bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of a Solar-PV System with Energy Storage
Authors: Thorat Shital , Kalkhambkar Vaiju N
Published: October 2021

A solar-PV system is generally connected to distributed generation (DG) by the utility grid. The solar inverter retains some capacity after active power generation. Reactive power compensation can be achieved by utilizing the remaining capacity of the solar-PV inverter. This paper introduces an energy management system (EMS) for real and reactive power management. The proposed EMS includes two modes: PV-STATCOM and islanding. In PV-STATCOM mode, the PI control is used whereas for the islanding mode, voltage frequency control is employed. This paper proposes the energy management of reactive power by utilizing the solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter as a static synchronous compensator (PV-STATCOM). Therefore, no other additional flexible AC transmission system controllers or series/shunt capacitors are required. During the islanding mode, the storage provides continuous supply to the load. The system is simulated using single-phase and three-phase modes with the hardware results also revealed. The proposed scheme provides a significant improvement in power factor while reducing the total harmonic distortion.
The Design of Cognitive Training Games for the Thai Elderly
Authors: Tantisatirapong Suchada , Puttapirat Pargorn , Senavongse Wongwit , Chanwimalueang Theerasak
Published: October 2021

Cognitive aging is one of the main public health concerns, often involving a decline in memory and decision-making abilities as people age. Cognitive training games have been widely used to improve working memory as well as enhancing short and long-term memory. In this study, we aim to develop a cognitive training game based on the Thai environment and speech recognition technology. The designed cognitive training tasks were evaluated by performing electroencephalography (EEG) on six elderly volunteers, who passed the Thai mental state examination. The participants were instructed to memorize a series of pictures and calculate simple math questions. The EEG signals of the participants were recorded during training. The participants engaged in four cognitive training tasks over three trials. An increase in training scores was found to be related to a rise in three EEG power spectrum bands: theta, alpha, and beta. Participants expressed the highest average level of satisfaction towards the easiest tasks in the four cognitive training games. This implies that when performing an easy task, an increase in the power spectral density of three EEG bands tends to occur. As a result, the proposed cognitive training game could leverage the working memory of the Thai elderly. The game design can be enhanced by integrating human-based interactive tasks, such as handwriting and eye movements. Its replication on a larger scale should be assessed in the future.
Layer 2 Path Evaluation System using Machine Learning
Authors: Sebakor Mahamah
Published: October 2021

Is it strange that the spanning tree protocol (STP) has been the only thing used to defend the Layer-2 backbone against looping? Do we trust it? For several decades, the campus backbone has often been an unsuspected problem, one of which is STP failure. Meanwhile, the MAC address flapping is probably a feasible issue for modern network fabrics. According to the serious Layer-2 issues, particularly the legacy switches extended STP design, this work uses the notion of a software-defined network fashion to evaluate the traditional and modern networks. Through the MAC address lookup of all bridge devices, this work proposes the Layer-2 evaluation system (LES), which uses a novel approach known as support supervised learning to create the data preparation for machine learning. Additionally, the LES enabled network administrators to determine their backbones. This study is intended to evaluate the potential slowdown network caused by MAC address problems. Furthermore, this work investigates the proposed method in a real network, and it also covers the evaluation and performance of our proposed method.
Long-term trends in cancer mortality in the Republic of Moldova
Authors:   Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, PENINA Olga
Published: October 2021

Introduction. Cancer is the second cause-of-death mortality pattern in the Republic of Moldova. The study of both cancer mortality by age and its detailed causes is an important tool for evidence-based public health policy. The study aims at comparing recent changes in cancer mortality with long-term trends, depending on specific causes and age. Material and methods. This study was carried out on the reconstructed 1965-2018 death time series, according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Standardized death rates were computed. Results. After a gradual increase in the ‘70s and ‘80s of the last century, cancer mortality rate showed “reversed” patterns and started to decline in the ‘90s. This decline was due to the data quality issue and to the competing risks of dying from other causes sensitive to the social and economic circumstances of the ‘90s. Since the beginning of the millennium, cancer mortality has resumed its growth that continues up to now. Despite the increasing overall trend in cancer mortality rate during 1965-2018, the analysis by age and specific causes revealed opposite trends. Conclusions. The malignant neoplasms specific for certain sites and age groups (stomach, uterus, leukaemia in children) showed, however some therapeutic progress, while the situation for other tumour sites (lung, breast, and intestine) worsened significantly. The moderate decrease in lung cancer in the 1990s should be cautiously interpreted.
Epidemiological features of COVID-19 family outbreaks in children
Authors:   Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children, BIRCA Ludmila ,   Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, SPATARU Diana ,   Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children, CORNILOVA Stela ,   Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children; Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, HEMEI Viorica ,   Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children, AIOANI Olesea ,   Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children
Published: October 2021

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Municipal Clinical Hospital of Contagious Diseases in Children
La inversión extranjera directa de Canadá y su relación con la hipótesis de los paraísos contaminantes en las industrias de México
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Govea Franco Ángeles Montserrat , González Acolt Roberto ,   Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Herrera Díaz de León Luis Lenin ,   Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes
Published: October 2021

