bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Graph theory approach for geovisualization of land use change: An application to Lisbon
Authors: de Noronha Vaz Eric , Aversa Joseph 
Published: May 2021

<p>Urban sprawl and growth has experienced increased concern in geographic and environmental literature. Preceding the existence of robust frameworks found in regional and urban planning, as well as urban geography and economics, the spatial properties of allocation of urban land use are still far from being completely understood. This is largely due to the underlying complexity of the change found at spatial level of urban land use, merging social, economic and natural drivers. The spatial patterns formed, and the connectivity established among the different subsets of landuse types, becomes a complex network of interactions over time, helping to shape the structure of the city. The possibility to merge the configuration of land-use with complex networks may be assessed elegantly through graph theory. Nodes and edges can become abstract representations of typologies of space and are represented into a topological space of different land use types which traditionally share common spatial boundaries. Within a regional framework, the links between adjacent and neighboring urban land use types become better understood, by means of a Kamada-Kawai algorithm. This study uses land use in Lisbon over three years, 1990, 2000 and 2006, to develop a Kamada-Kawai graph interpretation of land-use as a result of neighboring power. The rapid change witnessed in Lisbon since the nineties, as well as the availability of CORINE Land Cover data in these three time stamps, permits a reflection on anthropogenic land-use change in urban and semi-urban areas in Portugal’s capital. This paper responds to (1) the structure and connectivity of urban land use over time, demonstrating that most of the agricultural land is stressed to transform to urban, gaining a central role in future. (2) Offer a systemic approach to land-use transitions generating what we call spatial memory, where land use change is often unpredictable over space, but becomes evident in a graph theory framework, and (3) advance in the geovisual understanding of spatial phenomena in land use transitions by means of graph theory. Thus, the structure of this combined method enables urban and landscape to have a better understanding of the spatial interaction of land-use types within the city, promoting an elegant solution to rapid geovisualization for land-use management in general. </p>
Assessment of Socio-culturally Diverse Students: Problems in Special Educational Theory and Implications for Practice
Authors: Bernhard Judith K. 
Published: May 2021

<p> </p>
<p>The present socio-cultural as well as linguistic diversity of many newcomers to Canada brings important issues in special education for critical consideration. While educators have spoken of the need to consider ethnic and cultural diversity in assessment and placement decisions, there is currently a lack of criteria for distinguishing genuine learning disabilities from the normal language barriers associated with the process of second language acquisition. A critical analysis is presented of some of the core concepts on which current assessment practices are based; these include intelligence and learning disability models and some of the most common tests and test batteries used in connection with socio-culturally diverse as well as “mainstream” students. It is concluded that the assessment tools currently used rest on dubious constructs and have questionable validity. This suggests that the segregation of children labelled LD lacks a proper rationale. Because of the many problematic areas in current special educational assessment practices, new assessment/learning paradigms are needed which accept diversity as a basic assumption and employ dynamic approaches as have been derived from the Vygotskian model.</p>
Finite-element Modeling of Elastic Surface Modes and Scattering from Spherical Objects
Authors: Falou Omar , Kumaradas Carl , Kolios Michael 
Published: May 2021

<p> A finite-element model of wave propagation using COMSOL Multiphysics (COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA) was developed to solve the problem of high frequency ultrasound scattering from spheres. This model is used to predict ultrasound backscatter from cells for ultrasound tissue characterization. In this work, the backscatter from an elastic sphere was used to validate the computational model against analytical solutions (Faran theory). Agreements between analytical and finite element solutions were found in the scattered far-field over a range of frequencies of interest (10 - 70 MHz). Oscillations of the elastic sphere at various resonance frequencies (peaks in the power spectrum) were also investigated. The resonance frequencies predicted by the analytical solutions corresponded to surface modes. A systematic relationship between the resonance frequency and its corresponding surface mode was found. The oscillations of the elastic sphere were visualized at these resonances. An ultrasound scattering model by a single cell is also presented. The model treats the cell as an elastic sphere (nucleus) surrounded by a fluid shell (cytoplasm). Comparison of the theoretical backscatter predicted by the model and experimental measurements for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cell is also shown. Finally, the implications of these results on the prediction of ultrasound backscatter from cells, and on ultrasound tissue characterization techniques are discussed. </p>
Commutative Prospect Theory and Stopped Behavioral Processes for Fair Gambles
Authors: Cadogan Godfrey 
Published: May 2021

