensitive to the human–animal interaction in ecology.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate an animal-assisted, school-based humane education programme that promotes a humane attitude and enhances social–emotional competence for children in Hong Kong.

Method

A sequential mixed-methods formative evaluation was adopted in the pilot year of the programme. A controlled trial and focus groups were conducted to evaluate the preliminary outcomes and process of the programme and to identify the implementation obstacles and effective strategies. One hundred and ten primary three students from two primary schools participated in the study (55 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group with ordinary formal school extra-curricular activities). Paired sample t tests and a mixed ANOVA were conducted to explore the changes in students’ social–emotional competence in our programme and two typical extra-curricular school programmes. Thematic analysis was conducted to categorise the transcriptions from the focus groups.

Results

Quantitative findings indicated that class-based, animal-assisted humane education increased cognitive competence (t[24] = 2.42, p = .02), empathy (t[24] = 2.94, p < .01), and reduced hyperactivity (t[23] = -2.40, p = .02). Further analysis indicated that the participant recruitment strategies moderate the impact of interventions on the development of empathy (F[2,104] = 4.11, p = .02) and cognitive competence (F[2,104] = 2.96, p = .05). Qualitative analysis suggested three major themes: enhancement of self-control, promotion of humane attitude, and improvement of reading skills.

Conclusion

The preliminary results of this pilot study indicate positive effects of the programme. Vigorous systematic formative evaluation on the process and effective implementation should be included in future follow-up studies to ensure its sustainability and fidelity.
Resident bacteria contribute to opportunistic infections of the respiratory tract
Authors: Wu Yifan , Wang Yongqiang , Yang Huiming , Li Qian , Gong Xiaoxia , Zhang Guozhong , Zhu Kui
Published: March 2021

Opportunistic pathogens frequently cause volatile infections in hosts with compromised immune systems or a disrupted normal microbiota. The commensalism of diverse microorganisms contributes to colonization resistance, which prevents the expansion of opportunistic pathogens. Following microbiota disruption, pathogens promptly adapt to altered niches and obtain growth advantages. Nevertheless, whether and how resident bacteria modulate the growth dynamics of invasive pathogens and the eventual outcome of such infections are still unclear. Here, we utilized birds as a model animal and observed a resident bacterium exacerbating the invasion ofAvibacterium paragallinarum(previouslyHaemophilus paragallinarum) in the respiratory tract. We first found that negligibly abundantStaphylococcus chromogenes, rather thanStaphylococcus aureus, played a dominant role inAv.paragallinarum-associated infectious coryza in poultry based on epidemic investigations andin vitroanalyses. Furthermore, we determined thatS.chromogenesnot only directly provides the necessary nutrition factor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) but also accelerates its biosynthesis and release from host cells to promote the survival and growth ofAv.paragallinarum. Last, we successfully intervened inAv.paragallinarum-associated infections in animal models using antibiotics that specifically targetS.chromogenes. Our findings show that opportunistic pathogens can hijack commensal bacteria to initiate infection and expansion and suggest a new paradigm to ameliorate opportunistic infections by modulating the dynamics of resident bacteria.
Pathoadaptation of the passerine-associated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium lineage to the avian host
Authors: Cohen Emiliano , Azriel Shalevet , Auster Oren , Gal Adiv , Zitronblat Carmel , Mikhlin Svetlana , Scharte Felix , Hensel Michael , Rahav Galia , Gal-Mor Ohad
Published: March 2021

Salmonella enterica is a diverse bacterial pathogen and a primary cause of human and animal infections. While many S. enterica serovars present a broad host-specificity, several specialized pathotypes have been adapted to colonize and cause disease in one or limited numbers of host species. The underlying mechanisms defining Salmonella host-specificity are far from understood. Here, we present genetic analysis, phenotypic characterization and virulence profiling of a monophasic S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain that was isolated from several wild sparrows in Israel. Whole genome sequencing and complete assembly of its genome demonstrate a unique genetic signature that includes the integration of the BTP1 prophage, loss of the virulence plasmid, pSLT and pseudogene accumulation in multiple T3SS-2 effectors (sseJ, steC, gogB, sseK2, and sseK3), catalase (katE), tetrathionate respiration (ttrB) and several adhesion/ colonization factors (lpfD, fimH, bigA, ratB, siiC and siiE) encoded genes. Correspondingly, this strain demonstrates impaired biofilm formation, intolerance to oxidative stress and compromised intracellular replication within non-phagocytic host cells. Moreover, while this strain showed attenuated pathogenicity in the mouse, it was highly virulent and caused an inflammatory disease in an avian host. Overall, our findings demonstrate a unique phenotypic profile and genetic makeup of an overlooked S. Typhimurium sparrow-associated lineage and present distinct genetic signatures that are likely to contribute to its pathoadaptation to passerine birds.
Compromised base excision repair pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis imparts superior adaptability in the host
Authors: Naz Saba , Dabral Shruti , Nagarajan Sathya Narayanan , Arora Divya , Singh Lakshya Veer , Kumar Pradeep , Singh Yogendra , Kumar Dhiraj , Varshney Umesh , Nandicoori Vinay Kumar
Published: March 2021

