bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meeting Challenges of Pediatric Drug Delivery: The Potential of Orally Fast Disintegrating Tablets for Infants and Children
Authors: Golhen Klervi , Buettcher Michael , Kost Jonas , Huwyler Jörg , Pfister Marc
Published: March 2023

A majority of therapeutics are not available as suitable dosage forms for administration to pediatric patients. The first part of this review provides an overview of clinical and technological challenges and opportunities in the development of child-friendly dosage forms such as taste masking, tablet size, flexibility of dose administration, excipient safety and acceptability. In this context, developmental pharmacology, rapid onset of action in pediatric emergency situations, regulatory and socioeconomic aspects are also reviewed and illustrated with clinical case studies. The second part of this work discusses the example of Orally Dispersible Tablets (ODTs) as a child-friendly drug delivery strategy. Inorganic particulate drug carriers can thereby be used as multifunctional excipients offering a potential solution to address unique medical needs in infants and children while maintaining a favorable excipient safety and acceptability profile in these vulnerable patient populations.
Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles to Fight Intracellular Staphylococcal Aureus Infections in Macrophages
Authors: Jambhrunkar Manasi , Maghrebi Sajedeh , Doddakyathanahalli Divya , Wignall Anthony , Prestidge Clive A. , Bremmell Kristen E.
Published: March 2023

Intracellular bacteria are inaccessible and highly tolerant to antibiotics, hence are a major contributor to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance and recalcitrant clinical infections. This, in tandem with stagnant antibacterial discovery, highlights an unmet need for new delivery technologies to treat intracellular infections more effectively. Here, we compare the uptake, delivery, and efficacy of rifampicin (Rif)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and organo-modified (ethylene-bridged) MSN (MON) as an antibiotic treatment against small colony variants (SCV) Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). Macrophage uptake of MON was five-fold that of equivalent sized MSN and without significant cytotoxicity on human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293T) or RAW 264.7 cells. MON also facilitated increased Rif loading with sustained release, and seven-fold increased Rif delivery to infected macrophages. The combined effects of increased uptake and intracellular delivery of Rif by MON reduced the colony forming units of intracellular SCV-SA 28 times and 65 times compared to MSN-Rif and non-encapsulated Rif, respectively (at a dose of 5 µg/mL). Conclusively, the organic framework of MON offers significant advantages and opportunities over MSN for the treatment of intracellular infections.
A Hybrid Cladding Ring-Core Photonic Crystal Fibers for OAM Transmission with Weak Spin–Orbit Coupling and Strong Bending Resistance
Authors: Zhang Hu , Fang Songke , Wang Jiaqi , Feng Haixia , Li Hui , Wan Dong , Zhang Xiaoguang , Xi Lixia
Published: March 2023

A hybrid cladding ring-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for transmitting orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes is proposed, which breaks the circular symmetry of the fiber structure to suppress the spin–orbit coupling and promotes bending resistance. Through the optimization of fiber structure parameters, the designed fiber can support 22 OAM modes (6 OAM mode groups) over a 200-nm wide bandwidth (covering the whole C + L band) with large effective refractive index separation between adjacent modes (>10−4) and mode groups (>3.6 × 10−3), low confinement losses (<3.5 × 10−9 dB/m), and high mode purity (>98.3%). Meanwhile, the phase of the OAM modes varies periodically and uniformly with an increase in the azimuth angle, and the polarization of OAM modes maintain nearly circular polarization in the designed fiber, which also demonstrates that the fiber has weak spin–orbit coupling. Moreover, the confinement losses of all vector modes are less than 10−7 dB/m when the bending radius is larger than 0.8 mm, indicating strong bending resistance. Furthermore, the fiber also exhibits large differential group delay, relatively low and flat dispersion, and low nonlinear coefficients (<2.0 W−1/km). Therefore, the novel fiber structure has great potential in the application of mode division multiplexing (MDM) based on OAM modes.
Facile Preparation of Au–Ag Composite Nanostructure for High-Sensitive and Uniform Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Yan Zhonghua , Zhang Weina , Wen Kunhua , Sun Bo , Hu Xiaolong , Qin Yuwen
Published: March 2023

Preparation of a high-sensitive and uniform surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active substrate structure usually faces complex processes and high costs. Here, porous Au–Ag composite nanostructures that are conventional fabricated by the deposition of a multilayer Au–Ag, annealing, and dealloying process are proposed for high-performance SERS. By annealing at a suitable temperature, nanopores could be firmly distributed on the surface, which serves as hot spots. The electric field distribution was also performed by the finite difference time domain. The experiment results exhibited excellent uniformity and high sensitivity of SERS detection. The enhancement factor of the R6G molecules detected by the SERS substrate reached 1.37 × 107, and the relative standard deviation was as low as 4.9%. The minimum detection concentration of R6G molecules by the Au–Ag composite nanostructures with bottom Au mirror could reach 10−13 M. The proposed Au–Ag composite nanostructures and the fabrication process have great potential in preparation of a high-sensitive and uniform SERS substrate.
Silver Nanoparticles as Antifungal Agents in Acrylic Latexes: Influence of the Initiator Type on Nanoparticle Incorporation and Aureobasidium pullulans Resistance
Authors: Boivin Gabrielle , Ritcey Anna M. , Landry Véronic
Published: March 2023

