bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CARTESIAN “I THINK, THEREFORE, I AM” IN THE PERSPECTIVES OF LOGIC AND PHENOMENOLOGY
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, SLININ YAROSLAV
Published: June 2022

In this article the questions under discussion are the properties of Descartes’s application of the first rule of his method, which requires not to agree with anything that could give rise to doubt. It is well known that Descartes came to the conclusion that only the truth “I think, therefore I am” is undoubted. The article examines the logical status of this truth and reveals that it is an entimeme where the major premise is unstated. An analysis of Descartes’s works shows that the premise that he does not explicitly express is the proposition “If I think, therefore I exist, and if I do not think, then I do not exist.” It follows that Descartes’ complete syllogism would be like this: “I exist if and only if I think; I think; therefore, I exist.” In this paper, the discussion focuses on the proof of the certainty of the position “I exist,” proposed by St Augustin in his treatise The City of God. St Augustin proves the proposition “I am deceived that I exist” to be false in every possible interpretation. Hence the position “I exist” is true in every possible interpretation. According to Descartes, the only undoubted statements are those that are kept within the limits of “I think,” or within the limits of inner experience, while the data of external experience are always dubious. Thus, the statement “I walk” is not obvious, since it can only seem to me that I am walking. At the same time, the judgment “It seems to me that I walk” is undoubtedly. Ancient sceptics also believed that the data of internal experience are doubtless, and the data of external experience are not due to the fact that all objects of the external world are in fact not what they seem to be. However, there is a significant difference between the ancient sceptical approach and that of Descartes. I put forward the view that the ancient sceptics, although they are convinced that the things of the external world are not what they seem, still surely believe that each item in that world exists. But Descartes surpassed both ancient sceptics and academics in their scepticism, since he doubted the very existence of the external world. He was able to imagine that he exists exclusively as a thinking entity with no body, no world around him, and no space to store that world. It is by the fact that Descartes doubts the existence of the external world that he has cleared the way for transcendental philosophy and phenomenology.
THOMAS HOBBES ON BETRAYAL OF THE FATHERLAND (IN WAR)
Authors:   University of Belgrade, BOJANIĆ PETAR
Published: June 2022

My intention is to demonstrate how Hobbes’ attempts to adapt two ancient institutions from Roman Law to his own time and knowledge of theology and philosophy. Treason (and the figure of the traitor) could be quite significant within the context of Hobbes’ (but not only his) understanding of the figure of the sovereign and sovereignty. The central part of the text is an endeavor to ascertain the source and unconditional condition for treason as such, within the framework of Hobbes’ theory of representation (representatio) which he writes about in Chapter 16 of the Leviathan. The act or performance in which we could perhaps recognize a traitorous gesture (or the dynamic of treason) could be found in the so-called paradox of representation. The “traitor” breaks the chain of the transfer of power and empowerment, thus stops representation, and puts an end to speaking in the name of the other. If it is possible to discover whether this is possible and whether speaking and acting in one’s own name always carries elements of treason, then we can conclude that differing forms of “direct” speech and action (“in one’s own name”) are “acts of treason.” In that case, what interests me is whether “treason” is found within the heart of representative democracy, and thus if it is de facto an integral part of a democratic order and society.
LUIS AGUIAR DE SOUSA, ANA FALCATO (ED.) PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO INTERSUBJECTIVITY AND VALUES London: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3482-0, (13): 978-1-5275-3482-7
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, SIDOROV ALEKSEY
Published: June 2022

The review is devoted to a joint monograph of Phenomenological Approaches to Intersubjectivity and Values published in 2019. The peculiarity and novelty of this monograph is that it is devoted not so much to the cognitive and epistemological aspects of phenomenology of intersubjectivity as to ethical, existential and value problems of relations with the Others, presented in various phenomenological concepts. One of the advantages of the work is the pluralistic approach, which allows the reader to get acquainted with the solutions to the problem of intersubjectivity posed by a number of the most prominent phenomenologists, i. e. Husserl, Scheler, Heidegger, Sartre, Marcel, Levinas and others. The book traces the idea that emerging of the topic of intersubjectivity in phenomenology caused a socio-ethical and axiological shift in the phenomenological movement. Considering moving of modern philosophy towards “the intersubjective paradigm” (W. Hösle), the aim of the authors of the monograph to show the relevance and innovation of phenomenology in discussing the problems of the Other, communication and ethics can be assessed as a promising theoretical project. Whereas critics of the phenomenological movement reproached “methodological solipsism” of phenomenology, which develops Cartesian-Kantian subjectivism, a serious analysis of the works of the most prominent representatives of the phenomenological tradition leads the authors of the monograph to the conclusion that a phenomenological subject is social in its essence. The review draws a conclusion that the joint monograph brings into sharp focus that phenomenology is in possession of deep and diverse ways of studying the common being of people and collectively shared values.
AURELIEN DJIAN HUSSERL ET L’HORIZON COMME PROBLEME. UNE CONTRIBUTION A L’HISTOIRE DE LA PHENOMENOLOGIE Lille: Presses universitaires du Septentrion, 2021. ISBN-102757433296
Authors:   HSE University, YAKOVLEV KIRILL
Published: June 2022

