bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The State-of-the-Art Technology of Currency Identification
Authors: Wang Guangyu , Wu Xiaotian , Yan WeiQi
Published: June 2018

The security issue of currency has attracted awareness from the public. De-spite the development of applying various anti-counterfeit methods on currency notes, cheaters are able to produce illegal copies and circulate them in market without being detected. By reviewing related work in currency security, the focus of this paper is on conducting a comparative study of feature extraction and classification algorithms of currency notes authentication. We extract various computational features from the dataset consisting of US dollar (USD), Chinese Yuan (CNY) and New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and apply the classification algorithms to currency identification. Our contributions are to find and implement various algorithms from the existing literatures and choose the best approaches for use.
Data Mining for Secure Online Payment Transaction
Authors: Zareapoor Masoumeh , Shamsolmoali Pourya , Alam M. Afshar
Published: June 2018

The fraud detection method requires a holistic approach where the objective is to correctly classify the transactions as legitimate or fraudulent. The existing methods give importance to detect all fraudulent transactions since it results in money loss. For this most of the time, they have to compromise on some genuine transactions. Thus, the major issue that the credit card fraud detection systems face today is that a significant percentage of transactions labelled as fraudulent are in fact legitimate. These “false alarms” delay the transactions and creates inconvenience and dissatisfaction to the customer. Thus, the objective of this research is to develop an intelligent data mining based fraud detection system for secure online payment transaction system. The performance evaluation of the proposed model is done on real credit card dataset and it is found that the proposed model has high fraud detection rate and less false alarm rate than other state-of-the-art classifiers.
Arterial hypertension. Does the J curve exist? And then?
Authors: Mureddu Gian Francesco
Published: June 2018

The concept that â€˜the lower the blood pressure (BP) achieved the better the outcomeâ€™ rests on the demonstration of a direct relationship between BP and incident outcomes, down to levels of 115 mmHg of systolic BP (sBP) and 75 mmHg of diastolic BP (dBP) carried out in 1 million individuals from 61 cohorts recruited between 1950 and 1990 and followed for about 14 years. The alternative to the â€˜lower the betterâ€™ concept is the hypothesis of a J-shaped relationship, according to which the benefits of reducing sBP or dBP to low values may be dangerous leading even to an increase in total mortality and/or in CV outcomes. Data from contemporary epidemiologic observations,Â  (CALIBER study), showed that the relationships between rising BPÂ  and increased incidence of outcomes rise continuous even over 85 years of age without the evidence of aÂ  J-shapedÂ  associationÂ  withÂ  anyÂ  ofÂ  theÂ  outcomes at any age strata. In the English LongitudinalÂ  StudyÂ  ofÂ  AgeingÂ  study (ELSA), a tailored analysis for octogenarians showed that the increase in mortality rates associated with BP ranges appears at sBPÂ  <110 mmHg and â‰¥170 mmHg.Â  In randomized controlled trials (SPRINT, HYVET and INVEST), the J curve seems to concern mainly patients with anÂ  extensive atherosclerotic burden, rather than. An impaired autoregulation of coronary blood flow (CBF) leading to a fall in diastolic BP and resulting in a lowering in the perfusion pressure distal to the epicardial coronary artery stenosis, can eventually leadÂ  to myocardial ischemia.Â  Diastolic dysfunction can concur in worsening CBF in diastole.Â  These features are often seen in elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The steeper position of the slope of the end-systolic elastance can lead to dramatic increases and decreases in BP for the same change in afterload or preload. This may explain why elderly hypertensives are more prone to suffer of hypertensive crisis and/or hypotension than younger hypertensives. â€œPseudo-hypertensionâ€ caused by structural sclerotic changes in the brachial artery wall may cause overtreatment related falls in blood pressure. Thus, the J curve exists but only in patients with multiple comorbidities and/or extensive atherosclerotic burden.
Perspectives from comparisons of the Hebrew l-suffix with the Shona h-suffix features
Authors: Mushayabasa Godwin
Published: June 2018

The ethical dative or dativus ethicus is a feature used with certain verbs in Biblical Hebrew, which, however, has continued to pose difficulties to grammarians as to its syntactic and semantic references. The feature is also present in other Semitic languages, namely, Syriac and other Aramaic dialects including Persian. Although quite a common feature, the ethical dative is seemingly difficult to translate into English, while its identification as an ethical dative is a widely accepted misnomer. This study attempts to resolve the identification of the feature’s grammatical role by seeking to relate it with a similar grammatical feature from Shona, a language from the Central and Southern African group of languages. Although there are some differences between the compared features, the similarities will go a long way to clarify the nature of the Semitic enigma that is currently known as the ethical dative in Hebrew and in other related Semitic languages.
Kerklike tug: Pastoraal-kerkregtelik van aard en daarom billik en regverdig? NG Kerkorde, artikel 60.3 ’n geesteskind van die Dordtse Kerkorde?
Authors: Strauss Piet J.
Published: June 2018

