bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xylem Parenchyma—Role and Relevance in Wood Functioning in Trees
Authors: Słupianek Aleksandra , Dolzblasz Alicja , Sokołowska Katarzyna
Published: June 2021

Woody plants are characterised by a highly complex vascular system, wherein the secondary xylem (wood) is responsible for the axial transport of water and various substances. Previous studies have focused on the dead conductive elements in this heterogeneous tissue. However, the living xylem parenchyma cells, which constitute a significant functional fraction of the wood tissue, have been strongly neglected in studies on tree biology. Although there has recently been increased research interest in xylem parenchyma cells, the mechanisms that operate in these cells are poorly understood. Therefore, the present review focuses on selected roles of xylem parenchyma and its relevance in wood functioning. In addition, to elucidate the importance of xylem parenchyma, we have compiled evidence supporting the hypothesis on the significance of parenchyma cells in tree functioning and identified the key unaddressed questions in the field.
Effects of Nocturnal UV-B Irradiation on Growth, Flowering, and Phytochemical Concentration in Leaves of Greenhouse-Grown Red Perilla
Authors: Yoshida Hideo , Nishikawa Tatsuru , Hikosaka Shoko , Goto Eiji
Published: June 2021

In Japan, red perilla leaves are used in the food and coloring industries, as well as in crude medicine. Perilla leaves contain a high concentration of phytochemicals such as perillaldehyde (PA) and rosmarinic acid (RA). The effects of UV-B radiation intensity (0.05–0.2 W m−2, UV-BBE: 0.041–0.083 W m−2), duration (3 or 6 h), and irradiation method (continuous or intermittent) for artificial nocturnal lighting using UV-B fluorescent lamps were evaluated on growth, flowering, and leaf phytochemical concentration in greenhouse-grown perilla. Under continuous UV-B irradiation at 0.1 W m−2 for 3 or 6 h, leaf color changed from red to green and leaf fresh weight decreased, compared with the control treatment. No leaf color change was observed under the 3-h treatment with UV-B radiation at 0.05 W m−2, wherein leaf fresh weight was similar to that of the control. Furthermore, RA concentration under continuous UV-B irradiation at 0.05 W m−2 for 3 h increased two-fold compared to that under control treatment, while PA concentration was not affected by UV-B irradiation. Thus, our data showed that continuous UV-B irradiation at 0.05 W m−2 for 3 h could effectively produce RA-rich perilla leaves without reducing in phenotypic quality or productivity. However, a 6-h intermittent illumination inhibited flowering without altering phytochemical concentration.
Religious and Spiritual Trends among Female Students of Different Ethnic Origins and Fields of Study at a Secular Academic College in Israel
Authors: Feldman Anat , Barak Dikla
Published: June 2021

The current study examined trends regarding religion and spirituality among Jewish and Bedouin female students studying education and sciences at Achva Academic College, a rural secular college in southern Israel. The Bedouin women all originated from an isolationist traditional society, vigilantly maintained over many years. Contrastingly, the Jewish women come from a secular or traditional society, which is not isolationist. Science and education are two completely different worlds of content. Science studies include analytical research, with the students carrying out experiments in laboratories and within the community, whereas education studies focus on pedagogy and transfer of knowledge. The study employed a questionnaire with Likert items regarding religion and spirituality. We found the Bedouin students were more religious than the Jewish ones, but spirituality levels were similar. This finding indicated that the Bedouin students have indeed broken down the barriers to academic education, but still have retained their traditional community framework. Likewise, we found that the students of science were less observant of religious practices in comparison to those studying education, but they were similar regarding spirituality and the theoretical aspects of religion. This finding showed that practical aspects of religion can be a factor influencing the choice of field of study.
Inductive Tracking Methodology for Wireless Sensors in Photoreactors
Authors: Demetz David , Sutor Alexander
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we present a methodology for locating wireless sensors for the use in photoreactors. Photoreactors are, e.g., used to cultivate photosynthetic active microorganisms. For measuring important parameters like, e.g., the temperature inside the reactor, sensors are needed. Wireless locatable floating sensors would enable it to measure the data anywhere inside the reactor and to get a spatial resolution of the registered data. Due to the well defined propagation properties of magnetic fields and the fact that they are not significantly influenced in underwater environments when using low frequencies, a magnetic induction (MI) system is chosen for the data transmission as well as for the localization task. We designed an inductive transmitter and a receiver capable of measuring the magnetic field in every three spatial directions. The transmitting frequency is set at approx. 300kHz. This results in a wavelength of approx. 1km which clearly exceeds the dimensions of our measurement setup where the transmitter–receiver distances in general are lower than one meter. Due to this fact, only the quasi-static field component has to be considered and the location of the transmitter is calculated by measuring its magnetic field at defined positions and in using the magnetic dipole field equation in order to model its magnetic field geometry. The used measurement setup consists of a transmitter and two receivers. The first measurements were performed without a water filled photoreactor since no differences in the propagation criteria of magnetic fields are expected due to the negligibly low differences in the relative magnetic permeability of water and air. The system is calibrated and validated by using a LIDAR depth camera that is also used to locate the transmitter. The transmitter positions measured with the camera are therefore compared with the inductively measured ones.
A Spatio-Temporal Ensemble Deep Learning Architecture for Real-Time Defect Detection during Laser Welding on Low Power Embedded Computing Boards
Authors: Knaak Christian , von Eßen Jakob , Kröger Moritz , Schulze Frederic , Abels Peter , Gillner Arnold
Published: June 2021

