bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Chinese World Order in Historical Perspective
Authors: Duara Prasenjit
Published: November 2019

I seek to grasp the genealogy of China’s Belt and Road (BRI) in relation both to the imperial Chinese world order and the historical sequence of forms of global domination, i.e., modern imperialism, the ‘imperialism of nation-states’ during the inter-war and Cold War period as well as the post-Cold War notion of ‘soft power’. While we may think of BRI as poised uncertainly between the logics of the older imperial Chinese order and the more recent logic impelled by capitalist nation-states, there are significant novelties in the new Chinese order, mostly in relation to debt, the environment and digital technology which constitute new realms of power not easily dominated by a hegemon.
Thyroidectomy in a Surgical Volunteerism Mission: Analysis of 464 Consecutive Cases
Authors: Latifi Rifat , Gachabayov Mahir , Gogna Shekhar , Rivera Renato
Published: November 2019

Although surgical volunteer missions (SVMs) have become a popular approach for reducing the burden of surgical disease worldwide, the outcomes of specific procedures in the context of a mission are underreported. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and efficiency of thyroid surgery within a surgical mission. This was a retrospective analysis of medical records of all patients who underwent thyroid surgery within a SVM from 2006 to 2019. Postoperative complication rate was the safety endpoint, whereas length of hospital stay (LOS) was the efficiency endpoint. Serious complications were defined as Clavien–Dindo class 3–5 complications. Expected safety and efficiency outcomes were calculated using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) surgical risk calculator and compared to their observed counterparts. A total of 464 thyroidectomies were performed during the study period. Mean age of the patients was 40.3 ± 10.8 years, and male-to-female ratio was 72 : 392. Expected overall (p=0.127) and serious complication rates (p=0.738) were not significantly different from their observed counterparts. Expected LOS was found to be significantly shorter as compared to its observed counterpart (0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0 days; p<0.001). This study found thyroid surgery performed within a surgical mission to be safe. NSQIP surgical risk calculator underestimates the LOS following thyroidectomy in surgical missions.
Planning of Cascade Hydropower Stations with the Consideration of Long‐Term Operations under Uncertainties
Authors: Wang Changjun , Chen Shutong
Published: November 2019

In the location‐related planning of a hydropower system, the consideration of future operations under uncertainties can make the decisions sustainable and robust. Then, it is of great importance to develop an effective approach that deals with the long‐term stochasticity due to the long‐lasting effects of the location selections. Thus, we propose a multistage stochastic programming model to optimize the planning decisions of cascade hydropower stations and the long‐term stochastic operations in an integrated way. The first stage (i.e., the planning stage) in the model deals with the location and capacity decisions of the hydropower stations, while the subsequent stages implement the scheduling decisions under each stagewise stochastic scenario. To address the curse of dimensionality caused by the long‐term stochastic operations, we further propose a novel dimensionality reduction approach based on dual equilibrium to transform the multistage model into a tractable two‐stage stochastic program. The applicability of our approach is validated by a case study based on a basin of Yangtze River, China, and corresponding sensitivity analysis.
The Analytical Approach to Evaluate the Load‐Displacement Relationship of Rock Bolts
Authors: Chen Jianhang , Yang Shengli , Zhao Hongbao , Zhang Junwen , He Fulian , Yin Shuaifeng
Published: November 2019

Fully grouted rock bolts are widely used in civil engineering and mining engineering, playing a significant role in keeping the stability and safety of excavations. In this paper, the load transfer mechanism of fully grouted rock bolts was studied with an analytical model. A trilinear model was used to depict the bond‐slip behaviour of the bolt/grout interface. The displacement of the confining medium was involved in this analytical model. Then, the shear stress propagation along the bolt/grout interface was analysed in the elastic, elastic‐softening, elastic‐softening‐debonding, softening‐debonding, and debonding stages. Experimental pull‐out tests were used to validate this analytical model. There was a good correlation between experimental and analytical results. A parametric study was conducted to evaluate the influence of Young’s modulus of the confining medium, the shear strength of the bolt/grout interface, and the residual shear strength of the bolt/grout interface on the load transfer performance of rock bolts. The results show that increasing Young’s modulus of the confining medium was beneficial for improving the load transfer performance of rock bolts. However, once Young’s modulus of the confining medium was beyond a critical limit, it had marginal effect on the peak load of rock bolts. Furthermore, increasing the shear strength of the bolt/grout interface and the residual shear strength of the bolt/grout interface led to rising of the peak load of rock bolts. However, compared with the residual shear strength of the bolt/grout interface, increasing the shear strength of the bolt/grout interface had more apparent effect in improving the peak load of rock bolts.
Research on Grid Scroll Chaotic Extended Sequence Algorithm and Its Circuit Implementation for F‐OFDM System
Authors: Ma Yingjie , Li Ya , Zhao Geng , Zeng Ping , Yang Yatao
Published: November 2019

High peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR), a main problem of 5G Filtered‐Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (F‐OFDM) system, seriously affects the system’s transmission efficiency. Aiming at the shortcomings of the traditional selective mapping (SLM) algorithm, the grid scroll chaotic extended sequence (GSCES) algorithm is proposed to solve the high PAPR problem. The proposed grid multiscroll chaotic maps are used as random phase sequence vectors instead of the traditional pseudo random sequence, which provide a large number of random sequences with good correlation characteristics, random characteristics, and high security. The proposed random phase sequence vectors can meet the needs of 5G mass connections. The original input signals are divided into real part and imaginary part, which are, respectively, dot produced with the proposed grid multiscroll chaotic maps. The numerical simulation results show that the proposed GSCES algorithm effectively increases the number of candidate sequences, reduces the PAPR values, and improves the transmission efficiency and security. Moreover, the hardware experimental results produce at 2 × 2 × 2‐grid multiscroll chaotic attractor, which further proves the physical realization of the proposed system. The proposed schemes have a broad application prospect in 5G multicarrier modulation technology.
A Novel Key Influencing Factors Selection Approach of P2P Lending Investment Risk
Authors: Xia Pingfan , Ni Zhiwei , Zhu Xuhui , Ni Liping
Published: November 2019

Recent frequent “thunderstorm incidents” of P2P lending industry have caused the panic of industry investors. To predict the investment risk of P2P lending, we should scientifically and rationally analyze the key influencing factors of P2P lending investment risk. Existing key influencing factors selection methods mainly involve traditional statistical approaches and artificial intelligence methods. The traditional statistical approaches cannot deal with the high‐dimensional nonlinear problems, and it cannot find the exact key influencing factors of the P2P lending investment risk. The artificial intelligence methods cannot recognize and learn the application background, and the selected attributes without active thinking and personal perception may not be the key influencing factors of P2P lending investment risk. To address the above issues, a novel key influencing factors selection approach of P2P lending investment risk is proposed by combining the proposed fireworks coevolution binary glowworm swarm optimization (FCBGSO), multifractal dimension (MFD), probit regression, and artificial prior knowledge. First, multifractal dimension combined with the proposed FCBGSO is used to select the preliminary influencing factors of the investment risk; second, the nonsignificant relevant attributes in the preliminary influencing factors are removed using the probit regression, and we add the influencing factors extracted from the original dataset of P2P lending using the artificial prior knowledge into the retaining influencing factors after removing one by one. A small and reasonable number of influencing factor subsets are achieved. Finally, we evaluate each influencing factors subset using extreme learning machine (ELM), and the subset with the best classification accuracy is efficiently achieved, i.e., it is the key influencing factors of P2P lending investment risk. Experimental results on the real P2P lending dataset from the Renrendai platform demonstrate that the proposed approach performs better than other state‐of‐the‐art methods and that it has validity and effectiveness. It provides a new research idea for the key influencing factors selection of P2P lending investment risk.
Modeling and Prediction of Ride-Sharing Utilization Dynamics
Authors: Altshuler Tal , Altshuler Yaniv , Katoshevski Rachel , Shiftan Yoram
Published: November 2019

The potential of an efficient ride-sharing scheme to significantly reduce traffic congestion, lower emission level, and drivers’ stress, as well as facilitating the introduction ofsmart citieshas been widely demonstrated in recent years. Furthermore, ride sharing can be implemented within a sound economic regime through the involvement of commercial services that creates a win-win for all parties (e.g.,Uber,LyftorSidecar). This positive thrust however is faced with several delaying factors, one of which is the volatility and unpredictability of the potential benefit (or utilization) of ride-sharing at different times, and in different places. Better understanding of ride-sharing dynamics can help policy makers and urban planners in increase the city’s “ride-sharing friendliness” either by designing new ride-sharing oriented systems, as well as by providing ride-sharing service operators better tools to optimize their services. In this work the following research questions are posed: (a) Is ride-sharing utilization stable over time or does it undergo significant changes? (b) If ride-sharing utilization is dynamic can it be correlated with some traceable features of the traffic? and (c) If ride-sharing utilization is dynamic can it be predicted ahead of time? We analyze a dataset of over 14 million taxi trips taken in New York City. We propose a dynamic travel network approach for modeling and forecasting the potential ride-sharing utilization over time, showing it to be highly volatile. In order to model the utilization's dynamics, we propose a network-centric approach, projecting the aggregated traffic taken from continuous time periods into a feature space comprised of topological features of the network implied by this traffic. This feature space is then used to model the dynamics of ride-sharing utilization over time. The results of our analysis demonstrate the significant volatility of ride-sharing utilization over time, indicating that any policy, design, or plan that would disregard this aspect and chose a static paradigm would undoubtably be either highly inefficient or provide insufficient resources. We show that using our suggested approach it is possible to model the potential utilization of ride sharing based on the topological properties of the rides network. We also show that using this method the potential utilization can be forecasting a few hours ahead of time. One anecdotal derivation of the latter is that perfectly guessing the destination of a New York taxi rider becomes nearly three times easier than rolling a “Snake Eyes” at a casino.
CFD Modelling of a Stepped Spillway with Various Step Layouts
Authors: Li Shicheng , Li Qiulin , Yang James
Published: November 2019

