bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reasoning with Very Expressive Fuzzy Description Logics
Authors: Stoilos G. , Stamou G. , Pan J. Z. , Tzouvaras V. , Horrocks I.
Published: July 2018

It is widely recognized today that the management of imprecision and vagueness will yield more intelligent and realistic knowledge-based applications. Description Logics (DLs) are a family of knowledge representation languages that have gained considerable attention the last decade, mainly due to their decidability and the existence of empirically high performance of reasoning algorithms. In this paper, we extend the well known fuzzy ALC DL to the fuzzy SHIN DL, which extends the fuzzy ALC DL with transitive role axioms (S), inverse roles (I), role hierarchies (H) and number restrictions (N). We illustrate why transitive role axioms are difficult to handle in the presence of fuzzy interpretations and how to handle them properly. Then we extend these results by adding role hierarchies and finally number restrictions. The main contributions of the paper are the decidability proof of the fuzzy DL languages fuzzy-SI and fuzzy-SHIN, as well as decision procedures for the knowledge base satisfiability problem of the fuzzy-SI and fuzzy-SHIN.
Using Linguistic Cues for the Automatic Recognition of Personality in Conversation and Text
Authors: Mairesse F. , Walker M. A. , Mehl M. R. , Moore R. K.
Published: July 2018

It is well known that utterances convey a great deal of information about the speaker in addition to their semantic content. One such type of information consists of cues to the speaker's personality traits, the most fundamental dimension of variation between humans. Recent work explores the automatic detection of other types of pragmatic variation in text and conversation, such as emotion, deception, speaker charisma, dominance, point of view, subjectivity, opinion and sentiment. Personality affects these other aspects of linguistic production, and thus personality recognition may be useful for these tasks, in addition to many other potential applications. However, to date, there is little work on the automatic recognition of personality traits. This article reports experimental results for recognition of all Big Five personality traits, in both conversation and text, utilising both self and observer ratings of personality. While other work reports classification results, we experiment with classification, regression and ranking models. For each model, we analyse the effect of different feature sets on accuracy. Results show that for some traits, any type of statistical model performs significantly better than the baseline, but ranking models perform best overall. We also present an experiment suggesting that ranking models are more accurate than multi-class classifiers for modelling personality. In addition, recognition models trained on observed personality perform better than models trained using self-reports, and the optimal feature set depends on the personality trait. A qualitative analysis of the learned models confirms previous findings linking language and personality, while revealing many new linguistic markers.
A Temporal Description Logic for Reasoning about Actions and Plans
Authors: Artale A. , Franconi E.
Published: July 2018

A class of interval-based temporal languages for uniformly representing and reasoning about actions and plans is presented. Actions are represented by describing what is true while the action itself is occurring, and plans are constructed by temporally relating actions and world states. The temporal languages are members of the family of Description Logics, which are characterized by high expressivity combined with good computational properties. The subsumption problem for a class of temporal Description Logics is investigated and sound and complete decision procedures are given. The basic language TL-F is considered first: it is the composition of a temporal logic TL -- able to express interval temporal networks -- together with the non-temporal logic F -- a Feature Description Logic. It is proven that subsumption in this language is an NP-complete problem. Then it is shown how to reason with the more expressive languages TLU-FU and TL-ALCF. The former adds disjunction both at the temporal and non-temporal sides of the language, the latter extends the non-temporal side with set-valued features (i.e., roles) and a propositionally complete language.
A Counter Example to Theorems of Cox and Fine
Authors: Halpern J. Y.
Published: July 2018

Cox's well-known theorem justifying the use of probability is shown not to hold in finite domains. The counterexample also suggests that Cox's assumptions are insufficient to prove the result even in infinite domains. The same counterexample is used to disprove a result of Fine on comparative conditional probability.
The Automatic Inference of State Invariants in TIM
Authors: Fox M. , Long D.
Published: July 2018

As planning is applied to larger and richer domains the effort involved in constructing domain descriptions increases and becomes a significant burden on the human application designer. If general planners are to be applied successfully to large and complex domains it is necessary to provide the domain designer with some assistance in building correctly encoded domains. One way of doing this is to provide domain-independent techniques for extracting, from a domain description, knowledge that is implicit in that description and that can assist domain designers in debugging domain descriptions. This knowledge can also be exploited to improve the performance of planners: several researchers have explored the potential of state invariants in speeding up the performance of domain-independent planners. In this paper we describe a process by which state invariants can be extracted from the automatically inferred type structure of a domain. These techniques are being developed for exploitation by STAN, a Graphplan based planner that employs state analysis techniques to enhance its performance.
Squeaky Wheel Optimization
Authors: Joslin D. E. , Clements D. P.
Published: July 2018

