bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Session details: Special issue on the 32nd international symposium on computer performance, modeling, measurement, and evaluation (IFIP WG 7.3 performance 2014) - Regular papers
Authors: Buchholz Peter , Van Houdt Benny
Published: April 2020

This special issue of Performance Evaluation Review (PER) contains part of the proceedings of Performance 2014, held in Torino, Italy on October 7-9, 2014. Performance is the agship conference of IFIP Working Group 7.3 on Computer System Modeling. The conference provides a leading international forum for high-quality research on the modeling, analysis, simulation, and evaluation of computer and communication systems.

The program this year reects the sustained ability of the conference to attract high quality submissions, while at the same time evolving with the interests of the performance research community. A wide range of topics like quantitative aspects of computer architecture and communication systems, performance modeling, storage systems, wireless networks, energy management as well as optimization and game theory, data centers, cloud and cluster computing are covered by the program of the conference and shows the current development in performance modeling and analysis.

There were 97 papers submitted for review. Authors had the option of submitting either a regular paper (of which 78 were submitted) or a short paper of 3 pages (of which 19 were submitted) summarizing recent results or work in progress. A total of 280 reviews were received during the reviewing period. Reviews were mainly written by the members of the Technical Program Committee and by a limited number of external referees. The TPC meeting took place at the Uni- versity of Antwerp, Belgium on June 2, 2014. As a result of this meeting, 21 full papers were selected for the conference program (representing an acceptance rate of 27%), together with 7 short papers (an acceptance rate of 37%).

This special issue includes one of the regular papers and all seven short papers. A corresponding special issue of Performance Evaluation (PEVA) contains the remaining papers.
From verification to synthesis under cost-utility constraints
Authors: Baier Christel , Dubslaff Clemens
Published: April 2020

Various algorithms and tools for the formal verification of systems with respect to their quantitative behavior have been developed in the past decades. Many of these techniques inherently support the automated synthesis of strategies that guarantee the satisfaction of performance or reliability constraints by resolving controllable nondeterministic choices in an adequate way. More recently, such techniques have been further developed towards the analysis or strategy synthesis under multiple cost and utility constraints.

This article deals with Markov decision processes (MDPs) for modeling systems and their environment and provides an overview of recent directions for different types of synthesis problems in MDPs that aim to achieve an acceptable cost-utility tradeoff.
Verification Column
Authors: Lazić Ranko
Published: April 2020

In this timely and comprehensive article, the authors provide an insightful overview of the lively field of automatic verification of hybrid systems. They focus on the fundamental problem of reachability, and consider both exact and approximate approaches. I am sure that Oded Maler, to whom this contribution is very fittingly dedicated, would have been proud to see such an authoritative and useful summary of the state of the art of an area he had helped introduce.
G
raph
O
ne
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Huang H. Howie
Published: April 2020

There is a growing need to perform a diverse set of real-time analytics (batch and stream analytics) on evolving graphs to deliver the values of big data to users. The key requirement from such applications is to have a data store to support their diverse data access efficiently, while concurrently ingesting fine-grained updates at a high velocity. Unfortunately, current graph systems, either graph databases or analytics engines, are not designed to achieve high performance for both operations; rather, they excel in one area that keeps a private data store in a specialized way to favor their operations only. To address this challenge, we have designed and developed G
raph
O
ne
, a graph data store that abstracts the graph data store away from the specialized systems to solve the fundamental research problems associated with the data store design. It combines two complementary graph storage formats (edge list and adjacency list) and uses
dual versioning
to decouple graph computations from updates. Importantly, it presents a new data abstraction,
GraphView
, to enable data access at two different granularities of data ingestions (called
data visibility
) for concurrent execution of diverse classes of real-time graph analytics with only a small data duplication. Experimental results show that G
raph
O
ne
is able to deliver 11.40× and 5.36× average speedup in ingestion rate against LLAMA and Stinger, the two state-of-the-art dynamic graph systems, respectively. Further, they achieve an average speedup of 8.75× and 4.14× against LLAMA and 12.80× and 3.18× against Stinger for BFS and PageRank analytics (batch version), respectively. G
raph
O
ne
also gains over 2,000× speedup against Kickstarter, a state-of-the-art stream analytics engine in ingesting the streaming edges and performing streaming BFS when treating first half as a base snapshot and rest as streaming edge in a synthetic graph. G
raph
O
ne
also achieves an ingestion rate of two to three orders of magnitude higher than graph databases. Finally, we demonstrate that it is possible to run concurrent stream analytics from the same data store.
Teaching Abstraction in Computer Science to 7
th
Grade Students
Authors: Statter David , Armoni Michal
Published: April 2020