In his book, Aurelien Djian investigates the history of the concept of horizon in the evolution of Husserl’s thought. Addressing the most fundamental concerns of phenomenology, Djian redefines the horizon considering themes such as coherence of experience, the reality of the world, and motivation. He suggests an approach to exploring the horizon grounded in a detailed analysis of Thing and Space lectures. A significant conclusion of Djians’s book is that the origin of the horizon should not be attributed to Ideas I, but to these lectures. This discovery is not only of historical significance, but also opens up a new perspective on relations between the world, the incompleteness of external experience, and the fluidity of attention. Djian denies Saulius Geniusas’ interpretation of “halo” and “background” as psychological opposites of the horizon, which functions in the domain of ontology. These phenomena are given as elements of experience temporarily left by attention, connected with actual ones. The consciousness of unfulfilled potentialities of experience ensures the coherence of experience, making the transition from actual to potential seamless. This paper covers Djian’s conclusions and part of his work that goes beyond the content of the book. We also try to contextualize Djian’s research and show the history of studies of the horizon in the philosophy of Edmund Husserl.
ABOUT “GUARDING THE HIDDENNESS” AND THE QUESTION OF THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN BEING. PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO A BASIC ETHICAL CONCEPT
Authors:   Fachhochschule FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, VORLAUFER JOHANNES
Published: June 2022

Against the background of worldwide, intentional or unintentional everyday violations of human dignity and the epochal need to experience oneself as a human being in one’s specific way of being, this article attempts to pursue the question of human dignity and its concealment. On the one hand, it seeks to ask whether human dignity has become obsolete due to social and epochal developments and preconditions and whether it can only appear and be experienced as antiquated in the context of a technological language or an administered world. On the other hand, it asks whether ethical and anthropological thinking have not sufficiently experienced, thought, and conceptualized man. From the context of these perspectives that determine the question of dignity, Heidegger’s article seeks to take up Heidegger’s repeated search for an original ethics based on Heraclitus’ fragment 119, and from this point of view to ask for a perhaps deeper and more adequate understanding of human dignity. At the centre of this is Heidegger’s thesis that human dignity is based on the protection of the unhidden and, ever before, the hiddenness of all beings. Without wanting to ignore the difficulty and complexity of Heidegger’s thinking, the author seeks to find access to this understanding of our dignity based on the experience of personal encounters.
Work in conditions of remote and hybrid models: The example of IT-companies’ employees
Authors:   HSE University, Balabanova Evgeniya S. , Molchanova Daria A. ,   HSE University
Published: June 2022

The paper analyzes work practices and attitudes of employees of Russian IT-sector companies towards working in remote and hybrid formats (combining working from home and from the office). We focus on two main sets of issues. First, we consider workloads and socio-psychological well-being of employees under remote and hybrid employment conditions. Second, we focus on individual and group efficiency of hybrid and remote work formats. The main contribution of this paper to the existing literature is in its focus on organizational and managerial factors which shape employee attitudes to remote working. Drawing on a survey study of 400 employees in Russian IT-sector in March 2021, we find that hybrid format significantly increases the workload of employees compared to remote working. Nevertheless, paradoxically, the hybrid format is preferred by the majority of respondents. We conclude that the attitudes to remote work are shaped mainly by the character of work tasks and the employee’s position in the network of organizational communications. We find evidence that respondents without subordinates, who are responsible for their individual work tasks, tend to react positively to remote work, emphasizing the “convenience” of working from home, whereas managers and employees who are actively involved in communication processes and organization of other people’s work, are much more critical to remote working. Our findings also suggest that the quality of organizational communications plays a key role in determining both employees’ social well-being and performance assessment. In remote working, information overloads become a serious problem for workers, while the lack of information, by contrast, is not considered to be a serious problem.
The first experience of using robotic magnetic navigation for interventional treatment of post-incisional atrial flutter in patients with congenital heart defects after surgical correction: case series
Authors: Romanov A.B. , Filippenko A.G. , Beloborodov V.V. , Mikheenko I.L. , Shabanov V.V.
Published: June 2022

