bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Numerical Method for Calculating Vertical Bearing Capacity of Prestressed Pipe Piles
Authors: Chen Rongbao , Zhang Jichao , Chen Zeyu , Gu Meixiang
Published: November 2020

A novel method for calculating the vertical bearing capacity of prestressed pipe piles with the acceptable error was proposed and verified. Soils at the pile side and end were, respectively, simulated by an elastic‐plastic model and a new double‐line (at soft rock and soil layers) or triple‐line model (at hard rock and soil layers); then, a mechanical model was established for simulating vertical bearing capacity of prestressed pipe piles, and the corresponding calculation process was carried out. The values of pile side resistance, pile end resistance, and pile end elastic displacement were first obtained from the results of high‐strain dynamic testing (HSDT) and then were imported into the proposed numerical model for calculating the vertical bearing capacity of prestressed concrete pipe piles. The static load test was carried out to verify the numerical results. Besides, 20 piles were tested at two typical test sites (soft and hard rock bearing strata), of which 8 piles were arranged at the soft rock bearing stratum site and 12 piles were arranged at the hard rock bearing stratum site. The numerical results achieved from an empirical formula were also used for making a comparison. The values obtained by the proposed method were highly close to those achieved from the static load test with an error of within 10%. The outcomes indicated that the proposed numerical method can be potentially applied to predict the bearing capacity of prestressed pipe piles.
Metabolic Syndrome Alters the Cargo of Mitochondria-Related microRNAs in Swine Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles, Impairing Their Capacity to Repair the Stenotic Kidney
Authors: Farahani Rahele A. , Zhu Xiang-Yang , Tang Hui , Jordan Kyra L. , Lerman Amir , Lerman Lilach O. , Eirin Alfonso
Published: November 2020

Background. Coexisting metabolic syndrome (MetS) and renal artery stenosis (RAS) are linked to poor renal outcomes. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell- (MSC-) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) from lean animals show superior ability to repair the experimental MetS+RAS kidney compared to EVs from MetS pig MSCs. We hypothesized that MetS leads to selective packaging in porcine EVs of microRNAs capable of targeting mitochondrial genes, interfering with their capacity to repair the MetS+RAS kidney. Methods. Five groups of pigs (n=7each) were studied after 16 weeks of diet-induced MetS and RAS (MetS+RAS) and MetS+RAS 4 weeks after a single intrarenal delivery of EVs harvested from allogeneic adipose tissue-derived MSCs isolated from Lean or MetS pigs, and Lean or MetS sham controls. Single-kidney blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were assessed in vivo with multidetector CT, whereas EV microRNA cargo, renal tubular mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics, and renal injury pathways were assessed ex vivo. Results. microRNA sequencing revealed 19 dysregulated microRNAs capable of targeting several mitochondrial genes in MetS-EVs versus Lean-EVs. Lean- and MetS-EVs were detected in the stenotic kidney 4 weeks after administration. However, only MetS-EVs failed to improve renal mitochondrial density, structure, and function or attenuate oxidative stress, tubular injury, and fibrosis. Furthermore, Lean-EVs but not MetS-EVs restored RBF and GFR in MetS+RAS. Conclusion. MetS alters the cargo of mitochondria-related microRNAs in swine MSC-derived EVs, which might impair their capacity to repair the poststenotic kidney in MetS+RAS. These observations may contribute to develop approaches to improve the efficacy of MSC-EVs for patients with MetS.
Evaluation of Salivary and Serum Total Antioxidant Capacity and Lipid Peroxidation in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Zovari Fatemeh , Parsian Hadi , Bijani Ali , Moslemnezhad Ameneh , Shirzad Atena
Published: November 2020

Objective. In menopause, reduction of estrogen hormone affects oxidative stress process in serum. Oxidative stress in saliva plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in the serum and saliva of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Methods. In this case control study, 50 postmenopausal women (case group) and 48 premenopausal women (control group) were selected. The unstimulated whole saliva and serum of the postmenopausal and premenopausal women were collected. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the saliva and serum was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) method for serum and saliva. Then, the obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 17, whereby Mann–Whitney test and Spearman’s correlation test were used.

P
<
0.05

was considered statistically significant. Results. The postmenopausal group had significantly lower mean serum TAC and higher mean serum MDA than the control group (

P
<
0
<
001

and

P
<
0.01

, respectively). The mean salivary TAC and MDA, however, did not differ significantly between the case and control group (

P
=
0.64

and

P
=
0.08

, respectively). Conclusion. In postmenopausal women, with elevation of serum MDA and reduction of serum TAC, the extent of serum oxidative stress grows, but MDA and TAC levels of saliva do not change.
Decision-Making Approach with Fuzzy Type-2 Soft Graphs
Authors: Shahzadi Sundas , Sarwar Musavarah , Akram Muhammad
Published: November 2020

