bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
„I dette sataniske Evangelium“
Authors: Nagelstutz Daniel
Published: October 2021

During the Second World War, a few well-educated Greenlanders from the Danish colonies of Godthåb and Holsteinsborg expressed their sympathy for Nazi Germany. However, the background of the political turmoil within the Greenlandic elite remains largely unknown. This article presents the state of research and previously unknown sources on the Nazi riots in Greenland. In a subsequent step, potential motives for the movement will be discussed. So far, researchers have ruled out that Greenlanders were aware of the true nature of National Socialism. Instead, the scattered pro-German activities along Greenland’s West coast have been played down as spontaneous acts of provocation and mere political calculus. In fact, the Nazis’ ideology and war crimes were well known to the Greenlanders. In addition, German polar researchers made friends with Greenlandic journalists, teachers and catechists after the Nazi seizure of power. Last not least, the article will examine how Danish discrimination against Greenlanders contributed to the Greenlandic chauvinism displayed by a few members of the Inuit elite.
Mordmedieringer
Authors: Fodstad Lars August
Published: October 2021

The so-called Torgersen case is one of the most famous murder cases and criminal proceedings in modern Norwegian history, as it started in the late 1950s and still figures in the judicial system, even after the convict’s death. Among the multitude of medial occurrences in the wake of the case we find three dramas, including Finn Iunker’s Det skjendige drapet i skippergata. In this article Iunker’s play is studied in a media archeological perspective, informed by German materialist media theory, focusing on media technology, communication systems, transmission, noise, and meta mediality. A key assertion is that Iunker’s play not only can be studied through the lens of media archeology, but to a certain extent can be read as media archeological excavation of the past, focusing on hypermedial aspects such as noise. Finally, the media archeological approach allows for a brief discussion on drama form and modern media culture.
The effectiveness of the AEB system in the context of the safety of vulnerable road users
Authors: Ucińska Monika , Pełka Małgorzata
Published: October 2021

According to the analysis by the National Police Headquarters, roughly 40% of all road accident victims in Poland are vulnerable road users (VRU), i.e. pedestrians and cyclists. Their protection has become one of the priorities for action regarding road safety. For this purpose, various activities are carried out aimed not only at human behaviour or the development of modern and safe road infrastructures but also at the development of modern vehicles, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In order to identify the limitations of the currently available driver assistance systems, designed to respond to VRU, research was carried out under the project name, “PEDICRASH: Safety aspects of VRU in CAD automated vehicles.” The project was aimed at increasing users’ awareness (both pedestrians and drivers) of the limitations of ADAS by analysing barriers and indicating recommendations allowing for more effective protection of pedestrians and cyclists due to the identified operating limitations of these systems. The research focused on the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system and its potential impact on the level of road safety, with particular emphasis on VRU.
The issue of arbitrariness in syntactic reconstruction
Authors: Daniels Don
Published: October 2021

Practitioners of syntactic reconstruction have not acknowledged that arbitrariness and iconicity influence syntactic change, and that they therefore need to be incorporated into methods of reconstruction. I argue that iconicity creates a directional tendency in syntactic change, privileging structures that are more iconic. I propose a method for incorporating this fact into methods of syntactic reconstruction. I demonstrate the application of this method on two pieces of reconstructed syntax: orientation serial verb constructions and left-peripheral topics. Both case studies are from Proto-Sogeram, the ancestor to ten languages of Papua New Guinea. A third, briefer case study concerns Proto-Carib.
Recursive Gauss-Helmert model with equality constraints applied to the efficient system calibration of a 3D laser scanner
Authors: Vogel Sören , Ernst Dominik , Neumann Ingo , Alkhatib Hamza
Published: October 2021

Sensors for environmental perception are nowadays applied in numerous vehicles and are expected to be used in even higher quantities for future autonomous driving. This leads to an increasing amount of observation data that must be processed reliably and accurately very quickly. For this purpose, recursive approaches are particularly suitable in terms of their efficiency when powerful CPUs and GPUs are uneconomical, too large, or too heavy for certain applications. If explicit functional relationships between the available observations and the requested parameters are used to process and adjust the observation data, complementary approaches exist. The situation is different for implicit relationships, which could not be considered recursively for a long time but only in the context of batch adjustments. In this contribution, a recursive Gauss-Helmert model is presented that can handle explicit and implicit equations and thus allows high flexibility. This recursive estimator is based on a Kalman filter for implicit measurement equations, which has already been used for georeferencing kinematic multi-sensor systems (MSS) in urban environments. Furthermore, different methods for introducing additional information using constraints and the resulting added value are shown. Practical application of the methodology is given by an example for the calibration of a laser scanner for a MSS.
Industry Concentration and Profitability in Europe: The Case of Norway
Authors: Eide Lars Stemland , Erraia Jonas , Grimsby Gjermund
Published: October 2021

