bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review and meta-analysis: risk factors for psoriatic arthritis. Part 1.
Authors: Pereverzina N. O. , Kruglova L. S. , Korotaeva T. V. , Lila A. M.
Published: February 2022

According to epidemiological and clinical studies, every fourth patient with psoriasis develops psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and in many cases there is a destructive form of arthritis that leads to disability. Late diagnosis of PsA is associated with a significant reduction in the effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, early diagnosis of this disease is so important.Objective: to determine the methods for early detection of PsA, in particular the identification of risk factors (RFs) for its development, which will prevent the progression of the disease and the disability of patients.Materials and methods. The literature review and meta-analysis is presented in two parts. Part 1 of the systematic review included articles on exogenous RFs for the development of PsA published over the past 10 years.PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles published before March 1, 2021. We searched for currently registered trials in the registers of clinical trials of US (ClinicalTrials.gov), of China (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry) and the WHO InternationalClinical Trial Registry Platform. The statistical analysis was prepared in accordance with the international guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) using the Statistic SPSS 26.0 program (USA).Results and discussion. 957 articles published up to March 1, 2021 were identified. After further analysis, irrelevant articles were excluded. A total of 73 articles were included in the review and analysis, 32 of which were included in Part 1. The most common exogenous RFs are: mechanical injuries, medications, and psychotraumatic situations.Conclusion. PsA is a multifactorial disease. Currently, a large number of exogenous RFs for the development of this disease have been established. Knowledge of RFs and the ability to recognize them will help dermatovenereologists and rheumatologists to effectively assess and predict the patient's condition. Correction of modifiable RFs, early prescription of appropriate therapy will help to reduce the number of PsA cases, the development of functional disorders and prevent the growth of disability. However, studies on the comprehensive assessment of RFs in PsA are still insufficient. Further study of methods for the early diagnosis of PsA is needed in order to optimize its treatment.
Medical and social significance and calculation of the economic burden of axial spondyloarthritis in the Russian Federation
Authors: Lila A. M. , Dubinina T. V. , Dreval R. O. , Lapshina S. А. , Zabotina A. N.
Published: February 2022

Objective: to assess the economic burden of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiological axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in the Russian Federation, as well as the availability and economic prospects for more complete provision of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) to patients with AS and nr-axSpA.Patients and methods. The prevalence of AS and nr-axSpA and organizational aspects of providing with bDMARDs to this category of patients were analyzed.A variant model has been developed in Microsoft Excel, allows to calculate the indicators of the economic burden of AS and nr-axSpA in the Russian Federation, taking into account the economic losses associated with disability, as well as the low availability of bDMARDs. During study preparation, data from real clinical practice and the opinions of experts in the field of AS from various regions of the Russian Federation were studied.The economic burden was calculated as the sum of direct and indirect costs per patient and the population. Additionally, the specific economic burden per capita was determined.Results and discussion. According to expert estimates, the prevalence of AS and nr-axSpA today is 105.0 and 33.2 thousand people, respectively.The current economic burden of the AS for 2019 is estimated at 21.9 billion rubles per population, or 395.5 thousand rubles for 1 patient. The ratio of direct and indirect costs was 1:4, i.e. 4.7 billion rubles – direct costs (84.3 thousand rubles per 1 patient) and 17.2 billion rubles – indirect costs (311.2 thousand rubles per 1 patient). The burden per capita – 149 rubles.Nr-axSpA's current economic burden in 2019 reached 3.0 billion rubles, or 182.9 thousand rubles for 1 patient. The ratio of direct and indirect costs is estimated as 2:5, or 0.9 billion rubles – direct costs (53.0 thousand rubles per 1 patient) and 2.2 billion rubles – indirect costs (130.0 thousand rubles per 1 patient). The burden per capita – 21 rubles.Conclusion. The economic burden of AS and nr-axSpA can be reduced by providing patients with bDMARDs in the required amount: 15% of patients with AS and 10% with nr-axSpA. Due to the imperfection of the regulatory framework, patients with nr-axSpA experience serious difficulties in receiving this therapy within the framework of preferential drug coverage and compulsory health insurance. With the provision of bDMARDs for about 15 and 10% of patients with AS and nr-axSpA, respectively, on the horizon of 5 years, a decrease in disability by 75% and temporary disability by 60% is expected. At the same time, the economic burden for 5 years will decrease by about 40% for each nosology.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases (preliminary data)
Authors: Kulikov A. N. , Muravyeva N. V. , Belov B. S.
Published: February 2022

