bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
POD-Galerkin model order reduction for parametrized nonlinear time-dependent optimal flow control: an application to shallow water equations
Authors: Strazzullo Maria , Ballarin Francesco , Rozza Gianluigi
Published: November 2021

In the present paper we propose reduced order methods as a reliable strategy to efficiently solve parametrized optimal control problems governed by shallow waters equations in a solution tracking setting. The physical parametrized model we deal with is nonlinear and time dependent: this leads to very time consuming simulations which can be unbearable, e.g., in a marine environmental monitoring plan application. Our aim is to show how reduced order modelling could help in studying different configurations and phenomena in a fast way. After building the optimality system, we rely on a POD-Galerkin reduction in order to solve the optimal control problem in a low dimensional reduced space. The presented theoretical framework is actually suited to general nonlinear time dependent optimal control problems. The proposed methodology is finally tested with a numerical experiment: the reduced optimal control problem governed by shallow waters equations reproduces the desired velocity and height profiles faster than the standard model, still remaining accurate.
Implementation of frequency encoded all optical reversible logic
Authors: Mishra Nikhlesh Kumar , Chaurasiya Upendra , Srivastava Saumya , Shukla Shubham , Upadhyay Kamal K.
Published: November 2021

Reversible gate has been one of the emerging research areas that ensure continual process of innovation trends that explore and utilizes the resources. Due to the increasing power consumption of electronic circuits, it has been observed that quantum computing is one of its latest applications. This technology can be utilized by reducing the energy consumption by preserving the bits of information that are still useful. A photon has zero rest mass, while an electron has a nonzero rest mass. These characteristics inspired the researchers to develop an all-optical Fredkin gate. The proposed gate design overcomes the shortcomings of conventional Fredkin gates and provides better performance.
Recommendations for outpatient activity in COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Palumbo Piergaspare , Massimi Fanny , Biondi Antonio , Cirocchi Roberto , De Luca Giuseppe Massimiliano , Giraudo Giorgio , Intini Sergio Giuseppe , Monzani Roberta , Sozio Giampaolo , Usai Sofia
Published: November 2021

The spread of the COVID-19 disease substantially influenced the International Healthcare system, and the national governments worldwide had before long to decide how to manage the available resources, giving priority to the treatment of the COVID-infected patients. Then, in many countries, it was decided to limit the elective procedures to surgical oncology and emergency procedures. In fact, most of the routine, middle-low complexity surgical interventions were reduced, and the day surgery (DS) activities were almost totally interrupted. As a result of this approach, the waiting list of these patients has significantly increased. In the current phase, with a significant decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 cases, the surgical daily activity can be safely and effectively restarted. Adjustments are mandatory to resume the DS activity. The whole separation of pathways with respect to the long-stay and emergency surgery, an accurate preoperative protocol of patient management, with a proper selection and screening of all-day cases, careful scheduling of surgical organization in the operating room, and planning of the postoperative pathway are the goals for a feasible, safe, and effective resumption of DS activity.
Use and impact of technology-assisted workflow (TAWF) systems for drug compounding in pharmacy practice: a scoping literature review
Authors: Farcy Elisabeth , Bui Duc Tâm , Lebel Denis , Bussières Jean-François
Published: November 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to review studies describing the use and the impact of technology-assisted workflow (TAWF) systems for drug compounding in hospital pharmacy.

Content

This is a scoping literature review. A search was conducted on studies describing or evaluating the use of TAWF published from January 1st, 2015 to July 31st, 2021. Two databases were searched (PubMed and Embase), followed by a search on Google Scholar.

218 articles were screened and 17 were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. TAWFs all included preparation assistance software (17/17), barcode reader (17/17), photo or video taking (17/17), and some included gravimetric systems (8/17), and the use of robots (2/17). A majority of the studies included used technology for parenteral preparations (15/17, one for oral preparations only (1/17), and one used technology for both types of preparations (1/17). Most of the articles selected presented drugs prepared for adults (10/17), the others presented drugs intended for children (4/17) or for a mix of adults and children (3/17). Four parameters were evaluated: error detection rate (n=15), preparation and validation time (n=7), and costs generated or saved (n=7). Ten studies evaluated the pre-post impact of implantation of a TAWF (10/17).