A traditional stepped spillway is prone to cavitation risks. To improve its hydraulic behaviors, distorted step faces and pool weirs are devised. By numerical modelling, comparative studies are conducted to look into the flow features. The pressures on step surfaces of the unconventional layouts exhibit 3D distributions. Pool weirs are essential in increasing both the min. and max. pressure loads. Pressures on the downstream bed show a unique pattern for V‐ and inverted V‐shaped models, with the extreme pressures at the sidewalls for the former and at the central plane for the latter. Symmetrical secondary flows are formed in V‐ and inverted V‐shaped cases with different patterns. Distributions of turbulent kinetic energy suggest differences in flow motions in all cases. Furthermore, the relative energy loss of flat setups is ∼5.4% lower than that of the pooled ones with the same step face angle; inverting the face angle does not give rise to noticeable change. The results provide reference for relevant projects.
Metabolic Effects of Testosterone Hormone Therapy in Normal and Orchiectomized Male Rats: From Indirect Calorimetry to Lipolytic Enzymes
Authors: Ali Abulmeaty Mahmoud Mustafa , Almajwal Ali Madi , ElSadek Mohamed Farouk , Berika Mohamed Y , Razak Suhail
Published: November 2019

Background and Aim. Changes in total energy expenditure (TEE) and substrate metabolism may help explain the metabolic actions of testosterone (T). This study measured respiratory quotient (RQ), TEE, ghrelin, insulin, and key lipolysis enzyme concentrations in relation to body weight (wt) and food intake (FI) in both normal and bilaterally orchiectomized rats with/without T treatment. Methods. In total, thirty-two male Wistar rats (300–400 g) were divided into four groups (n = 8/group), including (a) sham-operated and vehicle-injected group (Sham), (b) T-treated sham group (T-Sham) for which sham-operated rats were injected with IM testosterone undecanoate (100 mg/kg, for one week), (c) orchiectomy and vehicle-injected group (Orch), and (d) T-replaced orchiectomy group (T-Orch). After one week, FI and wt were automatically recorded, indirect calorimetry parameters were measured, and blood samples were collected to measure T, ghrelin, insulin, growth hormone (GH), glucose, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), adipocyte triglyceride lipase (ATGL), free fatty acids (FFA), and lipid profiles. Results. Orchiectomy decreased ghrelin, GH, and insulin levels, increased TEE and RQ, and lowered FI and wt. The T-Orch group exhibited increased levels of ghrelin (3-fold), insulin, GH, blood levels of lipolysis products, TEE, and FI in addition to reduced glucose levels (P<0.05). This group demonstrated no significant changes in wt. In the T-Sham group, T increased ghrelin and insulin levels (P<0.05) with strong positive correlations (r = 0.663 and 0.644, respectively, P<0.05), increased ATGL levels, RQ toward carbohydrate utilization ranges, and TEE, and reduced HSL levels (P<0.05) with insignificant changes in FI or wt. Conclusions. T administration in orchiectomized rats significantly increased orexigenic mediators such as ghrelin and insulin without inducing any significant changes in wt. The mechanism for this finding might be the increased TEE and the stimulation of lipolysis through the ATGL enzyme. The associated rise of GH might help in interference with accumulation of lipid in adipose tissue. Apart from the effect on GH, T-Sham showed similar effects of T supplementation.
The Cerebellum Posterior Lobe Associates with the Exophthalmos of Primary Hyperthyroidism: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Liu Wen-Feng , Shu Yong-Qiang , Zhu Pei-Wen , Li Biao , Shi Wen-Qing , Lin Qi , Liu Yu-Xin , Zhang Meng-Yao , Min You-Lan , Yuan Qing , Shao Yi
Published: November 2019

Background. Exophthalmos occurs in patients with primary hyperthyroidism. There were few studies about the changes of brain functional networks of patients with exophthalmos of primary hyperthyroidism (EOPH). However, differences in spontaneous brain activity in patients with EOPH remain unclear. Objective. This study explored alterations in the brain functional networks of patients with EOPH using a voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) method. Methods. A total of 20 patients with EOPH (8 men and 12 women) were enrolled. In addition, 20 patients with primary hyperthyroidism without exophthalmos, matched in age, sex, and education status, were enrolled as a control group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess the anxiety and depression status of participants. All participants were examined using resting-state functional MRI. Changes in spontaneous brain activity were investigated using the DC method. To distinguish between the DC values of the patients with EOPH and those of the control group, we analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The interrelationships between the DC values and clinical variables in the patients with EOPH were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results. Patients with EOPH exhibited notably lower DC values in the cerebellum posterior lobe than the control group. In addition, there were negative correlations between the anxiety scores (AS) and the depression scores (DS) and DC values of the cerebellum posterior lobe. The ROC curve analysis of the cerebellum posterior lobe demonstrated that the area under the curve method had a high diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions. Our study was the first, to our knowledge, to explore changes in the brains of patients with EOPH using the DC method. The DC value was significantly different in the cerebellum posterior lobe in patients with EOPH, indicating that the cerebellum posterior lobe is associated with EOPH.
On Resolvability Parameters of Some Wheel-Related Graphs
Authors: Yang Bin , Rafiullah Muhammad , Siddiqui Hafiz Muhammad Afzal , Ahmad Sarfraz
Published: November 2019