Objective: to assess the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) in real clinical practice.Patients and methods. A cross-sectional study of patients with IRD, who were admitted to V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology for inpatient or outpatient treatment. All patients received at least 1 dose of vaccine against COVID-19 (main group). The control group consisted of vaccinated persons without IRD. All participants were interviewed by the researcher by filling out a unified questionnaire, additional information was obtained from medical records.Results and discussion. The study included 204 patients with IRD (151 of them were vaccinated with Sputnik V, 31 with Sputnik Light, 19 with СoviVac, 3 with EpiVacCorona; 173 patients received the second component of vaccine) and 131 subjects without IRD (101 of them were vaccinated with Sputnik V, 17 – CoviVak, 5 – Sputnik Light, 2 – EpiVacCorona, 6 – Pfizer/BioNTech; 124 patients received the second component of the vaccine). The number of patients with IRD who had both local and systemic reactions after administration of the first component of the vaccine was significantly less than in the control group (19.6 and 38.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Similar differences were noted after the administration of the second component (15.6 and 27.4%, respectively; p=0.013). Adverse events (AEs) such as pain at the injection site without restriction of movement, weakness, fever, arthralgia/myalgia and chills were significantly more common in the control group after the administration of the first component of the vaccine. After complete immunization, AEs were absent in 35.8% of patients with IRD and in 21% of controls (p=0.006). Exacerbations of IRD and new autoimmune phenomena were not registered in any case.Conclusion. According to preliminary data, vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with IRD appears to be quite safe. Further studies are needed to investigate the safety, immunogenicity, and clinical efficacy of COVID-19 immunization in rheumatic patients.
Fibromyalgia in rheumatoid arthritis: features of pain syndrome, impact on disease activity and quality of life of patients
Authors: Melikova N. A. , Filatova E. G. , Lila A. M.
Published: February 2022

The prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in the general population is 2–8%, and among patients with rheumatic diseases it is 2–3 times higher. The presence of comorbid FM significantly affects the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Objective: to assess the effect of FM on RA activity indicators, features of pain syndrome, and quality of life (QoL) of patients.Patients and methods. The study included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA. RA activity was assessed by the DAS28 index. FM was diagnosed according to the 2016 ACR criteria using the FM Diagnostic Questionnaire (FSQ). Patients also completed the central sensitization questionnaires – CS (CSI) and PainDETECT (PD). Pain intensity at rest was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS, 10 cm), QoL was assessed using the FIQR and EQ-5D questionnaires.Results and discussion. 55 patients with RA were examined. FM was diagnosed in 24 of them (43.6%). RA activity in the presence and absence of FM (FM+ and FM- respectively) was high: the DAS28 index in the FM+ group averaged 4.58 points, and in the FM- group it was 5.14 points (p=0.227). The median pain intensity according to VAS in the FM+ and FM- groups was 6.5 and 4.0 cm, respectively (p=0.017). Symptoms of CS were more common in patients with FM than in patients without FM (p=0.004). The median score on the PD questionnaire in the FM+ and FM- groups reached 17.5 and 11.0 points, respectively (p=0.015). Patients with FM had lower QoL scores both in EQ-5D (p=0.037) and FIQR (p<0.001).Conclusion. FM is a serious burden for RA patients. The pain syndrome in the presence of FM is of greater intensity and prevalence, accompanied by neuropathic descriptors, which significantly worsens the quality of life in patients with RA.
Dynamics of T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, receiving biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Authors: Martynova A. V. , Popkova T. V. , Aleksankin A. P. , Gridneva G. I. , Gerasimova E. V. , Gorbunova Yu. N. , Lila A. M.
Published: February 2022

Objective: assessment of the dynamics of T- and B-lymphocytes subpopulations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during therapy with synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sDMARDs) and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs): inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor α (iTNFα) and an inhibitor of interleukin 6 receptors (iIL6R ).Patients and methods. The study included 77 patients with RA who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (mean age 56 [44; 62] years). Group 1 included 30 (27 women and 3 men) patients with early RA who had not previously received therapy. Group 2 included 20 (14 women and 6 men) patients on sDMARD therapy who were prescribed iTNFα for the first time. The 3rd group is represented by retrospective data of 27 (23 women and 4 men) patients who previously used sDMARDs (MT – 85%, leflunomide – LEF – 15%), in whom iIL6R therapy was initiated for the first time. All study participants initially and 6 months later underwent immunophenotyping of T- and B-lymphocytes by flow cytofluorometry according to the standard method.Results and discussion. In all groups, there were no significant changes in the studied T-lymphocyte profile during 6 months of follow-up. When comparing the immunogram data of patients treated with sDMARDs and iTNFα, no significant differences in subpopulations of B-lymphocytes were found. At baseline, the iIL6R group had higher levels of naive B-lymphocytes and plasmablasts and low concentrations of «switched» B-cells. For all methods of treatment, the number of «switched» B-cells decreased, while plasmablasts and plasma cells increased.Conclusion. From the data obtained, it follows that the simultaneous decrease in the levels of memory B-cells and their «switched» forms, plasmablasts and plasma cells can be used as a marker for the early administration of drugs that disrupt the differentiation of B-lymphocytes, in particular, iIL6R.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with gout: results from a prospective study
Authors: Zhelyabina O. V. , Eliseev M. S. , Glukhova S. I. , Chikina M. N. , Panevin T. S.
Published: February 2022