Molodtsov’s theory of soft sets is free from the parameterizations insufficiency of fuzzy set theory. Type-2 soft set as an extension of a soft set has an essential mathematical structure to deal with parametrizations and their primary relationship. Fuzzy type-2 soft models play a key role to study the partial membership and uncertainty of objects along with underlying and primary set of parameters. In this research article, we introduce the concept of fuzzy type-2 soft set by integrating fuzzy set theory and type-2 soft set theory. We also introduce the notions of fuzzy type-2 soft graphs, regular fuzzy type-2 soft graphs, irregular fuzzy type-2 soft graphs, fuzzy type-2 soft trees, and fuzzy type-2 soft cycles. We construct some operations such as union, intersection, AND, and OR on fuzzy type-2 soft graphs and discuss these concepts with numerical examples. The fuzzy type-2 soft graph is an efficient model for dealing with uncertainty occurring in vertex-neighbors structure and is applicable in computational analysis, applied intelligence, and decision-making problems. We study the importance of fuzzy type-2 soft graphs in chemical digestion and national engineering services.
Diagnostic Value of Rapid On‐Site Evaluation for CT‐Guided Percutaneous Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Occupying Lesions
Authors: Peng Tian-Feng , Ren Tao , Wang Han-Sheng , Feng Zhe-Xiang , Wang Mei-Fang
Published: November 2020

Objective. Rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE) is an effective and efficient auxiliary examination, but its value for CT‐guided percutaneous fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of pulmonary occupying lesions is unclear. This study is aimed at evaluating the clinical utility of ROSE for CT‐guided percutaneous FNA. Methods. We reviewed 234 patients from September 2018 to April 2019. The result using ROSE was compared with the final pathological diagnosis of CT‐guided percutaneous FNA, and we also compared the complications between the ROSE group and the NO‐ROSE group. The final pathological diagnosis results served as the gold standard. We also analyzed the diagnostic rate of FNA and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of malignancy. The correlation between diverse pathological types of lung cancer was also taken into consideration. Results. In total, 132 patients underwent CT‐guided percutaneous FNA with ROSE (ROSE group), and 102 did not (NO‐ROSE group). The diagnostic rate, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the ROSE group were 91.6%, 89.1%, 94.1%, 93.4%, and 90.1%, respectively. The complication rates of the ROSE group and the NO‐ROSE group were 8.33% and 16.67%, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In subsets of adenocarcinoma (AC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, the ROSE result was highly consistent with the final pathological result. Conclusion. CT‐guided percutaneous FNA combined with ROSE has a high diagnostic rate, sensitivity, and specificity for pulmonary occupying lesions and an acceptable rate of complications. This method is worthy of wide use given its high efficiency and safety.
Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Immunotherapy Response in Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Johannet Paul , Coudray Nicolas , Donnelly Douglas M. , Jour George , Illa-Bochaca Irineu , Xia Yuhe , Johnson Douglas B. , Wheless Lee , Patrinely James R. , Nomikou Sofia , Rimm David L. , Pavlick Anna C. , Weber Jeffrey S. , Zhong Judy , Tsirigos Aristotelis , Osman Iman
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

Several biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) show potential but are not yet scalable to the clinic. We developed a pipeline that integrates deep learning on histology specimens with clinical data to predict ICI response in advanced melanoma.

Experimental Design:

We used a training cohort from New York University (New York, NY) and a validation cohort from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN). We built a multivariable classifier that integrates neural network predictions with clinical data. A ROC curve was generated and the optimal threshold was used to stratify patients as high versus low risk for progression. Kaplan–Meier curves compared progression-free survival (PFS) between the groups. The classifier was validated on two slide scanners (Aperio AT2 and Leica SCN400).

Results:

The multivariable classifier predicted response with AUC 0.800 on images from the Aperio AT2 and AUC 0.805 on images from the Leica SCN400. The classifier accurately stratified patients into high versus low risk for disease progression. Vanderbilt patients classified as high risk for progression had significantly worse PFS than those classified as low risk (P = 0.02 for the Aperio AT2; P = 0.03 for the Leica SCN400).

Conclusions:

Histology slides and patients' clinicodemographic characteristics are readily available through standard of care and have the potential to predict ICI treatment outcomes. With prospective validation, we believe our approach has potential for integration into clinical practice.
The Effect of Laparoscopic Technique on the Surgical Outcome of Colorectal Cancer in a Small-Volume Rural Finnish Lapland Central Hospital
Authors: Rintala Jukka M. , Tahvonen Pirita R. , Vuolio Saija T. , Typpö Ilpo T. , Suokanerva Kai A. , Huhta Heikki I.
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has become widely used in treating colorectal cancer. Multicenter studies have shown that laparoscopy decreases postoperative complications and provides equivalent long-term oncological results compared to open surgery. Previous studies were conducted in high-volume institutions, with selected patients, which may influence the reported outcome of laparoscopy. Methods: All patients with colorectal cancer that underwent surgery for a primary tumor between 2005 and 2015 in the Lapland Central Hospital were retrospectively collected. We retrieved data on the primary surgical outcome and complications within the first 30 days after surgery from patient records. We surveyed the national patient registry to determine long-term oncological results and patient survival. Results: We identified 349 patients treated for colorectal cancer during 2005–2015. Of these, 219 patients (median age 71 years) underwent laparoscopy and 130 (median age 72 years) underwent open surgery. The 5-year disease-specific survival rates for stages I–III colon cancer were 83.3 and 87.7%, respectively. The 3-year disease-specific survival rates for stages I–III rectal cancer were 86.1 and 65.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed that the introduction of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for treating cancer in a rural, small-volume hospital provided short- and long-term results comparable to findings from previous studies conducted in high-volume centers. Therefore, laparoscopy should be considered the treatment of choice for colorectal cancer in small, rural clinics.
Nail Disease: Clinical Decisions among Portuguese Dermatologists and Family Physicians
Authors: Monteiro Ana Filipe , Pinheiro Rita Ramos , Galhardas Célia , Lencastre André
Published: November 2020