Abstraction is one of the most fundamental ideas in computer science (CS), and as such, according to Bruner [23], it should be taught spirally, starting as early as possible and revisited at every level of education. However, teaching CS abstraction to novices is a very challenging task, and CS educational research has often demonstrated students' difficulties in learning this idea, in different contexts and at different age levels. The challenge in teaching CS abstraction is even greater when dealing with young students, since according to theories on children's cognitive development, their abstraction abilities may still be not fully developed. In 2013, Armoni [5] introduced a framework for teaching abstraction in the context of algorithmic problem solving, intended for novice students. We studied the effect of this framework in an introductory CS course for 7
th
graders, in which Scratch was used as the programming language for implementing algorithmic solutions. Our findings indicate that the framework was highly effective for developing CS abstraction skills as well as other related skills and aspects, such as the tendency to provide explanations for solutions, the use of initialization processes, and the perception of the nature of CS. It also significantly improved students’ general CS performance in this course.
DisCoTec 2019
Authors: Lafuente Alberto Lluch
Published: April 2020

DisCoTec, the International Federated Conference on Distributed Computing Techniques, is one of the major annual events sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). It comprises three conferences: COORDINATION, the IFIP WG6.1 International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages, DAIS, the IFIP WG6.1 International Conference on Distributed Applications and Interoperable Systems, and FORTE, the IFIP WG6.1 International Conference on Formal Techniques for Distributed Objects, Components and Systems.
Kernel Normalised Least Mean Squares with Delayed Model Adaptation
Authors: Fraser Nicholas J. , Leong Philip H. W.
Published: April 2020

Kernel adaptive filters (KAFs) are non-linear filters which can adapt temporally and have the additional benefit of being computationally efficient through use of the “kernel trick”. In a number of real-world applications, such as channel equalisation, the non-linear mapping provides significant improvements over conventional linear techniques such as the least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms. Prior works have focused mainly on the theory and accuracy of KAFs, with little research on their implementations. This article proposes several variants of algorithms based on the kernel normalised least mean squares (KNLMS) algorithm which utilise a delayed model update to minimise dependencies. Subsequently, this work proposes corresponding hardware architectures which utilise this delayed model update to achieve high sample rates and low latency while also providing high modelling accuracy. The resultant delayed KNLMS (DKNLMS) algorithms can achieve clock rates up to 12× higher than the standard KNLMS algorithm, with minimal impact on accuracy and stability. A system implementation achieves 250 GOps/s and a throughput of 187.4 MHz on an Ultra96 board with 1.8× higher throughput than previous state of the art.
IMCA Induces Ferroptosis Mediated by SLC7A11 through the AMPK/mTOR Pathway in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liu Wen , Liu Fangyan , Wang Qun , Song Mengjiao , Yu Qi , Tang Kun , Teng Tieshan , Wu Dongdong , Wang Xijing , Han Wuqi , Li Yanzhang
Published: April 2020

Ferroptosis, implicated in several diseases, is a new form of programmed and nonapoptotic cell death triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation after inactivation of the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc–, which is composed of solute carrier family 7 membrane 11 (SLC7A11) and solute carrier family 3 membrane 2 (SLC3A2). Therefore, inducing ferroptosis through inhibiting the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc– may be an effective way to treat cancer. In previous screening tests, we found that the benzopyran derivative 2-imino-6-methoxy-2H-chromene-3-carbothioamide (IMCA) significantly inhibited the viability of colorectal cancer cells. However, the impact of IMCA on ferroptosis remains unknown. Hence, this study investigated the effect of IMCA on ferroptosis and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism. Results showed that IMCA significantly inhibited the cell viability of colorectal cancer cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth with negligible organ toxicity in vivo. Further studies showed that IMCA significantly induced the ferroptosis of colorectal cancer cells. Mechanistically, IMCA downregulated the expression of SLC7A11 and decreased the contents of cysteine and glutathione, which resulted in reactive oxygen species accumulation and ferroptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of SLC7A11 significantly attenuated the ferroptosis caused by IMCA. In addition, IMCA regulated the activity of the AMPK/mTOR/p70S6k signaling pathway, which is related to the activity of SLC7A11 and ferroptosis. Collectively, our research provided experimental evidences on the activity and mechanism of ferroptosis induced by IMCA and revealed that IMCA might be a promising therapeutic drug for colorectal cancer.
New Stability Analysis Results for Linear System with Two Additive Time-Varying Delay Components
Authors: Liu Haitao , Liu Fang
Published: April 2020

This paper focuses on the stability problems of continuous linear systems with two additive time-varying delay components. Firstly, an effective and simple Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) is established, which not only takes adequate information of delay components and their upper bounds into consideration but also establishes a simpler form to decrease the computational complexity. Secondly, an improved delay-dependent stability criterion together with its corollary is obtained by employing the generalized free-weighting-matrix-based (GFWM-based) inequality and some other techniques to calculate the derivative of the constructed LKF, which will further reduce the introduced estimation error and make the criteria less conservative. Lastly, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the less conservatism and lower computational complexity of the derived results.
Acute Pancreatitis Induced by Diabetic Ketoacidosis with Major Hypertriglyceridemia: Report of Four Cases
Authors: Bouchaala Karama , Bahloul Mabrouk , Bradii Sabrine , Kallel Hela , Chtara Kamilia , Bouaziz Mounir
Published: April 2020