El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la canalización de los flujos de Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED), proveniente de Canadá en industrias consideradas como altamente contaminantes en México, y su relación con la hipótesis de los paraísos contaminantes. Se considera como hipótesis central que la inversión extranjera directa está relacionada de manera positiva con las industrias altamente contaminantes del país. La metodología utilizada es a través del análisis comparativo de cifras y datos en series de tiempo pertenecientes a la Secretaría de Economía y el INEGI de México, analizando el comportamiento que tienen las variables a través de los años. Los resultados muestran que dentro de las ocho actividades manufactureras consideradas como las más contaminantes conforme a Waldkirch y Gopinath (2008), la IED que Canadá destina a México, está orientada únicamente a cuatro de esas actividades, sin embargo, por lo que conforme a lo que establece la hipótesis de los paraísos contaminantes, en donde la IED se puede utilizar como medio de traslado de empresas con altos niveles de contaminación que buscan ubicarse en lugares donde las regulaciones ambientales sean más permisibles que en sus territorios de procedencia, para el caso de Canadá puede inferirse que no se está cumpliendo; no obstante, habrá que tomar en cuenta este análisis es un primer acercamiento para la comprobación de dicha hipótesis. En conclusión, el estudio posibilita ver que, si bien el país canadiense no está invirtiendo en las industrias manufactureras más contaminantes de manera considerable, se hace referencia a otro sector donde invierte en grandes cantidades que es el minero, el cual valdría la pena analizar en un segundo acercamiento para poder así ahondar en la comprobación empírica de la hipótesis de los paraísos contaminantes.
VEIKLIOJO DUMBLO KATALAZINIO AKTYVUMO TYRIMAS
Authors: Puodžiūnaitė Miglė , Mažeikienė Aušra
Published: October 2021

Veikliojo dumblo biocheminis aktyvumas įvertinamas pagal fermentų kiekį veikliajame dumble. Fermentinio (katalazinio) aktyvumo tyrimai yra susiję su vandens ar nuotekų valymu. Šio darbo tikslas – išmatuoti katalazinį aktyvumą veikliojo dumblo mėginiuose ir surasti priklausomybes tarp dumblo katalazinio aktyvumo ir nuotekų valymo rodiklių. Atlikus titrometrinį katalazinio aktyvumo tyrimą ir nustačius ryšį su nuotekų valymo efektyvumu, buvo pastebėtos priklausomybės. Tarp katalazinio aktyvumo ir išvalytų nuotekų biocheminio deguonies suvartojimo pastebėta stipri polinominė priklausomybė (R2 = 0,99), tarp katalazinio aktyvumo ir amonio azoto pastebėta stipri logaritminė priklausomybė (R2 = 0,98), o tarp katalazinio aktyvumo bei nitratų azoto pastebėta stipri polinominė priklausomybė (R2 = 0,87).
NEAPDOROTŲ PADANGŲ TEKSTILĖS PLUOŠTO ATLIEKŲ GARSO SUGERTIES TYRIMAI
Authors: Ružickij Robert , Grubliauskas Raimondas
Published: October 2021

Perdirbant padangas, gumos granulės ir metalo pluoštas sėkmingai naudojami pakartotinai, tačiau padangų tekstilės pluošto (PTP) atliekos yra gana didelė problema. Mokslininkai vykdo tyrimus, bandydami šias padangų tekstilės pluošto atliekas, naudoti šiluminei izoliacijai, nes čia matomas didelis jų potencialas. Kadangi šiluminė izoliacija turi artimą ryšį su garso sugertimi, manoma, kad PTP sėkmingai tiktų panaudoti ir triukšmui patalpose mažinti. Tyrimo metodas remiasi ISO 10534-2 standartu, kuriuo būtų nustatytas medžiagos garso sugerties koeficientas α naudojant impedanso vamzdį. Tyrimo metu gauti rezultatai parodė, kad PTP atliekos turi geras garso sugerties savybes, garso sugerties koeficientas, esant žemiems dažniams 250–500 Hz, buvo 0,06–0,52, o esant aukštesniems dažniams – 1000–1600 Hz, sugerties koeficientas varijavo tarp 0,44–0,94. Šios medžiagos naudojimas būtų puiki alternatyva šiuo metu naudojamoms tradicinėms mineralinėms pluoštinėms medžiagoms.
KINTANČIOS KONCENTRACIJOS VEIKLIOJO DUMBLO PROCESAI: CHARAKTERISTIKA IR ANALIZĖ
Authors: Šarko Julita , Kaladiun Romuald , Mažeikienė Aušra
Published: October 2021

