bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Adjuvant Modalities on Survival in Patients with Advanced Stage Endometrial Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Medical Center
Authors: Tai Yi-Jou , Hsu Heng-Cheng , Chiang Ying-Cheng , Chen Yu-Li , Chen Chi-An , Cheng Wen-Fang
Published: July 2019

Adjuvant treatment in advanced-stage (stages III /IV) endometrial carcinomas in terms of tumor grades has not yet been explored. We retrospectively analyzed 194 patients with advanced-stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma who received surgery, followed by adjuvant therapy, at National Taiwan University Hospital between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2017. Adjuvant therapies included radiation (RT), chemotherapy alone (CT), and combined modality treatment (CMT: radiation and chemotherapy). The prognostic factors were determined from multivariate survival analyses using Cox regression models. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method. The median follow-up was 45.5 months (range: 6.2–207.9). In grade 1/2 endometrioid carcinoma, neither adjuvant CT nor CMT could prolong PFS significantly compared to RT (CT: HR 1.59, 95% CI 0.64–3.97; CMT: HR 2.03, 95% CI 0.72–5.74). Notably, maximal cytoreduction independently improved PFS (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.90). No particular adjuvant treatment provided an OS advantage over the others for grade 1/2 endometrioid carcinomas. However, for grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma, CMT showed OS benefits (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03–0.89) compared to RT and CT. In conclusion, maximal cytoreduction should be the goal in patients with grade 1/2 advanced-stage endometrioid carcinomas. Based on our results, patients with grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas might benefit from adjuvant CMT.
Suppression of Brown Adipocyte Autophagy Improves Energy Metabolism by Regulating Mitochondrial Turnover
Authors: Kim Donghwan , Kim Ji-Hye , Kang Young-Ho , Kim Je Seong , Yun Sung-Cheol , Kang Sang-Wook , Song Youngsup
Published: July 2019

The high abundance of mitochondria and the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) confer upon brown adipose tissue (BAT) the unique capacity to convert chemical energy into heat at the expense of ATP synthesis. It was long believed that BAT is present only in infants, and so, it was not considered as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome; however, the discovery of metabolically active BAT in adult humans has re-stimulated interest in the contributions of BAT metabolic regulation and dysfunction to health and disease. Here we demonstrate that brown adipocyte autophagy plays a critical role in the regulation BAT activity and systemic energy metabolism. Mice deficient in brown adipocyte autophagy due to BAT-specific deletion of Atg7—a gene essential for autophagosome generation—maintained higher mitochondrial content due to suppression of mitochondrial clearance and exhibited improved insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism. Autophagy was upregulated in BAT of older mice compared to younger mice, suggesting its involvement in the age-dependent decline of BAT activity and metabolic rate. These findings suggest that brown adipocyte autophagy plays a crucial role in metabolism and that targeting this pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic syndrome.
The Dominance Hierarchy of Wood-Eating Termites from China
Authors: Evans Theodore A. , Kasseney Boris Dodji
Published: July 2019

Competition is a fundamental process in ecology and helps to determine dominance hierarchies. Competition and dominance hierarchies have been little investigated in wood-eating termites, despite the necessary traits of similar resources, and showing spatial and temporal overlap. Competition and dominance between five species of wood-eating termites found in Huangzhou, China, was investigated in three laboratory experiments of aggression and detection, plus a year-long field survey of termite foraging activity. Dominance depended on body size, with largest species winning overwhelmingly in paired contests with equal numbers of individuals, although the advantage was reduced in paired competitions with equal biomass. The termites could detect different species from used filter papers, as larger species searched through paper used by smaller species, and smaller species avoided papers used by larger species. The largest species maintained activity all year, but in low abundance, whereas the second largest species increased activity in summer, and the smallest species increased their activity in winter. The termite species displayed a dominance hierarchy based on fighting ability, with a temporal change in foraging to avoid larger, more dominant species. The low abundance of the largest species, here Macrotermes barneyi, may be a function of human disturbance, which allows subordinate species to increase. Thus, competitive release may explain the increase in abundance of pest species, such as Coptotermes formosanus, in highly modified areas, such as urban systems.
Central Nervous System Infection with Other Endemic Mycoses: Rare Manifestation of Blastomycosis, Paracoccidioidomycosis, Talaromycosis, and Sporotrichosis
Authors: Kauffman Carol A.
Published: July 2019

The central nervous system (CNS) is not a major organ involved with infections caused by the endemic mycoses, with the possible exception of meningitis caused by Coccidioides species. When CNS infection does occur, the manifestations vary among the different endemic mycoses; mass-like lesions or diffuse meningeal involvement can occur, and isolated chronic meningitis, as well as widely disseminated acute infection that includes the CNS, are described. This review includes CNS infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Talaromyces marneffei, and the Sporothrix species complex. The latter is not geographically restricted, in contrast to the classic endemic mycoses, but it is similar in that it is a dimorphic fungus. CNS infection with B. dermatitidis can present as isolated chronic meningitis or a space-occupying lesion usually in immunocompetent hosts, or as one manifestation of widespread disseminated infection in patients who are immunosuppressed. P. brasiliensis more frequently causes mass-like intracerebral lesions than meningitis, and most often CNS disease is part of disseminated infection found primarily in older patients with the chronic form of paracoccidioidomycosis. T. marneffei is the least likely of the endemic mycoses to cause CNS infection. Almost all reported cases have been in patients with advanced HIV infection and almost all have had widespread disseminated infection. Sporotrichosis is known to cause isolated chronic meningitis, primarily in immunocompetent individuals who do not have Sporothrix involvement of other organs. In contrast, CNS infection in patients with advanced HIV infection occurs as part of widespread disseminated infection.
Effects of Modified Metakaolin Using Nano-Silica on the Mechanical Properties and Durability of Concrete
Authors: Shafiq Nasir , Kumar Rabinder , Zahid Muhammad , Tufail Rana Faisal
Published: July 2019