Onychomycosis is one of the most common nail disorders and may be difficult to distinguish from other causes of nail dystrophy, based on clinical grounds alone. With this study, we aimed to describe the use of fungal testing by dermatologists and family physicians in their daily current practice, analyze their respective familiarity with nail disease diagnosis, and ultimately treatment decision-making by both groups. An online survey was distributed among Portuguese dermatologists, trainees, and family physicians by email. The survey focused on the diagnostic impression, use of diagnostic methods to confirm a fungal infection, and the subsequent assessment of treatment. One hundred fifty-one responses were obtained, 60 (39.7%) from dermatologists and 91 (60.3%) from family physicians; 98.3% of dermatologists mentioned usually requesting a fungal testing at their local institution or outside, while this percentage was 50.5% among family physicians (p < 0.001). Regarding the diagnosis, the median of correct diagnosis by the dermatologist group was higher (10/15) than the family physicians (6/15). Considering the treatment strategy, we observed that in the dermatologists’ group it would result in unnecessary treatment in a median of 2 cases, while in the family physicians’ group, in a median of 4 cases.
The Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Development of Tolerance and Dependence to Morphine in Mice
Authors: Cetin Zeynep , Gunduz Ozgur , Topuz Ruhan D. , Dokmeci Dikmen , Karadag Hakan C. , Ulugol Ahmet
Published: November 2020

Objective: Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous gaseous mediator that has been indicated to have a role in pain mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to detect brain and spinal cord hydrogen sulfide levels during different phases of tolerance and dependence to morphine and to determine the effects of inhibition of endogenous hydrogen sulfide production on the development of tolerance and dependence. Methods: Morphine tolerance and dependence was developed by subcutaneous injection of morphine (10 mg/kg) twice daily for 12 days. Physical dependence was determined by counting the jumps for 20 min, which is a withdrawal symptom occurring after a single dose of naloxone (5 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Propargylglycine (30 mg/kg, i.p.), a cystathionine-γ-lyase inhibitor, and hydroxylamine (12.5 mg/kg, i.p.), a cystathionine-β-synthase inhibitor, were used as hydrogen sulfide synthase inhibitors. The tail-flick and hot-plate tests were used to determine the loss of antinociceptive effects of morphine and development of tolerance. Results: It was found that chronic and acute uses of both propargylglycine and hydroxylamine prevented the development of tolerance to morphine, whereas they had no effect on morphine dependence. Chronic and acute administrations of hydrogen sulfide synthase inhibitors did not exert any difference in hydrogen sulfide levels in brain and spinal cords of both morphine-tolerant and -dependent animals. Conclusion: It has been concluded that hydrogen sulfide synthase inhibitors may have utility in preventing morphine tolerance.
Subjektive Nebenwirkungsklagen von Borderline-Patienten – zwei Jahre nach einer tagesklinischen Behandlung
Authors: Richter Christoph
Published: November 2020

Einleitung: Die Erfassung von negativen Effekten (nE) von Psychotherapie (PT) ist wichtig, um Schwachstellen von PT zu identifizieren und die Behandlungsqualität zu verbessern. Studienziel ist, zu untersuchen, welche nE Patienten nach einer tagesklinischen Behandlung für Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörungen (BPS) mit einem Dialektisch-Behavioralen Therapieschwerpunkt (DBT) beschreiben, welche Einflussfaktoren vorliegen und wie die Klagen inhaltlich zu verstehen sind. Material und Methoden: Katamnestisch wurden BPS-Patienten 22,6 Monate nach Therapieende befragt, an welche nE sie sich mit Bezug zu einer zwölfwöchigen ta­gesklinischen Behandlung erinnern. Messinstrumente wa­ren BDI, BSL-95 und INEP. Ergebnisse: 35 Frauen und 6 Männer antworteten (50% von 82). Im Mittel wurden 11,2 nE benannt, die subjektiv auf die DBT-Behandlung zurückgeführt wurden. 97,6% berichten von Verschlechterung ihres Befindens, 87,8% erinnern sich an Probleme in der therapeutischen Beziehung, 43,9% klagten über Verschlechterungen in der Beziehung, 70,7% über finanzielle Probleme in Folge der tagesklinischen Behandlung und 29,3% über Stigmatisierungserleben. Die Zahl der nE korrelierte mit höherem Alter zum Therapiestart (p < 0,01) sowie höherer Symptomlast anhand der BSL-95 (p < 0,01) bzw. BDI (p < 0,01) zum Befragungszeitpunkt. Diskussion: Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass Patienten bei Vorlage des INEP über eine erheb­liche Rate an Negativerfahrungen im Rahmen der tages­klinischen Behandlung klagen. Der lange Rückerinne­rungszeitraum von 3 bis 51 Monaten und die Korrelation mit der aktuellen Symptomatik stellen die Validität der Antwort in Frage. Ergebnisse von Selbstratinginstrumenten zur Nebenwirkungserfassung bedürfen einer sehr sorgfältigen Interpretation.
Effect of Green Tea on Anthropometric Indices and Body Composition in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Asbaghi Omid , Fouladvand Faezeh , Gonzalez Michael J. , Aghamohammadi Vahideh , Choghakhori Razieh , Abbasnezhad Amir
Published: November 2020