Tuberculosis caused byMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) is a significant public health concern, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant TB. To combat the host’s dynamic environment,Mtbencodes multiple DNA repair enzymes that play a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity.Mtbpossesses a GC-rich genome, rendering it highly susceptible to cytosine deaminations, resulting in the occurrence of uracils in the DNA. UDGs encoded byungandudgBinitiate the repair; hence we investigated the biological impact of deleting UDGs in the adaptation of pathogen. We generated gene replacement mutants of uracil DNA glycosylases, individually (RvΔung,RvΔudgB) or together (RvΔdKO). The double KO mutant,RvΔdKOexhibited remarkably higher spontaneous mutation rate, in the presence of antibiotics. Interestingly,RvΔdKOshowed higher survival rates in guinea pigs and accumulated large number of SNPs as revealed by whole-genome sequence analysis. Competition assays revealed the superior fitness ofRvΔdKOoverRv, both inex vivoandin vivo conditions. We propose that compromised DNA repair results in the accumulation of mutations, and a subset of these drives adaptation in the host. Importantly, this property allowed us to utilizeRvΔdKOfor the facile identification of drug targets.
El Programa de Compra de Alimentos en los municipios de la Amazonia Legal
Authors: Rosa Sambuichi Regina Helena , Cordeiro Souza de Almeida Ana Flávia , Perin Gabriela
Published: March 2021

El Programa de Adquisición de Alimentos (PAA) es un programa del Gobierno Federal cuyos objetivosprincipales son incentivar la agricultura familiar y combatir la inseguridad alimentaria y nutricional (Insan).Este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis cuantitativo del acceso y la aplicación de recursos delPAA-CDS en los municipios de la región de la Amazonia Legal en el período comprendido entre 2011 y2019 a partir de los microdatos proporcionados por el Ministerio de Ciudadanía. Se observó que, duranteel período analizado, el 83% de los municipios de la región accedieron al PAA y se invirtieron R$ 738,2millones en compras, lo que representa el 19% del total aplicado en Brasil. En los estados de Acre, Amapá,Rondônia, Roraima y Tocantins, el 100% de los municipios tuvieron acceso al programa en el período.La mayoría de los municipios que accedieron al programa tenían entre 10,000 y 50,000 habitantes, sinembargo, los municipios con más de 100,000 habitantes presentaban, proporcionalmente, un porcentajemás alto de acceso. Durante el período analizado, se observó una tendencia a reducir la cantidad derecursos invertidos y un aumento en la cobertura, dando lugar a una mayor dispersión de los recursos, loque puede reducir el impacto del programa en cada municipio.
Mujeres a punto de casarse: la búsqueda matrimonial malograda en García Lorca y Nelson Rodrigues
Authors: Gomes da Silva Mônica
Published: March 2021

En el ámbito de los estudios comparativos, se han señalado innumerables relaciones entre las obras teatrales de Federico García Lorca (1898-1936) y Nelson Rodrigues (1912-1980). Este artículo contempla el tema del matrimonio, uno de los más representados en los dramas familiares de los escritores. Se estudia la importancia atribuida a la unión matrimonial y cómo ésta incide en los papeles vividos por las protagonistas lorquianas y rodriguianas, especialmente, en las mujeres solteras sometidas a un ambiente social limitado y represor. Las piezas representan las consecuencias de acciones extremas de una verdadera carrera rumbo al altar y el destino frustrado para los personajes que no tienen éxito en esa lid. El artículo se centra en las obras Doña Rosita, la soltera (1935), La casa de Bernarda Alba (1936) de García Lorca y Vestido de noiva (1943), Álbum de família (1945) de Nelson Rodrigues. Para comprender la tragedia como género y las características de las obras rodriguianas y lorquianas, se han utilizado los trabajos de Albin Lesky (2015), Sábato Magaldi (2004), Miguel García-Posada (2010), entre otros. Se propone, por consiguiente, el análisis de las obras aludidas, principalmente, la representación de la hýbris de los personajes inmersos en el conflicto entre las limitaciones impuestas y el deseo de trascendencia.
Georeferencias socioambientales y culturales para la territorialidad en las comunidades agroforestales: bases teóricas y metodológicas
Authors: Moreira Júnior Luiz Cláudio , Miranda dos Santos Silvio Roberto , Do Socorro Lima da Silva Alanna , Vasconcellos Gama João Ricardo , Correia Palha Maria das Dores , Souza Araújo Diene , Malheiros Tourinho Manoel
Published: March 2021

