bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Framing the Challenges of Online Violent Extremism
Authors: Dean Geoff
Published: September 2018

This chapter argues that ‘framing' the challenges posed by radicalised individuals ‘online' where the path to violent extremism is just a click away, is as much about getting the framing right as it is about getting the operational plans right. A general framework based on 4 P's (Policing-Public-Policies-Politics) is proposed as the conceptual ‘frame' for combating violent extremism. The metaphor of a compass is used to examine this 4P's framework from the perspective of knowledge management. The key notions of ‘violent extremism', ‘radicalisation' and ‘digital era' are deconstructed before presenting a neurocognitive-based model of ‘self-indoctrination' by those who ‘inspire' a violently extreme narrative through social media technologies using the ‘dark net' of cyberspace. Law enforcement's use of communication interception technologies and data retention laws is critically examined. The chapter concludes with operational implications for Policing the Public with Policy tools in the context of Political realities.
Hashtag Activism and the Transnationalization of Nigerian-Born Movements Against Terrorism
Authors: Endong Floribert Patrick C.
Published: September 2018

This chapter describes how the Nigeria-based civil society initiatives have, of late, deployed digital activism in a bid to mobilize both endogenous and exogenous institutions against the terrorist group, Boko Haram. One of these anti-terrorism movements is the #BringBackOurGirls campaign which was launched in May 2014, following the abduction by Boko Haram of 276 schoolgirls, in the Northeastern village of Chibok (Nigeria). The #BringBackOurGirls” movement quickly attracted support from millions of voices (including Heads of States, their wives and celebrities) all over the world. In spite of its internationalization, the campaign has variously been critiqued. Many critics have arguably equated it with mere “clickitivism”. Using empirical understandings, this chapter appraises the #BringBackOurGirls campaign vis-à-vis the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. The chapter starts by examining the genesis of the movement and its progressive trans-nationalization. It proceeds to exploring the extent to which the movement could be seen as “clicktivism”; and ends with a review of some of its successes.
Understanding Online Radicalisation Using Data Science
Authors: Al-Saggaf Yeslam
Published: September 2018

What characterises social media radicals? And why some people become attracted to radicalisation? To explore answers to these questions, a number of tweets posted by a group of suspected radicals tweeting in Arabic were analysed using social network analysis and machine learning. The study revealed that these suspected radicals' networks showed significant interaction with others; but this interactivity is only significant quantitatively as the interaction is not reciprocated. With regards to why these suspected radicals became attracted to radicalisation, Topic Modelling revealed these suspected radicals' tweets underpinned a perceived injustice that they believed the Secret Police and the Government inflicted upon them. Overall, the study has shown that data science tools have the potential to inform our understanding of online radicalisation. It is hoped this exploratory study will be the basis for a future study in which the research questions will be answered using a larger sample.
Respite Tourism for Family Caregivers
Authors: Holda Robert
Published: September 2018

One of the most misunderstood and unappreciated segments of society in relation to medical tourism is the family caregiver; those caring for a loved one who sacrifice their own employment schedule, their personal time for relaxing and recreation, and often and importantly their own health. The purpose of this chapter is to raise awareness of the plight of family caregivers as an issue for medical tourism, the effects of stress and burnout, and the essential need for respite of body, mind, and spirit for these central assistants in the matter of healthcare for patients. Though healthcare and its subset, medical tourism, are frequently perceived as focused on a “patient”, they also encompass many other individuals and organizations. As addressed here, the focus is on the family member caring for a loved one. The intent is to link the concept of medical tourism as an avenue for relaxation and respite to enhance the wellness of this specific target market.
Knowledge Management for Health Care and Long-Term Care in the Technology-Organization-Environment Context
Authors: Lo Man Fung , Ng Peggy Mei Lan
Published: September 2018

The objective of this chapter is to propose a framework examining the impacts of technological, organizational and environmental factors on the innovation adoption of knowledge management (KM) in long-term care context. This chapter begins with the definition, rationale and importance of KM. Secondly, KM stories, KM in long-term care, prior frameworks in long-term care and knowledge barriers in health care settings will be reviewed. Furthermore, the KM for long-term care in Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework is discussed and proposed. The technology dimension includes security, complexity and costs. Besides, organizational dimension is composed of top management support, firm size, nursing leadership and the readiness. For environmental dimensions, this chapter will focus on competitive pressure and vendor support. As KM is proven to understand performance in long-term care organizations, the proposed framework provides insight to health care organization leaders on how to enhance the effectiveness of KM system.
Psychosocial Intervention Strategies for Patients With Schizophrenia
Authors: R. Ashwini , Prasad Barre Vijay , Kosgi Srinivas
Published: September 2018

