bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Database Theory Column Report on PODS 2019
Authors: Koch Christoph
Published: December 2019

The 38th ACM SIGMOD-SIGACT-SIGAI Symposium on Principles of Database Systems (PODS 2019) took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from July 1 to July 3, 2019, in conjunction with the 2019 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data. PODS focuses on theoretical aspects of data management, and the co-location with SIGMOD stimulates interaction between theory-oriented and systems-oriented research. Since the first edition of the symposium in 1982, the PODS papers are distinguished by a rigorous approach to widely diverse problems in data management, often bringing to bear techniques from a variety of different areas, including computational logic, finite model theory, computational complexity, algorithm design and analysis, programming languages, and artificial intelligence.
Special Issue on The Workshop on MAthematical performance Modeling and Analysis (MAMA 2019)
Authors: Squillante Mark S.
Published: December 2019

The complexity of computer systems, networks and applications, as well as the advancements in computer technology, continue to grow at a rapid pace. Mathematical analysis, modeling and optimization have been playing, and continue to play, an important role in research studies to investigate fundamental issues and tradeoffs at the core of performance problems in the design and implementation of complex computer systems, networks and applications.
heSRPT
Authors: Berg Benjamin , Vesilo Rein , Harchol-Balter Mor
Published: December 2019

Nearly all modern data centers serve workloads which are capable of exploiting parallelism. When a job parallelizes across multiple servers it will complete more quickly, but jobs receive diminishing returns from being allocated additional servers. Because allocating multiple servers to a single job is inefficient, it is unclear how best to share a fixed number of servers between many parallelizable jobs. In this paper, we provide the first closed form expression for the optimal allocation of servers to jobs. Specifically, we specify the number of servers that should be allocated to each job at every moment in time. Our solution is a combination of favoring small jobs (as in SRPT scheduling) while still ensuring high system efficiency. We call our scheduling policy high-efficiency SRPT (heSRPT).
Experimenting with generic programming features
Authors: Markus Arjen
Published: December 2019

Generic programming holds the promise of reducing the amount of code that needs to be written and maintained: rather than copying source code and adapting it for a new data type you simply let the compiler do that tedious job. Templates as featured in C++ are an exemple par excellence of generic programming. From the point of view of the programmer/user they are very easy to use:
Acetazolamide does not alter endurance exercise performance at 3,500-m altitude
Authors: Bradbury Karleigh E. , Yurkevicius Beau R. , Mitchell Katherine M. , Coffman Kirsten E. , Salgado Roy M. , Fulco Charles S. , Kenefick Robert W. , Charkoudian Nisha
Published: December 2019

Acetazolamide (AZ) is a medication commonly used to prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS) during rapid ascent to high altitude. However, it is unclear whether AZ use impairs exercise performance; previous literature regarding this topic is equivocal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of AZ on time-trial (TT) performance during a 30-h exposure to hypobaric hypoxia equivalent to 3,500-m altitude. Ten men [sea-level peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak): 50.8 ± 6.5 mL·kg−1·min−1; body fat %: 20.6 ± 5.2%] completed 2 30-h exposures at 3,500 m. In a crossover study design, subjects were given 500 mg/day of either AZ or a placebo. Exercise testing was completed 2 h and 24 h after ascent and consisted of 15-min steady-state treadmill walking at 40%–45% sea-level VO2peak, followed by a 2-mile self-paced treadmill TT. AMS was assessed after ~12 h and 22 h at 3,500 m. The incidence of AMS decreased from 40% with placebo to 0% with AZ. Oxygen saturation was higher ( P < 0.05) in AZ versus placebo trials at the end of the TT after 2 h (85 ± 3% vs. 79 ± 3%) and 24 h (86 ± 3% vs. 81 ± 4%). There was no difference in time to complete 2 miles between AZ and PL after 2 h (20.7 ± 3.2 vs. 22.7 ± 5.0 min, P > 0.05) or 24 h (21.5 ± 3.4 vs. 21.1 ± 2.9 min, P > 0.05) of exposure to altitude. Our results suggest that AZ (500 mg/day) does not negatively impact endurance exercise performance at 3,500 m.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of acetazolamide (500 mg/day) versus placebo on self-paced, peak-effort exercise performance using a short-duration exercise test in a hypobaric hypoxic environment with a repeated-measures design. In the present study, acetazolamide did not impact exercise performance after 2-h or 24-h exposure to 3,500-m simulated altitude.
Leiomyomatosis Peritonealis Disseminata with Sarcomatous Transformation: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Xu Song , Qian Jing
Published: December 2019