Nuotekų valymo įrenginių veikliojo dumblo darbas gali būti projektuojamas, optimizuojamas ir vertinamas taikant matematinį modeliavimą. Šio darbo tikslas – ištirti ilgalaikius (10 mėn. trukmės) mažojo individualaus NVĮ darbo duomenis, rasti priklau-somybes tarp parametrų ir patikrinti, ar yra galimybė optimizuoti vykstančius nuotekų valymo procesus taikant įprastus ASM (angl. Activated Sludge Model) modelius. Modeliuojant svarbiausi yra trys kinetiniai ir stechiometriniai kalibravimo parametrai: maksimalus heterotrofinis mikroorganizmų augimo greitis, aerobinis endogeninis heterotrofinės biomasės kvėpavimas ir aerobi-nis heterotrofinės biomasės prieaugis. Tarp šių parametrų turi būti dinaminė pusiausvyra, veikliojo dumblo koncentracija įrengi-nyje turi būti pastovi ir optimali. Išanalizavus gautus duomenis paaiškėjo, kad mažo našumo NVĮ-102 aeracinėje kameroje išma-tuota veikliojo dumblo koncentracija nėra pastovusis dydis. Tyrimo metu ši koncentracija kito nuo 3 iki 6,9 g/l. Kintant veikliojo dumblo koncentracijai, kinta jo apkrova organinėmis medžiagomis (g BDS5/g dumblo sausosios medžiagos), tūrinė apkrova, grąžinamojo veikliojo dumblo debitas (m3/d.), grąžinamojo veikliojo dumblo koncentracija, grąžinamojo veikliojo dumblo pro-centinis kiekis, deguonies poreikis. Apibendrinus galima teigti, kad mažojo NVĮ darbui optimizuoti įprasti ASM modeliai nėra pritaikyti.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON APPLICATION OF YEAST IN HEAVY METAL REMOVAL FROM POLLUTED WATER
Authors: Stonkutė Monika
Published: October 2021

Both surface and groundwater can be contaminated with a variety of chemicals, making it dangerous to use water for domestic usage. Water can be contaminated with heavy metals (HM), petroleum products, detergents, radioactive isotopes, mineral or organic fertilizers. Copper, cadmium and lead are some of the most commonly emitted heavy metals from various industries. Adsorption is considered to be one of the alternative methods of treatment of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The use of adsorbents of biological origin for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater is a promising method due to the low costs, rapid biodegradation and easy availability of adsorbents.
POLISTIRENINIO PUTPLASČIO KONSTRUKCIJŲ AKUSTINIŲ SAVYBIŲ TYRIMAI IR GERINIMAS NAUDOJANT PERDIRBTŲ PADANGŲ GUMOS PLOKŠTES
Authors: Strazdas Edgaras , Januševičius Tomas
Published: October 2021

Triukšmas – tai kenksmingas sveikatai, netvarkingas, įvairių dažnių ir stiprumo garso bangų mišinys. Tai pagrindinis veiksnys, sukeliantis nemalonius pojūčius namų aplinkoje, todėl mokslininkai, bendradarbiaudami su projektuotojais, siekia sukurti gerai garsą izoliuojančias, ekonomiškai patrauklias ir ekologiškas statybines konstrukcijas. Eksperimentiniai tyrimai buvo atliekami akustinėje kameroje, esančioje Aplinkos apsaugos ir vandens inžinerijos katedroje, vadovaujantis EN ISO 10140-2:2010 standartu, naudojant 1-os klasės, didelio tikslumo kalibruotą įrangą. Tyrimų metu ištirti 4 modulinių namų statyboje naudojami polistireninio putplasčio bandiniai. Bandiniai sudaryti iš 15 cm polistireninio putplasčio plokščių, skirtingo storio struktūrinio tinko ir bituminių čerpių. Tariamajam garso sumažėjimo koeficientui R’w pagerinti buvo panaudota inovatyvi perdirbtos padangų gumos plokštė, sudaryta iš gipskartonio plokštės ir perdirbtos padangų gumos kompozito. Eksperimentinių tyrimų metu nustatytas tariamasis garso sumažėjimo koeficientas R’w siekė 31,9–36,6 dB, o panaudojus inovatyvias perdirbtos padangų gumos plokštes, koeficientas padidėjo nuo 11,5 dB iki 14,2 dB. Remiantis gautais rezultatais, galima teigti, kad modulinių namų statyboje naudojamą konstrukciją iš polistireninio putplasčio būtų naudinga patobulinti pridedant gipskartonio plokštės ir perdirbtos padangų gumos kompozitą, taip pagerinant konstrukcijos garso izoliavimo savybes.
SIMULATION OF EGNOS SATELLITE NAVIGATION SIGNAL USAGE FOR AIRCRAFT LPV PRECISION INSTRUMENT APPROACH
Authors: Hvezda Michal
Published: October 2021

Satellite navigation has become a very important topic in the air transport industry along with its application in instrument approach procedures. Recently, extracted statistical characteristics of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite signal have been made available from real measurements in the Czech Republic. The numerical modeling approach is taken for a feasibility study of automatic aircraft control during the Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) precision approach based on such navigation data. The model incorporates Kalman filtering of the stochastic navigation signal, feed-back control of L-410 aircraft dynamics and the calculation of approach progress along the predefined procedure. Evaluation of the performance of the system prototype is performed using the scenarios developed with a strong interest in altitude control. The specific scenario is focused on a curved approach which offers a huge advantage of the approaches based on the Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) compared to ones with the Instrument Landing System (ILS). Outputs of simulation executions are statistically analyzed and assessed against predefined navigation performance goals equivalent to ILS categories with a positive outcome.
Vocational training costs and economic benefits: exploring the interactions
Authors: Samoliu Nataliak , Bilan Yuriy , Mishchuk Halyna
Published: October 2021

