bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stakeholder Engagement in Developing an Electronic Clinical Support Tool for Tobacco Prevention in Adolescent Primary Care
Authors: Salloum Ramzi G. , Theis Ryan P. , Pbert Lori , Gurka Matthew J. , Porter Maribeth , Lee Diana , Shenkman Elizabeth A. , Thompson Lindsay A.
Published: December 2018

Following guideline recommendations to promote tobacco prevention in adolescent primary care, we developed a patient-facing clinical support tool. The electronic tool screens patients for use and susceptibility to conventional and alternative tobacco products, and promotes patient–provider communication. The purpose of this paper is to describe the iterative stakeholder engagement process used in the development of the tool. During the pre-testing phase, we consulted with scientists, methodologists, clinicians, and Citizen Scientists. Throughout the development phase, we engaged providers from three clinics in focus groups. Usability testing was conducted via in-depth, cognitive interviewing of adolescent patients. Citizen Scientists (n = 7) played a critical role in the final selection of educational content and interviewer training by participating in mock-up patient interviews. Cognitive interviews with patients (n = 16) ensured that systems were in place for the feasibility trial and assessed ease of navigation. Focus group participants (n = 24) offered recommendations for integrating the tool into clinical workflow and input on acceptability and appropriateness, and anticipated barriers and facilitators for adoption and feasibility. Engaging key stakeholders to discuss implementation outcomes throughout the implementation process can improve the quality, applicability, and relevance of the research, and enhance implementation success.
TEM Microstructural Evolution and Formation Mechanism of Reaction Layer for 22MnB5 Steel Hot-Dipped in Al–10% Si
Authors: Shin Dongik , Lee Jeong-Yong , Heo Hoejun , Kang Chung-Yun
Published: December 2018

Microstructural evolution and formation mechanism of reaction layer for 22MnB5 steel hot-dipped in Al–10Si (in wt %) alloy was investigated. The microstructural identification of the reaction layer was characterized via transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. In addition, the formation mechanisms of the phases were discussed with vertical section (isopleth) of the (Al–Si–Fe) ternary system. The solidified Al–Si coating layer consisted of three phases of Al, Si, and τ5 (Al8Fe2Si). The reaction layer on the Al–Si coating layer side is a fine τ5 phase (Al8Fe2Si) of 5 μm thickness. The layer on the steel side consisted of an η phase (Fe2Al5) of thickness of 500 nm or less. τ1 (Al2Fe3Si3, triclinic) phase of 200-nm-thickness was formed in the η phase, and κ phase (Fe3AlC) of 40–50 nm thickness was formed between η phase and steel. The τ5 phase was formed by isothermal solidification at 690 °C in the liquid Al–10 wt % Si when 3.73–29.0 wt % of Fe was dissolved from the boron steel into the Al–Si liquid bath. It was considered that the η phase was formed by the diffusion reaction of Al, Si, and Fe between τ5 and ferrite steel. κ (Fe3AlC) phase was formed by the reaction of the carbon, which is barely employed in η and τ phases, and diffused Al.
Effect and Characterization of Stone–Wales Defects on Graphene Quantum Dot: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Chakraborti (Banerjee) Gargi , Bandyopadhyay Arka , Jana Debnarayan
Published: December 2018

A first principles based density functional theory (DFT) has been employed to identify the signature of Stone–Wales (SW) defects in semiconducting graphene quantum dot (GQD). Results show that the G mode in the Raman spectra of GQD has been red shifted to 1544.21 cm − 1 in the presence of 2.08% SW defect concentration. In addition, the intensity ratio between a robust low intense contraction–elongation mode and G mode is found to be reduced for the defected structure. We have also observed a Raman mode at 1674.04 cm − 1 due to the solo contribution of the defected bond. The increase in defect concentration, however, reduces the stability of the structures. As a consequence, the systems undergo structural buckling due to the presence of SW defect generated additional stresses. We have further explored that the 1615.45 cm − 1 Raman mode and 1619.29 cm − 1 infra-red mode are due to the collective stretching of two distinct SW defects separated at a distance 7.98 Å. Therefore, this is the smallest separation between the SW defects for their distinct existence. The pristine structure possesses maximum electrical conductivity and the same reduces to 0.37 times for 2.08% SW defect. On the other hand, the work function is reduced in the presence of defects except for the structure with SW defects separated at 7.98 Å. All these results will serve as an important reference to facilitate the potential applications of GQD based nano-devices with inherent topological SW defects.
Structural, Mechanical, and Dynamical Properties of Amorphous Li2CO3 from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Ebrahiminia Mahsa , Hooper Justin B. , Bedrov Dmitry
Published: December 2018