Discoloration of wood coatings due to fungal growth negatively affects the aesthetic properties of the coatings, and new ways to control fungal growth on coatings are needed. For this reason, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been incorporated in acrylic latexes as antifungal agents. Using miniemulsion polymerization, latexes were prepared with two types of initiators (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) to assess the influence of the initiator type on AgNPs dispersion, both within the latex particles and the dry film. In addition, the impact of NP dispersion on resistance to black-stain fungi (Aureobasidium pullulans) was also evaluated. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis indicates that acrylic latexes prepared with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator contain more AgNPs than those prepared with potassium persulfate (KPS). Cryo-TEM and SEM analyses show that the distribution of the AgNPs within the polymer particles is influenced by the nature of the initiator. When AIBN, a hydrophobic initiator, is used, the AgNPs appear to be closer to the surface of the polymer particles and more evenly distributed. However, the antifungal efficiency of the AgNPs-embedded latexes against A. pullulans is found to be higher when KPS is used, despite this initiator leading to a smaller amount of incorporated AgNPs and a less uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles.
The Effect of Heat Treatment on a 3D-Printed PLA Polymer’s Mechanical Properties
Authors: Shbanah Mariam , Jordanov Márton , Nyikes Zoltán , Tóth László , Kovács Tünde Anna
Published: March 2023

Three-dimensional printing is a useful and common process in additive manufacturing nowadays. The advantage of additive polymer technology is its rapidity and design freedom. Polymer materials’ mechanical properties depend on the process parameters and the chemical composition of the polymer used. Mechanical properties are very important in product applicability. The mechanical properties of polymers can be enhanced by heat treatment. Additive-manufactured PLA’s mechanical properties and structure can be modified via heat treatment after the 3D printing process. The goal of this research was to test the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical and structural parameters of additive-manufactured PLA. This was achieved via the FDM processing of standard PLA tensile test specimens with longitudinal and vertical printing orientations. After printing, the test specimens were heat-treated at 55 °C, 65 °C and 80 °C for 5 h and after being held at 20 °C for 15 h. The printed and heat-treated specimens were tested using tensile tests and microscopy. Based on the test results, we can conclude that the optimal heat treatment process temperature was 65 °C for 5 h. Under the heat treatment, the test specimens did not show any deformation, the tensile strength increased by 35% and the porosity of the PLA structure decreased.
Preparation of Amphiphilic Chitosan-Loaded Bentonite Adsorbent and Its Performance in Removing Organic Matter from Coking Wastewater
Authors: Zhu Zhou , Kou Haiqun , Zhou Yuchang , Lan Xindian , Yu Meiying , Chen Haonan
Published: March 2023

An amphiphilic chitosan-loaded bentonite adsorbent (C18CTS−BT) was prepared for the efficient removal of organic matter from coking wastewater. The structure and surface morphology of adsorbents were characterized by FT−IR, XRD, and SEM. The removal of those organics by C18CTS−BT was investigated by comparing the adsorption performances of C18CTS−BT with bentonite (BT) and chitosan-loaded bentonite (CTS−BT). The results showed that compared with BT and CTS−BT, C18CTS−BT showed the performance advantages of having a low dosage, wide pH range, and short adsorption equilibrium time. The optimized treatment process was as follows: the adsorbent dosage was 1.5 g·L−1, the adsorption time was 60 min, and the pH of the system was 7.0. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the coking wastewater treated with BT, CTS−BT, and C18CTS−BT decreased from 342 mg·L−1 in the raw water to 264 mg·L−1, 218 mg·L−1, and 146 mg·L−1, corresponding to COD removal rates of 22.81%, 36.26%, and 57.31%, respectively. The results of GC−MS analysis also confirmed that C18CTS−BT could remove most of the organic compounds in coking wastewater, especially long−chain alkanes and their derivatives. The hydrophobic modification of the adsorbent material can effectively improve the removal performance of organic compounds from coking wastewater.
Synthesis, Characterization and Application of a New Functionalized Polymeric Sorbent Based on Alkenylphoshine Oxide
Authors: Frynas Sławomir , Wawrzkiewicz Monika
Published: March 2023

