bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of complex potentials for multiply connected domain
Authors: Ivanshin Pyotr N.
Published: December 2020

The method of reduction of a Fredholm integral equation to the linear system is generalized to construction of a complex potential – an analytic function in an unbounded multiply connected domain with a simple pole at infinity which maps the domain onto a plane with horizontal slits.
We consider a locally sourceless, locally irrotational flow on an arbitrary given 𝑛-connected unbounded domain with impermeable boundary.
The complex potential has the form of a Cauchy integral with one linear and 𝑛 logarithmic summands.
The method is easily computable.
Law, Mercy, and Reconciliation in the Achaemenid Empire
Authors: Beckman Daniel
Published: December 2020

The kings of the Achaemenid Empire are known for employing a number of particularly gruesome punishments for those who were deemed guilty of rebellion. While it is certainly true that the Achaemenids punished rebels with utmost severity, it is also true that they were, at times, willing to forgive rebels, and even to rehabilitate them. In this paper, I investigate the mechanisms by which the Achaemenid kings were able to show mercy to rebels. By examining a number of relevant cases from a period of a century and a half, I argue that the decision to be merciful was based on the king’s familial or social relationship with the rebel, the rebel’s relative strength vis-à-vis the king, the geography of the revolt, and the presence of other external factors which might also restrict the king’s powers. By a comparison with royal inscriptions and texts found throughout the empire, I demonstrate the ways in which these reconciliations stood apart from, and even in contradiction to, administrative and ideological norms concerning law and justice within the Achaemenid Empire. Finally, by reviewing the traditions and attitudes towards justice and mercy among the Achaemenids' Near Eastern predecessors, I put this policy in historical context and show that it is a unique response to a problem faced by other ancient empires.
Risk, chance and danger in Classical Greek writing on battle
Authors: Konijnendijk Roel
Published: December 2020

This article highlights two aspects of the language used in Classical Greek literary sources to discuss pitched battle. First, the sources regularly use unqualified forms of the verbkinduneuein, “to take a risk,” when they mean fighting a battle. They do so especially in contexts of deliberation about the need to fight. Second, they often describe the outcome of major engagements in terms of luck, fate, and random chance, at the explicit expense of human agency. Taken together, these aspects of writing on war suggest that pitched battle was seen as an inherently risky course of action with unacceptably unpredictable results, which was therefore best avoided. Several examples show that the decision to fight was indeed evaluated in such terms. This practice casts further doubt on the traditional view that Greek armies engaged in pitched battles as a matter of principle.
Molecular docking study of flavonoid compounds for possible matrix metalloproteinase-13 inhibition
Authors: Taherkhani Amir , Moradkhani Shirin , Orangi Athena , Jalalvand Alireza , Khamverdi Zahra
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) has been reported to be involved in different biological processes such as degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, activating or degrading some significant regulatory proteins, wound healing, tissue remodeling, cartilage degradation, bone development, bone mineralization, ossification, cell migration, and tumor cell invasion. Further, MMP-13 participates in many oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and degradation of enamel and tissue around the implant. In addition, inhibition of MMP-13 has shown therapeutic properties for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We performed molecular docking to assess the binding affinity of 29 flavonoid compounds with the MMP-13. Additionally, pharmacokinetic and toxicity characteristics of the top-ranked flavonoids were studied. The current study also intended to identify the most important amino acids involved in the inhibition of MMP-13 based on topological feature (degree) in the ligand-amino acid network for MMP-13.

Methods

Molecular docking and network analysis were studied using AutoDock and Cytoscape software, respectively. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity characteristics of compounds were predicted using bioinformatics web tools.

Results

The results revealed that nine of the studied flavonoids had considerable estimated free energy of binding and inhibition constant: Rutin, nicotiflorin, orientin, vitexin, apigenin-7-glucoside, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin-3-rhamnoside, and vicenin-2. Proline-242 was found to be the most important amino acid inhibiting the enzyme.

Conclusions

The results of the current study may be helpful in the prevention and therapeutic procedures of many disorders such as cancer, tooth caries, and AD. Nevertheless, validation tests are required in the future.
Therapeutic clinical trials to combat COVID-19 pandemic in India: analysis from trial registry
Authors: Batta Angelika , Khirasaria Raj , Kapoor Vinod , Varshney Deepansh
Published: December 2020

Objectives

With the emergence of Novel corona virus, hunt for finding a preventive and therapeutic treatment options has already begun at a rapid pace with faster clinical development programs. The present study was carried out to give an insight of therapeutic interventional trials registered under clinical trial registry of India (CTRI) for COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

All trials registered under CTRI were evaluated using keyword “COVID” from its inception till 9th June 2020. Out of which, therapeutic interventional studies were chosen for further analysis. Following information was collected for each trial: type of therapeutic intervention (preventive/therapeutic), treatment given, no. of centers (single center/multicentric), type of institution (government/private), study design (randomized/single-blinded/double-blinded) and sponsors (Government/private). Microsoft Office Excel 2007 was used for tabulation and analysis.