Outlook

Given the heterogeneity of the data available, the use of TAWF was associated with an increased ability to detect preparation errors, a reduction in preparation time and costs, and increased satisfaction of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. However, better quality studies are needed to confirm the positive impacts studied.
Die Nuntiaturen Pacellis als internationale Drehscheibe des Heiligen Stuhls
Authors: Samerski Stefan
Published: November 2021

As nuncio in Munich and Berlin, Eugenio Pacelli had dealt with political issues far beyond the usual scope of his nunciatures. The Papal Secretary of State entrusted him with concordat negotiations with various European countries as well as with foreign policy issues of international significance. This was due not only to Pacelliʼs special expertise but also to the period of major upheaval during and after the First World War and Berlinʼs key geopolitical position as a hub linking the East and the West. It is therefore not surprising that in the papal representative’s correspondence, the Soviet question, as well as the immediate consequences of the Paris Peace Conference, were the clear focal points of his international attention.
Die Kritische Online-Edition der Nuntiaturberichte Eugenio Pacellis (1917–1929)
Authors: Hinkel Sascha , Hörnschemeyer Jörg
Published: November 2021

Eugenio Pacelli, the later Pope Pius XII, was already considered a leading diplomat of the Holy See when he served as nuncio in Germany. Using the critical online edition of his nuncial reports, digital humanities methodologies will be used to explore which topics dominated his reports, the diplomatic style of his nunciature and whether Pacelli adapted the form and content of his reports to the various recipients. To this end, quantitative methods of textual analysis such as the frequency distribution of types in relation to tokens as well as recourse to key terms and multi-word units (N-grams) will be employed. Moreover, methods from the field of corpus linguistics, information retrieval (TF-IDF) and quantitative stylometry (contrastive analyses with Burrows’ Delta and Zeta) are applied to evaluate both stylistic and content-related issues.
Il rumore delle onde
Authors: Tenaglia Camilla
Published: November 2021

This essay addresses the relations between Pius XII and Germany at the beginning of his pontificate through the role of Vatican Media, especially Vatican Radio. During the interwar period, the Vatican media system (media ensemble) underwent major transformations, including the creation of a radio broadcasting station in 1931. Pacelli was one of the main agents of these improvements: as Secretary of State supporting Guglielmo Marconi’s project, as Pope through his extensive use of the mass media at his disposal, from radio to cinema. At the end of the 30s the difficult diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Third Reich also had an impact on mass media, as shown by the election of Pacelli in March 1939. The role of Vatican Radio in Vatican diplomacy towards Nazi Germany was already clear during the events surrounding the Anschluss in 1938 and it became a tool for unofficial communication to convey more explicit stances on the regime during World War II. The same strategy was employed during the Option in Südtirol in 1939, when Catholics were able to deliver anti-Nazi propaganda thanks in part to radio in the attempt to avoid the voluntary resettlement of German-speaking Italian citizens from the area. The Holy See maintained a neutral position throughout the events, but at the same time Vatican Radio broadcast programmes in German about the condition of the Catholic Church under the Nazi regime. These broadcasts supported the efforts especially of the Archbishop of Trento Celestino Endrici and his clergy, who opposed the resettlement. Once again Vatican Radio proved a crucial tool for conveying unofficial communications while maintaining the neutral stance typical of the Holy See‘s foreign policy.
Die Fresken des Palazzo Spreca
Authors: Schulte Petra
Published: November 2021

In the 1470s, Domenico Spreca, a citizen of Viterbo, commissioned a cycle of virtues for the sala on the upper floor of his palazzo. From 2012 to 2018, the frescoes, largely unknown in (art) historical research, were the subject of legal proceedings and, on a regional level, of public debate over the preservation of cultural heritage. Over these years, it became clear that objects not only require financial resources to protect and preserve them over the centuries, but also need to be part of a narrative. Such a narrative was lost at an early stage, although the frescoes bear extraordinary witness to the negotiation processes of the 15th century concerning political virtues. In this paper, I argue that the cycle of virtues should be interpreted as an allegory of good government. Domenico Spreca addressed the conditions of loyalty (fidelitas)/obedience (oboedientia) on the one hand and the authority (auctoritas) of the superiores – the Pope, the Curia and the Rector of the Patrimonium Petri in Tuscia – on the other. To facilitate comprehension of this interpretation, the frescoes will be embedded in the political culture of Viterbo. To this end, their interpretation will be preceded by observations on the institutional establishment of papal authority in the city and on how its citizens dealt with it in the 1450s and 1460s: an authority that they legitimised on the basis of its pacification of factional struggles within the city and demanded for this purpose, from which they benefited and whose arbitrariness they attempted to curtail.
Die Italienreise des Freiherrn Guidobald von Welsperg und Primör 1675–1676
Authors: Tolloi Philipp
Published: November 2021

The article exemplifies the role of the Grand Tour as the conclusion and culmination of an aristocratic education. The educational journey of the Tyrolean nobleman Guidobald of Welsperg began immediately after he completed his academic studies at the university of Innsbruck, taking him and his tutor through Italy, which was particularly popular as a Grand Tour destination thanks above all to its political diversity and cultural richness. Although Rome’s importance was waning, it continued to be regarded as the Caput Mundi by Catholic noblemen, especially during the 1675 Jubilee, underscoring the religious aspect of the journey. The advantages Rome had to offer must inevitably have had a formative effect on the young Tyrolean nobleman. The costs of the journey were high and out of reach of the majority, and therefore represented an important element of social distinction. At the same time, such an educational journey was a means of improving one’s education and polishing one’s manners that was almost obligatory for career purposes. Only by visiting foreign countries and courts could one acquire the Weltkenntnis, or knowledge of the world, qualifying an individual for higher posts at court, in the diplomacy or administration.
L’inventario della spezieria di Giovanni Zavanti al Cairo (1732)
Authors: Quaranta Alessandra
Published: November 2021