Several recent studies show that market concentration in the US has increased over time, with firm profits increasing in the same period. The consistency of findings from the US is contrasted by more varying results from studies of the development of market concentration in Europe. In this study, we utilise the completeness of Norwegian microdata to investigate how methodological choices and data limitations impact results with respect to the market concentration and its relationship with profitability. First, we find that concentration in Norway has decreased slightly over the last two decades. Over the same period, profitability has increased slightly for two profitability measures and been stable for the other two. Despite a difference in overall trends, at the industry level, we find a positive and statistically significant relationship between concentration and profitability for three out of four profitability measures, in line with the market power hypothesis. Investigating the effect of methodological choices and data limitations, we find that concentration trends are quite robust to exclusion of smaller companies, the incorporation of ownership structures in concentration measures and the choice of industry classification. However, the positive relationship between concentration and profitability is almost non-existent when using readily available industry classification instead of more product market-oriented industry classifications and disappears completely when we do not exclude export-oriented industries. Our study is relevant for future research, as well as for policymakers, as our results indicate that one should be careful when interpreting results from studies of market concentration that fail to handle these methodological challenges.
Automation in small labs
Authors: Heidrich Rainer
Published: October 2021

Objectives

The following report describes the development and implementation of a small-lab automation solution for small hospitals.

Methods

It uses a new generation of collaborative robots instead of the traditional laboratory automation lines with their input and output units and connected analyzers. After the Proof of Concept during fall 2018, both a centrifuge and several routine analyzers were integrated.

Results

The run-up phase ended after successful test operations in continuous mode in 2019. Routine operations were launched in October 2020 in a MVZ routine lab after a delay caused by the pandemic.

Conclusions

Apart from the direct cost savings for night duty or compensation for the lack of personnel, the mentioned solution delivers a significant upgrading of the laboratory technicians’ activities and an improvement in their working conditions.
On the habitual verbpflegenin German: Its use, origin, and development
Authors: Jędrzejowski Łukasz
Published: October 2021

In this article, I examine the distributional properties, emergence conditions, and development of the habitual verbal headpflegen‘use(d) to’ in the history of German. Synchronically, I argue that Present-day German possesses subject to subject raising verbs and that they can all be brought down to a common denominator: They allow promotion of the embedded subject into the matrix subject position (= A-movement). However, at the same time I argue that German subject to subject raising verbs differ and that their heterogeneity follows from their semantics. What all this boils down to is that German subject to subject raising verbs do not form a uniform class, neither semantically nor syntactically. As forpflegen, I account for its syntactic peculiarities referring to its functional status, i.e., the status of being a habitual head. Diachronically, I show thatpflegengrammaticalized into an AspHAB-head in the transition from Old High German (750–1050) to Middle High German (1050–1350) and that this grammaticalization process restricted the way it behaves in Present-day German.
Multi-class, multi-functional design of photonic topological insulators by rational symmetry-indicators engineering
Authors: Luo Jiachen , Du Zongliang , Guo Yilin , Liu Chang , Zhang Weisheng , Guo Xu
Published: October 2021

An explicit topology optimization-based design paradigm is proposed for the design of photonic topological crystalline insulators (TCIs). To strictly guarantee the topological property, rational engineering of symmetry-indicators is carried out by mathematical programming, which simultaneously maximizes the width of nontrivial topological band gaps and achieves the desired quantized bulk polarization. Our approach is successfully applied to design photonic TCIs with time-reversal symmetry in two-dimensional point groups, higher-order magnetic TCIs, and higher-order photonic TCIs. This methodology paves the way for inverse design of optimized photonic/phononic, multiphysics, and multifunctional three-dimensional TCIs.
VCSEL with multi-transverse cavities with bandwidth beyond 100 GHz
Authors: Heidari Elham , Ahmed Moustafa , Dalir Hamed , Bakry Ahmed , Alshahrie Ahmed , Sorger Volker J.
Published: October 2021

To fulfill the demands of high-speed photonic applications, researchers, and engineers have been working to improve the modulation bandwidth (MBW) of semiconductor lasers. We extend our prior work on modeling a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with multiple transverse-coupled-cavities (MTCCs) to evaluate the feasibility of boosting MBW beyond 100 GHz in this study. Because of the strong coupling of slow-light feedback from nearby lateral transverse coupled cavities (TCCs) into the VCSEL cavity, the laser has a high modulation performance. The intensity modulation response of the VCSEL design using one, two, four, and six TCCs is compared. Due to the optical-feedback (OFB) from short TCCs, which achieves 3 dB MBW reaching 170 GHz, photon–photon-resonance (PPR) is projected to occur at ultra-high frequencies beyond 145 GHz. In terms of the Fourier spectrum of the relative intensity noise (RIN), we characterize the noise features of the MTCC-VCSEL in the ultra-high bandwidth domain.
Spin separation based on-chip optical polarimeter via inverse design
Authors: Zhou Changyu , Xie Youpeng , Ren Jianxin , Wei Zepeng , Du Luping , Zhang Qiang , Xie Zhenwei , Liu Bo , Lei Ting , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: October 2021

