bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collected Essays: v. 1
Authors: Soloveitchik Haym
Published: December 2021

This book reflects the author's lifelong interest in the history of halakhah. What stimulated change, and why? What happened when strong forces impinged on halakhic observance and communities had to adapt to new circumstances? The book opens with a brief description of the dramatis personae who figure throughout the essays: Rashi and the Tosafists. Further chapters discuss halakhic commentaries and their authors; usury, moneylending, and pawnbroking; Gentile wine; and the self-image of the Ashkenazic community. Throughout, the book shows that the line between adaptation and deviance is a fine one, and that where a society draws that line is revelatory of its values and its self-perception. Many of the chapters presented here are already well known in the field; two are completely new. Most of those previously published have been updated, and the major chapter on pawnbroking has been significantly expanded.
Collected Essays: v. 2
Authors: Soloveitchik Haym
Published: December 2021

This book grapples with much-disputed topics in medieval Jewish history and takes issue with a number of reigning views. The book provides a searching analysis of oft-cited halakhic texts of Ashkenaz, frequently with conclusions that differ from the current consensus. Part I questions the scholarly consensus that the roots of Ashkenaz lie deep in Palestinian soil. It challenges the widespread notion that it was immemorial custom that primarily governed Early Ashkenaz. It similarly rejects the theory that it was only towards the middle of the eleventh century that the Babylonian Talmud came to be regarded as fully authoritative. It is shown that the scholars of Early Ashkenaz displayed an astonishing command of the complex corpus of the Babylonian Talmud and viewed it at all times as the touchstone of the permissible and the forbidden. The section concludes with a radical proposal as to the source of Ashkenazi culture and the stamp it left upon the Jews of northern Europe for close to a millennium. Part II treats the issue of martyrdom as perceived and practised by Jews under Islam and Christianity. It claims that Maimonides' problematic Iggeret ha-Shemad is a work of rhetoric, not halakhah. This is followed by a comprehensive study of kiddush ha-shem in Ashkenaz. The book concludes with two chapters on Mishneh torah, which argue that that famed code must also be viewed as a work of art which sustains, as masterpieces do, multiple conflicting interpretations.
What’s Behind the Elephant’s Trunk? Identifying Young Stellar Objects on the Outskirts of IC 1396*
Authors: Silverberg Steven M. , Günther Hans Moritz , Kim Jinyoung Serena , Principe David A. , Wolk Scott J.
Published: December 2021

Empirically, the estimated lifetime of a typical protoplanetary disk is <5–10 Myr. However, the disk lifetimes required to produce a variety of observed exoplanetary systems may exceed this timescale. Some hypothesize that this inconsistency is due to estimating disk fractions at the cores of clusters, where radiation fields external to a star–disk system can photoevaporate the disk. To test this, we have observed a field on the western outskirts of the IC 1396 star-forming region with XMM-Newton to identify new Class III YSO cluster members. Our X-ray sample is complete for YSOs down to 1.8 M
⊙. We use a subset of these X-ray sources that have near- and mid-infrared counterparts to determine the disk fraction for this field. We find that the fraction of X-ray-detected cluster members that host disks in the field we observe is

17

−
7

+
10

%

(1σ), comparable with the

29

−
3

+
4

%

found in an adjacent field centered on the cometary globule IC 1396A. We reevaluate YSO identifications in the IC 1396A field using Gaia parallaxes compared to previous color-cut-only identifications, finding that incorporating independent distance measurements provides key additional constraints. Given the existence of at least one massive star producing an external radiation field in the cluster core, the lack of a statistically significant difference in disk fraction in each observed field suggests that disk lifetimes remain consistent as a function of distance from the cluster core.
Discovery, TESS Characterization, and Modeling of Pulsations in the Extremely Low-mass White Dwarf GD 278
Authors: Lopez Isaac D. , Hermes J. J. , Calcaferro Leila M. , Bell Keaton J. , Samuels Adam , Vanderbosch Zachary P. , Córsico Alejandro H. , Istrate Alina G.
Published: December 2021

We report the discovery of pulsations in the extremely low-mass (ELM), likely helium-core white dwarf GD 278 via ground- and space-based photometry. GD 278 was observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in Sector 18 at a 2 minute cadence for roughly 24 days. The TESS data reveal at least 19 significant periodicities between 2447 and 6729 s, one of which is the longest pulsation period ever detected in a white dwarf. Previous spectroscopy found that this white dwarf is in a 4.61 hr orbit with an unseen >0.4 M
⊙ companion and has T
eff = 9230 ± 100 K and

log
g
=
6.627
±
0.056

, which corresponds to a mass of 0.191 ± 0.013 M
⊙. Patterns in the TESS pulsation frequencies from rotational splittings appear to reveal a stellar rotation period of roughly 10 hr, making GD 278 the first ELM white dwarf with a measured rotation rate. The patterns inform our mode identification for asteroseismic fits, which, unfortunately, do not reveal a global best-fit solution. Asteroseismology reveals two main solutions roughly consistent with the spectroscopic parameters of this ELM white dwarf, but with vastly different hydrogen-layer masses; future seismic fits could be further improved by using the stellar parallax. GD 278 is now the tenth known pulsating ELM white dwarf; it is only the fifth known to be in a short-period binary, but is the first with extended, space-based photometry.
Synthesis, structure and electromagnetic properties of FeCoAl/C nanocomposites
Authors: Muratov Dmitriy G. , Kozhitov Lev V. , Yakushko Egor V. , Vasilev Andrey A. , Popkova Alena V. , Tarala Vitaly A. , Korovin Evgeniy Yu.
Published: December 2021