We describe a general approach to optimization which we term `Squeaky Wheel' Optimization (SWO). In SWO, a greedy algorithm is used to construct a solution which is then analyzed to find the trouble spots, i.e., those elements, that, if improved, are likely to improve the objective function score. The results of the analysis are used to generate new priorities that determine the order in which the greedy algorithm constructs the next solution. This Construct/Analyze/Prioritize cycle continues until some limit is reached, or an acceptable solution is found. SWO can be viewed as operating on two search spaces: solutions and prioritizations. Successive solutions are only indirectly related, via the re-prioritization that results from analyzing the prior solution. Similarly, successive prioritizations are generated by constructing and analyzing solutions. This `coupled search' has some interesting properties, which we discuss. We report encouraging experimental results on two domains, scheduling problems that arise in fiber-optic cable manufacturing, and graph coloring problems. The fact that these domains are very different supports our claim that SWO is a general technique for optimization.
Committee-Based Sample Selection for Probabilistic Classifiers
Authors: Argamon-Engelson S. , Dagan I.
Published: July 2018

In many real-world learning tasks, it is expensive to acquire a sufficient number of labeled examples for training. This paper investigates methods for reducing annotation cost by `sample selection'. In this approach, during training the learning program examines many unlabeled examples and selects for labeling only those that are most informative at each stage. This avoids redundantly labeling examples that contribute little new information. Our work follows on previous research on Query By Committee, extending the committee-based paradigm to the context of probabilistic classification. We describe a family of empirical methods for committee-based sample selection in probabilistic classification models, which evaluate the informativeness of an example by measuring the degree of disagreement between several model variants. These variants (the committee) are drawn randomly from a probability distribution conditioned by the training set labeled so far. The method was applied to the real-world natural language processing task of stochastic part-of-speech tagging. We find that all variants of the method achieve a significant reduction in annotation cost, although their computational efficiency differs. In particular, the simplest variant, a two member committee with no parameters to tune, gives excellent results. We also show that sample selection yields a significant reduction in the size of the model used by the tagger.
Markov Localization for Mobile Robots in Dynamic Environments
Authors: Fox D. , Burgard W. , Thrun S.
Published: July 2018

Localization, that is the estimation of a robot's location from sensor data, is a fundamental problem in mobile robotics. This papers presents a version of Markov localization which provides accurate position estimates and which is tailored towards dynamic environments. The key idea of Markov localization is to maintain a probability density over the space of all locations of a robot in its environment. Our approach represents this space metrically, using a fine-grained grid to approximate densities. It is able to globally localize the robot from scratch and to recover from localization failures. It is robust to approximate models of the environment (such as occupancy grid maps) and noisy sensors (such as ultrasound sensors). Our approach also includes a filtering technique which allows a mobile robot to reliably estimate its position even in densely populated environments in which crowds of people block the robot's sensors for extended periods of time. The method described here has been implemented and tested in several real-world applications of mobile robots, including the deployments of two mobile robots as interactive museum tour-guides.
Reasoning on Interval and Point-based Disjunctive Metric Constraints in Temporal Contexts
Authors: Barber F.
Published: July 2018

We introduce a temporal model for reasoning on disjunctive metric constraints on intervals and time points in temporal contexts. This temporal model is composed of a labeled temporal algebra and its reasoning algorithms. The labeled temporal algebra defines labeled disjunctive metric point-based constraints, where each disjunct in each input disjunctive constraint is univocally associated to a label. Reasoning algorithms manage labeled constraints, associated label lists, and sets of mutually inconsistent disjuncts. These algorithms guarantee consistency and obtain a minimal network. Additionally, constraints can be organized in a hierarchy of alternative temporal contexts. Therefore, we can reason on context-dependent disjunctive metric constraints on intervals and points. Moreover, the model is able to represent non-binary constraints, such that logical dependencies on disjuncts in constraints can be handled. The computational cost of reasoning algorithms is exponential in accordance with the underlying problem complexity, although some improvements are proposed.
Exact Phase Transitions in Random Constraint Satisfaction Problems
Authors: Xu K. , Li W.
Published: July 2018

In this paper we propose a new type of random CSP model, called Model RB, which is a revision to the standard Model B. It is proved that phase transitions from a region where almost all problems are satisfiable to a region where almost all problems are unsatisfiable do exist for Model RB as the number of variables approaches infinity. Moreover, the critical values at which the phase transitions occur are also known exactly. By relating the hardness of Model RB to Model B, it is shown that there exist a lot of hard instances in Model RB.
Nonapproximability Results for Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Lusena C. , Goldsmith J. , Mundhenk M.
Published: July 2018

We show that for several variations of partially observable Markov decision processes, polynomial-time algorithms for finding control policies are unlikely to or simply don't have guarantees of finding policies within a constant factor or a constant summand of optimal. Here ``unlikely'' means ``unless some complexity classes collapse,'' where the collapses considered are P=NP, P=PSPACE, or P=EXP. Until or unless these collapses are shown to hold, any control-policy designer must choose between such performance guarantees and efficient computation.
On Reasonable and Forced Goal Orderings and their Use in an Agenda-Driven Planning Algorithm
Authors: Koehler J. , Hoffmann J.
Published: July 2018