Este artículo tiene como fin demostrar el desarrollo y aplicación de la metodología de georeferenciación socioambiental y cultural en comunidades tradicionales de los ríos Mamuru y Arapiuns, en los municipios de Juruti y Santarém, en el estado de Pará. La metodología, basada en la Teoría General de Sistemas, tiene por objeto delimitar el territorio de uso comunitario con el propósito de preservar a las comunidades delimpacto de las actividades madereras resultantes de las concesiones de explotación forestal al sector privado, desde 2010. Como procedimiento metodológico, se entrevistó a personas clave de las comunidades y se recopiló información primaria sobre el uso de recursos naturales del entorno territorial comunitario. Las comunidades fueron georeferenciadas utilizando puntos cartográficos, cuyas direcciones cardinales y distancias se estimaron a partir de un "punto de referencia" tomado en las aldeas y pueblos, necesarios para establecer las líneas, direcciones y estimaciones de las áreas de uso de los recursos naturales. Los datos se exportaron al software QGIS, para obtener una proyección del uso del suelo, como entorno de dominio y control comunitario. Cinco años después del inicio de las actividades madereras, se volvió a aplicar la misma metodología para verificar la situación espacial de las mismas comunidades con respecto al uso de la tierra, como resultado de las políticas públicas forestales implementadas en el área de estudio.
La Amazonía y el desarrollo: aspectos de la trayectoria de las políticas públicas en la región
Authors: Lima da Silva Maria Dolores
Published: March 2021

Este artículo evalúa las políticas públicas de desarrollo que se planificaron para la Amazonia a partir de la década de 1950 y se materializaron, especialmente, desde la década de 1970 en adelante. La acción del estado con la intención de desarrollar económicamente la región no se tradujo en un aumento significativo del bienestar social de la población. Como base de este argumento se utilizan estudios bibliográficos e investigaciones en sitios web de instituciones públicas y Organizaciones No Gubernamentales. Los registros de investigadores y entidades que operan en la región muestran que las poblaciones tradicionales sufren con la desestructuración de sus formas de vida y que los conflictos generados se extienden a través de las décadas, quedando sin solución.
Un real se confiesa: Graciliano Ramos y la paradoja de la alienación
Authors: Bier Felipe
Published: March 2021

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo examinar la obra de Graciliano Ramos, más concretamente las novelas São Bernardo (1934) y Vidas secas (1938), partiendo de lo que observó Antonio Candido sobre su obra: su oscilación entre dos polos, la ficción y la confesión. En vez de considerarlos como mutuamente excluyentes, la hipótesis es que dicha oscilación se refiere a una lectura paradójica de la modernización, percibida como necesaria, pero imposible. Las huellas de esta imposibilidad, a su vez, aluden a una comprensión particular de la idea de la alienación como la herramienta clave para producir una falta, que en sí, constituye el objeto mismo por el que se interesa Ramos: el sertão como locus de explotación. El análisis tiene en cuenta el contexto específico de la novela de la década de 1930 en Brasil y su relación con los acontecimientos políticos de la época, y el lugar particular que ocupaba el país en el capitalismo occidental. Finalmente, se plantea la siguiente hipótesis sobre el arreglo formal de Ramos: su realismo depende de la confesión de esta imposibilidad, que expone la alienación y trae a la luz un rasgo utópico ubicado más allá de los límites de lo moderno.
Effect of feed additive "Ceobalyk" on the biological and microbiological parameters of African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Authors: Sarsembayeva Nurzhan Biltebaevna , Akkozova Ardak Sabyrzhanovna , Abdigaliyeva Tolkyn Bakytovna , Abzhalieva Aida Bolatbekovna , Aidarbekova Aray Berkimbekovna
Published: March 2021

Aim: This study aimed to analyze biological and microbiological parameters of Clarias gariepinus bred at Chundzha natural hot spring in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, a new feed additive, namely, the prebiotic "Ceobalyk."