A novel phosphorus-containing sorbent (CyP(Ph)4–DVB) was prepared by copolymerizing divinylbenzene (DVB) with bis α,β-unsaturated phosphorylated cyclohexene (CyP(Ph)4). ATR-FT-IR indicated that the phosphinoyl group was introduced into the sorbent structure. The thermal properties of the sorbent were investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), which revealed that (CyP(Ph)4–DVB) is more stable than poly(DVB). The CyP(Ph)4–DVB was applied for cationic dye removal, such as C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) and C.I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3). Batch adsorption tests suggested that the Freundlich isotherm model seemed to be the better one for the description of equilibrium sorption data at equilibrium, rather than the Langmuir or Temkin models. The Freundlich constants concerning the adsorption capacity of CyP(Ph)4–DVB, kF, were calculated as 14.2 mg1−1/nL1/n/g for BY2 and 53.7 mg1−1/nL1/n/g for BB3.
Weakening the Flicker Noise in GPS Vertical Coordinate Time Series Using Hybrid Approaches
Authors: Yang Bing , Yang Zhiqiang , Tian Zhen , Liang Pei
Published: March 2023

Noises in the GPS vertical coordinate time series, mainly including the white and flicker noise, have been proven to impair the accuracy and reliability of GPS products. Various methods were adopted to weaken the white and flicker noises in the GPS time series, such as the complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD), wavelet denoising (WD), and variational mode decomposition (VMD). However, a single method only works at a limited frequency band of the time series, and the corresponding denoising ability is insufficient, especially for the flicker noise. Hence, in this study, we try to build two combined methods: CEEMD & WD and VMD & WD, to weaken the flicker noise in the GPS positioning time series from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China. First, we handled the original signal using CEEMD or VMD with the appropriate parameters. Then, the processed signal was further denoised by WD. The results show that the average flicker noise in the time series was reduced from 19.90 mm/year0.25 to 2.8 mm/year0.25. This relates to a reduction of 86% after applying the two methods to process the GPS data, which indicates our solutions outperform CEEMD by 6.84% and VMD by 16.88% in weakening the flicker noise, respectively. Those apparent decreases in the flicker noises for the two combined methods are attributed to the differences in the frequencies between the WD and the other two methods, which were verified by analyzing the power spectrum density (PSD). With the help of WD, CEEMD & WD and VMD & WD can identify more flicker noise hidden in the low-frequency signals obtained by CEEMD and VMD. Finally, we found that the two combined methods have almost identical effects on removing the flicker noise in the time series for 226 GPS stations in China, testified by the Wilcoxon rank sum test.
A Partial Reconstruction Method for SAR Altimeter Coastal Waveforms Based on Adaptive Threshold Judgment
Authors: Liu Xiaonan , Kong Weiya , Sun Hanwei , Lu Yaobing
Published: March 2023

Due to land contamination and human activities, the sea surface height (SSH) data retrieved from altimeter coastal waveforms have poor precision and cannot provide effective information for various tasks. The along-track high-resolution characteristic of the new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) altimeter makes the retracking methods of traditional coastal waveforms difficult to apply. This study proposes a partial reconstruction method for SAR altimeter coastal waveforms. By making adaptive threshold judgments of model matching errors and repairing the contaminated waveforms based on the nearest linear prediction, the success rate of retracking and retrieval precision of SSH are significantly improved. The data from the coastal experimental areas of the Sentinel-3B satellite altimeter are processed. The results indicate that the mean proportion of waveform quality improvement brought by partial reconstruction is 80.30%, the mean retracking success rate of reconstructed waveforms is 85.60%, and the mean increasing percentage is 30.98%. The noise levels of SSH data retrieved by different methods are calculated to evaluate the processing precision. It is shown that the 20 Hz SSH precisions of the original and reconstructed coastal waveforms are 12.75 cm and 6.32 cm, respectively, and the corresponding 1 Hz SSH precisions are 2.85 cm and 1.41 cm, respectively. The results validate that the proposed partial reconstruction method has improved the SSH precision by a factor of two, and the comparison results with mean sea surface (MSS) model data further verify this conclusion.
Basal Melt Patterns around the Deep Ice Core Drilling Site in the Dome A Region from Ice-Penetrating Radar Measurements
Authors: Wang Hao , Tang Xueyuan , Xiao Enzhao , Luo Kun , Dong Sheng , Sun Bo
Published: March 2023

Basal melt in the Dome A region will influence the deep-ice-core drilling at Kunlun Station. The melting point (wet bedrock) has a higher reflectivity than the surrounding area, which can be assessed using radar echoes from the bedrock. This paper uses a linear absorption model to determine wet and dry ice–bedrock interfaces around the Kunlun drilling site. In the determination process, an artificial intelligence model was applied to extract the ice–bedrock interface for inferring the ice thickness. Additionally, the various depth-averaged attenuation rates were used to identify the maximal range of basal melting. We mapped the patterns of the wet points on the bottom of the ice sheet and the modeled basal temperature to verify the results of the wet bed conditions. According to these maps of wet bed conditions, the areas with basal melting around the drilling site primarily appear in valley walls with low basal temperatures and are linked with hydraulic potential and bedrock elevation. Identifying the ice–bedrock interface is challenging in the valley bottom area, where the melting points are less than at the valley walls. Additionally, the melting proportions of 11.8% and 3.62% were calculated from two ice-penetrating radar data in this research. The mapped melting points around the site of Kunlun ice core drilling suggest complex ice flow effects and can be used to better interpret archives of old ice for paleoclimate research.
Energy Assessment of a Tannery to Improve Its Sustainability
Authors: Morera Josep M. , Borri Emiliano , Zsembinszki Gabriel , Vérez David , Gasa Gemma , Bartolí Esther , Cabeza Luisa F.
Published: March 2023