Polarimetry has been demonstrated essential in various disciplines, such as optical communications, imaging, and astronomy. On-chip nanostructures for polarization measurements are most expected to replace the conventional bulk elements, and hence minimize the polarimeter for integrated applications. Some on-chip nanophotonic polarimeter via polarization detection has been implemented, in which the separation of two spin polarized states is needed. However, due to the relatively low coupling efficiency or complicated photonic silicon circuits, on-chip polarimetry using a single device still remains challenging. Here, we introduce and investigate an on-chip polarimeter with nanostructures using the inverse design method. The developed device shows the ability to detect the four polarization components of light, two of which are the spin polarizations, and the other two are the linear polarizations. The retrieved Stokes parameters with experimentally tested data are in close agreement with the numerical results. We also show the proof of concept demonstration for high-speed Stokes vector optical signals detection. In the high-speed communication experiment with data rate up to 16 GBd, the detected optical signals via polarization measurements at multiple wavelengths in the C-band were recovered with the bit error rate below the 20% forward error correction threshold. The proposed on-chip polarimeter shows promising performance both in Stokes polarimetry and high-speed optical communication applications.
A comparative study on characterizations and synthesis of pure lead sulfide (PbS) and Ag-doped PbS for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Jameel Muhammad Hasnain , Saleem Shahroz , Hashim Muhammad , Roslan Muhammad Sufi , Somaily Hamoud Hassan Naji , Hessin Mahmoud M. , El-Bahy Zeinhom M. , Ashiq Muhammad Gul Bahr , Hamzah Maytham Qabel , Jabbar Abdullah Hasan , Yabagi Jibrin Alhaji , Agam Mohd Arif Bin
Published: October 2021

In this study, a hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize lead sulfide (PbS) and silver (Ag)-doped PbS nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% of Ag. The small lattice phase changes appeared due to the shifting of diffraction angle peaks toward higher 2θfor samples doped with PbS with increasing Ag content. The analysis of average crystallite size, phase structure, and lattice constant was observed under X-ray diffraction. The value of crystallite size, volume of the unit cell, and porosity (%) were found to increase with the increasing concentration of Ag NPs in PbS. The pure PbS crystallite size is small compared to Ag-doped PbS. The optical characteristics including absorption spectra of the prepared samples were investigated and confirmed by using scanning electron microscope and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The observation of the composition showed that higher doping concentrations of Ag lead to an increase in particle size. Absorption peaks in the UV-Vis spectra corresponding to pure and 20, 40, and 60% of Ag/PbS were observed at different wavelengths of 368, 369, 371, and 372 nm, respectively. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy peaks were found in the vibration mode of the ions due to the increment in Ag doping concentrations. These results indicate the possibility of tuning the optical structural properties of Ag-doped PbS through doping various concentrations of Ag NPs. Ag-doped PbS is considered promising future semiconductor nanomaterial, which will enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic device applications.
Oxyresveratrol modulates the immune response in vitro
Authors: Palabiyik-Yucelik Saziye Sezin , Moser Simone , Becker Kathrin , Halici Zekai , Bayir Yasin , Stonig Marlies , Schennach Harald , Fuchs Dietmar , Gostner Johanna M. , Kurz Katharina
Published: October 2021

The naturally occurring stilbenoid oxyresveratrol was shown to influence inflammatory and metabolic processes. During cellular immune activation, tryptophan breakdown and neopterin formation via the enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) and GTP-cyclohydrolase, respectively, are induced. Neopterin and the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio are reliable and pertinent biomarkers of Th1-type immune response and are also used in vitro to monitor effects of active plant ingredients on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We investigated the effects of oxyresveratrol on the activity of the above-mentioned pathways in mitogen-stimulated human PBMC and in the myelomonocytic cell line THP-1. Oxyresveratrol exerted suppressive effects on tryptophan breakdown in both stimulated cell models. Of note, in PBMC, tryptophan breakdown was induced at lower concentrations (5–20 µM) and suppressed at higher treatment concentrations only. Neopterin formation was decreased dose-dependently in stimulated PBMC. In unstimulated PBMC similar, albeit lesser effects were observed. Data indicate that oxyresveratrol exerts distinct and concentration-dependent effects on different immune cell types. IDO-1 is targeted by oxyresveratrol and its activity can be modulated in both directions. Detailed investigations of the interactions would be interesting to fully explore the activity of this phytocompound.
Die Option zur Körperschaftsbesteuerung: Eine erwünschte Rechtsquelle des Personengesellschaftsrechts
Authors: Röder Erik
Published: October 2021

Mit der Option zur Körperschaftsbesteuerung erhalten Personengesellschaften erstmals die Möglichkeit, wie eine Kapitalgesellschaft besteuert zu werden, ohne ihre Rechtsform wechseln zu müssen. Dadurch ergeben sich komplexe gesellschaftsrechtliche Folgefragen, insbesondere hinsichtlich der Zulässigkeit von Mehrheitsbeschlüssen und der Gewinnverwendung, deren Beantwortung das Gesetz im Wesentlichen der kautelarjuristischen Praxis überlässt. Aus diesem Grund wird sich die Option zur Körperschaftsbesteuerung als eine ergiebige und – wegen ihres substantiellen Beitrags zur Rechtsformneutralität – zugleich als eine erwünschte steuerrechtliche Quelle des Personengesellschaftsrechts erweisen.
Study of dynamic and thermodynamic properties of zinc-blend and wurtzite cadmium sulfide (CdS) using density functional theory
Authors: Edossa Teshome Gerbaba , Woldemariam Menberu Mengasha
Published: October 2021