Materials and Methods: Two groups (50 heads each) of fish of the same age were established and kept in specialized rectangular pools of AsylTasEngineering LLP. The experiment lasted 61 days. We used the feed additive "Ceobalyk", developed based on natural minerals. Feed additive was added to the feed of the experimental group of fish in an amount of 10% per 1 kg of the main diet. Laboratory studies were conducted at the laboratories of the Kazakhstan-Japan Innovation Center. The quality of the fish was studied in accordance with the standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan and interstate standards.

Results: In biological and microbiological studies of all samples of African sharptooth catfish, which received a new type of feed additive "Ceobalyk", the pH values of fish meat in the experimental groups were normal and varied in the range from 6.5 to 6.7. When setting up the reaction with copper sulfate, the reaction was positive. During bacterioscopy, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of microbes (2-3 bacteria less) in comparison with the control. An increase in the indices of the absolute body length and body width was observed by the end of the study. The body length in the experimental group was significantly greater (by 2.12% on average) than that in the control group. In the experimental variant, the average weight of fish was 21.8% higher. As a result of organoleptic studies, it was revealed that the musculature of the fish of the experimental groups was dense and elastic; when pressed on the skin with a finger, a fossa did not remain; the smell was specific, fresh. When tested by cooking, the broth was transparent and aromatic.

Conclusion: This feed additive "Ceobalyk" does not cause deviations in the physiological status of fish and can be used as part of the main diet.
An Intrasite Analysis of Agricultural Economy at Early Islamic Caesarea Maritima, Israel
Authors: Forste Kathleen M.
Published: March 2021

The archaeological site of Caesarea Maritima in modern-day Israel was an important coastal town in the Early Islamic period (c. 636–1100 CE). In this article, I analyze 15 samples of carbonized wood and non-wood macrobotanical remains recovered from two residential neighborhoods to investigate the production and consumption of agricultural plant products. The identified crop and wood taxa are typical for the Mediterranean coast. Wild seeds point to crop cultivation in the vicinity of the site. Plant remains were collected from discrete contexts and are interpreted with associated features and artifacts, revealing cereal processing debris across a series of rooms in a former warehouse. Such a socioeconomic shift in this building, from a storage area to a crop processing space, is detectable by combining this intrasite analysis with the diachronic research previously conducted at the site.
Versenytársvállalatok nemzetközi stratégiai szövetségei – napjainkban
Authors: Tari Ernő
Published: March 2021

A szerző a versenytársak közötti stratégiai szövetségek fejlődési folyamatait mutatja be. A globális versenyben való sikeres helytállás ma már egyre inkább arra ösztönzi a konkurens cégeket, hogy egyidejűleg több vállalati területen (üzletágban, funkcionális részterületen) alakítsanak ki tartós együttműködéseket. A kialakított stratégiai szövetségtípusokat számos eset alapján, gyakorlati megvalósulásukban ismerhetjük meg.
Karrierváltók Magyarországon – a karrierváltás folyamata
Authors: Váradi Szabó Zsuzsa , Hidegh Anna Laura , Bokor Attila , Fertetics Mandy
Published: March 2021

A szerzők kutatásukban olyan emberek élettörténetét kívánták feldolgozni, akiknek volt egy vagy több jelentős karrierváltásuk, például társadalmi szférát, szakterületet vagy munkaerő-piaci státust váltottak. A kutatás fókuszában a karrierváltások folyamatának, a döntések meghozatalának, valamint azok tágabb kontextusának megértése áll. A tanulmány előző részében (Vezetéstudomány, 2009. 11. szám) bemutatták a kutatás kiindulópontjait és módszertanát, valamint a karrierváltó csoportok jellemzőit, most a karrierváltás folyamatára helyezték a hangsúlyt. Azt kívánták leírni és magyarázni, hogyan és miért lettek karrierváltók alanyaik, milyen folyamatban születtek meg döntéseik. Ehhez kiindulópontként bemutatják a karrierértelmezés és a karrierrel kapcsolatos magatartás változását magyarázó legfontosabb elméleteket, amelyek keretet adnak az újszerű karrier és a karrierváltások elemzéséhez is. Kutatási eredményeiket a karrierváltási folyamat történeteinek értelmezésén keresztül összegzik: három fő karrierváltási narratívatípust elemeznek a váltási folyamat legfőbb befolyásoló elemeit bemutatva. A cikk végén kitérnek az elmélet megállapításainak és a kutatás eredményeinek összegzéséből származó konklúziókra.
Image classification using concatenated of co-occurrence matrix features and local ternary patterns
Authors: Kiani Faeze
Published: March 2021