Aim: Previous studies that investigated the effect of green tea/green tea extract on anthropometric indices among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients found inconsistent results. Thus, in order to clarify the efficacy of green tea supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to sum up the evidence of randomized controlled trials. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus, ISI Web of Science and PubMed to find the related articles, up to June 2019. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model, and the I2 index was used to evaluate the heterogeneity. Results: Eleven articles were eligible. Our meta-analysis indicated that green tea consumption significantly decreased body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat (BF). The beneficial effect of green tea intake was observed in long-term intervention (>8 weeks), at lower doses of green tea (dosage ≤800 mg/day), and in overweight patients. Conclusion: This study revealed the beneficial effects of green tea consumption in reducing body weight, BMI, and BF in T2DM patients. It should be noted that green tea was effective in long-term intervention, at lower doses of green tea, and in overweight patients.
Meckel’s Diverticulum: A Cause of Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding Diagnosed by Double Balloon Enteroscopy
Authors: Mohammed Asna , Mohamed Mahmoud Mariem , Al-Ozaibi Labib , Bamakhrama Khaled
Published: November 2020

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) accounts for a small percentage of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The underlying etiology includes small bowel lesions such as Meckel’s diverticulum, a differential to be considered in a young adult. Capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) are important imaging modalities used in the evaluation of OGIB. We describe a case of a young adult male who presented with bleeding per rectum. Upper and lower GI endoscopies were negative and the patient was labeled to have OGIB. After further investigations, our patient was finally diagnosed to have Meckel’s diverticulum by DBE, strengthening its diagnostic utility.
Duas linhas narrativas
Authors: Avancini Atílio José , Müller Nestor
Published: November 2020

Esta crônica em duas etapas, e o ensaio fotográfico que as conclui, tem por objetivo discutir os efeitos da pandemia do coronavírus e do consequente isolamento social. O objetivo é promover reflexões, buscando ampliar os limites do espaço confinado para dimensões mais abrangentes. “Duas Linhas Narrativas” trabalha com binômios: duas tendências sociais, dois caminhos, dois autores, e duas linguagens, verbal e não-verbal.
A produção de sentidos sobre o Vale do Jequitinhonha pela TV Praça: um gesto de olhar para a Comunicação Comunitária
Authors: Andrade Ivanise Hilbig de , Pereira Elainy Carmona
Published: November 2020

A pesquisa investiga como os agentes produtores de conteúdo comunitário da TV Praça, uma produção audiovisual realizada por jovens participantes da Assessoria de Comunicação Colaborativa Itaobim 50 anos, projeto Polo Jequitinhonha (UFMG), constroem sentidos sobre o Vale do Jequitinhonha. São analisadas duas edições da TV Praça e suas condições de produção de sentidos, utilizando-se de um aparato teórico-metodológico da Análise de Discurso, por uma perspectiva da sóciossemiótica. Assim, é levado em consideração as condições de produção e o potencial político da comunicação comunitária, realizada por grupos vistos como subalternos na sociedade. A partir dessas discussões, é possível concluir que quando esses grupos se tornam produtores de conteúdo, construindo sentidos sobre si mesmos, eles conseguem ressignificar estereótipos muitas vezes criados pelos meios de comunicação tradicionais.
Youtubers indígenas no Brasil: abordagens políticas e comunicativas
Authors: Souza Rose Mara Vidal de , Kaseker Mônica Panis
Published: November 2020

Os povos indígenas passaram a utilizar os meios de comunicação digitais como ferramentas de afirmação de suas identidades, de resistência e de posicionamento político. Este artigo apresenta uma discussão sobre o ativismo indígena no YouTube. Do ponto de vista metodológico, o estudo tem por base a pesquisa bibliográfica e exploratória. O referencial teórico perpassa por Hall, Bauman e Eagleton sobre a questão das identidades culturais e Araújo, Di Felice e Braighi  sobre os conceitos de ciberativismo, net-ativismo e midiativismo. Foram realizados um mapeamento da presença indígena no You Tube e uma análise dos canais dos  youtubers indígenas Ysani Kalapalo e Cristian Wariu. Com posicionamentos políticos e abordagens comunicativas totalmente diversas, os dois youtubers surgem como importantes influenciadores digitais no Brasil contemporâneo
Comunicação organizacional: uma ferramenta estratégica de compatibilização de interesses
Authors: Costa Edwaldo , Oliveira Taise da Silva
Published: November 2020