The aim of the article is to study the relationship between vocational training costs and economic benefits at different levels of economic relations. In the structure of labour costs in the EU, there was the highest share of vocational training costs in Ireland (2.79%), Great Britain (2.53%), France (1.51%), which is reflected in the economic success of these countries. A comparison with Ukraine, which has European integration intentions, confirms that the underestimated role of investing in lifelong learning has relevant links to economic performance. This study at the enterprise level (based on the survey of 356 employees) found that higher costs of vocational training are a sign of profitable enterprises. At the same time, employees’ interest in short-term training programs is higher, which they obviously assess from the standpoint of higher personal economic benefits in the short term. At the same time, the analysis performed by means of the Fechner correlation coefficient confirms the existence of a positive impact of vocational training costs on changes in the main macroeconomic benefits indicator – GDP per capita. This allows drawing conclusions about the need to develop professional training programs for staff as one of the drivers of macroeconomic development.
Categorization of Coronal Mass Ejection-driven Sheath Regions: Characteristics of STEREO Events
Authors: Salman Tarik M. , Lugaz Noé , Winslow Reka M. , Farrugia Charles J. , Jian Lan K. , Galvin Antoinette B.
Published: October 2021

We present a comprehensive statistical analysis of 106 sheath regions driven by coronal mass ejections and measured near 1 au. Using data from the STEREO probes, this extended analysis focuses on two discrete categorizations. In the first categorization, we investigate how the generic features of sheaths change with their potential formation mechanisms (propagation sheaths and expansion sheaths), namely, their associations with magnetic ejectas (MEs), which are primarily propagating or expanding in the solar wind. We find propagation sheaths to be denser and driven by stronger MEs, whereas expansion sheaths are faster. Exploring the temporal profiles of these sheaths with a superposed epoch technique, we observe that most of the magnetic field and plasma signatures are more elevated in propagation sheaths relative to expansion sheaths. The second categorization is based on speed variations across sheaths. Employing linear least-squares regression, we categorize four distinct speed profiles of the sheath plasma. We find that the associated shock properties and solar cycle phase do not impact the occurrence of such variations. Our results also highlight that the properties of the driving MEs are a major source of variability in the sheath properties. Through logistic regression, we conclude that the magnetic field strength and the ME speed in the solar wind frame are likely drivers of these speed variations.
Evidence for Coronal Temperature Variation in Seyfert 2 ESO 103–035 Using NuSTAR Observations
Authors: Barua Samuzal , Jithesh V. , Misra Ranjeev , Dewangan Gulab C. , Sarma Rathin , Pathak Amit , Medhi Biman J.
Published: October 2021

We report flux-resolved spectroscopic analysis of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) ESO 103–035 using NuSTAR observations. Following an earlier work, we fit the spectra using a thermal Comptonization model with a relativistic reflection component to obtain estimates of the coronal temperature for two flux levels. The coronal temperature was found to increase from

24.0

−
3.4

+
6.8

to

55.3

−
7.2

+
54.6

keV

(errors at the 1σ confidence level) as the flux increased from 9.8 to 11.9 × 10−11 erg cm−2 s−1 in the 3–78 keV band. A marginal variation in the high energy photon index allows for both a nonvarying optical depth and for the optical depth to have varied by a factor of ∼2. This is in contrast to a previous work on NuSTAR flux-resolved spectroscopy of the AGN, Ark 564, where the temperature was found to decrease with flux along with a 10% variation in the optical depth. The results may be understood in a framework where AGN variability is either dominated by coronal heating variation leading to a correlated increase of temperature with flux or the opposite effect being seen when the variability is dominated by changes in the seed photon flux.
The Use of Warning Booklet to Improve the Knowledge and Attitude of Pregnant Women in Early Detection of Pregnancy Complications in Karawang Regency
Authors: Ombi Warliana , Sholihah Eneng , Mulyo Gurid Pramintarto Eko
Published: October 2021

The strategy for reducing maternal mortality is through increasing empowerment of women, families, and communities. Families are expected to play an active role in knowing and making efforts to prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality—the number of cases of maternal death in Kab. Karawang in 2015 and 2016, respectively, as many as 68 cases and 61 cases, the main causes are preeclampsia, bleeding, and comorbidities. The aim is to determine the effect of Warneng’s booklet on increasing knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women towards early detection of pregnancy complications. The research design used a quasi-experimental design, non-equivalent control group. The research location was carried out in the areas of Purwasari Health Center and Rengasdengklok Health Center. The population is pregnant women in trimester I-III, with a total sample of 70 respondents. The analysis test used t-test and Mann Whitney U. The sampling technique used purposive random sampling. Degree of significance 0.05; with a  5% confidence level (CI). Warneng's booklet means increasing knowledge of early detection of pregnancy complications and increasing attitudes towards early detection of pregnancy complications pre-test 37.89 and post-test 46.40.
Semiochemical baited traps of lepidopteran pests of economic importance can deliver reliable data also on wide range of non-target species: case study in the Hajdúság Region of East Pannonian Lowland (East Hungary)
Authors: Szalárdi Tímea , Szanyi Szabolcs , Szarukán István , Tóth Miklós , Nagy Antal
Published: October 2021