Post-incisional heart rhythm disturbances are one of the most frequent complications after open cardiac surgery. Lession in the atrial myocardium create conditions for slowing impulse conduction, formation and circulation of reentry. Case series included 8 patients after correction of complex congenital heart disease (CHD) with post-incisional atrial flutter (AF), despite treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. All patients underwent interventional AF treatment using the robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) system. Perioperative complications, duration of surgery, time of fluoroscopy and efficacy (free of atrial tachyarrhythmias 3 months after the ablation procedure) of treatment were assessed during a follow-up period of 12 months.
The article presents a series of clinical cases of RMN application for the treatment of post-incisional AF in patients with CHD after open cardiac surgery. The first Russian experience of using RMN for the treatment of post-incisional AF in patients with CHD after open cardiac surgery demonstrated safety and high efficiency both in the early and long-term follow-up periods. More experience and multicenter studies in a large cohort of patients are needed to determine the role of RMN as the first line of therapy for performing catheter ablation in this category of patients.
Received 12 November 2021. Accepted 6 December 2021.
Informed consent: The patient’s informed consent to use the records for medical purposes is obtained.
Funding: The work is supported by a grant of the President of the Russian Federation No. МД-1997.2020.7
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Contribution of the authorsLiterature review: V.V. Beloborodov, A.G. FilippenkoDrafting the article: A.B. Romanov, V.V. Beloborodov, A.G. FilippenkoCritical revision of the article: A.B. Romanov, A.G. Filippenko, V.V. Beloborodov, V.V. ShabanovSurgical treatment: A.B. Romanov, V.V. ShabanovFinal approval of the version to be published: A.B. Romanov, A.G. Filippenko, V.V. Beloborodov, I.L. Mikheenko, V.V. Shabanov
Clinical observation of endovascular thoracic aortic prosthetics in a patient with distal anastomosis aneurysm of a vascular prosthesis formed "end-to-side" after extraanatomic prosthetics
Authors: Gorshkov N.S. , Chernaya N.R. , Parhomenko M.V. , Muslimov R.Sh. , Selyaev V.S. , Kokov L.S.
Published: June 2022

A clinical observation of successful prosthetics of an aneurysm of distal anastomosis of a vascular prosthesis of the thoracic aorta with a stent graft in a patient 24 years after extraanatomic bypass surgery with an end-to-side anastomosis for aortic coarctation is presented. During a routine examination, an aneurysm of the distal anastomosis of the vascular prosthesis was revealed in the patient. After further examination, thoracic aorta endoprosthesis was performed from vascular prosthesis to native aorta with Ankura 2020B120 stent graft (Lifetech Scientific Co., LTD. Shenzhen, China). Intraoperative results of endoprosthetics were assessed as good. The aneurysm of the distal anastomosis was not contrasted, the patency of the vessels of the aortic arch was preserved. According to the control computed tomography study performed 3 months after the operation, the aneurysm of the distal anastomosis is not contrasted, there is no dislocation of the prosthesis, there are no endolics. The above clinical observation demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of thoracic aortic endoprosthesis from a vascular prosthesis to a native aorta with anastomosis aneurysms of a vascular prosthesis, which allows avoiding complex and traumatic repeated open surgical intervention on the aorta and achieving good immediate and long-term treatment results.
Received 25 November 2021. Revised 29 December 2021. Accepted 31 January 2022.
Informed consent: The patient’s informed consent to use the records for medical purposes is obtained.
Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Contribution of the authors Literature review: N.S. GorshkovDrafting the article: N.S. Gorshkov, N.R. ChernayaCritical revision of the article: R.Sh. Muslimov, L.S. KokovSurgical treatment: N.S. Gorshkov, N.R. Chernaya, M.V. Parhomenko, V.S. SelyaevFinal approval of the version to be published: N.S. Gorshkov, N.R. Chernaya, M.V. Parhomenko, V.S. Selyaev, L.S. Kokov
Long-term results of bare metal stents and frozen elephant trunk prosthesis using in aortic dissection surgery
Authors: Sirota D. , Zhulkov M. , Khvan D. , Makaev A. , Fomichev A. , Agaeva H. , Sabetov A. , Kozlov B. , Chernyavskiy A.
Published: June 2022

Aim. Comparative assessment of long-term results of bare metal stents and frozen elephant trunk prosthesis using in aortic dissection I DeBakey type.Methods. The retrospective comparative evaluation of different surgery results (2001–2017) in 213 patients with DeBakey type I aortic dissection was performed. Patients was divided in to 3 groups: Group 1 — standard treatment (hemiarch or total arch replacement) (n = 121), Group 2 — arch reconstruction with bare metal stent (n = 55), Group 3 — arch reconstruction with frozen elephant trunk prosthesis (n = 37). For groups equation we used propensity score matching analysis (PSM).Results. A pairwise comparison with the formation of three groups equated by the PSM method was performed. Long-term mortality in PSM 1 was 88 [82; 96] % (Group 1) и 89 [79; 100] % — (Group 2) respectively (p = 0.893). Long-term mortality in PSM 2 was 85 [71; 100] % in Group 1 and 94 [84; 100] % — Group 3 respectively (p = 0.342). Long-term mortality in PSM 3 was 88 [77; 100] % in Group 2 и 80 [64; 100] % — Group 3 respectively (p = 0.457). Freedom from aortic and mortality events (surrogate end point) in PSM 1 was 68% and 75% (p>0.999), PSM 2 was 50% and 100% (p = 0.006), PSM 3 was 73% and 89% (p = 0.22).Conclusion. There were no any statistical differences in long-term mortality and in surrogate end point (aortic events and mortality) between groups, but there was a trend to better results in Group 3.
Barbaloin Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Involvement of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Nan , Gan Guoli , Yang Jihao , Wang Luyao
Published: June 2022

Background:

Barbaloin, found in Aloe vera, exerts broad pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. This study aims to investigate the effects of barbaloin on the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).