O objetivo deste artigo foi mostrar a importância do uso estratégico da comunicação organizacional, com foco no ambiente interno, e as visões atuais impulsionadas pelas possibilidades tecnológicas, avaliando como ela pode ser uma ferramenta para a compatibilização dos interesses dos empregados e da empresa. A metodologia adotada é de abordagem bibliográfica qualitativa. Concluiu-se que é mediante um olhar para os sujeitos como seres completos e imbuídos de uma cultura particular, considerando o respeito à diversidade de perspectivas, que se torna possível otimizar a resolução de problemas dentro das organizações e compatibilizar os interesses.
A conservação da arquitetura moderna: as fachadas do Edifício Copan
Authors: Bonfim Valéria Aparecida Costa , Oliveira Fabiana Lopes de
Published: November 2020

Este artigo objetiva apresentar a importância de dois instrumentos de preservação do patrimônio arquitetônico moderno: o Plano de Conservação e o Manual de Uso, Operação e Manutenção desenvolvidos para as fachadas do Edifício Copan, mas que podem inspirar documentos similares para outros edifícios de arquitetura moderna. Se ambos instrumentos fossem exigidos pelos órgãos responsáveis pela preservação patrimonial, poderiam auxiliar os gestores e proprietários a cuidar do bem tombado de forma adequada e consciente, sem alterar as características arquitetônicas do imóvel, proporcionando durabilidade aos seus subsistemas construtivos.
Fungal biocontrol reduces the populations of the lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus, in soybean and corn
Authors: Pacheco Paulo V.M. , Monteiro Thalita S.A. , Coutinho Raul R. , Balbino Huarlen M. , de Freitas Leandro G.
Published: November 2020

Pratylenchus brachyurus is considered one of the most important plant pathogens of soybean and corn in Brazil, mainly found in areas where no-tillage is practised. Nematophagous fungi are used as an alternative for chemical nematicides in the management of nematodes that affect these crops in Brazil. This study evaluated the fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia, Trichoderma sp. and Duddingtonia flagrans for the biocontrol of P. brachyurus in soybean and corn. The first and second experiments were carried out using soybean, and five isolates of P. chlamydosporia (Pc-3, Pc-4, Pc-10, Pc-35 and Pc-49), one of Trichoderma sp. (T-10), an isolate of D. flagrans (AC001) and a mix (MIX) of all the isolates. In the third experiment using corn, three isolates of P. chlamydosporia (Pc-3, Pc-10 and Pc-35) and one isolate of Trichoderma sp. (T-10) were compared. In the first experiment, the isolates Pc-3, Pc-10, Pc-35 and T-10 reduced the total population of P. brachyurus up to 43.7% when compared with the control treatment. In the second experiment, the isolates Pc-10, T-10 and the MIX reduced the total population of P. brachyurus up to 58.7% when compared with the control. In the third experiment, the isolates reduced the total population of P. brachyurus in corn when compared with the control treatment, except for D. flagrans, which was not able to control P. brachyurus in any experiment. The P. chlamydosporia (Pc-3, Pc-10, Pc-35) and Trichoderma sp. (T-10) isolates were shown to be promising for the control of P. brachyurus in soybean and corn.
‘Concerned with the Health and Welfare of Mankind …’ The un Drug Conventions – A Suitable Legal Framework for the 21st Century?
Authors: Geiß Robin , Wisehart Daniel
Published: November 2020

The contribution analyses whether the un Drug Conventions still serve their original purpose, namely the furtherance of the health and welfare of mankind in the 21st century. To this end the contribution begins with an outline of how the un Drug Conventions aim to protect mankind’s health and welfare. On this basis it is inquired whether un Drug Conventions are somehow irreversibly imbued with a zero-tolerance approach that undermines the health and welfare of vulnerable groups on both ends of the supply chain respectively. Thus, with respect to the supply side the question is pursued whether the un Drug Conventions provisions on crop cultivation imperil the livelihoods of rural communities. With regard to the demand side it is examined whether the un Drug Conventions forestall the adoption of more liberal, i.e. non-punitive and health-oriented approaches towards illicit drug users. In a next step, the analysis turns to a long-standing and currently particularly prevalent criticism according to which the international drug control regime puts disproportionate pressure on so-called drug producing and drug transit States, while turning a blind eye on the so-called drug consuming States. In concluding, the contribution turns to the question how the international drug control system could be enhanced to better meet its proper goals of protecting mankind’s health and welfare.
Aspidistra dahuaensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Authors: NONG DONG-XIN , PENG YU-DE , KE FANG , YU LI-YING
Published: November 2020

Aspidistra dahuaensis, a new species discovered in west-central Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species has widely bowl-shaped perigone and is easily distinguished from other congeners by its unique stigma, which is deeply 3–4-lobed at the center, with lobes that are very thin and explanate, with the margin that is slightly rolled up, and each apex lobe is shallowly 3-lobed again.
Epidendrum katarun-yariku (Orchidaceae), a new species of the Schistochilum group from the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands in South America

Authors: HÁGSATER ERIC , WRAZIDLO MATEUSZ
Published: November 2020

Epidendrum katarun-yariku is hereby described and illustrated as a new species of Orchidaceae native to the summits and upper slopes of the sandstone tabletop mountains (tepuis) in the Guiana Highlands in South America.
Increased morphological variation and a new record of Vanilla labellopapillata (Orchidaceae) from the Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Authors: ENGELS MATHIAS ERICH , DIAS DAIANNY CORREIA , KOCH ANA KELLY
Published: November 2020