In modern production environments, advanced and intelligent process monitoring strategies are required to enable an unambiguous diagnosis of the process situation and thus of the final component quality. In addition, the ability to recognize the current state of product quality in real-time is an important prerequisite for autonomous and self-improving manufacturing systems. To address these needs, this study investigates a novel ensemble deep learning architecture based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), gated recurrent units (GRU) combined with high-performance classification algorithms such as k-nearest neighbors (kNN) and support vector machines (SVM). The architecture uses spatio-temporal features extracted from infrared image sequences to locate critical welding defects including lack of fusion (false friends), sagging, lack of penetration, and geometric deviations of the weld seam. In order to evaluate the proposed architecture, this study investigates a comprehensive scheme based on classical machine learning methods using manual feature extraction and state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms. Optimal hyperparameters for each algorithm are determined by an extensive grid search. Additional work is conducted to investigate the significance of various geometrical, statistical and spatio-temporal features extracted from the keyhole and weld pool regions. The proposed method is finally validated on previously unknown welding trials, achieving the highest detection rates and the most robust weld defect recognition among all classification methods investigated in this work. Ultimately, the ensemble deep neural network is implemented and optimized to operate on low-power embedded computing devices with low latency (1.1 ms), demonstrating sufficient performance for real-time applications.
Deployment, Calibration, and Cross-Validation of Low-Cost Electrochemical Sensors for Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and Ozone for an Epidemiological Study
Authors: Zuidema Christopher , Schumacher Cooper S. , Austin Elena , Carvlin Graeme , Larson Timothy V. , Spalt Elizabeth W. , Zusman Marina , Gassett Amanda J. , Seto Edmund , Kaufman Joel D. , Sheppard Lianne
Published: June 2021

We designed and built a network of monitors for ambient air pollution equipped with low-cost gas sensors to be used to supplement regulatory agency monitoring for exposure assessment within a large epidemiological study. This paper describes the development of a series of hourly and daily field calibration models for Alphasense sensors for carbon monoxide (CO; CO-B4), nitric oxide (NO; NO-B4), nitrogen dioxide (NO2; NO2-B43F), and oxidizing gases (OX-B431)—which refers to ozone (O3) and NO2. The monitor network was deployed in the Puget Sound region of Washington, USA, from May 2017 to March 2019. Monitors were rotated throughout the region, including at two Puget Sound Clean Air Agency monitoring sites for calibration purposes, and over 100 residences, including the homes of epidemiological study participants, with the goal of improving long-term pollutant exposure predictions at participant locations. Calibration models improved when accounting for individual sensor performance, ambient temperature and humidity, and concentrations of co-pollutants as measured by other low-cost sensors in the monitors. Predictions from the final daily models for CO and NO performed the best considering agreement with regulatory monitors in cross-validated root-mean-square error (RMSE) and R2 measures (CO: RMSE = 18 ppb, R2 = 0.97; NO: RMSE = 2 ppb, R2 = 0.97). Performance measures for NO2 and O3 were somewhat lower (NO2: RMSE = 3 ppb, R2 = 0.79; O3: RMSE = 4 ppb, R2 = 0.81). These high levels of calibration performance add confidence that low-cost sensor measurements collected at the homes of epidemiological study participants can be integrated into spatiotemporal models of pollutant concentrations, improving exposure assessment for epidemiological inference.
The Deep Learning Solutions on Lossless Compression Methods for Alleviating Data Load on IoT Nodes in Smart Cities
Authors: Nasif Ammar , Othman Zulaiha Ali , Sani Nor Samsiah
Published: June 2021