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a real clinical challenge. Acute pancreatitis remains a common cause of emergency department consultations and a major cause for hospitalization. Gallstones and drinking a lot of alcohol are the most frequent causes of AP. Moreover, AP can be induced by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) complicated by hypertriglyceridemia. We report 4 cases of DKA with hypertriglyceridemia complicated by AP in previously undiagnosed diabetes patients. All of our patients presented to the emergency ward with abdominal pain. Their physical exam showed epigastric tenderness. An abdominal CT scan was performed for each patient, showing an AP grade E. Laboratory samples showed high serum glucose levels. They had metabolic acidosis with elevated anion gap. They had high lipasemia and amylasemia. Their lipid panel was disturbed with a high level of cholesterol (from 12.8 mmol/l to 33 mmol/l) and triglyceridemia (from 53 to 133 mmol/l). Our patients were admitted into our ICU where they received fluid resuscitation and intravenous insulin, and their triglycerides rates decreased gradually. Two patients recovered to a good health state, and the two others developed septic shock, requiring the use of large-spectrum antibiotics, and acute kidney injury (AKI) with refractory metabolic acidosis, requiring hemodialysis. Despite the intensive treatment, they developed an unrecoverable multiorgan failure. Through our case series, we aim to highlight the importance of making an early diagnosis, which can be difficult in some situations due to overlapping signs; however, it is crucial for a good recovery. A good understanding of the pathway of hypoinsulinemic states causing hypertriglyceridemia then AP is important because it is the key to best management.
Pantoea agglomerans Bacteremia: Is It Dangerous?
Authors: Kaur Ikwinder Preet , Inkollu Sindhura , Prakash Amulya , Gandhi Haresh , Mughal Mohsin Sheraz , Du Doantrang
Published: April 2020

Introduction. Pantoea agglomerans, an anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of opportunistic infections affecting premature infants to seniors. We present a 34-year-old man who was presented for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis and developed Pantoea agglomerans bacteremia after one week of hospitalization. Case Presentation. A 34-year-old African-American male with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type I and recurrent skin infections was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis. He had left upper extremity abscess, preliminary wound cultures were positive for Gram-positive cocci, and an initial set of blood cultures were negative. He was started empirically on vancomycin. One week after admission, he started having chills followed by a recurrent increase in body temperature to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The wound was healing, without active infection. Chest X-ray and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to rule out infection were negative. Repeat blood cultures showed P. agglomerans in both the tubes. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, and he recovered fully without any complication. Discussion. Pantoea agglomerans is a bacteria associated with plants; however, it can infect humans and vertebrate animals. The outcome seems favourable with the institution of appropriate antibiotics even in immunocompromised patients.
Tensile Behavior of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene at Different Temperatures
Authors: Li Jiquan , Jia Yadong , Li Taidong , Zhu Zhou , Zhou Hangchao , Peng Xiang , Jiang Shaofei
Published: April 2020

Temperature greatly influences the mechanical response of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The tensile behavior of ABS was explored in this study. The tensile experiments were conducted at a wide range of temperatures (from 40°C to 130°C). A model was established to reveal the quantitative relationship between temperature and tensile behavior of ABS. The results of tensile experiments showed that tensile behavior of ABS exhibited glassy state and high-elastics state. The model was also divided into two parts that rely on the boundary of glass transition temperature, in which the parameters of the model were calculated by the fitting method. The model predictions showed a good agreement with the results of the experimental tensile test. This study provides the quantitative relationship between temperature and tensile behavior of ABS, which saves time and experimental costs.
Lymph Node Metastases of Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Role of Calcitonin in the Washout Fluid of Fine-Needle Aspiration
Authors: Marques Bernardo , Cunha Nuno , Martins Raquel G. , Elvas Ana Rita , Couto Joana , Santos Jacinta , Martins Teresa , Moniz Ana Paula , Ilhéu Olga , Valido Frederico , Rodrigues Fernando
Published: April 2020

Introduction. The diagnostic value of calcitonin (CT) measurement in fine-needle aspirate washout (FNA-CT) for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) lymph node (LN) metastases remains to be determined. It may increase the diagnostic sensitivity, but data on this subject is sparse. Objective. Our study aimed to evaluate the utility of FNA-CT in the diagnosis of LN metastases of MTC. Methods. We retrospectively investigated, in our institutional database, 69 consecutive FNA LN cytology from 42 patients who underwent FNA cytology and CT measurement in needle washout for suspicious LN between 2012 and 2017. Results. From the total of 69 FNA, 30 (43.4%) were performed in patients with personal history of MTC. MTC was detected in 19 FNA cytology (27.5%), and CT was detectable in needle washout in 23 cases (median = 2014 pg/mL; interquartile range = 490–15111 pg/mL). Based on the combined results of FNA-CT and FNA cytology, LN surgical resection was performed in 33 cases (47.8%). Histology reported MTC LN metastases in 21 lesions (63.6%). Regarding the diagnosis of MTC LN metastases, FNA cytology showed sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 97.9%, and FNA-CT demonstrated sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.9%. We determined through ROC analysis an optimal FNA-CT cut-off value of 23 pg/mL for the diagnosis of LN metastases (sensitivity 100%; specificity 100%). Conclusions. FNA-CT may be a valuable diagnostic tool for detection of MTC LN metastases, along with FNA cytology, and it should be included in the clinical workup of neck adenopathies in patients with MTC or with thyroid nodules.
Netherton’s Syndrome: A Case of Two Male Siblings Diagnosed in Adulthood
Authors: Flora Akshay , Smith Annika
Published: April 2020