Vanilla labellopapillata is reported for the first time from the state of Mato Grosso, in the Southern Brazilian Amazon. This rare species is currently known only from a handful of specimens collected in the Central and Oriental Amazon. Based on the new collection, both the geographical range and morphological variation of V. labellopapillata increase significantly. We present an updated description, taxonomic and ecological comments, geographic distribution data, illustrations in line drawing and photographs.
Parascolopsis akatamae, a new species of dwarf monocle bream (Perciformes: Nemipteridae) from the Indo-West Pacific, with redescription of closely related species P. eriomma
Authors: MIYAMOTO KEI , MCMAHAN CALEB D. , KANEKO ATSUSHI
Published: November 2020

A new species of dwarf monocle bream, Parascolopsis akatamae n. sp., is described from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Parascolopsis in having 16–19 gill rakers on the first arch, length of forked part of caudal fin 5.8–6.5 times in standard length, eye diameter 1.3–1.8 times in length of the longest dorsal-fin spine, and a pale yellow stripe present from lower edge of the eye to posterior edge of the preopercle. Parascolopsis eriomma (Jordan & Richardson, 1909) is morphologically very similar to the new species and the two have been confused with each other for a long time. Therefore, we redescribe P. eriomma based on the holotype and newly collected specimens. In addition, we found that patterns of biofluorescence emission for both species are clearly different. This suggests that their biofluorescence patterns may function in distinguishing each other.
Final instar larva of Acanthagrion truncatum Selys, 1876 (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)
Authors: VILELA DIOGO SILVA , VENÂNCIO HENRIQUE , SANTOS JEAN CARLOS
Published: November 2020

Here we describe the final instar larvae of Acanthagrion truncatum Selys, 1876, the 16th described for the genus. We compare the diagnostic characters of A. truncatum with other species of the Group II. Although very similar to other Acanthagrion, the larvae of A. truncatum can be separated from other congeners from having the following character combination: cephalic lobes bulging and rounded, seven antennomeres, 2+1 or 2 premental setae, and nodus at 0.60–0.62 of total length of the lamella.
The Role of Curvature in Modifying Frontal Instabilities. Part II: Application of the Criterion to Curved Density Fronts at Low Richardson Numbers
Authors: Buckingham Christian E. , Gula Jonathan , Carton Xavier
Published: November 2020

We continue our study of the role of curvature in modifying frontal stability. In Part I, we obtained an instability criterion valid for curved fronts and vortices in gradient wind balance (GWB): Φ′ = L′q′ < 0, where L′ and q′ are the nondimensional absolute angular momentum and Ertel potential vorticity (PV), respectively. In Part II, we investigate this criterion in a parameter space representative of low-Richardson-number fronts and vortices in GWB. An interesting outcome is that, for Richardson numbers near 1, anticyclonic flows increase in q′, while cyclonic flows decrease in q′, tending to stabilize anticyclonic and destabilize cyclonic flow. Although stability is marginal or weak for anticyclonic flow (owing to multiplication by L′), the destabilization of cyclonic flow is pronounced, and may help to explain an observed asymmetry in the distribution of small-scale, coherent vortices in the ocean interior. We are referring to midlatitude submesoscale and polar mesoscale vortices that are generated by friction and/or buoyancy forcing within boundary layers but that are often documented outside these layers. A comparison is made between several documented vortices and predicted stability maps, providing support for the proposed mechanism. A simple expression, which is a root of the stability discriminant Φ′, explains the observed asymmetry in the distribution of vorticity. In conclusion, the generalized criterion is consistent with theory, observations, and recent modeling studies and demonstrates that curvature in low-stratified environments can destabilize cyclonic and stabilize anticyclonic fronts and vortices to symmetric instability. The results may have implications for Earth system models.
Rethinking African Studies: Four Challenges and the Case for Comparative African Studies
Authors: Basedau Matthias
Published: November 2020

This article takes stock of the state of African Studies and argues that (1) research on Africa is strongly dominated by outside, non-African, mostly Western views; (2) there is a tendency towards undifferentiated views on “Africa,” which usually concentrate on negative aspects, overlooking progress in many areas; (3) methodologies that focus on causal identification are rarely used; and (4) the field focuses on micro-perspectives while few works examine the big picture and the longue durée. The article then argues that Comparative African Studies, which builds upon the concept of Comparative Area Studies, can address some of these challenges. A pronouncedly comparative perspective would help to systematically combine and contrast “outside” and “inside” perspectives in order to better identify causal relationships and general trends both within Africa and between Africa and other regions. Consequently, African Studies requires more resources and should more effectively engage in multi-disciplinary and mixed-methods research.
Levels of reality, and of verisimilitude, in Malerba's Il pianeta azzurro
Authors: Francese Joseph
Published: November 2020