Results

The search yielded total of 205 trials, out of which, 127 (62%) trials were interventional trials. Out of these, 71 (56%) were AYUSH interventions, 36 (28.3%) tested drugs, 9 (7%) tested a nondrug intervention, rest were nutraceuticals and vaccines. About 66 (56%) were therapeutic trials. Majority were single-centered trials, i.e. 87 (73.7%). Trials were government funded in 57 (48.3%) studies. Majority were randomized controlled trials, i.e. 67 (56.8%). AYUSH preparations included AYUSH-64, Arsenic Album, SamshamaniVati etc.

Conclusions

The number of therapeutic interventional clinical trials was fair in India. A clear-cut need exists for an increase in both quantity and quality of clinical trials for COVID-19. Drug repurposing approach in all systems of medicine can facilitate prompt clinical decisions at lower costs than de novo drug development.
Body composition, phenotype and central obesity indices in Egyptian women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zaki Moushira , Amin Darine , Mohamed Ramy
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study is to investigate body composition and phenotype of Egyptian women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compare with those without and determine the optimal cut-off values of central obesity indices for predicting NAFLD.

Methods

The study included 100 women with NAFLD and 100 age and sex matched healthy controls without NAFLD. All women were subjected to ultrasonography examination. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and skinfolds thickness were assessed for all participants. Body fat % was evaluated by Tanita body composition analyzer. Body mass index (BMI), WC / height ratio (WHtR), WC / HC ratio (WHR) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were calculated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values.

Results

Data showed significant higher levels of WHtR, WHR, BMI, sum of skinfolds, body fat %, serum fasting blood lipids and glucose in NAFLD women compared to group of patients without NAFLD. The area under curve (AUC) was 0.920 for VIA, 0.883 for WHtR and 0.647 for WHR. The optimal cutoff value of VAI was 3.66, of WHtR was 0.66 and WHR was 0.84. All values showed high sensitivity and specificity values.

Conclusion

NAFLD women were obese, had excess subcutaneous fat and body fat ratio. Central obesity indices are closely associated with the presence of NAFLD in Egyptian women and might be responsible for its development. Visceral adiposity index had superior diagnostic performance.
Improved cryptanalysis of a ElGamal Cryptosystem Based on Matrices Over Group Rings
Authors: Pandey Atul , Gupta Indivar , Kumar Singh Dhiraj
Published: December 2020

ElGamal cryptosystem has emerged as one of the most important construction in Public Key Cryptography (PKC) since Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol was proposed. However, public key schemes which are based on number theoretic problems such as discrete logarithm problem (DLP) are at risk because of the evolution of quantum computers. As a result, other non-number theoretic alternatives are a dire need of entire cryptographic community.

In 2016, Saba Inam and Rashid Ali proposed a ElGamal-like cryptosystem based on matrices over group rings in ‘Neural Computing & Applications’. Using linear algebra approach, Jia et al. provided a cryptanalysis for the cryptosystem in 2019 and claimed that their attack could recover all the equivalent keys. However, this is not the case and we have improved their cryptanalysis approach and derived all equivalent key pairs that can be used to totally break the ElGamal-like cryptosystem proposed by Saba and Rashid. Using the decomposition of matrices over group rings to larger size matrices over rings, we have made the cryptanalysing algorithm more practical and efficient. We have also proved that the ElGamal cryptosystem proposed by Saba and Rashid does not achieve the security of IND-CPA and IND-CCA.
Treatment and long-term follow-up of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus before age 5
Authors: Ata Aysun , Er Eren , Evin Ferda , Işıklar Hafize , Abdullayev Nushaba , Demir Günay , Özen Samim , Altınok Yasemin Atik , Darcan Şükran , Gökşen Damla
Published: December 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) treatment on anthropometric measurements, mean HbA1c, and insulin dosage in patients diagnosed under 5 years of age and compare with multiple-dose injection therapy (MDI).

Methods

Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, diagnosed <5 years since 2000 and their 19-year follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and HbA1c values were recorded for each visit.

Results

Hundred and five patients (58.1% female, 41.9% male) were included in the study. Sixty-three (60 %) patients were treated by CSII and 42 (40%) by MDI. Mean age at diagnosis was 2.68 ± 1.42 and 3.29 ± 1.30 years respectively. Mean follow-up was 7.42 ± 4.76 and 6.01 ± 4.41 years respectively. For each group, weight standard deviation score (SDS) increased significantly in the first year after the diagnosis (p<0.001), and with the onset of puberty weight SDS decreased significantly (p<0.001). The trend of weight and BMI SDS changes over the years showed similar characteristics in both groups. During follow-up height SDS was similar in both groups except in Tanner stage 5. When puberty was completed, mean height SDS was 0.51 ± 1.03 in CSII and −0.31 ± 0.75 in the MDI group (p: 0.029). Mean HbA1c was significantly lower in the CSII group (7.62 ± 0.82 and 8.17 ± 1.22 respectively). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure change trends during the follow-up were also similar in both groups.

Conclusions

CSII treatment had positive effects on metabolic control and height SDS in patients with early-onset diabetes without increasing BMI.
Educating future professionals in perinatal medicine: the attitude of medical and nursing students towards childbirth
Authors: González-Mesa Ernesto , Cazorla-Granados Olga , Blasco-Alonso Marta , Sabonet Lorena , Jiménez-López Jesús S. , Rengel-Díaz Cristóbal
Published: December 2020

Objectives

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate what educational needs were being neglected in current perinatal educational program in the University of Malaga.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study using the Students’ questionnaire on attitudes towards childbirth (CAVE-st) in a sample of 378 students who were finishing their undergraduate or postgraduate academic perinatal program, including medical and nursing students.