This paper discussed the effects of modified metakaolin (MK) with nano-silica (NS) on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. In the first phase, trial mixes of concrete were prepared for achieving the desired value of the 28 days compressive strength, and the charge passed in rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT). In the second phase, statistical analysis was performed on the experimental results using the response surface method (RSM). The RSM was applied for optimizing the mix proportions for the required performance by exploiting the relationship between the mix characteristics and the corresponding test results. A blend of 10% MK + 1% NS as part of cement replacement exhibited the highest mechanical properties and durability characteristics of concrete; concrete mix showed that the 28-days compressive strength (CS) was 103 MPa, which was 15% greater than the CS of the control mix without MK or NS. The same mix showed more than 40% higher flexural and split-tensile strength than the control mix; also it resulted in a reduction of 73% in the rapid chloride permeability value. ANOVA technique was used for optimizing the nano-silica and metakaolin content for achieving maximum compressive strength and minimum RCPT value. Statistical analysis using ANOVA technique showed that the maximum compressive strength and lowest RCPT value could be achieved with a blend of 10% MK and 1.55% NS.
On the Formation of AlNiCo Nano-Quasicrystalline Phase during Mechanical Alloying through Electroless Ni-P Plating of Starting Particles
Authors: Hosseini Seyedmehdi , Novák Pavel
Published: July 2019

A new strategy was applied to develop nano-quasicrystalline phase in well-known AlNiCo ternary system. This approach was based on electroless Ni-P plating of the starting powders and subsequent ball milling in a protective atmosphere without additional annealing or sintering processes. Microstructural evolution and phase transformation of both raw and coated particles were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. After 360 min of mechanical alloying, the peaks demonstrating the formation of nano-quasicrystalline phase appeared in XRD pattern of the coated powders, while those in mechanically alloyed raw powders remained mostly unchanged. The formation of nano-quasicrystalline phase in the vicinity of the primary elements was also confirmed by the corresponding selected area diffraction patterns, and images generated by transmission electron microscope (TEM).
One-Pot Synthesized Visible Light-Driven BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO4 n-p Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Pollutants
Authors: Akbarzadeh Rokhsareh , Asadi Anvar , Oviroh Peter Ozaveshe , Jen Tien-Chien
Published: July 2019

A novel enhanced visible light absorption BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO4 heterojunction of photocatalysts could be obtained through a one-pot hydrothermal method used with two different pH solutions. There was a relationship between synthesis pH and the ratio of BiOCl to BiVO4 in XRD planes and their photocatalytic activity. The visible light photocatalytic performances of photocatalysts were evaluated via degradation of diclofenac (DCFF) as a pharmaceutical model pollutant. Furthermore, kinetic studies showed that DCF degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The photocatalytic degradation rates of BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO4 synthesized at pH = 1.2 and pH = 4 for DCF were 72% and 47%, respectively, showing the higher activity of the photocatalyst which was synthesized at a lower pH value. It was concluded that the excellent photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO4 is due to the enhanced visible light absorption formation of a heterostructure, which increased the lifetime of photo-produced electron–hole pairs by creating a heterojunction. The influence of pH during synthesis on photocatalytic activity in order to create different phases was investigated. This work suggests that the BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO4 p-n heterojunction is more active when the ratio of BiOCl to BiVO4 is smaller, and this could be achieved simply by the pH adjustment. This is a promising method of modifying the photocatalyst for the purpose of pollutant degradation under visible light illumination.
The Administration of the New Pyrimidine Derivative—4-{2-[2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-Vinyl]-6-Ethyl-4-Oxo-5-Phenyl-4H-Pyrimidine-1-Il}Benzsulfamide Restores the Activity of Brain Cells in Experimental Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy by Maintaining Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Pozdnyakov Dmitry I. , Miroshnichenko Kirill A. , Voronkov Andey V. , Kovaleva Tat’yana G.
Published: July 2019