Leiomyomatosis Peritonealis Disseminata (LPD) is an uncommon disease characterized by presence of Multiple Leiomyomas in the abdominal and pelvic cavity. Increasingly, literature supports that LPD is an iatrogenic condition. Malignant transformation of LPD is rarely reported. We hereby report a case of a middle-aged female patient who was diagnosed with malignant sarcomatous degeneration in LPD. Gynecologists may get inspiration from this case report.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attract Endothelial Progenitor Cells via a Positive Feedback Loop between CXCR2 and CXCR4
Authors: Tan Yingyun , Shu Linjing , Xu Peng , Bai Shi
Published: December 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can attract host endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to promote vascularization in tissue-engineered constructs (TECs). Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains vague. This study is aimed at investigating the roles of CXCR2 and CXCR4 in the EPC migration towards MSCs. In vitro, Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the migration of EPCs towards MSCs. Antagonists and shRNAs targeting CXCR2, CXCR4, and JAK/STAT3 were applied for the signaling blockade. Western blot and RT-PCR were conducted to analyze the molecular events in EPCs. In vivo, TECs were constructed and subcutaneously implanted into GFP+ transgenic mice. Signaling inhibitors were injected in an orientated manner into TECs. Recruitment of host CD34+ cells was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Eventually, we demonstrated that CXCR2 and CXCR4 were both highly expressed in migrated EPCs and indispensable for MSC-induced EPC migration. CXCR2 and CXCR4 strongly correlated with each other in the way that the expression of CXCR2 and CXCR2-mediated migration depends on the activity of CXCR4 and vice versa. Further studies documented that both of CXCR2 and CXCR4 activated STAT3 signaling, which in turn regulated the expression of CXCR2 and CXCR4, as well as cell migration. In summary, we firstly introduced a reciprocal crosstalk between CXCR2 and CXCR4 in the context of EPC migration. This feedback loop plays critical roles in the migration of EPCs towards MSCs.
Elaboration and Biocompatibility of an Eggshell-Derived Hydroxyapatite Material Modified with Si/PLGA for Bone Regeneration in Dentistry
Authors: Gutiérrez-Prieto Sandra Janeth , Fonseca Luis F. , Sequeda-Castañeda Luis Gonzalo , Díaz Kelly J. , Castañeda Linet Y. , Leyva-Rojas José A. , Salcedo-Reyes Juan Carlos , Acosta Adriana P.
Published: December 2019

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the most commonly used biomaterial in modern bone regeneration studies because of its chemical similarity to bone, biocompatibility with different polymers, osteoconductivity, low cost, and lack of immune response. However, to overcome the disadvantages of HAp, which include fragility and low mechanical strength, current studies typically focus on property modification through the addition of other materials. Objective. To develop and evaluate the biocompatibility of a HAp material extracted from eggshells and modified with silicon (Si) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA). Materials and Methods. An in vitro experimental study in which a HAp material prepared from eggshells was synthesized by wet chemical and conventional chemical precipitation. Subsequently, this material was reinforced with Si/PLGA using the freezing/lyophilization method, and then osteoblast cells were seeded on the experimental material (HAp/Si/PLGA). To analyse the biocompatibility of this composite material, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) techniques were used. PLGA, bovine bone/PLGA (BB/PLGA), and HAp/PLGA were used as controls. Results. A cellular viability of 96% was observed for the experimental HAp/Si/PLGA material as well as for the PLGA. The viability for the BB/PLGA material was 90%, and the viability for the HAp/PLGA was 86%. Cell adhesion was observed on the exterior surface of all materials. However, a continuous monolayer and the presence of filopodia were observed over both external and internal surface of the experimental materials. Conclusions. The HAp/Si/PLGA material is highly biocompatible with osteoblastic cells and can be considered promising for the construction of three-dimensional scaffolds for bone regeneration in dentistry.
The Utility of Lower Glycemic Targets for Treating Gestational Diabetes: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hagen Grace , Brown Crystal , Dietrich Jordan , Gibbs Charles , Lee Gene T.
Published: December 2019

Objective. In vivo study of glucose homeostasis in pregnancy suggests normal glucose levels are lower than current glycemic targets used in gestational diabetes. After the HAPO study results, our institution began using glycemic targets of fasting 85 mg/dL and 2-hour postprandial of 110 mg/dL. We reviewed our results.Methods. A retrospective cohort of GDM patients that delivered at KUMC from January 2007 to May 2017 was reviewed. All patients were diagnosed with the 2-step Carpenter-Coustan thresholds. High targets were compared with low targets. The primary outcome investigated wasbirthweight>90%(large for gestational age, LGA).Results. 604 patients were studied, and 34% were treated with low glycemic targets. Our unadjusted results showed that the low-target group had a lower incidence of LGA infants (24.0 vs. 31.8%), higher incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia (20.7 vs. 11.6%), and inductions (39.4 vs. 20.5%). After adjustment for demographic variables, only a higher risk of inductions remained (aOR 2.54 (1.44, 4.49)).Conclusion. Lower glycemic targets did not produce large reductions in fetal overgrowth, but they were associated with a higher rate of inductions. As there were no observed differences in maternal or neonatal outcomes otherwise, aiming for lower glycemic targets in GDM is likely not cost-effective.
Successful Selective Embolization for Recurrent Hemarthrosis after Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Barrientos Cristian , Barahona Maximiliano , Cermenati Tomas , Wulf Rodrigo , Hinzpeter Jaime
Published: December 2019