Methods:

Osteogenic induction of hBMSCs was performed in the presence or absence of barbaloin. Cell viability was determined by using the CCK-8 assay. The characteristic of hBMSCs was identified by using flow cytometry. Intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining was performed to evaluate the ALP activity in hBMSCs. Alizarin Red S staining was performed to evaluate the matrix mineralization. The mRNA and protein levels of target genes were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively.

Results:

Treatment with barbaloin (10 and 20 μg/mL) significantly increased cell viability of hBMSCs after 72 hours. In addition, treatment with barbaloin increased the mRNA expression levels of ALP and its activities. Treatment with barbaloin also increased matrix mineralization and the mRNA and protein levels of late-differentiated osteoblast marker genes BMP2, RUNX2, and SP7 in hBMSCs. The underlying mechanisms revealed that barbaloin increased the protein expressions of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related biomarkers.

Conclusion:

Barbaloin promotes osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Perspectives toward the Development of Advanced Materials Based
on Bacterial Polysaccharides
Authors: Durán-Lara Esteban F. , Marican Adolfo , Rafael Diana , Vijayakumar Sekar
Published: June 2022

Bacteria and their enzymatic machinery, also called bacterial cell factories,
produce a diverse variety of biopolymers, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides and
polysaccharides, with different and fundamental cellular functions. Polysaccharides are
the most widely used biopolymers, especially in biotechnology. This type of biopolymer,
thanks to its physical and chemical properties, can be used to create a wide range of advanced
bio-based materials, hybrid materials and nanocomposites for a variety of exciting
biomedical applications. In contrast to synthetic polymers, bacterial polysaccharides
have several advantages, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low immunogenicity,
and non-toxicity, among others. On the other hand, the main advantage of bacterial
polysaccharides compared to polymers extracted from other natural sources is that their
physicochemical properties, such as purity, porosity, and malleability, among others, can
be adapted to a specific application with the use of biotechnological tools and/or chemical
modifications. Another great reason for using bacterial polysaccharides is due to the
possibility of developing advanced materials from them using bacterial factories that can
metabolize raw materials (recycling of industrial and agricultural wastes) that are readily
available and in large quantities. Moreover, through this strategy, it is possible to curb environmental
pollution. In this article, we project the desire to move towards large-scale
production of bacterial polysaccharides taking into account the benefits, weaknesses and
prospects in the near future for the development of advanced biological materials for
medical and pharmaceutical purposes.
The Regulation Role of Ferroptosis Mechanism of Anti-Cancer Drugs
and Noncoding RNAs
Authors: Ensoy Mine , Bumin Zehra Sena , Jama Huda Abdirizak , Cansaran-Duman Demet
Published: June 2022

Ferroptosis is a recently discovered type of cell death caused by the accumulation
of iron-dependent lipid peroxides and reactive oxygen species that differs significantly
from other cell death pathways such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Ferroptosis
is essential in developing and treating ischemia-reperfusion injury, neurological diseases,
cancer, and other diseases. The ferroptosis mechanism, which can be induced by reagents
like erastin and glutamate, and suppressed by antioxidants such as vitamin E and deferoxamine
(DFO) chelators, can be regulated at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional,
and post-translational levels. A recent study has determined many non-coding
RNAs (lncRNA, miRNA, circRNA) that modulate ferroptotic cell death in cancer cells.
Furthermore, some anti-cancer drugs (Sorafenib, Sulfasalazine, Acetominofen, Lanperisone,
etc.) used in pre-clinical and clinical applications have been shown to induce ferroptosis
in various cancer types. However, in addition to the studies in the literature, it is necessary
to define novel molecules & non-coding RNAs and determine their effects on the
ferroptosis mechanism. Thus, it will be possible to develop effective and safe treatment
options.
Advances in Exosomal microRNAs and Proteins in Ovarian Cancer
Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment
Authors: Qin Tiansheng , Chen Fan , Zhu Jiaojiao , Ding Yaoyao , Zhang Qianqian
Published: June 2022

Late diagnosis, postoperative recurrence, and chemotherapy resistance are
the main causes of the high mortality rate in ovarian cancer (OC). Understanding the
molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis and progression of OC may contribute to
discovering new tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OC. Exosomes are small
extracellular vesicles derived from different types of cells that carry cargos, including
nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, and are pivotal mediators of intercellular
communication in the tumor microenvironment. There is emerging evidence that
exosomal proteins and nucleic acids play pivotal roles in facilitating the progression and
drug resistance of OC. Identification of these factors may aid in the future diagnosis of
OC. Furthermore, they also have promising value as OC therapeutic targets that can
improve the prognosis. In the current review, we summarize the progress of exosomal
research in OC, especially highlighting the most updated roles of exosomal microRNAs
and proteins in the diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, and drug resistance of OC in order to
facilitate future studies in this area.
Chemistry of 2-Aminoquinolines: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Biological
Activities
Authors: Gouda Moustafa A. , El-Bana Ghada G.
Published: June 2022