Throughout recorded history, the disorder we now known as schizophrenia has been a source of bewilderment. Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Schizophrenia is found all over the world. The severity of the symptoms and the long-lasting, chronic pattern of schizophrenia often results in disability, and many individuals need on going assistance to manage the most basic functions of independent living. Schizophrenia most often includes hallucinations and/or delusions, which reflect distortions in the perception and interpretation of reality. In this chapter the authors were discussed psychosocial interventions like, individual psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy with schizophrenia, behaviour therapy with schizophrenia, group therapy and family interventions were highlighted. In addition to this psychiatric rehabilitation were also discussed with vocational training, social skill training, and community rehabilitation approach. Further common causes of repeated hospitalization and implementation measures were described.
CulturalNature Arga#2
Authors: Cruz Tiago , Paulino Fernando Faria , Tavares Mirian
Published: September 2018

CulturalNature Arga#2 is an interactive audio-visual installation intended to explore the concept of landscape as a verb (to landscape) questioning and reflecting about the semiotic discourses associated with this concept. The landscape as something natural, static, peaceful, silent, etc. is a semiotic discourse with roots in a past related with the representation of a point of view, not only perceptual but also conceptual, ideological. These representations informed the visual culture leading to a particular discourse. The installation proposes a reflexion about the way different elements associated with a particular territory shape this territory's landscape, giving it a dynamic existence, a product of cultural activity.
Aesthetic Composition Indicator Based on Image Complexity
Authors: Carballal Adrian , Castro Luz , Fernandez-Lozano Carlos , Rodríguez-Fernández Nereida , Romero Juan , Machado Penousal
Published: September 2018

Several systems and indicators for multimedia devices have appeared in recent years, with the goal of helping the final user to achieve better results. Said indicators aim at facilitating beginner and intermediate photographers in the creation of images or videos with more professional aesthetics. The chapter describes a series of metrics related to complexity which seem to be useful for the purpose of assessing the aesthetic composition of an image. All the presented metrics are fundamental parts of the prototype “ACIC” introduced here, which allows an assessment of the aesthetics in the composition of the various frames integrating a video.
Approach to Minimize Bias on Aesthetic Image Datasets
Authors: Carballal Adrian , Castro Luz , Rodríguez-Fernández Nereida , Santos Iria , Santos Antonino , Romero Juan
Published: September 2018

Over the last few years, numerous studies have been conducted that have sought to address automatic image classification. These approaches have used a variety of experimental sets of images from several photography sites. In this chapter, the authors look at some of the most widely used in the field of computational aesthetics as well as the capacity for generalization that each of them offers. Furthermore, a set of images built up by psychologists is described in order to predict perceptual complexity as assessed by a closed group of persons in a controlled experimental setup. Lastly, a new hybrid method is proposed for the construction of a set of images or a dataset for the assessment and classification of aesthetic criteria. This method brings together the advantages of datasets based on photography websites and those of a dataset where assessment is made under controlled experimental conditions.
Aboriginal Wellbeing
Authors: Martin Jennifer M. , White Jenni , Roberts Susan , Haussegger Zac , Greenwood Emily , Grant Kellie , Haines Terry
Published: September 2018

The aim of this chapter is to contribute to addressing the gap between policy and practice for the development and implementation of accessible health and wellbeing organizations and practices from a culturally safe, trauma-informed approach. The objective is to increase use of services early on by Aboriginal people and ultimately to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. A targeted literature search identifies the main features of cultural safety and trauma-informed approaches followed by the presentation of a culturally safe, trauma-informed framework, and implementation plan. The literature on organizations is predominantly from Australia with the work of Michael Yellow Bird in the United States relied upon for the discussion of decolonization. For improved health and wellbeing outcomes with Aboriginal people, historical and contemporary political, economic, and social contextual factors relating to colonization must be acknowledged, and in the Australian context, particular attention must be given to the stolen generations.
Sociological Perspectives on Improving Medical Diagnosis Emphasizing CAD
Authors: Fisher Joel
Published: September 2018

Healthcare costs worldwide are increasing because of new medicines, new techniques, and more expensive and extensive research on diseases. It is essential that healthcare delivery systems be implemented that take advantage of these advances in a cost-effective economic manner. One critical aspect of the healthcare delivery system is the improvement in diagnosis of disease. This chapter emphasizes diagnosis and the need to collect key patient information (pivotal information) at the earliest possible point in the patient's disease process and put such pivotal information in physicians' hands. There is a potential for huge benefits in cost savings and greater effectiveness of treatment from these actions, but challenges must be overcome to realize their full benefits. The major problems include (1) market incentives in the current healthcare system, which fail to encourage collecting pivotal medical information as early as possible, (2) physician resistance to some of these ideas, and (3) technical and ethical problems that remain to be solved.
Software Evaluation From the Perspective of Patients and Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Rijo Rui Pedro Charters Lopes , Alves Domingos
Published: September 2018