The tanning industry is one of the highly polluting sectors, and it is only in the last few years that studies on the energy improvement of tanneries started to proliferate in the literature. Even though the energy cost of a tannery is only a small fraction of the total cost, many tanners became aware of the importance of improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint to keep the business afloat and be more competitive in the market. This paper presents a study on increasing the sustainability of a tannery located in the region of Catalonia, Spain. Several measures to increase its energy efficiency and reduce its primary energy consumption were proposed and analysed including, among others, the implementation of solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic panels. A cost analysis of the most promising solutions was carried out and discussed. The results show that the tannery should invest between EUR 2 to 2.5 M to obtain the highest energy savings, with an estimated payback period between 5 and 7 years. However, acceptable energy savings can be obtained with a lower investment cost of between EUR 1 to 1.5 M, with a shorter payback period of between 2 and 4 years.
A Systematic Review Discussing the Sustainability of Men and Women’s Work in Industry 4.0: Are Technologies Gender-Neutral?
Authors: Maggioli Sarah , Cunha Liliana
Published: March 2023

The introduction of new technologies at work in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has led to the emergence of risks for health, even if they are still underexplored. However, their understanding does not usually adopt a gender perspective, even though the gendered division of work has differentiated health outcomes. As sustainability is at the top of the political agenda and in consideration of the gender segregation that exists at work, it is pertinent to question how I4.0 technologies are reconfiguring workplaces and impacting women and men’s health. Following a systematic review approach using the PRISMA protocol, this study explores how gender is integrated in I4.0-themed studies, exploring employment, work, and health. After the identification and screening phases were completed, a total of 16 papers were included. Literature exploring technological transformation from a gender point of view is scarce, as well as research developed in concrete work contexts. The literature in this domain tends to address employment prospects, and women are generally described as being more at risk for job loss through automation processes. Health risks in the literature found in this review were mostly neither considered nor differentiated for women and men. Future studies should consider the specificities of different work contexts through the development of case studies in different activity sectors so that the risks for women and men can become visible. This way, interventions at a work organization level are enabled to create more sustainable working conditions.
Index of the Openness and Transparency of Budgeting and Financial Management of the Defence and Security Sector: Case of Ukraine
Authors: Nate Silviu , Stavytskyy Andriy , Kharlamova Ganna
Published: March 2023

Currently, the military actions on the territory of Ukraine require significant support from EU countries and partners in providing military and material assistance. The issue of openness and transparency of budgeting, particularly in the defence and security sector, becomes even more significant. The peak of interest in the literature on the issues of openness and transparency of budgeting appeared in 2005–2006. However, in Ukraine, which has largely continued to follow Soviet trends, this is an alarming subject. It has been brought to the forefront by the events after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. One of the ways to guarantee the openness and transparency of budgeting is the development of a suitable open data system, which includes the analysis of all financial costs based on the proper methodology. Such a methodology should be founded on the concept of assessing the openness and transparency of budgeting and financial management of the defence and security sector of Ukraine at the current stage in the conditions of war and, after it, be measured quantitatively and implemented using IT. This article aims to consider the methodology of an index of openness and transparency of budgeting and financial management of the defence and security sector and to implement it in the case of Ukraine. Based on the conducted literature review, a new method to calculate the index of openness and budgeting transparency of the defence and security sector of Ukraine is built. Nine separate indicators are defined, and each of them affects the final value of the index. Some indicators have a binary form, and some have a scale, which is used to estimate their specific weight of impact. This approach makes it possible not only to monitor the openness and transparency of the defence and security sector but also to show the dynamics of the development of the phenomenon and compare it, in the future, with other countries. Based on calculations for 2008–2021, the trend of this index is shown for Ukraine, and conclusions are made regarding its further application.
Effect of Mineral Element Imbalance on Neutrophil Respiratory Burst Function and Inflammatory and Antioxidant Responses in Sheep
Authors: Liu Weiqi , Wang Di , Zhou Qijun , Wang Jianfa , Lian Shuai
Published: March 2023