<p>We augment Tversky and Khaneman (1992) (TK92) Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) function space with a sample space for states of nature, and depict a commutative map of behavior on the augmented space. In particular, we use a homotopy lifting property to mimic behavioral stochastic processes arising from deformation of stochastic choice into outcome. A psychological distance metric (in the class of Dudley-Talagrand inequalities) for stochastic learning, was used to characterize stopping times for behavioral processes. In which case, for a class of nonseparable space-time probability density functions, we find that behavioral processes are uniformly stopped before the goal of fair gamble is attained. Further, we find that when faced with a fair gamble, agents exhibit submartingale [supermartingale] behavior, subjectively, under CPT probability weighting scheme. We show that even when agents have classic von Neuman-Morgenstern preferences over probability distribution, and know that the gamble is a martingale, they exhibit probability weighting to compensate for probability leakage arising from the their stopped behavioral process. </p>
Investigation of the Effect of Bedding Layer Angle and Tunnel Number on the Stability of Tunnel under Uniaxial Compression Using PFC2D
Authors: Sarfarazi Vahab , Asgari Kaveh , Azizian Mahdiyah 
Published: May 2021

In this paper the effect of bedding layer angle on the stability of tunnel under uniaxial compression have been investigated using particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). For this purpose, numerical rectangle models with dimension of 100*100 mm have been prepared. These models consist of layers with different mechanical properties i.e., concrete layer and gypsum layer. The angle of these layers related to horizontal axis change from 0° to 90° with increment of 15°. These models are consisting of one, two and three tunnel. The diameter of tunnel change based on the tunnel number. The tunnel diameter was 6 m, when one tunnel exists in the model. The tunnel diameter was 3 m, when two tunnels exist in the model. The tunnel diameter was 2 m, when three tunnels exist in the model. These models were subjected to uniaxial compression. The results show that tensile cracks are dominant mode of fracture occurred in the models. The joint angle and tunnel number have important effect on the failure pattern and failure strength. Also, the mechanical properties of beddings control the crack growth path. The crack grows through the weak layers when bedding angle was equal to 45° and 60°, but it intersects the layer for any other bedding angels.
Software y métodos de control: herramientas claves para el manejo de inventarios microempresariales
Authors: Arias-Unuzungo Lisbeth , Ramón-Ulloa Diego , Pacheco-Molina Andrés , Romero-Black Wilton 
Published: May 2021

Las organizaciones conocen la importancia de controlar correctamente sus inventarios mediante un adecuado monitoreo organizacional, elemento clave para alcanzar objetivos y aumentar la competitividad de forma eficiente y eficaz. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo determinar el método y software de control como herramientas que aplican las microempresas en el manejo de inventarios, para ello se planteó un estudio de enfoque cuantitativo con alcance descriptivo, no experimental; teniendo como objeto de estudio la población de la ciudad de Machala, donde, se tomó como muestra por conveniencia a 107 microempresas. En el procesamiento de los datos se utilizó la herramienta IBM SPSS STATISTICS 23, obteniendo como resultados deficiencia en la aplicación de herramientas tecnológicas como métodos y software de control; prevaleciendo el uso hojas de control o kardex y el registro de los datos en la aplicación de excel, continuando con la realización de pedidos de forma empírica, es decir de acuerdo al criterio o experiencia del administrador o gerente; esto se debe a que gran parte de estas organizaciones no cuentan con personal adecuado para la coordinación y gestión del mismo. Se concluye que el control de inventarios presenta debilidades que deben ser corregidas para que la organización tenga competitividad en el mercado mediante la automatización de los procesos en el sistema de inventarios.
Engagement de la publicidad emocional en tiempos de pandemia. Caso Movistar Ecuador
Authors: Andrade-Zotamba Kevin , Peralta-Guanuche Ariana , Moscoso-Parra Ana 
Published: May 2021