Healthcare software evaluation is a complex process. Specifically, in the health information systems, focusing on the patients' health and on the healthcare professionals' motivation is particularly important. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals use software that indirectly affects the patients. Does software improve the patients' health, their satisfaction, or the healthcare professionals' commitment/job satisfaction? How can the impact of an information system be measured from the perspective of the patients, the doctors, the nurses, or the supporting staff? Some relevant efforts have been made in the last years to measure healthcare software impact. Nevertheless, the decision to extend a study to different fields may lead to many difficulties as far as its conclusions are concerned. By identifying the research questions and the most relevant works, as well as indicating the open research issue, this chapter is a revision of the literature on the subject. This work may be expected to be useful to all those wishing to contribute by their research in this field.
Personalized Medicine
Authors: Bisui Sandip , Misra Subhas Chandra
Published: September 2018

This chapter discusses the issues and concerns related to the adoption of personalized medicine in modern healthcare system. In this chapter, the authors have elaborated the critical challenges while adopting this new medicare system. The changes required for this adoption have also been discussed by the authors. They have also give a glimpse of the critical success factors and consumer trust concerns along with the privacy and security threats for the successful adoption of personalized medicine system.
Pervasive Mobile Health
Authors: Anshari Muhammad , Almunawar Mohammad Nabil
Published: September 2018

Pervasive mobile health is mobile health that provides healthcare services that are accessible regardless of time and place where patients can continuously be connected through their smart mobile devices. It offers healthcare providers a more comprehensive perspective of patients' conditions and thus aids in achieving complex healthcare goal(s) such as building lasting relationships with patients. The service can be further extended to accommodate customers' participation in health and healthcare processes to improve healthcare services by extending roles of patients. The advancement of the web technologies, especially social networks, push e-health to embrace mobile devices (m-health) and personalize customer-centric services with a possibility to extend and improve services by enabling active participation of patients, patients' families, and the community at large in healthcare processes and personal health decision making. This chapter addresses some important concepts of m-health, challenges, future trends, and some related terminologies to provide a holistic view of m-health.
Secure Group Key Sharing Protocols and Cloud System
Authors: Thakare Vaishali Ravindra , K John Singh
Published: September 2018

Cloud computing has been envisioned as the next-generation architecture of IT enterprise. Secure and reliable communications have become critical in modern computing. The centralized services like e-mail and file sharing can be changed into distributed or collaborated system through multiple systems and networks. Basic cryptographic requirements such as data confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and access control are required to build secure collaborative systems in the broadcast channel. For several groupware applications like voice and video conferences, distributed computation over the insecure network, developing an efficient group key agreement protocol for secure communication is required in internet. According to the recent rule released by health and human services (HHS), healthcare data can be outsourced to cloud computing services for medical studies. The aim of this study is to provide the details about secure group data sharing protocols available and how it will be applicable in healthcare cloud applications to share data securely over healthcare cloud.
Security of Internet-, Intranet-, and Computer-Based Examinations in Terms of Technical, Authentication, and Environmental, Where Are We?
Authors: Sokouti Babak , Sokouti Massoud
Published: September 2018

Worldwide, increasing trends on distance learning provided by different educational and academic organizations require robust secure environments for carrying out the distance examinations. The security of online examinations is prone to many threats including the local cheaters and outside attackers. Several studies have been carried out in terms of technical, authentication algorithms, and environmental monitoring (supervised or unsupervised). None of these categories can satisfy the required security services to stop candidate cheating during the examination. A robust secure model will be needed to include all three categories in order to provide secure environments for examinees while no manual supervision is required by proctor or professors.
The Nature, Extent, Causes, and Consequences of Cyberbullying
Authors: Wright Michelle F.
Published: September 2018

Raised in a digitally connected world, children and adolescents do not remember a time in which new media and technology were not such integral parts or their lives. There are many opportunities afforded by new media and technology, such as the ability to communicate efficiently with just about anyone and having access to an assortment of information at their fingertips. There is a darker side to children's and adolescents' immersion in the digitally connected world. One such consequence is cyberbullying, which has increased over the years, due to children's and adolescents' increasing usage of new media and technology. Further attention has been given to cyberbullying because of high profile cases of victims committing suicide as a consequence of being targeted by these behaviors. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying as well as cultural differences in these behaviors and theoretical underpinnings. Concluding this chapter are recommendations for future research and public policy.
Computer Fraud Challenges and Its Legal Implications
Authors: Smith-Ditizio Amber A. , Smith Alan D.
Published: September 2018

In this chapter, the authors provide a position-based discussion in reference to selective cyberthreats to devices and data breaches (which include malware, phishing, social engineering, data communication interception, malicious insider actions, just to name a few), and further provide information on applicable defenses and their legal implications. Although the authors do not assess the different threats and defenses in order to help prevent future vulnerability towards hacking for consumers, they do provide a conceptual understanding of the growing threats of such attacks and the inability of current legal safeguards to counter such threats. Particularly vulnerable are mobile systems, which are more prone to loss and theft once intercepted.
Hexa-Dimension Code of Practice for Data Privacy Protection
Authors: Lee Wanbil William
Published: September 2018