Results

The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was 0.895. The mean score of CAVE-st in the sample was 200.34 (DT 21.0). The scores were below the median value in more than 53% of the students, especially in medical students. Female students scored systematically higher in the overall scale and its subscales, even after adjusting for study groups. On the other hand, the students with children scored significantly lower in the subscale that explored their attitudes towards unexpected results. A huge margin for improvement was recognizable in those subscales related with childbirth medicalization, respect to women decisions, and health-care prioritization.

Conclusions

Students’ attitude towards childbirth need to be improved as a means to improve women’s childbirth experience and prevent birth-related trauma. The current undergraduate and postgraduate training in perinatal care lacks a comprehensive and biopsychosocial perspective that would improve the quality of clinical practice during childbirth.
Topic affects perception of degree of foreign accent in a non-dominant language
Authors: Gnevsheva Ksenia
Published: December 2020

Multiple studies demonstrate that social and linguistic information is connected in speech perception such that the priming of a social category will affect listeners’ linguistic behavior. At the same time, the degree to which social information is relied upon during speech perception is less well understood. The current study investigates whether priming of a country affects the perceived degree of foreign accent and whether this effect varies across different social groups. Two groups of bilinguals (one dominant in Russian, another dominant in English) listened to audio recordings of monolingual and bilingual (also either dominant in Russian or English) speakers and rated the degree of their foreign accentedness in English and Russian. The recordings were divided by topic: neutral, Russia-related, and Australia-related. Statistical analysis revealed a significant effect of topic: Russia-related clips were rated as more foreign-accented in English by bilinguals dominant in Russian, and Australia-related clips were rated as less foreign-accented in Russian when produced by bilinguals dominant in English. The variation is explained through listeners’ using social information more when the linguistic information is less reliable.
Disjointness of composition operators onHv0spaces
Authors: Liang Yu-Xia , Zhou Ze-Hua
Published: December 2020

The disjoint properties of finitely many composition operators acting on the weighted Banach spaces of holomorphic functions in the unit disk were investigated in this paper.
Asymptotic behavior of the records of multivariate random sequences in a norm sense
Authors: Barakat Haroon M. , Harpy M. H.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the multivariate record values by using the Reduced Ordering Principle (R-ordering). Necessary and sufficient conditions for weak convergence of the multivariate record values based on sup-norm are determined. Some illustrative examples are given.
Regimes of linguistic entrepreneurship: neoliberalism, the entanglement of language ideologies and affective regime in language education policy
Authors: Phyak Prem , Sharma Bal Krishna
Published: December 2020

This article explores how the ideologies of neoliberal linguistic entrepreneurship have created ethical tensions and contentious affects among Indigenous communities in promoting multilingualism and multilingual education. Taking the case of Nepal, our goal is to show how imperatives and characteristics that are articulated as key parts of neoliberalism are systematically perpetuated and appropriated in language education policies and discourses. We draw our data from interviews, ethnographic observation and instructional practices in the classroom. The article makes two major claims regarding how the neoliberal ideology of linguistic entrepreneurship has shaped the perceptions and practices of Indigenous peoples in a rapidly transforming society. First, it shows that the promotion of the English language in education should be understood as a key element of neoliberal educational entrepreneurship that considers education as a profit-making entity. And, second, the ideology of linguistic entrepreneurship is an embodiment of a broader neoliberal atmosphere to create an affective regime by which the feelings of collective identity and Indigenous language activism are trivialized and the affects that are perceived to empower a neoliberal subject are promoted. The new affective regime eventually contributes to translating the global dominance of English into a medium of instruction policy at the local level and supports English medium education as a market commodity.
Synthesis and crystal structure of bis{2-bromo-6-((E)-((4-((E)-1-(methoxy-imino)ethyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenolato- κ
2
N,O}zinc(II)-methanol(1/2), C65H60Br4N8O9Zn2
Authors: Song Xiao‐San
Published: December 2020

C65H60Br4N8O9Zn2, triclinic,

P

1
¯

$P\overline{1}$

(no. 2), a = 10.5707(4) Å, b = 11.1159(5) Å, c = 15.9260(7) Å, α = 92.654(2)°, β = 104.4460(10)°, γ = 116.0400(10)°, Z = 1, V = 1601.90(12) Å3, R

gt
(F) = 0.0574, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.1284, T = 173(2) K.
The crystal structure of 4-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)(pyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl)benzonitrile, C22H20N2O
Authors: Wang Wenxiang , Zhu Chao
Published: December 2020

C22H20N2O, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 11.677(2) Å, b = 13.999(3) Å, c = 11.171(2) Å, V = 1826.2(6) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0521, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.1078, T = 293 K.