Lepidopteran assemblages were studied at 16 sampling sites in the Hajdúság Region between 2013 and 2020. Although studies targeted development of synthetic phenylacetaldehyde-based and semi-synthetic isoamyl alcohol-based baits for pest monitoring, traps caught 179 species belonging to the Sphingidae, Thyatiridae, Geometridae, Erebidae and Noctuidaefamilies. Most species were pests or widely distributed generalists, but there were also many rare habitat specialists, for example, silvicol species, whose appearance was unexpected in the recently less forested region. The specificity of the two bait types tested differed notably both on family and subfamily levels. Semi-synthetic baits performed better and attracted a wide range of noctuids belonging mainly to the Xyleninae and Noctuinae subfamilies, while synthetic phenylacetaldehyde-based lures showed specificity to Plusiinae subfamilies with lower number of sampled species. Our data fill a gap of knowledge since the fauna studied formerly was nearly unknown and brings attention to the alternative use of volatile traps of agricultural pests in faunistical studies.
Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in acute mercury intoxication
Authors: Dalkiran Tahir , Carman Kursat Bora , Unsal Velid , Belge Kurutas Ergul , Kandur Yasar , Dilber Cengiz
Published: October 2021

Objective: Very few studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and oxidative stress in humans, particularly in children. This is the first report where we aimed to determine the oxidative stress status of children who were accidently exposed to elemental mercury.

Methods: In the present study, the study group was composed of 86 randomly selected children poisoned by mercury; the control group was composed of 78 children who had no history of mercury exposure. At admission, blood samples were collected. Blood superoxide dismutase activity, catalase enzyme activity, and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured by Fridovich, Beutler, and Lawrence Burk methods respectively, and the results were given as U/g Hb . Malondialdehyde level was measured by Ohkawa methods , and the results were given as mmol/ml.

Results: Catalase levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (1.28±0.62 vs 3.90 ± 0.86 U/g Hb, p<0.01). In exposed children, SOD levels were significantly higher than the controls (5936 ± 810 vs 2226 ± 464 U/g Hb, p<0,05), while the GPx activity was significantly lower (13.01 ± 3.21  vs 34.97 ± 7.32 U/g Hb, p<0.01). The MDA levels of the mercury group were significantly higher than the MDA levels of the control group (2.85±0.84  vs 2.05±0.79 mmol/ml, p<0.05) .

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that acute mercury poisoning causes alteration of oxidative stress status in children exposed to elemental mercury.
Potential role of human chorionic gonadotropin supplementation in spermatogenesis in rats subjected to forced swimming exercise
Authors: Moayeri Ardeshir , Darvishi Marzieh , Hamidabadi Hatef Ghasemi , Mojaverrostami Sina
Published: October 2021

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the supportive effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the quality of spermatogenesis, including count, motility, morphology, viability and apoptosis of sperm following forced swimming exercise.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. All rats were divided into four groups: control group; swimming exercise group (S); hCG administration group and swimming (SG) with hCG administration group (G). The experimental group was trained to force swimming stress for 10 min for 6 days. Then the sperm quality parameters were measured after dissection and epididymis removal. Spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis were evaluated by using Miller & Johnsen’s score and TUNEL staining respectively.

Results: Results showed the count (control: 113±3.1, S: 74±1.9, G: 111±3, and SG: 103±2.4), motility (control:  93±2, S: 67±2.8,G: 90±2.7, and SG: 78±1), morphology (control: 89±3%, S: 47±2.4%, G: 90±3.1%, and SG: 67±1.1%), and viability of sperm (control: 91±2.9, S: 50±2, G: 91±1.9, and SG: 70±1.3) in swimming exercised-hCG administered group, significantly enhanced by hCG treatment compared to the swimming exercise group (p≤0.01). Also the number of apoptotic germ cells significantly decreased in swimming exercised-hCG administered group compared to the swimming exercised group.

Conclusions: These results suggest that administration of hCG can protect the testes against the detrimental effect of forced swimming exercise in adult male rats.
Impact of prolonged duration of different types of renal replacement therapies on serum levels of endothelin-1 and pulmonary function tests
Authors: Kovacevic Pedja , Dragic Sasa , Zlojutro Biljana , Jandric Milka , Kovacevic Tijana , Momcicevic Danica , Gasic Branislav , Meyer Joachim
Published: October 2021

Introduction: This study was carried out to investigate the impact of duration of different renal replacement therapies such as hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis on potential overproduction of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and pulmonary function tests in these patients.

Materials and methods: The study included 26 patients (14 males, mean age 54.9±16.2 years) with end stage renal diseases (ESRD) receiving regular hemodialysis (HD) and 23 patients (10 males, mean age 55.8±15.8 years) with ESRD treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The spirometry values were recorded before the onset of HD and prior to emptying the peritoneal cavity in CAPD patients and ET-1 was measured using the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methodology. Two groups of patients (groups 1 and 2) were further divided into subgroups (group A and group B). Groups A (1-A and 2-A) included patients treated with any type of renal replacement therapy (RRT) (HD or CAPD) less than 5 years, and groups B (1-B and 2-B) included patients treated with any type of RRT (HD or CAPD) longer than 5 years.