Church discipline: A fair and just pastoral-ecclesiatical act? Is article 60.3 of the Church Order of the Dutch Reformed Church a spiritual offspring of the Church Order of Dordt? Departing from the viewpoint that church discipline is spiritual in nature, article 60.3 of the Church Order of the Dutch Reformed Church states that it should be exercised in a fair and just pastoral-ecclesiatical way. In doing so, this Order should be obedient to the Word of God, the confessions of faith of this church, its church order and the normative character of the church as an institution of society. This requirement, in terms of the formulation of article 60.3, is investigated. In addition, article 60.3 is compared with the Church Order of Dordt to determine whether the former may be regarded as a spiritual offspring of the latter. It is concluded that article 60.3 is indeed scriptural, according to the confessions and determined by the character of the church. It is therefore also an offspring of the Church Order of Dordt.
Esthetic restorative materials and glass ionomer cements: Influence of acidic drink exposure on bacterial adhesion
Authors: Poggio Claudio , Vialba Lodovico , Marchioni Riccardo , Colombo Marco , Pietrocola Giampiero
Published: June 2018

Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate and compare bacterial adhesion on five esthetic restorative materials, three glass ionomer cements (GIC), and two GIC with coat. All the materials were considered after acidic drink exposure. Materials and Methods: Thirty cylindrical sample of each of the 10 materials were prepared and then divided into three groups: group 1 (baseline), Group 2 (1 day in acidic soft drink), and Group 3 (7 days in acidic soft drink). Bacterial suspension of Streptococcus mutans was cultured and deposited onto each material, and the adhesion was evaluated through the colony-forming units determination. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc tests were applied to estimate significant differences between the esthetic materials. Results: The highest amount of S. mutans was recorded in Group 3 and the lowest in Group 1 (baseline). In general, the GIC showed bacterial adhesion values higher than the ones related to composites both in Group 2 than in Group 3. Acidic soft drinks lead a time-dependent degradation of restorative materials causing an increase of the surface rugosity. In fact, a general increase in S. mutans cells adhesion to treated samples was observed. Conclusions: The use of acidic soft drink resulted in a degradation of the surface layer of the restorative material with consequent increase of bacterial adhesion. The GIC can be considered a more friendly environment for bacterial adhesion. This is true in particular if acid substances have already deteriorated the surface.
Oxidative stress in chronic periodontitis patients with type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: Vincent Ruby Ramya , Appukuttan Devapriya , Victor Dhayanand John , Balasundaram Aruna
Published: June 2018

Objective: Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the disequilibrium between free radicals and antioxidant defense mechanisms and is significantly implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as chronic periodontal disease (CP) and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to evaluate the total antioxidants capacity (TAOC) and total oxidants status (TOS) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in CP participants with type II DM. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 participants were allotted into four groups as follows: Group 1: Generalized CP (GCP) without type II DM (n = 20); Group 2: GCP with type II DM (n = 20); Group 3: Type II DM without CP (n = 20); and Group 4: Systemically and periodontally healthy (PH) (n = 20). Clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded. Pooled GCF was collected followed by the estimation of TAOC, TOS, and OS index (OSI) using Erel O Colorimetric analysis. Results: The clinical parameters recorded showed the statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) between the groups. The mean TAOC value was the highest in PH group. The mean TOS and OSI were higher in Group 1, 2, and 3 participants when compared to the PH participants. All the biochemical parameters evaluated showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) between groups. Conclusions: The study further validates the use of OSI as a marker for periodontal disease activity and emphasizes the role of OS in the pathogenesis of Type II diabetic patients with the chronic periodontal disease.
Assessment of cell viability in four novel endodontic sealers
Authors: Taraslia Vassiliki , Anastasiadou Ema , Lignou Christina , Keratiotis Georgios , Agrafioti Anastasia , Kontakiotis Evangelos G.
Published: June 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells on MTA-Fillapex, GuttaFlow 2, TotalFill Sealer, and BioRootTM RCS in comparison to conventional epoxy resin-based (AH Plus) and zinc-oxide-eugenol-based (Roth’s 801) sealers. Materials and Methods: Sealers were divided into two groups, and five coverslips for each material per group were prepared. In the first group, PDLs were added immediately after the preparation of sealers (Fresh Group), and in the second, PDLs were added after 24 h. PDLs were cultured for 72 h and afterward, counted using standard hematocytometry. A Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used for the statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%. Furthermore, cell morphology was assessed by confocal microscopy. Results: The number of viable cells for the 24 h-set groups was higher than the freshly mixed in all sealers except Roth’s 801. In both groups, GuttaFlow 2 presented the highest number of viable cells. In a descending order of cells’ survival, TotalFill, BioRoot, and MTA-Fillapex are following and the conventional sealers, AH Plus and Roth’s 801, seem not to exhibit the biological properties of the others. Cells grown on GuttaFlow 2, TotalFill, and BioRoot were observed to be well-formed. In contrast, MTA-Fillapex exhibited untypical morphology. No cells were detected on the surfaces of AH Plus, as well as Roth’s 801. Conclusions: All novel sealers presented increased cell viability in comparison to conventional sealers. GuttaFlow 2 exhibited the highest cell viability.
Accurate modeling and maximum power point detection of photovoltaic module using a few collected data
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Abd-El-Hakeem , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y.
Published: June 2018