Magnetic nanoparticles play an important role in rapidly developing advanced branches of science and industry, e.g. fabrication of magnetic storage media, synthesis of ferromagnetic liquids, medicine and chemistry. One problem faced in the usage of magnetic nanoparticles is their high chemical activity leading to oxidation in air and agglomeration. The chemical activity of magnetic nanoparticles stems from the contribution of their large specific surface to volume ratio. Carbon coating of nanoparticles reduces the interaction between nanoparticles. FeCoAl/C metal-carbon nanocomposites have been synthesized using IR pyrolysis of polymer/metal salt precursors. The effect of synthesis temperature (IR heating) in the range from 500 to 700 °C on the structure and composition of the nanomaterials has been studied. We show that the forming particles are the FeCoAl ternary solid solution with a FeCo based bcc lattice. An increase in the synthesis temperature from 500 to 700 °C leads to an increase in the coherent scattering region of three-component nanoparticles from 5 to 19 nm. An increase in the aluminum content from 20 to 30% relative to Fe and Co results in an increase in the size of the nanoparticles to 15 nm but this also entails the formation of a Co based solid solution having an fcc lattice. An increase in the nanocomposite synthesis temperature and a growth of the relative Al content as a result of a more complete carbonization and the structure-building effect of metals reduce the degree of amorphousness of the nanocomposite carbon matrix and lead to the formation of graphite-like phase crystallites having an ordered structure. The effect of synthesis temperature and relative content of metals on the electromagnetic properties (complex permittivity and permeability) of the synthesized nanocomposites has been studied. Synthesis conditions affect the radio absorption properties of the nanocomposites, e.g. reflection loss (RL) in the 3–13 GHz range.
Independent components of spatial-temporal structure of chlorophyll a patterns in the upper layer of the north-western shelf of the Black Sea
Authors: Kyrylenko Natalya , Evstigneev Vladyslav
Published: December 2021

In the present study, the results of independent component decomposition of satellite-derived chlorophyll a (Chla) patterns for the north-western part of the Black Sea are presented. The study has been carried out on the basis of the DINEOF-reconstructed dataset of 8-day average log-transformed Chla (alChla) patterns for 1997-2016. The alChla patterns were decomposed into six independent components of its spatio-temporal variability in the north-western shelf of the Black Sea. The independent components reflect the spatial distribution of alChla anomalies which are likely to be formed under the influence of sea circulation factors driven by wind. The paper presents the results of the analysis of the intra-annual variability of independent components. The interpretation of the patterns of intra-annual independent components variability is given, taking into account the seasonal variability of the wind factor, the flow of the Danube, the Dnieper and Southern Bug rivers and the fact of modulation of independent components dynamics by seasonal phytoplankton succession.
Adequacy of ecosystem services assessment tools and approaches to current policy needs and gaps in the European Union Overseas entities
Authors: Trégarot Ewan , Failler Pierre
Published: December 2021

The paper presents the current policy needs and gaps identified in the European Union (EU) Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories to implement Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem and their Services (MAES) methodology. Then, a selection of the most appropriate tools and methods for mapping and assessing ecosystem services (biophysical, economic, socio-cultural – and decision-support) is provided to address local needs. Using a performance matrix to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of these tools, key factors required to facilitate the implementation of an ecosystem services framework are identified by considering local needs and possibilities in terms of data availability, mapping support, ecosystem services assessment and decision-support. Our results show how effective and accurate various methods (e.g. process-based models, integrated modelling and most Decision-Supporting Tools) can be, or how efficient other methods are (e.g. value transfer, spatial proxy methods and replacement cost) in data-scarce regions. Participatory approaches score well in terms of sustainability as they allow the assessment of multiple ecosystem services (covering the biophysical, economic and social-cultural components of the assessment) with local stakeholders' contribution, therefore contributing to the awareness-raising dimension. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, there is a need for flexible, guidance-based ecosystem services mapping and assessment approaches in the EU Overseas entities to facilitate MAES implementation and to adapt and integrate those methods into scenario analysis and decision-supporting tools for better uptake of MAES outputs at the decision-making and policy levels in the EU Overseas entities.
Real-world Experience of Improvement in the Survival of Lymphoma and Myeloma Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation over a 25-year Period
Authors: Cho Hyungwoo , Kim Shin , Lee Kyoungmin , Park Jung Sun , Suh Cheolwon
Published: December 2021