Results: Patients treated with HD or CAPD for more than five years were found to have significantly higher serum levels of ET-1 (HD = 41.49±21.28 vs. 185.13±73.67, p<0.01; PD = 51.24±32.11 vs. 139.53±42.42, p<0.01, respectively). Values of most pulmonary function parameters differed significantly between groups treated longer or shorter than 5 years: FVC (HD = 108.4±13.34 vs. 80.82±11.26, p<0.01; CAPD = 97.20±18.99 vs. 73.25±10.73, p<0.01, respectively), FEV1 (HD = 108.33±15.8 vs. 76.73±4.9, p<0.01; CAPD = 100.67±18.31 vs. 66.75±6.25, p<0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: Prolonged duration of any type of renal replacement therapy is associated with higher serum levels of ET-1 and with lower pulmonary function tests in ESRD patients.
In silico analysis, synthesis and biological evaluation of DHFR inhibitors
Authors: Lad Chaitali , Panchal Ishan , Patel Ashish , Nagani Afzal , Parikh Vruti , Patel Harnisha , Bhimani Bhargav
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Malaria is one of the varieties of fatal diseases caused by a protozoan parasite that is now considered to be the greatest global health challenge. A parasite of Plasmodium species triggers it transmitting the disease to humans by the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Aim: To screen out designed molecules by molecular docking analysis and assess their pharmacokinetic properties using SwissADME. To synthesize the designed compounds. To characterize the synthesized compounds by TLC, melting point, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. To evaluate the synthesized compounds for antimalarial activity.

Materials and methods: In silico analysis was performed with SWISSADME, and molecular docking was performed by AutoDock Vina version 4.2. In vitro antimalarial activity study was performed.

Results: In-vitro studies of synthesized molecules showed that compounds C2 (IC50 1.23), C6 (IC50 0.48), C10 (IC50 0.79), and C14 (IC50 0.19) possess good antimalarial activity.

Conclusions: 7-chloroquinoline-piperazine derivatives exhibited potential antimalarial compounds for pf-DHFR inhibitors.
Effects of Levetiracetam on Sleep Architecture and Daytime Sleepiness
Authors: Chaneva Orlina
Published: October 2021

Sleep is a reversible behavioural state of perceptual disengagement from and unresponsiveness to the environment, which is required for neural plasticity and memory consolidation. Sleep disorders are common in patients with epilepsy. The main causes of sleep disturbances are coexisting sleep disorders, impact of seizures and epileptic activity, and the effects of antiepileptic drugs. Sleep and epilepsy have reciprocal effects – on one hand electrical brain activity during sleep is a strong modulator of epileptic activity and on the other epileptic activity during sleep may disrupt sleep architecture. The most common side effects of anticonvulsants include alterations in sleep architecture and variation in the degree of daytime sleepiness. Their effects on sleep and daytime sleepiness are variable and it is often difficult to distinguish whether the improved seizure control and epileptic activity is a direct result of anticonvulsants or associated with improved sleep quality. Levetiracetam is a new generation anticonvulsant used to treat both focal and generalized epilepsy. Its satisfactory safety and tolerability explain its wide usage in the clinical practice and necessitates more profound knowledge on its effects on sleep quality. There have been few reports about its effects on sleep architecture and daytime sleepiness. A short summary of the studies concerning this topic is presented. Main disadvantages of the studies are: the small sample size, comparison of the results obtained in healthy volunteers with patients with epilepsy, short observation duration, variations of dosage, different evaluation modalities and concomitant AED therapy. Future prospective studies on subjective and objective effects of Levetiracetam on sleep architecture and daytime sleepiness are needed to better understand its impact on sleep in order to improve epilepsy patients’ quality of life, seizure control and sleep disturbances.
Application of Plackett-Burman design for screening of factors affecting pitavastatin nanoparticle formulation development
Authors: Ramani Vinodkumar D. , Jani Girish K. , Sailor Girish U.
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Nanoparticle formulation of pitavastatin calcium is a potential alternative to solve the solubility related problem. However, the formulation of nanoparticle involves various parameters that affect product quality. Plackett-Burman design could facilitate an economical experimental plan that focuses on determining the relative significance of many.

Aim: The objective of this study was to screen the variables which could significantly affect the pitavastatin nanoparticle formulation.

Materials and methods: The pitavastatin nanoparticles were formulated by preparing nanosuspension using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique followed by freeze-drying. A Plackett-Burman screening design methodology was employed in which seven factors at two levels were tested at 12 runs to study the effect of formulation and process variables on particle size and polydispersity index of nanoparticles. The surface morphology and crystalline nature of nanoparticle were also evaluated.

Results: The particle size and polydispersity index of nanosuspension was found in the range of 113.1 to 768.5 nm and 0.068 to 0.508, respectively. Statistical analysis of various variables revealed that stabilizer concentration, injection flow rate, and stirring rate were the most influential factors affecting the particle size and polydispersity index of the formulation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study suggested the amorphous nature of nanoparticles.