CCDC no.: 2020121
Crystal structure of poly[diammine-bis(μ4-4-hydroxypyridine-3-sulfonato-κ5
N:O, O′:O′′:O′′)(μ2-pyrazinyl-κ2
N:N′)tetrasilver(I)], C7H8Ag2N3O4S
Authors: Zhao Han‐Lin , Jiang Jin‐Ke , Chu Yu‐Tong , Li Gang‐Mei , Li Xi‐Xi , Jin Xin
Published: December 2020

C7H8Ag2N3O4S, triclinic, P

1
‾

$‾{1}$

(no. 2), a = 7.3758(3) Å, b = 8.7361(4) Å, c = 9.2906(4) Å, α = 112.877(4)°, β = 90.054(4)°, γ = 102.568(4)°, V = 535.90(4) Å3, Z = 2, R

gt
(F) = 0.0235, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0600, T = 293(2) K.
Ontology and Anti-Platonism: Reconsidering Colin Gunton’s Trinitarian Theology
Authors: Leung King-Ho
Published: December 2020

This article offers a reading of Colin Gunton’s trinitarian theology in light of recent theological attempts to develop accounts of ‘new trinitarian ontologies’ in a strongly Christian Neo-Platonic vein. In particular, this article seeks to situate Gunton’s work within the broader context of late twentieth-century European thought by comparing his ‘trinitarian ontology’ to the anti-Platonic ontologies of Martin Heidegger and Gilles Deleuze. By way of considering the ‘anti-Platonic’ aspects of Gunton’s trinitarian theology, this article presents his theological project as a testcase which highlights the stakes in constructing ‘new’ trinitarian ontologies as well as possible objections to the affirmative attitude towards Christian Neo-Platonism in contemporary theological metaphysics.
Spatio-temporal variation in the distribution and abundance of marine cladocerans in relation to environmental factors in a productive lagoon (Güllük Bay, SW Aegean Sea, Turkey)
Authors: Killi Nurçin
Published: December 2020

In order to understand the effects of some physical (temperature and salinity) and chemical (dissolved oxygen, nitrate and chlorophyll a) factors on the abundance and distribution of cladoceran species, zooplankton samples were seasonally collected between August 2015 and July 2016 from three stations near the entrance to the Boğaziçi Lagoon in Güllük Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey) using a WP2 plankton net with a mesh size of 200 μm. Four cladoceran species – Penilia avirostris, Pseudevadne tergestina, Evadne spinifera and Pleopis polyphemoides – were found during all sampling events throughout the study period. They showed high abundance in August (4774 ind. m−3) and October (10 706 ind. m−3) as the dominant zooplankton group. The abundance of Penilia avirostris – the dominant cladoceran at all sampling locations – was estimated up to 10 871 ind. m−3 in October. Pseudevadne tergestina was the second dominant cladoceran. In September, only Pseudevadne tergestina and Pleopis polyphemoides were found in samples in small numbers. The abundance of cladocerans varied significantly throughout the seasons. Two physicochemical factors, temperature and dissolved oxygen, were the main drivers of changes in the cladoceran composition.
First record of Wiedemannia ljerkae Ivković et Sinclair, 2017 (Diptera: Empididae) from Albania with an updated checklist of aquatic dance flies occurring in the country
Authors: Słowińska Iwona , Jaskuła Radomir
Published: December 2020

Wiedemannia ljerkae Ivković et Sinclair, 2017 is recorded from Albania for the first time (Sarandë District). The updated checklist of aquatic Empididae (Clinocerinae and Hemerodromiinae) from this country is provided. The potential diversity of the Albanian fauna of dance flies is discussed based on a comparison with faunas of neighboring countries.
Conceptual Ambiguity in Coding the Categories of Peace Agreement and Peace Process
Authors: Kapshuk Yoav
Published: December 2020

Within the field of peace and conflict studies, data-production on peace agreements has rapidly increased. One complicated task for scholars and practitioners alike is understanding the relationships between peace agreements and the relationships between agreements and processes. For example, discerning when an agreement establishes continuity with previous agreements and, thus, belongs to the same peace process or when an agreement signals the start of a new peace process is not straightforward. In this study, I highlight what appears to be a fuzzy boundary for categorizing some disciplinary core concepts which, in turn, can cause our data to be unreliable. As a point of comparison, I investigate how two major peace agreement datasets – UCDP Peace Agreement Dataset and PA-X Peace Agreement Dataset – associate peace agreements with peace processes and find differences and ambiguities with respect to how they are coded in both databases. As a result of such inconsistencies, analyses drawn from these data can have different outputs and lead to misunderstandings about peace processes. Here, I demonstrate the disciplinary need for clearer principles to effectively associate peace agreements with peace processes and then argue for developing a disciplinary standard for the criteria used to operationalize peace processes. Crucially, a standard method for aggregating agreements into processes will facilitate consistent data production across databases.
Chemical engineering methods in downstream processing in biotechnology
Authors: Beschkov V. , Yankov D.
Published: December 2020

Downstream processing in industrial biotechnology is a very important part of the overall bioproduct manufacturing. Sometimes the cost for this part of biotechnologies is up to 50% of the overall expenses. It comprises product concentration, separation and purification to different extents, as requested. The usually low product concentrations, the large volumes of fermentation broth and the product sensitivity toward higher temperatures lead to specific methods, similar but not identical to the ones in traditional chemical technology.