The development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (DM2) in patients with gout can be influenced by both conventional and directly linked to gout risk factors (RFs).Objective: to identify RFs for the development of DM2 in patients with gout, including those directly associated with gout, based on long-term prospective follow-up data.Patients and methods. The study included 444 patients with gout older than 18 years (49 women, 395 men) who did not have DM. The followup period ranged from 2 to 8 years. The studied RFs for DM2 were: gender, age, family history of DM2, obesity, alcohol consumption >20 units per week, insufficient physical activity, unbalanced nutrition, history of hyperglycemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), arterial hypertension (AH), chronic heart failure, antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, glucocorticoids (GCs), urate-lowering therapy, serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, uric acid (UA), glucose, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2, the presence of tophi, >4 attacks of gout per year, ≥5 affected joints during the disease.Results and discussion. DM2 developed in 108 (24.3%) patients. These patients were older, had a family history of DM, more often received antihypertensive therapy, diuretics, and glucocorticoids (49.1; 73.1; 27.8 and 47.2%, respectively) than patients who did not develop DM2 (25.6; 50.5; 14.8 and 36.4%, respectively; p<0.05 for all cases). In addition, patients with DM2 were more likely to have subcutaneous tophi (59.3% versus 30.0%; p=0.001), among them there were more individuals (67.6% versus 31.6%; p=0.001) with frequent attacks of arthritis (>4 attacks per year). UA levels >480 and 600 μmol/l were also significantly more frequent (p=0.0002) in patients with DM2 (71.3 and 34.3%, respectively).According to logistic regression data, factors that increase the risk of developing DM2 were: family history of DM, a history of hyperglycemia, CHD, AH, intake of GCs, antihypertensive drugs, the presence of tophi, >4 exacerbations of gout per year. Febuxostat use and UA <300 μmol/L were associated with a lower risk of DM2.Conclusion. The occurrence of DM2 in gout is associated not only with well-known risk factors, but also with hyperuricemia and microcrystalline inflammation. Febuxostat therapy is associated with a lower risk of developing DM2.
Association of rs7574865 G/T polymorphism of STAT4 gene with juvenile onset of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Krylov M. Yu. , Kaleda M. I. , Guseva I. A. , Konovalova N. V. , Varlamov D. A.
Published: February 2022

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with juvenile onset (jSLE) is a complex autoimmune disease involving many organs and systems. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs7574865 of the STAT4 (signal switch and transcription activator 4) gene is associated with the risk of developing several autoimmune diseases, including SLE in adults.Objective: to verify the hypothesis of the association of the rs7574865 polymorphism of the STAT4 gene with a predisposition to jSLE. Patients and methods. In the present case-control study, the rs7574865 polymorphism was studied in 50 children with jSLE and 103 healthy control volunteers using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results and discussion. The distribution of genotype frequencies among patients had statistically significant differences compared to controls (p=0.005). The frequencies of GG, GT, TT, GT + TT genotypes in patients with jSLE and in the control group were 36.0 and 63.1% (p=0.003); 54.0 and 33.0% (p=0.021); 10.0 and 3.9% (p=0.153); 64.0 and 36.9% respectively (p=0.003). The frequency of the mutant T allele of the studied polymorphism was higher in patients with jSLE compared with controls (37 and 20.4%, respectively; p=0.002). The association of the T allele with clinical, laboratory, and immunological phenotypes of jSLE was studied.Conclusion. The obtained data indicate the significance of the rs7574865 polymorphism of the STAT4 gene as an important risk factor for susceptibility to jSLE. An analysis of the distribution of allele frequencies between alternative groups of patients with different phenotypic manifestations of jSLE (their presence or absence) showed an association of this polymorphism with arthritis.
Janus kinase inhibitors in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Loginova E. Yu. , Korotaeva T. V.
Published: February 2022

The article presents an analysis of literature data on the use of a new group of targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors – tofacitinib (TOFA) and upadacitinib (UPA) – in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The results of randomized placebocontrolled clinical trials and long-term observational studies indicate the high efficacy and safety of using TOFA and UPA in the treatment of patients with PsA who are resistant to synthetic DMARDs and tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors. The information obtained so far allows us to recommend JAK inhibitors as a new pathogenetic approach to the treatment of PsA.
COVID-19-associated angiitis: literature review and case report
Authors: Abdulganieva D. I. , Shamsutdinova N. G. , Gaibaryan A. A.
Published: February 2022

The article systematizes information about various dermatological signs of a novel coronavirus infection – COVID-19. Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of COVID-19-associated angiitis. A clinical case of acroischemia associated with COVID-19 is described: on the 34th day after the onset of infection, a patient developed skin cyanosis of the distal parts of the fingers, which resolved spontaneously after a few days. The need for further research on the skin manifestations of COVID-19 and the development of an effective strategy for managing patients, as well as monitoring the condition of convalescents, is emphasized.
Treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without glucocorticoids – myth or reality?
Authors: Soloviev S. K. , Mesnyankina A. A. , Nikishina N. Yu. , Aseeva E. A. , Lila A. M.
Published: February 2022

Glucocorticoids (GC) currently remain one of the most important components of the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, prolonged use of GC inevitably leads to the development of irreversible organ damage. It has been proven that the use of biological diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs that block key pathogenetic pathways of SLE has an advantage in patients with high disease activity and dependence on the use of medium and high doses of GC.Three clinical cases are presented in which patients with active SLE were treated with rituximab and belimumab without the use of oral GC.
Morphological features of lobular panniculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis
Authors: Musatov I. D. , Radenska-Lopovok S. G. , Egorova O. N. , Kolomeichuk A. A.
Published: February 2022

