bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religion and Evolution Reconciled
Authors: Friberg Stephen , Mehanian Courosh
Published: July 2018

The harmony of science and religion is a central teaching of the Bahá’í Faith that has important implications for the development of society and the emergence of a global civilization. Science and religion, “the two most potent forces in human life,” have often been at odds, most notably over evolution and the origins of man. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has commented at length on evolution and man’s origins, providing the most extensive exploration of the harmony of science and religion in the Bahá’í canon. We systematically survey ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teachings on evolution and show that He reconciles two viewpoints—evolution and divine creation—that other thinkers have deemed irremediably in conflict.
Beyond Red Power
Authors: Horton Chelsea
Published: July 2018

The 1960s and 70s were volatile decades during which Aboriginal people across Canada arose as an increasingly vocal, and sometimes militant, political force. This paper explores the alternative activist approach of Dorothy Maquabeak Francis, a prominent Aboriginal Bahá’í who worked tirelessly over five decades to promote and maintain Aboriginal culture and spirituality and to foster heightened understanding and unity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups. Francis’s life suggests that we must broaden our conceptions of activism to encompass both the grassroots and the spiritual, thus complicating our understandings of what has for too long been characterized as the “Red Power era.”
Four Levels of Detachment in Doris Lessing’s Shikasta
Authors: Sternberg Perrakis Phyllis
Published: July 2018

This paper begins by discussing the concept of detachment in Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings, particularly in the Tablet, Words of Wisdom. It then applies this concept to Doris Lessing’s Sufi-inspired novel, Shikasta, which uses the genre of space fiction to defamiliarize the reader’s response to the coming of a new prophet to a troubled late twentieth-century planet—a dystopian version of Earth. Using four characters in the novel, whom I correlate to the four levels of detachment found in Words of Wisdom, the paper traces the struggles of the characters to gain various levels of detachment. In the process, the paper explores the barriers that stand in their way and analyzes the reciprocal relation between detachment and attachment and service to the new prophet.
Will Globalization Lead to a World Commonwealth?
Authors: Abizadeh Sohrab
Published: July 2018

This paper draws from modern economic theory, the recent surge of interest in globalization, stronger global interconnectedness, and expanded cooperation among nation states to discuss their impact on world governance. It attempts to explain how emerging international crises, such as global epidemics, when combined with the fundamental principles of unity and social justice prescribed in the writings of the Bahá’í Faith, are impelling the world toward the formation of a world commonwealth.
KALEM İŞİ SANATINDA YENİ TASARIM VE TEKNİKLER - AHMET HAMDİ AKSEKİ CAMİİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: BAYSAL Ali Fuat
Published: July 2018

Geleneksel sanatlar içerisinde
yer alan kalem işi sanatı mimari yapılarımızın iç mekân tezyini için her
dönemde kullanılmıştır. Tezyinat tarihi içerisinde değerlendirdiğimizde sivil
veya dini mimaride olsun hemen her yapıda, iç mekânların kubbe, tavan ve duvar
yüzeyleri gibi alanların bezenmesinde tercih edilen yöntem olmuştur.

            Kalem
işi sanatı mimaride uygulandıkları zeminin malzemelerine göre isimlendirilmiştir.
Bunlar sıva üzeri, ahşap üzeri, deri ve bez üzeri, taş ve mermer üzeri kalem
işi olarak bilinmektedir. Sözünü ettiğimiz bu tekniklere ait örnekleri sivil
mimarinin yanında özellikle dini mimarimizin ana yapısı olan camilerde çok
fazla görmek mümkündür.

            Günümüzde
değişen şartlar ve gelişen inşa teknolojileri sayesinde, klasik cami
mimarimizde de farklı boyutta örnekler ortaya çıkmaya başlamıştır. Yapı
hacmindeki fiziki değişiklikler, beraberinde sanatçıları iç mekân tezyinatında
da değişim arayışlarına sevk etmiştir. Söz konusu çağın ve teknolojinin
getirdiği imkânların tezyinat alanında kullanılmasıyla kalem işi sanatında da
bir takım yeniliklerin vücûd bulduğu gözlemlenmektedir. 

            Klasik
cami mimarimizde kullanılagelen kalem işi tekniğine ilave bugün farklı malzeme
ve tekniklerle yapılan “ naht tekniği” kalem
işleri almıştır. Bu uygulamanın en güzel örneklerinden biri Ankara Ahmet Hamdi
Akseki Camii’nde görülmektedir.
“Amoateng Gut Check” approach to forecasting exchange rate using standard parity relationships
Authors: Amoateng Kofi A.
Published: July 2018