Networking is crucial for smart city projects nowadays, as it offers an environment where people and things are connected. This paper presents a chronology of factors on the development of smart cities, including IoT technologies as network infrastructure. Increasing IoT nodes leads to increasing data flow, which is a potential source of failure for IoT networks. The biggest challenge of IoT networks is that the IoT may have insufficient memory to handle all transaction data within the IoT network. We aim in this paper to propose a potential compression method for reducing IoT network data traffic. Therefore, we investigate various lossless compression algorithms, such as entropy or dictionary-based algorithms, and general compression methods to determine which algorithm or method adheres to the IoT specifications. Furthermore, this study conducts compression experiments using entropy (Huffman, Adaptive Huffman) and Dictionary (LZ77, LZ78) as well as five different types of datasets of the IoT data traffic. Though the above algorithms can alleviate the IoT data traffic, adaptive Huffman gave the best compression algorithm. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to propose a conceptual compression method for IoT data traffic by improving an adaptive Huffman based on deep learning concepts using weights, pruning, and pooling in the neural network. The proposed algorithm is believed to obtain a better compression ratio. Additionally, in this paper, we also discuss the challenges of applying the proposed algorithm to IoT data compression due to the limitations of IoT memory and IoT processor, which later it can be implemented in IoT networks.
A Standard-Based Internet of Things Platform and Data Flow Modeling for Smart Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Filho Tércio , Fernando Luiz , Rabelo Marcos , Silva Sérgio , Santos Carlos , Ribeiro Maria , Grout Ian A. , Moreira Waldir , Oliveira-Jr Antonio
Published: June 2021

The environment consists of the interaction between the physical, biotic, and anthropic means. As this interaction is dynamic, environmental characteristics tend to change naturally over time, requiring continuous monitoring. In this scenario, the internet of things (IoT), together with traditional sensor networks, allows for the monitoring of various environmental aspects such as air, water, atmospheric, and soil conditions, and sending data to different users and remote applications. This paper proposes a Standard-based Internet of Things Platform and Data Flow Modeling for Smart Environmental Monitoring. The platform consists of an IoT network based on the IEEE 1451 standard which has the network capable application processor (NCAP) node (coordinator) and multiple wireless transducers interface module (WTIM) nodes. A WTIM node consists of one or more transducers, a data transfer interface and a processing unit. Thus, with the developed network, it is possible to collect environmental data at different points within a city landscape, to perform analysis of the communication distance between the WTIM nodes, and monitor the number of bytes transferred according to each network node. In addition, a dynamic model of data flow is proposed where the performance of the NCAP and WTIM nodes are described through state variables, relating directly to the information exchange dynamics between the communicating nodes in the mesh network. The modeling results showed stability in the network. Such stability means that the network has capacity of preserve its flow of information, for a long period of time, without loss frames or packets due to congestion.
Pavement Quality Index Rating Strategy Using Fracture Energy Analysis for Implementing Smart Road Infrastructure
Authors: Abejide Samuel , Mostafa Mohamed M. H. , Das Dillip , Awuzie Bankole , Rahman Mujib
Published: June 2021

Developing a responsive pavement-management infrastructure system is of paramount importance, accentuated by the quest for sustainability through adoption of the Road Traffic Management System. Technological advances have been witnessed in developed countries concerning the development of smart, sustainable transportation infrastructure. However, the same cannot be said of developing countries. In this study, the development of a pavement management system at network level was examined to contribute towards a framework for evaluating a Pavement Quality Index and service life capacity. Environmental surface response models in the form of temperature and moisture variations within the pavement were applied, using sensor devices connected to a data cloud system to carry out mathematical analysis using a distinctive mesh analysis deformation model. The results indicated variation in the Resilient Modulus of the pavement, with increasing moisture content. Increase in moisture propagation increased saturation of the unbound granular base which reduced the elastic modulus of the sub-base and base layer and reduced the strength of the pavement, resulting in bottom-up cracks and cracking failure. The horizontal deformation reduced, indicating that the material was experiencing work hardening and further stress would not result in significant damage. Increasing temperature gradient resulted in reduced stiffness of the asphalt layer. In tropical regions, this can result in rutting failure which, over time, results in top-down cracks and potholes, coupled with increasing moisture content.
A Simple Neural Network for Collision Detection of Collaborative Robots
Authors: Czubenko Michał , Kowalczuk Zdzisław
Published: June 2021

Due to the epidemic threat, more and more companies decide to automate their production lines. Given the lack of adequate security or space, in most cases, such companies cannot use classic production robots. The solution to this problem is the use of collaborative robots (cobots). However, the required equipment (force sensors) or alternative methods of detecting a threat to humans are usually quite expensive. The article presents the practical aspect of collision detection with the use of a simple neural architecture. A virtual force and torque sensor, implemented as a neural network, may be useful in a team of collaborative robots. Four different approaches are compared in this article: auto-regressive (AR), recurrent neural network (RNN), convolutional long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) and mixed convolutional LSTM network (MC-LSTM). These architectures are analyzed at different levels of input regression (motor current, position, speed, control velocity). This sensor was tested on the original CURA6 robot prototype (Cooperative Universal Robotic Assistant 6) by Intema. The test results indicate that the MC-LSTM architecture is the most effective with the regression level set at 12 samples (at 24 Hz). The mean absolute prediction error obtained by the MC-LSTM architecture was approximately 22 Nm. The conducted external test (72 different signals with collisions) shows that the presented architecture can be used as a collision detector. The MC-LSTM collision detection f1 score with the optimal threshold was 0.85. A well-developed virtual sensor based on such a network can be used to detect various types of collisions of cobot or other mobile or stationary systems operating on the basis of human-machine interaction.
Photonic Integrated Interrogator for Monitoring the Patient Condition during MRI Diagnosis
Authors: Słowikowski Mateusz , Kaźmierczak Andrzej , Stopiński Stanisław , Bieniek Mateusz , Szostak Sławomir , Matuk Krzysztof , Augustin Luc , Piramidowicz Ryszard
Published: June 2021