This paper presents an algorithm for modeling and Maximum Power Point (MPP) detection of a Photo-Voltaic (PV) module. This algorithm requires less information to get an accurate model and MPP. Open circuit voltage  (VOC) and short circuit current (ISC) of the PV module are required as inputs data. Both of them can be sampled from a reference PV Panel. A PV model and MPP are estimated via Newton-Raphson (NR) method. Fractional VOC and ISC  method and simplified method are used for detecting the starting values of MPP and model parameters of a PV panel respectively. Then, the NR method is applied to calculate the accurate values of MPP and model parameters of it. Determination of MPP enables the PV system to deliver maximum available power. Verification of this algorithm is accomplished through building it in MATLAB. Then, it is tested for different manufacturer modules at different operating conditions.Keywords: MPP; PV model, Accurate model; Newton-Raphson.
Design of oscillation wireless charging system based on time-base circuit
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Zhong rui
Published: June 2018

With the application of a large number of portable low-voltage electronic  products, the charging safety of the equipment needs to be solved because of the complex underground environment and high temperature and  humidity. An oscillatory wireless charging platform based on 555 time base circuit is developed in this paper. The transmitter circuit is mainly composed of PWM waveform generator and MOS switch circuit. The frequency   adjustable output range can reach 500kHz, and no program control unit is required. The receiver circuit can output 5V DC power stably and simply. The whole charging platform has few components at both ends of the receiver, which can ensure low failure rate and easy miniaturization. All the  components are universal components with low cost. The tested  transmission distance can work stably within 20CM, and the stable output ofabout 3 watts can be obtained. The system can be installed in any position in the mine, and the battery is not removed when charging, which greatly enhances the security of the charging process and is of great practical  value.Keywords: NE555, Waveform generating Circuit, Resonance Circuit, receiving Coil
Lower tropospheric ozone over the North China Plain: variability and trends revealed by IASI satellite observations for 2008–2016
Authors: Dufour Gaëlle , Eremenko Maxim , Beekmann Matthias , Cuesta Juan , Foret Gilles , Lin Weili , Liu Yi , Xu Xiaobin , Zhang Yuli
Published: June 2018

Abstract. China, and especially the North China Plain (NCP), is a highly polluted region. Emission reductions have been applied since about 10 years, starting with SO2 emissions in 2006 and with NOx emissions in 2010. Recent studies show a decrease of NO2 tropospheric column since 2013 and attributed to the NOx emissions reduction. Quantifying how these emission reductions translates to the ozone concentrations remains. In this study, we use the lower tropospheric (LT) columns (surface-6 km asl) derived from the IASI satellite instrument to describe the variability and trend of LT ozone over the NCP for 2008–2016. Deseasonalized monthly timeseries show two distinct periods: a first period (2008–2012) with no significant trend (
Effects of Arctic stratospheric ozone changes on spring
precipitation in the northwestern United States
Authors: Ma Xuan , Xie Fei , Li Jianping , Tian Wenshou , Ding Ruiqiang , Sun Cheng , Zhang Jiankai
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Using observations and reanalysis, we find that changes in April precipitation variations in the northwestern US are strongly linked to March Arctic stratospheric ozone (ASO). An increase (decrease) in ASO can result in enhanced (weakened) westerlies in the high and low latitudes of the North Pacific but weakened (enhanced) westerlies in the mid-latitudes. The anomalous circulation over the North Pacific can extend eastward to western North America, facilitating (impeding) the flow of a dry and cold airstream from the middle of North America to the North Pacific and enhancing (weakening) downwelling in the northwestern US, which results in decreased (increased) precipitation there. Model simulations using WACCM4 support the statistical analysis of observations and reanalysis data, and further reveal that the ASO influences circulation anomalies over the northwestern US in two ways. Stratospheric circulation anomalies caused by the ASO changes can propagate downward to the troposphere in the North Pacific and then eastward to influence the strength of the circulation anomalies over the northwestern US. In addition, the ASO changes cause sea surface temperature anomalies over the North Pacific that would cooperate with the ASO changes to modify the circulation anomalies over the northwestern US. Our results suggest that ASO variations could be a useful predictor of spring precipitation changes in the northwestern US; The northwestern US may become dryer in future springs due to ASO recovery.
A weighted least squares approach to retrieve aerosol layer height over bright surfaces applied to GOME-2 measurements of the oxygen A band for forest fire cases over Europe
Authors: Nanda Swadhin , Veefkind J. Pepijn , de Graaf Martin , Sneep Maarten , Stammes Piet , de Haan Johan F. , Sanders Abram F. J. , Apituley Arnoud , Tuinder Olaf , Levelt Pieternel F.
Published: June 2018