The dynamic and thermodynamic properties of wurtzite (wz) and zinc-blend (zb) CdS are investigated within the density functional theory using different approximation methods such as LDA, PBE, and DFT+U. Hellmann–Feynman approach is implemented for the relaxation of atomic position for both phases. To guarantee the accuracy of calculation, the convergence test of total energy with respect to energy cutoff and k-point sampling is performed. The dynamic properties such as phonon dispersion, phonon density of state, frequency along with high symmetry points, static and dynamic polarizability, and dielectric constants are calculated. The obtained values are compared with previous theoretical results. DFT + U approximation gives a good result that is consistent with the available theory. Moreover, the vibrational energy, vibrational free energy, entropy, electron chemical potential, and constant-volume specific heat are obtained within LDA, PBE, and DFT + U approximations.
d- and s-orbital populations in the d block: unbound atoms in physical vacuum versus chemical elements in condensed matter. A Dronskowski-population analysis
Authors: Chen Kaixuan , Li Wan-Lu , Schwarz W. H. Eugen
Published: October 2021

The electron configurations of Ca, Zn and the nine transition elements M in between (and their heavier homologs) are reviewed on the basis of density functional theory and experimental facts. The d-s orbital energy and population patterns are systematically diverse. (i) The dominant valence electron configuration of most free neutral atoms M0 of groups g = 2–12 is 3d

g−2
4s

2
(textbook rule), or 3d

g−14s
1. (ii) Formal M
q+
cations in chemical compounds have the dominant configuration 3d

g−q

4s

0
(basic concept of transition metal chemistry). (iii) M0 atoms in metallic phases [M∞] of hcp, ccp(fcc) and bcc structures have intermediate populations near 3d

g−1
4s

1
(lower d populations for Ca (ca. ½) and Zn (ca. 10)). Including the 4p valence orbitals, the dominant metallic configuration is 3d

g−δ
4(sp)
δ
with δ ≈ 1.4 (±0.2) throughout (except for Zn). (iv) The 3d,4s population of atomic clusters M
m
varies for increasing m smoothly from single-atomic 3d

g−24s
2 toward metallic 3d

g−14s
1. – The textbook rule for the one-electron energies, i.e., ns < (n−1)d, holds ‘in a broader sense’ for the s block, but in general not for the d block, and never for the p block. It is more important to teach realistic atomic orbital (AO) populations such as the ones given above.
Skala i skutki alienacji młodych Polaków na rynku mieszkaniowym
Authors:   Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie, Rudzka Izabela
Published: October 2021

As statistics show, few people can afford to buy an apartment. Many people cannot even afford to rent. On the other hand, the overcrowding rate and the number of adults living permanently with their parents in Poland are among the highest in Europe. Outstanding architects and sociologists have been dealing with housing problems for many years. In many countries, research is conducted showing the importance and essence of the problem, not only in the economic context but also in the psychological, health, and social context that influences the behavior and attitudes of future generations. Access to housing is not only a question of ensuring safety, stability, and shelter; it also affects social relations that constitute the basis of the existence of the individuals and the families. Own house is a collection of meanings, codes, and symbols. It is a product of multi-faceted and multi-generational, interdependent values. Failure to understand these issues eliminates all forms of striving for sustainable development. This article aims to discuss the existing housing problem from diversified perspectives, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the current housing situation among adult Poles. The author will present the topic in some analogy to the condition of the 19th century alienated worker. Based on the conducted research, predictions about the intergenerational effects of the situation disrupting the city's sustainable development in its economic and social layer, having a significant impact on future generations, will also be formulated. Next, the author of the paper presents the results of research conducted from July to October 2020. The study was a part of expert analysis concerning an alternative mortgage lending model for residential purposes, commissioned by the Warsaw Banking Institute Foundation.
Synchronization Of Autonomic Control Loops Of Blood Circulation In Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Skazkina Viktoriia V. , Krasikova Natalia S. , Borovkova Ekaterina I. , Ishbulatov Yurii M. , Gorshkov Alexander Yu. , Korolev Andrei I. , Dadaeva Valida A. , Fedorovich Andrei A. , Kuligin Alexander V. , Drapkina Oxana M. , Karavaev Anatoly S. , Kiselev Anton R.
Published: October 2021

This study aims to investigate the strength of synchronization between the autonomic control loops of the cardiovascular system (CVS) in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods — We calculated the total percent of phase synchronization index (S index) between the loops of autonomic control of heart rate and vascular tone in two sample groups: healthy individuals and COVID-19 patients. Results — The group-average value of the S index in COVID-19 patients is lower comparing to healthy individuals, the Mann-Whitney U-test confirmed that the differences are statistically significant. Conclusion — Obtained results suggest that the decreased value of the S index reflects the presence of a viral disease, and the S index is a promising basis for non-invasive screening diagnostics of viral diseases, particularly of COVID-19.
Evaluating Right Ventricular Function To Reveal Cancer Therapy Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Sumin Alexey N.
Published: October 2021