Knee replacement has demonstrated to be a cost-effective treatment for severe knee osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, perioperative complications may occur, including recurrent hemarthrosis reaching an incidence between 0.3 and 1.6%. Success rate after conservative treatment has been reported to be above 80%, but in case of recurrence, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and Doppler ultrasound have been used to conduct the diagnosis. Arthroscopy or selective embolization is used for treatment depending on the etiology of the bleeding. Open surgery is performed in the rare cases of failure of the above alternatives. The patient consulted seven months after total knee arthroplasty with sudden pain in the medial side of the knee. Infection was ruled out, and arthrocentesis shows hemarthrosis. Successful selective embolization of medial superior and lateral superior genicular artery was performed. After two years, the patients report 92 points in the Forgotten joint score, 0 in Womac pain, 1 in Womac stiffness, and 3 in Womac functional score.
Prevalence and Impact of Type I Sensitization to Alpha-Gal in Patients Consulting an Allergy Unit
Authors: Fischer Jörg , Huynh Hoai-Nam , Hebsaker Johanna , Forchhammer Stephan , Yazdi Amir Sadegh
Published: December 2019

Background: Alpha-gal syndrome is a complex allergy with high clinical relevance regarding mammalian-derived food and drugs and is characterized by the presence of IgE antibodies directed at the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose. As not all alpha-gal sIgE-positive individuals pre­sent clinical symptoms upon consumption of mammalian meat, the diagnostic value of alpha-gal sIgE has yet to be clarified. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity among allergy patients, examine the impact of tick bites as associated risk factors and determine the diagnostic value of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study evaluating patients in the Allergy Unit was performed. Alpha-gal-sIgE levels were assessed by ImmunoCAP assay. Exposure to tick bites was assessed by a questionnaire. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic value of alpha-gal sIgE for the diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome. Results: In the study population (n = 1369), the overall prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE-positive (≥0.10 kUA/L) individuals was 19.9%, and the highest prevalence (30.2%) was found in patients with insect venom allergies. A reported tick bite within the 12 months prior to blood sampling significantly increased the risk of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity (OR 2.084). The ROC curve analysis indicated alpha-gal sIgE ≥0.54 kUA/L as the optimal cutoff point for assessing the diagnostic value of alpha-gal syndrome in allergy patients. Conclusions: In allergy care settings, alpha-gal-sIgE positivity is a common finding. Alpha-gal sIgE is a sensitive marker in the diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome but has limited predictive value for the characteristics or severity of this allergy.
ФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНО ЗОРІЄНТОВАНИХ КОМУНІКАТИВНИХ НАВИЧОК СТУДЕНТІВ-ІНОЗЕМЦІВ МЕДИЧНИХ СПЕЦІАЛЬНОСТЕЙ У ПРОЦЕСІ ВИВЧЕННЯ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОВИ ЯК ІНОЗЕМНОЇ
Authors: Melnyk T. P.
Published: December 2019

У статті проаналізовано одне з основних завдань програми підготовки іноземного фахівця медичної сфери, яке полягає в підвищенні рівня культури усного мовлення, виробленні вміння правильно, логічно та грамотно висловлювати думку. Запропоновано методику формування професійно зорієнтованих діалогічних навичок студентів-іноземців медичних спеціальностей у процесі вивчення української мови як іноземної. Добір завдань спрямовано на реалізацію комунікативних потреб студентів-іноземців у різних сферах спілкування: науковій (для отримання конкурентоспроможної підготовки за обра­ним фахом), суспільно-політичній і соціально-культурній (для належної адаптації та повноцінного орієнтування в новому соціально-культурному середовищі, особистісного культурного зростання), побутовій (для задоволення потреб повсякденного життя), а також для виховання гармонійної особистості, що здатна до міжкультурного діалогу.

Запропоновано систему вправ, які сприятимуть опануванню вмінь та навичок спілкуватися в усній і письмовій формах відповідно до цілей і соціальних норм мовленнєвої поведінки в типових сферах і ситуаціях. З’ясовано, що виконання окресленого комплексу завдань сприятиме виробленню в іноземних студентів навичок: 1) звертатися до інших із запитаннями та відповідати на запитання; 2) підтримувати та продовжувати розмову відповідно до ситуації спілкування; 3) будувати діалог на запропоновану тему; 4) вдало використовувати форми мовленнєвого етикету; 5) відповідати на запитання за змістом тексту та переказувати зміст текстів. Матеріали, описані в статті, призначені для студентів-іноземців, які володіють мовою на початковому рівні та здатні застосовувати здобуті знання з української мови для досягнення соціальної та професійної взаємодії в українськомовному середовищі.
ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS ДЛЯ МАТЕМАТИЧНОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ВИВЧЕННЯ ПРОЦЕСУ РОЗПАДУ ДНК У ПЛАЗМІ
Authors: Vakulenko D. V. , Kuchvara O. M. , Semenets A. V. , Andrushchak I. Ye.
Published: December 2019

Використання сучасних комп’ютерних технологій у процесі викладання курсу комп’ютерного моделювання у фармації сприяє формуванню вмінь та навичок в умовах невпинного розвитку комп’ютеризації та впровадженню математичного моделювання у фармації. Зокрема, у статті розглянуто переваги та недоліки застосування математичного моделювання за допомогою COMSOL Multiphysics у формуванні компетентності майбутніх фармацевтів.