Background and objectives: To evaluate the effect of a new pyrimidine derivative on the change of mitochondrial function in experimental chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Materials and methods: The study was performed on male mice of the BALB/c line (acute toxicity was assessed) and male rats of the Wistar line, which were modeled chronic traumatic encephalopathy by the method of free fall of the load (weight 150 g from a 50 cm height). The injury to rats was reproduced once a day for 7 days. Further, cognitive functions, changes in sensorimotor deficiency, cerebral blood flow, neuron-specific enolase(NSE), S100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (in blood serum) and β-amyloid, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (in brain tissue supernatant) were evaluated. Mitochondrial respiration was also measured. Choline alfoscerate (100 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. Results: The study found that the use of a new pyrimidine derivative contributed to the preservation of the mitochondrial respirometric function and cognitive functions in rats. In addition, against the administration of test-object marked increase in the concentration of ATP, the velocity of cerebral blood flow was 4.2 times (p < 0.05) and 35.6% (p < 0.05), respectively, as well as reduced concentration and GFAP, NSE, S100β, β-amyloid and sensorimotor deficit at 2.7 (p < 0.05) times; 2 times (p < 0.05); 2.4 times (p < 0.05); of 30.4% (p < 0.05 and 46.5% (p < 0.05), respectively. The LD50 (per os) for the test-object was 4973.56 ± 573.72 mg/kg. Conclusion: Based on the obtained data, high therapeutic efficacy and low systemic toxicity of the application are assumed 4-{2-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-vinyl]-6-ethyl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4H-pyrimidine-1-Il}benzsulfamide in chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Isolation and Characterization of Lactobacillus spp. from Kefir Samples in Malaysia
Authors: Talib Noorshafadzilah , Mohamad Nurul Elyani , Yeap Swee Keong , Hussin Yazmin , Aziz Muhammad Nazirul Mubin , Masarudin Mas Jaffri , Sharifuddin Shaiful Adzni , Hui Yew Woh , Ho Chai Ling , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu
Published: July 2019

Kefir is a homemade, natural fermented product comprised of a probiotic bacteria and yeast complex. Kefir consumption has been associated with many advantageous properties to general health, including as an antioxidative, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor moiety. This beverage is commonly found and consumed by people in the United States of America, China, France, Brazil, and Japan. Recently, the consumption of kefir has been popularized in other countries including Malaysia. The microflora in kefir from different countries differs due to variations in culture conditions and the starter media. Thus, this study was aimed at isolating and characterizing the lactic acid bacteria that are predominant in Malaysian kefir grains via macroscopic examination and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The results revealed that the Malaysian kefir grains are dominated by three different strains of Lactobacillus strains, which are Lactobacillus harbinensis, Lactobacillusparacasei, and Lactobacillus plantarum. The probiotic properties of these strains, such as acid and bile salt tolerances, adherence ability to the intestinal mucosa, antibiotic resistance, and hemolytic test, were subsequently conducted and extensively studied. The isolated Lactobacillus spp. from kefir H maintained its survival rate within 3 h of incubation at pH 3 and pH 4 at 98.0 ± 3.3% and 96.1 ± 1.7% of bacteria growth and exhibited the highest survival at bile salt condition at 0.3% and 0.5%. The same isolate also showed high adherence ability to intestinal cells at 96.3 ± 0.01%, has antibiotic resistance towards ampicillin, penicillin, and tetracycline, and showed no hemolytic activity. In addition, the results of antioxidant activity tests demonstrated that isolated Lactobacillus spp. from kefir G possessed high antioxidant activities for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazine (DPPH) assay compared to other isolates. From these data, all Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Malaysian kefir serve as promising candidates for probiotics foods and beverage since they exhibit potential probiotic properties and antioxidant activities.
1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin as a Precatalyst for Activation of Carbonyl Functionality
Authors: Čebular Klara , Božić Bojan Đ. , Stavber Stojan
Published: July 2019

Activation of carbonyl moiety is one of the most rudimentary approaches in organic synthesis and is crucial for a plethora of industrial-scale condensation reactions. In esterification and aldol condensation, which represent two of the most important reactions, the susceptibility of the carbonyl group to nucleophile attack allows the construction of a variety of useful organic compounds. In this context, there is a constant need for development of and improvement in the methods for addition-elimination reactions via activation of carbonyl functionality. In this paper, an advanced methodology for the direct esterification of carboxylic acids and alcohols, and for aldol condensation of aldehydes using widely available, inexpensive, and metal-free 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin under neat reaction conditions is reported. The method is air- and moisture-tolerant, allowing simple synthetic and isolation procedures for both reactions presented in this paper. The reaction pathway for esterification is proposed and a scale-up of certain industrially important derivatives is performed.
Role of Pyridine Nitrogen in Palladium-Catalyzed Imine Hydrolysis: A Case Study of (E)-1-(3-bromothiophen-2-yl)-N-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)methanimine
Authors: Ahmad Gulraiz , Rasool Nasir , Rizwan Komal , Altaf Ataf Ali , Rashid Umer , Hussein Mohd Zobir , Mahmood Tariq , Ayub Khurshid
Published: July 2019

In the present study, 4-methylpyridin-2-amine was reacted with 3-bromothiophene-2-carbaldehyde and the Schiff base (E)-1-(3-bromothiophen-2-yl)-N-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)methanimine was obtained in a 79% yield. Coupling of the Schiff base with aryl/het-aryl boronic acids under Suzuki coupling reaction conditions, using Pd(PPh3)4 as catalyst, yielded products with the hydrolysis of the imine linkages (5a–5k, 6a–6h) in good to moderate yields. To gain mechanistic insight into the transition metal-catalyzed hydrolysis of the compounds, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. The theoretical calculations strongly supported the experiment and provided an insight into the transition metal-catalyzed hydrolysis of imines.
Extraction, Chemical Composition, and Anticancer Potential of Origanum onites L. Essential Oil
Authors: Spyridopoulou Katerina , Fitsiou Eleni , Bouloukosta Eleni , Tiptiri-Kourpeti Angeliki , Vamvakias Manolis , Oreopoulou Antigoni , Papavassilopoulou Eleni , Pappa Aglaia , Chlichlia Katerina
Published: July 2019