Malerba's Il pianeta azzurro is a rich text with a strong ethical and political message. One of its three narrating voices, L’autore, is a sort of Everyman, a synecdoche for the writer and his readers. By attributing to L’autore well-known aspects of his own private life, Malerba involves himself personally in the text, taking responsibility for its message and partial responsibility for the degradation that during his lifetime overtook Italian life, politics, and its natural landscape. All narrating voices write in the first person, using a technique, the ‘exterior monologue,’ designed to cause readers to identify with each of them. Identification is intensified when one of the voices steals the identities of the other two (and, by extension, Malerba's and the reader's). The unfolding of the novel's complex plot is informed by the non-chronological subjectivity of mnesic time. Therefore, it is grounded in reality, but makes no pretense of objectivity. Indeed, the ‘verisimilar’ plot is more ‘real’ than the implausible reality it recounts.
José Monteiro da Rocha (1734–1819) and His 1782 Work on the Determination of Comet Orbits
Authors: Figueiredo Fernando B. , Fernandes João
Published: November 2020

In 1782 José Monteiro da Rocha, astronomer and professor at the University of Coimbra, presented, in a public session of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, a memoire on the problem of the determination of the orbits of comets. Only in 1799 would the “ Determinação das Orbitas dos Cometas” (Determination of the orbits of comets) be published in the Academy’s memoires. In that work, Monteiro da Rocha presents a method for solving the problem of the determination of the parabolic orbit of a comet making use of three observations. Monteiro da Rocha’s method is essentially the same as the method proposed by Olbers and published under von Zach’s sponsorship 2 years before, in 1797. Having been written and published in Portuguese was certainly a hindrance for its dissemination among the international astronomical community. In this paper, we intend to present Monteiro da Rocha’s method and try to explain to what extent we can justify Gomes Teixeira’s assertion that Monteiro da Rocha and Olbers must figure together in the history of astronomy, as the first inventors of a practical and easy method for the determination of parabolic orbits of comets.
A Marvellous Connection: Longomontanus’ Battle With the Latitudes of Mars
Authors: Recio Gonzalo L.
Published: November 2020

This paper deals with Longomontanus’ theory of latitudes of Mars, as it is extant in his Astronomia Danica. I will show how the solution that Longomontanus devised to solve the longitude problems presented by Tycho’s non-bisected model allowed him to achieve very good latitude predictions, without correcting the basic underlying values that were at the root of Tycho’s difficulties regarding latitudes.
A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Professional Development on Teachers’ Knowledge, Skill, and Self-Efficacy in Data-Based Decision-Making
Authors: Gesel Samantha A. , LeJeune Lauren M. , Chow Jason C. , Sinclair Anne C. , Lemons Christopher J.
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this review was to synthesize research on the effect of professional development (PD) targeting data-based decision-making processes on teachers’ knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to curriculum-based measurement (CBM) and data-based decision-making (DBDM). To be eligible for this review, studies had to (a) be published in English, (b) include in-service or pre-service K–12 teachers as participants, (c) use an empirical group design, and (d) include sufficient data to calculate an effect size for teacher outcome variables. The mean effect of DBDM PD on teacher outcomes was g = 0.57 ( p < .001). This effect was not moderated by study quality. These results must be viewed through the lens of significant heterogeneity in effects across included studies, which could not be explained by follow-up sensitivity analyses. In addition, the experimental studies included in this review occurred under ideal, researcher-supported conditions, which impacts the generalizability of the effects of DBDM PD in practice. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Is the NPT unraveling? Evidence from text analysis of review conference statements
Authors: Barnum Miriam , Lo James
Published: November 2020

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a landmark international treaty that is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. However, pessimists point to a growing divergence of preferences between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states as a precursor to the impending ‘unraveling of this vital piece of international law’. In this article, we test for evidence of preference divergence using statements from NPT review conferences, which are manifestos presenting each country’s position on the NPT. We measure preferences on the NPT using Wordfish, a method that is frequently used to estimate ideological preferences from election manifestos. Our measure estimates the latent positions of state actors along a ‘non-proliferation vs. disarmament’ dimension, and shows little evidence of growing preference divergence between the nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states. Thus, a significant premise underlying more pessimistic assessments of the NPT appears to be in doubt.
Removing Uncontrollable Factors in Benchmarking Tourism Destination Satisfaction
Authors: Vojtko Viktor , Štumpf Petr , Rašovská Ida , McGrath Richard , Ryglová Kateřina
Published: November 2020

High level of visitor satisfaction is an important signal of sustained success for tourism destinations. The primary goal of this research study is to identify differences in reported visitor satisfaction that do not accurately reflect differences in the delivery of satisfaction by destinations. Our aim is to reveal the influence of factors, such as weather conditions, that may distort comparisons of tourism destinations when measuring visitors’ satisfaction with their stays. We used a generalized linear model (GLM) to estimate reported satisfaction as a function of various factors, with weather included as a factor. The analysis shows that weather as well as the other extraneous factors play an important role in measuring visitors’ satisfaction. The results suggest that when comparing the relative success of various tourism destinations, adjustments in destination benchmarking are necessary to avoid arbitrary bias caused by differences in the timing and conditions of visitor data collection.
Review Article: Imrana Qadeer, K. B. Saxena, and P. M. Arathi (Eds.), Universalising Health Care in India: From Care to Coverage
Authors: Rao Mohan
Published: November 2020