The paper addresses the problem of computing goal orderings, which is one of the longstanding issues in AI planning. It makes two new contributions. First, it formally defines and discusses two different goal orderings, which are called the reasonable and the forced ordering. Both orderings are defined for simple STRIPS operators as well as for more complex ADL operators supporting negation and conditional effects. The complexity of these orderings is investigated and their practical relevance is discussed. Secondly, two different methods to compute reasonable goal orderings are developed. One of them is based on planning graphs, while the other investigates the set of actions directly. Finally, it is shown how the ordering relations, which have been derived for a given set of goals G, can be used to compute a so-called goal agenda that divides G into an ordered set of subgoals. Any planner can then, in principle, use the goal agenda to plan for increasing sets of subgoals. This can lead to an exponential complexity reduction, as the solution to a complex planning problem is found by solving easier subproblems. Since only a polynomial overhead is caused by the goal agenda computation, a potential exists to dramatically speed up planning algorithms as we demonstrate in the empirical evaluation, where we use this method in the IPP planner.
Asimovian Adaptive Agents
Authors: Gordon D. F.
Published: July 2018

The goal of this research is to develop agents that are adaptive and predictable and timely. At first blush, these three requirements seem contradictory. For example, adaptation risks introducing undesirable side effects, thereby making agents' behavior less predictable. Furthermore, although formal verification can assist in ensuring behavioral predictability, it is known to be time-consuming. Our solution to the challenge of satisfying all three requirements is the following. Agents have finite-state automaton plans, which are adapted online via evolutionary learning (perturbation) operators. To ensure that critical behavioral constraints are always satisfied, agents' plans are first formally verified. They are then reverified after every adaptation. If reverification concludes that constraints are violated, the plans are repaired. The main objective of this paper is to improve the efficiency of reverification after learning, so that agents have a sufficiently rapid response time. We present two solutions: positive results that certain learning operators are a priori guaranteed to preserve useful classes of behavioral assurance constraints (which implies that no reverification is needed for these operators), and efficient incremental reverification algorithms for those learning operators that have negative a priori results.
Partial-Order Planning with Concurrent Interacting Actions
Authors: Boutilier C. , Brafman R. I.
Published: July 2018

In order to generate plans for agents with multiple actuators, agent teams, or distributed controllers, we must be able to represent and plan using concurrent actions with interacting effects. This has historically been considered a challenging task requiring a temporal planner with the ability to reason explicitly about time. We show that with simple modifications, the STRIPS action representation language can be used to represent interacting actions. Moreover, algorithms for partial-order planning require only small modifications in order to be applied in such multiagent domains. We demonstrate this fact by developing a sound and complete partial-order planner for planning with concurrent interacting actions, POMP, that extends existing partial-order planners in a straightforward way. These results open the way to the use of partial-order planners for the centralized control of cooperative multiagent systems.
An Analysis of Reduced Error Pruning
Authors: Elomaa T. , Kaariainen M.
Published: July 2018

Top-down induction of decision trees has been observed to suffer from the inadequate functioning of the pruning phase. In particular, it is known that the size of the resulting tree grows linearly with the sample size, even though the accuracy of the tree does not improve. Reduced Error Pruning is an algorithm that has been used as a representative technique in attempts to explain the problems of decision tree learning. In this paper we present analyses of Reduced Error Pruning in three different settings. First we study the basic algorithmic properties of the method, properties that hold independent of the input decision tree and pruning examples. Then we examine a situation that intuitively should lead to the subtree under consideration to be replaced by a leaf node, one in which the class label and attribute values of the pruning examples are independent of each other. This analysis is conducted under two different assumptions. The general analysis shows that the pruning probability of a node fitting pure noise is bounded by a function that decreases exponentially as the size of the tree grows. In a specific analysis we assume that the examples are distributed uniformly to the tree. This assumption lets us approximate the number of subtrees that are pruned because they do not receive any pruning examples. This paper clarifies the different variants of the Reduced Error Pruning algorithm, brings new insight to its algorithmic properties, analyses the algorithm with less imposed assumptions than before, and includes the previously overlooked empty subtrees to the analysis.
Conditional Plausibility Measures and Bayesian Networks
Authors: Halpern J. Y.
Published: July 2018

A general notion of algebraic conditional plausibility measures is defined. Probability measures, ranking functions, possibility measures, and (under the appropriate definitions) sets of probability measures can all be viewed as defining algebraic conditional plausibility measures. It is shown that algebraic conditional plausibility measures can be represented using Bayesian networks.
The FF Planning System: Fast Plan Generation Through Heuristic Search
Authors: Hoffmann J. , Nebel B.
Published: July 2018

We describe and evaluate the algorithmic techniques that are used in the FF planning system. Like the HSP system, FF relies on forward state space search, using a heuristic that estimates goal distances by ignoring delete lists. Unlike HSP's heuristic, our method does not assume facts to be independent. We introduce a novel search strategy that combines hill-climbing with systematic search, and we show how other powerful heuristic information can be extracted and used to prune the search space. FF was the most successful automatic planner at the recent AIPS-2000 planning competition. We review the results of the competition, give data for other benchmark domains, and investigate the reasons for the runtime performance of FF compared to HSP.
Optimizing Dialogue Management with Reinforcement Learning: Experiments with the NJFun System
Authors: Singh S. , Litman D. , Kearns M. , Walker M.
Published: July 2018