LetG=V,Ebe a simple connected graph,w∈Vbe a vertex, ande=uv∈Ebe an edge. The distance between the vertexwand edgeeis given byde,w=mindw,u,dw,v, A vertexwdistinguishes two edgese1,e2∈Eifdw,e1≠dw,e2. A setSis said to be resolving if every pair of edges ofGis distinguished by some vertices ofS. A resolving set with minimum cardinality is the basis forG, and this cardinality is the edge metric dimension ofG, denoted byedimG. It has already been proved that the edge metric dimension is an NP-hard problem. The main objective of this article is to study the edge metric dimension of some families of wheel-related graphs and prove that these families have unbounded edge metric dimension. Moreover, the results are compared with the metric dimension of these graphs.
A Continuous User Authentication System Based on Galvanic Coupling Communication for s-Health
Authors: Nakayama Fernando , Lenz Paulo , Banou Stella , Nogueira Michele , Santos Aldri , Chowdhury Kaushik R.
Published: November 2019

Smart health (s-health) is a vital topic and an essential research field today, supporting the real-time monitoring of user’s data by using sensors, either in direct or indirect contact with the human body. Real-time monitoring promotes changes in healthcare from a reactive to a proactive paradigm, contributing to early detection, prevention, and long-term management of health conditions. Under these new conditions, continuous user authentication plays a key role in protecting data and access control, once it focuses on keeping track of a user’s identity throughout the system operation. Traditional user authentication systems cannot fulfill the security requirements of s-health, because they are limited, prone to security breaches, and require the user to frequently authenticate by, e.g., a password or fingerprint. This interrupts the normal use of the system, being highly inconvenient and not user friendly. Also, data transmission in current authentication systems relies on wireless technologies, which are susceptible to eavesdropping during the pairing stage. Biological signals, e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG), can offer continuous and seamless authentication bolstered by exclusive characteristics from each individual. However, it is necessary to redesign current authentication systems to encompass biometric traits and new communication technologies that can jointly protect data and provide continuous authentication. Hence, this article presents a novel biosignal authentication system, in which the photoplethysmogram (PPG) biosignal and a galvanic coupling (GC) channel lead to continuous, seamless, and secure user authentication. Furthermore, this article contributes to a clear organization of the state of the art on biosignal-based continuous user authentication systems, assisting research studies in this field. The evaluation of the system feasibility presents accuracy in keeping data integrity and up to 98.66% accuracy in the authentication process.
Parathyroidectomy Influences Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Asymptomatic Hemodialysis Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Ma Qiang , Su Dechun , Liu Fen , Xing Haidong , Han Xue , Ma Daqing
Published: November 2019

Background: Successful parathyroidectomy (PTX) with stable postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels is associated with the stabilization of coronary artery calcification score (CACS) in patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) undergoing hemodialysis. To use computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the influence of PTX on CACS in asymptomatic patients. Methods: This study was performed with institutional review board approval. Written consent was obtained from each patient. Forty-eight patients (mean age ± SD 54.50 ± 13.14 years; range 33–77 years) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis who underwent PTX and 56 patients (mean age 55.28 ± 12.32 years; range 35–76 years) who did not undergo PTX received prospective follow-up for 2 years. CACS was quantitatively performed using the Agatston method after CT scan. The differences between baseline and end-of-study PTX parameters were analyzed with the paired Student t test. Results: For patients who underwent PTX, mean square root of CACS did not increase from 23.16 ± 18.58 to 23.68 ± 18.16 (t = 1.846, p = 0.072) from baseline to follow-up. In patients who did not undergo PTX, mean square root of CACS increased from 20.21 ± 16.47 to 28.72 ± 20.95 (t = 10.110, p < 0.001) from baseline to follow-up. In addition, the median annual progression rate of CACS was lower among PTX patients (4.89%), compared with the marked annual progression rate of CACS in non-PTX patients (52.81%; t = 11.264, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Dysregulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism caused by SHPT may result in significant CAC progression in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients. Low PTH state after PTX may stabilize CAC progression in hemodialysis patients.
Process and Individuation: The Development of Sensorimotor Agency
Authors: Di Paolo Ezequiel A.
Published: November 2019