Cyberspace inhabitants live under threat of a complex data privacy protection problem in a technology-dependent and information-intensive phenomenon grown out of a vicious circle. The frontline information security professionals are among the first to bear the brunt and are in dire need of guidance for enforcing effectively the policies and standards and mitigating the adverse consequences of data privacy breaches since the policy statements are invariably dated due to the rapid advances of the technology, limited to cope with techno-socio threats, inadequate to deal with the well-equipped and cunning cybercriminals, and vague and less than user-friendly, or simply difficult to absorb and follow. A framework that comprises the newly developed hexa-dimension code of practice based on the six-dimension metric (represented by the LESTEF model) and an operationalization scheme are proposed, where the code in which the gist of the adopted policies is incorporated promises to be a handy reference or a quick guide capable of alleviating the information security staff's burden.
Security of Identity-Based Encryption Algorithms
Authors: Balasubramanian Kannan , Rajakani M.
Published: September 2018

The concept of identity-based cryptography introduced the idea of using arbitrary strings such as e-mail addresses and IP addresses to form public keys with the corresponding private keys being created by the trusted authority (TA) who is in possession of a systemwide master secret. Then a party, Alice, who wants to send encrypted communication to Bob need only Bob's identifier and the systemwide public parameters. Thus, the receiver is able to choose and manipulate the public key of the intended recipient which has a number of advantages. While IBC removes the problem of trust in the public key, it introduces trust in the TA. As the TA uses the systemwide master secret to compute private keys for users in the system, it can effectively recompute a private key for any arbitrary string without having to archive private keys. This greatly simplifies key management as the TA simply needs to protect its master secret.
Material manipulável para o ensino de estimativa de proporção populacional à luz de futuros professores de matemática
Authors: Pereira Caroline Subirá , Santos Junior Guataçara , Pereira Rudolph dos Santos Gomes , Luccas Simone
Published: September 2018

Este artigo tem o objetivo de analisar as contribuições de material manipulável para o ensino de Estimativa de Proporção Populacional à luz dos futuros professores de Matemática. Para essa análise, organizou-se os dados coletados em 04 aulas, ministradas a 10 acadêmicos matriculados no 3º ano de um curso de Licenciatura em Matemática, referente ao conteúdo de Estimativa de Proporção Populacional. Os dados foram coletados em atividades no formato de texto de opinião dos acadêmicos participantes. Para a análise fez-se se uso de Análise Textual Discursiva. Como resultado constatou-se que ter conhecido os recursos didáticos apresentados, na opinião dos acadêmicos, favorece a formação profissional do professor e que a utilização dos materiais contribui para o ensino de Estimativa de Proporção Populacional, pois torna-se um estimulador da aprendizagem, sendo visto como item inovador na sala de aula, além de favorecer articulação entre teórica e prática facilitando o processo de ensino.
A FORMAÇÃO DE PROFESSORES E A PESQUISA EM REPRESENTAÇÕES SOCIAIS: UMA ANÁLISE DE DISSERTAÇÕES E TESES DAS UNIVERSIDADES PÚBLICAS PARANAENSES
Authors: Vernaschi de Oliveira Lucilia , Franci Raimundo Yaegashi Solange , Nunes Cordeiro Suzi Maria
Published: September 2018

EEste artigo ocupou-se do levantamento e análise da produção de pesquisa em Educação, na modalidade stricto sensu, coletada em repositórios de cinco universidades públicas paranaenses, distribuídas em todo o estado. Para isso, o nosso objetivo foi investigar as produções científicas sobre representações sociais (RS) em Educação, direcionadas à formação de professores da Educação Básica. De acordo com o material coletado, as pesquisas gerais sobre Educação constam nos repositórios das universidades públicas paranaenses desde 1996, entretanto, apenas a partir de 2002 encontram-se pesquisas sob a luz da Teoria das Representações Sociais (TRS). A nossa busca totalizou 32 trabalhos, sendo 24 dissertações e 8 teses. Para analisarmos o material coletado criamos categorias de análise. Os resultados apontam que os principais temas objeto de estudo constatados foram sobre a formação e as concepções de estudantes, professores e pedagogos acerca de assuntos que perpassam o contexto das escolas públicas, como: inclusão e/ou necessidades educacionais especiais; formação docente; gênero e diversidade na escola; conceitos específicos da Educação e implicações comportamentais. Chegamos à conclusão de que a teoria em estudo começou a se expandir de forma tímida no estado do Paraná, mas vem se acentuando, de forma geral, na temática trabalho pedagógico.
Aulas de campo para a alfabetização científica: uma intervenção pedagógica no Parque Estadual da Fonte Grande (Vitória/ES)
Authors: Silva Marcelo Scabelo da , Campos Carlos Roberto Pires
Published: September 2018