Structural, mechanical, and transport properties of amorphous Li2CO3 were studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a hybrid MD-Monte Carlo (MC) scheme. A many-body polarizable force field (APPLE&P) was employed in all simulations. Dynamic and mechanical properties of Dilithium carbonate, Li2CO3, in amorphous liquid and glassy phases were calculated over a wide temperature range. At higher temperatures, both anion and cation diffusion coefficients showed similar temperature dependence. However, below the glass transition temperature (T < 450 K) the anions formed a glassy matrix, while Li+ continued to be mobile, showing decoupling of cation and anion diffusion. The conductivity of Li+ at room temperature was estimated to be on the order of 10−6 S/cm. Mechanical analysis revealed that at room temperature the amorphous phase had a shear modulus of about 8 GPa, which was high enough to suppress Li metal dendrite growth on an electrode surface.
Variant Selection in Fe-20Ni-1.8C under Bending
Authors: Baur Annick P. , Cayron Cyril , Logé Roland E.
Published: December 2018

Variant selection is commonly observed in martensitic steels when a stress is applied to the material during transformation. Classically, the selection phenomenon is modelled considering the work of the shape strain in the applied stress field. This shape strain is generally calculated by using the Phenomenological Theory of the Martensite Crystallography (PTMC). In the present study, we studied the martensitic transformation occurring in a Fe-20wt%Ni-1.8wt%C alloy transformed while loaded in four-point bending. A significant variant selection is observed, but surprisingly its nature cannot be explained by the classical approach. A crystallography-based empirical model which accounts for the experimental results is proposed instead.
Passive Vector Sensing for Non-Cooperative Emitter Localization in Indoor Environments
Authors: Hall Donald L. , Narayanan Ram M. , Lenzing Erik H. , Jenkins David M.
Published: December 2018

Indoor emitter localization is a topic of continued interest for improving wireless security as wireless technologies continue to become more advanced. Conventional methods have focused on the localization of devices relative to multi-sensor systems owing to ease of implementation with pre-existing infrastructures. This work, however, focuses on enhancing wireless security via non-cooperative emitter localization in scenarios where only a single receiver can be employed. A vector sensor is simulated and experimentally developed that extracts three-dimensional signal characteristics for room-based emitter localization and is compared to conventional methodologies such as Received Signal Strength (RSS), Time of Arrival (ToA), and Direction of Arrival (DoA). The proposed method generates time-frequency fingerprints and extracts features through dimensionality reduction. A second stage extracts spatial parameters consisting of Channel State Information (CSI) and DoAs that are analyzed using a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to segregate fine-grained regions of interest within each room where the non-cooperative emitter resides. Blind channel equalization cascaded with a least squares channel estimate is used for acquiring the CSI, whereas the DoAs are obtained by unique trigonometric properties of the vector sensing antenna. The results demonstrate that a vector sensor can improve non-cooperative emitter localization and enhance wireless security in indoor environments.
An Image Recognition-Based Approach to Actin Cytoskeleton Quantification
Authors: Liu Yi , Mollaeian Keyvan , Ren Juan
Published: December 2018

Quantification of the actin cytoskeleton is of prime importance to unveil the cellular force sensing and transduction mechanism. Although fluorescence imaging provides a convenient tool for observing the morphology of the actin cytoskeleton, due to the lack of approaches to accurate actin cytoskeleton quantification, the dynamics of mechanotransduction is still poorly understood. Currently, the existing image-based actin cytoskeleton analysis tools are either incapable of quantifying both the orientation and the quantity of the actin cytoskeleton simultaneously or the quantified results are subject to analysis artifacts. In this study, we propose an image recognition-based actin cytoskeleton quantification (IRAQ) approach, which quantifies both the actin cytoskeleton orientation and quantity by using edge, line, and brightness detection algorithms. The actin cytoskeleton is quantified through three parameters: the partial actin-cytoskeletal deviation (PAD), the total actin-cytoskeletal deviation (TAD), and the average actin-cytoskeletal intensity (AAI). First, Canny and Sobel edge detectors are applied to skeletonize the actin cytoskeleton images, then PAD and TAD are quantified using the line directions detected by Hough transform, and AAI is calculated through the summational brightness over the detected cell area. To verify the quantification accuracy, the proposed IRAQ was applied to six artificially-generated actin cytoskeleton mesh work models. The average error for both the quantified PAD and TAD was less than 1.22 ∘ . Then, IRAQ was implemented to quantify the actin cytoskeleton of NIH/3T3 cells treated with an F-actin inhibitor (latrunculin B). The quantification results suggest that the local and total actin-cytoskeletal organization became more disordered with the increase of latrunculin B dosage, and the quantity of the actin cytoskeleton showed a monotonically decreasing relation with latrunculin B dosage.
An Energy-Efficient Fail Recovery Routing in TDMA MAC Protocol-Based Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Urmonov Odilbek , Kim HyungWon
Published: December 2018