This article summarizes briefly the unit operations in downstream processing in industrial biotechnology, making a parallel between biotechnology and chemical technology.
Multiferroic heterostructures for spintronics
Authors: Gradauskaite Elzbieta , Meisenheimer Peter , Müller Marvin , Heron John , Trassin Morgan
Published: December 2020

For next-generation technology, magnetic systems are of interest due to the natural ability to store information and, through spin transport, propagate this information for logic functions. Controlling the magnetization state through currents has proven energy inefficient. Multiferroic thin-film heterostructures, combining ferroelectric and ferromagnetic orders, hold promise for energy efficient electronics. The electric field control of magnetic order is expected to reduce energy dissipation by 2–3 orders of magnitude relative to the current state-of-the-art. The coupling between electrical and magnetic orders in multiferroic and magnetoelectric thin-film heterostructures relies on interfacial coupling though magnetic exchange or mechanical strain and the correlation between domains in adjacent functional ferroic layers. We review the recent developments in electrical control of magnetism through artificial magnetoelectric heterostructures, domain imprint, emergent physics and device paradigms for magnetoelectric logic, neuromorphic devices, and hybrid magnetoelectric/spin-current-based applications. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of experiments that probe the crucial dynamics of the magnetoelectric switching and optical tuning of ferroelectric states towards all-optical control of magnetoelectric switching events.
CNS implications of COVID-19: a comprehensive review
Authors: Nagu Priyanka , Parashar Arun , Behl Tapan , Mehta Vineet
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 was first reported in December 2019 in the Wuhan city of China, and since then it has spread worldwide taking a heavy toll on human life and economy. COVID-19 infection is commonly associated with symptoms like coughing, fever, and shortness of breath, besides, the reports of muscle pain, anosmia, hyposmia, and loss of taste are becoming evident. Recent reports suggest the pathogenic invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 into the CNS, that could thereby result in devastating long term complications, primarily because some of these complications may go unnoticed for a long time. Evidence suggest that the virus could enter the CNS through angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor, neuronal transport, haematogenous route, and nasal route via olfactory bulb, cribriform plate, and propagates through trans-synaptic signalling, and shows retrograde movement into the CNS along nerve fiber. COVID-19 induces CNS inflammation and neurological degenerative damage through a diverse mechanism which includes ACE-2 receptor damage, cytokine-associated injury or cytokine storm syndrome, secondary hypoxia, demyelination, blood–brain barrier disruption, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation. Viral invasion into the CNS has been reported to show association with complications like Parkinsonism, Alzheimer’s disorder, meningitis, encephalopathy, anosmia, hyposmia, anxiety, depression, psychiatric symptoms, seizures, stroke, etc. This review provides a detailed discussion of the CNS pathogenesis of COVID-19. Authors conclude that the COVID-19 cannot just be considered as a disorder of the pulmonary or peripheral system, rather it has a significant CNS involvement. Therefore, CNS aspects of the COVID-19 should be monitored very closely to prevent long term CNS complications, even after the patient has recovered from COVID-19.
SME Financing in MENA: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Multilateral and Bilateral Development Lenders’ Intermediated Lending Practices
Authors: Barthelmess Benedikt , Langlois Jean
Published: December 2020

This paper documents for the first time the considerable increase of bilateral and multilateral financial institutions’ support to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), following the political unrest and civil strife across the region since 2011. Focusing upon intermediated lending, the main financing channel, it assesses the underlying economic logic and implementation of this kind of SME financing. It is found that SMEs’ contribution to economic development is insufficiently well understood and, to some extent, has been misinterpreted, which implies that development banks’ lending operations lack appropriate targeting to achieve economic and social lending objectives. A review of the academic literature on financial exclusion and development finance, moreover, concludes that the lenders’ reliance upon large, often foreign-owned, commercial banks is not likely to achieve the desired developmental impact.
Simulation of proppant transport and fracture plugging in the framework of a radial hydraulic fracturing model
Authors: Lapin Vasily N. , Esipov Denis V.
Published: December 2020

Hydraulic fracturing technology is widely used in the oil and gas industry. A part of the technology consists in injecting a mixture of proppant and fluid into the fracture. Proppant significantly increases the viscosity of the injected mixture and can cause plugging of the fracture. In this paper we propose a numerical model of hydraulic fracture propagation within the framework of the radial geometry taking into account the proppant transport and possible plugging. The finite difference method and the singularity subtraction technique near the fracture tip are used in the numerical model. Based on the simulation results it was found that depending on the parameters of the rock, fluid, and fluid injection rate, the plugging can be caused by two reasons. A parameter was introduced to separate these two cases. If this parameter is large enough, then the plugging occurs due to reaching the maximum possible concentration of proppant far from the fracture tip. If its value is small, then the plugging is caused by the proppant reaching a narrow part of the fracture near its tip. The numerical experiments give an estimate of the radius of the filled with proppant part of the fracture for various injection rates and leakages into the rock.
A note on change in persistence of U.S. city prices
Authors: Belaire-Franch Jorge
Published: December 2020

This paper seeks to explain the high persistence in U.S. price differentials found in Cecchetti, S. G., N. C. Mark, and R. J. Sonora. 2002. “Price Index Convergence Among United States Cities.” International Economic Review 43: 1081–99, by means of the concept of change in persistence. To that end, have computed recently developed tests by Kejriwal, M., P. Perron, and J. Zhou. 2013. “Wald Tests for Detecting Multiple Structural Changes in Persistence.” Econometric Theory 29: 289–323, allowing for multiple changes in persistence under the alternative hypothesis. We conclude that change in persistence cannot be ruled out for some city price differentials.
Erziehungssituationen
Authors: Wolf Eike
Published: December 2020

