Kinky clients, kinky counselling? The challenges and potentials of BDSM

About the book: Feeling Queer or Queer Feelings? presents highly innovative and contemporary ideas for counsellors, counselling and clinical psychologists and psychotherapists to consider in their work with non-heterosexual clients. Ground-breaking ideas are presented by new thinkers in the area for issues such as: coming out transgender desire theoretical modalities in working with HIV the role of therapy in bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadomasochism the use of queer theory in therapeutic research

Watermarking for multimedia security using complex wavelets

This paper investigates the application of complex wavelet transforms to the field of digital data hiding. Complex wavelets offer improved directional selectivity and shift invariance over their discretely sampled counterparts allowing for better adaptation of watermark distortions to the host media. Two methods of deriving visual models for the watermarking system are adapted to the complex wavelet transforms and their performances are compared. To produce improved capacity a spread transform embedding algorithm is devised, this combines the robustness of spread spectrum methods with the high capacity of quantization based methods. Using established information theoretic methods, limits of watermark capacity are derived that demonstrate the superiority of complex wavelets over discretely sampled wavelets. Finally results for the algorithm against commonly used attacks demonstrate its robustness and the improved performance offered by complex wavelet transforms

Breakdown of Burton-Prim-Slichter approach and lateral solute segregation in radially converging flows

A theoretical study is presented of the effect of a radially converging melt flow, which is directed away from the solidification front, on the radial solute segregation in simple solidification models. We show that the classical Burton-Prim-Slichter (BPS) solution describing the effect of a diverging flow on the solute incorporation into the solidifying material breaks down for the flows converging along the solidification front. The breakdown is caused by a divergence of the integral defining the effective boundary layer thickness which is the basic concept of the BPS theory. Although such a divergence can formally be avoided by restricting the axial extension of the melt to a layer of finite height, radially uniform solute distributions are possible only for weak melt flows with an axial velocity away from the solidification front comparable to the growth rate. There is a critical melt velocity for each growth rate at which the solution passes through a singularity and becomes physically inconsistent for stronger melt flows. To resolve these inconsistencies we consider a solidification front presented by a disk of finite radius $R_0$ subject to a strong converging melt flow and obtain an analytic solution showing that the radial solute concentration depends on the radius $r$ as $\sim\ln^{1/3}(R_0/r)$ and $\sim\ln(R_0/r)$ close to the rim and at large distances from it. The logarithmic increase of concentration is limited in the vicinity of the symmetry axis by the diffusion becoming effective at a distance comparable to the characteristic thickness of the solute boundary layer. The converging flow causes a solute pile-up forming a logarithmic concentration peak at the symmetry axis which might be an undesirable feature for crystal growth processes.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Influence of Resources, Resource Loss, and Coping Response on Food Management Practices and Food Security

Food insecurity has been associated with compromised health and wellness. Current literature regarding coping strategies and practices employed by the food insecure often describes food management and acquisition practices, and/or the riskiness of these practices. Material and personal resources such as income, time, self-efficacy, and social support have been identified as predictors or influencers of food security status. In this study, the Conservation of Resources theory was used to conceptualize resources and resource loss as they relate to food practices and food security. It was hypothesized that the level of resources would influence food security status and the adaptive food practices employed to mitigate food insecurity. It was also hypothesized that the loss of resources would be associated with adaptive food practices and worsening food insecurity. A descriptive, correlational design was utilized with cross-sectional data to test the theorized model. A single survey instrument was developed by combining previously validated instruments. Path analysis was used to determine model consistency with sample data. Exploratory factor analysis identified the underlying structure of the food management and acquisition practices. Findings included significant direct relationships of several resource variables, with adaptive food practices and food security survey (FSS) scores. Resource loss was positively associated with adaptive food practices; however, it was not directly associated with FSS scores. Thus, resource loss appeared to influence food security through adaptive food practices. A three factor solution was identified for food management practices and a four factor solution was found for the food acquisition practice category. Management factors included restricting the food supply, obtaining food opportunistically, and strategizing food preparation and food choices. Acquisition factors included conserving money for food, strategizing food shopping, relying on external sources of support, and using lower food cost sources. This study contributes to the literature as it investigated the presence and loss of resources and adaptive food practices simultaneously to broaden the understanding of their influence on food security. Future research is needed to determine if the conceptualized model remains consistent when applied to a broader, more diverse population

Multi texture analysis of colorectal cancer continuum using multispectral imagery

Purpose This paper proposes to characterize the continuum of colorectal cancer (CRC) using multiple texture features extracted from multispectral optical microscopy images. Three types of pathological tissues (PT) are considered: benign hyperplasia, intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma. Materials and Methods In the proposed approach, the region of interest containing PT is first extracted from multispectral images using active contour segmentation. This region is then encoded using texture features based on the Laplacian-of-Gaussian (LoG) filter, discrete wavelets (DW) and gray level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM). To assess the significance of textural differences between PT types, a statistical analysis based on the Kruskal-Wallis test is performed. The usefulness of texture features is then evaluated quantitatively in terms of their ability to predict PT types using various classifier models. Results Preliminary results show significant texture differences between PT types, for all texture features (p-value < 0.01). Individually, GLCM texture features outperform LoG and DW features in terms of PT type prediction. However, a higher performance can be achieved by combining all texture features, resulting in a mean classification accuracy of 98.92%, sensitivity of 98.12%, and specificity of 99.67%. Conclusions These results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of combining multiple texture features for characterizing the continuum of CRC and discriminating between pathological tissues in multispectral images