En tiempos de pandemia la clave del éxito en publicidad reside en encontrar el equilibrio de aunar la parte emocional y la racional, no obstante, a razón del alto nivel de saturación que hay en el mercado respecto a contenidos publicitarios, las emociones deben estar indudablemente en el centro de la relación con las marcas. Este trabajo analiza dos mensajes publicitarios de la marca Movistar Ecuador en redes sociales, una publicidad emocional y otra racional, con la finalidad de identificar cual genera mayor engagement en el contexto actual. La investigación es de tipo cualitativa observacional con base en una matriz que considera el estudio de tres categorías (la estrategia de comunicación, la multimedialidad y la interacción) y sus variables. De los resultados se destaca que la publicidad emocional además de generar un nivel de engagement mayor, contribuye con la creación de un sentimiento positivo hacia la marca; que su efectividad está condicionada por el conocimiento de las necesidades del consumidor y de los beneficios del producto y, que la plataforma social Facebook es un canal estratégico de interacción para marcas con productos o servicios de consumo masivo.
Epigenetic Changes Associated With Exposure to Glyphosate-Based Herbicides in Mammals
Authors: Rossetti María Florencia , Canesini Guillermina , Lorenz Virginia , Milesi María Mercedes , Varayoud Jorgelina , Ramos Jorge Guillermo 
Published: May 2021

Glyphosate is a phosphonomethyl amino acid derivative present in a number of non-selective and systemic herbicides. During the last years the use of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) has been increasing exponentially around the world, including Argentina. This fact added to the detection of glyphosate, and its main metabolite, amino methylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in environmental matrices such as soil, sediments, and food, has generated great concern about its risks for humans, animals, and environment. During the last years, there were controversy and intense debate regarding the toxicological effects of these compounds associated with the endocrine system, cancer, reproduction, and development. The mechanisms of action of GBH and their metabolites are still under investigation, although recent findings have shown that they could comprise epigenetic modifications. These are reversible mechanisms linked to tissue-specific silencing of gene expression, genomic imprinting, and tumor growth. Particularly, glyphosate, GBH, and AMPA have been reported to produce changes in global DNA methylation, methylation of specific genes, histone modification, and differential expression of non-coding RNAs in human cells and rodents. Importantly, the epigenome could be heritable and could lead to disease long after the exposure has ended. This mini-review summarizes the epigenetic changes produced by glyphosate, GBHs, and AMPA in humans and rodents and proposes it as a potential mechanism of action through which these chemical compounds could alter body functions.
Implementation of Automated Blood Culture With Quality Assurance in a Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: von Laer Anja , N'Guessan Micheline Ahou , Touré Fidèle Sounan , Nowak Kathrin , Groeschner Karin , Ignatius Ralf , Friesen Johannes , Tomczyk Sara , Leendertz Fabian H. , Eckmanns Tim , Akoua-Koffi Chantal 
Published: May 2021