Designing the dialogue policy of a spoken dialogue system involves many nontrivial choices. This paper presents a reinforcement learning approach for automatically optimizing a dialogue policy, which addresses the technical challenges in applying reinforcement learning to a working dialogue system with human users. We report on the design, construction and empirical evaluation of NJFun, an experimental spoken dialogue system that provides users with access to information about fun things to do in New Jersey. Our results show that by optimizing its performance via reinforcement learning, NJFun measurably improves system performance.
When do Numbers Really Matter?
Authors: Chan H. , Darwiche A.
Published: July 2018

Common wisdom has it that small distinctions in the probabilities (parameters) quantifying a belief network do not matter much for the results of probabilistic queries. Yet, one can develop realistic scenarios under which small variations in network parameters can lead to significant changes in computed queries. A pending theoretical question is then to analytically characterize parameter changes that do or do not matter. In this paper, we study the sensitivity of probabilistic queries to changes in network parameters and prove some tight bounds on the impact that such parameters can have on queries. Our analytic results pinpoint some interesting situations under which parameter changes do or do not matter. These results are important for knowledge engineers as they help them identify influential network parameters. They also help explain some of the previous experimental results and observations with regards to network robustness against parameter changes.
A Knowledge Compilation Map
Authors: Darwiche A. , Marquis P.
Published: July 2018

We propose a perspective on knowledge compilation which calls for analyzing different compilation approaches according to two key dimensions: the succinctness of the target compilation language, and the class of queries and transformations that the language supports in polytime. We then provide a knowledge compilation map, which analyzes a large number of existing target compilation languages according to their succinctness and their polytime transformations and queries. We argue that such analysis is necessary for placing new compilation approaches within the context of existing ones. We also go beyond classical, flat target compilation languages based on CNF and DNF, and consider a richer, nested class based on directed acyclic graphs (such as OBDDs), which we show to include a relatively large number of target compilation languages.
Adult mouse kidney dissociation (on ice) v5
Authors: Potter Andrew
Published: July 2018

Protocol for adult (8-10 week) mouse kidney dissociation performed on ice to reduce artifact gene expression. The first layer, consisting of collagenase digestion, breaks down the tissue and releases some cells and glomeruli and tubules. The second layer consists of bacillus licheniformis digestion for 15 min. augmented with a thermomixer at 1400 RPM and passaging with a 27 gauge needle. The second layer is meant to thoroughly break up remaining tubules and glomeruli, releasing cells such as podocytes. The final yield is 250K cells from 18 mg tissue with 98% viability, approximately 14,000 cells/mg tissue. Approximately 1% of released cells are podocytes (visualized using kidneys from MAFB-GFP+ mice using a hemocytometer).
Güncel Bilgiler Eşliğinde Kolelitiazis Tedavisinde Laparaskopik ve Açık Kolesistektominin Yeri
Authors: AYKAS Ahmet , KARASU Zeki
Published: July 2018

Giriş

Kolelitiazis
dünya çapında oldukça yaygın görülen cerrahi bir hastalıktır. Açık ve
laparaskopik cerrahi ile tedavi edilmekte olan bu hastalığın, yapılan cerrahi
girişimlerde uygulanan yöntem ve tekniklerle ilişkili olarak komplikasyonları
değişmektedir. Bu çalışmada laparaskopik kolesistektomi ile açık kolesistektomi
yapılan hastalarda gelişen morbidite, mortalite , hastanede kalış süresi,
ameliyat süresi, aktif yaşama dönüş süresi ve erken dönemde gelişen komplikasyonlar
açısından fark olup olmadığını araştırmak amaçlanmıştır.

Gereç ve Yöntem

Çalışmanın verileri Mart 1995 ile Ekim 1996 tarihleri
arasında SSK  İzmir Eğitim Hastanesi 3.
Cerrahi Kliniğinde açık ve laparaskopik kolesistektomi yapılan hastaların
prospektif olarak değerlendirilmesi ile elde edilmiştir. Hastalar yaş,
cinsiyet, semptomların şekli ve süresi, daha önce geçirilmiş operasyon olup
olmaması, yandaş hastalıklarının olup olmaması , peroperatif ve postoperatif
komplikasyonlar açısından incelenmiştir.

Bulgular

Her iki hasta grubunda da yandaş hastalık olarak diabet,
hipertansiyon, ASKH ve geçirilmiş operasyon öyküsü olup olmadığı araştırıldı. Laparoskopik
kolesistektomi uygulanan hastaların 7’sinde (%23,3), açık kolesistektomi
uygulanan hastaların 18’inde (%36) yukardaki hastalıklar saptandı. Laparoskopik
kolesistektomi uygulanan 30 hastadan 4 tanesi (%13,3) alt batın operasyonu
geçirmişti. Laparoskopik kolesistektomi uygulanan hastaların 4 (%13,3) tanesinde
açık kolesistektomiye geçilmiştir.