Background/Aims: The first autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in Korea was performed for a small-cell lung cancer patient at Asan Medical Center (AMC) in 1993. Recently, lymphoma and myeloma have been the main indications; there has been progress in the treatments for these lymphoid malignancies. We explored the real-world experience of ASCT for lymphoma and myeloma at AMC over a 25-year period.Methods: We used the AMC ASCT registry, which has collected ASCT data prospectively since January 1993. Data for Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma patients were analyzed. Patients transplanted up to December 2018 were included to assess adequate survival data. The ASCT time period was divided arbitrarily into 1994-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2018. In cases of multiple myeloma, we analyzed the 1st ASCT data only.Results: Survival of these lymphoid malignancy patients after ASCT has progressively improved. The increase in survival may be related to advances in various medical skills supporting ASCT. However, overall survival has improved much more than progression-free survival. This suggests that better salvage therapies after ASCT failure have mainly affected the improvement in overall survival. The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index could not be used as a survival indicator in this analysis.Conclusions: This real-world experience study showed that the survival of lymphoid malignancy patients treated with ASCT has improved over the past 25 years.
Production and export potential of cricket powder in Costa Rica: an exploratory study
Authors: Bermúdez-Serrano I.M. , Quirós A.M , Dornberger U.
Published: December 2021

Due to its environmental conditions, its efforts towards sustainability and the current cricket rearing activities, the industrial production of edible cricket powder is seen as an economic opportunity for Costa Rica. The feasibility of such a project was explored through a two-stage qualitative research. First, the market needs, product and production requirements were investigated through semi-structured interviews to possible buyers and producers, a visit to an industrial cricket powder production plant and a desk study. During the second stage, the entopreneurial ecosystem in Costa Rica was explored through semi structured interviews to local experts and entopreneurs in order to evaluate the feasibility of complying with the requirements identified in the first stage. Results show that Mexico and the United States are the main potential markets for Costa Rica. The main buyers are food and pet food producers with an average demand of 0.5-2 tons of cricket powder per month. A validated protein content, a gluten-free product and a neutral aroma are key product requirements. For the production, it is required to have an enclosed facility, with temperature and humidity control and a proper food safety and quality management system in place. It is concluded that the current entopreneurial ecosystem in Costa Rica does not allow to meet the international market needs required for commercialising cricket powder. Challenges like the current low production capability, high price, the lack of technical experts and specific regulation on insect production must still be overcome. Though, the main opportunities that would allow such a production are the existent local knowledge on rearing insects, well-established academic, research, and export promotion institutions, governmental small and medium enterprises support programs and the local expertise on exporting butterflies. The creation of an association that defines a national strategy is seen as a necessary step to boost the sector.
Novel higher order iterative schemes based on the $ q- $Calculus for solving nonlinear equations
Authors: Sana Gul ,   Department of Mathematics, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Park Road Islamabad, Pakistan, Noor Muhmmad Aslam , Baleanu Dumitru ,   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cankaya University, 06530 Ankara, Turkey,   Institute of Space Sciences, P.O. Box MG-23, R 76900 Magurele-Bucharest, Romania,   Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Published: December 2021

The conventional infinitesimal calculus that concentrates on the idea of navigating the $ q- $symmetrical outcomes free from the limits is known as Quantum calculus (or $ q- $calculus). It focuses on the logical rationalization of differentiation and integration operations. Quantum calculus arouses interest in the modern era due to its broad range of applications in diversified disciplines of the mathematical sciences. In this paper, we instigate the analysis of Quantum calculus on the iterative methods for solving one-variable nonlinear equations. We introduce the new iterative methods called $ q- $iterative methods by employing the $ q- $analogue of Taylor's series together with the inclusion of an auxiliary function. We also investigate the convergence order of our newly suggested methods. Multiple numerical examples are utilized to demonstrate the performance of new methods with an acceptable accuracy. In addition, approximate solutions obtained are comparable to the analogous solutions in the classical calculus when the quantum parameter $ q $ tends to one. Furthermore, a potential correlation is established by uniting the $ q- $iterative methods and traditional iterative methods.
BreaCNet: A high-accuracy breast thermogram classifier based on mobile convolutional neural network
Authors: Roslidar Roslidar ,   Doctoral Program, School of Engineering, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Syaryadhi Mohd , Saddami Khairun , Pradhan Biswajeet , Arnia Fitri , Syukri Maimun , Munadi Khairul ,   Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia,   Telematics Research Center, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia,   Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial Information Systems (CAMGIS), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia,   Center of Excellence for Climate Change Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,   Earth Observation Center, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia,   Medical Faculty, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia,   Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Published: December 2021

The presence of a well-trained, mobile CNN model with a high accuracy rate is imperative to build a mobile-based early breast cancer detector. In this study, we propose a mobile neural network model breast cancer mobile network (BreaCNet) and its implementation framework. BreaCNet consists of an effective segmentation algorithm for breast thermograms and a classifier based on the mobile CNN model. The segmentation algorithm employing edge detection and second-order polynomial curve fitting techniques can effectively capture the thermograms' region of interest (ROI), thereby facilitating efficient feature extraction. The classifier was developed based on ShuffleNet by adding one block consisting of a convolutional layer with 1028 filters. The modified Shufflenet demonstrated a good fit learning with 6.1 million parameters and 22 MB size. Simulation results showed that modified ShuffleNet alone resulted in a 72% accuracy rate, but the performance excelled to a 100% accuracy rate when integrated with the proposed segmentation algorithm. In terms of diagnostic accuracy of the normal and abnormal test, BreaCNet significantly improves the sensitivity rate from 43% to 100% and specificity of 100%. We confirmed that feeding only the ROI of the input dataset to the network can improve the classifier's performance. On the implementation aspect of BreaCNet, the on-device inference is recommended to ensure users' data privacy and handle an unreliable network connection.
El catálogo de los pretendientes de Penélope (Apollod., Ep. VII 26-30): tradición literaria y creación erudita
Authors: Acerbo Stefano
Published: December 2021