Розглянуто ступінь ефективності, зручності та доступності  застосування програмного середовища COMSOL Multiphysics в курсі комп’ютерного моделювання у фармації  для студентів 3-го курсу фармацевтичного факультету на прикладі вивчення процесу розпаду ДНК у плазмі.

Використання сучасних комп’ютерних продуктів у процесі викладання комп’ютерних технологій у фармації сприяє формуванню вмінь та навичок із математичного моделювання у фармації, зокрема, генна терапія – один із прикладів біотехнології клінічного застосування. Вирішення головної проблеми – доставки генів, пов’язаних із транспортуванням плазмідної ДНК (пДНК) до мішеней, та перетворення між різними формами пДНК, використання функції оцінки параметрів за допомогою інженерії та реакцій інтерфейсу, для пошуку констант швидкості трьох послідовних реакцій, що беруть участь у ДНК процесі деградації.
ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ КЛАСИФІКАЦІЇ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ, ОБМЕЖЕНЬ ЖИТТЄДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ТА ЗДОРОВ’Я ПРИ ВИКЛАДАННІ КЛІНІЧНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН У ФІЗИЧНИХ ТЕРАПЕВТІВ
Authors: Mysula I. R. , Bakalyuk T. G. , Stelmakh H. O. , Maksiv K. Ya.
Published: December 2019

У статті проаналізовано використання Міжнародної класифікації функціонування, обмежень життєдіяльності та здоров’я (МКФ) для вдосконалення викладання клінічних дисциплін бакалаврам та магістрам із спеціальності «Фізична терапія. Ерготерапія». Враховуючи сучасну парадигму охорони здоров’я та фізичної терапії з їх фокусуванням на функціонуванні людини, її активності й участі, реабілітаційний діагноз має базуватися на МКФ. Фізичному терапевту необхідно у своїй клінічній практиці орієнтуватися не на клінічний діагноз, а на МКФ в якості основи для постановки реабілітаційного діагнозу. На кафедрі медичної реабілітації при проведенні практичних занять з клінічних дисциплін для бакалаврів та магістрів зі спеціальності «Фізична терапія. Ерготерапія» на основі обстеження пацієнта в межах компетенції фізичного терапевта складається список проблем, сформульованих у категоріях МКФ (функція, активність, участь), проводиться кількісне оцінювання прояву порушення або обмеження та визначається роль фактора зовнішнього середовища, після встановлення реабілітаційного діагнозу складається програма реабілітації, ефективність якої контролюється також за допомогою МКФ. Бакалаври та магістри зі спеціальності «Фізична терапія. Ерготерапія» повинні навчитись орієнтуватися в МКФ і використовувати її для встановлення реабілітаційного діагнозу та розробки реабілітаційних програм.
Configurações de guerrilha nos escritos de Jorge Amado
Authors: Santos Uelton Silva
Published: December 2019

investigaremos os aspectos de guerrilha acionada na literatura de Jorge Amado, tomando como base para tal reflexão o texto A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro Dágua (2008). Iremos refletir como Quincas (personagem da novela citada) configura outros tipos de realidades na sociedade em que está inserido, maquinando outras possibilidades políticas e sociais, operando um diálogo com pensadores como Sobrinho (2017) e Quinjano (2010).
Existe uma literatura negra em Portugal?
Authors: Gonçalves Bianca Mafra
Published: December 2019

Uma nova perspectiva surge na literatura portuguesa: a perspectiva negra. Contribuindo para a desconstrução do imaginário consagrado acerca da identidade lusitana e, também, fomentando a revisitação do legado colonial do país, as três obras aqui analisadas colocam em cena o processo de “tornar-se negro/a” em Portugal. Em vista disso, seria possível analisar esta produção a partir do conceito de “literatura negra”?
Figurações ambivalentes de uma infância possível no pós-abolição em Raiz de um negro brasileiro de Oswaldo de Camargo
Authors: Sousa Fernanda Silva e
Published: December 2019

O artigo tem por objetivo analisar em Raiz de um negro brasileiro: esboço autobiográfico (2015), de Oswaldo de Camargo, a articulação entre infância e velhice a partir de um narrador marcado pela consciência das consequências de ser negro. Esse procedimento confere complexidade à experiência negra ao evidenciar as diferenças que a atravessam e permite um outro olhar sobre o pós-abolição, descobrindo uma infância possível, mas ambivalente, que dificulta a distinção entre reinvenção e sujeição.
Identidade e feminismo negro em poemas afro-brasileiros
Authors: Silva Camila Bastos Lopes da , Castro José Guilherme de Oliveira , Teixeira Lucilinda Ribeiro , Nunes Paulo Jorge Martins
Published: December 2019