Sonuç

Yaklaşık
1,5 yıllık bir süre içerisinde gerçekleştirdiğimiz bu çalışmada laparaskopik ve
açık kolesistektomi yapılan hastaların sonuçları karşılaştırılmış, hastaların
hastanede yatış süresinin kısalığı, fiziksel aktiviteye dönüşteki kısalık,
postoperatif ağrı ve daha iyi kozmetik sonuçlar nedeniyle laparaskopik
kolesistektominin avantajlı bir yöntem olduğu belirlenmiştir.Anahtar kelimeler : Kolelitiazis, kolesistektomi, komplikasyon, laparaskopi
Proceedings of the 1st All-Russian Congress of the Russian Association of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists (RATRO) "New technologies in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Development prospects " 27-28 April 2017
Authors: Article Editorial
Published: July 2018

.
Inspiratory muscle training in pulmonary hypertension: TREMMI protocol
Authors: Leão Marília Souza , Bergamascki Lucas Mellaci , Xavier Vivian Bertoni , Jaenisch Rodrigo Boemo , Stirbulov Roberto , Alves Vera Lúcia dos Santos
Published: July 2018

Background: Although the progressive nature of pulmonary hypertension (PH), including the impairment of respiratory muscle function, studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of physical exercise on the functional limitations caused by the disease in this population, being an important ally to the conventional drug therapy. There is no training protocol focused exclusively on respiratory musculature that is performed without supervision, since these patients have low adherence to the rehabilitation programs performed in an outpatient setting. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) improves functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic diseases such as heart failure and COPD. However, the effects of an unsupervised RMT protocol on PH are not yet known. Objective: To developed an unsupervised, home-based RMT protocol for patients with PH. Methods: A double-blind, controlled, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of this protocol on respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional capacity, by the six-minute walk test and QoL with the questionnaire The Medical Outcomes Study 36- item Short Form Health Survey (Sf-36) before and after an unsupervised training protocol and performed in a home environment with POWERbreathe. Two groups (IMT and SHAM) will be followed for 12 weeks with training performed 30 minutes daily. Results: We hope the intervention idealized by the protocol may will increase the respiratory muscle strength and endurance, the walk distance in six-minute walk test and QoL. Conclusions: Patients with PH who perform the intervention with inspiratory muscle training protocol may will be increase the respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity and QoL.
PAZAR ODAKLILIĞIN İŞLETME PERFORMANSINA ETKİSİ: TÜRKİYE’DE FAALİYET GÖSTEREN KATILIM BANKALARI ÜZERİNDE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: Şahin Ahmet , Aytekin Mehmet
Published: July 2018

Bu
çalışmada pazar odaklılığın işletme performansı üzerindeki etkisi
incelenmiştir. Pazar odaklılık uygulamaları, işletmenin günlük faaliyetlerini
yerine getirirken müşterilerin beklenti ve ihtiyaçlarını en kısa zamanda
karşılayacak stratejilerin tespit edilmesi, uygulanması ve belirlenen bu
stratejilerin işletmedeki tüm çalışanlar tarafından benimsenmesi ile ilgilidir.
Böylece, pazar odaklılık sayesinde eldeki müşterilerin istek ve ihtiyaçlarını
rakiplerden daha hızlı bir şekilde karşılamaya yönelik işletme faaliyetlerinin
neler olabileceğinin tespit edilmesi hedeflenmektedir. Pazardaki müşterilerin
istek ve ihtiyaçlarına cevap verebilecek kurumsal hamleler, işletme
performansının hem niteliksel hem de niceliksel olarak artmasına sebep
olacaktır. Bu kapsamda pazar odaklılığın alt boyutlarından olan müşteri
odaklılık, rakip odaklılık ve departmanlar arası koordinasyonun, işletme
performansı ile birlikte işletme performansının alt boyutları olarak ele alınan
yenilik performansı, finansal performans ve finansal olmayan performans
üzerindeki etkileri analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma, Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren
katılım bankaları üzerinde yapılmıştır. Anket yoluyla toplanan veriler faktör,
güvenilirlik ve regresyon gibi çeşitli analizlere tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırma
sonucunda, pazar odaklılığın işletme performansı üzerinde pozitif yönlü ve
anlamlı bir etkisi olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
¿Cristo o diablo?: la contradictoria dualidad simbólica del león en el episodio de Daniel en el foso en la escultura románica
Authors: Olañeta Molina Juan Antonio
Published: July 2018

El león es un animal al que el hombre le ha atribuido múltiples sentidos, en ocasiones contradictorios. Se ha asociado a la imagen de Cristo, así como a la del diablo; a la idea de muerte, pero también a la de Resurrección. En el episodio de Daniel en el foso de los leones en el románico esta polivalencia simbólica alcanza su mayor nivel de desarrollo pues, frente a la habitual relación unívoca entre significante y significado, se produce la paradoja de que en una misma escena los leones asumen un significado ambivalente y contradictorio al representar al mismo tiempo a Cristo y al diablo. En este estudio se profundiza en esta lectura ambivalente y simultanea, la cual se trata de explicar desde la perspectiva de la lectura tipológica de las Escrituras.
Algunas muestras de la variada imaginería hispánica del siglo XVI
Authors: Moya  Valgañón José G.
Published: July 2018