The article presents a review of current data on the morphological features of lobular panniculitis (PN) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and dermatomyositis (DM). The clinical and morphological characteristics of PN are presented. The prospects for the use of histological and immunohistochemical methods for the differential diagnosis of PN in SLE and DM are discussed. As the analysis of published works has shown, there are no specific immunomorphological markers of PN. Further research is needed to improve the diagnosis of PN.
Radiologic methods as a tool for monitoring axial spondyloarthritis in real clinical practice
Authors: Dubinina T. V. , Demina A. B.
Published: February 2022

The article summarizes literature data on the use of radiography and magnetic resonance imaging to monitor axial spondyloarthritis in real clinical practice.
Intra-articular injections in the treatment of osteoarthritis
Authors: Olyunin Yu. A. , Schendrigin I. N.
Published: February 2022

Local methods are widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and play a significant role in the complex therapy of this disease. A special place among them belongs to intra-articular (i/a) administration of drugs. The most widely used for this purpose are glucocorticoids (GC) and hyaluronic acid (HA) drugs. When comparing the effectiveness of these drugs, it was shown that during the 1st month, HA had more favorable results, after 3 months the results did not differ significantly, and after 6 months, the effectiveness of HA was higher. Some authors believe that the optimal result can be obtained with the combined use of HA and GC.The efficacy and tolerability of HA drugs in patients with OA have been studied in numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the data obtained in these studies have been summarized in a number of meta-analyses. At the same time, both in RCTs and in meta-analyses, the results of such treatment were assessed differently. However, when summarizing the materials of various meta-analyses within the framework of a systematic review, it was shown that i/a injections of HA are an effective and safe method of local treatment of OA. However, there are no generally accepted recommendations for the use of HA in the treatment of OA, and the question of their administration in each case is decided individually, taking into account the history, clinical picture, OA phenotype, and tolerability of therapy. The Russian Association of Rheumatologists recommends the use of i/a HA injections in knee OA with synovitis and the use of HA injections to reduce pain and improve joint function.
Malicious URLs detection using data streaming algorithms
Authors: Adewole Kayode Sakariyah , Raheem Muiz Olalekan , Abdulraheem Muyideen , Oladipo Idowu Dauda , Balogun Abdullateef Oluwagbemiga , Baker Omotola Fatimah
Published: February 2022

As a result of advancements in technology and technological devices, data is now spawned at an infinite rate, emanating from a vast array of networks, devices, and daily operations like credit card transactions and mobile phones. Datastream entails sequential and real-time continuous data in the inform of evolving stream. However, the traditional machine learning approach is characterized by a batch learning model. Labeled training data are given apriori to train a model based on some machine learning algorithms. This technique necessitates the entire training sample to be readily accessible before the learning process. The training procedure is mainly done offline in this setting due to the high training cost. Consequently, the traditional batch learning technique suffers severe drawbacks, such as poor scalability for real-time phishing websites detection. The model mostly requires re-training from scratch using new training samples. This paper presents the application of streaming algorithms for detecting malicious URLs based on selected online learners: Hoeffding Tree (HT), Naïve Bayes (NB), and Ozabag. Ozabag produced promising results in terms of accuracy, Kappa and Kappa Temp on the dataset with large samples while HT and NB have the least prediction time with comparable accuracy and Kappa with Ozabag algorithm for the real-time detection of phishing websites.
Real-time currency recognition on video using AKAZE algorithm
Authors: Adhinata Faisal Dharma , Adhitama Rifki , Segara Alon Jala Tirta
Published: February 2022

Currency recognition is one of the essential things since everyone in any country must know money. Therefore, computer vision has been developed to recognize currency. One of the currency recognition uses the SIFT algorithm. The recognition results are very accurate, but the processing takes a considerable amount of time, making it impossible to run for real-time data such as video. AKAZE algorithm has been developed for real-time data processing because of its fast computation time to process video data frames. This study proposes the faster real-time currency recognition system on video using the AKAZE algorithm. The purpose of this study is to compare the SIFT and AKAZE algorithms related to a real-time video data processing to determine the value of F1 and its speed. Based on the experimental results, the AKAZE algorithm is resulting F1 value of 0.97, and the processing speed on each video frame is 0.251 seconds. Then at the same video resolution, the SIFT algorithm results in an F1 value of 0.65 and a speed of 0.305 seconds to process one frame. These results show that the AKAZE algorithm is faster and more accurate in processing video data.
Automatic tsunami arrival detection algorithm for sea level observation system
Authors: Sriyanto Sesar Prabu Dwi , Angmalisang Ping Astony , Manu Lusia , Schaduw Joshian N. W. , Sondak Calvyn F. A. , Mantiri Rose O. S. E , Luasunaung Alfret , Sumilat Deiske A.
Published: February 2022