El catálogo de los pretendientes de Penélope transmitido por Apolodoro presenta un caso interesante para estudiar el origen y el funcionamiento de las listas de nombres en la tradición erudita y mitográfica griega. Apolodoro menciona 129 pretendientes, frente a los 14 que aparecen nombrados en la Odisea, un hecho que, unido a la poca consistencia mitológica de estos personajes fuera del poema homérico, parece relegar el catálogo al campo de la simple invención libre, más que a la verdadera tradición mítica. Sin embargo, el estudio de los nombres de la lista y la comparación con otros catálogos, en parte transmitidos por papiros, permite reconocer algunos de los criterios utilizados por el compilador para construir la lista, como la interpretación del propio texto de Homero, y algunas estrategias compositivas que se pueden comparar con la práctica del centón. En este sentido, podemos apreciar cómo, también en este caso especial, la creación erudita tiene una relación muy fuerte con la tradición.
Del proto-indoeuropeo a ipse e iste en latín arcaico: ¿Dos caras de la misma moneda?
Authors: Orqueda Verónica , Inostroza Demian
Published: December 2021

Este trabajo presenta un análisis comparativo de ipse e iste en latín arcaico. Nuestro objetivo es explicar las diferencias y similitudes entre ipse e iste a partir de un origen común parcial en PIE. Para esto, analizamos la distribución de estos pronombres según diversos rasgos gramaticales, semánticos y pragmáticos. La distribución desigual de ipse e iste sugiere que estos derivan de elementos ubicados en diferentes puntos de una jerarquía referencial. Considerando evidencia interlingüística, estos datos pueden interpretarse como la preservación residual de un sistema que marcaba argumentos proximativos y obviativos en PIE.
How Surface Water Management Can Benefit Fish Conservation in Urban Streams
Authors: Wilson W. Aaron , Wipfler Maria , Stevens Josh
Published: December 2021

We analyzed 33 y of fish community data collected from a low-order, urban stream in central Illinois, USA, to determine the effects of municipal wastewater management projects and urbanization on fish communities. From 1985 to 2017, species richness, number of pollution-intolerant species, and alternative index of biotic integrity significantly increased at sites across this system. Species diversity likewise increased, but was mostly significant only at sites downstream of the effluent outflow. Ceasing the chlorination of wastewater in 1990 resulted in significant increases in fish community metrics both upstream and downstream of effluent outflow, although effects varied from site to site. Completing a combined sewer overflow abatement project in 2008 resulted in some significant increases in species richness, diversity, and number of pollution-intolerant species at sites downstream of effluent outflow. From 2001 to 2016, the change in the number of pollution-intolerant species correlated inversely with the increased percentage of impervious cover in the study system. There was no significant correlation of other metrics with the change in percent impervious surfaces. These results suggest that urbanization at upstream sites limited to some extent the benefits of water management interventions that improved fish community metrics at downstream sites.
Fellow travelers: Taking stock of faculty fellows programs in the age of organizational development
Authors: Colby Susan A. , Cruz Laura , Cordaro Danielle , Cruz Clare
Published: December 2021

Faculty fellows have long served as a staple of centers for teaching and learning (CTLs), but to date little to no evidence has been gathered regarding their broader impact. The current study provides a snapshot of U.S.-based faculty fellows programs today, based on a comprehensive review of CTL websites. We categorize faculty fellows programs across five modalities that reflect decades of evolution and adaptation in the field of educational development. Our findings are intended to provide the foundation for new pathways of research, practice, and inquiry regarding the implementation of CTL fellowship programs.
Data-driven iterative refinements to educational development services: directly measuring the impacts of consultations on course and syllabus design
Authors: Hershock Chad , Pottmeyer Laura Ochs , Harrell Jessica , le Blanc Sophie , Rodriguez Marisella , Stimson Jacqueline , Walsh Katharine Phelps , Weiss Emily Daniels
Published: December 2021

Evidence-based practice in educational development includes leveraging data to iteratively refine center for teaching and learning (CTL) services. However, CTL data collection is often limited to counts and satisfaction surveys rather than direct measures of outcomes. To directly assess impacts of consultations on course and syllabus design, we analyzed 94 clients’ syllabi (32 faculty, 62 graduate students and postdocs) before and after consultations. Faculty and non-faculty clients demonstrated significant change following consultations (6% and 10% gains in syllabus rubric scores, representing 50% and 31% of possible gains and effect sizes of 0.73 and 1.04 standard deviations, respectively). We compared faculty clients to quasi-experimental control groups that did not receive consultations. Syllabi from non-clients scored lower and did not demonstrate similar changes across semesters. Attendance at a CTL seminar on course and syllabus design did not explain variation in clients’ syllabi. We discuss implications for assessment of CTL services and how we leveraged formative assessments to inform and iteratively refine our educational development practices.
The Hartree functional in a double well
Authors: Olgiati Alessandro , Rougerie Nicolas
Published: December 2021