Se dan a conocer cuatro tablas que se atribuyen a Pedro de Aponte, Alonso Berruguete, Tomás Peliguet y Rolan Moys y un relieve de Guyot de Beaugrant y se alude a otra de Pablo Schepers. Todas del siglo XVI, inéditas prácticamente.
Los antiguos cafés de Zaragoza en el siglo XIX
Authors: Vázquez Astorga Mónica
Published: July 2018

En este texto nos proponemos un recorrido, dentro del contexto de la época, por los antiguos cafés con los que contó la ciudad de Zaragoza a lo largo del siglo XIX. Interesa especialmente analizar su evolución y características desde finales del siglo XVIII (cuando comienzan a conformarse como espacios de reunión y entretenimiento) hasta el año 1902 (cuando se cierra su edad de oro y se halla plenamente establecido el café lujoso y fastuoso como lugar preferente de la sociedad burguesa). Estos establecimientos públicos vinieron a enriquecer la oferta de ocio en la ciudad y muchos de ellos desempeñaron hasta su desaparición en el siglo XX un papel relevante como espacios de encuentro social y de celebración de tertulias.
Blasfemia y expiación pública: la oralidad de la exclusión social (siglos XV y XVII)
Authors: Gelabertó Vilagran Martí
Published: July 2018

A través del estudio de diversas fuentes civiles y religiosas elaboradas en el transcurso de los siglos XV al XVII (legislación real y religiosa, literatura teológica y de reforma moral...) analizamos la función de las ceremonias publicas de expiación contra blasfemias y juramentos en el marco geográfico peninsular con especial incidencia en Cataluña. Celebraciones expiativas convertidas a veces en instrumento principal para exorcizar los males de una sociedad atenazada por el miedo ante un futuro incierto, frente a la incapacidad de los poderes temporal y espiritual en resolver situaciones de crisis política o social extremas.
Filosofía de la historia e historia de la filosofía en la obra de Ramón Xirau
Authors: Dalla Mora Roberto
Published: July 2018

La obra de Ramón Xirau, autor perteneciente a la segunda generación de exiliados españoles de 1939, ha marcado profundamente la historia del pensamiento en lengua española de la segunda mitad del siglo XX, sobre todo en el contexto iberoamericano y mexicano. Particularmente influyentes han sido sus estudios de carácter histórico-filosófico, que han acompañado a más de dos generaciones de autores latinoamericanos en el estudio de la filosofía. Este trabajo se propone poner de relieve los elementos mas característicos del enfoque metodológico adoptado por Ramón Xirau en sus trabajos historico-filosóficos, haciendo hincapié sobre la relación que mantienen con su original concepción de la filosofía de la historia.
Avaliação microbiológica e físico-química de um s istema experimental de tratamento de resíduos sólidos de hortaliças
Authors: Da Silva Rosa Rodrigues , Farezin Evelyne Cazarotto , Soto Francisco Rafael Martins
Published: July 2018

Este trabalho teve por objetivo a avaliação microbiológica e físico-química de um sistema experimental de tratamento de resíduos sólidos de hortaliças. Foi realizado durante 32 dias e constituído por: pré-compostagem, biodigestor, decantador e lagoas de estabilização. Adicionou-se de forma semicontínua 140 litros de resíduos sólidos de hortaliças. As coletas para as análises microbiológicas e físico-químicas ocorreram nos dias zero, sete, 14, 21, 28 e 32. Amostras foram coletadas na pré-compostagem; biodigestor; decantador e nas lagoas de estabilização. As análises bacteriológicas versaram a pesquisa de coliformes totais e termotolerantes. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros físico-químicos: temperatura, pH, sólidos totais, demanda química de oxigênio, nitrogênio e fósforo. Os resultados revelaram que foram detectadas pequenas mudanças na temperatura em cadafase do sistema com ampla variação dos valores de pH em todas as etapas, com resultados variando de acidez a alcalinidade. A biodigestão anaeróbia foi importante para a redução de sólidos totais, demanda química de oxigênio e nitrogênio. A pré-compostagem foi capaz de reduzir 98,55 % dos coliformes totais e nas etapas seguintes houve elevação deste valor, com valores próximos a 100 %. Houve eliminação de 100 % dos coliformes termotolerantes no biodigestor.
Developing relationality and student belonging: The need for building cosmopolitan engagement in undergraduate communities
Authors: Bamford Jan , Pollard Lucie
Published: July 2018

This paper addresses evidence that developing a sense of belonging for students from different ethnic groups impacts on their engagement. It notes previous findings that in universities habits of coexistence may present barriers to the development of relationships and the sense of student
belonging. The paper proposes that cosmopolitan engagement offers a frame for considering the experience of cultural difference in the classroom. It stresses the importance of relationality and communication. The research, involving students undertaking business and science programmes in two
culturally similar universities, has sought to develop a better understanding of how students in London engage with higher education, with their learning and with cultural others, and the impact on their learning of differing communication patterns. The study finds that students often feel
distant from their tutors and afraid to ask for further explanation. Instead, they rely on a circle of friends to provide support and clarification. Students have identified the development of agency through engaging with others from different cultures. Engagement in practical collective tasks
such as forensic lab work seems to have the potential to encourage communication across cultures, but observation have suggested that students tend to self-segregate. The article concludes that there cannot be a presumption of cosmopolitan engagement. Rather universities need to develop strategies
for improving communication between students and staff and between students of different cultural backgrounds.
Mobility and language learning: A case study on the use of an online platform to learn Chinese as a foreign language
Authors: Ho Wing Yee (Jenifer)
Published: July 2018