Netherton’s syndrome (NS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by a germline mutation in the SPINK5 gene. It is most commonly diagnosed in neonates due to the presence of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. Affected individuals will typically also develop a hair shaft abnormality known as trichorrhexis invaginata, severe atopy, and a migratory rash known as ichythyosis linearis circumflexa. The chronicity and severity of NS adversely affects a patient’s quality of life to a large extent. It Is therefore important that this condition is identified early, and treatment to reduce cutaneous inflammation is initiated in a timely fashion. However, due to this condition being relatively rare, a lack of awareness may lead clinicians to misdiagnose it as atopic dermatitis or undifferentiated psoriasis. Clinicians should therefore be aware of the peripheral stigmata that this disease may present as in adulthood, so that a correct diagnosis can be made if it was previously missed. Here we present a case of two male siblings from Jordon who were misdiagnosed since childhood as having erythrodermic psoriasis. Clinical examination of one of the siblings, as an adult, revealed multiple peripheral features associated with NS. Genetic analysis through sanger sequencing was also able to identify a mutation in the SPINK5 gene, confirming the diagnosis.
O “desafio da modernidade” e as artes marciais chinesas uma análise sobre a inclusão do Wushu nos Jogos Olímpicos
Authors: Tralci Filho Marcio Antonio
Published: April 2020

As artes marciais chinesas (Kung Fu ou Wushu) provavelmente são uma das práticas culturais mais populares que cruzaram as fronteiras da China. De acordo com a Federação Internacional de Wushu existem federações nacionais de Wushu na maioria dos países de todos os continentes, configurando 146 federações membros. Além disso, o IWUF é a entidade responsável por pleitear o Wushu como esporte olímpico. Diante disso, o objetivo do artigo é analisar a relação dinâmica entre tradição e modernidade em alguns dos argumentos utilizados para a inclusão do Wushu nos Jogos Olímpicos de 2008. Para tanto, foi feita uma análise, a partir da perspectiva dos Estudos Culturais, sobre o vídeo apresentado ao Comitê Olímpico Internacional em 2002 para a introdução do Wushu nos Jogos Olímpicos de Pequim, em 2008. A análise foi feita com base em uma "Teoria da Recepção", presente principalmente nas obras de Stuart Hall, que consideram a "centralidade" das questões culturais, bem como as relações de poder envolvidas na sua construção discursiva. Os resultados foram apresentados levando-se em consideração três aspectos: as representações a respeito da China, as representações a respeito do Wushu e a aproximação do Wushu com o modelo ocidental de considerar as práticas corporais. Desse modo, observou-se que as possíveis tensões entre o “tradicional” e o “moderno” parecem não atingir uma contradição no vídeo da IWUF. Os conceitos europeus sobre o esporte aliados ao “Movimento da Nova Cultura” possivelmente inventaram uma nova tradição para as artes marciais, mas essa tradição operou não apenas na sustentação de certas elites e no conceito de nação, mas também enquanto uma posição afirmativa e de resistência diante do processo de colonização realizado por potências estrangeiras.
Os Impactos do conceito da dita "música séria" no choro brasileiro
Authors: Castro Felipe Siles de
Published: April 2020

O presente artigo visa analisar o impacto da dita “música séria” 一 conceito surgido na Europa, no final do século XVIII, em oposição à música de entretenimento 一 no contexto do choro brasileiro, debruçando-se sobre três estudos de caso: o conto O homem célebre de Machado de Assis; a anedota de Henrique Cazes (2010), onde ele relata Jacob do Bandolim retirando Pixinguinha da lista de convidados de sua roda de choro; e a Suíte Retratos de Radamés Gnattali, como marco de aproximação entre o choro e a música de concerto.
Childhood/Adolescent Smoking and Adult Smoking and Cessation: The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Authors: Hu Tian , Gall Seana L. , Widome Rachel , Bazzano Lydia A. , Burns Trudy L. , Daniels Stephen R. , Dwyer Terence , Ikonen Johanna , Juonala Markus , Kähönen Mika , Prineas Ronald J. , Raitakari Olli , Sinaiko Alan R. , Steinberger Julia , Urbina Elaine M. , Venn Alison , Viikari Jorma , Woo Jessica G. , Jacobs David R.
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite declining
US
adolescent smoking prevalence from 40% among 12th graders in 1995 to around 10% in 2018, adolescent smoking is still a significant problem. Using the International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium, which includes 7 international cohorts recruited in childhood and followed into adulthood, the present study was designed to confirm the important relation between adolescent smoking and daily adult smoking and present new data on adult smoking into the forties and comparison of smoking in the United States, Finland, and Australia.