Background: Blood cultures (BC) have a high clinical relevance and are a priority specimen for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Manual BC are still most frequently used in resource-limited settings. Data on automated BC performance in Africa are scarce. We implemented automated BC at a surveillance site of the African Network for improved Diagnostics, Epidemiology and Management of Common Infectious Agents (ANDEMIA).Methods: Between June 2017 and January 2018, pairs of automated BC (BacT/ALERT®FA Plus) and manual BC (brain-heart infusion broth) were compared at a University hospital in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire. BC were inoculated each with a target blood volume of 10 ml from the same venipuncture. Automated BC were incubated for up to 5 days, manual BC for up to 10 days. Terminal subcultures were performed for manual BC only. The two systems were compared regarding yield, contamination, and turnaround time. For quality assurance, isolates were retested in a German routine microbiological laboratory.Results: BC sampling was increased from on average 24 BC to 63 BC per month. A total of 337 matched pairs of BC were included. Automated BC was positive in 36.5%, manual BC in 24.0% (p-value &lt; 0.01), proportion of contamination was 47.9 and 43.8%, respectively (p-value = 1.0). Turnaround time of positive BC was shortened by 2.5 days with automated compared to manual BC (p &lt; 0.01). Most common detected pathogens in both systems were Klebsiella spp. (26.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (18.2%). Most contaminants were members of the skin flora. Retesting of 162 isolates was concordant in 79.6% on family level.Conclusions: Implementing automated BC in a resource-limited setting is possible and improves microbiological diagnostic performance. Automated BC increased yield and shortened turnaround times. Regular training and mentorship of clinicians has to be intensified to increase number and quality of BC. Pre-analytical training to improve diagnostic stewardship is essential when implementing a new microbiological method. Retesting highlighted that manual identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing can be of good quality and sustainable. The implementation of automated tools should be decided individually according to economic considerations, number of samples, stable supply chain of consumables, and technical sustainability.
Efficacy of a New Non-drug Acne Therapy: Aloe Vera Gel Combined With Ultrasound and Soft Mask for the Treatment of Mild to Severe Facial Acne
Authors: Zhong Hongyu , Li Xiang , Zhang Wanqi , Shen Xiaoxiao , Lu Yuangang , Li Hongli 
Published: May 2021

Background: Acne is a chronic disorder that affects almost 80% of adolescents and young adults, causing psychological and emotional distress. However, the current treatments for acne are either ineffective or have many side effects. This study was designed to confirm and objectively quantify the effect of a new non-drug combined therapy on acne.Methods: This study innovatively utilized ultrasound, which enhanced the absorption of aloe vera gel, and soft mask to make a purely physical method without any drugs. In both the treatment group and control group, the number of papules/pustules and the area of hyperpigmented lesions were counted, and a smart mirror intelligent face system was used before and after the combined therapy. Alterations in the skin functional index were recorded and analyzed statistically.Results: In the treatment group, the combined therapy significantly reduced the number of papules and the area of hyperpigmented lesions and improved skin roughness and local blood circulation. In the control group, there was no obvious improvement over 2 months.Conclusion: This study suggests that the new non-drug combined therapy significantly improved acne, which provided experimental evidence and treatment guidance for patients with mild to severe acne, especially patients with moderate acne. This new therapy may possibly be an appropriate method for patients who seek topical treatments with mild side effects and low antibiotic resistance rates.
Construction and External Validation of a Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signature of Predictive Value for the Overall Survival in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Liu Jingchao , Ma Hong , Meng Lingfeng , Liu Xiaodong , Lv Zhengtong , Zhang Yaoguang , Wang Jianye 
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To identify whether ferroptosis-related genes play predictive roles in bladder cancer patients and to develop a ferroptosis-related gene signature to predict overall survival outcomes.Materials and Methods: We downloaded the mRNA expression files and clinical data of 256 bladder samples (188 bladder tumour and 68 nontumour samples) from the GEO database and 430 bladder samples (411 bladder tumour and 19 nontumour samples) from the TCGA database. A multigene signature based on prognostic ferroptosis-related genes was constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analysis in the GEO cohort. The TCGA cohort was used to validate the ferroptosis-related gene signature. Next, functional enrichment analysis, including both Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses, was performed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the signature. The ssGSEA scores of 16 immune cells and 13 immune-related pathway activities between the high-risk and low-risk groups were also analysed in our study.Results: Thirty-three (67.3%) ferroptosis-related genes were differentially expressed between bladder tumour samples and nontumour samples in the GEO cohort. The intersection of prognostic ferroptosis-related genes and differentially expressed genes identified four prognostic targets, including ALOX5, FANCD2, HMGCR and FADS2. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression successfully built a 4-gene signature: risk score value = esum (each gene’s normalized expression * each gene’s coefficient). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed in both the GEO and TCGA cohorts to test the independent prognostic value of the 4-gene risk signature. Multivariate Cox regression analysis in the GEO cohort identified age (p &lt; 0.001), grade (p = 0.129) and risk score (p = 0.016) as independent prognostic predictors for overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis in the TCGA cohort also identified age (p = 0.002), stage (p &lt; 0.001) and risk score (p = 0.006) as independent prognostic predictors for overall survival. The type II IFN response was determined to be significantly weakened in the high-risk group in both the GEO and TCGA cohorts.Conclusion: We successfully built a ferroptosis-related gene signature of significant predictive value for bladder cancer. These results suggest a novel research direction for targeted therapy of bladder cancer in the future.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Brain Tissue Infarction in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Theophylline as an Add-On to Thrombolytic Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Subgroup Analysis
Authors: Modrau Boris , Winder Anthony , Hjort Niels , Johansen Martin Nygård , Andersen Grethe , Fiehler Jens , Vorum Henrik , Forkert Nils D. 
Published: May 2021