This review described the preparation of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde derivatives through Vilsmeier-Haack formylation of N-arylacetamides and the use of them as a key intermediate for the preparation of 2-aminoquinoline-3-carbaldehydes. The synthesis of the 2-aminoquinolines was explained through the following chemical reactions: Claisen-Schmidt condensation, 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition, one-pot multicomponent reactions (MCRs), and reductive amination.
Extending Stroke CT Angiography to the Full Chest Allows for the Detection of Additional Pulmonary Opacifications in Acute Stroke Patients
Authors: Hasan Dimah , Darvishi Keihan , May Rebecca , Ridwan Hani , Riabikin Alexander , Wiesmann Martin , Reich Arno , Nikoubashman Omid
Published: June 2022

Background and purpose:

During epidemics with an increased prevalence of pulmonary infections, extending stroke CTA examinations of acute stroke workup to the whole chest may allow for the identification of pulmonary findings that would have been missed on standard CTA examinations.

Materials and Methods:

Our analysis comprised 216 patients with suspicion of stroke who received extended full-chest cerebrovascular CTA examinations from January 27th 2020 - date of the first confirmed Covid-19 case in Germany - until April 30th 2020.

Results:

Consolidations and ground-glass opacifications were found in 73 of all 216 patients (34%). Opacifications were found in the upper chest in 51/216 patients (23%). There were lower-chest opacifications in 22 of 165 patients (13%) with unsuspicious upper-chest scans. In these 22 patients, there were consolidations in 10 cases (45%), ground-glass opacifications in 10 cases (45%), and both in 2 cases (10%).

Conclusions:

Our study showed that extending the scan volume of an emergency stroke CTA to the whole chest reveals a considerable number of opacifications that would have been missed on a standard CTA. Even though these findings were rarely indicative of COVID-19, a large number of opacifications warranted further investigation.
Mechanistic and Etiological Similarities in Diabetes Mellitus and
Alzheimer’s Disease: Antidiabetic Drugs as Optimistic Therapeutics in
Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Das Subham , Ramachandran Anu Kunnath , Halder Debojyoti , Akbar Saleem , Ahmed Bahar , Joseph Alex
Published: June 2022

Background:

Diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease are two common diseases that majorly
affect the elderly population. Patients in both cases are increasing day by day. They are considered
two independent diseases, but recent evidence suggests that they have a lot in common.

Objective:

In this review, we focused on the connection between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes and
highlighted the importance of antidiabetic drugs against Alzheimer's disease.

Methods:

Common pathways such as obesity, vascular diseases, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction,
mutation of the ApoE4 gene, and Sirtuin gene were found to manipulate both diseases. Antidiabetic
drugs are found to have promising effects on Alzheimer’s disease, acting by reducing insulin
resistance, neuronal protection, and reducing amyloid-beta plaques. Some anti-diabetic drugs have
shown promising results in vivo and in vitro studies.

Results:

No review present focuses on the structural features of the antidiabetic molecules against
Alzheimer’s disease, their crosslinking pathophysiology, the role of natural bioactive molecules, in silico
advancements followed by preclinical and clinical studies, and current advancements. Hence, we
concentrated on the factors mentioned in the objectives.

Conclusion:

Alzheimer's disease can be considered a form of 'type-3 diabetes,' and repurposing the
anti-diabetic drug will open up new paths of research in the field of Alzheimer's disease drug discovery.
Drag Resistivity of Hole-Hole Static Interactions with the Effect of Non-
Homogeneous Dielectric Medium
Authors: Upadhyay Sharad Kumar , Saini L.K.
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND:

We have study the Coulomb drag phenomena for hole-hole static potentials theoretically and measured numerically using the random phase approximation (RPA) method

OBJECTIVE:

The drag resistivity is evaluated at low temperature, large interlayer separation limit and weakly screening regime, with the geometry of two atomically thin materials, such as, BLG/GaAs based multilayer system, is a promising systems in nanomaterials and technology

METHOD:

Static local field corrections (LFC) are considered to take into account the Exchange-correlations (XC) and mutual interaction effects with varying concentrations of active and passive layer

RESULT:

It is found that the drag resistivity is found enhanced on using the LFC effects and increases on increasing the effective mass. In Fermi-Liquid regime, drag resistivity is directly proportional to T^2, n^(-3), d^(-4) and ϵ^2 with respect to temperature (T), density (n), interlayer separation (d~nm) and dielectric constant (ϵ_2), respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Dependency of drag resistivity is measured and compared to 2D e-e and e-h coupled-layer systems with and without the effect of non-homogeneous dielectric medium.
The Dopamine Gene Receptors (DRD1-5) Expression Alteration in Psoriasis
Patients
Authors: Mohamadian Malihe , Mortazavi Hossein , Makvand Mina , Ahangari Fatemeh , Ahangari Ghasem
Published: June 2022

Background:

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that is considered linked to genetic and environmental factors such as stress. Since the neurotransmitter dopamine has a close association with stress configuration, it can be a candidate for relieving psoriasis representation. In addition to the CNS, immune cells can play a decisive role in regulating immune functions through dopamine synthesis and the expression of its receptors. Altered response of immune cells to dopamine as well as a distorted expression of dopamine receptors (DRs) in immune cells have been reported in some chronic inflammatory conditions.