Abstract. This paper presents a weighted least squares approach to retrieve
aerosol layer height from top-of-atmosphere reflectance measurements
in the oxygen A band (758–770 nm) over bright
surfaces. A property of the measurement error covariance matrix is
discussed, due to which photons travelling from the surface are given
a higher preference over photons that scatter back from the aerosol
layer. This is a potential source of biases in the estimation of
aerosol properties over land, which can be mitigated by revisiting
the design of the measurement error covariance matrix. The
alternative proposed in this paper, which we call the dynamic
scaling method, introduces a scene-dependent and
wavelength-dependent modification in the measurement signal-to-noise
ratio in order to influence this matrix. This method is generally
applicable to other retrieval algorithms using weighted least
squares. To test this method, synthetic experiments are done in
addition to application to GOME-2A and GOME-2B measurements of the
oxygen A band over the August 2010 Russian wildfires and the
October 2017 Portugal wildfire plume over western Europe.
Spatial–temporal changes in runoff and terrestrial ecosystem water retention under 1.5 and 2 °C warming scenarios across China
Authors: Zhai Ran , Tao Fulu , Xu Zhihui
Published: June 2018

Abstract. The Paris Agreement set a long-term temperature goal of holding the global
average temperature increase to below 2.0 ∘C above pre-industrial
levels, pursuing efforts to limit this to 1.5 ∘C; it is therefore
important to understand the impacts of climate change under 1.5 and
2.0 ∘C warming scenarios for climate adaptation and mitigation. Here,
climate scenarios from four global circulation models (GCMs) for the baseline
(2006–2015), 1.5, and 2.0 ∘C warming scenarios (2106–2115) were
used to drive the validated Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrological
model to investigate the impacts of global warming on runoff and terrestrial
ecosystem water retention (TEWR) across China at a spatial resolution of 0.5∘.
This study applied ensemble projections from multiple GCMs to provide
more comprehensive and robust results. The trends in annual mean temperature,
precipitation, runoff, and TEWR were analyzed at the grid and basin scale.
Results showed that median change in runoff ranged from 3.61 to
13.86 %, 4.20 to 17.89 %, and median change in TEWR ranged from
−0.45 to 6.71 and −3.48 to 4.40 % in the 10 main basins in
China under 1.5 and 2.0 ∘C warming scenarios, respectively,
across all four GCMs. The interannual variability of runoff increased
notably in areas where it was projected to increase, and the interannual
variability increased notably from the 1.5 to the 2.0 ∘C warming
scenario. In contrast, TEWR would remain relatively stable, the median change
in standard deviation (SD) of TEWR ranged from −10 to 10 % in about
90 % grids under 1.5 and 2.0 ∘C warming scenarios, across
all four GCMs. Both low and high runoff would increase under the two
warming scenarios in most areas across China, with high runoff increasing
more. The risks of low and high runoff events would be higher under
the 2.0 than under the 1.5 ∘C warming scenario in terms of both extent and
intensity. Runoff was significantly positively correlated to precipitation,
while increase in maximum temperature would generally cause runoff to
decrease through increasing evapotranspiration. Likewise, precipitation also
played a dominant role in affecting TEWR. Our results were supported by
previous studies. However, there existed large uncertainties in climate
scenarios from different GCMs, which led to large uncertainties in impact
assessment. The differences among the four GCMs were larger than differences
between the two warming scenarios. Our findings on the spatiotemporal
patterns of climate impacts and their shifts from the 1.5 to
the 2.0 ∘C warming scenario are useful for water resource management under
different warming scenarios.
Using kites for 3-D mapping of gullies at decimetre-resolution over several square kilometres: a case study on the Kamech catchment, Tunisia
Authors: Feurer Denis , Planchon Olivier , El Maaoui Mohamed Amine , Ben Slimane Abir , Boussema Mohamed Rached , Pierrot-Deseilligny Marc , Raclot Damien
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Monitoring agricultural areas threatened by soil erosion often requires
decimetre topographic information over areas of several square kilometres.
Airborne lidar and remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) imagery have the
ability to provide repeated decimetre-resolution and -accuracy digital
elevation models (DEMs) covering these extents, which is unrealistic with
ground surveys. However, various factors hamper the dissemination of these
technologies in a wide range of situations, including local regulations for
RPAS and the cost for airborne laser systems and medium-format RPAS imagery.
The goal of this study is to investigate the ability of low-tech kite aerial
photography to obtain DEMs with decimetre resolution and accuracy that permit
3-D descriptions of active gullying in cultivated areas of several square
kilometres. To this end, we developed and assessed a two-step workflow.
First, we used both heuristic experimental approaches in field and
numerical simulations to determine the conditions that make a photogrammetric flight possible and
effective over several square kilometres with a kite
and a consumer-grade camera. Second, we mapped and characterised the entire
gully system of a test catchment in 3-D. We showed numerically and
experimentally that using a thin and light line for the kite is key for
a complete 3-D coverage over several square kilometres.
We thus obtained a decimetre-resolution DEM covering 3.18 km2 with a
mean error and standard deviation of the error of +7 and
22 cm respectively, hence achieving decimetre accuracy. With this data set,
we showed that high-resolution topographic data permit both the detection and
characterisation of an entire gully system with a high level of detail and an
overall accuracy of 74 % compared to an independent field survey. Kite
aerial photography with simple but appropriate equipment is hence an
alternative tool that has been proven to be valuable for surveying gullies
with sub-metric details in a square-kilometre-scale catchment. This case
study suggests that access to high-resolution topographic data on these
scales can be given to the community, which may help facilitate a better
understanding of gullying processes within a broader spectrum of conditions.
Accessibility of anonymity networks: How can Web accessibility policies promote the usability of darknets for persons with disabilities?
Authors: Giannoumis G. Anthony
Published: June 2018