The inventory of the apothecary Giovanni Zavanti, a Venetian pharmacist who worked in Cairo in the 1730s, was drawn up by the Egyptian city’s British Consulate in 1732. Since this institution ensured formal juridical protection to the English shopkeepers of the Levant Company, but devoted little attention to their need for health care, this historical source can be considered a rare testimony of European medical-pharmaceutical activity in the Levant. The inventory’s importance is also connected with the specific political and socio-cultural context of Egypt, the most economically important province of the Ottoman Empire. Substantial groups of English, French and Dutch merchants lived in the Muslim society of Cairo and were officially represented by their respective nations in the eighteenth century. The Venetian, also active in Cairo, could not count on the protection of their State institutions during the Turco-Venetian conflicts (1645–1718). In this complex context, Zavanti tried to take advantage of his professional activity and built up different socio-cultural relations to defend his properties and commercial interests. He was in contact with fellow countrymen, Arabic Christians of Egypt, Jews, Turkish officials and the Franciscan confraternity Custodia Terrae Santae. As second-generation immigrants from Venice, the Zavantis experienced a difficult process of cultural integration in Egypt.
Modification of bentonite clay & its applications: a review
Authors: Borah Debasis , Nath Harshajit , Saikia Hemaprobha
Published: November 2021

Bentonite clay is one of the oldest clays that humankind has been using from ancient times as traditional habits and remedies. In recent years researchers have found many applications of bentonite clay due to its various physio-chemical properties. In the present work, various physical and chemical properties of bentonite such as surface area, adsorption, swelling properties, cation exchange properties, etc. have been studied. This study also includes various procedures of modification of bentonite clay into Chitosan/Ag-bentonite composite, Fe-Modified bentonite, Hydroxyl-Fe-pillared-bentonite, Organo Bentonite, Organophilic clay, Arenesulfonic Acid-Functionalized Bentonite, Bentonite clay modified with Nb2O5. The study reveals that bentonite clay has large surface area due to similar structure with montmorillonite and it is found that the functionality of bentonite can be increased by increasing total surface area of the clay. Due to high cation exchangeability of bentonite, various cations can be incorporated into it. After purification and modification, the absorbent aluminum phyllosilicate bentonite clay can be used as an efficient catalyst in various types of catalytic reactions. Moreover, bentonite clay can be applied in various field like drilling, civil engineering, agriculture and water treatment.
Dative behavior of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with selenium in Se-NHC compounds
Authors: Yaqoob Munazzah , Abbasi Mahvish , Anwar Hira , Iqbal Javed , Asad Mohammad , Asiri Abdullah M. , Iqbal Muhammad Adnan
Published: November 2021

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are an eminent class of carbenes having a heterocyclic ring in which a divalent carbon atom is attached directly to a nitrogen atom. In the NHCs, the donation of lone pair is another important research in the dative bonding and not only in NHCs the dative bond plays a functionalized role in the other classes of complex formation like ylidones L → E ← L and carbones L → C ← L. M–NHC bond is L-M sigma-dative bond and NHCs are considered as strong sigma-donor ligands. The clear picture of the M–NHC bond can be better understood by M–NHC pi-interaction. M-L pi interaction is comprised of two steps. One is L → M sigma-donation and M → L π* back bonding. This dative donor nature of NHC and also its behavior in organoselenium is studied through DFT in which it’s optimized structure, bond lengths, molecular vibrations are calculated.
Schiff bases and their metal complexes with biologically compatible metal ions; biological importance, recent trends and future hopes
Authors: Khan Ezzat , Hanif Muhammad , Akhtar Muhammad Salim
Published: November 2021

Schiff bases are in the field of medicinal and material chemistry for a long time. There are several advancements from time to time towards facile synthesis and potential applications. As medicines they have been applied as organic molecules as well as their metal complexes. The activities of metal complexes have been found to increase due to increase lipophilicity in comparison to the corresponding free ligand. Besides simple coordination compounds they have been applied as ionic liquid (IL)- supported and IL-tagged species with far enhanced efficiency. Among metal complexes recent advancement deals with photodynamic therapy to treat a number of tumors with fewer side effects. Schiff bases are efficient ligands and their complexes with almost all metal ions are reported. This mini-review article deals with complexes of Schiff bases with biologically compatible metal ions, Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Ag(I), Pt(II) and their potential uses to combat cancerous cells. Strong hopes are associated with photodynamic therapy and IL-tagged and IL-supported Schiff bases and their complexes.
Zur πειθώ des Gesetzgebers in PlatonsNomoi
Authors: Mülke Markus
Published: November 2021