Objective:

This study aims the evaluation of dopamine receptor (DR1-DR5) gene expression in mononuclear blood cells of psoriatic patients in comparison with normal individuals.

Method:

We isolated peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from blood samples followed by total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and real-time PCR using specific primer pairs.

Result:

We found that all types of DRs are expressed in the PBMCs of normal and psoriatic individ-uals. We also concluded that compared to controls, DR2 and DR4 were overexpressed in psoriasis patients while DR3 was low-expressed.

Conclusion:

Increased expression of DR2 and DR4 along with decreased expression of DR3 in PBMCs of psoriasis patients not only provide new insight into the pathogenesis of psoriasis but may also be effective in designing future therapeutic strategies attributable to psoriasis.
Comparing India's Second COVID Wave with the First Wave-A
Single-Center Experience
Authors: Kapoor Mayank , Singh Budha O , Panda Prasan Kumar , Dhanger Pathik , Kataria Anant
Published: June 2022

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has resurfaced in India as a hardhitting
second wave. This study aims to compare the clinical profile of the first wave
(April-June 2020) and the second wave (March-May 2021) of the severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) in a single tertiary care center in
India.

Methods:

In this retrospective observational study, we examined the demographic profile,
symptoms at presentation, severity of illness, baseline investigations, treatments
received, underlying comorbidities, and outcomes of the COVID-19 patients belonging
to the first (W1) and the second wave (W2) of the pandemic in India.

Results:

The age group affected most in the W2 is 50.5 (17.7) versus 37·1 (16·9) years
for W1. The baseline oxygen saturation is lower in W2, being 84·0 (13·4) % compared
with 91·9 (7·4) % in W1 [SpO2 <90% OR 14.3 (6.1-33), P<0.0001]. 70.2 % of the cases
belonged to the severe category in W2 compared to 37.5% in W1. W2 has worse outcomes.
Incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [48.7% v/s 6.45%; OR
15.4 (6.5-35.7), P<0.0001], Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) [18% v/s 2.4%; OR 6 (1.7-
22.2), P = 0.005], Acute Liver Injury (transaminitis) [12.8% v/s 6.4%, OR 7.3 (3.7-
14.3), P<0.0001], and deaths (29% v/s 9.6%, standardized mortality ratio 3.5) is higher
in W2. Similarly, the CT severity score for W2 [29.5 (6.7)] was higher than W1 [23·2
(11·5), P<0.05]. The proportion of patients requiring oxygen [81.8% v/s 11.2%; OR 125
(40-333.3), P<0.0001], high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) (11.4% v/s 5.6%), Non-
Invasive Ventilation (NIV) (41.2% v/s 1.5%), invasive ventilation [24.5% v/s 0.9%; OR
22.72 (2.94-166.6), P=0.003], as well as ICU/HDU admissions [56.4% v/s 12.0%; OR
10.5 (5.3-21.2), P<0.0001] was higher for W2 as compared with W1. Cough, invasive
ventilation, inotrope requirement, and ARDS are significantly related to higher mortality
in the W2 than W1.

Conclusion:

Higher age, oxygen requirement, ventilator requirement, ICU admission,
and organ failure are more prevalent in the admitted COVID-19 cases during the second
wave that hit India than in the first wave and are associated with more fatalities. Strategy
for another wave should be planned accordingly.
Physico-Chemical Analysis of Some Soft Drinks Available in Pakistan
Authors: Jabeen Mussarat , Razzaq Irum , Aslam Noreen , Zafar nsa Madeeha
Published: June 2022

Soft drinks are widely consumed worldwide; therefore, it is necessary to study their qualitative and quantitative analysis. For this purpose, we studied 18 brands of soft drinks purchased from the local market of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Carbon dioxide, glucose, sucrose, ascorbic acid, phosphates, caffeine, and alcohol were analyzed qualitatively, while pH, conductivity, density, potassium, sodium, and total soluble solids were estimated quantitatively. This physico-chemical analysis was determined by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods. The obtained results demonstrated that these soft drinks were highly acidic, ranging from 2.3±0.01to 3.68±0.01 due to carbon dioxide and phosphates. Most soft drinks contain traces of caffeine and alcohol, while very few contain ascorbic acid. The conductivity of all the soft drinks was high due to soluble ions. Similarly, density was higher than water due to a large amount of sugar.The concentration of total soluble solids, mainly known assucrose, was also high, ranges 64±0.01 g/L(2.56±0.01 Brix°) to 126.5±0.02 g/L (21.57±0.02 Brix°). Most cold drinks contain some amountof sodium (0.3±0.01 to 3.0±0.01mg/L), potassium (0±0.00 to 12.8±0.01mg/L),and a small amount of calcium (0.1±0.01 to0.53±0.01mg/L),the potassium concentration was higher than the sodium. In contrast, calcium concentration is very small. The strength of acid was estimated quantitatively using a titrimetric method, the maximum concertation of acid is 20.92±0.01. Similarly, using redox titration,alcohol concentration was measured, ranges 0.46±0.01 to 0±0.00, but this concentration was less than WHO’s concentration, therefore considered safe to use.
Potential Techniques for Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass into Biofuels
Authors: Siddique Mohammad , Soomro Suhail Ahmed , Aziz Shaheen , Suri Saadat Ullah Khan , Akhter Faheem , Qaisrani Zahid Naeem
Published: June 2022