A presente pesquisa investigará dois poemas de escritoras afro-brasileiras utilizando como base teórica o conceito de identidade e de feminismo negro. A pesquisa torna-se de fundamental importância pois discorre sobre o feminismo negro e o uso da linguagem como recurso que confronta o patriarcalismo, o sexismo e a colonização do poder e do saber ainda tão presentes nos dias atuais.
A dantesque dream
Authors: Bellas João Pedro Lima
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes an analysis of the poem “O navio negreiro”, by Castro Alves, that attempts to understand the images employed by the poet to deal with the issues concerning slavery. The aim is to demonstrate that in order to handle the horrors caused by a slave-based society the author evokes a series of images common to those present in Gothic literature. In addition, the image of the sea will be analyzed in detail in order to understand its meaning in the poem.
1. Introduction
Authors: Windham Patrick , Van Atta Richard
Published: December 2019

This introductory chapter focuses on DARPA’s key features—its mission, organization, linkages to other organizations, and “political design”—and how those features have contributed to its success.
7. Rethinking the Role of the State in Technology Development
Authors: Fong Glenn R.
Published: December 2019

Chapter 7, by Erica R. H. Fuchs, discusses DARPA’s governance approach as embodying an imbedded network.
Building Long Homogeneous Temperature Series across Europe: A New Approach for the Blending of Neighboring Series
Authors: Squintu Antonello A. , van der Schrier Gerard , van den Besselaar Else J. M. , Cornes Richard C. , Klein Tank Albert M. G.
Published: December 2019

Long and homogeneous series are a necessary requirement for reliable climate analysis. Relocation of measuring equipment from one station to another, such as from the city center to a rural area or a nearby airport, is one of the causes of discontinuities in these long series that may affect trend estimates. In this paper, an updated procedure for the composition of long series, by combining data from nearby stations, is introduced. It couples an evolution of the blending procedure already implemented within the European Climate Assessment and Dataset (ECA&D, which combines data from stations no more than 12.5 km apart from each other) with a duplicate removal, alongside the quantile matching homogenization procedure. The ECA&D contains approximately 3000 homogenized series for each temperature variable prior to the blending procedure, and approximately 820 of these are longer than 60 years; the process of blending increases the number of long series to more than 900. Three case studies illustrate the effects of the homogenization on single blended series, showing the effectiveness of separate adjustments on extreme and mean values (Geneva, Switzerland), on cases in which blending is complex (Rheinstetten, Germany), and on series that are completed by adding relevant portions of Global Telecommunications System synoptic data (Siauliai, Lithuania). A trend assessment on the whole European continent reveals the removal of negative and very large trends, demonstrating a stronger spatial consistency. The new blended and homogenized dataset will allow a more reliable use of temperature series for indices calculation and for the calculation of gridded datasets and it will be available online for users (https://www.ecad.eu).
Finite Sample Inference for Multiply Imputed Synthetic Data under a Multiple Linear Regression Model
Authors: Klein Martin D. , Zylstra John , Sinha Bimal K.
Published: December 2019

In this article, we develop finite sample inference based on multiply imputed synthetic data generated under the multiple linear regression model. We consider two methods of generating the synthetic data, namely posterior predictive sampling and plug-in sampling. Simulation results are presented to confirm that the proposed methodology performs as the theory predicts and to numerically compare the proposed methodology with the current state-of-the-art procedures for analysing multiply imputed partially synthetic data.

AMS 2000 subject classification: 62F10, 62F25, 62J05
On Fixed width Confidence Interval Estimation of the Common Mean in Symmetric Multivariate Normal Distribution
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Uttam , Sarkar Pritam
Published: December 2019

This article deals with purely and accelerated sequential sampling procedures to find fixed-width confidence interval of completely symmetric multivariate normal mean. Procedures are studied asymptotically and are evaluated numerically.

AMS 2000 subject classification: 62F25 62H12
“Sincerely Held Principles” or Prejudice? The Tennessee Counseling Discrimination Law
Authors: Grzanka Patrick R. , Spengler Elliot S. , Miles Joseph R. , Frantell Keri A. , DeVore Elliott N.
Published: December 2019

In 2016, Tennessee became the first state to allow counselors and therapists in private practice to deny services to any client based on the therapist’s sincerely held principles. The law’s proponents framed mental health care ethics as infringing on counselors’ religious liberties; its critics denounced the bill because it apparently targeted LGBT+ individuals. This exploratory study is the first statewide assessment of LGBT+ Tennesseans’ ( N = 346) perceptions of the law and how it may affect their help-seeking attitudes and behaviors. Evidence suggests widespread awareness of the law among our respondents and deep skepticism toward mental health care. Further, most respondents view the law as cover for discrimination. We stress the need for broader research on conscience clauses and call for advocacy against these laws, which have the potential to engender widespread harm to multiple minority groups.
The ‘dual tension’ created by negotiating upward social mobility and habitus: A generational study of skilled working-class men, their sons and grandsons following deindustrialization
Authors: Ackers George Karl
Published: December 2019