Origanum species are plants rich in volatile oils that are mainly used for culinary purposes. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the biological activities of their essential oils. Origanum onites L. is a plant mainly found in Greece, Turkey, and Sicily, whose oil is rich in carvacrol, a highly bioactive phytochemical. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of Origanum onites essential oil (OOEO), and investigate its potential anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. GC/MS analysis identified carvacrol as OOEO’s main constituent. In vitro antiproliferative activity was assayed with the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against human cancer cell lines from four tumor types. HT-29, a colorectal cancer cell line, was the most sensitive to the antiproliferative activity of OOEO. Wound-healing assay and Annexin V-PI staining were employed to investigate the antimigratory and the pro-apoptotic potential of OOEO, respectively, against human (HT-29) and murine (CT26) colon cancer cells. Notably, OOEO attenuated migration and induced apoptosis-related morphological changes in both cell lines. Prophylactic oral administration of the oil in a BALB/c experimental mouse model inhibited the growth of syngeneic CT26 colon tumors. As far as we know, this is the first report on the antitumor potential of orally administered OOEO.
Validity of a Portable Breath Analyser (AIRE) for the Assessment of Lactose Malabsorption
Authors: Shrestha Aahana , Prodhan Utpal K. , Mitchell Sarah M. , Sharma Pankaja , Barnett Matthew P.G. , Milan Amber M. , Cameron-Smith David
Published: July 2019

Hydrogen (H2) measurement in exhaled breath is a reliable and non-invasive method to diagnose carbohydrate malabsorption. Currently, breath H2 measurement is typically limited to clinic-based equipment. A portable breath analyser (AIRE, FoodMarble Digestive Health Limited, Dublin, Ireland) is a personalised device marketed for the detection and self-management of food intolerances, including lactose malabsorption (LM). Currently, the validity of this device for breath H2 analysis is unknown. Individuals self-reporting dairy intolerance (six males and six females) undertook a lactose challenge and a further seven individuals (all females) underwent a milk challenge. Breath samples were collected prior to and at frequent intervals post-challenge for up to 5 h with analysis using both the AIRE and a calibrated breath hydrogen analyser (BreathTracker, QuinTron Instrument Company Inc., Milwaukee, WI, USA). A significant positive correlation (p < 0.001, r > 0.8) was demonstrated between AIRE and BreathTracker H2 values, after both lactose and milk challenges, although 26% of the AIRE readings demonstrated the maximum score of 10.0 AU. Based on our data, the cut-off value for LM diagnosis (25 ppm H2) using AIRE is 3.0 AU and it is effective for the identification of a response to lactose-containing foods in individuals experiencing LM, although its upper limit is only 81 ppm.
The Sex–Gender Effects in the Road to Tailored Botanicals
Authors: Campesi Ilaria , Romani Annalisa , Franconi Flavia
Published: July 2019

Phenols are a wide family of phytochemicals that are characterized by large chemical diversity and are considered to bioactive molecules of foods, beverages, and botanicals. Although they have a multitude of biological actions, their beneficial effects are rarely evidenced in clinical research with high scientific rigor. This may occur due to the presence of numerous confounders, such as the modulation of phenol bioavailability, which can be regulated by microbiota, age, sex-gender. Sex-gender is an important determinant of health and well-being, and has an impact on environmental and occupational risks, access to health care, disease prevalence, and treatment outcomes. In addition, xenobiotic responses may be strongly influenced by sex-gender. This review describes how sex–gender differentially influences the activities of phenols also in some critical periods of women life such as pregnancy and lactation, considering also the sex of fetuses and infants. Thus, sex–gender is a variable that must be carefully considered and should be used to propose directions for future research on the road to tailored medicine and nutrition.
Pediatric-Adapted Liking Survey (PALS): A Diet and Activity Screener in Pediatric Care
Authors: Vosburgh Kayla , Smith Sharon R. , Oldman Samantha , Huedo-Medina Tania , Duffy Valerie B.
Published: July 2019

Clinical settings need rapid yet useful methods to screen for diet and activity behaviors for brief interventions and to guide obesity prevention efforts. In an urban pediatric emergency department, these behaviors were screened in children and parents with the 33-item Pediatric-Adapted Liking Survey (PALS) to assess the reliability and validity of a Healthy Behavior Index (HBI) generated from the PALS responses. The PALS was completed by 925 children (average age = 11 ± 4 years, 55% publicly insured, 37% overweight/obese by Body Mass Index Percentile, BMI-P) and 925 parents. Child–parent dyads differed most in liking of vegetables, sweets, sweet drinks, and screen time. Across the sample, child and parent HBIs were variable, normally distributed with adequate internal reliability and construct validity, revealing two dimensions (less healthy—sweet drinks, sweets, sedentary behaviors; healthy—vegetables, fruits, proteins). The HBI showed criterion validity, detecting healthier indexes in parents vs. children, females vs. males, privately- vs. publicly-health insured, and residence in higher- vs. lower-income communities. Parent’s HBI explained some variability in child BMI percentile. Greater liking of sweets/carbohydrates partially mediated the association between low family income and higher BMI percentile. These findings support the utility of PALS as a dietary behavior and activity screener for children and their parents in a clinical setting.
A Gas Leakage Localization Method Based on a Virtual Ultrasonic Sensor Array
Authors: Li Lei , Yang Kuan , Bian Xiaoyu , Liu Qinghui , Yang Yizhuo , Ma Fengying
Published: July 2019