Der Beitrag differenziert familiale Erziehung in Anlehnung an Durkheim in empirisch unterschiedliche Interaktionsmodi. Den Kern dieser Unterscheidung stellt die sprachliche Herausgehobenheit der Macht- und Heteronomie-Struktur in bewussten Erziehungssprechakten dar, die situative Grenzfälle familialer Interaktion darstellen. Diese Überlegungen führen zu dem Vorschlag, Situationen als eigensinnige, sinnlogisch strukturierte und raum-zeitlich abgegrenzte Ausschnitte der sozialen Welt als Erhebungseinheit von Erziehungspraktiken zu verstehen, die deren Ausdrucksgestalten sui generis darstellen.
Alternative Religiosität von Gesundheitsfachpersonen in Palliative Care und das Ideal des „ruhigen Sterbens“
Authors: Mezger Mirjam
Published: December 2020

Auch wenn die Konfessionslosigkeit in der Schweiz zunimmt, spielen alternativ-religiöse Glaubensinhalte und -praktiken für das Personal in Palliative Care eine wichtige Rolle: In einer qualitativen Studie in Schweizer Spitälern konnte herausgearbeitet werden, dass die Religiosität des Personals vor allem zum Tragen kommt, wenn es darum geht, den Sterbenden einen ruhigen Sterbeprozess zu ermöglichen. Dabei handelt es sich um einen idealtypischen Ablauf, welcher im vorliegenden Artikel als das Ideal des „ruhigen Sterbens“ präsentiert wird. Ebenso wird dessen Verknüpfung mit religiösen Inhalten und Praktiken dargestellt. Es werden zwei Einflussgrößen auf die Ausgestaltung des Ideals sowie die religiösen Inhalte und Praktiken diskutiert: Einerseits wird dargestellt, wie sie sich dem Spitalumfeld anpassen. Andererseits wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern das Ideal im Kontext einer psychologischen Ausrichtung gegenwärtiger alternativer Religiosität steht, welche in der Religionssoziologie insbesondere unter den Stichwörtern der Subjektivierung und Individualisierung diskutiert wird. Angesichts des baldigen Todes beschreibt sich das Personal als hilflos und professionelle Handlungsstrategien reichen in der Wahrnehmung des Personals nicht aus. Ab einem gewissen Punkt steht ein Sterbeprozess im Fokus, welcher sich auf ein Weiterexistieren nach dem Tod ausrichtet.
Numerical analysis of high temperature gas flow through conical micronozzle
Authors: Mishra Debi Prasad , Sankarganesh M.
Published: December 2020

Micro-propulsion is considered to be the emerging technology for the propulsion of micro and micro aerospace vehicles as it is preferred over mesoscale thruster due to lower overall life-cycle cost and launching costs. Hence this paper investigates the influence of critical parameters like the Nozzle Pressure Ratio (NPR) and Reynolds number (Re) on the operational characteristics of the micronozzle. A conical nozzle with throat diameter 710 µm and exit/throat area ratio ∼2.14 has been designed and is analyzed numerically by using a model based on pressure-based coupled implicit for various NPR, the backpressure with three Res namely, 1000, 1500, and 2000. The performance of this micronozzle has been characterized in terms of thrust, thrust coefficient, and specific impulse for all three Re cases. A subsequent analysis of the subsonic layer reveals that the nozzle is subjected to high viscous losses at low NPRs, which are independent of Re.
Das Insiderhandelsverbot bei Kapitalerhöhungen börsennotierter Aktiengesellschaften
Authors: Becker Tilmann
Published: December 2020

Kapitalerhöhungen stellen für börsennotierte Aktiengesellschaften eine Finanzierungsquelle von erheblicher Bedeutung dar, woraus sich zwangsläufig ein starkes Bedürfnis nach einem nachvollziehbaren und praktisch handhabbaren Rechtsrahmen ergibt. Zu den in diesem Zusammenhang zu beachtenden Vorschriften zählt auch das europarechtliche Insiderhandelsverbot. Dessen Auswirkungen auf Kapitalerhöhungen deutscher Emittenten sind bisher allerdings nur unzureichend untersucht worden. Dementsprechend undifferenziert und damit auch risikobehaftet sind die Vorschläge, wie in diesen Situationen mit dem Besitz von Insiderinformationen umzugehen ist. Die in dieser Hinsicht längst überfällige, detaillierte Analyse der Rechtslage soll in diesen Beitrag vorgenommen werden.
Genetic evolutionary approach for surface roughness prediction of laser sintered Ti–6Al–4V in EDM
Authors: Sofu Mehmet Mahir , Taylan Fatih , Ermergen Tolgahan
Published: December 2020

Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods, in the field of production, are increasing rapidly. In particular, the use of Ti alloys has an important role in AM methods. The major disadvantage of AM methods is low surface quality of the manufactured parts. Therefore, parts produced using AM methods need subsequent surface treatment. Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) is one of the nontraditional machining methods, which can be used to improve the surface quality with appropriate parameters. In this study, EDM was investigated to improve the surface quality of sintered Ti–6Al–4V alloy by using 160 different finish parameters. It was observed that Current (I) has a notable effect on surface roughness showing that best surface quality is achieved with low current values, which is under R

a
 = 2 µm. To estimate the final result of EDM, roughness values obtained from the experiments were modeled by using the Genetic Expression Programming (GEP), and a mathematical relationship between the obtained roughness values and EDM parameters was proposed. As a result of 830,900 iterations, GEP model created can estimate the final surface roughness of the parts with 84% accuracy.
Cultural Codes of Fear
Authors: Polgar Nataša
Published: December 2020