In this work, we discuss the idea and practical implementation of an integrated photonic circuit-based interrogator of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors dedicated to monitoring the condition of the patients exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnosis. The presented solution is based on an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) demultiplexer fabricated in generic indium phosphide technology. We demonstrate the consecutive steps of development of the device from design to demonstrator version of the system with confirmed functionality of monitoring the respiratory rate of the patient. The results, compared to those obtained using commercially available bulk interrogator, confirmed both the general concept and proper operation of the device.
A System Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect and Scare Bird Flocks in the Protection of Ripening Fruit
Authors: Marcoň Petr , Janoušek Jiří , Pokorný Josef , Novotný Josef , Hutová Eliška Vlachová , Širůčková Anna , Čáp Martin , Lázničková Jana , Kadlec Radim , Raichl Petr , Dohnal Přemysl , Steinbauer Miloslav , Gescheidtová Eva
Published: June 2021

Flocks of birds may cause major damage to fruit crops in the ripening phase. This problem is addressed by various methods for bird scaring; in many cases, however, the birds become accustomed to the distraction, and the applied scaring procedure loses its purpose. To help eliminate the difficulty, we present a system to detect flocks and to trigger an actuator that will scare the objects only when a flock passes through the monitored space. The actual detection is performed with artificial intelligence utilizing a convolutional neural network. Before teaching the network, we employed videocameras and a differential algorithm to detect all items moving in the vineyard. Such objects revealed in the images were labeled and then used in training, testing, and validating the network. The assessment of the detection algorithm required evaluating the parameters precision, recall, and F1 score. In terms of function, the algorithm is implemented in a module consisting of a microcomputer and a connected videocamera. When a flock is detected, the microcontroller will generate a signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the module, whose task is to trigger the scaring actuator.
Wireless Body Area Network Control Policies for Energy-Efficient Health Monitoring
Authors: David Yair Bar , Geller Tal , Bistritz Ilai , Ben-Gal Irad , Bambos Nicholas , Khmelnitsky Evgeni
Published: June 2021

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) have strong potential in the field of health monitoring. However, the energy consumption required for accurate monitoring determines the time between battery charges of the wearable sensors, which is a key performance factor (and can be critical in the case of implantable devices). In this paper, we study the inherent trade-off between the power consumption of the sensors and the probability of misclassifying a patient’s health state. We formulate this trade-off as a dynamic problem, in which at each step, we can choose to activate a subset of sensors that provide noisy measurements of the patient’s health state. We assume that the (unknown) health state follows a Markov chain, so our problem is formulated as a partially observable Markov decision problem (POMDP). We show that all the past measurements can be summarized as a belief state on the true health state of the patient, which allows tackling the POMDP problem as an MDP on the belief state. Then, we empirically study the performance of a greedy one-step look-ahead policy compared to the optimal policy obtained by solving the dynamic program. For that purpose, we use an open-source Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) dataset of 232 patients over six months and extract the transition matrix and sensor accuracies from the data. We find that the greedy policy saves ≈50% of the energy costs while reducing the misclassification costs by less than 2% compared to the most accurate policy possible that always activates all sensors. Our sensitivity analysis reveals that the greedy policy remains nearly optimal across different cost parameters and a varying number of sensors. The results also have practical importance, because while the optimal policy is too complicated, a greedy one-step look-ahead policy can be easily implemented in WBAN systems.
Low-Cost Ultrasonic Range Improvements for an Assistive Device
Authors: Abreu David , Toledo Jonay , Codina Benito , Suárez Arminda
Published: June 2021

To achieve optimal mobility, visually impaired people have to deal with obstacle detection and avoidance challenges. Aside from the broadly adopted white cane, electronic aids have been developed. However, available electronic devices are not extensively used due to their complexity and price. As an effort to improve the existing ones, this work presents the design of a low-cost aid for blind people. A standard low-cost HC-SRF04 ultrasonic range is modified by adding phase modulation in the ultrasonic pulses, allowing it to detect the origin of emission, thus discriminating if the echo pulses come from the same device and avoiding false echoes due to interference from other sources. This improves accuracy and security in areas where different ultrasonic sensors are working simultaneously. The final device, based on users and trainers feedback for the design, works with the user’s own mobile phone, easing utilization and lowering manufacturing costs. The device was tested with a set of twenty blind persons carrying out a travel experiment and satisfaction survey. The main results showed a change in total involuntary contacts with unknown obstacles and high user satisfaction. Hence, we conclude that the device can fill a gap in the mobility aids and reduce feelings of insecurity amongst the blind.
Redistribution Preferences, Inequality Information, and Partisan Motivated Reasoning in the United States
Authors: Brooks Clem , Harter Elijah
Published: June 2021