Methods and Results

Childhood smoking experience during ages 6 to 19 in the 1970s and 1980s was classifiable in 6687 i3C participants who also provided smoking status in their twenties and forties through 2011–2018. Prevalence of daily smoking in their twenties was directly related to degree of smoking during adolescence and inversely related to the age at which that smoking experience occurred (
P
trend, <0.001). Similar patterns were observed for prediction of smoking during age forties. Among the 2465 smokers in their twenties, cessation by their forties was generally inverse to degree of smoking in ages 6 to 19 (
P
trend, <0.001). Prevalence of smoking during adolescence and adulthood was similar among
US
, Finnish, and Australian participants.

Conclusions

These long‐term follow‐up data show that smoking intensity increased throughout adolescence. Prevalence of adult smoking and cessation by the forties were both correlated with levels of childhood smoking intensity. These data lend support to preventive strategies designed to reduce, delay, or eliminate any youth access to cigarettes.
Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Associated With Extremely High Values for the sFlt‐1 (Soluble fms‐Like Tyrosine Kinase 1)/PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) Ratio
Authors: Villalaín Cecilia , Herraiz Ignacio , Valle Leonor , Mendoza Manel , Delgado Juan Luis , Vázquez‐Fernández María , Martínez‐Uriarte Juan , Melchor Íñigo , Caamiña Sara , Fernández‐Oliva Antoni , Villar Olga Patricia , Galindo Alberto
Published: April 2020

Background

There is little knowledge about the significance of extremely high values (>655) for the ratio of
sF
lt‐1 (soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1) to Pl
GF
(placental growth factor). We aim to describe the time‐to‐delivery interval and maternal and perinatal outcomes when such values are demonstrated while assessing suspected or confirmed placental dysfunction based on clinical or sonographic criteria.

Methods and Results

A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed on 237 singleton gestations between 20+0 and 37+0 weeks included at the time of first demonstrating a
sF
lt‐1/Pl
GF
ratio >655. Clinicians were aware of this result, but standard protocols were followed for delivery indication. Main outcomes were compared for women with and without preeclampsia at inclusion. In those with preeclampsia (n=185, of whom 77.3% had fetal growth restriction), severe preeclampsia features and fetal growth restriction in stages
III
or
IV
were present in 49.2% and 13.5% cases, respectively, at inclusion and in 77.3% and 28.6% cases, respectively, at delivery. In the group without preeclampsia (n=52, 82.7% had fetal growth restriction), these figures were 0% and 30.8%, respectively, at inclusion and 21.2% and 50%, respectively, at delivery. Interestingly, 28% of women without initial preeclampsia developed it later. The median time to delivery was 4 days (interquartile range: 1–6 days) and 7 days (interquartile range: 3–12 days), respectively (
P
<0.01). Overall, perinatal mortality was 62.1% before 24 weeks; severe morbidity surpassed 50% before 29 weeks but became absent from 34 weeks. Maternal serious morbidity was high at any gestational age.

Conclusions

An
sF
lt‐1/Pl
GF
ratio >655 is almost invariably associated with preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction that progresses rapidly. In our tertiary care settings, we observed that maternal adverse outcomes were high throughout gestation, whereas perinatal adverse outcomes diminished as pregnancy advanced.
A Bridge Too Far? Attacks against Cultural Property used as Military Objectives as War Crimes: The Prlić et al. Case and the Mostar Bridge
Authors: Moffett Luke
Published: April 2020

The destruction of the cultural property in conflict zones around the world has captured international attention on the need to prevent its destruction and prosecute those responsible. This article examines the current legal protection and international criminal framework on the criminalisation of the destruction of cultural property and in particular the exception to such destruction amounting to a war crime where they have become military objectives. This article discusses the recent decision in the Prlić et al. case involving the Mostar bridge, in light of its being justified to be attacked as a military objective. This article argues that considerations of proportionality are still required in such circumstances. This is vital to minimise the cost to communities and peoples whose cultural identity is bound up with such cultural objects. The article also suggests that the perfidious use of cultural property by parties to a conflict should be criminalised.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Authors: Schuurmans-Stekhoven James Benjamin
Published: April 2020