Conventional IoT applications rely on seamless data collection from the distributed sensor nodes of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The energy supplied to the sensor node is limited and it depletes after each cycle of data collection. Therefore, data flow from the network to the base station may cease at any time due to the nodes with a dead battery. A replacement of the battery in WSNs is often challenging and requires additional efforts. To ensure the robust operation of WSNs, many fault recovery routing mechanisms have been proposed. Most of the previous fault recovery routing methods incur considerable delays in recovery and high overhead in either energy consumption or device cost. We propose an energy-efficient fail recovery routing method that is aimed to operate over a data aggregation network topology using a TDMA media access control (MAC). This paper introduces a novel fault recovery routing algorithm for TDMA-based WSNs. It finds an optimal neighbor backup parent (NBP) for each node in a way that reduces the energy consumption. The proposed method allows the NBPs to utilize the time slot of the faulty parent nodes, so it eliminates the overhead of TDMA rescheduling for NBPs. To evaluate the fault recovery performance and energy efficiency of the proposed method, we implemented it in C++ simulation program. Simulation experiments with an extensive set of network examples demonstrate that the proposed method can extend the network lifetime by 21% and reduce the energy consumption by 23% compared with the reference methods.
Solution-Processable ZnO Thin Film Memristive Device for Resistive Random Access Memory Application
Authors: Patil Swapnil R. , Chougale Mahesh Y. , Rane Tushar D. , Khot Sagar S. , Patil Akshay A. , Bagal Ojus S. , Jadhav Sagar D. , Sheikh Arif D. , Kim Sungjun , Dongale Tukaram D.
Published: December 2018

The memristive device is a fourth fundamental circuit element with inherent memory, nonlinearity, and passivity properties. Herein, we report on a cost-effective and rapidly produced ZnO thin film memristive device using the doctor blade method. The active layer of the developed device (ZnO) was composed of compact microrods. Furthermore, ZnO microrods were well spread horizontally and covered the entire surface of the fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that the synthesized ZnO was oriented along the c-axis and possessed a hexagonal crystal structure. The device showed bipolar resistive switching characteristics and required a very low resistive switching voltage (±0.8 V) for its operation. Two distinct and well-resolved resistance states with a remarkable 103 memory window were achieved at 0.2-V read voltage. The developed device switched successfully in consecutive 102 switching cycles and was stable over 102 seconds without any observable degradation in the resistive switching states. In addition to this, the charge–magnetic flux curve was observed to be a single-valued function at a higher magnitude of the flux and became double valued at a lower magnitude of the flux. The conduction mechanism of the ZnO thin film memristive device followed the space charge limited current, and resistive switching was due to the filamentary resistive switching effect.
An Adaptive Approach for Voltage Sag Automatic Segmentation
Authors: Xiao Xianyong , Hu Wenxi , Zhang Huaying , Ai Jingwen , Zheng Zixuan
Published: December 2018

Voltage sag characterization is essential for extracting information about a sag event’s origin and how sag events impact sensitive equipment. In response to such needs, more characteristics are required, such as the phase-angle jump, point-on-wave, unbalance, and sag type. However, the absence of an effective automatic segmentation method is a barrier to obtaining these characteristics. In this paper, an automatic segmentation method is proposed to improve this situation. Firstly, an extended voltage sag characterization method is described, in which segmentation plays an important role. Then, a multi-resolution singular value decomposition method is introduced to detect the boundaries of each segment. Further, the unsolved problem of how to set a threshold adaptively for different waveforms is addressed, in which the sag depth, the mean square error, and the entropy of the sag waveform are considered. Simulation data and field measurements are utilized to validate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method. The results show that the accuracies of both boundary detection and segmentation obtained using the proposed method are higher than those obtained using existing methods. In general, the proposed method can be implemented into a power quality monitoring system as a preprocess to support related research activities.
The Effect of Cold Treatment of Parboiled Rice with Lowered Glycaemic Potency on Consumer Liking and Acceptability
Authors: Lu Louise Weiwei , Monro John , Lu Jun , Rush Elaine
Published: December 2018

A significant reduction in rice starch digestibility and subsequent postprandial blood glucose responses following extended cold treatment (at 4 °C for 24 h) have been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively. The impact of cold treatment was more significant for parboiled rice compared to other rice varieties. This study aimed to investigate consumer liking of sensory characteristics that may influence consumer acceptability of three available rice products in the Auckland region (medium grain white, medium grain brown and parboiled rice, which were either freshly boiled or cold-treated and reheated). The consumer liking of sensory characteristics (colour, taste, flavour, and texture) of each rice sample were accessed using visual analogue scales (VAS) in a randomized single blind setting. In the second stage, the participants evaluated their acceptability on VAS after the nutritional value and the characteristics of the rice samples were revealed. Sixty-four rice consumers reported higher likings of sensory characteristics of cold-treated parboiled rice and medium grain brown rice. The effect of cold treatment on the liking of sensory characteristics was more significant for parboiled rice (p < 0.05). Participants who are between 36 and 55 years old and consume rice domestically more than 10 times per month preferred cold-treated brown rice (73.8% of the participants’ population (67.4%, 80.2%)) and parboiled rice (74.3% of the participants’ population (67.9%, 80.7%)) (p < 0.001). As a result, cold-treated reheated parboiled rice received higher likings and acceptability and could be recommended and accepted as a healthier replacement of the daily staple meal.
Thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich Effect in the IGM due to Primordial Magnetic Fields
Authors: Minoda Teppei , Hasegawa Kenji , Tashiro Hiroyuki , Ichiki Kiyotomo , Sugiyama Naoshi
Published: December 2018