O ensino de ciências pode se valer de atividades que valorizem o contexto ambiental e social, com vistas a ensinar pela observação do lugar, do entorno onde vivemos, papeis que dialogam com as aulas de campo, as quais não são tão usuais no ensino de ciências. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar as potencialidades de uma aula de campo no Parque Estadual da Fonte Grande (PEFG), município de Vitória/ES, com vistas ao desenvolvimento de ações capazes de permitir uma leitura crítica de mundo e promover a alfabetização científica dos alunos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo intervenção pedagógica, com procedimento do tipo observação participante e para coleta de dados utilizamos a videogravação, o registro de fotografias, desenhos e relatos escritos pelos alunos. Enfatizamos, entre os resultados, seis categorias que apontaram avanços na alfabetização científica dos estudantes, os quais evidenciaram a apropriação de um olhar crítico em relação aos fenômenos vivenciados em campo.
Dissimilar Welding between 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel and API X52 High Strength Low Alloy Steel
Authors: Belkessa Brahim , Miroud Djamel , Cheniti Billel , Ouali N. , Hakem Maamar , Djama Mustapha
Published: September 2018

This work purposes to investigate the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of dissimilar metals weld between 2205 duplex stainless steel (UNS 31803) and high strength low alloy steel API X52. The joining was produced by shielded metal arc welding process using two different filler metals, the duplex E2209 and austenitic E309 grade.The microstructures of the dissimilar welded joints have been investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The EDS analysis performed at the API X52/weld metal interface showed an evident gradient of Cr and Ni between fusion and type II boundaries, where the highest hardness value was recorded.
Hybrid Effect of TiO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Based Composite for Photo-Catalytic Water Splitting and Strain Sensing
Authors: Azeem Syed Munir , Saleem Muahammad Talha , Faizan Muhammad , Ahmed Sharjeel , Masood Isna
Published: September 2018

Solar Energy is an everlasting source of energy with minimal carbon footprint. However, due to lack of reliability and consistency it needs to be converted into more reliable and effective means that can be used to provide energy on demand. Hydrogen is a promising carrier and is thus an efficient mean of energy to be converted in, stored and transported. A more direct approach towards harnessing Solar Energy is by photo-aided generation of hydrogen via splitting of water using photolysis. Photocatalytic water splitting is therefore a promising method for future energy security. On the other hand strain sensing is a useful technique to measure medium range loads in trusses or tension rods & can easily replace the existing fragile & expensive semiconductor based sensors. This was done by using a composite of TiO2 /Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO); TiO2 (anatase) was synthesized via sol-gel process and the main precursor was titanium tetrapropoxide (Ttip). Titania (anatase) characterized by XRD and photo spectrometry while Graphene oxide was synthesized via modified Hummer’s Method. The obtained Reduce Graphene Oxide was dispersed using Sodium Dodecyl Benzene (SDB) and Hydrazine Hydrate. A drastic synergetic effect was found by simply mixing RGO with TiO2 Solution. This not only broadened the photoactivity spectrum of TiO2 from UV region to the more available visible light radiation but also exhibit strain sensing properties and considerable tunable gauge factor. The photocatalytic effect of our composite was tested by coating it over Polycarbonate & then analyzing emitted gas bubbles in a UV radiation chamber while strain sensing was done by coating it on an elastic substrate & applying loads against values of resistance which were measured. This study will also include the reduction of recombination and band gap of TiO2 in order to synchronize it with the available Solar Spectrum thus maximizing solar-to-hydrogen efficiency.
Evidence-Based Strategies for Maternal Stabilization and Rescue in Obstetric Hemorrhage
Authors: Harvey Carol J.
Published: September 2018

Obstetric hemorrhage is one of the most frequent causes of maternal death in the United States. More than 70% of maternal deaths from hemorrhage are preventable. State and professional quality care organizations have reduced severe maternal morbidity by more than 20% by implementing evidence-based guidelines. Successful hemorrhage management requires collaborative, multidisciplinary teams of trained health care personnel. Hemorrhage management’s primary goal is to stop the bleeding before the occurrence of maternal hypovolemia, acidosis, coagulopathy, and death. Uterine atony is the primary cause of obstetric hemorrhage and can be managed with uterotonic agents, placement of noninvasive uterine tamponade balloons, and surgical procedures if needed. Women experiencing massive hemorrhage should be treated according to resuscitation care guidelines with avoidance of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy. Use of a massive transfusion protocol is warranted for best outcomes. Resources for institutional adoption of current collaborative standards for managing obstetric hemorrhage are identified in this article.
Targeting Peroxiredoxin 1 by a Curcumin Analogue, AI-44, Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sepsis in Mice
Authors: Liu Wen , Guo Wenjie , Zhu Yongcheng , Peng Shuang , Zheng Wei , Zhang Chao , Shao Fenli , Zhu Yuyu , Hang Nan , Kong Lingdong , Meng Xiangbao , Xu Qiang , Sun Yang
Published: September 2018

Aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the onset and progression of various inflammatory diseases, making it a highly desirable drug target. In this study, we screened a series of small compounds with anti-inflammatory activities and identified a novel NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, AI-44, a curcumin analogue that selectively inhibited signal 2 but not signal 1 of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. We demonstrated that AI-44 bound to peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) and promoted the interaction of PRDX1 with pro–Caspase-1 (CASP1), which led to the suppression of association of pro-CASP1 and ASC. Consequently, the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome was interrupted, and the activation of CASP1 was inhibited. Knockdown of PRDX1 significantly abrogated the inhibitory effect of AI-44 on the NLRP3 inflammasome. Importantly, AI-44 alleviated LPS-induced endotoxemia in mice via suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, our work highlighted PRDX1 as a negative regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and suggested AI-44 as a promising candidate compound for the treatment of sepsis or other NLRP3 inflammasome-driven diseases.
The treatment of habitual dysphonia
Authors: Van Thal Joan H.
Published: September 2018

No abstract available.
Epidemiology and Transmission of Respiratory Infections in Thai Army Recruits: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tam Clarence C. , Anderson Kathryn B. , Offeddu Vittoria , Weg Alden , Macareo Louis R. , Ellison Damon W. , Rangsin Ram , Fernandez Stefan , Gibbons Robert V. , Yoon In-Kyu , Simasathien Sriluck
Published: September 2018

Military recruits are at high risk of respiratory infections. However, limited data exist on military populations in tropical settings, where the epidemiology of respiratory infections differs substantially from temperate settings. We enrolled recruits undertaking a 10-week military training at two Royal Thai Army barracks between May 2014 and July 2015. We used a multiplex respiratory panel to analyze nose and throat swabs collected at the start and end of the training period, and from participants experiencing respiratory symptoms during follow-up. Paired sera were tested for influenza seroconversion using a hemagglutinin inhibition assay. Overall rates of upper respiratory illness and influenza-like illness were 3.1 and 2.0 episodes per 100 person-weeks, respectively. A pathogen was detected in 96% of samples. The most commonly detected microbes were Haemophilus influenzae type B (62.7%) or non–type B (58.2%) and rhinovirus (22.4%). At baseline, bacterial colonization was high and included H. influenzae type B (82.3%), H. influenzae non–type B (31.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.5%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (8.5%). At the end of follow-up, colonization with H. influenzae non–type B had increased to 74.1%, and S. pneumoniae to 33.6%. In the serology subset, the rate of influenza infection was 3.4 per 100 person-months; 58% of influenza infections resulted in clinical disease. Our study provides key data on the epidemiology and transmission of respiratory pathogens in tropical settings. Our results emphasize the need for improved infection prevention and control in military environments, given the high burden of illness and potential for intense transmission of respiratory pathogens.
Factors Associated with the 18-Month Cumulative Incidence of Seroconversion of Active Infection with Taenia solium Cysticercosis: A Cohort Study among Residents of 60 Villages in Burkina Faso
Authors: Dermauw Veronique , Carabin Hélène , Ganaba Rasmané , Cissé Assana , Tarnagda Zékiba , Gabriël Sarah , Dorny Pierre , Millogo Athanase
Published: September 2018

Taeniasis/cysticercosis (CC) is an important disease complex with significant burden. This large-scale cohort study aimed at estimating and exploring individual- and village-level factors associated with the cumulative incidences of seroconversion (SC) and seroreversion (SR) of active human CC in three provinces of Burkina Faso. In 60 villages, blood samples were collected and interviews regarding sociodemographic variables and knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the disease complex were conducted at baseline and 18-month follow-up (N = 2,211), with the presence of active CC being determined using the B158/B60 antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). The 18-month Ag SC and SR were estimated at 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6; 4.2%) and 35.8% (95% CI: 24.5; 48.5%), respectively. Marked provincial differences were found for the 18-month Ag SC (Boulkiemde: cumulative incidence ratio [CIR]: 2.41 (95% CI: 1.21; 4.78) and Nayala: CIR: 3.28 (95% CI: 1.37; 7.84), compared with Sanguie), while not being significantly associated with other sociodemographic factors. A continued refraining from pork consumption was associated with a lower 18-month Ag SC (CIR: 0.55 [95% CI: 0.28; 1.07]), whereas at the village level, the percentage of households owning pigs was associated with a higher 18-month Ag SC (CIR: 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01; 1.05]). In conclusion, this is one of few cohort studies and the first to have enough power to assess possible causal links between individual- and village-level variables and CC in humans. Variables linked to province, pig raising, and pork consumption behaviors were found to cause Ag SC in humans. The latter results further support the importance of adopting a One Health approach to the control of CC.
Case Report: Plasmodium knowlesi Infection with Rhabdomyolysis in a Japanese Traveler to Palawan, the Philippines
Authors: Takaya Saho , Kutsuna Satoshi , Suzuki Tetsuya , Komaki-Yasuda Kanako , Kano Shigeyuki , Ohmagari Norio
Published: September 2018