I discuss some central ideas of the enactive approach in cognitive science, including the concepts of autonomy, sense-making, and agency, and show the way they are grounded in dynamical systems theory, organizational approaches to biology, and phenomenology. I highlight known and potentially new connections between enactive cognitive science and dynamical and relational perspectives on human development. Taking the notion of sensorimotor know-how or mastery as a particular case, I describe a dynamical formalization of Piaget’s theory of equilibration that serves to clarify this notion. The dynamical interpretation also lays the groundwork for a novel concept of sensorimotor agency based on self-sustaining networked relations between sensorimotor schemes. Some of the tools that are used in fleshing out this idea, such as a network representation of sensorimotor repertoires, can be of use for clarifying the processes that underlie developmental variability, apparent developmental jumps, and the role of socially induced disequilibrium in enabling developmental change during adult-infant interactions. The exercise serves to clarify the ontological and epistemological commitments of enactive theory.
Effect of Light Exposure upon Food Consumption and Brain Size in Dark-Flies (Drosophila melanogaster)
Authors: Guillet Alban , Stergiou Antonia , Carle Thomas
Published: November 2019

While reducing the investment in the visual system of nocturnal/cave-dwelling species appears to be an evolutionarily stable strategy in response to the difficulty of locating food in the dark, relying on visual information for diurnal species is crucial for their survival and reproduction. However, the manner in which species evolve and adapt to the energetic demands placed upon them by environmental changes is not perfectly understood. In particular, if life in the dark is associated with a reduction in energetic demand, would relocation to a well-lit environment increase energetic demand? This question has a bearing upon our understanding of factors that influence the ability of species to adapt to new habitats. After observing that a sub-population of “Dark-flies” (i.e., fruit flies bred in the dark for more than 60 years) has been selected with a larger visual system (optic lobes) and brain over the course of being maintained in normal lighting conditions for 3 years (DFLight), we used the CAFÉ assay method to investigate the differences in the two strains’ energetic demands in the present study. We therefore measured brain size, body size, and food consumption in Dark-flies, DFLight, and Oregon flies (i.e., the fly species most genetically similar to Dark-flies). We found that the DFLight consumed more food solution than the Dark-flies, which correlates with that strain’s larger brain size and improved visual capability compared to the Dark-flies. In addition, and although the ­Oregon flies initially consumed less food solution than the DFLight, the amount consumed by these two strains by the end of the CAFÉ assay was approximately the same. This suggests that the Dark-flies have adapted their metabolism or feeding strategies in response to a dark environment. Our investigation therefore provides empirical evidence elucidating the manner in which energetic demands change in response to environmental changes and the cross-generational effect upon sensory-system investment.
First in Human Experience of the Performance of the New 5.5-LP Size Zephyr Endobronchial Valve
Authors: Klooster Karin , van Dijk Marlies , Koster T. David , Slebos Dirk-Jan
Published: November 2019

Background: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using the Zephyr® endobronchial valve (EBV) is a guideline treatment for patients with advanced emphysema. To achieve volume reduction, it is crucial that there is absence of collateral ventilation and a complete occlusion of the target lobe. While 3 EBV sizes (4.0; 4.0-LP; and 5.5) are currently available to accommodate all airway sizes, local anatomical variations sometimes warrant a valve with a wide diameter but shorter length. To address this, a new “low profile” 5.5-LP EBV has been introduced. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this new 5.5-LP EBV. Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, open-label study. Patients were included if eligible for valve treatment with a local anatomy suitable to place at least one 5.5-LP EBV. Feasibility of placement of the 5.5-LP EBV was reported. Safety, CT parameters, pulmonary function tests, and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed at baseline and 6 weeks after treatment. Results: We included 30 patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] 29 ± 10%; [RV] 242 ± 46%; and SGRQ 56 ± 11 points). Besides the regular EBV sizes, a median of 1 (1–3) of the new 5.5-LP EBV was placed. No valve adjustment was needed during the initial procedure. A single asymptomatic small pneumothorax was observed in 1 patient. In 4 patients, a revision bronchoscopy was performed due to absence of clinical benefit. In 1 patient, this was related to a dislocation of the 5.5-LP EBV. Clinically relevant improvements were seen in target lobar volume reduction (–1,554 mL), FEV1 +39%, RV –960 mL, and SGRQ –18 points. Conclusions: In this first in human study, the 5.5-LP EBV could be placed into wide segments with a shorter landing length without unexpected complications and with good efficacy outcomes.
Large Tick (Ixodes) Infestation of the Upper Eyelid Presenting as Eyelid Mass and Preseptal Cellulitis
Authors: Jaroudi Mahmoud O. , Mansour Ahmad M. , Ma'luf Riad , Meduri Alessandro , Tawil Ayman , Younis Muhammad H.
Published: November 2019