In the present universe, magnetic fields exist with various strengths and on various scales. One possible origin of these cosmic magnetic fields is the primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) generated in the early universe. PMFs are considered to contribute to matter density evolution via Lorentz force and the thermal history of intergalactic medium (IGM) gas due to ambipolar diffusion. Therefore, information about PMFs should be included in the temperature anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background through the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (tSZ) effect in IGM. In this article, given an initial power spectrum of PMFs, we show the spatial fluctuation of mass density and temperature of the IGM and tSZ angular power spectrum created by the PMFs. Finally, we find that the tSZ angular power spectrum induced by PMFs becomes significant on small scales, even with PMFs below the observational upper limit. Therefore, we conclude that the measurement of tSZ anisotropy on small scales will provide the most stringent constraint on PMFs.
Time-Space Characterization of Wellbore-Cement Alteration by CO2-Rich Brine
Authors: Garcia-Rios Maria , Gouze Philippe
Published: December 2018

The risk of CO2 leakage from damaged wellbore is identified as a critical issue for the feasibility and environmental acceptance of CO2 underground storage. For instance, Portland cement can be altered if flow of CO2-rich water occurs in hydraulic discontinuities such as cement-tubing or cement-caprock interfaces. In this case, the raw cement matrix is altered by diffusion of the solutes. This fact leads to the formation of distinctive alteration fronts indicating the dissolution of portlandite, the formation of a carbonate-rich layer and the decalcification of the calcium silicate hydrate, controlled by the interplay between the reaction kinetics, the diffusion-controlled renewing of the reactants and products, and the changes in the diffusion properties caused by the changes in porosity induced by the dissolution and precipitation mechanisms. In principle, these mass transfers can be easily simulated using diffusion-reaction numerical models. However, the large uncertainties of the parameters characterizing the reaction rates (mainly the kinetic and thermodynamic coefficients and the evolving reactive surface area) and of the porosity-dependent diffusion properties prevent making reliable predictions required for risk assessment. In this paper, we present the results of a set of experiments consisting in the alteration of a holed disk of class-G cement in contact with a CO2-rich brine at reservoir conditions (P = 12 MPa and T = 60 °C) for various durations. This new experimental protocol allows producing time-resolved data for both the spatially distributed mass transfers inside the cement body and the total mass transfers inferred from the boundary conditions mass balance. The experimental results are used to study the effect of the fluid salinity and the pCO2 on the overall reaction efficiency. Experiments at high salinity triggers more portlandite dissolution, thinner carbonate layers, and larger alteration areas than those at low salinity. These features are accompanied with different spatial distribution of the alteration layers resulting from a complex interplay between salinity-controlled dissolution and precipitation mechanisms. Conversely, the effect of the pCO2 is more intuitive: Increasing pCO2 results in increasing the overall alteration rate without modifying the relative distribution of the reaction fronts.
The Application of Freely-Available Satellite Imagery for Informing and Complementing Archaeological Fieldwork in the “Black Desert” of North-Eastern Jordan
Authors: Smith Stefan L. , Chambrade Marie-Laure
Published: December 2018

Recent developments in the availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery through platforms like GoogleEarth (Google, Santa Clara County, CA, USA) and Bing Maps (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) have greatly opened up the possibilities of their use by researchers. This paper focusses on the exclusive use of free remote sensing data by the Western Harra Survey (WHS), an archaeological project investigating the arid “Black Desert” of north-eastern Jordan, a largely impenetrable landscape densely strewn with basalt blocks. The systematic analysis of such data by conducting a holistic satellite survey prior to the commencement of fieldwork allowed for the precise planning of ground surveys, with advanced knowledge of which sites were vehicle-accessible and how to efficiently visit a stratified sample of different site types. By subsequently correlating the obtained ground data with this analysis, it was possible to create a typological seriation of the site forms known as “wheels”, determine that at least two-thirds of sites are within 500 m of valleys or mudflats (highlighting these features’ roles as access routes and resource clusters) and identify numerous anthropogenic paths cleared through the basalt for site access and long-distance travel. These results offer new insights into this underrepresented region and allow for supra-regional comparisons with better investigated areas by a method that is rapid and cost-effective.
Landscape Dynamics in the Caspian Lowlands Since the Last Deglaciation Reconstructed From the Pedosedimentary Sequence of Srednaya Akhtuba, Southern Russia
Authors: Lebedeva Marina , Makeev Alexander , Rusakov Alexey , Romanis Tatiana , Yanina Tamara , Kurbanov Redzhep , Kust Pavel , Varlamov Evgeniy
Published: December 2018