In his last work, theNomoi, Plato outlines the rule of the law as the best possible politeia of human coexistence. This rule particularly requires the convincing speech of the legislator: The actual validity of the law does not depend solely on whether it is itself good, but also crucially on whether the citizens, out of inner conviction, accept it as good and therefore obey it. Stronger than the law, which only enforces compliance with it and threatens to punish any violations, is the law, the meaning and benefits of which the legislator justifies credibly and convincingly to all citizens in his (written) legislation.
Optimizing weighted gene co-expression network analysis with a multi-threaded calculation of the topological overlap matrix
Authors: Shuai Min , He Dongmei , Chen Xin
Published: November 2021

Biomolecular networks are often assumed to be scale-free hierarchical networks. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) treats gene co-expression networks as undirected scale-free hierarchical weighted networks. The WGCNA R software package uses an Adjacency Matrix to store a network, next calculates the topological overlap matrix (TOM), and then identifies the modules (sub-networks), where each module is assumed to be associated with a certain biological function. The most time-consuming step of WGCNA is to calculate TOM from the Adjacency Matrix in a single thread. In this paper, the single-threaded algorithm of the TOM has been changed into a multi-threaded algorithm (the parameters are the default values of WGCNA). In the multi-threaded algorithm, Rcpp was used to make R call a C++ function, and then C++ used OpenMP to start multiple threads to calculate TOM from the Adjacency Matrix. On shared-memory MultiProcessor systems, the calculation time decreases as the number of CPU cores increases. The algorithm of this paper can promote the application of WGCNA on large data sets, and help other research fields to identify sub-networks in undirected scale-free hierarchical weighted networks. The source codes and usage are available at https://github.com/do-somethings-haha/multi-threaded_calculate_unsigned_TOM_from_unsigned_or_signed_Adjacency_Matrix_of_WGCNA.
Research on the size effect of roughness on rock uniaxial compressive strength and characteristic strength
Authors: Hu Gaojian , Li Yu , Ma Gang
Published: November 2021

The joint roughness has an influence on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and characteristic strength of the rock, but the relationship of the influence is yet to be obtained. In this article, the influence of the size of the rock with rough joints on the UCS and the influence of the size effect of roughness on the UCS are studied by establishing 11 sets of numerical simulation schemes, a total of 30 working conditions. The stress–strain curve law of rocks with different roughness and sizes is analyzed, and the relationship between UCS and the size of rock with rough joints, joint roughness coefficient (JRC), is respectively proposed. Mathematical models of rock characteristic size of UCS, characteristic strength of the rock, and JRC are established, respectively.
Strömungsfeldmessung der Kühlschmierstoffzufuhr an der Schleifscheibe
Authors: Vanselow Christoph , Espenhahn Björn , Schumski Lukas , Stöbener Dirk , Meyer Daniel , Fischer Andreas
Published: November 2021

Kühlschmierstoff (KSS)-strömungen werden in Schleifprozessen eingesetzt, um Schleifbrand am Werkstück zu verhindern. Bislang wurde die KSS-Zufuhr heuristisch optimiert. Um eine zielgerichtete KSS-Strömungsoptimierung zu ermöglichen, wird erstmals die optische schleifscheibennahe Messung von KSS-Strömungsfeldern mittels Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) und durch Nachverfolgung von Mustern in Schattenwurfbildern untersucht. Als erster Schritt wird an der rotierenden Schleifscheibe, jedoch ohne die Bearbeitung eines Werkstücks, gemessen. Beide Messmethoden liefern vergleichbare Ergebnisse, wobei nahe der Schleifscheibenoberfläche mittels PIV Messwerte mit geringerer Messunsicherheit erzielt werden. Mit dem verwendeten Messaufbau lassen sich mittels PIV Geschwindigkeiten in einem Abstand zwischen 0 cm bis 2 cm und mittels Schattenwurf zwischen 0 cm bis 5 cm zur Schleifscheibenoberfläche messen. Im Ergebnis konnte erstmals der für die Kühlleistung relevante Parameter des Geschwindigkeitsverhältnisses zwischen KSS-Anströmung und Schleifscheibenoberflächengeschwindigkeit in situ gemessen werden. Es wurde festgestellt, dass eine aus der Literatur bekannte Verringerung der Kühleffizienz ab einem Geschwindigkeitsverhältnis von 0,8 mit einem Abprallen des KSS-Strahls beim Auftreffen auf die Schleifscheibe korreliert. In zukünftigen Untersuchungen ist zu klären, wie sich die hier gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zur Messfähigkeit und zum Strömungsverhalten auf den Schleifprozess mit Werkstück übertragen lassen.
Another way to look at counterfactuals
Authors: Klein Wolfgang
Published: November 2021