Mobile technologies and mobile learners have transformed the way people learn languages. In particular, they give rise to a new form of language learning: the use of online language learning platforms, a kind of virtual learning environment that offers learning opportunities that are
mobile, social and multimodal (Jones and Hafner, 2012; Richards, 2015). While existing research has tended to focus either on the benefits of using mobile technologies in the teaching and learning of languages or on how mobile learners, who have different linguistic and cultural backgrounds,
harness the benefits of technologies to learn new languages, few studies address both perspectives. This paper reports on a study of self-directed language learning in online platforms. In particular, I explore how mobile technologies such as online language learning platforms shape the learning
practices of mobile learners, and how mobile learners take advantage of the affordances of these online platforms to achieve their learning goals, in the context of learning Chinese as a foreign language. Through in-depth analyses of two case studies, I argue that while mobile technologies
seem to encourage a clear distinction between online and offline learning, in reality the boundary is less clear-cut as mobile learners bring with them a set of offline learning practices from their own experiences to the online environment. A more critical view therefore has to be taken when
researching online and offline learning practices.
The rise of the far right in Japan, and challenges posed for education
Authors: Kitayama Yuka
Published: July 2018

This paper examines emerging far-right movements and xenophobia, and the challenges they pose for justice in education in Japan. It illustrates discourses on nationalism and cultural diversity in both education and wider society from the perspective of critical race theory. It explores
the voice of educators, particularly about their concerns and uncertainties regarding xenophobia, and examines their perceptions and reactions. By focusing on the narratives of interviewees from different ethnic backgrounds, this paper investigates far-right extremism and its challenges to
education from different viewpoints. Data from interviews reveals different perceptions among both majority and minority teachers regarding the culturalization and personalization of problems in the classroom. This data also suggests that due to the absence of collective strategies and visions
to challenge racism, approaches to combating racism depend largely on individual teachers. Drawing from these findings, this paper argues that culturally focused discourses among teachers and politicians may conceal problems beyond culture, such as structural inequality and the legacy of colonialism.
Educating Hispanic Women about Cervical Cancer Prevention: Feasibility of a Promotora-Led Charla Intervention in a Farmworker Community
Authors: Fleming Khaliah , Simmons Vani N. , Christy Shannon M. , Sutton Steven K. , Romo Margarita , Luque John S. , Wells Kristen J. , Gwede Clement K. , Meade Cathy D.
Published: July 2018

Hispanic women suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer incidence and mortal­ity compared with non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Peer-led health education and coaching via charlas (talking circles) may improve cervical cancer screening and early detection rates among specific sub-groups such as farmworker communities. This pilot study sought to collect preliminary evaluation data about the feasibility of implementing a promotora-led cervical can­cer education intervention among women from a farmworker community. The study took place between April 2014 and Novem­ber 2014. Created based on an established network (Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network, TBCCN), in partnership with a local farmworker organization (Farmwork­ers Self-Help, Inc.), the project entailed refinement of a curriculum guide including Spanish-language educational resources (teaching cards). Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model provided the conceptual framework for the study. Six women from the farmworker community helped to refine the intervention and were trained as promotoras. They successfully de­livered the program via charlas to a total of 60 participants who completed baseline and post-intervention measures on knowledge (cervical cancer/HPV), beliefs, self-efficacy, and intentions. Findings demonstrated gains in knowledge and self-efficacy among charla participants (P<.0001), and support the promise of a community-driven intervention that is delivered by promotoras who use their cultural knowledge and trustworthiness to educate women about cancer screening practices. Results also add to the literature on the use of a charla approach for cancer prevention education within a farmworker community to prompt discussions about health. Future research should evaluate peer-led programs on a larger scale and among other at-risk groups in other commu­nity settings.

Ethn Dis.2018;28(3):169-176; doi:10.18865/ed.28.3.169.
Particularites Diagnostiques Et Pronostiques De La Dissection Aortique Au Cnhu-Hkm De Cotonou, Benin : A Propos De 6 Cas En 2017
Authors: Mahouna Adjagba Philippe , Rosaire Bognon , Arnaud Sonou , Murielle Hounkponou , Ingrid Djoh , Salimatou Assani Moutaïrou , Tchabi Yessoufou , Dèdonougbo Houénassi Martin
Published: July 2018