Surface Kastanozem of the Lower Volga area was first studied as a part of the pedocomplex, with the lower part (148–160 cm) formed in Early Khvalynian Chocolate clays (13–15 ka), the middle part (100–148 cm) in a mixed clay-loess sediment sand, and the upper part (0–100 cm) in loess. This resulted from local aeolian transport, with the source material derived from the rewinding of marine sediments. They are enriched in aggregates of Chocolate clays and glauconitic grains of a fine sand-course silt size and have similar contents of clay minerals. The high salinity of similar types evidences marine genesis for both Chocolate clays and source material for loess sediments. Clay fragments of a sand and silt size are responsible for the heavy texture and high gypsum content of loess. The study of soils with the focus on micromorphology and clay mineralogy allows the identification of the complex character of a shift from marine to sub-areal sedimentation. This shift was accompanied by short breaks in sedimentation, allowing the development of synlithogenic soil horizons of Late Khvalynian, after-Khvanynian, and Boreal time. The features of shallowly buried soil horizons confirm increased aridity after the last deglaciation. Surface Calcic Kastanozem is a full Holocene soil reflecting the present environment. However, it is deeply influenced by shallow buried soil horizons and Chocolate clays.
Geochemical Equilibrium and Processes in Seawater
Authors: Fiket Željka , Kniewald Goran
Published: December 2018

The geochemical equilibrium in seawater must be observed taking into account the chemical and geological, as well as biological, processes. The concept of equilibrium takes into account the composition of the system and the kinetics of the reactions taking place therein. In coastal waters, nutrients and trace elements can be delivered not only through rivers but also through atmospheric input and submarine groundwater discharges. In addition to natural sources, levels of different elements can also be influenced by growing and diverse human activities along coasts. Consequently, the pathways and fate of different environmental chemicals in coastal areas are governed by various factors. The multiparameter approach, combined with different statistical tools, is a well-established way of interpreting their inputs and behaviour in marine systems. Nevertheless, the data for the karst regions, as found in the Mediterranean, are particularly scarce. This Special Issue—Geochemical Equilibrium and Processes in Seawater—of Geosciences gathers five articles on different topics related to water and sediment geochemistry of the coastal karst areas of the Mediterranean, including Slovenia, Croatia and Egypt. The topics included in this Issue refer to (1) geochemistry of sediments in the area of intensive anthropogenic activity; (2) the geochemistry of sediment and biota in a protected area under increasing pressure due to tourist activity; (3) the influence of a thermal power plant on the geochemistry of the surrounding area; (4) the influence of underground water discharges on water quality; and (5) the possibility of monitoring natural and anthropogenic processes in karst systems by using a specific group of elements.
Microbial Geochemistry Reflecting Sulfur, Iron, Manganese, and Calcium Sources in the San Diego River Watershed, Southern California USA
Authors: Robbins Eleanora I. , Quigley-Raymond Shannon , Lai Ming , Fried Janae
Published: December 2018

Microbial populations involved in forming the distinctive precipitates of S, Fe, Mn, and Ca in the San Diego River watershed reflect an interplay between the mineralogy of the rocks in the watershed, sparse rainfall, ground- and surface-water anoxia, and runoff of high sulfate, treated imported water. In the sparsely developed headwaters, the Temescal Creek tributary emerges from pyrite-bearing metamorphic rocks, and thus exhibits both an oxidized Fe and reduced S. In the middle reaches, the river moves through developed land where treated, imported high sulfate Colorado River water enters from urban runoff. Mast Park surrounded by caliche-bearing sedimentary rocks is a site where marl is precipitating. Cobbles in riffles along the river are coated black with Mn oxide. When the river encounters deep-seated volcanic bedrock, it wells up to precipitate both Fe and Mn oxides at the Old Mission Dam. Then, directly flowing through caliche-laced sedimentary rocks, Birchcreek tributary precipitates tufa. Further downstream at a site under a bridge that blocks sunlight, a sulfuretum sets up when the river is deoxygenated. Such a rich geochemistry results in activity of iron and manganese oxidizing bacteria, sulfur oxidizers and reducers, and cyanobacteria precipitating calcareous marl and tufa.
Intertextuality in Diane di Prima’s Loba: Religious Discourse and Feminism
Authors: Encarnación-Pinedo Estíbaliz
Published: December 2018