This study established a model of mineral element homeostatic imbalance and examined the respiratory burst function of peripheral blood neutrophils and inflammatory and antioxidant indicators before and after the imbalance in sheep. The results showed that after an EDTA injection, the number of activated neutrophils in the peripheral blood was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.01). In addition, the serum IL-6 level was significantly increased (p < 0.05) and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) was inhibited (p < 0.05), but returned to a normal level one week after the injection. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) levels were consistently higher after the injection and significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). CuZn-SOD, TNOS activity, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were significantly higher than before the injection (p < 0.05). Combining the results of previous studies, the EDTA injection altered the metabolism and transcription of peripheral blood neutrophils. These changes enhance the respiratory burst function of neutrophils and alter the status of inflammatory and antioxidant indicators such as IL-6 and CuZn-SOD.
Uncertainty Assessment of WinSRFR Furrow Irrigation Simulation Model Using the GLUE Framework under Variability in Geometry Cross Section, Infiltration, and Roughness Parameters
Authors: Seifi Akram , Golestani Kermani Soudabeh , Mosavi Amir , Soroush Fatemeh
Published: March 2023

Quantitatively analyzing models’ uncertainty is essential for agricultural models due to the effect of inputs parameters and processes on increasing models’ uncertainties. The main aim of the current study was to explore the influence of input parameter uncertainty on the output of the well-known surface irrigation software model of WinSRFR. The generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) framework was used to explicitly evaluate the uncertainty model of WinSRFR. The epistemic uncertainties of WinSRFR furrow irrigation simulations, including the advance front curve, flow depth hydrograph, and runoff hydrograph, were assessed in response to change key input parameters related to the Kostiakov–Lewis infiltration function, Manning’s roughness coefficient, and the geometry cross section. Three likelihood measures of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), percentage bias (PBIAS), and the coefficient of determination (R2) were used in GLUE analysis for selecting behavioral estimations of the model outputs. The uncertainty of the WinSRFR model was investigated under two furrow irrigation system conditions, closed end and open end. The results showed the likelihood measures considerably influence the width of uncertainty bounds. WinSRFR outputs have high uncertainty for cross section parameters relative to soil infiltration and roughness parameters. Parameters of soil infiltration and roughness coefficient play an important role in reducing the uncertainty bound width and number of observations, especially by filtering non-behavioral data using likelihood measures. The simulation errors of advance front curve and runoff hydrograph outputs with a PBIAS function were relatively lower and stable compared with other those of the likelihood functions. The 95% prediction uncertainties (95PPU) of the advance front curve were calculated to be 87.5% in both close-ended and open-ended conditions whereas, it was 91.18% for the runoff hydrograph in the open-ended condition. Additionally, the NSE likelihood function more explicitly determined the uncertainty related to flow depth hydrograph estimations. The outputs of the model showed more uncertainty and instability in response to variability in soil infiltration parameters than the roughness coefficient did. Therefore, applying accurate field methods and equipment and proper measurements of soil infiltration is recommended. The results highlight the importance of accurately monitoring and determining model input parameters to access a suitable level of WinSRFR uncertainty. In conclusion, considering and analyzing the uncertainty of input parameters of WinSRFR models is critical and could provide a reference to obtain realistic and stable furrow irrigation simulations.
Redox Changes during the Past 100 ka in the Deeper Eastern Arabian Sea: A Study Based on Trace Elements and Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Authors: Mir Ishfaq Ahmad , Luzia Mascarenhas Maria Brenda
Published: March 2023

The temporal distribution of trace elements in a sediment core (SK117/GC-08) indicates minor changes in oxygenation during the last 100 kilo years in the bottom waters of the deeper eastern Arabian Sea. The high values of Mn, Co, Cu, Mn/Al, Co/Al, Cu/Al, V/Cr, and V/(V + Ni) in the sediments during interglacials and interstitials collectively indicate oxic conditions during warm periods. The high values of Cr, Ni, V, Mo, Cr/Al, Ni/Al, and Ni/Co in sediments during glacials and stadials collectively indicate dysoxic to suboxic conditions during the colder last glacial maximum and during the entire marine isotope stage two. The bottom waters have never experienced anoxic conditions. Multivariate statistics showed the attribution of the trace elements in two factors: cluster 1 (Co, Cu, Mn) was enriched during oxic conditions and cluster 2 (Cr, Mo, Ni, V) was enriched during dysoxic to suboxic conditions. Oxygenation conditions are mainly driven by variations in monsoon-controlled surface water productivity and changes in the flux of circumpolar deep water. The dysoxic to suboxic bottom water conditions developed at the core location during colder climates are very well synchronised with an increased organic matter flux. The main factor that controls the accumulation of the organic-rich sediments in the eastern Arabian Sea during a glacial is the increase in the supply of organic matter from increased primary productivity in the surface waters, controlled by winter monsoon winds, and localized convective mixing. During warmer interglacials and interstadials, the core location has remained well ventilated.
Effect of Temperature on Microorganisms and Nitrogen Removal in a Multi-Stage Surface Flow Constructed Wetland
Authors: Wang Huiyong , Xu Yongxin , Chai Beibei
Published: March 2023