In an era of rising inequality, the U.S. public’s relatively modest support for redistributive policies has been a puzzle for scholars. Deepening the paradox is recent evidence that presenting information about inequality increases subjects’ support for redistributive policies by only a small amount. What explains inequality information’s limited effects? We extend partisan motivated reasoning scholarship to investigate whether political party identification confounds individuals’ processing of inequality information. Our study considers a much larger number of redistribution preference measures (12) than past scholarship. We offer a second novelty by bringing the dimension of historical time into hypothesis testing. Analyzing high-quality data from four American National Election Studies surveys, we find new evidence that partisanship confounds the interrelationship of inequality information and redistribution preferences. Further, our analyses find the effects of partisanship on redistribution preferences grew in magnitude from 2004 through 2016. We discuss implications for scholarship on information, motivated reasoning, and attitudes towards redistribution.
Co-Design as Learning: The Differences of Learning When Involving Older People in Digitalization in Four Countries
Authors: Fischer Björn , Östlund Britt , Dalmer Nicole K. , Rosales Andrea , Peine Alexander , Loos Eugène , Neven Louis , Marshall Barbara
Published: June 2021

Involving older people through co-design has become increasingly attractive as an approach to develop technologies for them. However, less attention has been paid to the internal dynamics and localized socio-material arrangements that enact this method in practice. In this paper, we show how the outcomes that can be achieved with user involvement often pertain to learning, but their content can differ significantly based on how the approach is implemented in practice. Combining explorative, qualitative findings from co-design conducted in four countries (Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden), we illustrate how different types of learning occurred as design workshops engaged the experiences and skills of older people in different ways. Our findings make visible how learning can be a core outcome of co-design activities with older adults, while raising awareness of the role of the power relations and socio-material arrangements that structure these design practices in particular ways. To benefit from the full wealth of insights that can be learned by involving older people, deeper knowledge is needed of the implicit features of design, the materials, meanings, and power aspects involved.
An Item Response Theory to Analyze the Psychological Impacts of Rail-Transport Delay
Authors: Rezapour Mahdi , Cuccolo Kelly , Veenstra Christopher , Ferraro F. Richard
Published: June 2021

Questionnaire instruments have been used extensively by researchers in the literature review for evaluation of various aspects of public transportation. Important implications have been derived from those instruments to improve various aspects of the transport. However, it is important that instruments, which are designed to measure various stimuli, meet criteria of reliability to reflect a real impact of the stressors. Particularly, given the diverse range of commuter characteristics considered in this study, it is necessary to ensure that instruments are reliable and accurate. This can be achieved by finding the relationship between the item’s properties and the underlying unobserved trait, being measured. The item response theory (IRT) refers to measurement of an instrument’s reliability by examining the relationship between the unobserved trait and various observed items. In this study, to determine if our instrument suffers from any potentially associated problems, the IRT analysis was conducted. The analysis was employed based on the graded response model (GRM) due to the ordinal nature of the data. Various aspects of the instruments, such as discriminability and informativity of the items were tested. For instance, it was found while the classical test theory (CTT) confirm the reliability of the instrument, IRT highlight some concerns regarding the instrument. Also, the person fit assessment measure, for instance, highlights some concern regarding respondents answering some of the questions due to lack of interest, choosing answers randomly. Not many studies have examined instruments’ reliability in determining the psychological impacts of public transportation on commuters in the way that was performed here.
Developing a Risk Management Process for Infrastructure Projects Using IDEF0
Authors: Tserng Hui-Ping , Cho I-Cheng , Chen Chun-Hung , Liu Yu-Fan
Published: June 2021

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is a massive, large-scale construction venture with a complex interface. In order to reduce the risk of disasters and industrial accidents in the project and to save costs, a simple and flexible risk management system is necessary for projects such as MRT. A set of risk management processes was identified through a literature review and data collection, and the Integration Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0) process was used for logical analysis. The IDEF0 diagram clearly depicts the items to be delivered at each interface, and risk is reduced by facilitating the flow of data on various risk items. The results of this research will be applied to other practical projects, with special emphasis on the project planning and design stages. Future work will verify whether the implementation of the proposed risk management process does indeed effectively reduce risks in the completed project.
Towards New Chiroptical Transitions Based on Thought Experiments and Hypothesis
Authors: Akitsu Takashiro , Kim Sanyobi , Nakane Daisuke
Published: June 2021