The automatic tsunami detection algorithm needs to be put in the sea level observation system to give society a quick warning when a tsunami happens. This study designs an automatic tsunami detection algorithm consisting of three sub-algorithm: spike elimination, gap data filling, and tsunami detection. Spike elimination and gap data filling are used to improve the sea level data, which is often disturbed by spikes and gap data due to electronic factors. This algorithm was tested using time-series tide gauge data that contain tsunami waveforms in Indonesia from 2007 to 2019. About 54.52 % of 409 spikes have been eliminated while the gap data were successfully filled. Furthermore, tsunami detection, which uses DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) and TEDA (Tsunami Early Detection Algorithm) methods, can detect 7 of 10 tsunami waveforms. However, there are three undetected tsunamis and one false detection. This algorithm has an average delay of 7.7 minutes in detection time.
Osteoporosis detection on the dental panoramic radiographic images using J48 algorithm and learning vector quantization
Authors: Sela Enny Itje
Published: February 2022

Osteoporosis is one type of disease that is not easily detected. This disease can cause fractures for the sufferer. Early detection of osteoporosis is crucial to prevent fractures. This study aims to detect osteoporosis through features extracted from cortical bone and trabeculae in dental panoramic images. The results of the selected feature extraction are trained using an artificial neural network. Based on the study results, the dominant features for osteoporosis detection are radio morphometric index and morphological features. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the J48 and Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) are 83.88 %, 78.57 %, and 100 %, respectively.
Anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant and other Phytochemical Properties of Datura innoxia leaves
Authors: George Ruby , Mathur Priti
Published: February 2022

To investigate the phytochemicals present in the leaves of Datura innoxia and to assess its antioxidant and antibacterial properties in different organic solvents, leaf extracts were exposed to different standardized techniques. Folin–Ciocalteu method and Aluminium chloride method proved that the ethanolic extract has maximum phenolic content (72.35± 0.52 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (29.21± 1.25 mg EQ/g) respectively. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value 91.398 µg/ml also was in the ethanolic extract as compared to methanol, hexane and chloroform extracts. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant property of extracts were observed in the sequence of ethanol>methanol>hexane>chloroform. There was a strong correlation between antioxidant activity with total phenolic (DPPH, R2 = 0.41; PPM, R2 = 0.25) and total flavonoid contents (DPPH, R2 = 0.39; PPM, R2=0.23). Ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed antibacterial potential against the tested pathogenic strains; Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with a zone of inhibition ranging between 16± 0.9 to 27.5±0.8 mm. This study has proved that ethanolic leaf extract of D. innoxia showed bacterial inhibition and antioxidant activities and this herb can be assessed as a potential therapeutic species.
Phytofabrication of gold and bimetallic gold-silver nanoparticles using water extract of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum), their characterization and comparative assessment of antibacterial potential
Authors: Pahal Vikas , Kumar Pankaj , Kumar Parveen , Kumar Vinod
Published: February 2022

In the present study, gold (AuNPs) and gold-silver bimetallic nanoparticles (Au-Ag BMNPs) were fabricated by using water extract of leaves of Triticum aestivum - a crop plant, and their bactericidal potency was checked against selected pathogenic bacterial strains. The phytofabricated AuNPs and BMNPs were analyzed for their physical attributes using UV–Visible and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. HRTEM analysis revealed that both kinds of NPs were highly crystalline in nature and of spherical and oval-shaped. AuNPs size was found in the range of 5-40 nm, whereas BMNPs showed their size in the range of 5-30 nm. HRTEM results were corroborated by DLS results which revealed the average hydrodynamic diameter of AuNPs and BMNPs in the range of 29.08 and 26.56 nm, respectively. UV-visible spectroscopy showed high-intensity single spectral peaks at 540 and 480 nm for AuNPs and BMNPs, respectively. FTIR analysis demonstrated that protein, flavanones, hydroxyl, carboxylate groups, and reducing sugars were responsible for reducing and capping of both NPs. Bactericidal efficiency of synthesized NPs was evaluated using agar-well diffusion and XTT-colorimetric assays against K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium, E. aerogenes, E. coli, M. luteus, S. aureus, S. mutans and S. epidermidis. K. pneumonia and S. typhimurium were found to be the most sensitive bacteria towards BMNPs-mediated (MIC: 400 µg/ml) and AuNPs-mediated toxicity (MIC: 800 µg/ml). It was observed that BMNPs generally possessed more powerful bactericidal effect against all bacterial strains in comparison to AuNPs. MIC and MBC values were observed in the concentration range of 400 µg/ml-1.5 mg /ml for different bacterial strains. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that phytosynthesized AuNPs have their own bactericidal effect, but at higher concentrations (>100 µg/ml), and bactericidal effect of BMNPs was due to the synergistic effect of both Ag and Au ions, which was also observed to be concentration-dependent.
Direct Shear Test and Shear Strength Model of Clay-Filled Joints
Authors: Chang Le , Zhao Yanlin , Wang Yixian , Tan Tao
Published: February 2022