This pedagogical paper demonstrates how “the Gut check approach” uses a made-simple technique for international corporate finance and economics students to forecast exchange rates using parity relationships. The “Gut-check approach” uses two simple steps. First, check out if the spot exchange rate is either direct or indirect. Second, review the parity relationships (purchasing power parity or interest rate parity) for the two currencies in question to find out which currency appreciate or depreciates. To this end, the paper provides historical review of the standard technique by many textbook authors. The “Amoateng Gut-check technique” yields similar but more precise foreign exchange rate forecasting results than the standard approach. Moreover, it provides international corporate finance and economics students who may not recognize foreign and home countries an easy way of exchange rate forecast.
Exploratory teaching method of college courses based on the module thought
Authors: Liang Shidong , Ma Minghui , Wang Guilian
Published: July 2018

Colleges and universities shoulder the important mission of training qualified contemporary college students. With the development of contemporary social and the rapid promotion of information level, teaching models and methods are faced with great challenges. Therefore, this paper analyzes the problems existing in the classroom teaching in Colleges and universities, combined with the students' thinking and learning ability. The module thought is introduced to the teaching process. A practical case is selected to illustrate the validity of the method. The results show that the teaching method proposed can enhance students' interest in learning professional knowledge and improve their communication skills.
Higher-Order Accurate Finite Volume Discretization of the Three-Dimensional Poisson Equation Based on An Equation Error Method
Authors: Kyei Yaw
Published: July 2018

Efficient higher-order accurate finite volume schemes are developed for the threedimensional Poisson’s equation based on optimizations of an equation error expansion on local control volumes. A weighted quadrature of local compact fluxes and the flux integral form of the equation are utilized to formulate the local equation error expansions. Efficient quadrature weights for the schemes are then determined through a minimization of the error expansion for higher-order accurate discretizations of the equation. Consequently, the leading numerical viscosity coefficients are more accurately and completely determined to optimize the weight parameters for uniform higher-order convergence suitable for effective numerical modeling of physical phenomena. Effectiveness of the schemes are evaluated through the solution of the associated eigenvalue problem. Numerical results and analysis of the schemes demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology.
Overview of Moderating Effect of Familiarity on Tourism Resources and Future Behavioural Intentions
Authors: Li Liu , Rashid Basri , Tahir Shaharuddin
Published: July 2018

Tourism resources is one of the most important destination attributes which helps to create an image for the destination and attract the tourists. This study aims to investigate how the domestic tourists visiting Ningxia evaluates Ningxia’s destination attributes (Tourism Resources) and how their evaluation future behavioural intentions, that is, their intention to recommend and to revisit Ningxia. The study will also investigate how destination familiarity moderates the relationship of destination attributes evaluations and future behavioural intentions. In the current study, the researchers reviewed the literatures in order to explore domestic tourists’ travelling behaviour, experiences, and some extensive discussions on their satisfaction level. The researchers have conducted a general search for tourists’ behaviour, and more specifically on moderating role destination familiarity on future behavioural intentions. This study made the contribution towards body of knowledge by reviewing previous literatures related to the evaluation of destination attributes. The study revealed that, when tourists choose a place to visit, they are attracted by destination attributes, more specifically by tourism related resources in the destination.
Фидеистическая семантика в оперном творчестве Н. А. Римского-Корсакова
Authors: Xinyuan Dong
Published: July 2018

Цель статьи определяется как доказательство важности фидеистической  семантики и темы чуда в жанровой природе оперного творчества и содержании оперного произведения. Методология работы соединяет эстетический, культурологический и музыковедческий методические аспекты, позволяет выделять семантический подход как интегрирующий. Научная новизна исследования заключается в обнаружении имманентных факторов оперной семантики в творчестве Н. Римского-Корсакова как обусловленных явлениями веры и чуда, объединенных на основе образов сверхприродного – сверхестественного. Выводы работы позволяют утверждать, что тема чуда становится опорной и магистральной в оперном творчестве Римского-Корсакова, определяет трактовку им не только сюжетных предпосылок, лирических образов, но и  средств музыкальной выразительности, музыкального языка оперного произведения – музыкальной фидеистической символики.Ключевые слова: фидеистическая семантика, тема чуда, лирическая образная сфера, оперная поэтика, оперное творчество Н. Римского-Корсакова, авторская музыкальная риторика, музыкальная фидеистическая символика.
Рецензія на наукову монографію Муравської Ольги Вікторівни «Східно-християнська парадигма європейської культури і музики xviii–xx століть»
Authors: Samoilenko Oleksandra
Published: July 2018

монографія О. В. Муравської, в якій у діалогічній співвіднесеності постають «два світи – два типи духовності» (знову згадаємо С. Аверінцева), східний і західний, два часи світової культури – середньовічно-ренесансний і новий та «новітній», дві релігійно-світоглядні системи всередині однієї теїстичної форми, християнства, які взаємодіють різними історико-етнологічними шляхами, переплітаються в різних національних уявленнях про духовне влаштування людини і суспільства.
Grossesses en milieu scolaire dans l’arrondissement central de la commune de Tchaourou (Bénin) : niveau, profil des femmes concernées et conséquences en matière de scolarisation
Authors: GBAGUIDI Timar Samson
Published: July 2018