A belief-as-benefit effect (BABE)—the positive association between well-being and religiosity/spirituality—is recurrently reported. Past BABE research has however been critiqued for predominantly utilizing unrepresentative samples, questionable psychometric measures and bivariate designs. Employing a multivariate design, I explore the incremental validity of the BABE in two community samples. Hierarchical models—initially including socio-demographic factors and religiosity/spirituality and subsequently adding trait agreeableness and conscientiousness—are used. Simple correlations confirm the BABE (with an unexceptional effect size). However the unique association observed using multivariate estimation is substantially weaker and occasionally indicates an adverse association. That cross-sectional analyses cannot establish cause is fully acknowledged. Yet, establishing cause is not the current aim; multivariate models are simply used to substantiate the cross-sectional BABE.
Experimental study on spall behavior of single and multi-plate composites behind armor subjected to shaped charge
Authors: Toksoy A Kaan , Arıkan Volkan , Karakuzu Ramazan , Arman Yusuf , Gören Aytaç
Published: April 2020

Spall behavior of single and multi-layered hybrid composite structures behind armor was investigated by using shaped charge. Firstly, spall cone angles of Aluminum 5083-H116 and rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) steel as base armor materials were determined without any composite to select base armor. The single and multi-plates composite samples were produced by using S2 glass plain fabric, Kevlar plain fabric and hybrid Carbon-Kevlar twill fabric and epoxy resin system. After that, composite samples were placed behind the selected base armor plates with different distance in between them. The changes of spall cone angle, spall diameter, and penetrated area after shaped charge penetration were determined and analyzed in terms of both material configuration and distance behind the armor plates. As a result, increasing the behind armor distance reduces the jetting area and thus spall distribution decreases. In addition, it can be recommended to use hybrid 1 and 50 mm behind armor distance by evaluating both spall distribution and in-vehicle volume restriction.
Expressions of Grief in Online Discussion Forums—Linguistic Similarities and Differences in Pet and Human Bereavement
Authors: Lyons Minna , Floyd Katie , McCray Haley , Peddie Claire , Spurdle Katherine , Tlusty Amelia , Watkinson Charlotte , Brewer Gayle
Published: April 2020

We compared online discussion forum posts related to pet loss to those related to human bereavement. Posts ( N =  401) were analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software for frequencies of word use relevant to bereavement. Words related to anger, sadness, and negative emotions were used at similar frequencies for all grief. Sibling loss was associated with using first person pronouns at higher frequencies, and positive emotion words at lower frequencies than other categories of loss. There were some similarities in partners and pets in the word use related to friends and social connectedness. Words related to religion were highest when writing about losing a child and lowest when losing a pet. Our results highlight the similarities in the vocabulary in pet and human bereavement. Findings demonstrate the importance of online discussion forums for understanding the process of grief and specific relationship types.
Caring and Uncaring Teacher Practices: Examples From Past Offer Guidance for Present and Hope for Future
Authors: Wandix-White Diana
Published: April 2020

This article employs narrative inquiry to illuminate how teachers’ embodied culture of care, or lack thereof, effects African American students. The majority teacher (young, White, female) often struggles to counter the cultural mismatch and connect with her diverse student population. This study highlights narratives of African American students who attended both segregated and newly integrated schools during the 1950s to 1970s, and offers an exemplar of teacher practices and behaviors that lead to a culture of care, which is possible, regardless of race and laws, when educators engage in the act of caring for the overall growth and development of their students.
Pore characterization of marine-continental transitional shale in Permian Shanxi Formation of The Southern North China Basin
Authors: Yang Xiaoguang , Guo Shaobin
Published: April 2020

Organic-rich marine-continental transitional shale is widely developed in the Permian Shanxi Formation in the Southern North China Basin. In this study, shale samples from the southern and northern wells of the basin were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry, low-pressure gas adsorption (N2 and CO2) and argon ion polishing-field emissions scanning electron microscopy. The pore types and structures of shale micropores, mesopores and macropores are qualitatively described; their pore size distribution and volume are quantitatively characterized; and the influencing factors of the pore volume are analyzed. The results show that the marine-continental transitional shale pores exhibit an unbalanced multimodal distribution with four peaks at 0.4–0.8 nm, 2–4 nm, 10–50 nm, and >10 µm. The mesopore volume is dominant, accounting for 40–70% of pores. The mesopores of the samples are slit-shaped pores and ink bottle-shaped pores. Since there is a desorption hysteresis loop on the N2 adsorption-desorption curve, most of them belong to the H4 type, and ye23-8 belongs to the mixed H2 and H4 type according to the IUPAC classification scheme. The slit-shaped pores are mainly interlayer pores and interparticle pores in clays, and the ink bottle-shaped pores are tiny dissolved pores and organic matter pores. Ro has negative correlation with the volumes of the mesopores and macropores, but it does not affect the volume of micropores. TOC has a positive correlation with the macropore and micropore volumes, and it has a negative correlation with mesopore volume. The relative contents of kaolinite and I/S have a positive correlation with the mesopore and macropore volumes. The relative content of illite has a negative correlation with the mesopore and macropore volumes. The relative content of chlorite has a negative correlation with the mesopore volume.
Public Perception About the Zika Virus in Working Professionals: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Choudhry Fahad Riaz , Munawar Khadeeja , Kassab Yaman W. , Bakrin Faizah Safina , Al-Worafi Yaser Mohammed , Khan Tahir Mehmood
Published: April 2020

Aims

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network recently warned that the Zika virus-containing mosquitoes are being found in Pakistan and the health sector is on high alert. It is thus significant to understand public beliefs and perceptions of the Zika virus and vaccination in the current scenario of Pakistan.