Counterfactuals such as If the world did not exist, we would not notice it have been a challenge for philosophers and linguists since antiquity. There is no generally accepted semantic analysis. The prevalent view, developed in varying forms by Robert Stalnaker, David Lewis, and others, enriches the idea of strict implication by the idea of a “minimal revision” of the actual world. Objections mainly address problems of maximal similarity between worlds. In this paper, I will raise several problems of a different nature and draw attention to several phenomena that are relevant for counterfactuality but rarely discussed in that context. An alternative analysis that is very close to the linguistic facts is proposed. A core notion is the “situation talked about”: it makes little sense to discuss whether an assertion is true or false unless it is clear which situation is talked about. In counterfactuals, this situation is marked as not belonging to the actual world. Typically, this is done in the form of the finite verb in the main clause. The if-clause is optional and has only a supportive role: it provides information about the world to which the situation talked about belongs. Counterfactuals only speak about some nonactual world, of which we only know what results from the protasis. In order to judge them as true or false, an additional assumption is required: they are warranted according to the same criteria that warrant the corresponding indicative assertion. Overall similarity between worlds is irrelevant.
A Handbook of a Kherep-Selket from the Tomb of Iufaa: The Book of Primeval Snakes
Authors: Landgráfová Renata , Janák Jiří
Published: November 2021

The Late Period shaft tombs at Abusir are located in the North-Western part of the Abusir necropolis and were built during a rather short span of time at the very end of 26th Dynasty, between 530 and perhaps 525 BC. Among those, the tomb of Iufaa stands out by its size and by the extent of its interior decoration. Significant amount of the decorated space in Iufaa’s burial chamber were reserved for a series of texts and images that may be best denoted as a “Snake Encyclopedia”. The individual parts of this textual corpus cover the main parts of the arch of the western wall in the burial chamber of Iufaa. The opposite side of the burial chamber, the arch of the eastern wall, bears two texts (accompanied with images) that concern Underworld/divine snakes as well. Although this “encyclopedia” of Underworld serpentine beings still provides us with much more questions and puzzles than answers and insights, it also sheds a new light upon the religion, cult and afterlife beliefs of the Saite-Persian and Graeco-Roman Egypt. It witnesses the importance of giant snakes or primeval creatures in serpentine form that were believed to dwell in the Underworld and were directly linked to cosmogony and periodical renewal of the sun and of the world. As manifestations of Re and Osiris, the snakes become lords of life and death, hypostaseis of the cyclically rejuvenated Creator. The idea of renewal and rebirth is also closely connected with ritual purity and purification rites. Thus, the “Snake Encyclopedia” is accompanied by a corpus dedicated to the ritual cleansing of the pharaoh and of the deceased, which is represented textually and pictorially on the northern wall of Iufaa’s burial chamber and which features serpentine primordial beings as well. But the focus on not generally transmitted, pre-cosmological concepts is connected to yet another important aspect of the composition and other texts from Iufaa’s tomb, that have most probably served as a compendium of secret knowledge for the magicians of Selket. This motif helps us to interpret one of the main tasks of the composition in focus: it probably served to accumulate and transmit sacred knowledge and to use it to ensure that the deceased would be accepted into the blessed Afterlife.
The Papyrus Berlin P. 10500 A-B and the Region of Sharuna
Authors: Florès Jérémie
Published: November 2021

This paper deals with the geography of the region of Sharuna in Middle Egypt. It focuses especially on the toponym
wwt-n(y)-Sbk inscribed on P. 10500 A-B, also called “Sharuna Papyrus”. Because the document lacks an exact archaeological provenance, this study is of major interest. Similar place names (
wt + nominal genitive) are analysed. Based on the results obtained, it is highly conceivable that
wwt-n(y)-cbk was in the vicinity of the ancient
wt-nsw. The geographical situation of Sharuna, the topography of Middle Egypt, the state policy during the IIIrd millennium in the region and finally the local belief represent elements that fit particularly well with the information conveyed by the place name
wwt-n(y)-cbk. Moreover, considering the contents of P. 10500 A-B, an original location of the papyrus in the tomb of one of the of Kom el-Ahmar/Sawaris has been suggested.
Patient-controlled Intravenous Analgesia Enhanced Recovery After Surgery by Reducing Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Who Underwent Flap Reconstruction: A Propensity Score-matched Study
Authors: Yang Haojie , Yan Yingzhe , Xie Qian , Wu Wei , Wang Zhiming , Zhang Guowei , Zhang Yangfan , Tan Zicong , Huang Xiaoyan , Liu Zhongqi , Ji Fengtao
Published: November 2021

Background: Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) is an increasingly used method to control postoperative pain. We aimed to investigate the association between PCIA and recovery after flap reconstruction in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Patients with OSCC who underwent flap reconstruction between 2016 and 2020 were reviewed (n=850). Baseline characteristics were compared between PCIA and non-PCIA groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:4) was introduced to eliminate these confounding factors (n=505). Univariate analysis was performed to compare matched PCIA and non-PCIA group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed before and after PSM to identify factors that influenced length of stay (LOS) in hospital. The differences in characteristics of matched and unmatched groups were also compared.