Development is not only an economic phenomenon, but a multidimensional process that combines economic and social aspects of society. Firstly, pregnancy of schoolchildren is a social problem and can therefore constitute an obstacle to development. Secondly, in this article, we try to assess the prevalence of school-related pregnancies, their consequences, and to profile these adolescents and young people who are victims of the phenomenon, in order to facilitate the implementation of schooling policies. Our data come from the survey conducted by the National School of Statistics, Planification and Demography in april-may 2016. Results from our analyzes show that, in total, about 155 pregnancies have been recorded in the last three school years (2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016) and that these pregnancies are increasingly distributed over the three school years. The majority of pregnancies occur between the ages of 15 and 17 (54.19%) in seconde and the 5th classes of secondary school. About 70% of women who become pregnant stop going to school, but only 7% of those who stop, return to school after childbirth.
Editorial for special issue on publication ethics, March 2018
Authors: Ahmed Tahera
Published: July 2018

Dear Readers,Happy Summer Holidays for all of us up in the Northern Hemisphere.  While we are basking in the warmth of sunny days our friends in Australia are buying winter clothes. How strange is this world! And stranger are the creations who are supposed to look after all other organic and inorganic objects in this planet and maybe beyond. The simple virtues of ethical and value based behavior is often forgotten when we are focus on getting the best for ourselves without thinking or respecting the rights of others. The case of ethics in publication is not any different. We have few papers this issue but they are of extreme value and relevance:
Internal heat generation effect on radiation heat transfer MHD dissipating flow of a micropolar fluid with variable wall heat flux
Authors: Pandikunta Sreenivasulu , Tamalapakula Poornima , Nandanoor Bhasker Reddy
Published: July 2018

An analysis of the thermal radiation and viscous dissipation effects on an unsteady MHD mixed convection flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past a vertical porous plate, in the presence of variable wall heat flux and heat generation/absorption is presented. The free stream velocity follows an exponentially increasing or decreasing small perturbation law. The governing equations of the flow field are transformed into a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations by perturbation technique and then solved numerically by using the shooting method. The effects of the various parameters on the translation velocity, microrotation and temperature as well as the skin friction coefficient and couple stress coefficient at the wall are prepared with various values of the fluid properties.
MHD flow due to stretching sheet embedded in non Darcian porous medium with thermal stratification effects
Authors: Banshiwal Annu , Goyal M.
Published: July 2018

The aim of present study is to analyze the non- Darcian effects on unsteady non-linear MHD flow of an incompressible, electrically conducting and viscous fluid over a stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium with heat source, viscous dissipation and thermal stratification. The dimensionless governing equation solved numerically by using 4th order Runge - Kutta method. The effects of pertinent parameters on velocity and temperature depicted graphically.
Challenges and Prospects for Building Resilient Disease Management Strategies and Tactics for the New York Table Beet Industry
Authors: Pethybridge Sarah J. , Kikkert Julie R. , Hanson Linda E. , Nelson Scot C.
Published: July 2018

The New York table beet industry is expanding and has unique challenges to minimize crop loss in both conventional and organic production. Diseases may reduce plant population density and increase heterogeneity in a stand, reduce the duration of time foliage is healthy, and decrease the yield of marketable roots. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Pythiumultimum Trow are dominant in the pathogen complex affecting crop stand and root health. Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by the fungus, Cercospora beticola Sacc., is a highly destructive disease affecting foliar health. In conventional table beet production, fungicides are applied in-furrow and at emergence for early season and root disease control, and applied to foliage periodically thereafter for foliar disease control. Resistance within C. beticola populations to single-site mode-of-action fungicides poses the most significant threat to the resilience of conventional disease management. An integrated approach to reduce pesticide application when not economically warranted (i.e., a false positive) is urgently required. For foliar disease, improved scheduling of fungicides may reduce usage without loss of disease control. For soilborne diseases, pre-plant quantification of soilborne inoculum may support the selection of fields with lower inoculum densities to minimize risk of early season and root disease. For organic production, some approved products have moderate efficacy for foliar disease control, but strategies to reduce inoculum and select fields at lowest risk of disease will be paramount. Crop rotation has shown promise for disease management, but broad host range of several of the major soilborne pathogens limits the utility of this method in the production region. Enhanced knowledge of cultivar susceptibility to local populations of fungal pathogens responsible for foliar and root diseases is paramount, and adoption of commercially acceptable cultivars with improved resistance to CLS and Rhizoctonia crown and root rot has potential to transform disease management strategies for the New York table beet industry.
Correction: São-José, C. Engineering of Phage-Derived Lytic Enzymes: Improving Their Potential as Antimicrobials. Antibiotics 2018, 7, 29
Authors: São-José Carlos
Published: July 2018

The author wishes to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Adaptive Lenses Based on Soft Electroactive Materials
Authors: Ren Hongwen , Wu Shin-Tson
Published: July 2018