A child was referred for removal of an eyelid mass. She had preseptal cellulitis and a large tick deeply embedded in the tarsus of the upper eyelid necessitating antibiotic therapy and en-bloc excision of the tick with the attached eyelid portion. Large ticks that are embedded in the eyelid are best treated surgically with en-bloc excision of the tick and its attached lid. On the contrary, for small ticks involving the very superficial skin, fine-tipped tweezers can be used to grasp the insect. Ticks are vectors of several diseases like Lyme borreliosis, hence prophylactic antibiotic treatment and close observation are recommended.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Oxidative Stress in Cannabis Dependence
Authors: Bayazit Huseyin , Dulgeroglu Dilruba , Selek Salih
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Neurotrophin levels and oxidative stress markers such as ceruloplasmin and free thiols have been shown to contribute to pathophysiology in several psychiatric disorders. Objective: Our aim is to evaluate whether those markers are altered in cannabis dependence. Methods: Forty-five cannabis-dependent patients diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria and 45 healthy controls matched according to sex, age, BMI, and smoking status were enrolled. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ceruloplasmin, lipid hydroperoxide, and total free thiols were measured in both groups. Those who had psychiatric comorbidities were excluded before sampling. Results: We found significantly increased BDNF, ceruloplasmin, and lipid hydroperoxide, and decreased free thiol levels in patients with cannabis dependence. There is also a positive correlation between BDNF and lipid hydroperoxide (n = r = 0.472, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between BDNF and total thiols (n = r = –0.412, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Increased BDNF might be a sign of impaired neuronal plasticity that is crucial for memory formation and adaptive response to drug addiction. Neuronal plasticity in the ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons was implied to play a role in substance addiction disorders, and these adaptations can be secondary to oxidative stress. Our findings, including increased lipid hydroperoxide, ceruloplasmin, and decreased free thiols, might support this hypothesis. In conclusion, cannabis dependency alters BDNF levels and increases oxidative stress.
New records of coral diseases in the Persian Gulf
Authors: Tavakoli-Kolour Parviz , Hazraty-Kari Sanaz
Published: November 2019

We report first observations of three coral diseases including black band disease on Acropora, a syndrome resembling yellow band disease and red band disease on Porites colonies from depth 5â€“6 m at Abu-Musa Island  after widespread coral bleaching in the northern part of the Persian Gulf  in October 2012.
Palestinian Immigration from Latin American and Middle Eastern Perspectives
Authors: Ehrlich Michael
Published: November 2019

The data obtained from Chile and Palestine suggests that there was only one significant immigration wave from Palestine to Chile – from the end of the nineteenth century until the First World War. This immigration was enabled by favourable global conditions such as available and reliable transportation, rather than being provoked by the exceptional hardship alleged to have occurred during those years.

Palestinian immigration was chain migration: family members followed those who had immigrated earlier. Nonetheless, these were relatively short chains, which included only a handful of links. Those who arrived from Bethlehem and Bayt-Jala tended to marry Palestinian partners. These partners probably also stemmed from the same towns. Palestinians who arrived from other places often found local partners.

Agar and Saffie have already demonstrated that the number of Palestinians in Chile is far fewer than the 350,000 suggested by Baeza, not to mention the 500,000 indicated by less credible sources. Yet, Agar and Saffie dealt with descendants, which is merely a technical term indicating someone with at least one Arab great-grandparent. It seems very difficult to determine to what extent such people identify themselves with their Arab or Palestinian origins. Therefore, the number of those who consider themselves Chileans of Palestinian origin is lower than 50,000, but how large precisely can only be speculated.
On three new oonopid species from China and the discovery of the male Orchestina bialata Liu, Xiao & Xu, 2016 (Araneae: Oonopidae)
Authors: LIU KEKE , HENRARD ARNAUD , XIAO YONGHONG , XU XIANG
Published: November 2019

Expeditions in the Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve in China yielded the discovery of some interesting goblin spiders (Oonopidae). Three new species of oonopid spiders are described and illustrated with photographs and SEMs: Ischnothyreus tergeminus sp. nov. (♂), Orchestina colubrina sp. nov. (♀), and O. zhiwui sp. nov. (♂). Both sexes of the species Orchestina bialata Liu, Xiao & Xu, 2016 were also collected and the male is described for the first time in this paper.
A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vientiane Province, northern Laos
Authors: SITTHIVONG SALY , LUU VINH QUANG , HA NGOAN VAN , NGUYEN TRUONG QUANG , LE MINH DUC , ZIEGLER THOMAS
Published: November 2019

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Vientiane Province, northern Laos is described based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 83.9 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of dark nuchal loop, nape band and five dark transversal bands between limb insertions; intersupranasals two; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and tail base; 15 or 16 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, without interspersed tubercles; 31–37 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; six precloacal pores and 15 femoral pores in males, which are interrupted by six to eight poreless scales; six precloacal pitted scales plus in total 10–15 pitted femoral scales in females, which are separated by six to eight poreless scales; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales present; two or three postcloacal tubercles; median subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. In molecular analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis species group, and weakly corroborated as a sister taxon to C. pageli. Pairwise genetic comparison shows that it is at least 18% divergent from other congeners in the species group based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene.
Investigation of Dielectric Behaviors and a.c. Conduction of a-Se90Cd10–xSbx (2 ≤ x ≤ 8) Chalcogenide Glass
Authors: Shukla Nitesh , Singh Pravin Kumar , Dwivedi D. K.
Published: November 2019