Texture, color, and shape are the three main components that the human visual brain uses to identify or identify environments and objects. Therefore, tissue classification has been considered by many scientific researchers in the last decade. The texture features can be used in many different vision and machine learning problems. As of now, various methods have been proposed for classifying tissues. In all methods, the accuracy of the classification is a major challenge that needs to be improved. This article presents a new method based on a combination of two efficient tissue descriptors, the co-occurrence matrix and local ternary patterns (LTP). First, the local binary pattern and LTP are performed to extract information from the local tissue. In the next step, a subset of statistical properties is extracted from the gray surface concurrency matrices. Finally, the interconnected features are used to teach classification. Performance is evaluated for accuracy on the Brodatz reference data set. The experimental results show that the proposed method offers a higher degree of classification compared to some advanced methods.
Gastric Electrical Stimulators Causing Erosion Through the Colonic Wall
Authors: Condon Sally , Patel Aniruddh , Shah Nihar , Stocker Abigail , Hughes Michael , Farmer Russell , Abell Thomas
Published: March 2021

Gastroparesis is a chronic motor disorder of the stomach characterized by the demonstration of delayed gastric emptying without obstruction and a grouping of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness, bloating and abdominal pain. When conservative medical management is not effective, gastric electrical stimulation is an effective alternative. Gastric electrical stimulation, in general, has had a low complication rate as of yet, with the most common being infection of the implanted device. We present a complication in which the gastric electrical stimulator electrodes eroded through the colonic wall.
A Therapeutic Approach to Cecal Varices
Authors: Kudaravalli Pujitha , Saleem Sheikh A. , Pendela Venkata Satish , Manocha Divey
Published: March 2021

Ectopic varices account for 1%–5% of all variceal bleeding episodes. The most common presentation of cecal varices is an acute episode of a massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, cecal varices can be found incidentally and can be silent for a prolonged period of time before presenting with a massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Through this case of a 63-year-old woman, we would like to highlight the paucity of literature in the treatment of nonbleeding cecal varices.
Fatal Aortoesophageal Fistula Complicating Placement of a 20-mm Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent for Refractory Esophagojejunal Anastomotic Stricture
Authors: Patel Rupal H. , Everett Brendan T. , Akselrod Dmitriy , Frasca Joseph D. , Gordon Stuart R.
Published: March 2021

We report the case of a patient with a benign refractory esophagojejunal anastomotic stricture for which a 20-mm lumen-apposing metal stent was placed, resulting in a fatal aortoenteric fistula. We report this case to alert others to this potential complication of LAMS placement for esophageal strictures and recommend caution when using the 20-mm LAMS in similar settings.
Finite Automata Implementations Considering CPU Cache
Authors: Holub J.
Published: March 2021

The finite automata are mathematical models for finite state systems. More general finite automaton is the nondeterministic finite automaton (NFA) that cannot be directly used. It is usually transformed to the deterministic finite automaton (DFA) that then runs in time O(n), where n is the size of the input text. We present two main approaches to practical implementation of DFA considering CPU cache. The first approach (represented by Table Driven and Hard Coded implementations) is suitable forautomata being run very frequently, typically having cycles. The other approach is suitable for a collection of automata from which various automata are retrieved and then run. This second kind of automata are expected to be cycle-free.
Non-Contact Monitoring of Heart and Lung Activity by Magnetic Induction Measurement
Authors: Steffen M. , Leonhardt S.
Published: March 2021

In many clinical applications, the monitoring of heart and lung activity is of vital importance. State-of-the-art monitoring involves the use of electrodes or other contact based sensors (electrocardiogram (ECG), impedance cardiography (ICG), pulse oximetry or equivalent). With the equipment that is used, side effects like skin irritation, difficult application or additional cabling may occur. In contrast, this paper describes a method for non-contact monitoring of heart and lung activity, which is solely based on magnetic induction. This method allows simultaneous monitoring of heart and lung activity, and has the potential of an integrated application in a personal healthcare scenario. To illustrate the performance, a simple test-setup has been developed and the first results are presented here (some of which have been previously presented on the Poster 2008 [10]).
Psychoacoustic Properties of Fibonacci Sequences
Authors: Sokoll J. , Fingerhuth S.
Published: March 2021