Conclusions: This study concluded that the Plackett-Burman design was an efficient tool for screening the process and formulation variables affecting the properties of pitavastatin nanoparticles and also for the identification of the most prominent factor.
Root canal filling materials in primary teeth - review
Authors: Shindova Maria
Published: October 2021

Inadequate treatment of endodontic infections in primary teeth results in a loss of а deciduous tooth or abnormality in the development of hard dental tissues of the permanent successor. The main goal is to maintain the integrity and health of the primary tooth until their physiological exfoliation. The success of the endodontic treatment depends on the antimicrobial activity of the root canal filling material that contributes to the elimination or reduction of the microbial infection of the root canal system. The aim of this article is to systematically review the contemporary scientific literature concerning the root canal filling materials used in primary teeth. A critical evaluation of the antimicrobial activity, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the investigated materials, has been made. Knowledge of the composition and characteristics of the available obturating materials is a useful advantage to dentists to address the functional problems associated with endodontic infections in very young patients. Future studies should also seek and compare the long-term effects of the use of traditional and alternative intracanal materials.
Surgical treatment of pneumothorax in patients with COVID-19 – results and management
Authors: Uchikov Angel , Paunov Lyubomir , Batashki Atanas , Yordanov Emanuil , Atliev Kiril , Stefanov Chavdar , Sandeva Milena , Uchikov Peter
Published: October 2021

Introduction: The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, provokes infection with different clinical presentation. It involves an asymptomatic condition, mild variants with fever and dry cough to severe pneumonia, adynamia and respiratory failure with lethal outcome. The fibrotic lung tissue after the inflammatory process is a background for development of a secondary pneumothorax. Although it rarely causes lethal outcomes in COVID-19 patients, pneumothorax requires early diagnosis and adequate treatment to prevent any complications and decrease mortality rate.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the results of surgical treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pneumothorax in terms of demographic data, concomitant diseases, complications, and outcome.

Materials and methods: Longitudinal prospective study was carried out with 26 patients with pneumothorax as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. They were treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Infectious Disease Clinic and at the Second Clinic of Surgery, St George University Hospital in Plovdiv over a 6-month period from September 2020 to February 2021.

Results: Seventeen of the patients were men and nine – women. Twenty-four of all patients underwent thoracentesis and two of them had a video-assisted thoracoscopy. The mean age of the studied patients with pneumothorax and COVID-19 was 66.77±12.61 years, which shows that it is the patients of advanced age with concomitant diseases that are at a higher risk of serious complications and adverse outcome. Of the hospitalized 1245 patients with COVID-19, 385 (30.92%) passed away. Of all hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2, 26 (2.08%) developed pneumothorax. Sixteen of them (62%) passed away. The possibility of a lethal outcome for intubated patients increased more than twice.

Conclusions: The pneumothorax as a complication of COVID-19 carries high mortality and severely worsens the prognosis for these patients.
A new species of the genus Pseudocyanopterus van Achterberg, Cao & Yang (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from China
Authors: Samartsev Konstantin , Hao De-Jun , Li Tao
Published: October 2021

A new species, Pseudocyanopterus pagiophloeusis Samartsev & Li, sp. nov., is described from Shanghai, China. Illustrated diagnoses to distinguish the new species from its closest relative and the members of related genera are presented. New combinations are proposed for five species previously considered in the genus Cyanopterus Haliday, 1835, Bracomorpha hinoemataensis (Belokobylskij, 2000), comb. nov., B. kusarensis (Abdinbekova, 1973), comb. nov., B. praecinctus (Shestakov, 1936), comb. nov., Parallobracon oriens (Belokobylskij, 2000), comb. nov., and P. tzymbali (Belokobylskij, 2000), comb. nov.
Contraceptive method mix in the context of family planning programmes in developing countries
Authors: Boglaeva Lilia V.
Published: October 2021

The paper examines the formation of the contraceptive method mix within the framework of family planning programmes in developing countries, taking into account the influence of socio-demographic, economic, and behavioural factors. The study has shown that the impact of family planning programmes on changes in the method mix is ambiguous and depends on the time of the start of the programme, the region of the country, the level of medical service development, and other factors. The paper also analyzes the correlation between the peculiarities of the method mix in a country and abolishment of particular methods. The author reveals that in developing countries the poorest users of young reproductive age are the most vulnerable and prone to contraception discontinuation. It is these population groups that experience the most dissatisfaction with family planning.
An overview of Estonian woodlice (Isopoda, Oniscidea)
Authors: Sammet Kaarel , Orgusaar Getriin , Ivask Mari , Kurina Olavi
Published: October 2021

An overview of the Estonian terrestrial isopod fauna is given, based on literature data and material collected from 1984 to 2021. The identified material consisted of 10915 specimens belonging to 14 species and collected from 172 localities throughout Estonia. In combination with previous data from the literature data, there are now reliable records of 16 species of woodlice from Estonia. Two species, viz. Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833 and Hyloniscus riparius (C. Koch, 1838), are new for the fauna. The latter has probably colonised Estonia recently and range expansions have been reported elsewhere. The data on Philoscia muscorum (Scopoli, 1763) are dubious, and this species is currently excluded from the Estonian list.
Paul Ricœur et la revue Esprit
Authors: Mongin Olivier
Published: October 2021