We consider a non-linear Hartree energy for bosonic particles in a symmetric double-well potential. In the limit where the wells are far apart and the potential barrier is high, we prove that the ground state and first excited state are given to leading order by an even, respectively odd, superposition of ground states in single wells. The corresponding energies are separated by a small tunneling term that we evaluate precisely.
Spectrum of the semi-relativistic Pauli–Fierz model II
Authors: Hidaka Takeru , Hiroshima Fumio , Sasaki Itaru
Published: December 2021

We consider the ground state of the semi-relativistic Pauli–Fierz Hamiltonian

H = |\textbf{p} - \textbf{A(x)}| + H_f + V\textbf{(x)}.

Here

\textbf{A(x)}

denotes the quantized radiation field with an ultraviolet cutoff function and

H_f

the free field Hamiltonian with dispersion relation

|\textbf{k}|

. The Hamiltonian

H

describes the dynamics of a
massless
and semi-relativistic charged particle interacting with the quantized radiation field with an ultraviolet cutoff function. In 2016, the first two authors proved the existence of the ground state

\Phi_m

of the massive Hamiltonian

H_m

is proven. Here, the massive Hamiltonian

H_m

is defined by

H

with dispersion relation

\sqrt{\textbf{k}^2+m^2}

(m>0)

. In this paper, the existence of the ground state of

H

is proven. To this aim, we estimate a singular and non-local pull-through formula and show the equicontinuity of

\{a(k)\Phi_m\}_{0<m<m_0}

with some

m_0

, where

a(k)

denotes the formal kernel of the annihilation operator. Showing the compactness of the set

\{\Phi_m\}_{0<m<m_0}

, the existence of the ground state of

H

is shown.
Eigenfunctions growth of R-limits on graphs
Authors: Beckus Siegfried , Eliaz Latif
Published: December 2021

A characterization of the essential spectrum of Schrödinger operators on infinite graphs is derived involving the concept of

\mathcal{R}

-limits. This concept, which was introduced previously for operators on

\mathbb{N}

and

\mathbb{Z}^d

as “right-limits,” captures the behaviour of the operator at infinity. For graphs with sub-exponential growth rate, we show that each point in

\sigma_{\textup{ess}}(H)

corresponds to a bounded generalized eigenfunction of a corresponding

\mathcal{R}

-limit of

H

. If, additionally, the graph is of uniform sub-exponential growth, also the converse inclusion holds.
A Faber–Krahn inequality for the Riesz potential operator for triangles and quadrilaterals
Authors: Mahadevan Rajesh , Olivares-Contador Franco
Published: December 2021

We prove an analog of the Faber–Krahn inequality for the Riesz potential operator. The proof is based on Riesz’s inequality under Steiner symmetrization and the continuity of the first eigenvalue of the Riesz potential operator with respect to the convergence, in the complementary Hausdorff distance, of a family of uniformly bounded non-empty convex open sets.
A generalization of the total mean curvature
Authors: Charytanowicz Katarzyna , Cieślak Waldemar , Mozgawa Witold
Published: December 2021

We derive a special formula for the total mean curvature of an ovaloid. This formula allows us to extend the notion of the mean curvature to the class of boundaries of strictly convex sets. Moreover, an integral formula is proved.
Tree Species Diversity and Abundance of Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria
Authors: Ogundele O.M. , Ige P.O. , Owoeye Y.T. , Abanikanda D.E. , Komolafe O.O.
Published: December 2021

This study was carried out to examine the tree species diversity and abundance in a natural forest ecosystem in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. Data were collected from a four equal size sampling plot of 50×50m in a permanent sample plot section of Akure Forest Reserve. All living trees with DBH ≥ 10cm were measured and identified. A total of 956 trees were encountered. These trees were from 42 genera and 20 families. Celtis zenkeri belonging to the family of Ulmaceae was the species with the highest population distribution while Sterculiaceae was the dominant family in the study area. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (Hˈ) of 3.196 and species evenness of 0.84 were obtained from the study area. The high values of diversity indices obtained indicated that the forest is rich in biodiversity and hence should be protected from any forms of disturbance to enhance sustainability as well as protect the rare species in it from going into extinction.
Effects of alcoholic extract of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) on pregnancy outcome in female Wistar rats
Authors: Sakpa C.L. , Eguavoen D.O.
Published: December 2021