Aortic dissection (DA) defined by longitudinal cleavage of the aortic wall, at the level of the media from an intimal breach, is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. Out of a total of 467 hospitalized patients, we reported 6 cases of aortic dissection (DA) observed at CNHU-HKM, Cotonou, in 2017. The patients were 53.33 years old (33-65 years old), and they comprised of 4 women and 2 men. Hypertension was present in 5 patients. Chest pain, the most common telltale sign, was found in 5 patients but typical only in 2 cases. Three (3) patients had severe hypertension when they were admitted, and 2 had a differential arterial pressure of at least 20 mmHg between the arms. The breath of aortic insufficiency was present in 4 patients. Chest X-ray has contributed to the diagnosis in the 4 cases where it was prescribed. Cardiac Döppler ultrasonography was perfomed in 5 patients, while the ECG gave no contribution to the diagnosis. The diagnostic confirmation was made by the aortic CT scan in all patients and the AD was type A in 5 cases and type B in 1 case according to the Stanford classification. All patients received medical treatment and only 1 patient received both medical treatment and surgery. The outcome was fatal in 5 patients: death of the patient with type B dissection and 4 deaths out of 5 for type A.
Caracterisation Sedimentologique Et Mineralogique Des Formations Tertiares Du Bassin Onshore De La Region D’abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Authors: N’zi Jean Claude , Toure Mamadou , Yao N’goran Jean-Paul , Kouassi Rachelle Affouet , Digbehi Zeli Bruno , Aka Kouamé
Published: July 2018

Analyzes carried out on 262 cuttings samples from two boreholes located in the coastal sedimentary basin of Abidjan (south-west of the lagoon fault) were aimed at the paleoenvironmental determination of tertiary-age deposits. Indeed, these sedimentological analyses allowed the characterization of the lithological nature of the formations encountered by AB and BM drilling. They also helped to determine the origin of the sedimented material as well as the hydrodynamic conditions that governed the placement of the various deposits. Moreover, the deposits medium of the studied formations was revealed. The formations consist of an alternation of sands and sandy clays in the AB drilling and essentially glauconous clays for BM drilling. In the clay intervals, there is a weak presence of calcium carbonates on the whole of the two boreholes. The sands analyzed are of different granulometric grades (very coarse, coarse, medium and fine) according to the intervals. This, therefore, shows the different variations in the energy of the current that transported the sediment. From a facies point of view, the granulometric facies is dominant in the study area, indicating the variation in watercourse competence during sedimentation. Mostly sub-angular to sub-rounded quartz grains suggest a relatively distal proving source while their shiny blunted appearance evokes an aquatic environment. The sediments of these wells are therefore sands of fluviatile origin, deposited in a shallow marine environment.
Mortalite A La Phase Aiguë De L’avc Hemorragique Sous Notre Protocole De Baisse De La Tension Arterielle A l’Hopital Universitaire (HU) Befelatanana Antananarivo
Authors: Andriamasinavalona Rajaonarison Lala , Finiavana Rasaholiarison Nomena , Santatra Razafindrasata Ratsitohara , Julien Razafimahefa , Noël Zodaly , Djacoba Tehindrazanarivelo Alain
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Hemorrhagic stroke can be seen in 90% of cases with high blood pressure. It is a predictor of intra-hospital mortality. Our goal is to compare the mortality rate based on admission under our therapeutic strategy for HTA in the acute phase of stroke. Method: A retrospective descriptive, cross-sectional study of consecutive patients was conducted over a 12-month period during the year 2017. Results: We had 20% (3/15) mortality rate in acute phase in those with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in admission at ≥ 180 mmHg (group II) and no death (0/17) was recorded in the those with SBP in admission at 140-179mmHg (group I). A SBP at the 7th day (D7) less than 140 mmHg was not rich in those two groups: 35.29 % in group I (n=6) and 46.66 % in group II (n=7) respectively. The sex ratio was 1. High blood pressure remains the main cardio-vascular risk factor reported in our study (81.21%). All our patients had Glasgow scale value between 13-15 and only the NIHSS value > 10 was associated with high blood pressure in acute phase (p=0.0131). Brain CT Scan was realised in majority of cases at the second day (D2) of stroke (n=16). This, however, is with localisation preference in the basal ganglia, with intra-cerebral hemmorhage (ICH) scale at 1 in 65.62% (n=21) of cases. Conclusion: Intra-hospital mortality in acute phase of hemorrhagic stroke remains high. Instauration of stroke field in Madagascar is necessary and this gives the Befelatanana University Hospital a Neuro- Vascular Intensive Care Unit too.
The Lived Experiences of Fibromyalgia in Taiwanese Women
Authors: Whei-Mei Shih , Lee-Ing Tsao , Hsiu-Chin Hsu , Pin-Ru Hsiao
Published: July 2018

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and associated symptoms. It affects people physically, mentally, and socially. The aim of this study was to explore the life experience of women with fibromyalgia in order to gain knowledge which can contribute to increased quality of healthcare. In-depth interviews were used to collect information from nineteen Taiwanese women who were diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Data were analyzed using the content analysis approach. Data analysis revealed four categories: life torture by physical suffering, torment of the mind, treatment seeking, and facing an incurable and unknown illness alone. Each category was described in terms of its properties and subcategories. This article provides information to fibromyalgia patients who suffer from severe chronic pain and related discomforts. Recommendations focus on helping women with fibromyalgia achieve or maintain integrity especially in the conservative oriental people. It is beneficial for both health care professionals and patients.