12. College Students’ Grocery Shopping Food Safety Practices During the Covid-19 Experience

Background Grocery shopping behaviors that support food safety among college students is not well documented. COVID-19 pandemic efforts related to hygiene practices may have improved these by increasing hand sanitizing, grocery cart cleansing, and altering food packaging and storage. Differences in practices have been identified among urban, suburban, and rural consumers, but not specifically in college-age students. Purpose To assess grocery shopping behaviors of college students during the COVID-19 experience. Method A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Spring 2020 using network sampling of university students ≥ 18 years of age. A subset of the 89 questions was used for this study. Forty-six questions were scored to yield a total food safety practice score. Results There were 282 respondents: 21.4% urban, 52.4% suburban, and 26.1% from rural areas. Approximately 55% indicated responsibility for household grocery shopping. The majority purchased groceries from a supercenter with location, price, and quality of products identified as primary reasons for this choice. Chi-square tests revealed no significant difference in total food safety practice scores among residential areas, however, differences (p \u3c 0.05) were found for individual behaviors related to poultry and meat selection, cart placement, and storage; produce selection and storage; and use of cooling bags. Cloth bags were used by 25% of students, with 3% following laundering recommendations. Conclusions College students report inadequate frequency of grocery shopping food safety practices despite the public emphasis on hygiene practices. Differences in specific behaviors among urban, suburban and rural college students may guide intervention efforts

Algorithmic processing to aid in leukemia detection

Background: I present our medical context with some basic concepts in order to understand the results of our work, and then I begin the explanation of mathematical morphology. I will conclude by the description of algorithmic processing propose in this paper. Cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, can cause uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell in the bone marrow, resulting in a greatly increased risk for infection and or serious bleeding. Methods: We present detailed steps of our proposed systems, to obtain a final result that shows the detection of abnormal cells. It typically starts with a median filter pre-processing step and then applies different morphologic operator, which allows us to segment the original image and detect cancerous cells. The basic idea behind all the operators in the mathematical morphology is to compare the set of objects to analyze another object of known form, which is called a structuring element. The structuring element is a geometric figure, simple to form, known or arbitrary, and can be a circle, segment, square, or triangle. Results: We show the different results obtained after testing carried out in algorithmic processing using MATLAB: To ameliorate the visualization of the abnormal blood cells, we have applied the elements basis morphological operations in a different way. We have performed an opening by reconstruction and a closing by reconstruction. The obtained result show that we have obtained an efficient detection of the targeted objects (abnormal blood cells or leukemia). Conclusion: In this paper, we have utilized the operators of the mathematical morphology with the aim to detect abnormal cells for diagnostic aid and transmission of accurate and precise clinical information, which helps specialists in medicine (hematologists) to distinguish abnormal cells or cancerous and to follow the evolution of leukemia. The algorithmic processing presented in this article has been able to perform the task of detection of cancerous cells with success; it has produced remarkable and satisfactory results. We think of the future concept as a system of aid for diagnosis from microelectronics integration to the base of reconfigurable technologies applied to cells for the goal of quantification of the cancer region

Protecting Spirit of Place: Reconstructing Highways, Maintaining Habitat Connectivity, and Respecting Tribal Culture

The US Highway 93 North reconstruction project on the Flathead Reservation in represents one of the most extensive wildlife-sensitive highway design efforts to date in North America. The reconstruction of the 56 mile long road section included the installation of wildlife crossing structures and wildlife exclusion fences. The mitigation measures were aimed at improving safety for the traveling public through reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, while simultaneously allowing wildlife to continue to move across the road. These measures were an integral part of the reconstruction of this highway because the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes required the reconstructed highway to be respectful of the land, the people and their culture, and wildlife. This project provided an opportunity to evaluate the extent these mitigation measures helped improve human safety through a reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions; and maintain habitat connectivity for wildlife.  Wildlife-vehicle collision data were obtained from Montana Department of Transportation.  Completed wildlife crossing structures were monitored for wildlife movements between 2010 and 2015 using wildlife cameras (Reconyx, PM35 and PC900 HyperFire).  The reconstruction of US 93 North improved human safety in general along the entire transportation corridor between Evaro and Polson. The total number of reported crashes decreased by approximately 33%.  However, the number of reported wildlife-vehicle collisions did not decrease over the entire length of the highway between Evaro and Polson. Total wildlife use of the 29 crossing structures that were monitored can be described as substantial with 95,274 successful crossings in total, and 22,648 successful crossings per year

L’importance de la loi de volumes pour le développement de la Chimie Organique

L’époque post-révolutionnaire est une période de l’Histoire de la Chimie où des contributions très importantes ont lieu, même si cette période ne bénéficie pas toujours de l’attention qu’elle mérite quand on aborde l’histoire de la chimie au XIXe siècle. Durant les trente premières années, il y a eu des changements significatifs dans le domaine de la Chimie Organique qui sont directement liés au travail de Gay-Lussac (1778-1850). Cet article veut montrer l’importance de la loi des volumes des..