Myristica fragrans has been reported to be a medicinal plant as it possesses hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antiulcer, anticancer and immunostimulatory properties, as well as antifertility potentials. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of alcoholic extract of M. fragrans on dam size, litter size, pup weight, ovarian follicles, endometrial glands and histopathological indices on pregnancy outcomes in female Wistar rats using standard methods. Pregnancy was induced in forty-eight (48) female Wistar rats that were randomly selected and assigned into four (4) groups of twelve (12) rats each: Group 1 (pregestational phase of pregnancy), Group 2 (germinal phase of pregnancy), Group 3 (embryonic phase of pregnancy) and Group 4 (Fetal phase of pregnancy). The treated animals all received 1500 mg of alcoholic extract of M. fragrans. Administration of distilled water and the extract was by orogastric tube. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (Statistical Package for Social Science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were obtained. The extract prevented the proliferation of ovarian follicles and endometrial glands. In addition, during the pregestational, germinal and embryonic phases, there were significant increases in weight of pups when the treated animals were compared to the control group. The dams also showed decreases in body weight during the embryonic phase. This study therefore demonstrated that alcohol extract of Myristica fragrans may serve as a contraceptive agent in view of its anti-fertility effect.
Assessment of the Physicochemical Parameters of Bodo Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria: A Pre-spill, Post-spill and Post-clean-up Review
Authors: Nkeeh D.K. , Hart A.I. , Erondu E.S. , Zabbey N.
Published: December 2021

Water bodies are a source of ecosystem services such as water supply, production, recreation, and aesthetics. In 2008, two major oil spills took place in Bodo creek. A major challenge with the assessment and monitoring of an environment is the lack of baseline data. However, Bodo Creek has been studied extensively. This paper, therefore, reviews pre-spill, post-spill, and post-clean-up studies on physicochemical parameters in Bodo Creek. This paper revealed that the difference in the levels of the physicochemical parameters including pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and temperature in Bodo Creek, before and after the oil spill was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); other physicochemical parameters examined in this paper are alkalinity, total hardness, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS). This paper also revealed that pH and temperature were higher in the post-cleanup study, while DO and conductivity were higher in the pre-cleanup study. BOD was significantly higher in the post-spill study than the pre-spill study, indicating a high level of pollution as a result of the oil spill. This review also shows that there are higher pH and temperature levels in post-clean-up studies than the pre-cleanup studies. Pre-clean-up DO and conductivity were higher than the levels in the post-clean-up study.
Saving the endangered Native Victoria Tilapia, Oreochromis variabilis Boulenger (1906), in Upper Victoria Nile
Authors: Bassa Samuel , Getabu Albert , Ogello Erick , Taabu Anthony , Olokotum Mark , Nakiyende Herbert , Laban Musinguzi , Balirwa John Stephen , Nyaundi Kiyuka Joseph , Ocaya Henry , Sekiranda Stephen
Published: December 2021

This study investigated the catch estimates, mortality, growth, food and feeding habits, and water parameters of Oreochromis variabilis in Upper Victoria Nile (UVN) from 2008 to 2019. Catch rates ranged 0.32±0.08 to 3.42±1.13 kg, boat-1, day-1 with the length-weight relationship indicating Isometric growth. Growth parameters obtained were L∞=36.75, K=0.44 yr-1, t0=-0.4540, tmax=6.4years, ØL=2.774, ØW=-0.301. Total mortality (Z) was 1.74yr-1, natural mortality (M) =0.95yr-1 using riverine surface temperature (RST) of 26oC giving a fishing mortality F of 0.79 yr-1 and exploitation ratio (E) of 0.4504 showing that growth parameters concurs with annual estimates and yield (F=6.589; P±=0.05). Catch estimates correlated with water parameters that indicated a significant difference. Mortality parameters showed that the fishery could be experiencing exploitation pressure. Although growth rates revealed that the fish is a long-lived species, if managed properly, its population could recover. Therefore, culturing the species and restocking in rivers and lakes in which this specie was not observed in the East African region are recommended.
Electronic visualization tools in education
Authors: Zubkova Yana V. , Baikina Julia O. , Sergeeva Svetlana V. , Burkhanova Irina Y. , Koldina Margarita I.
Published: December 2021

Purpose of the article is to analyze the influence of electronic visualization tools on the growth of students’ cognitive activity. En el estudio participaron were 108 students aged from 17 to 21. Students were asked to participate in a survey that allowed them to identify popular electronic resources that provide visualization in education. The survey was conducted with C. D. Spielberger method to study the level of cognitive activity before the use of electronic visualization tools and in the process of their use. The study showed that the use of electronic visualization tools helps to increase attention, students’ cognitive activity and reduces fatigue. Modern electronic visualization tools contribute to the students’ emotional memory development and form professional competencies.
Aprendizaje colaborativo en tiempos de pandemia hacia la construcción de un eje socioeducativo
Authors: Guanipa Luis , Franco Ginoid N.
Published: December 2021

En la actualidad se ha desarrollado la Educación a Distancia gracias a la existencia de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación. Es por ello, que el propósito de esta investigación fue consolidar un eje socioeducativo basado en la educación a distancia que coadyuve al aprendizaje colaborativo en el área de Estudios de Postgrado de la FaCE-UC en tiempos de pandemia, sustentado con aprendizaje colaborativo, significativo, constructivismo, enseñanza sincrónica y asincrónica. Por otra parte, el método fue la hermenéutica de Gadamer. Se llegó a la conclusión, que tanto los docentes como los estudiantes expresaron que, mediante las herramientas de comunicación digital, plataformas y redes sociales se pudo adquirir el conocimiento de manera adecuada, mediante procesos sincrónicos y asincrónicos, además consideran que esto ayudará a cambiar la cultura presencial abriendo paso la construcción de una cultura bimodal y virtual.
Las tecnologías de la información y su relación con la escritura
Authors: Sánchez Ramos María Concepción
Published: December 2021