This article presents an intergenerational study of 28 skilled working-class men’s life stories of negotiating social mobility in the wake of deindustrialization. This contributes to emerging qualitative research that aims to build a framework that understands the personal tensions social mobility creates for individuals. In this study, the tensions that men experienced were not exclusively the consequence of ‘habitus clivé’, i.e. men feeling a dislocation from their working-class backgrounds as they climbed the occupational ladder. Men’s tensions also arose from internalizing the generational pressure to improve their occupational position. Pressed by these competing tensions, men developed a ‘ getting-on outlook’ over their careers, which meant that each generation pursued upward social mobility while also seeking to have the integrity of their working lives authenticated by their parents. To build on habitus, Bertaux and Bertaux-Wiame’s description of the ‘dual tension’ is advanced as a means to frame the conflict between belonging and individuality that social mobility provoked. This article suggests this ‘dual tension’ could be reduced by families in a process named ‘authentication’. ‘Authentication’ reflects intergenerational dialogues and practices developed by the younger generations to have their achieved status recognized as in keeping with their family background.
The Rise of the Homme Machine: Carl Schmitt’s Critique of Biotechnology and Utopias
Authors: Suuronen Ville
Published: December 2019

This essay argues that Carl Schmitt’s postwar writings offer an original critique of biotechnology and utopian thinking. Examining the classics of utopian literature from Plato to Thomas More and Aldous Huxley, Schmitt illustrates the rise of utopianism that aims to transform human nature and even produce an artificial “human-machine.” Schmitt discovers a counterimage to the emerging era of biotechnology from a katechontic form of Christianity and maintains that human beings must recognize their shared humanity in God, warning us that without a realm of transcendence, the enemy no longer offers an existential mirror but begins to incarnate foreign values, which must be destroyed completely. By comparing Schmitt with Michel Foucault and Donna Haraway, it is also argued that Schmitt’s thinking unlocks a novel path to exploring the meaning and histories of biopolitics and posthumanism. From a Schmittian perspective, Foucault’s depiction of biopolitics appears as a mere prelude to the coming age of biotechnology that will lead us into a posthuman era. Demonstrating interesting contrasts with Haraway’s utopian vision of the cyborg, it is maintained that Schmitt’s thinking offers a distinctively conservative-Christian critique of posthumanism.
Converting Coherence to Signal-to-noise Ratio for Enhancement of Adaptive Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Hasegawa Hideyuki , Nagaoka Ryo
Published: December 2019

High-frame-rate ultrasound is an emerging technique for functional ultrasound imaging. However, the lateral spatial resolution and contrast in high-frame-rate ultrasound with an unfocused transmit beam are inherently lower than those in conventional ultrasonic imaging based on the line-by-line acquisition using a focused ultrasonic beam because of the low directivity of the transmit beam. Coherence-based beamforming methods were introduced in ultrasound imaging for improvement of image quality. Such methods improve the lateral spatial resolution using the coherence among ultrasonic echo signals received by individual transducer elements. In this study, a new method based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) among the element echo signals was developed for enhancement of the effect of the coherence factor (CF), which was previously developed for improvement in spatial resolution and contrast. In the proposed method, a new factor, namely, SNR factor, was introduced, and the relationship between the previously developed CF and SNR factor was discussed. The proposed method was implemented in plane wave imaging, and the performance was evaluated by simulated and phantom experiments. In simulation, the lateral spatial resolution and contrast obtained with the conventional CF were 0.23 mm and 47.0 dB, respectively, which were significantly better than 0.39 mm and 15.3 dB obtained by conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming. Using the proposed method, the lateral spatial resolution and contrast were further improved to 0.12 mm and 69.8 dB, respectively. Similar trends were found also in phantom experiments.
What they say, how they say it, or how they look saying it: Which channels of communication link attachment anxiety and problematic first impressions?
Authors: McClure M. Joy , Auger Emilie , Lydon John E.
Published: December 2019

Concerns about what to say or do can compromise first impressions. In previous research, the anxiously attached—desperate to connect but preoccupied with potential rejection—had first impressions tainted with manifest anxiety (MAnx) and social disengagement (SDis). But which communication channels—content, sound, or visual—are most problematic? Distinguishing between channels is necessary to inform interventions that might help the anxiously attached initiate relationships. The present exploration applied a new coding paradigm to archived video of participants filming an introduction to a romantic prospect. In mediation models, attachment anxiety was linked to MAnx via content, sound, and visual channels and to SDis via sound and visual channels. These findings suggest interventions should take a multichannel, holistic approach.
Effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on endothelin-1 and C-reactive protein levels and prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wan Guohua , Wang Linlin , Zhang Guanhong , Zhang Jian , Lu Yanli , Li Jun , Yi Xinhao
Published: December 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory factors, and on the prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

We enrolled 76 adults with severe TBI. The patients were divided randomly into two equal groups administered enteral nutrition with and without probiotics, respectively. Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Sequential Organ Failure Score, Acute Physiology, Chronic Health Score, hospitalization, mortality, and infections were recorded.