In traditional sensory array-based acoustic emission methods that are used for gas leakage localization, the localization resolution depends on the spatial aperture of the array, that is, the number of sensors. Most of the existing methods use small arrays that can only achieve low-resolution localization results because of limitations such as the amplitude and phase consistency, the complexity and cost of the system. This paper reports the first application of a virtual phased array for gas leakage detection to obtain high-resolution localization results. This method uses a virtual linear ultrasonic sensor array composed of only two sensors to acquire leakage signals. Then, we use the virtual beamforming algorithm based on the cross-power spectrum to estimate the location of the leakage source. Several experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and operability of the proposed method. The impacts of various factors on the performance of the localization technique are compared and discussed, including factors such as the number of sensors and the distance between the leak hole and virtual array. The results demonstrate that the proposed method accurately and reliably localizes gas leakages.
Benchmarking Particle Filter Algorithms for Efficient Velodyne-Based Vehicle Localization
Authors: Blanco-Claraco Jose Luis , Mañas-Alvarez Francisco , Torres-Moreno Jose Luis , Rodriguez Francisco , Gimenez-Fernandez Antonio
Published: July 2019

Keeping a vehicle well-localized within a prebuilt-map is at the core of any autonomous vehicle navigation system. In this work, we show that both standard SIR sampling and rejection-based optimal sampling are suitable for efficient (10 to 20 ms) real-time pose tracking without feature detection that is using raw point clouds from a 3D LiDAR. Motivated by the large amount of information captured by these sensors, we perform a systematic statistical analysis of how many points are actually required to reach an optimal ratio between efficiency and positioning accuracy. Furthermore, initialization from adverse conditions, e.g., poor GPS signal in urban canyons, we also identify the optimal particle filter settings required to ensure convergence. Our findings include that a decimation factor between 100 and 200 on incoming point clouds provides a large savings in computational cost with a negligible loss in localization accuracy for a VLP-16 scanner. Furthermore, an initial density of ∼2 particles/m 2 is required to achieve 100% convergence success for large-scale (∼100,000 m 2 ), outdoor global localization without any additional hint from GPS or magnetic field sensors. All implementations have been released as open-source software.
Congestion Control in Charging Stations Allocation with Q-Learning
Authors: Zhang Li , Gong Ke , Xu Maozeng
Published: July 2019

Navigation systems can help in allocating public charging stations to electric vehicles (EVs) with the aim of minimizing EVs’ charging time by integrating sufficient data. However, the existing systems only consider their travel time and transform the allocation as a routing problem. In this paper, we involve the queuing time in stations as one part of EVs’ charging time, and another part is the travel time on roads. Roads and stations are easily congested resources, and we constructed a joint-resource congestion game to describe the interaction between vehicles and resources. With a finite number of vehicles and resources, there exists a Nash equilibrium. To realize a self-adaptive allocation work, we applied the Q-learning algorithm on systems, defining sets of states and actions in our constructed environment. After being allocated one by one, vehicles concurrently requesting to be charged will be processed properly. We collected urban road network data from Chongqing city and conducted experiments. The results illustrate the proposed method can be used to solve the problem, and its convergence performance was better than the genetic algorithm. The road capacity and the number of EVs affected the initial of Q-value, and not the convergence trends.
An Optimisation Model to Consider the NIMBY Syndrome within the Landfill Siting Problem
Authors: Gallo Mariano
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes a discrete optimisation model and a heuristic algorithm to solve the landfill siting problem over large areas. Besides waste transport costs and plant construction and maintenance costs, usually considered in such problems, the objective function includes economic compensation for residents in the areas affected by the landfill, to combat the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome or, at least, reduce its adverse effects. The proposed methodology is applied to a real-scale case study, the region of Campania, Italy, where waste management is a thorny problem. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm may be used to obtain a solution to the problem, albeit sub-optimal, with acceptable computing times, and the proposed model tends to locate landfills in sparsely populated sites.
Potential Indicators of Soil Health Degradation in Different Land Use-Based Ecosystems in the Shiwaliks of Northwestern India
Authors: Bhowmik Arnab , Kukal Surinder Singh , Saha Debasish , Sharma Harmandeep , Kalia Anu , Sharma Sandeep
Published: July 2019

Identifying the importance of soil biology in different land use systems is critical to assess the present conditions of declining soil (C) and global land degradation while regulating soil health and biogeochemical nutrient cycling. A study was undertaken in a mixed watershed comprising of different land use systems (agricultural, grassland, agroforestry, and eroded); situated in the Shiwalik region in the foot hills of the lower Himalayas in India, a fragile ecosystem susceptible to land degradation. Soil samples from 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths were collected from these land use systems and analyzed for a suite of different soil health indicators, including physio-chemical soil properties, aggregate stability, soil microflora, and the enzymatic activities that are critical for nutrient cycling. Principal component analysis was used to group different land uses and understand their association with soil microflora, enzyme activities, and soil physio-chemical properties. We found that a greater number of soil microflora and enzymatic activities were associated with grassland and agroforestry land use systems. Aggregate-associated soil C correlated well with the soil microflora under different land use systems studied. The biplots revealed that the fungal:bacterial ratio (2 × 103–0.1 × 103) was a robust indicator of C accumulation and soil health, and was in greater association with the agroforestry land use system. Random forest, a non-parametric statistical test, on average explained that 68% to 92% of the variability in soil microbial population was due to land use and other soil health properties. Overall, the biological soil health indicators used in this study demonstrated the fact that land use management systems that employ constant crop cover with minimal disturbance have the potential to improve soil sustainability and ecological functioning.
Research on the Method of Color Fundus Image Optic Cup Segmentation Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Xiao Zhitao , Zhang Xinxin , Geng Lei , Zhang Fang , Wu Jun , Liu Yanbei
Published: July 2019