The last three decades have witnessed a significant increase in the academic interest in the Beat Generation. No longer seen as “know-nothing bohemians” (Podhoretz 1958), scholars have extended the scope of Beat studies, either by generating renewed interest in canonical authors, by expanding the understanding of what Beat means, or by broadening the aesthetic or theoretical lens through which we read Beat writers and poets. Among these, the transnational perspective on Beat writing has sparked careful re-examinations of Beat authors and their works that seek to recognize, among other things, the impact that transnational cultures and literatures have had on Beat writers. Diane di Prima’s long poem Loba (Di Prima 1998), a feminist epic the poet started writing in the early 1970s, draws on a vast array of transnational texts and influences. Most notoriously, di Prima works with mythological and religious texts to revise and challenge the representation of women throughout history. This paper explores di Prima’s particular use of world narratives in light of a feminist poetics and politics of revision. Through the example of “Eve” and the “Virgin Mary”, two of the many female characters whose textual representation is challenged in Loba, the first part of the paper considers di Prima’s use of gnostic and Christian discourses and their impact on her feminist politics of revision. The second part of the paper situates Loba in the specific context of Second-Wave feminism and the rise of Goddess Movement feminist groups. Drawing from the previous analysis, this part reevaluates di Prima’s collection in light of the essentialist debate that analyzes the texts arising from this tradition as naïve and apolitical.
Dissipation of Pre-Harvest Pesticides on ‘Clementine’ Mandarins after Open Field Application, and Their Persistence When Stored under Conventional Postharvest Conditions
Authors: Besil Natalia , Cesio Verónica , Luque Eleana , Pintos Pedro , Rivas Fernando , Heinzen Horacio
Published: December 2018

The dissipation of field-applied difenoconazole, imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin and spinosad on Clementine mandarins (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.) under controlled conditions throughout the citrus production chain was assessed. At harvest, 42 days after application, the dissipation of these pesticides were 80, 92, and 48% for difenoconazole, imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin, respectively, and spinosad was below the level of detectability. At day 28 after application, spinosad was no longer detected. The model equations that best describe the dissipation curves of these pesticides on Clementine mandarins showed different patterns. Their half-life on Clementine, calculated by the best-fitted experimental data, were 19.2 day (1st-order model) for difenoconazole, 4.1 day (Root Factor (RF) 1st-order model) for imidacloprid, 39.8 day (2nd-order model) for pyraclostrobin and 5.8 day (1st-order model) for spinosad. These results are the first record of pyraclostrobin persistence on mandarins, showing a longer half-life in this matrix than those reported for any other fruit. The treated fruit were harvested and submitted to the usual postharvest treatments: first, a hypochlorite drenching was performed; as a second step, imazalil and wax were applied, and then the mandarins were stored at 4 °C. After 32 days, cold storage caused no significant effects on the residue levels of the four pesticides compared with those determined on freshly harvested mandarins. All residues were below their Codex and European Union (EU) maximum residue limit (MRL) for mandarin since the spray application day.
Recognition of Consumers’ Characteristics of Purchasing Farm Produce with Safety Certificates and Their Influencing Factors
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Gao Ziqiu , Shen Minmin
Published: December 2018

In order to alleviate the situation that bad money drives out good in the produce market within the context of incomplete information, as well as bridge the gap between demand and product surplus, establishing and improving the safety certification system for farm produce is an urgent need. This paper discusses factors that affect consumers’ purchase of pork with safety certificates in the setting of incomplete information. Data from 844 consumers in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, along with a structural equation model, are adopted to study consumers’ purchase intention of certified safe pork form. According to our studies, major factors refer to degree of understanding, degree of concern, recognition ability, government publicity, pork’s origin information, consumers’ educational levels, income levels, and consumers’ evaluation of government supervision. Accordingly, suggestions are provided as follows. Above all, enhancing education and training of food safety is conducive to lead consumers’ behaviors in a correct way. Next, news media and social public opinions can play a stronger role in guidance and supervision. Thirdly, an upgraded legal system should be accompanied by better policy implementation. Finally, strengthening the origin certification system and promoting a sense of brand are of significance.
CATCHA: Real-Time Camera Tracking Method for Augmented Reality Applications in Cultural Heritage Interiors
Authors: Siekański Piotr , Michoński Jakub , Bunsch Eryk , Sitnik Robert
Published: December 2018

Camera pose tracking is a fundamental task in Augmented Reality (AR) applications. In this paper, we present CATCHA, a method to achieve camera pose tracking in cultural heritage interiors with rigorous conservatory policies. Our solution is real-time model-based camera tracking according to textured point cloud, regardless of its registration technique. We achieve this solution using orthographic model rendering that allows us to achieve real-time performance, regardless of point cloud density. Our developed algorithm is used to create a novel tool to help both cultural heritage restorers and individual visitors visually compare the actual state of a culture heritage location with its previously scanned state from the same point of view in real time. The provided application can directly achieve a frame rate of over 15 Hz on VGA frames on a mobile device and over 40 Hz using remote processing. The performance of our approach is evaluated using a model of the King’s Chinese Cabinet (Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, Warsaw, Poland) that was scanned in 2009 using the structured light technique and renovated and scanned again in 2015. Additional tests are performed on a model of the Al Fresco Cabinet in the same museum, scanned using a time-of-flight laser scanner.
Towards Detecting Social Events by Mining Geographical Patterns with VGI Data
Authors: Liu Zhewei , Zhou Xiaolin , Shi Wenzhong , Zhang Anshu
Published: December 2018