Skeletal muscle is known to be damaged by falciparum malaria via sequestration of infected erythrocytes. We present a case of rhabdomyolysis caused by Plasmodium knowlesi infection. The patient had fever, myalgia, and muscle weakness 5 days after returning to Japan from Palawan, the Philippines. Blood test revealed thrombocytopenia and an elevated creatine kinase level. Although rhabdomyolysis resolved with fluid therapy, fever of 24-hour cycle continued and thrombocytopenia intensified. On day 7 of illness, Giemsa-stained thin blood smear revealed malaria parasites, with a parasite count of 2,380/μL, which were morphologically indistinguishable between P. knowlesi and Plasmodium malariae. Rapid diagnostic test showed a negative result. The pathogen was later confirmed to be P. knowlesi by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient was successfully treated with artemether/lumefantrine. This case suggests that knowlesi malaria might be able to cause skeletal muscle damage.
Mosquito and Virus Surveillance as a Predictor of Human Ross River Virus Infection in South-West Western Australia: How Useful Is It?
Authors: Walker Liz J. , Selvey Linda A. , Jardine Andrew , Johansen Cheryl A. , Lindsay Michael D. A.
Published: September 2018

Mosquito and virus surveillance systems are widely used in Western Australia (WA) to support public health efforts to reduce mosquito-borne disease. However, these programs are costly to maintain on a long-term basis. Therefore, we aimed to assess the validity of mosquito numbers and Ross River virus (RRV) isolates from surveillance trap sites as predictors of human RRV cases in south-west WA between 2003 and 2014. Using negative binomial regression modeling, mosquito surveillance was found to be a useful tool for predicting human RRV cases. In eight of the nine traps, when adjusted for season, there was an increased risk of RRV cases associated with elevated mosquito numbers detected 1 month before the onset of human cases for at least one quartile compared with the reference group. The most predictive urban trap sites were located near saltmarsh mosquito habitat, bushland that could sustain macropods and densely populated residential suburbs. This convergence of environments could allow enzootic transmission of RRV to spillover and infect the human population. Close proximity of urban trap sites to each other suggested these sites could be reduced. Ross River virus isolates were infrequent at some trap sites, so ceasing RRV isolation from mosquitoes at these sites or where isolates were not predictive of human cases could be considered. In future, trap sites could be reduced for routine surveillance, allowing other environments to be monitored to broaden the understanding of RRV ecology in the region. A more cost-effective and efficient surveillance program may result from these modifications.
Ausência de influência da síndrome metabólica na atividade da artrite reumatóide
Authors: Farinazo Breno Martins , Real Júnior Mauro Marcelo Furtado , Caldas Cezar Augusto Muniz
Published: September 2018