The optic cup is a physiological structure in the fundus and is a small central depression in the eye. It has a normal proportion in the optic papilla. If the ratio is large, its size may be used to determine diseases such as glaucoma or congenital myopia. The occurrence of glaucoma is generally accompanied by physical changes to the optic cup, optic disc, and optic nerve fiber layer. Therefore, accurate measurement of the optic cup is important for the detection of glaucoma. The accurate segmentation of the optic cup is essential for the measurement of the size of the optic cup relative to other structures in the eye. This paper proposes a new network architecture we call Segmentation-ResNet Seg-ResNet that takes a residual network structure as the main body, introduces a channel weighting structure that automatically adjusts the dependence of the feature channels, re-calibrates the feature channels, and introduces a set of low-level features that are combined with high-level features to improve network performance. Pre-fusion features and fused features are symmetrical. Hence, this work correlates with the concept of symmetry. Combined with the training strategy of migration learning, the segmentation accuracy is improved while speeding up network convergence. The robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method are demonstrated by testing data from the GlaucomaRepo and Drishti-GS fundus image databases.
Prevalência de enterobactérias produtoras de Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase em culturas de vigilância epidemiológica em unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital de ensino de Minas Gerais
Authors: Garcia Patricia Guedes , Ribeiro da Silva Isabela Aparecida , Damianse Laura Alcantara , Gama de Oliveira Leonardo Romaniello , Schettino de Azevedo Rafael Andrade
Published: July 2019

O crescente aumento de bactérias multirresistentes no ambiente hospitalar e a falta de opções terapêuticas a curto e médio prazo tem se tornado um grande desafio para o controle das infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde. As infecções por enterobactérias produtoras de Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), vem se destacando como a de maior risco para os pacientes debilitados que internam nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTIs). O objetivo do trabalho foi identificar a prevalência de KPC em culturas de vigilância epidemiológica de amostras de swab retal de pacientes internados nas UTI´s adulto, neonatal e pediátrica de um Hospital de Ensino de Minas Gerais, no período de janeiro a julho de 2014. Realizou-se um estudo transversal descritivo retrospectivo onde os dados foram analisados a partir dos registros dos livros do laboratório de microbiologia do hospital. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa número do parecer 948.342. Foram analisadas 422 amostras de swab retal, sendo que 367 (86,9%) eram provenientes das UTIs adulto e 55 (13%) da UTI neonatal e pediátrica. Foram positivas para KPC 31 (7,3%) das quais 21 eram da UTI adulto e 10 da UTI neonatal e pediátrica. Das 31 culturas positivas para KPC uma (3%) foi em Escherichia coli, quatro (13%) em Enterobacter sp e 26 (84%) em Klebsiella pneumoniae. A detecção laboratorial de enterobactérias produtoras de KPC exprime a importância das culturas de vigilância epidemiológica na rotina como medida de prevenção e controle da disseminação desses microrganismos multirresistentes, principalmente nas UTIs.
Programa Mais Médicos e a formação dos estudantes de medicina
Authors: Figueiredo Vieira Isadora , Chehuen Neto José Antônio , De Souza Larissa Baccoli , Rocha Paulino Kátia , Lorraine Santos Louise , Haramoto Haylla , Ferreira Renato Erothildes
Published: July 2019

Em 2013 foi aprovada a Lei 12.871, que instituiu o Programa Mais Médicos no Brasil. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o grau de conhecimento dos acadêmicos de medicina acerca do programa e os efeitos das novas determinações políticas. Pesquisa do tipo transversal, de natureza quantitativa, realizada com uma amostra de 407 estudantes. 62,9% desconhecem a Lei 12.871 que institui o Programa Mais Médicos e apenas 28,3% tem conhecimento das reformas curriculares propostas. 78,9% se posicionaram contra a obrigatoriedade do Programa de Residência de Medicina Geral da Família e Comunidade. 45,9% optariam por essa modalidade, levando em consideração a possibilidade de obter o título de especialista em menor tempo, mas apenas 12,5% afirmaram ter mudado os objetivos pessoais. 20,1% acreditam que o Programa será efetivo e 99,5% afirmaram que não será suficiente para melhorar a saúde pública do Brasil. A maior parte dos alunos entrevistados desconhece a Lei 12.871, a qual terá maior impacto nos estudantes dos últimos períodos da graduação. É necessário suprir lacunas da lei, ampliando a infraestrutura no SUS e adequando o gerenciamento dos investimentos.
Variações sobre Rubem Alves
Authors: Lourenço Pereira Gerson
Published: July 2019