This paper focuses on a specific type of archival material from the first psychiatric institution in Croatia, the Stenjevec Royal National Institute for the Insane in Zagreb, today the Vrapče University Psychiatric Hospital, dating from the period from its foundation in 1879 until 1900. More specifically, it focuses on patient narratives featuring fantastical beings, i.e., narrations about their life relying on the genre of belief legends. Based on this material, which is considered to be an important albeit atypical folkloristic corpus, the paper analyzes and interprets the status and functions of the genre of belief legends (more specifically, the memorate) in daily life narratives, personal stories and in coding affects (primarily fear). The role of belief legends is examined not only from the perspective of oral tradition and literature, but also in terms of their social and psychological position, and through the lens of psychiatric discourse of the time, which recognizes such narratives merely as symptoms of madness, translating and coding them as the language of abnormality and psychopathology.
Opening Moves
Authors: Barnett Joshua Trey
Published: December 2020

Oscillating between naturalistic observations and conceptual forays, this essay simultaneously performs and introduces the notion of “composing climate change” at the heart of this special issue. Spanning personal narrative, poetry, dialogue, theoretical meditation, thick description, photographic essay, and other modes of scholarly writing, the contributors to this issue experiment with genre, style, and form as they seek to describe, evoke, grasp, disclose, and otherwise imagine what it means and—crucially—what it feels like to be an earthling in a time of tremendous ecological change and profound planetary transformation.
Notes from the Polar Night
Authors: Ingraham Chris
Published: December 2020

Drawing from in situ fieldwork in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the northernmost settlement on Earth, these notes bring out the affective, ambient, and atmospheric power of extended darkness during the polar night, when the sun does not appear above the horizon for several months at a time. Each entry is composed of 113 words to reflect the number of days without light in Longyearbyen during the winter of my visit. Through a mixture of ethnographic observations, researched academic scholarship, and some endeavors of poetic worldmaking, these notes attempt to evoke the ineffable force of global warming by performing the sort of acutely observed and felt attentiveness to planetary being that is needed for our time.
Direct interaction of β‐catenin with nuclear ESM1 supports stemness of metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Pan Ke‐Fan , Lee Wei‐Jiunn , Chou Chun‐Chi , Yang Yi‐Chieh , Chang Yu‐Chan , Chien Ming‐Hsien , Hsiao Michael , Hua Kuo‐Tai
Published: December 2020

Wnt/β‐catenin signaling is frequently activated in advanced prostate cancer and contributes to therapy resistance and metastasis. However, activating mutations in the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway are not common in prostate cancer, suggesting alternative regulations may exist. Here, we report that the expression of endothelial cell‐specific molecule 1 (ESM1), a secretory proteoglycan, is positively associated with prostate cancer stemness and progression by promoting Wnt/β‐catenin signaling. Elevated ESM1 expression correlates with poor overall survival and metastasis. Accumulation of nuclear ESM1, instead of cytosolic or secretory ESM1, supports prostate cancer stemness by interacting with the ARM domain of β‐catenin to stabilize β‐catenin–TCF4 complex and facilitate the transactivation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling targets. Accordingly, activated β‐catenin in turn mediates the nuclear entry of ESM1. Our results establish the significance of mislocalized ESM1 in driving metastasis in prostate cancer by coordinating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, with implications for its potential use as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker and as a candidate therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
EXPLORING THE ADVANCEMENT AND ROLES OF ISLAMIC MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS IN MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Authors: Maishanu Umar Aliyu , Siti-Nabiha A.K
Published: December 2020

This paper discusses the advancement and roles of microfinance institutions, specifically Islamic microfinance institutions in microenterprise development in Nigeria. Microfinance institutions play a key role in financial inclusion and microenterprise development, especially in developing countries. The key aim of microfinance initiatives is to eradicate poverty by providing access to a wide range of financial products and services for those who are financially excluded. The emergence of microfinance in Nigeria appears to be promising, as these institutions support Nigerians of average or poor means by improving their living conditions. However, the nature and conditions of the schemes do not satisfy the sensitivities and requirements of a substantial number of people including poor Muslims who need funding but are unable to take advantage of conventional microfinance services, as loan conditions are seen as being contradictory to Islamic teachings. Islamic microfinance, therefore, can alleviate poverty through the development of microenterprises.
RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARD SUPPORT FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA
Authors: Al-sakkaf Mohammed Alawi , Mohaidin Zurina , Iskandar Yulita Hanum
Published: December 2020