We studied supramolecular chirality induced by circularly polarized light. Photoresponsive azopolymers form a helical intermolecular network. Furthermore, studies on photochemical materials using optical vortex light will also attract attention in the future. In contrast to circularly polarized light carrying spin angular momentum, an optical vortex with a spiral wave front and carrying orbital angular momentum may impart torque upon irradiated materials. In this review, we summarize a few examples, and then theoretically and computationally deduce the differences in spin angular momentum and orbital angular momentum depending on molecular orientation not on, but in, polymer films. UV-vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra are consequences of electric dipole transition and magnetic dipole transition, respectively. However, the basic effect of vortex light is postulated to originate from quadrupole transition. Therefore, we explored the simulated CD spectra of azo dyes with the aid of conventional density functional theory (DFT) calculations and preliminary theoretical discussions of the transition of CD. Either linearly or circularly polarized UV light causes the trans–cis photoisomerization of azo dyes, leading to anisotropic and/or helically organized methyl orange, respectively, which may be detectable by CD spectroscopy after some technical treatments. Our preliminary theoretical results may be useful for future experiments on the irradiation of UV light under vortex.
In Silico Prediction of a Multitope Vaccine against Moraxella catarrhalis: Reverse Vaccinology and Immunoinformatics
Authors: Soltan Mohamed A. , Elbassiouny Nada , Gamal Helmy , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Eid Refaat A. , Eldeen Muhammad Alaa , Al-Karmalawy Ahmed A.
Published: June 2021

Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious respiratory tract infections and middle ear infections in children and adults. M. catarrhalis has demonstrated an increasing rate of antibiotic resistance in the last few years, thus development of an effective vaccine is a major health priority. We report here a novel designed multitope vaccine based on the mapped epitopes of the vaccine candidates filtered out of the whole proteome of M. catarrhalis. After analysis of 1615 proteins using a reverse vaccinology approach, only two proteins (outer membrane protein assembly factor BamA and LPS assembly protein LptD) were nominated as potential vaccine candidates. These proteins were found to be essential, outer membrane, virulent and non-human homologs with appropriate molecular weight and high antigenicity score. For each protein, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T lymphocyte (HTL) and B cell lymphocyte (BCL) epitopes were predicted and confirmed to be highly antigenic and cover conserved regions of the proteins. The mapped epitopes constituted the base of the designed multitope vaccine where suitable linkers were added to conjugate them. Additionally, beta defensin adjuvant and pan-HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) peptide were also incorporated into the construct to improve the stimulated immune response. The constructed multitope vaccine was analyzed for its physicochemical, structural and immunological characteristics and it was found to be antigenic, soluble, stable, non-allergenic and have a high affinity to its target receptor. Although the in silico analysis of the current study revealed that the designed multitope vaccine has the ability to trigger a specific immune response against M. catarrhalis, additional translational research is required to confirm the effectiveness of the designed vaccine.
What Constitutes Protective Immunity Following Yellow Fever Vaccination?
Authors: Mokaya Jolynne , Kimathi Derick , Lambe Teresa , Warimwe George M.
Published: June 2021

Yellow fever (YF) remains a threat to global health, with an increasing number of major outbreaks in the tropical areas of the world over the recent past. In light of this, the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics Strategy was established with the aim of protecting one billion people at risk of YF through vaccination by the year 2026. The current YF vaccine gives excellent protection, but its use is limited by shortages in supply due to the difficulties in producing the vaccine. There are good grounds for believing that alternative fractional dosing regimens can produce strong protection and overcome the problem of supply shortages as less vaccine is required per person. However, immune responses to these vaccination approaches are yet to be fully understood. In addition, published data on immune responses following YF vaccination have mostly quantified neutralising antibody titers. However, vaccine-induced antibodies can confer immunity through other antibody effector functions beyond neutralisation, and an effective vaccine is also likely to induce strong and persistent memory T cell responses. This review highlights the gaps in knowledge in the characterisation of YF vaccine-induced protective immunity in the absence or presence of neutralising antibodies. The assessment of biophysical antibody characteristics and cell-mediated immunity following YF vaccination could help provide a comprehensive landscape of YF vaccine-induced immunity and a better understanding of correlates of protective immunity.
Evaluation of Side Effects Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhazmi Abdulaziz , Alamer Edrous , Daws Dalia , Hakami Mashael , Darraj Majid , Abdelwahab Siddig , Maghfuri Amani , Algaissi Abdullah
Published: June 2021