Advances in cancer treatment resulted in augmented patient survival rate. However, anticancer therapy often causes heart damage in the form of a progressive systolic heart failure. Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function were conventionally used to detect early manifestations of cancer therapy cardiotoxicity. Improved diagnosing of the right ventricle condition revealed that it is negatively affected by chemotherapy as frequently as the left ventricle, and sometimes even earlier than the latter. Hence, currently, the right ventricle function and mechanics assessment techniques are actively developed for the chemotherapy cardiotoxicity diagnostic, primarily employing 3D echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis. The presented review provides relevant information on the matter and highlights insufficiently developed issues and fields of further research.
Exposure To Cytotoxic Drugs Threatens The Health Of Staff In Oncology Wards
Authors: Momeni Mohsen , Askarian Mehrdad , Azad Hossein , Danaei Mina
Published: October 2021

Background — Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Using cytotoxic drugs for cancer treatment is increased. The hazardous effects of occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs are challenging. Objective — This study aimed to compare the frequency of adverse effects and using personal protective equipment (PPE) between the staff of oncology wards and other hospital wards staff in Iran. Methods — A cross-sectional study with a control group was conducted on female staff members in educational hospitals, selected through convenience sampling. A data collection form was designed for this study. It includes demographic data, acute complications (allergic and neurologic reactions), chronic complications (infertility, menstrual disorders, malignancy, and congenital malformations), and use of PPE. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software through Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Results — The frequencies of chronic complications were not statistically different between the two groups. The frequency of itching (P=0.001), hair loss (P=0.003), itchy eyes (P=0.001), watery eyes (P=0.001), runny nose (P=0.003), headache (P=0.001), vertigo (P=0.007), and nausea (P=0.008) were significantly higher in oncology wards nurses. Among different PPE, only the frequency of using the mask (P= 0.001), and glasses (P=0.027) were significantly higher in the staff of oncology wards. Conclusion — Despite the frequency of acute complications of exposure to cytotoxic drugs, oncology staff does not fully adhere to the standard precautions. Providing effective training and emphasis on implementing accreditation laws can improve the existing situation.
Contemporary Features Of Predicting The Development Of Luteal Insufficiency And Related Gestational Disorders
Authors: Rumyantseva Zoya S. , Sulima Anna N. , Volotskaya Nadezhda I. , Anikin Sergey S. , Soiko Olga V. , Seytumerova Leviza I. , Eskenderov Alexander I. , Sorokina Leya E.
Published: October 2021

The goal of our study was a comprehensive assessment of obstetric, gynecological, somatic and genetic factors, contributing to high risk of insufficient luteal phase (ILP) and relating gestational disorders to the latter in relevant patients for further optimization of therapeutic and preventive measures. Material and Methods — A cohort study with a mixed cohort was carried out. The clinical material of the retrospective study was presented based on the results of analyzing 300 cases of patients with verified diagnoses of the threat of spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, and complete spontaneous abortion, who were hospitalized in the period of 2018-2020. As part of a prospective study, we analyzed 66 blood samples of women treated at the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution Simferopol Clinical Maternity Hospital No.2 in Crimea in 2020. The polymerase chain reaction method in real time mode, with the use of the developed kits, was used for CYP3A5 6986A> G polymorphism. Results — A comprehensive assessment of obstetric, gynecological, somatic and genetic factors allowed identifying the most informative prognostic markers for the risk of developing luteal phase insufficiency and related gestational disorders, including irregular menstrual cycle, cases of drug-induced abortion, preceding specific infectious diseases (chlamydia, Ureaplasma urealyticum infection), gynecological pathology (polycystic ovary syndrome), surgical interventions performed for gynecological pathology (ovarian resection and ovariectomy), as well as single nucleotide polymorphism rs776746 in the CYP3A5 gene. Conclusion — The identified prognostic criteria make it possible to identify a group of patients with a high risk of miscarriage even before the conception; such patients need more careful and systematic medical monitoring for the timely diagnosis of possible pregnancy complications. Early diagnosing of potential issues would allow clinicians to take preventive measures, along with initiating timely treatment. As a result, the percentage of reproductive losses would go down.
Effect of Chitosan, Clay, and CMC on Physicochemical Properties of Bioplastic from Banana Corm with Glycerol.
Authors: Sugiharto Agung , Syarifa Adilla , Handayani Nindita , Mahendra Rizky
Published: October 2021