The dielectric relaxation and ac conduction play a vital role to understand the mechanism of conduction. The structure and defects of solid can be determined by dielectric relaxation whereas the nature of defect states and their density of states can be studied by a. c. conductivity.
In the present work, we have prepared a novel Se90Cd10–xSbx (2 ≤ x ≤ 8) glass in bulk form by conventional melt quenching technique. The investigation of dielectric behavior and conduction of amorphous Se90Cd10–xSbx
(2 ≤ x ≤ 8) of pellets has been studied in the frequency span 5 × 102–1 × 105 Hz at temperature 323 K. It is observed that the dielectric constants (ɛ′) dielectric loss (ɛ″), loss angle (tan (δ))
and AC conductivity (σac) show the frequency dependent behavior. It is also noticed that ɛ′, ɛ″, tan(δ) and σac decreases with increase of Sb concentration in Se90Cd10–xSbx
(2 ≤ x ≤ 8) glassy alloys.
Reversible Realization of 4-Bit Vedic Multiplier Circuit with Optimized Performance Parameters
Authors: Shukla Vandana , Singh O. P. , Mishra G. R. , Tiwari R. K.
Published: November 2019

Low power high speed calculating devices are foremost requirement of this era. Moreover, multiplication is considered as the most vital part of any calculating system. Multiplication process is generally considered as the speed limiting process as it requires more time as compared to
other basic arithmetic calculations. So, here we focus on multiplication calculation using vedic method. Moreover, Reversible realization of any digital circuit improves the performance of the system by reducing the power loss from it. Here, the concept of vedic multiplication and Reversible
approach are combined to propose a 4-bit multiplier circuit with optimized performance parameters. Proposed design is also analyzed and compared with existing designs. This approach may be employed to propose other low loss devices.
Social Justice and International Competencies: Positioning Counseling Psychologists for the Global Era
Authors: Wang Chiachih DC , Çiftçi Ayşe
Published: November 2019

In this article, we attempt to draw a connection between social justice and international competencies within counseling psychology. Built on Constantine et al.’s general social justice competencies as well as the cross-national cultural competences model and dynamic-systemic-process model of international competencies, nine international social justice competencies are outlined and their relevance in international contexts is highlighted. In addition, three specific mindsets for the enhancement of international social justice work by U.S.-based counseling psychologists are discussed. We believe that by promoting the integration of social justice and international competencies, future counseling psychologists will be better prepared for the global era.
2019 Report: Student Affiliates of Seventeen (SAS)
Authors: Schoener Ashley E. , Colbert Samuel M.
Published: November 2019

Ball State University’s tenure as host institution for Student Affiliates of Division Seventeen (SAS) has come to an end as of August 2019. While maintaining the purpose of increasing student membership and involvement in the Society of Counseling Psychology, Ball State’s executive board has pursued unique initiatives aimed at strengthening the organization and providing opportunities to its members. Over the course of our 3-year term, three main themes emerged: 1) Social Justice and Equity, 2) Membership Engagement, and 3) Organizational sustainability. As such, the current report will include a description of these themes and a review of SAS activities and initiatives in the last year. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Counseling Psychologist, this report will begin with a brief overview of SAS and its history.
Modeling and energy-based sway reduction control for tower crane systems with double-pendulum and spherical-pendulum effects
Authors: Zhang Menghua , Zhang Yongfeng , Ji Bing , Ma Changhui , Cheng Xingong
Published: November 2019

As typical underactuated systems, tower crane systems present complicated nonlinear dynamics. For simplicity, the payload swing is traditionally modeled as a single-pendulum in existing works. Actually, when the hook mass is close to the payload mass, or the size of the payload is large, a tower crane may exhibit double-pendulum effects. In addition, existing control methods assume that the hook and the payload only swing in a plane. To tackle the aforementioned practical problems, we establish the dynamical model of the tower cranes with double-pendulum and spherical-pendulum effects. Then, on this basis, an energy-based controller is designed and analyzed using the established dynamic model. To further obtain rapid hook and payload swing suppression and elimination, the swing part is introduced to the energy-based controller. Lyapunov techniques and LaSalle’s invariance theorem are provided to demonstrate the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system and the convergence of the system states. Simulation results are illustrated to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the designed controller.
Fidelity of new chemical degumming method for obtaining superior properties of Bast fiber from Apocynum venetum
Authors: Halim AFM Fahad , Lv Zongyu , Yida Chen , Mingbo Ma , Liu Haifeng , Zhou Wenlong
Published: November 2019