1202, Fibonacci set up one of the most interesting sequences in number theory. This sequence can be represented by so-called Fibonacci Numbers, and by a binary sequence of zeros and ones. If such a binary Fibonacci Sequence is played back as an audio file, a very dissonant sound results. This is caused by the “almost-periodic”, “self-similar” property of the binary sequence. The ratio of zeros and ones converges to the golden ratio, as do the primary and secondary spectral components intheir frequencies and amplitudes. These Fibonacci Sequences will be characterized using listening tests and psychoacoustic analyses.
Optical Properties of Erbium and Erbium/Ytterbium Doped Polymethylmethacrylate
Authors: Prajzler V. , Jeřábek V. , Lyutakov O. , Hüttel I. , Špirková J. , Machovič V. , Oswald J. , Chvostová D. , Zavadil J.
Published: March 2021

In this paper we report on the fabrication and properties of Er3 and Er3/Yb3 doped Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) layers. The reported layers were fabricated by spin coating on silicon or on quartz substrates. Infrared spectroscopy was used for an investigation of O-H stretching vibration. Measurement were made of the transmission spectra in the wavelength ranges from 350 to 700 nm for the Er3 doped samples and from 900 to 1040 nm for the Yb3 doped samples. The refractive indices were investigated in the spectral range from 300 to 1100 nm using optical ellipsometry and the photoluminescence spectra were measured in the infrared region.
Pareto Principle in Datamining: an Above-Average Fencing Algorithm
Authors: Macek K.
Published: March 2021

This paper formulates a new datamining problem: which subset of input space has the relatively highest output where the minimal size of this subset is given. This can be useful where usual datamining methods fail because of error distribution asymmetry. The paper provides a novel algorithm for this datamining problem, and compares it with clustering of above-average individuals.
Thermal Conductivity of Gypsum at High Temperatures – A Combined Experimental and Numerical Approach
Authors: Rahmanian I. , Wang Y.
Published: March 2021

Performance of gypsum board based systems in fire is highly influenced by the temperature-dependant thermal conductivity of gypsum boards, yet there is a wide difference in the thermal conductivity values used in literature. Presented here is a hybrid method to determine the effective thermal conductivity of gypsum boards at high temperatures, based on using small-scale experimental results and a thermal conductivity model which includes the effects of radiation in voids.
Experimental Analysis of Concrete Strength at High Temperatures and after Cooling
Authors: Klingsch E. , Frangi A. , Fontana M.
Published: March 2021

In recent years, the cement industry has been criticized for emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide; hence it is developing environment-friendly cement, e.g., blended, supersulfated slag cement (SSC). This paper presents an experimental analysis of the compressive strength development of concrete made from blended cement in comparison to ordinary cement at high temperature. Three different types of cement were used during these tests, an ordinary portland cement (CEM I), a portland limestone cement (CEM II-A-LL) and a new, supersulfated slag cement (SSC). The compressive strength development for a full thermal cycle, including cooling down phase, was investigated on concrete cylinders. It is shown that the SSC concrete specimens perform similar to ordinary cement specimens.
Connection Temperatures during the Mokrsko Fire Test
Authors: Chlouba J. , Wald F.
Published: March 2021

The Mokrsko fire test focused on the overall behaviour of the structure, which cannot be observed on the separate elements, and also on the temperature of connections with improved fire resistance. During the test, measurements were made of the temperature of the gas and of the elements, the overall and relative deformations, gas pressure, humidity, the radiation of the compartment to structural element and the external steel column, transport of the moisture through the walls, and also the climatic conditions. The results of the test show the differences between the behaviour of the element and the behaviour of the structure exposed to high temperatures during a fire. The collapse of the composite slab was reached. The results of the numerical simulations using the SAFIR program compared well with the measured temperature values in the structure and also in the connections.
Development of a Robot System for Advanced High Quality Manufacturing Processes
Authors: Kuhlenkoetter B.
Published: March 2021

Grinding and polishing are standard operations in material processing which are nowadays automated with the help of industrial robots in order to relieve human labour and optimize the profitability of production. However, it is expensive to adapt present systems to the production of other part geometries and operation cycles, and therefore adaptations are economically applicable only for large batch sizes.This project develops an “intelligent” robot system that obtains sensory skills due to the linkage of innovative robot technology and image processing systems via new software. With this system even the smallest error on highly-polished, mirror-like surfaces can be detected objectively and reproducibly. In addition, the system will be capable of establishing an optimum error compensation strategy dependent on the error data, as well as generating and realizing operating programmes. For this purpose it is given a manual-learning skill. A new offline-programming and simulating system for exacting operation processes makes it easier to set up, change and optimize robot programmes, thus making it useful for the operator.
Some Effects on Fatigue Strength
Authors: Brož P.
Published: March 2021