Bioplactic from banana corm and glycerol has been studied in this research. In addition, the physical chemical properties of it has been improved by adding chitosan, clay and CMC as filler and glycerol as plasticizer. Plastic that produced form organic material such as starch usually has poor properties in physical and mechanical. Composition variation of chitosan, clay and CMC as filler then combined by variation of glycerol as plasticizer have produced significant improve of the bioplastic physical properties. Properties of the bioplastic that studied in this research was focused to biodegradation, elongation, and tensile strength. The addition of fillers and plasticizers is carried out to produce a better bioplastics. This study used 3 variations of the filler composition : 4, 5, and 6 grams and 2 variations of the plasticizer composition: 1 ml and 2 ml. The bioplastics that produced were tested for tensile strength, elongation, and biodegradation of the soil for 7 days. The best tensile strength results is 8.43 MPa for bioplastic that using CMC fillers. On the other side, the best elongation percentage is 9.87% for bioplastic which using CMC fillers. The bioplastic that added Clay as filler can be degraded up to 100% in 7 days.
Purification of Used Cooking Oil by Alkali Neutralization and Bleaching of Bayah Natural Zeolite
Authors: Hendi Endang Su , Rusdi Rusdi , Alam Bagja Nur , Nurbaeti Siti
Published: October 2021

Cooking oil that is used repeatedly at high temperatures will reduce the quality of cooking oil. This will trigger the hydrolysis and oxidation processes that will change the characteristics of the oil, such as an increase in free fatty acid levels and peroxide numbers. Purification of used cooking oil can be carried out physically and chemically. The physical purification of oil is carried out by using adsorbents, while chemically purification process is carried out with an alkaline solution. Physically, natural materials such as zeolite can be used, where zeolite is a natural rock or mineral which chemically has a large surface area to be used in the adsorption process. Chemically with alkaline solution you can use sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In this study, used cooking oil is purified by three stages of the process, namely despicing, neutralization and bleaching to comply with the SNI quality standards. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum operating conditions for the purification of used cooking oil in accordance with the quality standards for cooking oil. based on the results obtained by adding a NaOH concentration of 19% in the neutralization process and a zeolite concentration of 90% can reduce the acid number value of 2.4 mg NaOH/gr, the peroxide number is 7 mekO2/kg, the color degradation of used cooking oil is 51.83%.
Production of Natural Colorant by Monascus Purpureus FNCC 6008 using Rice and Cassava as Carbon Substrates
Authors: Margono Margono , Paryanto Paryanto , Hanifa Vina , Abimanyu Candra
Published: October 2021

Consumer recognition of the adverse effects of synthetic colorant has increased awareness in utilizing natural colorants as an alternative. One of them is a microbial colorant and it is already studied for its safety and functional properties in the human body, i.e. hypercholesterolemia, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer. The functional properties of microbial colorant have driven many kinds of research about natural colorant produced by the microorganism. Monascus pigment is one of the popular red pigment synthesized by mold Monascus purpureus. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of particle size and incubation temperature on color value and water solubility of the natural colorant produced by M. purpureus FNCC 6008 using rice and cassava as carbon substrates. Every experiment was conducted in an erlenmeyer flask filled by 15 g of substrates, sterilized and incubated in an incubator chamber. Three particle sizes of 8, 10, and 16 mesh were employed on the incubation temperatures of 30, 32, and 34 oC for 14 days. Two parameters were measured from the sample to evaluate the results of the fermentation process, i.e. color intensity and water solubility of product. The highest color intensity of 59.6 CVU/gds was obtained from the rice substrate at the particle size of 10 mesh and incubation temperature of 32 oC. That particular fermentation condition resulted in a product with 71.4% product solubility.
Modified Humic Acid from Peat Soils with Magnetite (Ha-Fe3O4) by Using Sonochemical Technology for Gold Recovery
Authors: Rahmayanti Maya , Santosa Sri Juari , Sutarno Sutarno
Published: October 2021

Sonochemical technology is a technology that involves ultrasonic waves in chemical reactions. In this study, humic acid isolated from peat soil has been successfully modified with magnetite (HA-Fe3O4) using sonochemical technology. Characterization of the physical and chemical properties of HA-Fe3O4 was carried out using FTIR, XRD, SEM and VSM. HA-Fe3O4 was used for recovery of gold from simulated gold waste (HAuCl4). FTIR characterization showed that the interaction between HA and Fe3O4 was through hydrogen bonds. The crystal size of HA-Fe3O4 using the Debye-Scherrer equation based on the XRD diffractogram was 12.4 nm. The saturation magnetization value of HA-Fe3O4 obtained was 52.80 emu/g. Adsorption studies at various pH showed that HA-Fe3O4 has been successful in recovering of gold from simulated gold waste. The % recovery of gold was 99%. Gold recovery occurs through the adsorption process followed by reduction of Au (III) to Au(0).
Legal Protection on E-Commerce Transactions: Problems and Challenges in Global Business
Authors: Santoso Vira Aprillia
Published: October 2021