Colocamo-nos diante do multifacético e singular pensamento de Rubem Alves, donde brota, sobretudo, a poesia e a visão desconcertante do fenômeno religioso para além dos reducionismos psico-sociológicos.Na teopoetica de Rubem alinguagem religiosaaparece como teia de palavras nascidas das entranhas humanas e lançadas sobre o abismo do mundo para torná-lo um lugar de beleza e verdade. Tal linguagem tece uma rede de símbolos com os quais o homem discrimina objetos, tempos e espaços, como abóboda sagrada a recobrir o mundo;símbolos nos quais se dependurae que fazem seu corpo estremecer.  Esta é a marca emocional/existencial da experiência do sagrado. É por isso que Rubem Alves diz que as palavras formam redes, onde as pessoas se deitam, porque é nesse modo de conceber o mundo que se fundamenta a possibilidade de existência humana, é nessa linguagem que se apresenta o sentido da vida. De seus primeiros textos teológicos (em especial sua tese de doutorado intitulada A Theologyofhuman Hope), perpassando suas produções filosóficas sobre a religião (destacando-se “O enigma da religião”, “O que é religião?”, “Religião e Repressão”, “Dogmatismo e Tolerância” e “O suspiro dos oprimidos”) e aportando em suas crônicas, esse grupo temáticovisa compor“variações sobre Rubem Alves”. Abarca, portanto, trabalhos que se debruçam sobre sua biografia, sobre a vertente singular da Teologia da Libertação elaborada por Rubem, sua extensa produção bibliográfica (ainda que algumas delas não sejam estritamente sobre religião, a temática quase nunca lhe escapa) e também sobre os efeitos das reflexões religiosas dele nos mais diversos segmentos.
Teosofia Antiga e Moderna
Authors: Kuhn Pfeifer Adolfo , Szynwelski Cristiane , Rocha Lima Silas Roberto , Lindemann Ricardo , Marchesini Otavio Ernesto , Mendes da Silva Luciane
Published: July 2019

O objetivo do GT Teosofia Antiga e Moderna é agregar pesquisadores para estimular o diálogo inter-religioso à luz do estudo teosófico comparativo, que sustenta a unidade essencial das religiões, e apresentar pesquisa opcional em três subdivisões temáticas:

(i) A Teosofia Antiga ocidental, conforme sua origem grega possivelmente remota em Pitágoras e Platão, ou mais recente no Neoplatonismo Alexandrino (Século III dC, significando literalmente “Sabedoria Divina”) a partir de Amônio Sacas, Plotino, Jâmbico, Proclo, Orígenes, entre outros, e suas correlações ou raízes orientais, principalmente no Hinduísmo, Vedanta, Yoga e Budismo;

(ii) A Teosofia  Moderna, principalmente a partir de Blavatsky e da fundação em 17/11/1875 da Sociedade de Teosófica (e suas derivações: Maçonaria Mista Internacional, Igreja Católica Liberal, etc.) encorajando o estudo comparativo de Religião, Filosofia e Ciência, investigando principalmente A Doutrina Secreta, as Cartas dos Mahatmas, em temas como a relação entre o Absoluto, o Logos ou Deus, as Leis de Periodicidade, Reencarnação, Karma, Evolução e o Plano Divino;  autores como Besant, Leadbeater, Jinarajadasa, Sri Ram, Taimni, Krishnamurti, entre outros, e em traduções de Fernando Pessoa como Ideais da Teosofia, A Voz do Silêncio, Introdução ao Yoga;

(iii) As correlações ou correspondências entre a Teosofia Antiga e a Moderna e sua possível unidade.

Tal pesquisa deve contribuir para a Ciência da Religião, com perspectivas de diálogo inter-religioso, para um futuro de progressiva superação do sofrimento humano e dos conflitos contemporâneos de origem religiosa ou filosófico-existencial em busca da unidade e da paz.
Religiões e religiosidades ameríndias: Regimes de saber, diversidade e mediações na experiência religiosa em contextos indígenas
Authors: Cerqueira Lopes Piermatei Siloeh , Moraes de Almeida Kátia , Ferreira de Souza Alfredo , Dias da Silva Willian
Published: July 2019

O presente GT objetiva reunirpesquisas relacionadas à religiosidade dos povos indígenas em seus diversos aspectos, a partir de olhares multidisciplinares, pretendendo dar conta de uma lacuna presente nas pesquisas acadêmicas de forma geral e, em especial, na área de Ciência da Religião. Desta forma, trabalhos que envolvam as cosmovisões e os regimes de saber e de conhecimento tradicionais indígenas relacionados aos aspectos sagrados serão contemplados pelo GT. Diante de um contexto de multiplicidade de realidades religiosas indígenas, pretende-se dar espaço para pesquisas voltadas para as mediações, encontros e confrontos entre os regimes de saber tradicionais e as religiões “outras”, contemplando também as diversas expressões das missões em áreas indígenas e as reconfigurações religiosas originárias do contato inter-étnico, tanto em uma perspectiva histórica quanto contemporânea. O GT se abre igualmente a pesquisas pautadas por horizontes epistemologicos pos e decoloniais que compreendam as relações ameríndias com o universo simbólico-religioso em suas mais diversas formas. Serão aceitos também trabalhos que tenham como tema novas espiritualidades que reelaboram o saber xamânico a partir de outras perspectivas religiosas (neo-xamanismos). A presente proposta de GT está ligada ao Grupo de Pesquisas em Religiões e Religiosidades Ameríndias e pretende contribuir para a ampliação das pesquisas relacionadas aos contextos indígenas e suas interfaces com o religioso, possibilitando uma maior inserção do conhecimento sobre os povos indígenas no ambiente acadêmico.
A morte especulativa de Deus: religião e história à luz da primeira crítica sistemática de Hegel em Jena
Authors: Silva Luiz Filipe da
Published: July 2019