Soft electroactive materials including dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels have recently been extensively investigated. These smart materials can effectively respond to an electric field, resulting in shape deformation. In addition to artificial muscles, actuators, sensors, and micro-electromechanical systems, they can be used to prepare various adaptive lenses with unique features such as a simple fabrication, compact structure, good flexibility, and light weight. In contrast to DEAs, PVC gels can provide exciting opportunities for emerging applications in imaging, sensing, optical communication, biomedical engineering, and displays. In this review paper, the underlying physical mechanisms of these two electroactive materials are explained first, and then some recent progress in their application in macro-sized lenses and microlens arrays is presented. Finally, future perspectives of the PVC gels are discussed.
An Automated IoT Visualization BIM Platform for Decision Support in Facilities Management
Authors: Chang Kai-Ming , Dzeng Ren-Jye , Wu Yi-Ju
Published: July 2018

Building information modeling (BIM) is the digital representation of physical and functional characteristics (such as geometry, spatial relationship, and geographic information) of a facility to support decisions during its life cycle. BIM has been extended beyond 3D geometrical representations in recent years, and now includes time as a fourth dimension and cost as a fifth dimension, as well as such other applications as virtual reality and augmented reality. The Internet of Things (IoT) has been increasingly applied in various products (smart homes, wearables) to enhance work productivity, living comfort, and entertainment. However, research addressing the integration of these two technologies (BIM and IoT) is still very limited, and has focused exclusively on the automatic transmission of sensor information to BIM models. This paper describes an attempt to represent and visualize sensor data in BIM with multiple perspectives in order to support complex decisions requiring interdisciplinary information. The study uses a university campus as an example and includes several scenarios, such as an auditorium with a dispersed audience and energy-saving options for rooms with different functions (mechanical/electrical equipment, classrooms, and laboratory). This paper also discusses the design of a common platform allowing communication among sensors with different protocols (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), the use of Dynamo to accept sensor data as input and automatically redraw visualized information in BIM, and how visualization may help in making energy-saving management decisions.
Quantification of the Tourism Climate of Algeria Based on the Climate-Tourism-Information-Scheme
Authors: Sahabi Abed Salah , Matzarakis Andreas
Published: July 2018

The relevance and role of aesthetic, thermal and physical facets to climatic tourism potential over Algeria at 12.00 UTC (13.00 local time) are analyzed. This role is revealed using the Climate-Tourism-Information-Scheme (CTIS) elaborated for six Algerian cities having indisputable tourism potentiality and representing different regions and climate regimes: Coastline, Highland and Sahara zone. In this paper, the relevance of the use of the 10-day time-scale resolution of the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) derived from the body-atmosphere energy balance as well as the importance of the CTIS at this time-scale resolution is illustrated. The CTIS diagrams produced concern the period 1986–2015 and comprise detailed information on the frequencies of the occurrence of different climatological and human biometeorological parameters throughout the year, which could help tourists to plan ahead their vacations. A significant upward trend in discomfort conditions, as well as a substantial decline in human thermal comfort acceptability, are observed during the period of the study. The obtained results could help enormously in the promotion of tourism and leisure services in the country as a highly promising economic sector in the future and those who are involved, such as tour operators, by diversifying their products through the provision of alternative types of tourism offerings in line with the climate conditions.
The Importance of Multifrequency Impedance Sensing of Endothelial Barrier Formation Using ECIS Technology for the Generation of a Strong and Durable Paracellular Barrier
Authors: Robilliard Laverne D. , Kho Dan T. , Johnson Rebecca H. , Anchan Akshata , O’Carroll Simon J. , Graham Euan Scott
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we demonstrate the application of electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology for measuring differences in the formation of a strong and durable endothelial barrier model. In addition, we highlight the capacity of ECIS technology to model the parameters of the physical barrier associated with (I) the paracellular space (referred to as Rb) and (II) the basal adhesion of the endothelial cells (α, alpha). Physiologically, both parameters are very important for the correct formation of endothelial barriers. ECIS technology is the only commercially available technology that can measure and model these parameters independently of each other, which is important in the context of ascertaining whether a change in overall barrier resistance (R) occurs because of molecular changes in the paracellular junctional molecules or changes in the basal adhesion molecules. Finally, we show that the temporal changes observed in the paracellular Rb can be associated with changes in specific junctional proteins (CD144, ZO-1, and catenins), which have major roles in governing the overall strength of the junctional communication between neighbouring endothelial cells.
Transistors for Chemical Monitoring of Living Cells
Authors: Piro Benoît , Mattana Giorgio , Reisberg Steeve
Published: July 2018