Public and private interests concerned over the right to privacy and freedom of expression on the Internet have contributed to the creation and adoption of anonymity networks. Previous research has yet to examine fully the accessibility of anonymity networks for persons with disabilities. Thus, I ask, “To what extent can existing policy approaches to Web accessibility promote the usability of anonymity networks by persons with disabilities?” Using the U.K. and Norway as examples, I argue that existing self-regulatory approaches to Web accessibility policy may provide a useful basis for promoting the accessibility of anonymity networks.
Understanding cyberloafing by students through the lens of an extended theory of planned behavior
Authors: Soh Patrick Chin-Hooi , Koay Kian Yeik , Lim Vivien K.G.
Published: June 2018

In today’s digital world, it is common for students to bring their Internet-connected devices to classes. However, using these devices for non-class-related purposes during lessons can be distracting and detrimental to students’ academic performance as well as frustrating for instructors. Defined as the use of organizational resources for work-related purpose (in this case, studies-related purpose; Lim, 2002), cyberloafing has a negative impact on the learning environment as it causes distraction and affects students’ attention and ability to focus. In this study, we examined students’ cyberloafing behavior through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). We also examined two new constructs, namely class engagement and habit. In addition, this study tested the role of two specific subjective norms, i.e., descriptive and prescriptive norms, in predicting students’ intention to cyberloaf. Data from 238 university students were analyzed with Consistent Partial Least Squares (PLSc) analysis using SMART PLS. Results showed that both habit and intention were significantly related to cyberloafing behavior. Attitude, prescriptive norms and perceived behavioral control were significant in predicting students’ intention to cyberloaf. However, descriptive norms were not significantly related to intention. Finally, class engagement played an important role in determining students’ attitude towards cyberloafing, descriptive norms and perceived behavioral control. In general, results of this study provided support that the extended theory of planned behavior is useful in explaining students’ cyberloafing behavior. Implications of the findings for theory and practice are discussed.
Depression screening in cancer patients: A narrative review
Authors: Abid Gulfama , Kehyayan Vahe , Johnson Jessie
Published: June 2018

Depression is a significant and most common psychological symptom in cancer patients that causes a high risk of emotional and somatic consequences leading to poor quality of life. Despite the high prevalence of depression in cancer patients, the lack of screening and under-diagnosis of depression continues to be common. Numerous studies have shown that depression is a substantial complication in cancer patients that may lead to a variety of psychological and physical (somatic) symptoms. Presently, there are no depression screening practices at the Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), which is the principle public healthcare provider in the State of Qatar. The aim of this narrative review is to explore depression in cancer and discuss the need for screening for depression and to recommend suggestions and implications for future practice and research.
Comparison of three different antibiotic protocols in transurethral resection of bladder tumour and the possible infectious risk factors: A non-randomized, prospective study
Authors: Panach-Navarrete Jorge , Valls-González Lorena , Sánchez-Cano Eduardo , Medina-González María , Castelló-Porcar Ana , Martínez-Jabaloyas Jose María
Published: June 2018

Introduction: We sought to investigate three different antibiotic protocols in transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT), and the possible infectious risk factors of this surgery.Methods: We conducted a non-randomized, prospective study, gathering cases of patients in whom TURBT had been performed. The sample was divided into three groups based on those who received antibiotics as: a single preoperative dose (Group A); a preoperative dose, plus a long protocol during the hospitalization (Group B); a preoperative dose, plus a long protocol during the hospitalization, plus five days at home (Group C). Intra- and postoperative data that could be relevant to infections was gathered.Results: A total of 219 patients were included. In the multivariate analysis, it was observed that the patients in Group A were more prone to re-hospitalization due to fever than were those from Group C (odds ratio [OR] 11.13; p=0.03). Furthermore, the cases with tumour necrosis and those who entered surgery with a urinary catheter were more prone to have a temperature above 37.5ºC (OR6.74; p=0.02 and OR6.4; p=0.04, respectively), as well as have an increased risk per every additional tumour in the cystoscopy (OR 1.32; p=0.01). Those who received mitomycin had a lower chance of a positive urine culture (OR 0.29; p=0.01), contrary to those patients with over two days of hospitalization (OR 4.11; p<0.01) and those who entered surgery with a urinary catheter (OR 12.35; p=0.02).Conclusions: Those patients that only received a single dose of antibiotic before TURBT may have an increased risk of re-hospitalization due to fever in comparison to those who received prolonged antibiotic protocols. In addition, there are perioperative factors in this surgery that predict the risk of infectious complications.
Analysis of Hassan’s Tragedy in the Kite Runner from the Three-dimensional Ethical Perspective
Authors: Yuan-yuan Peng
Published: June 2018