It has been widely known for some time that the mean stress affects the fatigue strength of steel. This is distinctly evident when working with non-welded or stress-relieved welded details. Some consequences of this influence are revealed when evaluating the stress history, or when counting the cycles.In this paper, decisive influences on the plain fatigue limits or strengths are indicated, when applying a mean stress, together with the effects of both combined stress and anisotropy and the minimum stress required to grow a crack of a given length and depth.
A Simple Cache Emulator for Evaluating Cache Behavior for SMP Systems
Authors: Šimeček I.
Published: March 2021

Every modern CPU uses a complex memory hierarchy, which consists of multiple cache memory levels. It is very difficult to predict the behavior of this hierarchy for a given program (for details see [1, 2]). The situation is even worse for systems with a shared memory. The most important example is the case of SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) systems [3]. The importance of these systems is growing due to the multi-core feature of the newest CPUs.The Cache Emulator (CE) can simulate the behavior of caches inside an SMP system and compute the number of cache misses during a computation. All measurements are done in the “off-line” mode on a single CPU. The CE uses its own emulated cache memory for an exact simulation. This means that no other CPU activity influences the behavior of the CE. This work extends the Cache Analyzer introduced in [4].
Ultra Wideband Communications: History, Evolution and Emergence
Authors: Lakkundi V.
Published: March 2021

Ultra wideband, commonly known as UWB, is an emerging wireless personal area network (PAN) radio technology that is unique in that it can be used in communications, radar systems as well as in range and location measurements. Though UWB seems to be a new, trendy technology, its roots can be traced back to the 1960s. This paper describes UWB from the technological perspectives of its modern history, evolution and emergence. Its benefits, existing applications and future trends are also given here.
Measurement of Solar Cell Parameters with Dark Forward I-V Characteristics
Authors: Salinger J.
Published: March 2021

The grade of a solar cell depends mainly on the quality of the starting material. During the production of this material, many impurities are left in the bulk material and form defect levels in the band-gap, which act as generation-recombination centers or charge carrier traps. These levels influence the efficiency of solar cells. Therefore knowledge of the parameters of these levels, e.g., energy position, capture cross section and concentration, is very useful for solar cell engineering. In this paper emphasis is placed on a simple and fast method for obtaining these parameters, namely measurements of dark characteristics. Preliminary results are introduced, together with the difficulties and limits of this method.
Central Decoding for Multiple Description Codes based on Domain Partitioning
Authors: Spiertz M. , Rusert T.
Published: March 2021

Multiple Description Codes (MDC) can be used to trade redundancy against packet loss resistance for transmitting data over lossy diversity networks. In this work we focus on MD transform coding based on domain partitioning. Compared to Vaishampayan’s quantizer based MDC, domain based MD coding is a simple approach for generating different descriptions, by using different quantizers for each description. Commonly, only the highest rate quantizer is used for reconstruction. In this paper we investigate the benefit of using the lower rate quantizers to enhance the reconstruction quality at decoder side. The comparison is done on artificial source data and on image data.
Evaluation of a Reflection Method on an Open-Ended Coaxial Line and its Use in Dielectric Measurements
Authors: Zajíček R. , Vrba J. , Novotný K.
Published: March 2021

This paper describes a method for determining the dielectric constant of a biological tissue. A suitable way to make a dielectric measurement that is nondestructive and noninvasive for the biological substance and broadband at the frequency range of the network analyzer is to use a reflection method on an open ended coaxial line. A coaxial probe in the frequency range of the network analyzer from 17 MHz to 2 GHz is under investigation and also a calibration technique and the behavior of discrete elements in an equivalent circuit of an open ended coaxial line. Information about the magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient on the interface between a biological tissue sample and a measurement probe is modeled with the aid of an electromagnetic field simulator. The numerical modeling is compared with real measurements, and a comparison is presented.
Return Words and Recurrence Function of a Class of Infinite Words
Authors: Balková L’.
Published: March 2021

Many combinatorial and arithmetical properties have been studied for infinite words ub associated with ß-integers. Here, new results describing return words and recurrence function for a special case of ub will be presented. The methods used here can be applied to more general infinite words, but the description then becomes rather technical.
An Improved Version of the Fluxgate Compass Module
Authors: Petrucha V.
Published: March 2021