We review here the chemical sensors for pH, glucose, lactate, and neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine or glutamate, made of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), including organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and electrolyte-gated OFETs (EGOFETs), for the monitoring of cell activity. First, the various chemicals that are produced by living cells and are susceptible to be sensed in-situ in a cell culture medium are reviewed. Then, we discuss the various materials used to make the substrate onto which cells can be grown, as well as the materials used for making the transistors. The main part of this review discusses the up-to-date transistor architectures that have been described for cell monitoring to date.
The Roles of Graphene and Ag in the Hybrid Ag@Ag2O-Graphene for Sulfamethoxazole Degradation
Authors: Zhou Li , Zou Guoyan , Deng Huiping
Published: July 2018

Ag@Ag2O-graphene (Ag@Ag2O-G) with different concentrations of graphene was synthesized using a facile in situ precipitation method. The photocatalysts were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The antibioticsulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradationunder simulated solar light and visible light irradiationwas investigated to evaluate photocatalytic performance. The composite photocatalyst Ag@Ag2O-G with 2.5 wt% graphene presented the highest activity among all the prepared composite photocatalysts. The coupling of graphene and Ag0 increased the photocatalyticactivity and stability of pure Ag2O. Under higher SMX concentrations, the adsorption, not the photocatalytic ability, playeda crucial role during the SMX removal process. On the basis of the characterization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging experiments, a separation and transfer mechanism of photogenerated carriers was proposed. In the photocatalytic degradation of SMX, the major active species wereidentified as photogenerated holes; photogenerated electrons in the conduction band (CB) of Ag2O could not transfer to graphene through Ag0due to the more negative reduction potential of graphene. This is an important result regardinggraphene and Ag0 roles which isdifferent from that for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. This researchmay provide new insights into photocatalytic processes for the degradation of non-dye pollutants bycomposite materials to guidethe design of highly efficient reaction systems.
A Pilot Study of Iyengar Yoga for Pediatric Obesity: Effects on Gait and Emotional Functioning
Authors: Hainsworth Keri R. , Liu Xue Cheng , Simpson Pippa M. , Swartz Ann M. , Linneman Nina , Tran Susan T. , Medrano Gustavo R. , Mascarenhas Bryant , Zhang Liyun , Weisman Steven J.
Published: July 2018

Obesity negatively impacts the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremities in children and adolescents. Although yoga has the potential to provide several distinct benefits for children with obesity, this is the first study to examine the benefits of yoga for gait (primary outcome) in youths with obesity. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity, and pain. Feasibility and acceptability were also assessed. Nine youths (11–17 years) participated in an eight-week Iyengar yoga intervention (bi-weekly 1-h classes). Gait, HRQOL (self and parent-proxy reports), and physical activity were assessed at baseline and post-yoga. Pain was self-reported at the beginning of each class. Significant improvements were found in multiple gait parameters, including hip, knee, and ankle motion and moments. Self-reported and parent-proxy reports of emotional functioning significantly improved. Time spent in physical activity and weight did not change. This study demonstrates that a relatively brief, non-invasive Iyengar yoga intervention can result in improved malalignment of the lower extremities during ambulation, as well as in clinically meaningful improvements in emotional functioning. This study extends current evidence that supports a role for yoga in pediatric obesity.
Catalytic Performance of Ag2O and Ag Doped CeO2 Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition for Diesel Soot Oxidation
Authors: Ivanova Tatiana V. , Homola Tomáš , Bryukvin Anton , Cameron David C.
Published: July 2018

The catalytic behaviour of Ag2O and Ag doped CeO2 thin films, deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), was investigated for diesel soot oxidation. The silver oxide was deposited from pulses of the organometallic precursor (hfac)Ag(PMe3) and ozone at 200 °C with growth rate of 0.28 Å/cycle. Thickness, crystallinity, elemental composition, and morphology of the Ag2O and Ag doped CeO2 films deposited on Si (100) were characterized by ellipsometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The catalytic effect on diesel soot combustion of pure Ag2O, CeO2, and Ag doped CeO2 films grown on stainless steel foil supports was measured with oxidation tests. Nominally CeO2:Ag 10:1 doped CeO2 films were most effective and oxidized 100% of soot at 390 °C, while the Ag2O films were 100% effective at 410 °C. The doped films also showed much higher stability; their performance remained stable after five tests with only a 10% initial reduction in efficiency whereas the performance of the Ag2O films reduced by 50% after the first test. It was concluded that the presence of Ag+ sites on the catalyst is responsible for the high soot oxidation activity.
Action Observation in People with Parkinson’s Disease. A Motor–Cognitive Combined Approach for Motor Rehabilitation. A Preliminary Report
Authors: Di Iorio Walter , Ciarimboli Alessandro , Ferriero Giorgio , Feleppa Michele , Baratto Luigi , Matarazzo Giuseppe , Gentile Giovanni , Masiero Stefano , Sale Patrizio
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the role of Action Observation (AO) to improve balance, gait, reduce falls, and to investigate the changes in P300 pattern. Five cognitively intact People with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) were enrolled in this prospective, quasi-experimental study to undergo a rehabilitation program of AO for gait and balance recovery of 60 min, three times a week for four weeks. The statistical analysis showed significant improvements for Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor section III p = 0.0082, Short form 12-items Healthy Survey (SF-12) Mental Composite Score (MCS) p = 0.0007, Freezing of gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) p = 0.0030, The 39-items Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) p = 0.100, and for P300ld p = 0.0077. In conclusion, AO reveals to be a safe and feasible paradigm of rehabilitative exercise in cognitively preserved PwP.
Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
Authors: Anderson Robin , Boaler Jo , Dieckmann Jack
Published: July 2018