Electronic commerce or so-called E-Commerce is a borderless market that can transcend all borders, such as time differences, language differences, currency differences and regulatory differences. E-Commerce is very popular with today's society because of the many conveniences that exist in it, because many users of the problem also increasingly colorful, the country is already set through the Consumer Protection Act. Unlimited E-Commerce transactions that transcend regional differences in the event of a dispute are often resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in which there are various forms such as negotiation, mediation, conciliation, consultation, expert judgment and arbitration. ADR is a non litigation path because if solved by a litigation path it will definitely take longer.
Effect of nighttime light exposure on glucose metabolism in protein-restricted mice
Authors: Borck Patricia Cristine , Rickli Sarah , Vettorazzi Jean Franciesco , Batista Thiago Martins , Boschero Antonio Carlos , Vieira Elaine , Carneiro Everardo Magalhães
Published: October 2021

Disruption of biological rhythms due to exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) has emerged as a new risk factor for metabolic diseases. However, the effects of ALAN exposure on energy metabolism with concomitant misalignment in the circadian system caused by nutritional imbalance remain largely unexplored. Here, we evaluate whether a low-protein (LP) diet could enhance the effects induced by exposure to ALAN on the energy metabolism and consequently predispose to metabolic disorders. Male C57BL6/J mice were weaned on a normal protein (NP) or a LP diet and housed on 12 h light:12 h darkness (LD) cycle. After 6 weeks, mice maintained on their respective diets were subdivided into normal light/darkness cycle (NP/LD; LP/LD) or exposed to ALAN (NP/LL; LP/LL) for 8 weeks. We observed that exposure to ALAN concomitant to LP diet disrupts the behavioral rhythms, without shifting the timing of food intake. Furthermore, exposure to ALAN leads to increased body and fat pad weights, higher levels of fast and fed glycemia and glucose intolerance independent of the diet consumed. Importantly, the effects of ALAN on circadian regulation of insulin sensitivity were diet-dependent with LP/LL mice showing insulin resistance in an opposite time of day than NP/LL. At the molecular level, exposure to ALAN concurrent with LP diet increased the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 in both periods analyzed and inverted the pattern of fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21) expression in the liver. Our data suggest that dietary protein restriction modulates the effects induced by nighttime light exposure on glucose metabolism, which could be partially related with the dysregulation of hepatic Fgf21 expression.
Effects of PD-1 blockade on ovarian follicles in a prepubertal female mouse
Authors: Xu Pauline C , Luan Yi , Yu Seok-Yeong , Xu Jing , Coulter Donald W , Kim So-Youn
Published: October 2021

Immunotherapy has emerged at the forefront of cancer treatment. Checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA), a chimeric antibody which targets programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, there is currently no published data regarding the effects of pembrolizumab on the ovary of female pediatric patients. In this study, prepubertal immunocompetent and immunodeficient female mice were injected with pembrolizumab or anti-mouse PD-1 antibody. The number of primordial follicles significantly decreased post-injection of both pembrolizumab and anti-mouse PD-1 antibody in immunocompetent mice. However, no changes in follicle numbers were observed in immunodeficient nude mice. Superovulation test and vaginal opening experiments suggest that there is no difference in the number of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) and the timing of puberty onset between the control and anti-mouse PD-1 antibody treatment groups, indicating that there is no effect on short-term fertility. Elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α following COX-2 upregulation was observed in the ovary. CD3+ T-cell infiltration was detected within some ovarian follicles and between stromal cells of the ovaries in mice following treatment with anti-mouse PD-1 antibody. Thus, PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade affects the ovarian reserve through a mechanism possibly involving inflammation following CD3+ T-cell infiltration.
Sepsis-related Mortality Among Adults Aged 65 and Over: United States, 2019
Authors:   Kramarow, Kramarow Ellen
Published: October 2021

Data Brief 422
MODELING AMINO ACID SUBSTITUTIONS FOR WHOLE GENOMES
Authors: Vinh Le Sy
Published: October 2021

Modeling amino acid substitution process is a core task in bioinformatics. New advanced sequencing technologies have generated huge datasets including whole genomes from various species. Estimating amino acid substitution models from whole genome datasets provides us unprecedented opportunities to accurately investigate relationships among species. In this paper, we review state-of-the-art computational methods to estimate amino acid substitution models from large datasets. We also describe a comprehensive pipeline to practically estimate amino acid models from whole genome datasets. Finally, we apply amino acid substitution models to build phylogenomic trees from bird and plant genome datasets. We compare our newly reconstructed phylogenomic trees and published ones and discuss new findings.
POST-QUANTUM BLIND SIGNATURE PROTOCOL ON NON-COMMUTATIVE ALGEBRAS
Authors: N.H Minh , D.N, et al. Moldovyan
Published: October 2021

A method for constructing a blind signature scheme based on a hidden discrete logarithm problem defined in finite non-commutative associative algebras is proposed. Blind signature protocols are constructed using four-dimensional and six-dimensional algebras defined over a ground finite field GF(p) and containing a global two-sided unit as an algebraic support. The basic properties of the used algebra, which determine the choice of protocol parameters, are described.
Experiencias de docentes evaluadores certificados en México. Reflexiones en torno a la evaluación del desempeño docente
Authors: Morales-Soto José Alejandro , Pérez-Trujillo Alma Rosa
Published: October 2021