Results: Before PSM, the differences in flap types, smoking status, and radiotherapy history between PCIA and non-PCIA groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). After these factors were matched by PSM, LOS was 1.5 days shorter in the matched PCIA group than in the non-PCIA group (median, 10.5 versus 12.0, P=0.006). There was no significant difference in flap or medical complications, reoperations, or postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between the matched PCIA and non-PCIA groups. Postoperative glucose was lower in the matched PCIA group than in the non-PCIA group (median, 6.70 versus 7.30 mmol/L, P=0.021). Prolonged LOS was associated with postoperative PCIA, flap types, preoperative NLR, intraoperative red blood cell transfusion, fluid infusion rate over 24 h, and postoperative intensive care unit admission (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Patients with OSCC using PCIA after flap reconstruction surgeries have a reduced LOS in hospital compared with those who used conventional postoperative analgesic strategies. Moreover, postoperative glucose increase was lower in the PCIA group than in the non-PCIA group.
The Mangrove Forests of the Cameroon Coast and its Socio-Economic Significan
Authors: Mukete-Moto Theophilus N.
Published: November 2021

The study analyses anthropogenic influence on the mangrove forests of the Cameroon coast and focuses on the development and improvement of the constructive- geographical foundations of rational nature management for the conservation and possible renewal of its natural resources base. The exploitation of mangrove forest landscapes has yielded significant benefits to the local population living within the mangrove forest limits, but the beneficiaries have not made commensurate investments in their sustainability and rational use. Therefore, this habitat must be carefully conserved or protected from wanton anthropogenic activities for the development purpose. The study made use primary and secondary data in establishing the facts analysed in this work. The secondary data comprised of materials of prominent authors who have contributed much to the findings related to coastal mangroves. Primary data collection was field visits carried out by the author in 2016. Questionnaires and semi- structural questions were used to collect information from mangrove exploiters. The findings confirm that the coastal mangrove forests in Cameroon have multiple functions beneficial to the communities adjacent to the coast, but, unfortunately, the beneficiaries have not made commensurate efforts to their sustainability and rationale. The Mangrove forests covered a surface area of 200 000 km2, but Cameroon lost 30 % of its mangrove forest cover in 1980–2006. If projected under ceteris paribus, Cameroon lost approximately 45 % of its mangrove forest cover in1980–2020. Haven understood that man has raped huge surfaces of mangrove forest for his selfish economic gains, the study proposed an urgent need for environmentally sustainable adaptive strategies like those earmarked in the Ramsay agreement and the ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) for the rational management of coastal mangroves in Cameroon.
Spatial Evaluation of Groundwater Quality Using GIS and WQI in Gadilam River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Rizwan K. Mohammed , Thirukumaran V. , Suresh M.
Published: November 2021

The aims of the current research are to assess the drinking water quality of the groundwater in the Gadilam River Basin, which is located in the northern part of Tamil Nadu, by identifying the groundwater quality index and examine its suitability for drinking. The current work determines the levels of groundwater quality parameters based on 120 groundwater samples; 50 samples from Archaean formation, 34 samples from Quaternary formation, 35 samples from Tertiary formation and the remaining sample from Cretaceous formation. Additionally, this research compares the determined levels with the various standards for drinking. Furthermore, the variability of parameters of the groundwater quality is explored in this paper by using the spatial interpolation method. The conclusion of this research reveals that the groundwater quality parameters such as Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Nitrate (NO32-), Fluoride (F-), Sulphate (SO42-), Bi-carbonate (HCO3-) and Percentage of Hydrogen (pH) values are observed to be within the limiting value for WHO 2017 in all the formations during the seasons in which they were taken. The water quality index (WQI) values of the Archaean, Quaternary and Tertiary formations are found to be less than 100 meq/L in all stations in both seasons. In order of WQI, these stations come under the category of “Excellent” and “Good”. The Piper trilinear classification of groundwater samples fall in the field of mixed Ca-Mg-Cl, and No dominance, some of the samples represent Na-K, Cl types of water.
Volcanic and fault-fractured ore-controlling structures and minerals of the Azerbaijan part of the Lesser Caucasus
Authors: Tagiev Islam I. , Paşayev Namat V. , Karimov Vagif M.
Published: November 2021