The idea that success in mathematics is only available to those born as “mathematics people” has been challenged in recent years by neuroscience, showing that mathematics pathways develop in the brain through learning and practice. This paper reports on a blended professional learning model of online and in-person meetings during which 40 teachers in 8 school districts in the US learned about the new brain science, challenging the “math person” myth, as well as effective mathematics teaching methods. We refer to the combination as a Mathematical Mindset Approach. Using mixed methods, we conducted a one-year study to investigate teacher and student learning in a Mathematical Mindset network. We collected data on teacher and student beliefs, teacher instructional practice, and student learning gains on state achievement tests. The results from our quantitative analyses found statistically significant positive improvements in student beliefs, teacher’s instructional practice, and on students’ math test scores. The mindset approach particularly raised the achievement of girls, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Based on our qualitative analysis, we propose that the success of the intervention rests upon two central factors: (1) The different forms of PD served to eradicate the learning myths that had held up teachers and learners; and that (2) Teachers had space for identity work as mathematical learners.
Identification of Microflora in a Biological Brewer’s Wort Acidification Process Run Continuously for 20 Years
Authors: Hutzler Mathias , Čmielová Jana , Frank Tobias , Brandl Andreas , Jacob Fritz , Michel Maximilian
Published: July 2018

Biological acidification is a common and beneficial way for breweries to adjust the pH value of their mash or wort to improve enzymatic activity during mashing, raise yeast activity during fermentation, and increase the flavor stability of the finished beer. The reactors are mostly run for many years without re-inoculating a fresh culture, creating the possibility of changes in the culture, genetic drifts, or the survival of different strains. In this study, a biological acidification culture that had been continuously run for 20 years was analyzed by GTG5 PCR and IGS2-314 rDNA PCR fingerprinting, as well as 16S and 26S rDNA sequencing, and real-time PCR was applied to differentiate the bacterial and yeast strains and species. The applied real-time PCR primers for Lactobacillus amylolyticus and Lactobacillus amylovorus have not been published yet. It was shown that only strains of the species L. amylolyticus were present, with low contamination of yeast strains from the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As the original starter culture was Lactobacillus amylolyticus, the acidification plant ran for 20 years, and no Lactobacillus sp. cross-contamination could be analyzed using culture-dependent methods after 20 years. The microflora composition is a decisive factor for the final beer flavor.
Recruitment Strategies for a Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Fast Versus Slow Weight Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Obesity—The TEMPO Diet Trial
Authors: Hsu Michelle , Harper Claudia , Gibson Alice , Sweeting Arianne , McBride John , Markovic Tania , Caterson Ian , Byrne Nuala , Sainsbury Amanda , Seimon Radhika
Published: July 2018

Current research around effective recruitment strategies for clinical trials of dietary obesity treatments have largely focused on younger adults, and thus may not be applicable to older populations. The TEMPO Diet Trial (Type of Energy Manipulation for Promoting optimal metabolic health and body composition in Obesity) is a randomised controlled trial comparing the long-term effects of fast versus slow weight loss on body composition and cardio-metabolic health in postmenopausal women with obesity. This paper addresses the recruitment strategies used to enrol participants into this trial and evaluates their relative effectiveness. 101 post-menopausal women aged 45–65 years, with a body mass index of 30–40 kg/m2 were recruited and randomised to either fast or slow weight loss. Multiple strategies were used to recruit participants. The total time cost (labour) and monetary cost per randomised participant from each recruitment strategy was estimated, with lower values indicating greater cost-effectiveness and higher values indicating poorer cost-effectiveness. The most cost-effective recruitment strategy was word of mouth, followed (at equal second place) by free publicity on TV and radio, and printed advertorials, albeit these avenues only yielded 26/101 participants. Intermediate cost-effective recruitment strategies were flyer distribution at community events, hospitals and a local tertiary education campus, internet-based strategies, and clinical trial databases and intranets, which recruited a further 40/101 participants. The least cost-effective recruitment strategy was flyer distribution to local health service centres and residential mailboxes, and referrals from healthcare professionals were not effective. Recruiting for clinical trials involving postmenopausal women could benefit from a combination of recruitment strategies, with an emphasis on word of mouth and free publicity via radio, TV, and print media, as well as strategic placement of flyers, supplemented with internet-based strategies, databases and intranets if a greater yield of participants is needed.
Linking Open Descriptions of Social Events (LODSE): A New Ontology for Social Event Classification
Authors: Rodrigues Marcelo , Rocha Silva Rodrigo , Bernardino Jorge
Published: July 2018