Hassan in The Kite Runner was brave, kind-hearted and loyal, but he still ended up with misery. From the three dimensional ethical perspective, Hassan’s tragedy is not only greatly related to national and religious ethics, but also influenced by deformed family ethics. Thus it can be seen that national discrimination and religious hierarchy exert negative impact on morality of Afghans. It is through this novel that Hosseini aims to reveals his broad humanistic feelings and call for others’ attention to Afghanistan as well.
An Analysis of Tragedy of Tess of the D’ Urbervilles
Authors: Yuan-yuan Peng , Rao Yan
Published: June 2018

Tess of the D’Urbevilles is a tragic monumental work of Thomas Hardy, an English writer of critical realism.The paper will analyze Tess of the d’Urbervilles through character’s personalities, its social background and the old traditional religion. The paper introduces the causes of Tess’s Tragic fate which is influenced by personalities of main characters, hypocritical moral, unjust law, depression of capitalism. Tess is just one of the victims who are suffering sorrows. Through Tess, we can see female’s low status at the same time, which shows that we should develop a habit of economic independence and spirit of revolt.
Preservação do patrimônio científico das humanidades: a emergência da Rede Cariniana (Preservation of the scientific heritage of the humanities: the emergence of Cariniana Network)
Authors: Tavares Maria de Fátima Duarte , Márdero Arellano Miguel Ángel
Published: June 2018

Os editores de periódicos científicos adotam frequentemente, no Brasil, o Open Journal Systems (OJS) por se tratar de um software livre que possibilita criar, com autonomia, um ambiente de produção, armazenamento e acesso à informação. Porém, essa editoração de caráter científico, associada à demanda por maior produtividade acadêmica, nem sempre foi acompanhada de processos de salvaguarda e de institucionalização da memória relacionada ao conteúdo publicado. A preservação digital de periódicos científicos, na área de Humanidades, está contemplada na iniciativa da Rede Cariniana do IBICT / MCTI, que integra múltiplos agentes em uma rede distribuída, no modelo da Aliança LOCKSS da Stanford University. Essa solução, que articula processos conjuntos de guarda e preservação por longo prazo, implica a eleição de serviços tecnológicos de baixo custo, a adoção de políticas de memória de cada instituição envolvida e o reconhecimento das responsabilidades sobre a preservação do patrimônio científico do país. Esse tipo de preservação distingue-se das formas isoladas de arquivamento e conservação de documentos em instituições de memória. A emergência de sistemas em rede para a preservação documental, diante da dominância das tecnologias digitais, integra agentes institucionais, seus registros e distintas políticas memoriais na gestão de longo prazo da informação científica.         AbstractScientific journal editors in Brazil frequently adopt the Open Journal Systems (OJS) because it is a free software that enables to create, independently, a production environment, storage and access to information. However, this scientific publishing, combined with demand for higher academic productivity, has not always been followed by safeguard procedures and institutionalization of memory related to the published content. Digital preservation of scientific journals in the Humanities is provided by the Cariniana Network, an initiative of IBICT / MCTI that integrates multiple agents in a distributed network, based on the pattern created by the LOCKSS Alliance of Stanford University. This solution regarding digital objects, combining guard sets processes and preservation in the long run, implies the election of inexpensive technological services, the adoption of storage policies of each institution involved and the recognition that the responsibilities for the preservation of the scientific heritage of the country are distinguished from isolated forms of archiving and conservation of documents in memory institutions.The emergence of networked systems for document preservation, given the dominance of digital technologies, integrates institutional agents, their records and memorials distinct policies in the long-term management of scientific information.Keywords: Electronic Journals; Digital Preservation; Cariniana Network; Electronic Edition; Scientific Heritage.
You can count on your fingers: The role of fingers in early mathematical development
Authors: Soylu Firat , Lester Frank K. , Newman Sharlene D.
Published: June 2018

Even though mathematics is considered one of the most abstract domains of human cognition, recent work on embodiment of mathematics has shown that we make sense of mathematical concepts by using insights and skills acquired through bodily activity. Fingers play a significant role in many of these bodily interactions. Finger-based interactions provide the preliminary access to foundational mathematical constructs, such as one-to-one correspondence and whole-part relations in early development. In addition, children across cultures use their fingers to count and do simple arithmetic. There is also some evidence for an association between children’s ability to individuate fingers (finger gnosis) and mathematics ability. Paralleling these behavioral findings, there is accumulating evidence for overlapping neural correlates and functional associations between fingers and number processing. In this paper, we synthesize mathematics education and neurocognitive research on the relevance of fingers for early mathematics development. We delve into issues such as how the early multimodal (tactile, motor, visuospatial) experiences with fingers might be the gateway for later numerical skills, how finger gnosis, finger counting habits, and numerical abilities are associated at the behavioral and neural levels, and implications for mathematics education. We argue that, taken together, the two bodies of research can better inform how different finger skills support the development of numerical competencies, and we provide a road map for future interdisciplinary research that can yield to development of diagnostic tools and interventions for preschool and primary grade classrooms.
Modified amyloid variants in pathological subgroups of β‐amyloidosis
Authors: Gerth Janina , Kumar Sathish , Rijal Upadhaya Ajeet , Ghebremedhin Estifanos , von Arnim Christine A. F. , Thal Dietmar R. , Walter Jochen
Published: June 2018

Objective

Amyloid β (Aβ) depositions in plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) represent common features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sequential deposition of post‐translationally modified Aβ in plaques characterizes distinct biochemical stages of Aβ maturation. However, the molecular composition of vascular Aβ deposits in CAA and its relation to plaques remain enigmatic.