The effect of low temperature on microbial nitrogen metabolism in constructed wetlands has yet to be extensively investigated. In this study, we analyzed the effects of temperature changes on nitrogen-associated microorganisms and nitrogen metabolism functional genes in a multi-stage surface flow constructed wetland (MSSFCW) using metagenomic sequencing. The treatment of polluted river water in the MSSFCW, which had a mean water temperature (MWT) of ≤17 °C, resulted in a low removal efficiency (RE) for total nitrogen (TN; average RE: 23.05% at 1–17 °C) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N; average RE: −2.41% at 1–17 °C). Furthermore, at a MWT of ≤11 °C, the REs were low for ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N; average RE: 67.92% at 1–11 °C) and for chemical oxygen demand (COD; average RE: 27.45% at 1–11 °C). At 0.24 m3 m−2 d−1 influent load, the highest REs for TN (66.84%), NO3−-N (74.90%), NH4+-N (83.93%), and COD (52.97%) occurred in July and August, when water temperatures were between 26 and 28 °C. The lowest rates (TN: 11.90%, NO3−-N: −21.98%, NH4+-N: 65.47%, COD: 24.14%) occurred in the January–February period, when the water temperature was lowest (1–5 °C). A total of 25 significantly different species were detected in surface sediment, none of which were dominant species. The dominant phyla and genera at low (January) and high (July) temperatures were similar; however, microorganisms were more abundant in the low-temperature months. Our analysis indicated that the same nitrogen metabolism pathways occurred in January and July. Denitrification-associated functional genes were the most abundant; nitrification-related functional genes were the least abundant. Only nirBD displayed significantly different abundances between January and July. This paper can hopefully help researchers and managers further understand how temperature affects nitrogen removal performance in constructed wetlands.
Quantitative Evaluation of Municipal Wastewater Disinfection by 280 nm UVC LED
Authors: Yu Linlong , Acosta Nicole , Bautista Maria A. , McCalder Janine , Himann Jode , Pogosian Samuel , Hubert Casey R. J. , Parkins Michael D. , Achari Gopal
Published: March 2023

UV-LED irradiation has attracted attention in water and wastewater disinfection applications. However, no studies have quantitatively investigated the impact of light intensity on the UV dosage for the same magnitude of disinfection. This study presents a powerful 280 nm UV-LED photoreactor with adjustable light intensity to disinfect municipal wastewater contaminated with E. coli, SARS-CoV-2 genetic materials and others. The disinfection performance of the 280 nm LED was also compared with 405 nm visible light LEDs, in terms of inactivating E. coli and total coliforms, as well as reducing cATP activities. The results showed that the UV dose needed per log reduction of E. coli and total coliforms, as well as cATP, could be decreased by increasing the light intensity within the investigated range (0–9640 µW/cm2). Higher energy consumption is needed for microbial disinfection using the 405 nm LED when compared to 280 nm LED. The signal of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in pure water decreased upon 280 nm UV irradiation.
Deceleration as a form of resistance to the homo economicus mode: the emergence of homo tardus
Authors:   Volgograd State University, Romanov I. Y.
Published: March 2023

The article considers the variants of the reaction of society and culture to the crisis state of postmodernity. The role and place of alienation in post-industrial society is analyzed, as well as the problem of the society of abundance. The proposed idea of homo tardus is considered as a special regime, manifested in the process of slowing down participation in economic relations, as a form of resistance to the current state of society. The process of the hidden return of the meta-narrative in the conditions of the prevailing postmodernity is investigated.
Stopping of the Policy of «Korenization» in the USSR (historiosophical aspect)
Authors:   Russian Potato Research Centre, Arshin K.V.
Published: March 2023

In the article, the policy of «indigenization» was seen as an important element in the political development of the Soviet Union. However, by the end of the 1920s, it much exhausted herself. In the context of the growing military confrontation between the USSR and the capitalist countries surrounding it (the “military alert of 1927”), the growth of “local nationalisms” served as a weakening factor for the country. Under these conditions, it was decided to gradually abandon the policy of «indigenization» in favor of encouraging «Soviet patriotism». The result of this policy was the formation of the concept «Soviet people», which was actually built as «socialist in form, national in content» (based on Russian culture and history). This contradiction prevented the formation of a single Soviet nation and served as one of the reasons for the collapse of the USSR, since the concept of «Soviet people» was not close to any of the peoples of the USSR, including the Russian people.
Concept versus notion: philosophical foundations of cognitive science
Authors:   Southern Federal University, Bogdanova M.A. , Abrosimova L.S. ,   Southern Federal University
Published: March 2023

The paper turns to the medieval philosopher P. Abelard who worked out a thorough notion of «concept», thus, laying the foundations of modern cognitive science. In accordance with the Zeitgeist, Abelard connects cognition with self-cognition. As a result, mental processes bear the imprint of moral judgements, in which the psychological component occupies a leading place. In modern humanities, one can find receptions for understanding of “concept” as a form of thinking that is “not cleared” of a person’s subjective experiences, which makes it possible to achieve a new level of understanding of the correlation of language, consciousness and culture, to expand the capabilities of content analysis of linguistic phenomena and personal semantic analysis of the text.
FAMILY POLICY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES: RESPONSE TO DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
Authors:   Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Subkhangulova K.A.
Published: March 2023