Results

Serum levels of inflammatory factors gradually decreased with increasing treatment time in both groups. However, ET-1 at 15 days, and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and CRP at 7 and 15 days decreased significantly more in the combined treatment group. Hospitalization duration and pulmonary infection rates were also significantly reduced in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition alone group. GCS scores at 15 days were significantly lower in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition group.

Conclusion

Probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition could reduce serum levels of ET-1, CRP, and IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and could thus improve the recovery of patients with severe TBI.
Removing Hand Form Information Specifically Impairs Emotion Recognition for Fearful and Angry Body Stimuli
Authors: Ross Paddy , Flack Tessa
Published: December 2019

Emotion perception research has largely been dominated by work on facial expressions, but emotion is also strongly conveyed from the body. Research exploring emotion recognition from the body tends to refer to “the body” as a whole entity. However, the body is made up of different components (hands, arms, trunk, etc.), all of which could be differentially contributing to emotion recognition. We know that the hands can help to convey actions and, in particular, are important for social communication through gestures, but we currently do not know to what extent the hands influence emotion recognition from the body. Here, 93 adults viewed static emotional body stimuli with either the hands, arms, or both components removed and completed a forced-choice emotion recognition task. Removing the hands significantly reduced recognition accuracy for fear and anger but made no significant difference to the recognition of happiness and sadness. Removing the arms had no effect on emotion recognition accuracy compared with the full-body stimuli. These results suggest the hands may play a key role in the recognition of emotions from the body.
A Future for Humanity?
Authors: Jefferies William
Published: December 2019

Clear Bright Future is Paul Mason’s radical defence of humanity from Trumpist populism and de-globalisation, neo-liberalism, the threat of machine learning and, notwithstanding the book’s title (lifted from Trotsky’s Testament), Marxism, which, he considers, needs a ‘kicking’. Mason redefines Marx’s Theses on Feuerbach so that the point of change is to understand the world, or more precisely, for him to understand the world. According to Mason, the declassed, amorphous but nonetheless conscious, yet unconscious, networked individual, who is far more complex, and so essential, than traditional classes, although not a traditional class, and so subjective and not objective, and so not essential, will adopt communism, even though it has not, and implement a new world order, somehow. Mainly it would appear by arguing that machines do not have feelings, but also by rehabilitating the absolute moral philosophy of Thomas Malthus, amongst other things.
Multi-objective optimization of residual stresses and distortion in submerged arc welding process using Genetic Algorithm and Harmony Search
Authors: Ansaripour Navid , Heidari Ali , Eftekhari Seyed Ali
Published: December 2019

Residual stresses and distortion in welded joints undermine the durability of the structure and prevent a correct assembly of the parts. The principal objective of this study is to find a solution to minimize the residual stresses and distortion induced by submerged arc welding process. Accordingly, first, a thermal simulation of the process was undertaken by the finite-element method, and the results were used to provide a mechanical solution. The mechanical solution determined residual stresses and distortion that were found to be consistent with experimental results. Next, drawing on the design of experiment method based on cooling time between first pass and second pass and the first and second pass welding speed, a set of training data was formed for the developed artificial neural network. The trained neural network was then used as input for the optimization algorithm. Single- and multi-objective Genetic Algorithm and single and multi-objective Harmony Search methods were used for optimization process. Results illustrate that artificial neural network and multi-objective optimization algorithms are excellent methods for optimizing the residual stresses and distortion caused by welding process. As it was proved in this study, the single-objective optimization of the welding process is effective in reducing both the residual stress and distortion. The double-objective optimization also contributed to reduce both residual stress and distortion with 4% (for residual stresses) and 26.56% (for distortion) in multi-objective Harmony Search which was the better algorithm based on the solution time. Given the contradiction of the residual stresses and distortion in the welding process, the double-objective algorithm was found to be less successful in minimizing the two target functions relative to the case with the two optimized separately.
India’s Plantations Labour Act and Inherent Structural Anomalies
Authors: Tantri Malini L.
Published: December 2019

The article critically revisits the Plantations Labour Act (1951) and its amendments and discusses threads of anomalies inherent in its making over the years. While doing so, it discusses conflicts about the domain of plantation sector, institutional exclusion and components of social costs. It explores alternative policy options to reduce social welfare cost components of the sector so as to improve cost competitiveness of the industry along with protecting labour interest.
Dynamics of Employment and Economic Growth: A Comparative Study of China and India
Authors: Sharma Manjit , Sharma Pushpak
Published: December 2019