To better study the shear characteristics of infilled joints with soil having different moisture contents, the influence of the moisture content on the shear characteristics of the infilled joint was explored in this paper, and a revised shear strength model of infilled joint surface is proposed. The results show that the shear dilatation modes of joints can be divided into four types: pure shear dilatation, pure shear compression, shear dilation-shear compression and shear compression-shear dilation. As the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) value increases, the normal displacement of the joint surface gradually increases during the shearing process and the normal stress has an inhibitory effect on dilatation. The infill material will weaken the peak shear stress of the joint surface. When the JRC value of joint surface is small, the weakening effect of soil with moisture content of 30% on peak shear stress is obvious. The revised joint roughness coefficient-joint wall compressive strength (JRC-JCS) model of infilled joint is proposed and the maximum shear stress value calculated by the model has a good linear relationship with the test value.
Social Interaction, Envy, and the Basic Income: Do Remedies to Technological Unemployment Reduce Well-being?
Authors: D’Orlando Fabio
Published: February 2022

The present article aims to utilize some insights from behavioral and happiness economics to discuss the consequences that the introduction of an unconditional basic income to cope with technological unemployment may hold for well-being. The impact of 21st-century technological progress on employment has only just begun to make itself felt and it will take time to realize its full extent. However, the main innovation is already common knowledge: robots (and artificial intelligence) are finding their way into the production process. According to several recent (although controversial) contributions, the phenomenon is radically different from past technological revolutions and could generate high levels of unemployment, calling for innovative redistributive public policies. The present article, building on Keynes’ (1930) short essay (“Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren”) and referring to some of the principles and models of behavioral and happiness economics, focuses on the best-known of these policies, namely provision of an unconditional basic income. A series of factors – loss aversion and hedonic adaptation, the impossibility of escalating to higher-grade consumption behaviors, social interaction in the form of active and passive envy, loss of self-esteem and social stigma – are all likely to have a negative impact on well-being if an unconditional basic income that remains unchanging over time is implemented. A policy mix combining a rising basic income with other measures is therefore proposed.
Where Psychology Meets Language Learning: Exploring the Positive Nexus
Authors: Gregersen Tammy
Published: February 2022

This paper provides an overview of positive psychology (PP), or the study of elements that make life most worth living (Peterson, 2006), and demonstrates its efficacy by detailing five intervention studies. By aligning PP objectives and linguistic aims in second language teaching and learning, the studies show multiplied, concurrent results, heightened teacher and learner wellbeing and improved language proficiency. One important caveat is that PP interventions work best when they cater specifically to individual learners.
A Different Kind of Tension: Foreign Language Anxiety From a Positive Psychology Perspective
Authors: Hayasaki Aya , Ryan Stephen
Published: February 2022

This study investigates anxiety in foreign language learning from a positive psychology perspective, and in doing so, it considers some of the ways in which anxiety can interact with other aspects of language learner psychology to contribute to improved learning outcomes and improved learner well-being. The paper reports on a small-scale mixed-method study of English learners at a university in northern Japan. It shows how for many learners some of the most anxiety-provoking episodes were also the most rewarding and enjoyable, suggesting a need to reconsider simplistic accounts that present anxiety as an impediment to successful language learning. This is done by shifting to a positive psychology perspective. The paper concludes with a tentative model of how anxiety, when reframed as tension, can function as a core component of a more productive language learning experience.
Foreign Language Enjoyment and Anxiety: Associations With General and Domain-Specific English Achievement
Authors: Dewaele Jean-Marc , Li Chengchen
Published: February 2022

Recent research has confirmed the predictive effect of general foreign language (FL) achievement on Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA). However, few studies have examined the effect of domain-specific language achievement in shaping FL learning emotions. The present study thus aims to examine how FLE and FLCA are linked to overall FL achievement and self-perceived achievement in six different domains across listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar. A total of 1, 415 Chinese senior secondary students participated in the questionnaire survey. Regression analyses showed that 1) both FLE and FLCA were predicted more by self-perceived general English proficiency, while less by actual English achievement; 2) perceptions of speaking and grammar competence were significant predictors of both emotions; 3) perceived reading competence predicted FLE significantly but not FLCA; and that 4) perceptions of listening, writing, and vocabulary competence predicted neither FLE nor FLCA. The implication is that domain-specificity should be taken into consideration in future explorations of FL emotions.
The Difference of Lemma Activation Between Native Speakers of English and L2 Speakers of English With L1 Chinese: Evidence From the Semantic and Phonological Priming Effects on L2 Speech Planning
Authors: Ma Yi , Chen Mingyang
Published: February 2022

This study examined the influence of semantic and phonological priming on L2 speech planning, as well as the difference between native and non-native speakers of English in terms of lemma activation. Two potential explanations for the contrast between the performance of L2 speakers and native controls were considered. The first of which was that L2 speakers’ phonological forms are activated before selection of syntactic frame occurred, whereas the reverse is true for native speakers. The second explanation posits that the organisation of the speech production procedure is fundamentally similar in native and L2 speakers, and the disparity in performance arises from difference in the levels of activation of stored items. The results of the present experiment suggest that lemma selection is indeed what drives syntactic frame selection. However, lemmas in L2 speakers can be primed through a chain of connections demonstrated as: L2 phonological form → L1 phonological form → L1 lemma.
Discourse Markers of “Saying”: A Comparative Study
Authors: Zhou Yanhong , Huang Sihong
Published: February 2022