Methods

Twenty semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed through an inductive approach to analysis.

Results

The findings were presented in three main categories which were coded: Reality vs. Conspiracy, Vaccination Concerns, and Public Worries. The majority believed that the Zika virus is a real problem and that authorities might be trying to hide the Zika cases in Pakistan. Moreover, they believed that health organizations are being incompetent by failing to take timely remedial measures to manage the Zika. However, 20% have an opposing view and believed that the Zika virus is a conspiracy against Pakistan from the West.

Conclusion

Overall, most participants were concerned about the lack of treatment and preventive methods and emphasized the need to create awareness among the public. It is observed that the participants’ perceptions ranged from perceiving the Zika virus as real to as a conspiracy.
The geographies of the institutional and industrial constraints on the financialization of German brewing
Authors: Keenan Liam
Published: April 2020

In recent decades, financialization has reworked the ownership, organization and geographies of global brewing. However, the institutional constellations of national, regional and local markets continue to shape and mediate its processes in variegated ways. Presenting a more granular and spatially sensitive conceptualization of financialization, this article adopts a cultural political economy (CPE) framework to analyse its relationships with the German brewing industry. First, the article distils the key elements of firm-level financialization and identifies a range of core constituents which provide the foundations for observing how financialization is enacted as part of wider institutional and political economic contexts. Second, the paper explains how these core constituents unfold as part of the global brewing industry, where the growing importance of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), the cultivation of global brands and the strategic prioritization of value over volume have reconstituted mature beer markets. Analysis then turns to the brewing industry and market in Germany, where regional patterns of production, a localized culture of consumption and various forms of state intervention are shown to constrain the enactment of financialization. Building on this empirical evidence, it is argued that geographically particular social relations, cultural conditions and political economic structures intertwine to shape and mediate processes of financialization, in different ways, with geography both causal and constitutive in its uneven expression.
In vitro and in vivo evaluations of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide 66/yttria-stabilized zirconia as a novel bioactive material for bone screws: Biocompatibility and bioactivity
Authors: Li Yu-Ling , Zhao Wei-Kang , Zhang Jing , Xiang Chao , Chen Qian , Yan Caiping , Jiang Ke
Published: April 2020

Zirconia and its derivatives have been receiving increased levels of attention with regard to their potential application in bone tissue engineering. These materials are of particular interest because of their excellent characteristics, such as superior biological and mechanical properties. In this study, yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (YTZ)-reinforced nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 (nHA/PA66) bone screws were prepared. The biocompatibility and bioactivity of nHA/PA66/YTZ were evaluated in vitro using MC3T3-E1 cells. Biocompatibility and bioactivity experiments (cell counting kit-8 tests, cell immunofluorescence analysis, and polymerase chain reaction) showed that nHA/PA66/YTZ could facilitate the biological functions of MC3T3-E1 cells. The attachment, proliferation, spreading, and expression of genes associated with osteogenesis (collagen 1, osteopontin, and osteocalcin) in cells cultured with the nHA/PA66/YTZ composite were all superior compared with the control groups ( P < 0.05). In addition, nHA/PA66/YTZ bone screws were implanted into the femoral condyles of rabbits, and titanium screws were employed as a control group; postoperative histology and blood analysis revealed no obvious damage to the liver, kidneys, or any other major organs in either of the experimental groups. Moreover, nHA/PA66/YTZ screws resulted in significantly better bone-implant contact interfaces and enhanced formation of trabecular bone ( P < 0.05); these characteristics were markedly better than those in the group that received titanium screws. These observations indicate that YTZ-reinforced nHA/PA66 composites have significant potential for applications in bone tissue engineering.
Modeling of mixed convection in an enclosure using multiple regression, artificial neural network, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system models
Authors: Aylı Ece
Published: April 2020

In this study, the heat transfer characteristics of laminar combined forced convection through a horizontal duct are obtained with the help of the numerical methods. The effect of the geometrical parameters of the cavity and Reynolds number on the heat transfer is investigated. New heat transfer correlation for hydrodynamically fully developed, laminar combined forced convection through a horizontal duct is proposed with an average error of 6.98% and R2 of 0.8625. The obtained correlation results are compared with the artificial neural network and adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system models. Due to the obtained results, good agreement is identified between the numerical results and predicted adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system results. In conclusion, it is seen that adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system can predict the Nusselt number distribution with a higher accuracy than the developed correlation and the artificial neural network model. The developed adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system model predicts the Nusselt number with 1.07% mean average percentage error and 0.9983 R2 value. The effect of the different training algorithms and their ability to predict Nusselt number distribution are examined. According to the results, the Bayesian regulation algorithm gives the best approach with a 2.235% error. According to the examination that is performed in this study, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system is a powerful, robust tool that can be used with confidence for predicting the thermal performance.
Research on spiral angle optimization for longitudinal road header's cutting head
Authors: Liu Xunan , Du Changqing , Liu Mingxi
Published: April 2020