Tourism in Saudi Arabia is rich with historical, archaeological, and cultural heritage sites all over the country. Recently, it is noticeable that Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia asserts the importance of investment in the tourism industry as one of the most promising industries for the long-term to decrease the dependency of oil-exporting as income’s resource. Nonetheless, there are a number of opportunities and threats to develop the tourism sector. However, tourism development needs support from local communities to achieve the goal of Vision 2030. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of tourism namely, socio-cultural, economic, and environment on the support for tourism development from local resident’s perspective. Drawing upon the lenses of social exchange theory, the theoretical framework has been developed for further investigation. To assess the developed model, data will be collected from residents who live in three tourism destinations cities namely, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam using a self-administered questionnaire.
LAS PERSONAS TRANS E INTERSEXUALES EN EL DEPORTE COMPETITIVO ESPAÑOL: TRES CASOS
Authors: Pereira-García S. , Devís-Devís J. , Pérez-Samaniego V. , Fuentes-Miguel J. , López-Cañada E.
Published: December 2020

La concepción cultural del deporte como una actividad predominantemente masculina ha dificultado la participación de algunos grupos sociales como mujeres, personas trans o intersexuales. El carácter sexuado del deporte se apoya en las diferencias fisiológicas entre mujeres y hombres, y una supuesta desventaja de las mujeres. Por ello, se establecen pruebas de sexo para las mujeres y el acceso de las personas trans e intersexuales se ve obstaculizado. En este estudio reconstruimos, a partir de las normativas y el contexto socio-histórico internacional, la evolución de la participación de personas trans e intersexuales en el deporte competitivo contemporáneo. Asimismo, se profundiza en la aplicación y gestión de dichas normas en el contexto español, apoyado en tres casos de deportistas trans e intersexuales españoles. La discriminación y humillación que han sufrido estas personas obliga a mantener una visión crítica de las políticas deportivas creadas hasta la actualidad.
EVOLUCIÓN DE LA COMPETENCIA EN EL AGUA DE LOS SOCORRISTAS ACUÁTICOS
Authors: Sanz-Arribas I. , Martínez-de-Haro V. , Calle-Molina M.T.
Published: December 2020

En el año 2006 entró en vigor la normativa que actualmente regula la formación de socorristas en la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (España). El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la influencia de la aplicación de esta normativa sobre el porcentaje de aspirantes que obtiene el diploma de socorrista acuático y sobre su nivel de competencia en el agua. Para ello, se han analizado las marcas de tiempo acreditadas por 6.105 aspirantes a socorrista (4.288 hombres y 1.817 mujeres) que se formaron entre los años 1993 y 2016. Los resultados demuestran que, desde la entrada en vigor de dicha normativa, se ha incrementado el porcentaje de aspirantes que obtiene el diploma de socorrista acuático, pero se ha disminuido su nivel de competencia en el agua. Se recomienda que las instituciones competentes establezcan objetivos y criterios de evaluación que promuevan la mejora del nivel de competencia en el agua de estos profesionales.
EFICACIA Y PERCEPCIÓN DEL DOLOR EN TÉCNICAS DE ESTIRAMIENTOS HOLD-RELAX Y ELECTROESTIMULACIÓN
Authors: López-Bedoya J. , Vernetta-Santana M. , Lizaur-Girón P. , Martínez-Patiño M.J. , Ariza-Vargas L.
Published: December 2020

Se analizó el efecto de la técnica de estiramiento HOLD RELAX sin (HR) y con electroestimulación (HR+EE) sobre la mejora y retención del rango de movimiento (ROM) activo (AROM) y pasivo (PROM) de cadera en flexión, y la percepción del dolor durante su aplicación. 42 deportistas fueron asignados a tres grupos: control, HR y HR+EE. El ROM fue medido con el test Straight-Leg-Raise antes, al finalizar el entrenamiento y trascurridas 2 semanas de su finalización. La valoración del dolor se realizó con la escala EVA. El ANOVA mostró un aumento significativo del PROM (p<0,001) en HR y HR+EE, no así del AROM. No se observaron pérdidas significativas del PROM en la retención de sendos grupos. En cuanto al dolor, no existieron diferencias significativas en los valores de EVA al aplicar ambas técnicas. Tanto HR como HR+EE fueron bien toleradas en cuanto a la percepción del dolor.
INFLUENCIA DEL DESNIVEL EN LA CARGA FÍSICA DEL CORREDOR DE MONTAÑA: UN ESTUDIO DE CASO
Authors: Serrano García de Dionisio F. , Gómez-Carmona C.D. , Bastida-Castillo A. , Rojas-Valverde D. , Pino-Ortega J.
Published: December 2020

Este estudio analizó las exigencias de carga interna (Frecuencia cardíaca, FC) y externa (Velocidad; Player Load, PL; Power Metabolic, PM; Stiffness Vertical, KVERT; entropía aproximada, ApEn) producidas en función del desnivel del terreno en una carrera de montaña. Un atleta de nivel nacional (edad: 25.3 años; altura: 172 cm; peso: 67 kg; VO2MAX: 70.2 ml/kg/min) participó en una prueba oficial (Distancia: 27.6 km; Desnivel acumulado: 973 m), siendo analizado en 6 segmentos respecto al desnivel (sin desnivel, positivo y negativo). El registro de datos se realizó mediante un dispositivo inercial WIMU PROTM (RealTrack Systems, Almería, España). Los resultados muestran un aumento de PL/min y PM/min en desnivel negativo y de FCAVG en desnivel positivo. KVERT y ApEn fueron más bajos en desnivel positivo, mientras que la velocidad fue mayor sin desnivel. Se encuentra gran variabilidad en las exigencias en función de la orografía del terreno, siendo importante su análisis para el diseño específico del entrenamiento y la planificación del evento.