Detecting events using social media data is important for timely emergency response and urban monitoring. Current studies primarily use semantic-based methods, in which “bursts” of certain semantic signals are detected to identify emerging events. Nevertheless, our consideration is that a social event will not only affect semantic signals but also cause irregular human mobility patterns. By introducing depictive features, such irregular patterns can be used for event detection. Consequently, in this paper, we develop a novel, comprehensive workflow for event detection by mining the geographical patterns of VGI. This workflow first uses data geographical topic modeling to detect the hashtag communities with VGI semantic data. Both global and local indicators are then constructed by introducing spatial autocorrelation measurements. We then adopt an outlier test and generate indicator maps to spatiotemporally identify the potential social events. This workflow was implemented using a real-world dataset (104,000 geo-tagged photos) and the evaluation was conducted both qualitatively and quantitatively. A set of experiments showed that the discovered semantic communities were internally consistent and externally differentiable, and the plausibility of the detected events was demonstrated by referring to the available ground truth. This study examined the feasibility of detecting events by investigating the geographical patterns of social media data and can be applied to urban knowledge retrieval.
Challenges of Mapping Sustainable Development Goals Indicators Data
Authors: Kraak Menno , Ricker Britta , Engelhardt Yuri
Published: December 2018

The global population is growing at an incomprehensible rate and with it come complex environmental consequences that often result in social injustices. The United Nations has established a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an attempt to ameliorate inequality and promise safety for the masses. To reach these goals, a set of indicators have been identified and their associated data for each country are publicly available to measure how close each country is to each goal. Multifaceted social and environmental processes that are difficult to understand are causing threats to these goals. Maps help reduce complexity. Now, arguably anyone with access to the Internet and time can make a map. However, not all maps are effective accurate communication vessels. Well-designed maps tell a story that truthfully represents the data available. Here we present a synthesis of the cartographic workflow pointing out specific considerations necessary when mapping SDG indicators. Along the way we illustrate the cartographic workflow as it relates to visualizing SDG indicators. Common mapping pitfalls are described and a range of suggestions to avoid them are also offered. Map makers have a unique opportunity to use these data to illuminate and communicate injustices that are documented therein to inspire creative localized solutions to eradicate inequality.
Multi-Scale and Multi-Sensor 3D Documentation of Heritage Complexes in Urban Areas
Authors: Murtiyoso Arnadi , Grussenmeyer Pierre , Suwardhi Deni , Awalludin Rabby
Published: December 2018

The 3D documentation of heritage complexes or quarters often requires more than one scale due to its extended area. While the documentation of individual buildings requires a technique with finer resolution, that of the complex itself may not need the same degree of detail. This has led to the use of a multi-scale approach in such situations, which in itself implies the integration of multi-sensor techniques. The challenges and constraints of the multi-sensor approach are further added when working in urban areas, as some sensors may be suitable only for certain conditions. This paper describes the integration of heterogeneous sensors as a logical solution in addressing this problem. The royal palace complex of Kasepuhan Cirebon, Indonesia, was taken as a case study. The site dates to the 13th Century and has survived to this day as a cultural heritage site, preserving within itself a prime example of vernacular Cirebonese architecture. This type of architecture is influenced by the tropical climate, with distinct features designed to adapt to the hot and humid year-long weather. In terms of 3D documentation, this presents specific challenges that need to be addressed both during the acquisition and processing stages. Terrestrial laser scanners, DSLR cameras, as well as UAVs were utilized to record the site. The implemented workflow, some geometrical analysis of the results, as well as some derivative products will be discussed in this paper. Results have shown that although the proposed multi-scale and multi-sensor workflow has been successfully employed, it needs to be adapted and the related challenges addressed in a particular manner.
Creating a Story Map Using Geographic Information Systems to Explore Geomorphology and History of Methana Peninsula
Authors: Antoniou Varvara , Ragia Lemonia , Nomikou Paraskevi , Bardouli Pavlina , Lampridou Danai , Ioannou Theodora , Kalisperakis Ilias , Stentoumis Christos
Published: December 2018

Story maps are used as an interactive tool for communication and information dissemination. A web-based application using story mapping technology is presented to explore the Methana peninsula. This volcanic area is characterized by specific volcanic geoforms, unique flora and rich history. The story map combines maps, narrative texts and multimedia content. The spatial data produce thematic maps created by a Geographic Information System on geological data, historical monuments, biodiversity and hiking paths. The purpose is to highlight the distinguishing characteristics of the Methana peninsula, to enable users to interact with maps, texts and images and to inform professional and non-professional users about the particular aspects of volcanic areas.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Liver Diseases: A Strong Impact of Hand Grip Strength
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Yoh Kazunori , Iwata Yoshinori , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Kishino Kyohei , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Takata Ryo , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Ishii Noriko , Yuri Yukihisa , Nishimura Takashi , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: December 2018