Background: Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca are recently introduced vaccines to combat COVID-19 pandemic. During clinical trials, mild to moderate side effects have been associated with these vaccines. Thus, we aimed to evaluate short-term post-vaccination side effects. Methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective study using an online questionnaire was conducted among COVID-19 vaccines recipients in Saudi Arabia. General and demographic data were collected, and vaccine-associated side effects after receiving at least one dose of each vaccine were evaluated. Results: Our final sample consisted of 515 participants with a median age of 26 years. Most of the study participants were female (57%). Nearly 13% of the study subjects have reported previous infections with SARS-CoV-2. Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been received by 75% and 25% of the study participants, respectively. Side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines have been reported by 60% of the study subjects, and most of them reported fatigue (90%), pain at the site of the injections (85%). Conclusion: Side effects that are reported post Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines among our study participants are not different from those that were reported in the clinical trials, indicating safe profiles for both vaccines. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the current vaccines in protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfections.
Therapeutic Potential of HLA-I Polyreactive mAbs Mimicking the HLA-I Polyreactivity and Immunoregulatory Functions of IVIg
Authors: Ravindranath Mepur H. , Hilali Fatiha El , Filippone Edward J.
Published: June 2021

HLA class-I (HLA-I) polyreactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reacting to all HLA-I alleles were developed by immunizing mice with HLA-E monomeric, α-heavy chain (αHC) open conformers (OCs). Two mAbs (TFL-006 and TFL-007) were bound to the αHC’s coated on a solid matrix. The binding was inhibited by the peptide 117AYDGKDY123, present in all alleles of the six HLA-I isoforms but masked by β2-microglobulin (β2-m) in intact HLA-I trimers (closed conformers, CCs). IVIg preparations administered to lower anti-HLA Abs in pre-and post-transplant patients have also shown HLA-I polyreactivity. We hypothesized that the mAbs that mimic IVIg HLA-I polyreactivity might also possess the immunomodulatory capabilities of IVIg. We tested the relative binding affinities of the mAbs and IVIg for both OCs and CCs and compared their effects on (a) the phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activation T-cells; (b) the production of anti-HLA-II antibody (Ab) by B-memory cells and anti-HLA-I Ab by immortalized B-cells; and (c) the upregulation of CD4+, CD25+, and Fox P3+ T-regs. The mAbs bound only to OC, whereas IVIg bound to both CC and OC. The mAbs suppressed blastogenesis and proliferation of PHA-activated T-cells and anti-HLA Ab production by B-cells and expanded T-regs better than IVIg. We conclude that a humanized version of the TFL-mAbs could be an ideal, therapeutic IVIg-mimetic.
Considerações sobre a questão da política no pensamento de Antônio Gramsci
Authors: Duriguetto Maria Lucia , Souza Filho Rodrigo de
Published: June 2021

O presente artigo trata de tematizar alguns dos fundamentos teórico-analíticos do tratamento da questão da política no pensamento de Gramsci contidos nos Cadernos do Cárcere, em particular Estado integral, hegemonia, catarse, partido e revolução e suas orgânicas relações com as determinações do “mundo da produção” e com a práxis política. Nosso objetivo é apresentar a ideia da política, no sardo comunista, como uma mediação insuprimível para a construção de processos que nos levam à superação da ordem do capital e à construção da “sociedade regulada”, nome que Gramsci usava para se referir ao comunismo.
THE FORMATION OF AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF INFORMATION PROTECTION IN THE DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL SPACE
Authors: Алисултанова Э.Д. , Бицалов Д.С.
Published: June 2021

Данная статья направлена на формирование эффективной системы защиты информации. В настоящее время ввиду совершенствования информационных технологий все более актуальной становится проблема защиты информации, так как вместе с улучшением методов защиты информации, к сожалению, развиваются и методы утечки информации. В данной статье рассмотрена одна из актуальных систем защиты информации, система ViPNet Client. Программный комплекс ViPNet Client предназначен для защиты рабочих мест корпоративных пользователей. ViPNet Client надежно защищает от внешних и внутренних сетевых атак за счет фильтрации трафика. Кроме того, ПК ViPNet Client обеспечивает защищенную работу с корпоративными данными через зашифрованный канал, в том числе для удаленных пользователей.

This article is aimed at the formation of an effective system of information security. Currently, in view of the improvement of information technology, the problem of information security remains more urgent, as together with the improvement of information security methods, information leakage methods are unfortunately developing. This article describes one of the current information security systems, ViPNet Client system. The ViPNet Client servage software package is designed to protect the workplaces of corporate users. ViPNet Client podaressis protects the cigar from external and internal network attacks by filtering the representation of the traffic. In addition, the ViPNet Glukharev Client PC provides secure nonadministrative work with corporate data shunning through an encrypted channel, including for remote eliminated users.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF THE ORGANIZATION
Authors: Ахмиева Г.Р. , Арсаханова Х.У.А. , Дадаев М.С.
Published: June 2021

Данная статья посвящена исследованию факторов, влияющих на формирование и развитие инвестиционного потенциала организации. Авторы приводят классификацию факторов по различным признакам. Они подчеркивают, что факторы формирования и развития инвестиционного потенциала организации действуют не изолированно, каждый сам по себе, а системно, что усиливает последствия действия каждого отдельно взятого фактора. При этом воздействие факторов может быть как позитивным, так и негативным. По мнению авторов, важное значение имеет систематизация факторов, влияющих на формирование инвестиционного потенциала организации, в зависимости от видов инвестиционных ресурсов. Исходя из этого, они подразделяют их на четыре группы: производственный потенциал, финансовый потенциал, интеллектуальный потенциал и инновационный потенциал. Авторы считают, что своевременное выявление и учет факторов, влияющих на инвестиционный потенциал организации, позволит решить проблему его формирования и развития.