The digital era has brought a number of significant changes in the world of communications. Although technological evolution has allowed the creation of new social event platforms to disclose events, it is still difficult to know what is happening around a location. Currently, a large number of social events are created and promoted on social networks. With the massive quantity of information created in these systems, finding an event is challenging because sometimes the data is ambiguous or incomplete. One of the main challenges in social event classification is related to the incompleteness and ambiguity of metadata created by users. This paper presents a new ontology, named LODSE (Linking Open Descriptions of Social Events) based on the LODE (Linking Open Descriptions of Events) ontology to describe the domain model of social events. The aim of this ontology is to create a data model that allows definition of the most important properties to describe a social event and to improve the classification of events. The proposed data model is used in an experimental evaluation to compare both ontologies in social event classification. The experimental evaluation, using a dataset based on real data from a popular social network, demonstrated that the data model based on the LODSE ontology brings several benefits in the classification of events. Using the LODSE ontology, the results show an increment of correctly classified events as well as a gain in execution time, when comparing with the data model based on the LODE ontology.
Does the Pollen Diet Influence the Production and Expression of Antimicrobial Peptides in Individual Honey Bees?
Authors: Danihlík Jiří , Škrabišová Mária , Lenobel René , Šebela Marek , Omar Eslam , Petřivalský Marek , Crailsheim Karl , Brodschneider Robert
Published: July 2018

We investigated the importance of protein nutrition for honey bee immunity. Different protein diets (monofloral pollen of Helianthus spp., Sinapis spp., Asparagus spp., Castanea spp., a mixture of the four different pollen and the pollen substitute FeedbeeTM) were fed to honey bees in cages ad libitum. After 18 days of feeding, apidaecin 1 isoforms concentration in the thorax were measured using nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Expression levels of genes, coding for apidaecins and abaecin in the abdomen were determined using quantitative PCR. The results indicate that protein-containing nutrition in adult worker honey bees can trigger certain metabolic responses. Bees without dietary protein showed lower apidaecin 1 isoforms concentrations. The significantly lowest concentration of apidaecin 1 isoforms was found in the group that was fed no pollen diet when compared to Asparagus, Castanea, Helianthus, and Sinapis pollen or the pollen supplement FeedBeeTM. Expression levels of the respective genes were also affected by the protein diets and different expression levels of these two antimicrobial peptides were found. Positive correlation between concentration and gene expression of apidaecins was found. The significance of feeding bees with different protein diets, as well as the importance of pollen nutrition for honey bee immunity is demonstrated.
Faster R-CNN-Based Glomerular Detection in Multistained Human Whole Slide Images
Authors: Kawazoe Yoshimasa , Shimamoto Kiminori , Yamaguchi Ryohei , Shintani-Domoto Yukako , Uozaki Hiroshi , Fukayama Masashi , Ohe Kazuhiko
Published: July 2018

The detection of objects of interest in high-resolution digital pathological images is a key part of diagnosis and is a labor-intensive task for pathologists. In this paper, we describe a Faster R-CNN-based approach for the detection of glomeruli in multistained whole slide images (WSIs) of human renal tissue sections. Faster R-CNN is a state-of-the-art general object detection method based on a convolutional neural network, which simultaneously proposes object bounds and objectness scores at each point in an image. The method takes an image obtained from a WSI with a sliding window and classifies and localizes every glomerulus in the image by drawing the bounding boxes. We configured Faster R-CNN with a pretrained Inception-ResNet model and retrained it to be adapted to our task, then evaluated it based on a large dataset consisting of more than 33,000 annotated glomeruli obtained from 800 WSIs. The results showed the approach produces comparable or higher than average F-measures with different stains compared to other recently published approaches. This approach could have practical application in hospitals and laboratories for the quantitative analysis of glomeruli in WSIs and, potentially, lead to a better understanding of chronic glomerulonephritis.
Primary User Emulation Attacks: A Detection Technique Based on Kalman Filter
Authors: El Mrabet Zakaria , Arjoune Youness , El Ghazi Hassan , Abou Al Majd Badr , Kaabouch Naima
Published: July 2018

Cognitive radio technology addresses the problem of spectrum scarcity by allowing secondary users to use the vacant spectrum bands without causing interference to the primary users. However, several attacks could disturb the normal functioning of the cognitive radio network. Primary user emulation attacks are one of the most severe attacks in which a malicious user emulates the primary user signal characteristics to either prevent other legitimate secondary users from accessing the idle channels or causing harmful interference to the primary users. There are several proposed approaches to detect the primary user emulation attackers. However, most of these techniques assume that the primary user location is fixed, which does not make them valid when the primary user is mobile. In this paper, we propose a new approach based on the Kalman filter framework for detecting the primary user emulation attacks with a non-stationary primary user. Several experiments have been conducted and the advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated through the simulation results.
Results of carotid endarterectomy in diabetic patients
Authors: Meškauskienė Auksė , Barkauskas Egidijus , Gaigalaitė Virginija
Published: July 2018