This article is focused on volcanic and fault-fissure ore-controlling structures of the Lesser Caucasus. The territory of the Lesser Caucasus is dissected by many deep tectonicfaults, along which volatile compound sofpostmagmatic products and water vapor migrate from great depths. The presence of numerous tectonic deep faults, which provide hydrodynamic connection of waters of fracturse, and fracture-veins, determines the complex mineralization of the chemical and gas composition of mineral-thermal waters throughout the studied area. The study of volcano-intrusive and fault-fracture ore-controlling structures, volcanogenic formations, petrochemical composition of rocks and associated mineral deposits and mineral-thermal waters of the Azerbaijan part of the Lesser Caucasus is relevant from a scientific and practical points of view. A detailed study of the modern structure of the Lesser Caucasus shows that transverse rupture faults and deep flexures cut through the folded system. Deposits of various minerals, including mineral and thermal waters, are confined to these ruptured faults. The study revealed that the formation and discharge of numerous outcrops of carbonic mineral and thermal waters occurs mainly in fissure systems, in deep tectonic faults. In the Lok-Karabakh zone, most of the sources of the formation of gold-bearing placers belong to the deposits and manifestations of the gold- quartz-low-sulphide formation. Gosha, Kedabek, Karadag, Chovdar, Dagkesemen, Gyzylbulag and less significant deposits and ore occurrences are located in this zone. The Dashkesan ore region is distinguished by the reserves of iron, alunite and cobalt. The Zaylik alunite deposits are world famous in terms of large reserves. Analysis of geological materials confirms that the origin and distribution of deep tectonic faults plays a major role in the formation of geological, including volcanoplutonic, metamorphic processes and associated ore formation. Currently, there are dozens of variously evaluated and explored gold deposits on the territory of the Republic. The bulk of the primary deposits are located in the Lesser Caucasus part of the Republic.
Understanding the dimensions of athlete brand authenticity
Authors: Hasaan Ali , Fişne Mücahit
Published: November 2021

The management of an athlete brand is challenging due to the complex nature of athlete career and life. Striving to maintain brand authenticity will promote long-term sustainability of the brand. The purpose of the study is to determine possible factors that contribute to athlete brand authenticity and help athletes to develop their brand more authentically. To understand the concept of athlete brand authenticity, a systematic literature review was conducted on various electronic databases. The study opted the five-step stages of the framework for this systematic review. A total of 76 attributes were identified from past studies that analyzed the attributes of brand authenticity for various brands. After merging interrelated attributes, the final number of unique attributes was 23. These attributes were distributed among three major themes: on-field activities, off-field activities and marketing activities of an athlete. The study finds brand authenticity to be a multi-dimensional and complex process that endures for longer extensive periods of an athlete’s career. The current study also highlights the complications related to an athlete brand that occur when establishing athlete brand authenticity. Therefore, this study provides an opportunity to refine athlete brand authenticity further within the discussed domains.
Antibiofilm Activity of Phytocompounds against Biofilm forming Proteins of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa - In silico study
Authors: Lakshmi Gidugu Bhargavi , Bardhan Sayan , Vora Kunal , Ghosh Arpita
Published: November 2021

Biofilms are the syntrophic consortia of sessile microcolonies that remain adhered to biotic and abiotic surface with the help of self-secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The biofilms, formed by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, help them to survive extreme
conditions such as exposure to heat shock, antibiotics and lack of nutrients. Therefore, this can lead to severe chronic infection on wounds, diabetic ulcers and medical implants. In this paper, in-silico studies were performed on biofilm forming proteins to study the role of various
phytocompounds in eradication of biofilm formation by some of Abiotic surfaces can attract bacteria due to the presence of nutrients on them, whereas biotic surfaces such as human and plant tissue can themselves be a source of nutrients for microorganisms [1, 2]. the most popular Gram positive
strains (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative strain (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The selected ligands were thoroughly observed for its molecular electrostatic property and molecular docking was done to predict the 2D protein-ligand interactions. It was observed that nimbin
showed maximum interaction with the biofilm forming proteins of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Microbes aiding plant growth: Probiotics in plants.
Authors: Roy Pranab , Basu Surupa
Published: November 2021

Micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria and fungi are generally perceived as pathogens, causing different diseases in plants and animals including human beings. However, there are many microbes known which not only help in the growth of their host organisms but are essential for
their survival. Plants have symbiotic relationship with many microbes which are essential for the survival for both the host and micro-organisms. Nitrogen fixing bacteria which associate with the roots of leguminous plants can fix atmospheric Nitrogen gas into ammonia which is essential for
plant growth. These bacteria, generally known as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobcteria (PGPR) derive their food from the host leguminous plants, mutually benefitting each other. Some common examples of PGPR genera exhibiting plant growth promoting activity are: Pseudomonas, Azospirillum,
Azotobacter, Bacillus, Burkholdaria, Enterobacter, Rhizobium, Erwinia, Mycobacterium, Mesorhizobium, Flavobacterium, etc. Viruses and fungi are also known to have such relationships with plants, eg. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM).
The influence of hypothermia prevention by application of skin moisture absorbent on the value of body temperature, body weight and blood parameters in piglets
Authors: Mirkov M. , Radović I. , Cincović M. , Horvatović M. P. , Dragin S.
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACT Reducing the mortality rate is of a great economic importance for pig farming. Therefore, it is necessary to define the conditions in the farrowing unit based on the performance of the piglets, and specific hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the importance of using skin moisture absorbent and its influence in preventing hypothermia, which causes great economic losses in pig production. The experiment was set up on a commercial farm in Serbia and included 92 pigs divided into the experimental and control group. Body temperature values, body weight and blood parameters were monitored. The obtained values indicate that there is a significantly positive correlation of body temperature change and body weight values, and body temperature showed a significantly higher increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results obtained from hematological and biochemical parameters provide a clearer picture of the metabolic processes in piglets in the farrowing unit and can be used to further improve pig production and as a complement to genetic enhancement.
Changes in and Effects of TED Talks on Postgraduate Students’ English Speaking Performance and Speaking Anxiety
Authors: Liu Meihua
Published: November 2021