Ricœur a un lien privilégié avec Esprit , institution singulière créée en 1932 par un universitaire désireux d’agir autrement dans la vie intellectuelle et dans l’espace public. Esprit signifie pour lui un mode d’agir non académique allant de pair avec un intérêt soutenu et critique pour la pensée de Mounier, les implications multiples d’une équipe rédactionnelle, une dimension « internationale » qui accompagne les combats pour la décolonisation et, bien sûr, la publication d’articles. Les liens durant l’après-guerre avec l’édition (le Seuil) et la presse ( Le Monde ) font de la revue un « milieu intellectuel » à part entière. Les contributions de Ricœur, « éducateur politique » qui s’engage sur des « causes imparfaites » et croise « philosophie et non-philosophie », montrent le caractère polyphonique d’une écriture où critique et conviction, rigueur et engament coexistent.
On rate type fluid flow induced by rectified sine pulses
Authors: Zheng Kehong ,   College of Water Conservancy and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, China, Wang Fuzhang , Kamran Muhammad , Khan Rewayat , Khan Ali Sikandar , Rehman Sadique , Farooq Aamir ,   Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330044, China,   College of Computer Science and Technology, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China,   School of Mathematical and Statistics, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, China,   Department of Mathematics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus 47040, Pakistan,   Department of Mathematics, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Havelian 22500, Pakistan,   Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, University of Haripur, Haripur, KPK, Haripur, Pakistan
Published: October 2021

This investigation aims to present the unsteady motion of second grade fluid in an oscillating duct induced by rectified sine pulses. Some of the most dominant means for solving problems in engineering, mathematics and physics are transform methods. The objective is to modify the domain of the present problem to a new domain which is easier for evaluation. Such modifications can be done by different ways, one such way is by using transforms. In present work Fourier sine transform and Laplace transform techniques are used. The solution thus obtained is in form of steady state, with combination of transient solution which fulfills all required initial and boundary conditions. The influence of various parameters of interest for both developing and retarding flows on the flow characteristics will also be sketched and discussed. Also, the problem is reduced to the flow model where side walls are absent by bringing the aspect ratio parameter (ratio of length to width) to zero.
Lie symmetries of Benjamin-Ono equation
Authors: Zhao Weidong ,   School of Computer Science, Chengdu University, China, Munir Mobeen , Murtaza Ghulam , Athar Muhammad ,   Department of Mathematics, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan,   Department of Mathematics, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan
Published: October 2021

Lie Symmetry analysis is often used to exploit the conservative laws of nature and solve or at least reduce the order of differential equation. One dimension internal waves are best described by Benjamin-Ono equation which is a nonlinear partial integro-differential equation. Present article focuses on the Lie symmetry analysis of this equation because of its importance. Lie symmetry analysis of this equation has been done but there are still some gaps and errors in the recent work. We claim that the symmetry algebra is of five dimensional. We reduce the model and solve it. We give its solution and analyze them graphically.
A job ladder model with stochastic employment opportunities
Authors: Bradley Jake , Gottfries Axel
Published: October 2021

We set up a model with on‐the‐job search in which firms infrequently post vacancies for which workers occasionally apply. The model nests the standard job ladder and stock‐flow models as special cases, while remaining analytically tractable and easy to estimate from standard panel data sets. The parameters from a structurally estimated model on US data are significantly different from either the restrictions imposed by a stock‐flow or job ladder model. Imposing these restrictions significantly understates the search option associated with employment and are, unlike our model, inconsistent with recent survey evidence and declining job finding rates and starting wage with duration of unemployment, both of which are present in the data.
Imposing equilibrium restrictions in the estimation of dynamic discrete games
Authors: Aguirregabiria Victor , Marcoux Mathieu
Published: October 2021

Imposing equilibrium restrictions provides substantial gains in the estimation of dynamic discrete games. Estimation algorithms imposing these restrictions have different merits and limitations. Algorithms that guarantee local convergence typically require the approximation of high‐dimensional Jacobians. Alternatively, the Nested Pseudo‐Likelihood (NPL) algorithm is a fixed‐point iterative procedure, which avoids the computation of these matrices, but—in games—may fail to converge to the consistent NPL estimator. In order to better capture the effect of iterating the NPL algorithm in finite samples, we study the asymptotic properties of this algorithm for data generating processes that are in a neighborhood of the NPL fixed‐point stability threshold. We find that there are always samples for which the algorithm fails to converge, and this introduces a selection bias. We also propose a spectral algorithm to compute the NPL estimator. This algorithm satisfies local convergence and avoids the approximation of Jacobian matrices. We present simulation evidence and an empirical application illustrating our theoretical results and the good properties of the spectral algorithm.
How Queerness Goes Online
Authors: Callahan Ian
Published: October 2021

In this chapter, the author challenges the commonsense claim that the internet provides equally accessible resources that are free from stigma, prejudice, or discrimination. Through the stories of university students in their own words, this intersectional analysis explores how the internet certainly offers substantial benefits to queer and nonconforming youth; however, interpersonal bias and systems of oppression pervade online forms of communication and social media applications. Additionally, the author troubles the notion that the internet is experienced as a ‘safe space' for anonymous or uninhibited explorations of queer identity. In fact, despite the internet's practical affordances of identity work, there are severe limits to tolerance and inclusion in online sociality, and because of this, doing queer identity work online has the potential to exacerbate the isolating effects of homophobia and discrimination.