El propósito de este artículo es presentar algunos argumentos y discernimientos acerca de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC), y su relación con la escritura para la construcción activa de nuevos conocimientos, las cuales sirven de apoyo para formar productores de textos competentes, preparados para afrontar los retos y los constantes cambios que impone la sociedad actual. El desarrollo de las TIC ha influido de forma innegable en nuestra forma de vivir, y, por tanto, como factor social ha impactado de alguna manera los paradigmas educativos, debido a que pueden llegar a ser un excelente recurso didáctico en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje. La metodología empleada es de carácter documental bibliográfico.
Three-dimensional modeling as a methodological innovation for teaching zoology and as a strategy for environmental education
Authors: Gonçalves Cutrim Caio Henrique , Albano Araújo Vinícius
Published: December 2021

The great diversity of animals and the relationship between their morphological characteristics, adaptations and life strategies are approached in the teaching of zoology. The use of innovative and alternative methodologies, such as zoological modeling, are tools that can contribute to a high interest in the study of zoology and it is use in an environmental education strategy. In this study, the zoological modeling intermediated the teaching-learning process in undergraduate students of the Biological Sciences course and the connection of teaching practices with environmental extension activities. Twenty-two animal models were built with representatives of the Phylum Arthropoda, Mollusca, Cnidaria and Echinodermata, approaching aspects of external, internal morphology and life cycle. The process of perception, viability and assimilation of the construction of the zoological modeling was analyzed through interviews with 40 undergraduates and 100 children and teenagers, the target audience of the workshops. The results showed that the three-dimensional modeling stimulates environmental students in the teaching-learning process and it is use in education activities were efficient, awakening curiosity, enabling the demystification of animals and the dissemination of their essential ecosystem services for the conservation of biodiversity.
Оценка влияния скорости увеличения нагрузки на точность определения разрушающего напряжения с помощью гипотезы линейного суммирования усталостных повреждений
Authors: Konoplev A.V. , Shumilo А.N. , Cheredarchuk N.I. , Halevskyi V.V. , Kononova O.N. , Rozhko Е.К. , Arpentieva V.O.
Published: December 2021

С помощью линейной гипотезы накопления усталостных повреждений рассчитаны значения разрушающих напряжений при имитации испытаний деталей машин на сопротивление усталости с линейно увеличивающейся нагрузкой. Расчёты проведены для диапазона дискретных значений предела выносливости в диапазоне 100-500 МПа и скоростей увеличения амплитуды напряжений 100-500 Па/цикл. Расчёт показал, что погрешность разрушающих напряжений зависит от скорости увеличения нагрузки и в предельном случае не превышает 15 %.
Прямі та непрямі антропогенні навантаження на водні ресурси України
Authors: Fedorova Catherine , Khonelia Natela
Published: December 2021

Стан навколишнього середовища в Україні характеризується високим рівнем антропогенного навантаження. Людина в результаті своєї діяльності завдавала и продовжує завдавати великої шкоди навколишньому середовищу.  
Антропогенне навантаження на навколишнє середовище- це величина прямого або непрямого впливу людини та його господарської діяльності. Антропогенне навантаження відображає кількість негативного впливу на природу. Антропогенне навантаження змінює характер екологічної рівноваги. Вивчаючи характер антропогенного навантаження людина може корегувати цей негативний вплив.
Такі питання необхідно постійно моніторити, вивчати, аналізувати їх кількісний та якісний склад, виробляти дієві методи боротьби з антропогенними навантаженнями, що допоможе зберегти на довгі роки надбання українського народу – водні ресурси України
Усовершенствование термодинамического цикла холодильной установки рефрижераторного контейнера для перевозки и хранения вакцины
Authors: Vasserman A.A. , Slyn`ko A.G.
Published: December 2021

Предлагается оборудовать рефрижераторные контейнеры для перевозки и хранения вакцины NVX-COV2373 модифицированными холодильными установками. Модификации подвержен термодинамический цикл холодильной установки. Суть модификации состоит в замене адиабатных процессов сжатия рабочих тел во всех циклах двухкаскадной холодильной установки политропными процессами.
Расчёты показали, что при таком усовершенствовании термо-динамического цикла холодильной установки суточная экономия электроэнергии составит на один контейнер около 100 кВт·час, а годовая – более 35 МВт·час, что соответствует больше 26 кг/сут. или около 10 т/год дизельного  топлива при использовании для получения электроэнергии дизель генератора с удельным расходом топлива 0,270 кг/кВт·час.
Beyond Medical Pluralism
Authors: Uibu Marko , Koppel Katre
Published: December 2021