Background and Purpose: The theophylline in acute ischemic stroke trial investigated the neuroprotective effect of theophylline as an add-on to thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this pre-planned subgroup analysis was to use predictive modeling to virtually test for differences in the follow-up lesion volumes.Materials and Methods: A subgroup of 52 patients from the theophylline in acute ischemic stroke trial with multi-parametric MRI data acquired at baseline and at 24-h follow-up were analyzed. A machine learning model using voxel-by-voxel information from diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI and clinical parameters was used to predict the infarct volume for each individual patient and both treatment arms. After training of the two predictive models, two virtual lesion outcomes were available for each patient, one lesion predicted for theophylline treatment and one lesion predicted for placebo treatment.Results: The mean predicted volume of follow-up lesions was 11.4 ml (standard deviation 18.7) for patients virtually treated with theophylline and 11.2 ml (standard deviation 17.3) for patients virtually treated with placebo (p = 0.86).Conclusions: The predicted follow-up brain lesions for each patient were not significantly different for patients virtually treated with theophylline or placebo, as an add-on to thrombolytic therapy. Thus, this study confirmed the lack of neuroprotective effect of theophylline shown in the main clinical trial and is contrary to the results from preclinical stroke models.
Improvement in Midline Shift Is a Positive Prognostic Predictor for Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction Patients Undergoing Decompressive Craniectomy
Authors: Chen Xin , Hao Qiang , Yang Shu-Zhe , Wang Shuo , Zhao Yuan-Li , Zhang Dong , Ye Xun , Wang Hao 
Published: May 2021

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the risk factors of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMCAI) patients and explore an applicable prognostic predictor for MMCAI patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy (DC).Methods: Clinical data from the period 2012–2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Forty-three consecutive MMCAI patients undergoing DC were enrolled in this study. The 30-day mortality was assessed, and age, location, hypertension, pupil dilation, onset to operation duration, midline shift, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score were identified by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression.Results: In this retrospective study for DC patients, the 30-day mortality was 44.2%. In the univariate analysis, advanced age (≥60 years), right hemispheric location, hypertension, pupil dilation, shorter onset to operation duration (&lt;48 h), improved midline shift (t = 4.214, p &lt; 0.01), and lower pre-operation GCS score were significant predictors of death within 30 days. In binary logistic regression analysis, age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.141, 95% CI 1.011–1.287], the improvement of the midline shift (OR = 0.764, 95% CI 0.59–0.988), and pupillary dilation (OR = 15.10, 95% CI 1.374–165.954) were independent influencing factors. For the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the relationship between post-operation outcomes and midline shift improvement, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.844, and the cutoff point of midline shift improvement was 0.83 cm.Conclusion: Improved midline shift was a significant predictor of 30-day mortality. The improved midline shift of &gt;0.83 cm indicated survival at 30 days.