In the neo-liberal period, the working class in ‘global south’ has suffered massive retrogression in terms of employment and real wages. Historical experience has proved that capitalism concentrates the wealth at one end of the pole and the vast mass of labouring people at the other. Given the nature of predatory growth, it cannot create enough jobs. The two Asian giants China and India have one of the world’s largest labour forces, which can exploit ‘demographic dividend’ along with a challenge to provide them ‘decent work’. Both countries are growing at a rapid pace in recent decades, which makes it analytically interesting to compare their economies during the period from 1985 to 2017, which comprises the era of liberal economic policies for both countries. The aim of this study is to examine the role of economic growth in determining the employment opportunities in these countries with variables such as gross domestic product (GDP), labour productivity (LP) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF). This study used time series econometric technique (multiple regression) as well as percentages, figures and average annual growth rates (AAGR). The comparison between China and India divulges that the employment growth rate has fallen in both the countries as the neo-liberal regime strengthened in respective economies. The economic growth has a very meagre role in generating work opportunities. China has done better than India in terms of transferring the low productive workforce in the traditional sector to the modern industrial sector and taking out the workforce from below poverty line.
Examining Global Competitiveness of Indian Agribusiness in the Twenty-first-century Asian Context: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Singh Sukhpal
Published: December 2019

Indian agribusiness is being seen as an important arena for creation of employment and income for large sections of India’s rural and agrarian population in the coming years and decades by public agencies, nationally and globally. This is happening in the context of strong agribusiness sectors in the neighbouring countries of China and those in the South-East and East Asia. This article examines the global context of agribusiness competitiveness from an Indian perspective, including the global trade regime and focusses on a few key sectors like dairying, cereals, fruits and vegetables and identifies major factors in their export performance from a value chain perspective. It also examines key global trade policies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) level and Indian agribusiness policy domain to explore ways forward to focus on promising sectors with an appropriate policy and practice steps.
Dynamic characteristics of magnetorheological fluid squeeze flow considering wall slip and inertia
Authors: Zhang Xinjie , Wu Ruochen , Guo Konghui , Zu Piyong , Ahmadian Mehdi
Published: December 2019

Magnetorheological fluid has been investigated intensively nowadays, and magnetorheological fluid shows large force capabilities in squeeze mode with wide application potential such as control valve, engine mounts, and impact dampers. In these applications, magnetorheological fluid is flowing in a dynamic environment due to the transient nature of inputs and system characteristics. Hence, this article undertakes a comprehensive study of magnetorheological fluid squeeze flow dynamics behaviors with wall slip, yield, and inertia. First, the dynamic model with the bi-viscous constitutive of magnetorheological fluid squeeze flow including wall slip and inertial force is presented. Then, the mathematical model is validated, matching magnetorheological fluid squeeze dynamic test results very well. Finally, the dynamics behavior and mechanism of magnetorheological fluid squeeze flow with inertia, yield, and wall slip are explored. Results show that (1) increasing yield stress and decreasing initial gap will increase the magnetorheological fluid vertical force greatly; (2) the wall slip affects the yield surface of magnetorheological fluids in the squeeze zone and affects the squeeze force; (3) the inertial force is increasing tremendously as the increased excitation frequency and yield stress and should be included with high-frequency excitation or yield stress.
Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid for Chinese-Speaking International Students in Melbourne
Authors: Zhuang Xiao Yu , Wong Daniel Fu Keung , Ng Ting Kin , Poon Ada
Published: December 2019

Purpose:

Chinese international students have been widely reported to lack recognition of their psychological problems and to delay treatment until their symptoms become rather disabling. The present study pioneered to evaluate the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in improving mental health knowledge among Chinese-speaking international tertiary students.

Method:

A quasi-experimental design was adopted, whereby 202 Chinese-speaking international students in Melbourne were assigned to the MHFA condition or a control condition. All participants completed a standardized questionnaire before, at the end, and 3 months after training. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling.

Results:

The findings demonstrated that MHFA training might be effective in improving participants’ knowledge of mental disorders (i.e., recognition of symptoms, belief in helpful treatments, and understanding the biogenetic and psychosocial causes) and reducing stigma.

Conclusions:

The MHFA program has the potential to enhance mental health knowledge and promote help-seeking among Chinese-speaking international students.
Large choroidal excavation in retinitis pigmentosa: A case report
Authors: Iacono Pierluigi , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Parravano Mariacristina , Varano Monica
Published: December 2019

Purpose:

To report the morphological and clinical features of a case of retinitis pigmentosa with large choroidal excavation.

Methods:

The patient underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected visual acuity assessment, anterior segment and dilated fundus examination and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Results:

A 41-year-old woman affected by retinitis pigmentosa with genetic confirmation with mutation in RDH12 gene had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/50 in both eyes. Dilated fundus examination revealed waxy pallor of the optic disc, diffuse narrowing of the retinal arterioles and a generalized retinal pigment epithelium mottling with bony spicule associated with diffuse retinal atrophy. At the posterior pole, an extended bilateral chorioretinal atrophy was evident with a partial sparing of the macular area. On spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, a bilateral large choroidal excavation could be clearly detected and it was associated with a diffuse retinal thinning at the posterior pole and a partial sparing of the fovea.

Conclusion:

Large choroidal excavation has been rarely reported. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the formation of large choroidal excavation are still a matter of debate, a combination of primary degenerative-inflammatory factors could be retained responsible for the large choroidal excavation development.