Pretende-se oferecer um relato preciso acerca da função sistemática, e assimespeculativa, que as críticas de Hegel aos rebentos culturais do Esclarecimento,compreendidos sistematicamente como manifestações, possui no constructo de seupensamento. Para isso, elencaremos em Fé e Sabere na Differenzschrifto conjunto deelementos culturais e filosóficos que pendiam para destituição do papel da religião de acordocom o antigo modelo e como, com base no anúncio hegeliano a respeito da “morte de Deus”,será possível a partir de um processo histórico-filosófico recalcitrante apresentar a tendênciaespeculativa à unidade
Igreja Católica Romana e a Homossexualidade: Visão da Moral Sexual Católica a partir da análise de documentos Oficiais
Authors: Fernandes Rodrigues Silvia Geruza
Published: July 2019

No presente artigo nos propomos analisar alguns documentos oficiais da IgrejaCatólica Apostólica Romana que abordam a homossexualidade, dentre os quais: HumanaeVitae (1968), Persona Humana (1975), algumas cartas expedidas pela Congregação para aDoutrina da Fé sobre homossexualidade (1992; 2003) e o Compêndio do Catecismo da IgrejaCatólica. Pretendemos verificar as principais linhas oficiais da moral sexual da Igreja CatólicaRomana. Utilizamos os teólogos católicos da moral sexual (Marciano Vidal; MargarethFarley; Todd A. Salzman e Michael G. Lawler) para dialogar com os documentos da IgrejaCatólica.Pelos documentos analisados, constatamos que ocorre uma evolução na IgrejaCatólica Romana acrescentando a complementaridade afetiva e o amor ao objetivo do atoconjugal, além da procriação, persistindo, no entanto, a visão da homossexualidade comopatologia e perversão.
Religião e psicologia no azul da Congregação da Imaculada Conceição de Castres
Authors: Neri Munhoz Juliana
Published: July 2019

Algumas questões que envolvem a religião são discutidas pelo viés da Psicologiada Religião pensando na influência da religião e da religiosidade na saúde do indivíduo,observando assim alguns traços positivos e negativos sobre sua saúde mental. Nos estudos epesquisas sobre as relações entre práticas religiosas e saúde psicológica encontramos umelemento importante presente nestes grupos religiosos que seria a figura do líderreligioso.Alguns quadros psicológicos encontrados nestes líderes podem se relacionar aalgumas condições individuais ou religiosas impostas. Neste aspecto este artigo irá relacionarestudos já feitos com as experiências de algumas freiras da Congregação das Irmãs Azuisde1836 a 1844 na França.
C. J. PASCOE - Notas sobre uma sociologia do bullying: homofobia de homens jovens como socialização de gênero
Authors: Souza Tálisson Melo de
Published: July 2019

Discursos populares e acadêmicos enquadram o bullying como algo que uma criança homofóbica dirige a outra, uma pessoa gay, lésbica ou bissexual, geralmente a primeira estando em posição mais elevada em relação a segunda, e com resultados frequentemente desastrosos. Este artigo destrincha esses discursos na atualidade e enfatiza o importante papel de interações agressivas em jogo na socialização de gênero entre meninos.  A partir de um estudo de caso de bullying homofóbico entre adolescentes do sexo masculino, este artigo sugere que o estudo desse tipo de agressões é menos importante no que tange patologias individuais e mais relevante como uma forma de socialização de gênero e um mecanismo pelo qual a desigualdade de gênero é reproduzida. Uma abordagem do bullying focada na desigualdade privilegiaria o exame das interações, ao invés de qualidades individuais de agressores e vítimas; em vez de presumir um equilíbrio de poder entre iguais, investigaria as várias relações em que se dão tais interações agressivas, como as amizades; e estabeleceria um novo vocabulário do bullying para ser compreendido como um problema social que não está restrito a relações de pessoas jovens, mas reflete desigualdades estruturais bem mais amplas.
Mulheres possíveis: a construção social da mulher nas experiências da transexualidade
Authors: Quintela Hugo Felipe
Published: July 2019

A proposta central deste trabalho é, a partir de uma análise socioantropólogica, refletir e apresentar alguns elementos que colaboram na construção social de se compreender como mulher nas experiências da transexualidade, levando em consideração o processo de socialização existente na sociedade ocidental, processo esse que modela as nossas subjetividades por meio de binarismos de gênero e do corpo. Para tanto, desde 2012 tenho entrevistado mulheres transexuais, na tentativa de conseguir compreender como são os elementos recorrentes nesse processo de construção do ser mulher a partir de uma experiência constantemente questionada e deslegitimada, como é a experiência da transexualidade em nossa sociedade. A partir do método História de Vida, pude perceber nas trajetórias dessas mulheres experiências comuns e outras que eram peculiares a cada trajetória, mas em todos os relatos apareciam, sobretudo, situações de negligências de instituições sociais estruturantes de nossa sociedade, a saber: família, escola e igreja. Em suma, nas histórias de vida dessas mulheres é notória uma busca constante do “se pensar como mulher”, assim como nos relatos diversos percebe-se o não reconhecimento dessa experiência como sendo possível, pois a nossa sociedade constantemente tenta colocá-las no que eu denominei de liminaridade permanente.