The object of the study is demographic processes and family policy in the Scandinavian countries. The relevance of the study is due to the severity of the demographic challenges of developed modern states and the need for effective responses. The research tasks are to reveal and explain the specifics of the development of demographic processes in the Scandinavian countries, the characteristics of the model, and the main directions of the current family policy of these states and to identify their successful practices in supporting families with children and promoting healthy and active longevity. The research methodology is based on the consideration of demographic processes from the standpoint of the concepts of demographic transition and the multivariance of demographic development; analysis of the family policy of the Scandinavian states within the framework of the typology of social policy models; using the tools of theoretical generalization and statistical analysis of domestic and international organizations’ data. The results of the study show that the family policy of the Scandinavian countries is characterized by a broad scale of state support for the population, determined by the high level of economic development and the generosity of public spending, which is inherent in the social model of these countries. Most of the measures and funding are aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of families with children, providing coverage of material support for all categories of families with children; a decent amount of payments for each child; availability of different support options for parents depending on their choice between work or childcare, etc. A developed healthcare system, including preventive care and a set of measures to counter the social isolation of lonely people, contributes to improving the quality of life of the elderly population and lengthening its healthy and active period. Despite the objective limitations of the state’s ability to influence demographic processes, the Scandinavian countries successfully counter the decline in the birth rate, increasing life expectancy and reducing mortality, which contributes to maintaining natural population growth. The area of application of the research results is to take into account the Scandinavian experience, which can help improve domestic family policy and expand its capabilities in helping to increase the sustainability of Russia’s demographic development.
PRECARIZATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND ITS FEATURES IN GENERATIONAL GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE ASSESSMENTS OF TRADE UNION EXPERTS
Authors:   Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia, Bobkov V.N. , Odintsovа E.V. ,   Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia, Ryazantsev V.I. ,   Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia
Published: March 2023

The object of the study is precarious employment. The purpose of the paper is to clarify the theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of the problems of precarious employment on the basis of expert assessments of specialists, whose focus is on the protection of social and labor rights and interests of employees. The study is based on an expert survey conducted by the authors in 2022 among experts representing member organizations of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia. The results of the study based on the generalization of expert assessments: 1) the indicators for the identification of precarious employment were clarified and their list was determined, fixing objective (type of registration and employment conditions) and subjective (through self-assessments of employees) manifestations; 2) the level of income of the main employment was determined, which indicates precarious employment and the risks of instability of the financial situation of employees’ households (differentiated by types of employees’ households); 3) the concentration of manifestations of precarization of employment in its various forms was revealed; 4) the features of precarization of employment in different generational groups of employees - youth (under 35 years), middle-aged (from 36 years to retirement age) and older (retirement age) generations were highlighted; 5) the opinions of experts and arguments on the issues of social insurance of employed in the economy of individuals with high risks of precarization of employment are identified. The results of the study may be in demand by the research community, executive and legislative authorities, and trade unions. The scope of application of the results is the development of theoretical, methodological, and instrumental foundations for identifying precarious employment, improving employment policy, remuneration, and social protection to improve employment quality and ensure employee guarantees and rights.
Jacques Brel’s song “Ne me quitte pas” and its performance versions: genre-stylistic and linguistic aspects
Authors: Tymoshenko Andrii
Published: March 2023

Statement of the problem. One of the hallmarks of pop music culture is that in this sphere the song is much more associated with its performer than in classical music, let alone folklore. We know the songs mostly by the name of its performer, not by the lyricist’s or composer’s. In those conditions, practice of continuous appeal of different singers to the same song becomes even more significant and calls for its research. The article is devoted to “Ne me quitte pas”, a song that has interpretations differing in era, style, genre traits, language, whose first performer, Jacques Brel, is one of the most prominent figures in French chanson of the XX century. The purpose of the article is, at first in Ukrainian musicology, to compare selected renditions of “Ne me quitte pas” taking into consideration genre-stylistic and linguistic aspects. The main research method used in the article is comparative, applied both to different interpretations and to translations of the lyrics. Results and conclusion. In more than 60 years of its existence in performance tradition, the song “Ne me quitte pas” was interpreted multiple times. And its every performer was adding something to it, enriching it with something individual, but to a different degree. The performers like Mireille Mathieu suggest their own vision of this song, which does not result in drastic transfiguration of stylistic and genre parameters of the song, it remains roughly the same, just performed by another singer, albeit he creates his own individual image. The others versions fundamentally rethink the spirit, the essence of “Ne me quitte pas”: Barbara turns it in almost prayer-like recitation, Juliette Gréco transforms it into something akin to theatrical monologue with rather unusual instrumental part, Wyclef Jean makes out of it a modern hip-hop track, etc. This diversity of variants betokens almost endless creative potential enshrined in this song, its openness to various experiments, in other words, its possibility to be actively used in modern musical life, which is interpretative in its core essence. Moreover, this song having two fundamentally different English translations (rather free one and almost literary one) shows that there is “public demand” in these tools of broadening the potential audience of French chanson, even despite significant problems arising when doing these kinds of tasks for translators.
Hastalarda Perioperatif Hemşirelik Bakımı Kalitesi Ve Etkileyen Faktörler
Authors: KIZILCIK ÖZKAN Zeynep , DIĞIN Figen , DİNLEGÖR SEKMEN Işılay
Published: March 2023