The present study compares the discourse markers (DMs) of “saying” in Mandarin Chinese ke yi shuo (lit. “can say”) and ying gai shuo (lit. “should say”) with their equivalents in English, by drawing the parallel corpora from The Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping (Volume III) (henceforth The Works), so as to uncover the pragmatic motivation for the variation in translating the DMs of “saying.” The analysis is conducted within a theoretical framework of speech act theory, by grouping the DMs according to their personal pronouns. Moreover, by comparing the uses of personal pronouns in English and Chinese, the current study confirms that The Works keeps the consistency between the two languages as well as with the characteristics and styles of Deng Xiaoping’s locution. It also finds that modalized DMs of “saying” (e. g., “I should say”), as a parenthesis, lose their status as matrix clauses and help reduce the tone of affirmation.
Deformation theory of holomorphic Cartan geometries, II
Authors: Biswas Indranil , Dumitrescu Sorin , Schumacher Georg
Published: February 2022

In this continuation of [4], we investigate the deformations of holomorphic Cartan geometries where the underlying complex manifold is allowed to move. The space of infinitesimal deformations of a flat holomorphic Cartan geometry is computed. We show that the natural forgetful map, from the infinitesimal deformations of a flat holomorphic Cartan geometry to the infinitesimal deformations of the underlying flat principal bundle on the topological manifold, is an isomorphism.
On a k-th Gauduchon almost Hermitian manifold
Authors: Kawamura Masaya
Published: February 2022

We characterize the k-th Gauduchon condition and by applying its characterization, we reprove that a compact k-th Gauduchon, semi-Kähler manifold becomes quasi-Kähler, which tells us that in particular, a compact almost pluriclosed, semi-Kähler manifold is quasi-Kähler.
DrIVE-MATH Project: Case Study from the Polytechnic of Porto, PT
Authors: Pinto Carla M.A. , Mendonça Jorge , Nicola Susana
Published: February 2022

The School of Engineering of the Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP) has embraced the DrIVE-MATH project, since September 2017. Active-learning (AL) techniques were implemented in several Math courses, namely Linear Algebra and Analytic Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Statistical Models, Computational Mathematics, and Differential and Integral Calculus I. In this paper, we will share the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the implementation of the active-learning (AL) environment in these courses. We will detail the courses’ plans, emphasizing the syllabus, pedagogical methodologies, assessment methods, students’ perceptions, and other related issues. Several questionnaires were posed to the students enrolled in these Math courses during the last three academic years. The statistical analysis of the gathered data provided valuable indications of students’ perceptions on the effectiveness of several AL methods, on the development of their own essential (soft+hard) skills. These skills will be a valuable resource to their future professional and personal lives. The 5th Industrial Revolution is just around the corner.
Optimizing of hybrid renewable photovoltaic/wind turbine/super capacitor for improving self-sustainability
Authors: Hassan Qusay , Jaszczur Marek , Al-Jiboory Ali Khudhair , Hasan Ali , Mohamad Abdulmajeed
Published: February 2022

The study evaluate the utilization of an ultra supercapacitor as an energy storage unit effectively increase energy self-consumption in applications using microgrid renewable energy systems. Two scenarios were evaluated in this study: (scenario A) a photovoltaic and energy storage system; and (scenario B) a photovoltaic, energy storage, and wind turbine system. The systems analysis was conducted using experimental data for weather and load with a temporal precision of 1 min. The daily average of the electrical load profile was 5.0 kWh/day, with a maximum peak of 4.5 kW, and the annual energy consumption utilized to calculate the electrical load profile was 1859 kWh/year. The research indicates that charging the ultra supercapacitor only with renewable energy sources can greatly enhance self-consumption of energy. Using only six ultra supercapacitors (300 F–2.7 V/unit), the annual percentage of self-consumption increased from 37.01 to 46.65% and the percentage of self-sufficiency increased from 27.54 to 41.69% for scenario (A), and from 38.52 to 48.75% and the percentage of energy self-sufficiency increased from 33.50 to 49.87% for scenario (B). The research shows that by including tiny, rapid-response energy storage, the yearly averaged energy self-consumption for the investigated load rises in comparison to the system without energy storage, making it an attractive candidate for batteries.
Untersuchungen zur Ermittlung des Anwendungspotenzials für das Nitrieren von TiAl6V4 in einer intensivierten Glimmentladung
Authors: Kashaev N. , Stock H.-R. , Zoch H.-W.
Published: February 2022

Kurzfassungen

In der hier vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das Anwendungspotenzial für das Nitrieren in einer intensivierten Glimmentladung untersucht. Als Substratwerkstoff fand die universell einsetzbare Titanlegierung TiAl6V4 Verwendung. Nach Optimierung der Prozessparameter Druck, Gasfluss und Gaszusammensetzung war es möglich, das Nitrieren von Scheibenproben bei höheren Kathodenstromdichten von ca. 25-35 A/m2 und niedrigen Temperaturen zwischen 600 °C und 700 °C durchzuführen. Dabei wurden dickere Nitrierschichten (Nitrierhärtetiefe ca. 100-200 μm) innerhalb von 6-8 h erzeugt. Das Nitrieren in reinem Stickstoff oder mit einem hohen Stickstoffanteil im Plasma führte zur Ausbildung einer Verbindungsschicht an der Substratoberfläche, die als Diffusionsbarriere für Stickstoff diente. Das Nitrieren mit einem geringen Stickstoffanteil im Plasma führte nur zur Ausbildung einer Diffusionsschicht ohne Verbindungsschicht. Die Modelluntersuchungen im Stift-Scheibe-Test haben gezeigt, dass in diesem Test die Verschleißbeständigkeit der nitrierten Proben deutlich besser als die der unbehandelten ist.
Standzeitverbesserung durch Einsatz vanadincarbidhaltige Nickelbasis-Schutzschichten
Authors: Bouaifi B. , Draugelates U. , Gebert A. , Heinze H. , Küpper H.
Published: February 2022