The cutting head is the key component of a road header in tunnel excavation, where the concept of the spiral angle design directly affects the comprehensive performance, which includes cutting resistance, fluctuation coefficient, specific energy consumption, cutting head stress distribution, and so on. Based on the theory of rock-breaking by pick, the mechanical model of pick was established, and the three-dimensional force vector in the WORKBENCH coordinate system was determined. The 3D model of the proposed cutting head was designed using PRO/E and the static simulation was carried out using WORKBENCH, while the stress information of key parts was obtained. Furthermore, a four-dimensional fitting method was used to investigate the influence of the horizontal swing speed, rotational speed, and spiral angle of the cutting head, on the stress of the cutting head assembly. By setting the horizontal swing speed, rotational speed and the spiral angle as design variables and the specific energy consumption, total cutting resistance, fluctuation coefficient, power consumption, and stress on cutting head assembly as the objective function; the multiobjective optimization function of the cutting head was established. By using genetic algorithm, the complex problem has been solved. The solution of this optimization function provides the horizontal swing speed, rotational speed, and spiral angle values, where the optimal performance is achieved, in the aspect of energy consumption, cutting resistance, fluctuation coefficient, cutting power, and cutting motor power. This method provides solid guidance and is a great reference in spiral angle design and optimization.
Investigation of stall recovery potential in a transonic compressor rotor
Authors: Lang Jinhua , Chu Wuli , Spence Stephen , An Guangyao
Published: April 2020

In order to evaluate the potential of stall recovery at different operating points during the stall process in a transonic environment, three-dimensional multi-passage numerical simulations were conducted on the transonic compressor, NASA Rotor 37. The results showed that the whole stall evolution process can be divided into three stages depending upon the possibility for the compressor to recover to a stable operating condition by reducing the outlet pressure. At the first stage of the stall process, the compressor could successfully be driven back to a stable operating state by decreasing the outlet pressure. In addition, it was observed that the time of the stall recovery process was shorter when the outlet pressure was lowered more. At the second stage of stall, the magnitude of the outlet pressure played a decisive role in determining whether the compressor could recover to a stable state. When the compressor operation moved to the third stage of the stall process, “stall hanging” occurred, which means that the compressor could not recover from the stall regardless of how much the outlet pressure was reduced.
A prospective pilot study of the effect of acupuncture on insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance
Authors: Li Juan , Wu Wanting , Stener-Victorin Elisabet , Ng Ernest Hung Yu , Li Raymond Hang Wun , Li Meifang , Liu Hua , Lai Maohua , Meng Yanbing , Zheng Yanhua , Xia Yang , Ma Hongxia
Published: April 2020

Objective:

To test the hypothesis that acupuncture improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance (IR).

Design:

Prospective pilot study.

Setting:

Guangzhou, China, 2014–2016.

Participants:

Eighty women with PCOS aged 18–40 years with body mass index (BMI) above 18.5 kg/m2 and with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index ⩾2.14.

Interventions:

Subjects received acupuncture with combined manual and low-frequency electrical stimulation of the needles three times per week for 6 months.

Primary and secondary outcome measures:

The primary outcome was the change in HOMA-IR after 6 months of acupuncture relative to baseline. Secondary outcomes included changes after 6 months of acupuncture and at 3 months of follow-up (both relative to baseline) in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) parameters (glucose and insulin levels), anthropometric measurements, and circulating metabolic and endocrine variables.

Results:

HOMA-IR and fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were significantly decreased after 6 months of acupuncture, and both HOMA-IR and fasting insulin remained significantly decreased at 3 months of follow-up. In a subgroup analysis of normal-weight and overweight/obese women, HOMA-IR was reduced after 6 months of acupuncture in both subgroups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Acupuncture treatment in Chinese women with PCOS and IR was associated with an encouraging improvement in insulin sensitivity. Further randomized controlled studies are required to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture for this indication.
Adrien van Trigt, and the first published ophthalmoscopic images (De Speculo Oculi, 1853)
Authors: Muirhead Fraser
Published: April 2020

A. C. van Trigt’s 1853 doctoral thesis, De Speculo Oculi or De Oogspiegel, is generally recognized to contain the first ever published images of the interior of living human eyes. One of its 12 images is recognized and often reproduced as the first published. Others, showing physiological processes such as retinal venous pulsations and arteriolar light reflexes, and pathological processes such as retinal detachment and retinitis pigmentosa, are scarcely ever noted in the literature. Although van Trigt is widely recognized for this accomplishment, virtually nothing has been written about him or his thesis. This article describes his life, his artistic talent and diverse interests, and his thesis with its rarely credited original ophthalmoscopic observations and illustrations.