Imrana Qadeer, K. B. Saxena, and P. M. Arathi (Eds.), Universalising Health Care in India: From Care to Coverage. New Delhi: Aakar Books, 2019, 475 pp., ₹1495. ISBN: 9789350025888 ( Hardcover)
The Christian Contentment Scale: An Emic Measure for Assessing Inner Satisfaction within the Christian Tradition
Authors: Knabb Joshua J. , Vazquez Veola E. , Wang Kenneth T.
Published: November 2020

In the present study, the authors developed the Christian Contentment Scale (CCS), an emic measure for assessing both the experience (i.e., inner satisfaction) and source (i.e., God) of contentment among Christian adults. First, the authors reviewed key writings from secular psychology, Buddhism, and Christianity to operationalize a definition of Christian contentment and generate an initial pool of 25 items for further analysis. Second, the authors conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with separate subsamples of online Christian adults ( N = 475), identifying and confirming a one-factor solution for the final 10-item scale. Third, the authors examined the reliability and validity of the CCS, with results revealing the scale had adequate internal consistency, was positively correlated with mindful qualities, life contentment, state contentment, equanimity, and daily spiritual experiences, and predicted equanimity and daily spiritual experiences, after controlling for state contentment. The authors concluded by exploring the salient role that Christian contentment can play in a more holistic, culturally sensitive conceptualization of psychological and spiritual health.
Robust maximum power point tracking with a novel second order sliding mode controller
Authors: Fesharaki Javad Jafari , Amnyieh Zahra Heydaran Daroogheh , Fatemi Mohammad Jalal Rastegar , Rastgarpour Maryam , Jafari Fesharaki Vahid
Published: November 2020

This paper proposes a robust second order sliding mode controller as maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique in a photovoltaic (PV) boost dc-dc converter with applications to stand-alone systems. The proposed method is independent respect to load type, robust against parametric uncertainties and disturbances. By Lyapunov theorem the asymptotic stability of the closed loop control system is proven. The proposed second order sliding mode controller is simulated with Matlab software and experimental set up in presence of sinusoidal disturbances on output voltage.
A novel mobile agent-based distributed evidential expectation maximization algorithm for uncertain sensor networks
Authors: Mozaffari Mohiyeddin , Safarinejadian Behrouz , Shasadeghi Mokhtar
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a novel mobile agent-based distributed evidential expectation maximization (MADEEM) algorithm is presented for sensor networks. The proposed algorithm is used for probability density function estimation and data clustering in the presence of uncertainties in sensor measurements. It is assumed that the sensor measurements are statistically modeled by a common Gaussian mixture model. The proposed algorithm maximizes a new generalized likelihood criterion in an iterative and distributed manner. For this purpose, mobile agents compute some local sufficient statistics by using local measurements of each sensor node. After the local computations, the global sufficient statistics are updated. At the end of iterations, the parameters of the probability density function are updated by using the global sufficient statistics. The mentioned process will be continued until the convergence criterion is satisfied. Convergence analysis of the proposed algorithm is also presented in this paper. After the convergence analysis, the simulation results show the promising performance of the proposed algorithm. Finally, the last part of the paper is devoted to the concluding remarks.
Spontaneous Background and Procedure-Related Microscopic Findings and Common Artifacts in Ocular Tissues of Laboratory Animals in Ocular Studies
Authors: Sorden Steven D. , Larsen Thomas , McPherson Leslie E. , Turner Oliver C. , Carroll Erica E. , Sharma Alok K.
Published: November 2020

Identification of test article–related microscopic findings in ocular toxicology studies requires a working knowledge of the artifacts and procedure-related or background findings commonly encountered in such studies. The objective of this article is to provide a mini-atlas of the artifacts and procedure-related or spontaneous background findings commonly observed in ocular tissues from animals in toxicology studies of ocular drug candidates. Artifacts in the eye are often related to collection or fixation procedures and include swelling and vacuolation of lens fibers, separation of the neuroretina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and vacuolation of the optic nerve. Common in-life procedure-related findings include intravitreal injection needle tracks in the sclera and ciliary body pars plana and foci of RPE hypertrophy and/or hyperpigmentation at subretinal injection sites. Common background findings include corneal mineralization, uveal mononuclear cell infiltrates, and peripheral displacement of photoreceptor nuclei in the retina. A few uncommon spontaneous background findings that may be confused with test article–related findings, such as bilateral optic atrophy in macaques, are also included.
Foucault’s Critique of the Human Sciences in the 1950s: Between Psychology and Philosophy
Authors: Basso Elisabetta
Published: November 2020

This paper is based on the archives of Michel Foucault collected (since 2013) at the manuscripts department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. Our investigation focuses in particular on the documents of the 1950s, in order to study the role of the reflection on anthropology and phenomenology at the beginning of Foucault’s philosophical path. This archival material allows us to discover the tremendous work that is at the basis of the relatively few works that Foucault published in the 1950s. The access to the 1950s documents enables us at last to investigate the reasons for the seemingly sharp break that divides these works from the works published by Foucault in the 1960s and the 1970s, in which emerges the archaeological refusal of phenomenology and anthropology, as well as the strong criticism against any form of psychopathological discourse.