Lignin has been found as a naturally available aromatic resource for biofuel production. Reduced reliance on fossil fuels and replacement with a green and environmentally friendly strategy are currently one of the most pressing challenges. There has been significant growth in energy consumption, necessitating the transition to an alternative energy source. The current renewable energy source has significant biofuel production potential. It is critical to discuss the process parameters for pinpointing lignin content as part of the technology development process. Biofuel production possesses various challenges that need to be addressed. In this research, we precisely discussed the numerous lignin conversion mechanisms that can boost the biofuel output. Catalytic deoxygenation is a fuel promotion process that decreases the oxygen content, which causes instability and corrosion. SiO2, ZrO2, CeO2, TiO2, and Al2O3 are used in catalytic deoxygenation to produce biofuel. The use of chosen Al2O3-TiO2 metal oxide catalysts is critical in biofuel production. To obtain hemicellulose levels, two-step pretreatments with alkali and acids are used. The constraints, challenges, industrial perspectives, and future outlooks for developing cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly procedures for the long-term valorization of lignocellulosic materials were examined in the conclusion.
Soaking up the Sun: Solar Energy Optimization during Pandemic, Study Case at Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Rattan Crafts Center in Trangsan Village, Sukoharjo, Central Java
Authors: Dwiatmoko Sujarwanto , Nagel Archibald , Windarta Jaka
Published: June 2022

The National Energy General Plan has set a target of achieving the Renewable Energy mix by 23% by 2030, to achieve this the transition of energy to RE must be done immediately. Solar energy is one of the opportunities of renewable energy that is very abundant in Indonesia. Along with the issuance of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation number 49 of 2018 concerning the Use of Rooftop Solar Power System by Consumers of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) which provides opportunities for the utilization of PV Rooftop for household and commercial sector. In view of this, the Central Java Government plans to install Rooftop Power Plant in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector to develop the utilization of RE in the productive sector while improving the economic recovery of the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of renewable energy (EBT) is expected to save electricity costs in MSMEs. The results of planning using Helioscope software showed that in the three MSMEs with different PLTS capacities, namely 1 Kwp, 2.04 KWp and 4 KWp can produce annual energy production of 1,191 MWh, 2,433 MWh and 5,352 MWh respectively. After the installation of the PLTS, it was proven that in the first two months after installation energy consumption can decrease to minimum usage.
Technoeconomic Analysis of Integrated Bioethanol from Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with Utilization of Its Residue and Lignin
Authors:   Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Safaat Muhammad , Wulan Praswasti Pembangun Dyah Kencana ,   Universitas Indonesia
Published: June 2022

Bioethanol has been developed as an alternative biofuel. Elephant grass is one of the lignocelluloses that can be used as a source of bioethanol. The bioethanol fermentation process should be improved along with its economic competitiveness to promote its wider application. This study aims to investigate and to evaluate the best scheme of biethanol (standalone) and the combination of bioethanol and its by-products through technoeconomic analysis. The method used is collecting data from several previous studies and simulating it with SuperPro Designer. Data from flowsheeting simulation is used as economic simulation data using Microsoft Excel. The results of this study indicate that the processing of biogas and lignin waste as fuel and lignosulfonates can increase the economic value of the bioethanol production process. The best economic value is the bioethanol production process using biogas and lignin as fuel for a Biomass Power Plant which is called Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Biomassa (PLTBm) with a Net Present Value (NPV) of IDR 364,358,976,036, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 11.32%, Pay Back Period (PBP) 7.2 years, and Profitability Index (PI) 1.08
UJI AKTIVITAS BAKTERI PELARUT FOSFAT TERHADAP KELARUTAN FOSFAT PADA TANAH SALIN
Authors: Hidayahtulloh Nisa , Setiawati Tri Candra
Published: June 2022