A partir del año 2013, en México se emprendió una reforma educativa de gran magnitud en el que se destacó el énfasis en la mejora de la calidad educativa a través de procesos de evaluación al docente, el cual regularía el ingreso, promoción, reconocimiento y permanencia en educación básica y media superior. El objetivo delpresente artículo es reflexionar en torno a las experiencias de algunos docentes de educación primaria y secundaria que fungieron como evaluadores dentro del proceso implementado por las instituciones a cargo de la evaluación de la calidad educativa en nuestro país, al haber cumplido con los requisitos para la certificación en evaluación del desempeño docente. Se trata de recoger aquellas experiencias que dan cuenta sobre una de las reformas educativas que fue emprendida en el año 2013 y, que se eliminó con la reforma al artículo tercero constitucional en año 2019. Para esto, se realizaron entrevistas a profundidad a 10 docentes evaluadores de los estados de Chiapas, Yucatán, Coahuila y Veracruz. Estas experiencias sirven de base para presentar propuestas que guíen los procesos de evaluación docente, a partir de las ventajas ydesventajas observadas por docentes evaluadores, quienes además se encontraban en servicio y estuvieron en medio de uno de los procesos más polémicos en la cuestión educativa en México. Algunos aspectos analizados giran en torno a temas como: motivaciones, coordinación entre autoridades, ética en la evaluación a sus pares y los aprendizajes logrados en el proceso.
Types of hemodynamic response to orthostasis according to continuous blood pressure monitoring: a case series of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Fedorova D. N. , Solovieva A. E. , Galenko V. L. , Kozlenok A. V. , Berezina A. V. , Villevalde S. V.
Published: October 2021

Heart failure (HF) is associated with unfavorable outcomes and high health care costs. Determination of the hemodynamic response to orthostasis can be an additional tool in assessing the stability and compensation of HF patients. Active orthostatic test (AOT) with blood pressure monitoring serves as a simple and available screening method. However, a complete characteristic of the hemodynamic response, especially during the first minute of orthostasis, can be obtained only with continuous blood pressure monitoring. The presented case series demonstrate the types of hemodynamic response in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in AOT with continuous blood pressure monitoring, available data on the mechanisms of its development, clinical and prognostic role, and also presents the advantages and limitations of AOT.
Effect of a novel shrinkage-reducing polycarboxylate superplasticiser on plastic shrinkage cracking of mortars
Authors: Zhang Jian , Ma Yuefeng , Zhao Haixin , Liu Jiaping , Hu Zhangli , Li Hua , Wang Kangchen , Wu Lingzheng
Published: October 2021

Plastic shrinkage cracking propagating at early ages inevitably impairs the performance of concrete structures. To mitigate this, using a recently developed shrinkage-reducing polycarboxylate superplasticiser (SR-PCA) with outstanding shrinkage-reducing and water-reducing effectiveness can be a promising approach. The present work aims to investigate the effect of SR-PCA on plastic shrinkage cracking and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. For comparison, a traditional polyether type shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) and a polycarboxylate superplasticiser (PCA) were also used. Based on the investigations on horizontal shrinkage, settlement, bleeding, evaporation mass loss, cement hydration, surface tension of pore fluid and capillary pressure, the underlying working mechanisms of SR-PCA were identified. The results indicate that SR-PCA is able to reduce the crack area, maximum crack width and average crack width by up to 55, 48 and 50%, respectively. Furthermore, prolonging the bleeding duration and initial time of capillary pressure build-up caused by retarding the cement hydration, lowering the evaporation mass loss, and a lower development rate of capillary stresses and capillary pressure peak value induced by decreasing the surface tension of pore fluid are responsible for preventing the plastic shrinkage cracking of mortars containing SR-PCA.
Epidemic Strangeness and the Need for Myth in the Anthropocene
Authors: Kyriakides Theodoros
Published: October 2021

In this essay I attempt to draw some crucial theoretical parallelisms between ancient Greek cosmology and the Anthropocene. Taking inspiration from Marcel Detienne and Timothy Morton’s work, I deploy the figure of Dionysos as a conceptual persona which can help us think of strangeness as a non-human mode of relationality Anthropocene societies must urgently engage with. Events such as the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic, through which non-humans are brought to the forefront of politics and social relations, traditionally result to attempts of sublating strangeness through human modes of knowledge. As I argue, epidemics instead demand the creation of practices, collectives and techniques through which strangeness is not eliminated or ‘understood’, but rather elevated to a fundamental feature of social relations. In such sense, the ancient world presents a critical vector of intervention to the current state of the Anthropocene, since it showcases a cosmos in which human life and society is constantly embedded and negotiated amid non-human strangeness.
Questions and Answers: The Information Content of the Post-FOMC Meeting Press Conference
Authors: De Pooter Michiel
Published: October 2021

Since 2011, the Chair of the Federal Reserve has held post-FOMC meeting press conferences. In a recent survey by the Hutchins Center at Brookings, which canvassed Federal Reserve watchers in academia and the private sector, respondents indicated that they view these live press conferences as the most useful of the Federal Reserve's communication tools, with more than 80 percent of respondents rating the press conferences as "useful" or "extremely useful."