Bast fibers from Apocynum venetum (A. venetum) have the potential to be a natural cellulose textile fiber similar to jute and ramie. In this study, endeavors were made to extract fiber from the bast of A. venetum using a new chemical degumming method (Fiber-N) instead of traditional acid pretreatment and alkali degumming. Traditional chemical degumming (Fiber-C) has certain disadvantages, such as the use of acid for pretreatment and prolonged high-temperature cooking, which causes severe fiber damage and is also an environmental hazard. To overcome these limitations, it is essential to find a new chemical degumming method. Fibers obtained by the new method (Fiber-N) and the traditional method (Fiber-C) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), residual gum content, fiber yield, and mechanical property measurement. Compared with Fiber-C, 2 h of the new degumming method (2 h Fiber-N) exhibited 15.15% lower residual gum content, 48.5% higher breaking strength, 22.15% higher breaking elongation, and 27.27% higher fiber yield along with substantial savings of water and energy, 22.22% and 60.75% respectively. Furthermore, SEM images of the Fiber-N process fibers showed a smooth surface with no impurities, indicating that the Fiber-N process is simpler, efficient, and could be a superior method of extracting fibers from the bast of A. venetum.
The Brand Value Continuum: Countering Co-destruction of Destination Branding in Social Media through Storytelling
Authors: Lund Niels Frederik , Scarles Caroline , Cohen Scott A.
Published: November 2019

Social media users are increasingly harming destination brands through their posts. This article examines how to counter brand co-destruction in social media through the application of storytelling practices. Based on a netnography of TripAdvisor and Facebook, combined with a case study of the Danish destination management organization (DMO) VisitDenmark, the article investigates the prospective ways in which social media users co-destroy the DMO’s brand. We demonstrate how value creation is a fluid process generated along a “brand value continuum,” as complex interplays between co-creation and co-destruction manifest through user-generated content. The article provides recommendations on how DMOs can counter co-destruction by using storytelling to influence perceptions and set agendas for user conversations that stimulate brand co-creation.
Responsible Government, Statutory Authorities and the Australian Constitution
Authors: Saunders Benjamin B
Published: November 2019

This article examines the compatibility of extra-departmental executive agencies, a defining feature of the modern regulatory state, with responsible government, one of the architectonic principles of the Australian Constitution. Some scholars have argued that a constitutional implication derived from responsible government should be drawn limiting the types of entities that may be established by the Commonwealth and imposing requirements relating to the relationship that must exist between ministers and entities within their portfolio. This article argues that the view that independent statutory agencies are a derogation from the principles of responsible government rests on a misunderstanding of responsible government. Responsible government is an inherently evolutionary system: as incorporated into the Australian Constitution, responsible government was intended to be flexible and non-prescriptive, allowing for change in the governmental arrangements considered necessary from time to time. Independent statutory agencies should not be seen as a challenge to the true principles of responsible government but a legitimate evolution in governance arrangements, which the Constitution deliberately left open.
Fluctuations in intracranial pressure can be estimated non-invasively using near-infrared spectroscopy in non-human primates
Authors: Ruesch Alexander , Schmitt Samantha , Yang Jason , Smith Matthew A , Kainerstorfer Jana M
Published: November 2019

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is typically measured invasively through a sensor placed inside the brain or a needle inserted into the spinal canal, limiting the patient population on which this assessment can be performed. Currently, non-invasive methods are limited due to lack of sensitivity and thus only apply to extreme cases of increased ICP, instead of use in general clinical practice. We demonstrate a novel application for near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to accurately estimate ICP changes over time. Using a non-human primate (Rhesus Macaque) model, we collected optical data while we induced ICP oscillations at multiple ICP levels obtained by manipulating the height of a fluid column connected via a catheter to the lateral ventricle. Hemodynamic responses to ICP changes were measured at the occipital pole and compared to changes detected by a conventional intraparenchymal ICP probe. We demonstrate that hemoglobin concentrations are highly correlated with induced ICP oscillations and that this response is frequency dependent. We translated the NIRS data into non-invasive ICP measurements via a fitted non-parametric transfer function, demonstrating a match in both magnitude and time alignment with an invasively measured reference. Our results demonstrate that NIRS has the potential for non-invasive ICP monitoring.
Selection of suitable sites for offshore wind farms in the Caspian Sea and choosing the most suitable wind turbine in each area
Authors: Mohammad Shafinejad Mojtaba , Abedi Mehrdad
Published: November 2019

In this article, an attempt has been made to indicate suitable sites to construct offshore wind farms in the Caspian Sea. Feasibility studies of alternative offshore wind farms are the main concern for utility companies and researchers. For this study, the data related to wind speed and wind directions are collected from different sources such as satellite maps and metrological data in Iran and Turkey using 3-h measurement period at 10-m height above the sea level. According to this study, 16 sites mostly close to the beach are nominated for constructing the wind farms in the Caspian Sea. In this article, we also demonstrate the plots related to monthly and annual average wind speed as well as dominant wind direction based on statistical analysis. Also, to determine the class of wind in each area, power density and wind energy are provided. Also, besides selecting the appropriate turbine in each area, the power and energy of 11 wind turbines suitable for offshore installations are simulated, and the power and energy of each turbine are estimated. Finally, based on the parameters, maximum power and energy, maximum capacity factor, full load hours of turbine, and the suitable turbine are nominated for each particular area. Finally, considering that the Weibull distribution function is in good agreement with the data from wind speed, wind modeling has been done by this function, and Weibull distribution charts are drawn.