This article is devoted to the study of the factors influencing the formation and development of the investment potential of the organization. The authors give a classification of factors on various grounds. They emphasize that the factors of formation and development of the investment potential of the organization do not act in isolation, each by itself, but systematically, which enhances the effects of each individual factor. In this case, the impact of factors can be both positive and negative. According to the authors, it is important to systematize the factors influencing the formation of the investment potential of the organization, depending on the types of investment resources. Accordingly, they divide them into four groups: productive capacity, financial capacity, intellectual capacity and innovation capacity. The authors believe that the timely identification and consideration of factors affecting the investment potential of the organization, will solve the problem of its formation and development.
CURRENT MONITORING OF SCHOOL LEARNING AS AWAKENING FACTS IN MODERN EDUCATION. FEATURES AND FORMS OF CARRYING OUT THE CURRENT CONTROL TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INDICATORS OF TYPES OF PERCEPTION OF INFORMATION
Authors: Алисултанова Э.Д. , Тасуева Х.Х.
Published: June 2021

В данной статье рассматриваются современные особенности методов текущего контроля знаний учащихся в процессе изучения школьных предметов раскрываются психологопедагогические основы применения тестового контроля. В педагогике различают текущий, тематический и итоговый контроль для проверки и оценивания знаний учащихся. Задачи обучения, воспитания и развития в наибольшей степени решаются в ходе текущей проверки. Текущая проверка выполняет не только контролирующую функцию, но и учебную, развивающую, воспитательную и управляющую, в то время как тематическая и итоговая проверки в основном выполняют функцию контроля и управления. Текущий контроль предусматривает проверку и оценку качества усвоения знаний и умений в процессе изучения тематического блока определённого учебного материала. Контроль проводится, как правило, в первой половине урока для выявления уровня усвоения предыдущего материала, или в конце урока для выяснения эффективности работы учеников во время урока (в обоих случаях как устный опрос, работа с картой, тест, выполнение познавательных задач и т. п.).

The article highlights modern features, forms and methods of monitoring students knowledge in the process of studying school subjects The psychological and pedagogical foundations of the application of test control are considered. In pedagogy, current, thematic and final control are distinguished for testing and evaluating students knowledge. The tasks of training, education and development are most solved in the course of the current audit. The current audit performs not only the monitoring function, but also the educational, developmental, educational and managerial one, while the thematic and final audit mainly carry out monitoring and control. Current control involves checking and assessing the quality of the assimilation of knowledge and skills in the process of studying the thematic block of a certain educational material. As a rule, control is carried out in the first half of the lesson to identify the level of assimilation of the previous material, or at the end of the lesson to determine the effectiveness of students during the lesson (in both cases, as an oral survey, working with a map, a test, performing cognitive tasks and etc.).
INFORMATION SUPPORT OF THE PLANNING SYSTEM FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors: Моисеенко Н.А. , Усамов И.Р. , Албакова А.А.
Published: June 2021

В данной статье рассматривается проблема планирования проведения консультационных дополнительных занятий со студентами вуза. Основным фактором, определяющим необходимость разработки автоматизированной информационной системы, является отсутствие на рынке программного обеспечения, позволяющего использовать его в качестве решения проблемы. В публикации приведен тщательный и детальный анализ: рассматриваемой проблемы организации занятий существующих автоматизированных систем по составлению расписаний программного обеспечения, необходимого для разработки системы, а также средств обеспечения информационной безопасности. В результате анализа предложена автоматизированная информационная система планирования проведения дополнительных занятий со студентами вуза, которая позволит студенту в электронном режиме произвести запись на консультацию, а также отслеживать динамику изменения в графике учебного процесса, что повысит качество подготовки студентов.

This article discusses the problem of planning additional consultative classes with university students. The main factor determining the need to develop an automated information system is the lack of software on the market that allows it to be used as a solution to the problem. The publication provides a thorough and detailed analysis of: the issue of the organization of classes existing automated scheduling systems software necessary for the development of the system, as well as information security tools. As a result of the analysis, an automated information system was proposed for planning additional classes with university students, which will allow the student to electronically record a consultation, as well as track the dynamics of changes in the schedule of the educational process, which will improve the quality of students preparation.