Giriş ve Amaç: Hastaların perioperatif hemşirelik bakımı kalite algısının belirlenmesi, sunulan sağlık hizmetinin kalitesinin devamlılığının sağlanmasında önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı cerrahi hastalarında perioperatif bakım kalitesini ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemektir.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tanımlayıcı tipteki bu araştırma Haziran 2021-Mayıs 2022 tarihleri arasında bir kamu hastanesinde genel cerrahi ya da ortopedik cerrahi uygulanan 100 hastanın katılımıyla gerçekleştirildi. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak “Hasta Tanıtım Formu” ve “Kaliteli Perioperatif Hemşirelik Bakım Skalası” kullanıldı.

Bulgular: Hastaların Kaliteli Perioperatif Hemşirelik Bakım Skalası puan ortalamaları 140,0±16,9 olarak bulundu. En yüksek alt boyut puan ortalaması saygı ve en düşük alt boyut puan ortalaması destek olarak bulundu. Uygulanan ameliyatın Hastaların Kaliteli Perioperatif Hemşirelik Bakım Skalası toplam puan ortalamalarını (p=0,008), bilgi verme (p=0.0019), destek (p=0,013), saygı (p=0,000), personel karakterleri (p=0,006), çevre (p=0,017) ve hemşirelik süreci (p=0,028) alt boyut puan ortalamalarını etkilediği bulundu.

Sonuç: Cerrahi uygulanan hastaların perioperatif hemşirelik bakımını kaliteli olarak algıladıkları belirlendi.
Conducting Surveys of Enacted Curriculum Studies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Toolkit for Policymakers, Researchers, and Education Practitioners
Authors: Atuhurra Julius , Chaudhry Rastee , Kaffenberger Michelle
Published: March 2023

The Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC) approach is used to analyse and report on the academic content embedded in education instructional components such as curriculum standards, assessments, and teachers' classroom instruction. Through a partnership between the RISE Programme and the Center for Curriculum Analysis, the approach has been used to analyse educational alignment in low- and middle-income country education systems, including in Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. The SEC approach has many applications including content and alignment analysis for curriculum standards, assessments, and instructional materials; curriculum reform design and implementation support; and teacher professional development and support. This document provides a comprehensive toolkit for conducting an SEC study in LMICs. Following the introduction and background, Section 2 gives an overview of the SEC approach and provides a brief description of sequential steps involved in conducting an SEC study: (i) generating data; (ii) inputting data; (iii) processing and analysing data; and (iv) interpretating results. Section 3 then gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for implementing an SEC study. Section 4 shares lessons learned from conducting SEC studies in LMICs. The document then closes with an Appendix that provides a detailed overview of the SEC tools and other resources provided with this toolkit. These appendices [.zip] are available for download.
Learning Environments under COVID-Induced School Closures: Evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Glewwe Paul , Chua Kenn
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of over 1.5 billion students globally. A majority of students live in countries where schools were either fully closed or were operational only through remote access. As school disruptions are likely to have lasting impacts on children’s human capital accumulation, data documenting how schools and households have adapted to this new learning environment have the potential to provide information on how to curb the adverse effects of school closures on children’s educational progress. Using a telephone survey, the RISE Vietnam country research team (CRT) collected data from 134 school principals from a nationally representative sample of 140 primary schools (a response rate of 95.7 percent). A telephone survey was also conducted of 2,389 parents of Grade 3 and 4 students enrolled in these 140 primary schools; this survey covers all 140 schools, with an average of 17 parents per school. Principals were asked what schools did to provide instruction while schools were closed in early 2020, while parents were interviewed regarding children’s weekday activities as well as the types of instruction the children received during this period. The telephone interviews with school principals and parents were conducted between July and September of 2020. In 2020, Vietnam was in many ways an outlier in that it flattened its epidemic curve early in that year, thereby allowing schools to reopen as early as May 4, 2020—roughly three months after schools were first directed to shut down. Vietnam’s schools continued to stay open and ended its 2019-2020 school year towards the end of June. While the period of school closure in Vietnam was brief, the country’s example may provide lessons for other nations that faced, and are still facing, the educational consequences of the pandemic.