Kurzfassungen

Zum Verschleißschutz hoch beanspruchter Bauteile aus dem Bereich des Anlagenbaus, wie z.B. von Bauteilen im Bergbau, in der Zement- und Ziegelindustrie, bei Straßenbau- und Erdbewegungsmaschinen sowie bei Großraumbaggern, werden seit Jahrzehnten Hartauftragungen mit Erfolg eingesetzt. Die technische Weiterentwicklung führt jedoch dazu, dass herkömmliche Werkstofflegierungen den gestellten hohen Anforderungen hinsichtlich der Verschleißbeständigkeit nicht genügen können. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden vanadincarbidhaltige Legierungskonzepte, die auf dem System Nickel basieren, erarbeitet und untersucht. Es wurde das metallurgische Verhalten von Vanadincarbid in Nickelmatrixwerkstoffen ermittelt. Aus diesen Untersuchungen wurden Pulver- und Fülldrahtlegierungsvarianten für eine Untersuchung der Verarbeitungs- und Beschichtungseigenschaften abgeleitet und hergestellt. Dabei konnte durch homogene Verteilung der Vanadincarbide in der Auftragschweißschicht das Verschleiß- bzw. Korrosionsverhalten wesentlich verbessert werden. Die Anwendung von Vanadincarbid ist auch wirtschaftlich vorteilhaft, da gegenüber dem bisher hauptsächlich angewendeten Wolframcarbid seine Dichte deutlich geringer ist. Damit sinkt das Flächengewicht der Beschichtungen und die Zusatzwerkstoffkosten verringern sich.
Stickstofflegierte Stähle für geschmiedete Schneidwaren
Authors: Stehr G. C. , Zind S.
Published: February 2022

Kurzfassungen

Die Untersuchungen an geschmiedeten Messern zeigen, dass der stickstofflegierte Werkstoff X30CrMoN15-1 (1.4108) hervorragend die chemischen und technischen Anforderungen an Schneidwaren erfüllt. Gegenüber herkömmlichen rostfreien Stählen weist die stickstofflegierte Variante ausgezeichnete Korrosionseigenschaften und ein sehr gutes Verschleißverhalten auf. Die bemerkenswerten Ergebnisse zur Fertigung, Wärmebehandlung sowie Schneidleistung und Korrosionsbeständigkeit im Wechseltauchversuch werden hier präsentiert. Mit dieser Stahlsorte steht eine ausgezeichnete Stahlqualität für hochwertige geschmiedete Schneidwaren zur Verfügung.
Eine einfache Methode zur Beurteilung von Abschrecksystemen
Authors: Ohland J. , Lübben Th. , Hunkel M. , Kohlmann R. , Hoffmann F. , Mayr P. , Zoch H.-W.
Published: February 2022

Kurzfassungen

Das Härten von Bauteilen ist im Allgemeinen einer der letzten Fertigungsschritte eines mehr oder weniger langen Herstellungsprozesses. Fehler, die beim Härten infolge unzureichender oder falscher Abschreckbedingungen entstehen, können zum Verlust der Teile führen oder eine Nachbehandlung erforderlich machen und verursachen dementsprechende Kosten. Zur Vermeidung unnötiger Kosten kommt es darauf an, die Abschreckwirkung eines Abschrecksystems und gegebenenfalls auch ihre Ortsabhängigkeit sowie die zeitliche Entwicklung dieser Größe zuverlässig zu bewerten. Während zur Beurteilung des Abschreckmediums eine Vielzahl an Labormethoden entwickelt wurden [bspw. 1-7], treten in der Praxis bei der Bewertung der Kühlwirkung des entsprechenden Abschrecksystems (Abschreckmedium und -bad) im Zusammenhang mit der Abschreckeinrichtung Probleme auf. Die Messung von Abkühlkurven zur Beurteilung des Abschrecksystems ist unter industriellen Bedingungen in der Regel nur sehr schwer möglich, da die notwendige Hard- und Software zur Messung meist nicht verfügbar ist. Außerdem existieren oft keine oder nur sehr eingeschränkte Möglichkeiten zur Einbringung von instrumentierten Messproben in das Abschrecksystem. Um hier Abhilfe zu schaffen, wurde ein System von Standardproben entwickelt, mit denen es möglich ist, auf einfache Art und Weise die Abschreckbedingungen in einer Anlage zuverlässig und reproduzierbar durch einfache Härtemessungen beurteilen zu können.