Satellite based navigation systems (GPS) are widely used for ground, air and marine navigation. In the case of a malfunction or satellite signal inaccessibility, some back-up navigation system is needed. An electronic compass can provide this function. The compass module described in this paper is designed for precise navigation purposes. The compass module is equipped with electronic tilt error compensation, and includes everything in one package – electronics with digital output, sensors. A typical application of this compass is in underground drilling. A critical parameter in this application is heading accuracy. A reading error of 1 degree can cause a displacement of 1.8 metres in the target area (length of tunnel 100 m). This is not acceptable in an urban conglomeration, and therefore a more accurate heading sensing device must be used. An improved version of this electronic compass is being finished.
25 Years of Quantum Groups: from Definition to Classification
Authors: Stolin A.
Published: March 2021

In mathematics and theoretical physics, quantum groups are certain non-commutative, non-cocommutative Hopf algebras, which first appeared in the theory of quantum integrable models and later they were formalized by Drinfeld and Jimbo. In this paper we present a classification scheme for quantum groups, whose classical limit is a polynomial Lie algebra. As a consequence we obtain deformed XXX and XXZ Hamiltonians.
Assessment of Human Hemodynamics under Hyper- and Microgravity: Results of two Aachen University Parabolic Flight Experiments
Authors: Blanik N. , Hülsbusch M. , Herzog M. , Blazek C. R.
Published: March 2021

Astronauts complain about fluid shifts from their lower extremities to their head caused by weightlessness during their flight into space. For a study of this phenomenon, RWTH Aachen University and Charité University Berlin participated in a joint project on two parabolic flight campaigns of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in September 2005 and June 2006. During these campaigns, the characteristics of the rapid fluid shifts during hyper- and micro gravity were measured by a combination of PPG and PPGI optoelectronic sensor concepts.
Modeling Measurement Uncertainty in Room Acoustics
Authors: Dietrich P.
Published: March 2021

This paper investigates a way of determining and modeling uncertainty contributions in measurements of room acoustic parameters, which are commonly used to describe the acoustic situation of a room in an objective manner. If the range of uncertainty and the confidence interval are not given, the results remain incomparable to other measurement teams, since modern PC-based measurements still show appreciable sources of measurement errors. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) defines a unified guideline for determining uncertainties in all fields of measurement. Its application is increasingly required by modern measurement standards. However, the GUM procedures have not been applied to room acoustics yet. Hence, a scalable linear approach for calculating the combined uncertainty of room acoustic parameters with regard to the input quantities is proposed. In-situ measurement results of specially designed experiments show the significance of the main influence factors and are used to build the uncertainty budget.
The Impact of Connecting Distributed Generation to the Distribution System
Authors: Mgaya E. V. , Müller Z.
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with the general problem of utilizing of renewable energy sources to generate electric energy. Recent advances in renewable energy power generation technologies, e.g., wind and photovoltaic (PV) technologies, have led to increased interest in the application of these generation devices as distributed generation (DG) units. This paper presents the results of an investigation into possible improvements in the system voltage profile and reduction of system losses when adding wind power DG (wind-DG) to a distribution system. Simulation results are given for a case study, and these show that properly sized wind DGs, placed at carefully selected sites near key distribution substations, could be very effective in improving the distribution system voltage profile and reducing power losses, and hence could  improve the effective capacity of the system.
Dynamics of the Flow Pattern in a Baffled Mixing Vessel with an Axial Impeller
Authors: Brůha O. , Brůha T. , Fořt I. , Jahoda M.
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with the primary circulation of an agitated liquid in a flat-bottomed cylindrical stirred tank. The study is based on experiments, and the results of the experiments are followed by a theoretical evaluation. The vessel was equipped with four radial baffles and was stirred with a six pitched blade impeller pumping downwards. The experiments were concentrated on the lower part of the vessel, where the space pulsations of the primary loop, originated due to the pumping action of the impeller. This area is considered to be the birthplace of the flow macroinstabilities in the system – a phenomenon which has been studied and described by several authors. The flow was observed in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the vessel. The flow patterns of the agitated liquid were visualized by means of Al micro particles illuminated by a vertical light knife and scanned by a digital camera. The experimental conditions corresponded to the turbulent regime of agitated liquid flow.It was found that the primary circulation loop is elliptical in shape. The main diameter of the primary loop is not constant. It increases in time and after reaching a certain value the loop disintegrates and collapses. This process is characterized by a certain periodicity and its period proved to be correlated to the occurrence of flow macroinstability. The instability of the loop can be explained by a dissipated energy balance.  When the primary loop reaches the level of disintegration, the whole impeller power output is dissipated and under this condition any flow alteration requiring additional energy, even a very small vortex separation, causes the loop to collapse.