This research study explored the changes in and effects of TED talks on Chinese postgraduate students’ English speaking performance and speaking anxiety over a period of 10 weeks. In this research, TED talks were used as a learning mode to provide a quasi-realistic sociocultural context for speaking English. 166 students from the experimental group using TED talks and 156 in the conventional mode participated in the quasi-experiment. They made eight-minute oral presentations and answered the 12-item English Speaking Anxiety Scale prior to and after the experiment. Analyses of the data revealed three major findings: 1) both the experimental and control groups did significantly better in English speaking performance and became significantly less anxious about speaking English over the 10-week period, 2) the experimental group did significantly better in move structure and were significantly less anxious about speaking English than the control group at the end of the 10-week period, and 3) the learning modes had a significant effect on students’ move structures of oral presentations but had no effect on their oral presentation performance and English speaking anxiety. These findings support the benefit of supplementing EFL (English as a foreign language) teaching and learning with TED talks and other similar virtual situated learning. Thus, the present study not only contributes to the current literature, which is short of studies on the effects of technology on SL/FL teaching and learning and the dynamic characteristic of the emotions associated with SL/FL learning, but also suggests that virtual situated learning like TED talks should be incorporated into SL/FL teaching and learning.
Moroccan EFL Public High School Teachers’ Perceptions and Self-Reported Practices of Assessment
Authors: Mamad Abderrahim , Vígh Tibor
Published: November 2021

This study aims to investigate the perceptions and self-reported practices of Moroccan EFL public high school teachers towards traditional and alternative assessment. The data were collected from 51 teachers in Northern Morocco using a self-developed online questionnaire. The questionnaire items about teachers’ perceptions and self-reported practices were valid and both their data and sampling were acceptable for factor analysis of three subscales (traditional assessment, alternative assessment related with assessment as learning, and assessment for learning), and all scales proved to be reliable. Based on the three research questions, the study yielded the following results: (1) Teachers perceived the objectives of alternative assessment to be significantly more important than those of traditional assessment. (2) Based on their self-reported practices, teachers mainly used traditional assessment methods more often than alternative assessment methods associated with assessment as and for learning. (3) When comparing teachers’ perceptions with their self-reported practices, we found that teachers’ perceptions regarding traditional assessment matched their practices; while the majority of teachers admitted that they found alternative assessment important even though they did not often use it in order to support students to be able to reflect on their own learning or to enhance their performance in the learning process. Thus, these findings are significant for researchers, teachers, and educators to help them reconsider their perceptions of alternative assessment and how they should be enacted in practice with the aim of resolving the mismatches found in this study.
Switching to Fully Online EFL Learning Environments: An exploratory study on learners’ perceptions
Authors: Cancino Marco , Avila Daniel
Published: November 2021

One aspect of online classes that has recently experienced a paradigm shift is fully online language environments (FOLEs) – that is, learning settings where 100% of the content of the class is being delivered online. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020 called for the use of fully online teaching in schools and universities in many countries due to confinement measures. Accordingly, schools have made extraordinary efforts towards implementing home-based schooling and delivered online courses to their students during the pandemic. In many universities, online platforms such as Blackboard Collaborate are being used to fulfil the need to keep up with the requirements of academic programmes. However, research findings addressing specific FOLE platforms are scarce, with even fewer studies focusing on learners’ engagement perceptions in those settings. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods exploratory study was to delve into aspects involved in engagement, such as participation, group work, instructional materials, and learning strategies, regarded as key factors influencing the success of FOLEs. Thus, a FOLE questionnaire was administered to 54 EFL university learners, which was followed by semi-structured interviews conducted with seven participants. Our analysis drew from FOLE engagement research (Sun, 2014) and the community of inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison & Arbaugh, 2007; Garrison et al., 2000). The main findings revealed that the poor interactions with peers and the lack of peer rapport negatively influenced the social presence of students (Garrison & Arbaugh, 2007), that the instructor can use teaching presence to increase student awareness of the relevance of the online environment and overcome adaptation issues (Kebritchi et al., 2017), and that teaching presence can help increase cognitive presence and facilitate effective interactions with the content. Implications for pedagogy were put forward as part of a FOLE approach.