The high salt content in saline soils is the main cause of low salinity soil fertility, especially phosphorus nutrients. The application of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in saline soil is one method to increase phosphate availability in saline soils. The study consisted of two tests, namely (1) qualitative and quantitative testing of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in saline conditions and (2) testing of the activity of phosphate solubilizing bacteria in saline soil. This study used Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus valezensis (Soil Biology Laboratory collection), Inceptisol saline soil from Banongan and Agel Situbondo. The study aimed to determine the activity of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria on the solubility of phosphate in saline soil. The results showed that: (1) Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus valezensis have a solubility index of 1.25 to 2.68 on solid Pikovskaya medium with some NaCl concentration. Quantitatively test on liquid Pikovskaya medium, water-soluble phosphate concentration about 4.84 ppm to 14.18 ppm and soluble phosphate (extract Bray) between 15.91 ppm to 21.58 ppm. In addition, (2) on saline soil showed that Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus valezensis could increase phosphate availability by 11.61% to 72,89%. Based on the study results, the genus Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus valezensis have the potential to increase phosphate availability in saline soils.
SIMULASI PENDUGAAN LONGSOR: PENGARUH INTENSITAS HUJAN PADA TANAH DENGAN TEKSTUR DAN KANDUNGAN BAHAN ORGANIK YANG BERBEDA
Authors: Rofiq Nur Fadillah Aunur , Utami Sri Rahayu , Agustina Christanti
Published: June 2022

Natural factors and human actions can cause landslides. Natural factors include high rainfall intensity and mountainous areas or hills with steep slopes. Human actions that can cause landslides are land conversion and inappropriate land management. This study aimed to explore the effect of rain intensity on soils with different textures and organic matter content. The landslide simulation study was conducted at the Agro Techno Park and Experimental Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University. This study used an acrylic box (size 100 cm x 50 cm x 75 cm) and aluminium plate as a base, which was adjusted to a slope of 50. There were eight treatment combinations consisting of three factors: soil texture (silty and clayey), rainfall intensity (70 mm hour-1 and 120 mm hour-1 ), and organic matter application (without and with organic matter application). The variables measured were landslide duration and volume. The results showed that the duration and volume of landslide materials are largerly influenced by rainfall intensity. Adding organic matter to the soil at any rainfall intensity may decrease landslide duration and volume by half compared to without organic matter application. Among the three factors examined (soil texture, organic matter application and rainfall intensity), rainfall intensity seems to be the most determining factor in landslide duration and volume.
Penilaian Kenyamanan Termal pada Ruang Baca Perpustakaan Umum Kota Pekalongan
Authors: Shafa Astrihasna , Sari Suzanna Ratih
Published: June 2022

Evaluation of thermal comfort in the 1st and 2nd-floor reading rooms of Pekalongan City Public Library is to support the aim of designing a comfortable reading room that can increase people's reading interest. This study uses a quantitative approach defined descriptively and evaluatively. Direct measurement data in the morning and afternoon using a thermometer, hygrometer, and anemometer for four days. Data also uses a questionnaire. The collected data compares the measurement analysis results with recommended standards. The result shows that the reading room on the 1st floor was in the threshold and heat-comfort category, which was around 26℃ - 27.4 ℃, while the reading room on the 2nd floor was in the optimal comfortable category, which was around 24.7℃ - 26.4℃. The effective temperature of the 1st-floor reading room is higher than the 2nd floor. The final result shows that the room is in the less comfortable category because the air conditioner in the reading room is not as it should be appropriate.
Two-layer spherical rubber-metal joints and problems of their calculation features
Authors: Kosmodamianskiy A. S. , Vorob'ev V. I. , Izmerov O. V. , Shevchenko D. N. , Rasin D. Yu.
Published: June 2022

Introduction. The article analyses the methods for calculating the characteristics of spherical rubber-metal joints. The authors consider a verified calculation model for determining the stiffness characteristics of spherical rubber-metal joints, both single-layer and double-layer.

Materials and methods. The researchers used computer modelling and the finite element method to determine the features of the spherical rubber-metal joints. The possibility of neglecting the deformation of the metal parts of the joint for the modelling purposes was substantiated, which enabled to simplify the calculation model. Moreover, the authors proposed the method for measuring the effect of the elastic layer precompression and determined the values of radial stiffness for single-layer and double-layer rubber-metal joints at different hardness of materials, which coincided with the experimental results.

 Results. As a result, the authors revealed that with a decrease in the thickness of the rubber layer by assessing the rigidity of the joint, its features were significantly affected by the accuracy of setting the Poisson's ratio. A satisfactory convergence of the radial stiffness of the joint found through the modelling and experimental studies was achieved at a Poisson's ratio equal to 0.499999 (the discrepancy is about 5 %, which is less than the technological spread of rigidity during manufacture). The authors also found out that the rigidity of two-layer rubber-metal joints, similar in size and compensatory capacity to those used in the design of domestic locomotives, should be 6.3 times higher than for existing single-layer ones. Such features would reduce the deformation of rubber by loads exsposion during operation and thereby would solve the problems with the reliability of traction motors suspension units.

Discussion and conclusion. Due to the fact that the shape of the free surface of the side faces of two-layer rubber-metal joints before assembly should have small radii of the recesses curvature, further research is needed to select the rational geometry of the free surface of the side faces. The researchers got a utility model patent for the proposed design and manufacturing technology of two-layer rubber-metal joints.