Patients with diabetes mellitus have been shown to have an increased incidence of complications after major vascular surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of carotid endarterectomy in diabetic patients, to determine if results differ from nondiabetic patients, and to examine the risk factors for poor outcome among diabetic patients. Material and methods. We reviewed all carotid endarterectomies performed in Emergency Hospital of Vilnius University. From 1995 to 2005, 707 carotid endarterectomies were performed. Of these, 100 operations were performed in diabetic patients (14%) and the remaining 607 in nondiabetic patients. Results. Diabetic patients were younger (P<0.05) and were obese more often (P<0.001), they smoked less often (P<0.001) than nondiabetic patients. Diabetics were more likely to have severe bilateral carotid stenosis than nondiabetic patients (P<0.01). Postoperative complications (stroke) were more common in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients (12.0% vs. 3.4%, P<0.001) as well as intracerebral hemorrhages (3.0% vs. 0.3%, P<0.001); no perioperative myocardial infarction was found in diabetic patients. Risk factors for complications were age ≥75 (odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0–4.9), smoking (OR 2.7; 95% CI=1.8– 4.2), obesity (OR 6.1; 95% CI=3.9–9.5), and bilateral carotid stenosis (OR 2.1; 95% CI=1.3–3.6). Conclusion. Diabetes mellitus significantly increased the risk of mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage but not myocardial infarction. It should be taken into consideration in making decisions about the performance and perioperative management of carotid endarterectomy.
A volume loading test for the detection of hypovolemia and dehydration
Authors: Hahn Robert , Andrijauskas Audrius , Drobin Dan , Svensén Christer , Ivaškevičius Juozas
Published: July 2018

Background and objectives. There is a need for simple method allowing detection of dehydration and hypovolemia. Based on a new theory of homeostatic blood states, we hypothesized that hemodilution following standardized crystalloid fluid bolus can be used to discriminate between baseline normohydration and dehydration, also normovolemia and hypovolemia. Methods. Computer simulations based on previously published kinetic data were used to define the best time points for discrimination between baseline normohydration and dehydration, also normovolemia and hypovolemia. Hemodilution was compared at the proposed timing in 20 volunteers who received 40 infusions of Ringer’s solution of 25 mL/kg during 30 minutes. Results. Simulations indicated that preexisting hypovolemia could be best detected at the end of infusion, while dehydration 20–30 min later. In baseline hypovolemia, the peak reduction of hemoglobin concentration was 16.0% at the end of infusion, while it was only 11.8%, when participants were normovolemic (P<0.004). In baseline dehydration, the residual hemodilution was 8.6%, when measured 30 min after the end of infusion. It was only 3.1% in baseline normohydration (P<0.006). Conclusions. In response to fluid load, the baseline dehydration exaggerates the lowering of residual hemoglobin in respect to baseline. Meanwhile, baseline hypovolemia exaggerates the lowering of peak hemoglobin concentration. The volume loading test that deploys interpretation of hemoglobin dynamics in response to the test volume load could possibly serve as an easily available guide to indicate an individual patient’s baseline hydration state and volemia. The introduction of continuous noninvasive monitoring of hemoglobin concentration would expand the applicability of the new method.
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting: The first experience and results of the Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine
Authors: Dambrauskas Žilvinas , Paškauskas Saulius , Lizdenis Paulius , Uktveris Rimantas , Pranculis Andrius , Kaupas Rytis , Barauskas Giedrius , Pundzius Juozas
Published: July 2018

Malignant biliary obstruction may be caused by cholangiocarcinoma and other nonbiliary carcinomas. At the time of diagnosis, 90% of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice may benefit from palliative treatment only. The objective of palliation is to relieve jaundice-related symptoms, prevent cholangitis, prolong survival, and improve quality of life. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting is a well-established procedure used in patients with malignant obstruction of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Twelve patients (9 women, 3 men; mean age, 68 years; range, 44–88 years) with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction were selected for percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting with metallic stents in the period from January to December 2007. Technical and clinical success rate in this patient series was 83% and 80%, respectively. Minor and major complications occurred in 17% and 8% of cases, respectively, which is in the range reported by the others. This is our first experience of percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting at the Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine and, to our knowledge, the first reported patient series in Lithuania. These first results encourage expanding effective palliation by the employment of the percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting in patients with nonresectable malignant biliary obstruction or in case of a recurrent disease after curative surgery. The cost effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting against percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage has yet to be evaluated in a prospective manner. However, immediate clinical benefits and positive short-term outcomes are unequivocal.