Medical pluralism does not only mean the presence of multiple therapies but also the variety of health discourses and norms. By analysing the rhetoric of active participants in the Estonian health field, we portray the diverse discourses in defining and positioning complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in relation to biomedicine (BM). On a scale of attitudes, five different positions of CAM and BM emerge. Both ends of the spectrum dominantly represent a system-level view characterized by distinct categories, opposition, and labelling. In between, integrative positions focus more on an individual’s personal needs by combining and “taking the best out of” all available knowledge systems. The presence of these competing discourses poses several challenges for health communication. Meanings offered by CAM-related health approaches are increasingly visible and influential as unlicensed health workers and laypeople contribute more to public communication due to the openness of social media. On the other hand, critics of CAM and proponents of scientific thinking have mobilized to set boundaries to defend the authoritative position of scientific medicine. Our analysis suggests that using system-level categories supports polarization, which could lead people to seek alternative explanations based on their individual experiences, and thus feeding distrust towards medicine and doctors.
STUDY OF THE IMMUNOGENIC PROPERTIES OF THE VACCINE FOR THE SPECIFIC PREVENTION OF MYXOMATOSIS, BORDETELLIOSIS AND PASTEURELLOSIS OF RABBITS «RESPIMIX» IN PRODUCTION CONDITIONS
Authors: Novikova O. N. , Zgirovskaya A. A. , Lomako Yu. V. , Ananchikov M. A. , Borisovets D. S. , Zhuravleva E. S. , Tolyaronok G. E. , Gerasimenko V. I.
Published: December 2021

Production tests of the vaccine for the prevention of pasteurellosis, bordetelliosis and myxomatosis of rabbits «Respimix» in terms of immunogenic activity were carried out. It has been established that the «Respimix» vaccine is a harmless and immunogenic preparation, superior in its preventive efficacy to the «Rabbiwak-V» preparation taken by us as a control one. The administration of the Respimix vaccine to rabbits promotes the production of antibodies to all antigens included in the vaccine, namely to Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and to rabbit myxoma virus.

The veterinary drug «Vaccine for the prevention of pasteurellosis, bordetelliosis and myxomatosis of rabbits “Respimix”» can be recommended for use in veterinary practice.
DEVELOPMENT OF MEANS FOR THE SPECIFIC PREVENTION OF MYXOMATOSIS AND PASTEURELLOSIS IN RABBITS
Authors: Zgirovskaya A. A. , Novikova O. N. , Lomako Yu. V. , Ananchikov M. A. , Tkalich E. S. , Dadashko S. V. , Gerasimenko V. I.
Published: December 2021

In the course of the work, an epizootic strain of the rabbit myxoma virus was isolated, and its adaptation to continuous cell cultures was carried out. When assessing the possibility of using an epizootic strain of myxoma of rab-bits for the manufacture of a vaccine, it was found that the isolated strain has low immunogenicity.

For the manufacture of a vaccine for the prevention of pasteurellosis, bordetelliosis and myxomatosis in rab-bits, the rabbit myxoma virus (strain KMIEV-V141), bacteria Pasteurella multocida (strain KMIEV-B166), and Bor-detella bronchiseptica (strain KMIEV-B212) were used; parameters of cultivation of strains of myxoma of rabbits, pas-teurella and bordetella were worked out, inactivants and adjuvants were selected, methods of inactivation of pasteurel-la and bordetella of rabbits were worked out. A vaccine sample for the prevention of pasteurellosis, bordetelliosis and myxomatosis in rabbits has been prepared.
International Procurement and Supply Network Management in the Post COVID 19 Era in Nigeria: A Literature Review
Authors: Akintokunbo Oluwarotimi , Arimie Biebele
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The global economy has been greatly affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the oil and gas industry is also being felt immensely as the industry relies heavily on the importation of the goods and services that they require to run their operations effectively and efficiently and the only way to get to the final destination of these company is through a well-managed supply network.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine international procurement and supply network management in the post COVID 19 Era in Nigeria. Being a literature review, the paper adopted a desk research methodology.

Findings: The findings of the review of literature reveal that international procurement significantly influence and predicts supply network management performance. It also shows that COVID-19 has negatively affected both international procurement and supply network management, and that the phrase supply network management, instead of supply chain management, is most appropriate to describe the activities and relationships between and amongst individuals, enterprises, facilities and information, materials and services systems that connects supplier’s suppliers to customer’s customers capturing the multiple and complex relationships that exists amongst them.
Some results of seismic travel-time reflection tomography study
Authors: Phạm Thế Hoàng Hà , Đoàn Huy Hien , Tạ Quang Minh , Mai Thị Lụa , Nguyễn Hoàng Anh
Published: December 2021

Velocity model is essential for seismic data processing as it plays an important role in migration processes as well as time depth conversion. There are several techniques to reach that goal, among which tomographic inversion is an efficient one. As an upgrade version of handpicked velocity analysis, the tomography technique is based on the reflection ray tracing and conjugate gradient method to estimate an optimum velocity model and can create an initial high quality model for other intensive imaging and modelling module such as reverse-time migration (RTM) and full-waveform inversion (FWI). For the mentioned benefit, we develop a seismic travel-time reflection tomography (SeisT) module to study the accuracy of the approach along with building the technical capability in seismic processing. The accuracy of the module has been tested by both synthetic and real seismic field data; the efficiency and the accuracy of the model have been proven in terms of development method as well as field data application.