We sought to examine the influence of hand grip strength (HGS) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) on the health-related quality of life (H-QOL) as evaluated by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire in chronic liver diseases (CLDs, 198 men and 191 women). Decreased HGS was defined as HGS <26 kg for men and <18 kg for women. Decreased SMM was defined as SMM index <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women, using bioimpedance analysis. SF-36 scores were compared between groups stratified by HGS or SMM. Between-group differences (decreased HGS vs. non-decreased HGS) in the items of physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain, vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and physical component summary score (PCS) reached significance, while between-group differences (decreased SMM vs. non-decreased SMM) in the items of PF, SF and RE were significant. Multivariate analyses revealed that HGS was significantly linked to PF (p = 0.0031), RP (p = 0.0185), and PCS (p = 0.0421) in males, and PF (p = 0.0034), VT (p = 0.0150), RE (p = 0.0422), and PCS (p = 0.0191) in females. HGS had a strong influence especially in the physiological domains in SF-36 in CLDs.
Biobanking Organoids or Ground-State Stem Cells?
Authors: Xian Wa , Duleba Marcin , Yamamoto Yusuke , Vincent Matthew , McKeon Frank
Published: December 2018

Autologous transplantation of human epidermal stem cells cultured in Green’s method is one of the first examples of utilizing adult stem cells in regenerative medicine. Using the same method, we cloned p63-expressing distal airway stem cells and showed their essential role in lung regeneration in a mouse model of acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, adult stem cells of columnar epithelial tissues had until recently evaded all attempts at cloning. To address this issue, we developed a novel technology that enabled cloning ground-state stem cells of the columnar epithelium. The adaption of this technology to clone stem cells of cancer precursors furthered our understanding of the dynamics of processes such as clonal evolution and dominance in Barrett’s esophagus, as well as for testing platforms for chemical screening. Taken together, the properties of these ground-state stem cells, including unlimited propagation, genomic stability, and regio-specificity, make them ideal for regenerative medicine, disease modeling and drug discovery.
A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression Evaluating the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Probiotics and Synbiotics in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections and Surgery-Related Complications
Authors: Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Łoniewski Igor , Lara Luis F. , Koulaouzidis Anastasios , Misera Agata , Maciejewska Dominika , Marlicz Wojciech
Published: December 2018

Intestinal microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis of surgical site infections (SSIs) and other surgery-related complications (SRCs). Probiotics and synbiotics were found to lower the risk of surgical infections and other surgery-related adverse events. We systematically reviewed the approach based on the administration of probiotics and synbiotics to diminish SSIs/SRCs rates in patients undergoing various surgical treatments and to determine the mechanisms responsible for their effectiveness. A systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE/Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from the inception of databases to June 2018 for trials in patients undergoing surgery supplemented with pre/pro/synbiotics and randomized to the intervention versus placebo/no treatment and reporting on primarily: (i) putative mechanisms of probiotic/symbiotic action, and secondarily (ii) SSIs and SRCs outcomes. Random-effect model meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of outcomes was done. Thirty-five trials comprising 3028 adult patients were included; interventions were probiotics (n = 16) and synbiotics (n = 19 trials). We found that C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased (SMD: −0.40, 95% CI [−0.79, −0.02], p = 0.041; SMD: −0.41, 95% CI [−0.70, −0.02], p = 0.006, respectively) while concentration of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids were elevated in patients supplemented with probiotics (SMD: 1.78, 95% CI [0.80, 2.76], p = 0.0004; SMD: 0.67, 95% CI [0.37, −0.97], p = 0.00001; SMD: 0.46, 95% CI [0.18, 0.73], p = 0.001, respectively). Meta-analysis confirmed that pro- and synbiotics supplementation was associated with significant reduction in the incidence of SRCs including abdominal distention, diarrhea, pneumonia, sepsis, surgery site infection (including superficial incisional), and urinary tract infection, as well as the duration of antibiotic therapy, duration of postoperative pyrexia, time of fluid introduction, solid diet, and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.05). Probiotics and synbiotics administration counteract SSIs/SRCs via modulating gut-immune response and production of short chain fatty acids.
N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Predicts Long-Term Technique Failure in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Chao Chia-Ter , Chiang Chih-Kang , Huang Jenq-Wen , Hung Kuan-Yu
Published: December 2018

It is unclear whether N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level can be a biomarker for technique failure among long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We prospectively included end-stage renal disease patients undergoing PD from a single center between December 2011 and December 2017. We divided the cohort into high or low NT-proBNP groups and analyzed the risk factors associated with the incidence of technique failure using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. A total of 258 chronic PD patients (serum NT-proBNP, 582 ± 1216 ng/mL) were included. After a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, 49.6% of PD patients developed technique failure and switched to hemodialysis, while 15.5% died. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses accounting for age, gender, diabetes, renal clearance, C-reactive protein, and hydration status, showed that higher natural log transformed NT-proBNP levels (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, p < 0.01) were predictive of an increased risk of technique failure, and were also predictive of an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.56, p < 0.01). Consequently, NT-proBNP might be an under-recognized biomarker for estimating the risk of technique failure, and regular monitoring NT-proBNP levels among PD patients may assist in their care.