Methods

Vascular and parenchymal deposits were immunohistochemically analyzed for pyroglutaminated and phosphorylated Aβ in the medial temporal and occipital lobe of 24 controls, 27 pathologically‐defined preclinical AD, and 20 symptomatic AD cases.

Results

Sequential deposition of Aβ in CAA resembled Aβ maturation in plaques and enabled the distinction of three biochemical stages of CAA. B‐CAA stage 1 was characterized by deposition of Aβ in the absence of pyroglutaminated AβN3pE and phosphorylated AβpS8. B‐CAA stage 2 showed additional AβN3pE and B‐CAA stage 3 additional AβpS8. Based on the Aβ maturation staging in CAA and plaques, three case groups for Aβ pathology could be distinguished: group 1 with advanced Aβ maturation in CAA; group 2 with equal Aβ maturation in CAA and plaques; group 3 with advanced Aβ maturation in plaques. All symptomatic AD cases presented with end‐stage plaque maturation, whereas CAA could exhibit immature Aβ deposits. Notably, Aβ pathology group 1 was associated with arterial hypertension, and group 2 with the development of dementia.

Interpretation

Balance of Aβ maturation in CAA and plaques defines distinct pathological subgroups of β‐amyloidosis. The association of CAA‐related Aβ maturation with cognitive decline, the individual contribution of CAA and plaque pathology to the development of dementia within the defined Aβ pathology subgroups, and the subgroup‐related association with arterial hypertension should be considered for differential diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
Effects of Material–Tissue Interactions on Bone Regeneration Outcomes Using Baghdadite Implants in a Large Animal Model
Authors: Li Jiao Jiao , Akey Austin , Dunstan Colin R. , Vielreicher Martin , Friedrich Oliver , Bell David C. , Zreiqat Hala
Published: June 2018

Extensive bone loss due to trauma or disease leads to impaired healing. Current bone grafts and substitutes have major drawbacks that limit their effectiveness for treating large bone defects. A number of bone substitutes in development are undergoing preclinical testing, but few studies specifically investigate the in vivo material–tissue interactions that provide an important indicator to long‐term implant safety and efficacy. This study is the first of its kind to specifically investigate in vivo material–tissue interactions at the bone–implant interface. Baghdadite scaffolds implanted in critical‐sized segmental defects in sheep tibia for 26 weeks are analyzed by focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, and histology. The scaffolds are seen to induce extensive bone formation that directly abut the implant surfaces with no evidence of chronic inflammation or fibrous capsule formation. Bone remodeling is influenced by slow in vivo degradation around and within the implant, causing portions of the implant to be incorporated into the newly formed bone. These findings have important implications for predicting the long‐term effects of baghdadite ceramics in promoting defect healing, and support the translation of baghdadite scaffolds as a new generation of bone graft substitutes with improved properties for the repair of large bone defects.
3D Graphene Composites for Efficient Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Bu Fanxing , Shakir Imran , Xu Yuxi
Published: June 2018

3D graphene (3DG) composites have attracted significant interest for electrochemical energy storage applications, including supercapacitor, lithium‐/sodium‐ion battery, lithium–sulfur battery, and lithium–oxygen battery. With an interpenetrating network structure of conductive skeleton of graphene and highly continuous porous channels, the 3DG composites can not only ensure efficient electron and ion transport, but also retain structural stability of electrode materials during the electrochemical reactions. Rapidly growing efforts are seen in the design and synthesis of various 3DG composites with novel structures for diverse electrochemical energy storage devices in recent years. To promote deeper understanding and inspire further development of this exciting class of materials, the recent progress on preparation strategies of 3DG composites with applications in electrochemical energy storage is reviewed. A particular emphasis is placed on the detailed physicochemical mechanisms about the synthesis and structural evolution of 3DG composites and their impact on the electrochemical performance. As a conclusion, a brief perspective on future opportunities and challenges is given.
All Natural, High Efficient Groundwater Extraction via Solar Steam/Vapor Generation
Authors: Wang Yilin , Liu He , Chen Chaoji , Kuang Yudi , Song Jianwei , Xie Hua , Jia Chao , Kronthal Spencer , Xu Xu , He Shuaiming , Hu Liangbing
Published: June 2018