Objetivo: Identificar a influência da Síndrome Metabólica (SM) na resposta ao tratamento dos pacientes portadores de Artrite Reumatoide (AR). Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo do tipo transversal, descritivo e analítico, no período de setembro de 2013 a junho de 2014. A coleta de dados foi efetuada via protocolo de pesquisa elaborado pelos autores no ambulatório de Reumatologia do Centro de Especialidades Médicas (CEMEC) do Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará (CESUPA). Foram incluídos pacientes do sexo feminino, maiores de 18 anos e com diagnóstico de AR. Foram excluídos da pesquisa todos os pacientes tabagistas, com associação com outra doença autoimune, nefropatas, hepatopatas, mulheres gestantes, menopausadas e/ou em uso de contraceptivos hormonais. Resultados: Todas as pacientes (27) eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 40,89 ± 6,71anos e de tempo de doença de 7,67 ± 6,02anos, sendo que 21 pacientes (77,8%) apresentaram fator reumatóide positivo. Quanto à atividade da doença, a Velocidade de Hemossedimentação (VSH) apresentou média de 35,07 ± 17,43mm/h e a Proteína C Reativa (PCR) 13,85 ± 18,6mg/dl, respectivamente. A média do Disease Activity Score de 28 articulações (DAS28) foi de 4,69 ± 1,18. A frequência de SM encontrada entre os pacientes foi de 33,3% (n = 9). Em relação à atividade da doença mensurada pelo DAS28 (4,38 ± 0,74 vs. 4,84 ± 1,34, p = 0,263), VHS (33,44 ± 13,87mm/h vs. 35,94 ± 19,39mm/h, p = 0,709) e PCR (19,33 ± 26,66 mg/dl vs. 11,11 ± 13,07 mg/dl, p = 0,403), não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos com SM e sem SM (p=0,263). Conclusão: o presente estudo constatou que a presença de SM não influenciou na resposta ao tratamento nos pacientes com AR do CEMEC, não guardando relação com a atividade da doença, seja através de exames laboratoriais ou avaliada através do DAS28.
Humidity and temperature sensor system demonstrator with NFC tag for HySiF applications
Authors: Eldebiky Amro , Elsobky Mourad , Richter Harald , Burghartz Joachim N.
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Hybrid System-in-Foil (HySiF) is one of the emerging branches of flexible
electronics in which ultra-thin silicon chips are integrated with flexible
sensors in polymeric foils (Elsobky et al., 2018; Alavi et al., 2018). Intensive attention was given to the
implementation of flexible environmental sensing platforms for logistics and
food packaging (Cartasegna et al., 2011; Liu et al., 2016). The aim of this work is the implementation of a
sensor system demonstrator using HySiF components, namely an ultra-thin
microcontroller chip in addition to an on-chip temperature and an on-foil
humidity sensors. The measurement concept for the relative humidity sensor is
measuring the capacitance difference between an off-chip (on the foil
substrate) humidity dependent sensor capacitor, and another humidity
independent reference capacitor. The electrical readout technique is based on
the charge amplifier switched capacitor circuit. It is implemented using a
commercially available microcontroller (EM microelectronics EM6819) which has
the advantage of being available as single chips to enable post-processing
steps such as backthining and chip embedding in a thin polymer package.
Sensor and reference capacitors are homogeneously integrated on-foil. 400
and 30 µm thick microcontroller dies (MCU) are used in
this application. The charge amplifier result is digitized using an internal
10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The 10-bit ADC is time multiplexed
between the charge amplifier structure and the internal temperature sensor.
Linear interpolation is used to fit the digital output of the ADC and
calibrate the output of the sensor system. Readings of the humidity level and
the temperature are written to an NFC tag (from the company EM
microelectronics based on chip EM NF4) using the contact interface. Readings
can be accessed using a customized android application on a smartphone.
The response of nonlinearly loaded antennas to repetitive HPEM excitations as obtained from equivalent circuit models
Authors: Palur Palanivelu Devanand , Michels Robert , Kreitlow Matthias , Gronwald Frank
Published: September 2018

Abstract. In this contribution the effects of repetitive pulse excitations
on linearly and nonlinearly loaded antennas are studied on the basis of
equivalent circuit models. In the known linear case, repetitive pulses can
lead to an increase of the amplitudes of oscillations. These oscillations
decay, if realistic quality factors are assumed, comparatively quickly. In
the considered nonlinear case the effects of repetitive pulses can add up and
persist along much larger time scales. This remarkable effect has no
equivalent in the linear case.
Delayed response of the ionosphere to solar EUV variability
Authors: Schmölter Erik , Berdermann Jens , Jakowski Norbert , Jacobi Christoph , Vaishnav Rajesh
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Physical and chemical processes in the ionosphere are driven by
complex interactions with the solar radiation. The ionospheric plasma is in
particular sensitive to solar EUV and UV variations with a time delay between
one and two days. This delay is assumed to be related to thermospheric
transport processes from the lower ionosphere to the F region. In previous
analyses, the delay has been investigated using the F10.7 index. Here we
present preliminary results of the ionospheric delay based on a comprehensive
and reliable database consisting of GNSS TEC Maps and EUV spectral flux data.
We plan to specify the various dependencies from geographic/geomagnetic
location, altitude, season, local time, geophysical and solar radiation
conditions such as the solar activity level. The first results for
dependencies from seasons and wavelengths regions of the EUV are presented in
this paper. These results can provide more insight into ionospheric processes
and are of interest for applications dependent on reliable ionospheric
weather forecasts, e.g. GNSS error analyses, prediction and mitigation.
Design and implementation of a flexible node for IoT supporting 6LoWPAN and a sensor shield for home automation application
Authors: Arndt Josua , Lauber Tim , Wunderlich Ralf , Heinen Stefan
Published: September 2018

Abstract. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 is evolving and has a high demand for reliable electronics. This work contributes to the creation of user-friendly and robust applications for the IoT. The topic is the development of a radio communication system regarding the requirements for the end user and concerning a high flexibility of the application. The result is a core board featuring USB programming capability to flash the user application, USB power delivery (USB-PD) for battery charging, a fuel gauge, as well as a Microcontroller Unit (MCU), and a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver. This core board can be combined with different sensor or actor shields to increase the flexibility and re-usability. To ensure proper functionality of all crucial design blocks they are analyzed and simulated with state of the art techniques. First, the system requirements are laid out and explained in detail. The implementation that satisfies these requirements is presented and necessary simulations are discussed, the results are presented. To complete the work, measurements of the system are shown and compared with the simulation.