Solar steam/vapor generation is a promising approach to produce clean water and solve water scarcity and energy shortage issues. Most of steam/vapor generation devices can only be used on surface water from oceans, lakes, or rivers. Groundwater is another essential resource for public water supply. Acquiring clean water directly from groundwater is important, especially for countries and regions that lack surface water. A natural, plant‐inspired solar steam/vapor generation device is developed in this work by coating a thin layer of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the top surface of a tree stump with roots to extract water directly from groundwater. The 3D interconnected channels/pores in the roots and stump enable fast water transportation within the plant. Under sunlight irradiation, the surface‐coated CNT layer can convert solar energy into heat, and the water is continuously supplied to the heat‐localized interfacial layer of the top surface and is evaporated into vapor upon heating. The evaporation efficiency of such steam/vapor evaporation device for extracting water from groundwater is as high as ≈86% under 10 kW m−2, which approaches the best performance achieved by devices for surface water extraction, providing an attractive method to utilize groundwater.
Oral Nonviral Gene Delivery for Chronic Protein Replacement Therapy
Authors: Lin Po‐Yen , Chiu Ya‐Ling , Huang Jing‐Huei , Chuang Er‐Yuan , Mi Fwu‐Long , Lin Kun‐Ju , Juang Jyuhn‐Huarng , Sung Hsing‐Wen , Leong Kam W.
Published: June 2018

Efficient nonviral oral gene delivery offers an attractive modality for chronic protein replacement therapy. Herein, the oral delivery of insulin gene is reported by a nonviral vector comprising a copolymer with a high degree of substitution of branched polyethylenimine on chitosan (CS‐g‐bPEI). Protecting the plasmid from gastric acidic degradation and facilitating transport across the gut epithelium, the CS‐g‐bPEI/insulin plasmid DNA nanoparticles (NPs) can achieve systemic transgene expression for days. A single dose of orally administered NPs (600 µg plasmid insulin (pINS)) to diabetic mice can protect the animals from hyperglycemia for more than 10 d. Three repeated administrations spaced over a 10 d interval produce similar glucose‐lowering results with no hepatotoxicity detected. Positron‐emission‐tomography and computed‐tomography images also confirm the glucose utilization by muscle cells. While this work suggests the feasibility of basal therapy for diabetes mellitus, its significance lies in the demonstration of a nonviral oral gene delivery system that can impact chronic protein replacement therapy and DNA vaccination.
The Dual Functional Reflecting Iris of the Zebrafish
Authors: Gur Dvir , Nicolas Jan‐David , Brumfeld Vlad , Bar‐Elli Omri , Oron Dan , Levkowitz Gil
Published: June 2018

Many marine organisms have evolved a reflective iris to prevent unfocused light from reaching the retina. The fish iris has a dual function, both to camouflage the eye and serving as a light barrier. Yet, the physical mechanism that enables this dual functionality and the benefits of using a reflective iris have remained unclear. Using synchrotron microfocused diffraction, cryo‐scanning electron microscopy imaging, and optical analyses on zebrafish at different stages of development, it is shown that the complex optical response of the iris is facilitated by the development of high‐order organization of multilayered guanine‐based crystal reflectors and pigments. It is further demonstrated how the efficient light reflector is established during development to allow the optical functionality of the eye, already at early developmental stages.
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Indirect Effect of Violence Exposure on Future Orientation Through Perceived Stress and the Buffering Effect of Family Participation
Authors: Schmidt Carissa J. , Zimmerman Marc A. , Stoddard Sarah A.
Published: June 2018

Exposure to violence (ETV) during adolescence has been associated with negative effects in later life, and may negatively affect an individual's future orientation. Future orientation has important health implications and warrants being studied. Yet, few researchers have examined how ETV affects an individual's future orientation as a young adult. The purpose of this study was to examine the indirect effect of ETV during adolescence on future orientation as a young adult through perceived stress. We also tested the moderating effect of family participation on the relationship between perceived stress and future orientation. Longitudinal data from a sample of 316 African American participants (42.10% male and 57.90% female, Mage = 14.76 at Wave 1) from low socioeconomic backgrounds recruited from a Midwestern school district were used in the analysis. Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test our hypotheses. Our findings indicated that greater ETV during adolescence is associated with higher levels of perceived stress and, in turn, a more negative outlook on one's future as a young adult. This indirect effect occurred for individuals with lower family participation, but was not evident for individuals with greater family participation. These findings provide important implications for youth development interventions.
The impact of a change in work posture from seated to stand‐up on work‐related musculoskeletal disorders among sewing‐machine operators
Authors: Grobler Susan H. , Mostert Karien , Becker Piet
Published: June 2018

Background

Work‐related postural change could lead to improved musculoskeletal health.

Method(s)

In a quantitative, retrospective, longitudinal study, data of work‐related musculoskeletal disorders of 123 sewing‐machine operators were captured for 4.5 years, and analysed using Poisson regression.

Results

Stand‐up work posture (SUWP) reduced the incidence for spinal disorders (SD) to 0.29 fold the incidence for sitting work posture (SWP) (P < 0.001). Morbid obesity had significantly increased (P = 0.04) incidence of upper limb disorders (ULD), 3.35 times that of normal body mass index (BMI) (regardless of work posture). SUWP was associated with increased IRR (1.49) for lower limb disorders (LLD). LLDs were associated with obesity (overweight (IRR = 2.58; P = 0.08), obese (IRR = 2.45; P = 0.09), and morbidly obese (IRR = 6.24; P = 0.001)).

Conclusions

The protective benefit of the SUWP was statistically significant for SD incidence. Owing to high mean BMI, SUWP had a negative impact on the incidence of LLDs for the first 2 months.