bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring of solar spectral ultraviolet irradiance in Aosta, Italy
Authors: Fountoulakis Ilias , Diémoz Henri , Siani Anna Maria , Hülsen Gregor , Gröbner Julian
Published: November 2020

Abstract. A Bentham DTMc300 spectroradiometer is deployed at the
station of Aosta–Saint-Christophe, Italy, at the headquarters of the
Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) and has been performing
continuous high-quality spectral measurements of the solar ultraviolet (UV)
irradiance since 2006. The measuring site is located in the north-western
region of the Alps, on a large valley floor at the altitude of
570 m a.s.l.,
surrounded by mountains. It is very significant to have accurate
measurements in such a sensitive environment, since the complex terrain and
the strongly variable meteo-climatic conditions typical of the Alps induce
large spatial and temporal variability in the surface levels of the solar UV
irradiance. The spectroradiometer is also used as a reference of a regional
UV network, with additional stations located at different altitudes (1640
and 3500 m a.s.l.) and environmental conditions (mountain and glacier). In
the present study we discuss the procedures and the technical aspects which
ensure the high quality of the measurements performed by the reference
instrument and the procedures used to characterize the Bentham. The quality
control and quality assurance (QA–QC) procedures are also discussed. We show
that the good quality of the spectral measurements is further ensured by a
strong traceability chain to the irradiance scale of the
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and a strict calibration
protocol. Recently, the spectral UV dataset of Aosta–Saint-Christophe has
been re-evaluated and homogenized. The final spectra constitute one of the
most accurate datasets globally. At wavelengths above 310 nm and for solar
zenith angles below 75∘, the expanded (k=2) uncertainty in the
final dataset decreases with time, from 7 % in 2006 to 4 % in the
present. The present study not only serves as the reference document for any
future use of the data, but also provides useful information for experiments
and novel techniques which have been applied for the characterization of the
instrument and the QA–QC of the spectral UV measurements. Furthermore, the
study clearly shows that maintaining a strong traceability chain to a
reference scale of spectral irradiance is critical for the good quality of
the measurements. The studied spectral dataset is freely accessible at
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4028907
(Fountoulakis et al., 2020b).
Simulating sedimentary burial cycles: Investigating the role of
apatite fission track annealing kinetics using synthetic data
Authors: McDannell Kalin T. , Issler Dale R.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Age dispersion is a common feature of apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronological data and it can be attributed to multiple factors. One underappreciated and underreported cause for dispersion is variability in apatite composition and its influence on thermal annealing of fission tracks. Here we investigate, using synthetic data, how multikinetic AFT annealing behaviour (defined using the rmr0 parameter) can be exploited to recover more accurate, higher resolution thermal histories than are possible using conventional interpretation and modelling approaches. Our forward model simulation spans a 2 Gyr time interval with two separate heating and cooling cycles and generates synthetic AFT and AHe data for three different apatite populations with significantly different annealing kinetics. The synthetic data are used as input for inverse modelling (Bayesian QTQt model) that attempts to recover thermal history information under various scenarios. Results show that essential features of the dual peak thermal history are captured using the multikinetic AFT data alone, with or without imposed constraints. Best results are achieved when the multikinetic AFT data are combined with the AHe data (using varying rmr0 values from the AFT data for the He radiation damage model) and constraints are included. In contrast, a more conventional monokinetic interpretation that ignores multikinetic AFT behaviour yields incorrect thermal solutions that fail to adequately reproduce all the data. The AFT data are reproduced well but the AHe data are not. Under these conditions, incorporation of constraints can be very misleading and fail to improve model results. In general, a close fit between observed and modelled parameters is no guarantee of a robust thermal-history solution if data are incorrectly interpreted. For the case of overdispersed AFT data, it is strongly recommended that elemental data be acquired to investigate if multikinetic annealing is the cause of the age scatter. A future companion paper will explore multikinetic AFT methodology and application to detrital apatite samples from Yukon, Canada.
Anoxic iron and sulphur cycling in the cGENIE.muffin Earth
system model (v0.9.16)
Authors: van de Velde Sebastiaan J. , Hülse Dominik , Reinhard Christopher T. , Ridgwell Andy
Published: November 2020

Abstract. The coupled biogeochemical cycles of iron and sulphur are central to the long-term biogeochemical evolution of Earth's oceans. For instance, before the development of a persistently oxygenated deep ocean, the ocean interior likely alternated between states buffered by reduced sulphur (euxinic) vs. buffered by reduced iron (ferruginous), with important implications for the cycles and hence bioavailability of dissolved iron (and phosphate). Even after atmospheric oxygen concentrations rose to modern-like values, the ocean continued, episodically, to develop regions of euxinic or ferruginous conditions, such as associated with past key intervals of organic carbon deposition (e.g. during the Cretaceous) as well as extinction events (e.g. at the Permian/Triassic boundary). A better understanding of the cycling of iron and sulphur in an anoxic ocean, how geochemical patterns in the ocean relate to the available spatially heterogeneous geological observations, and quantification of the feedback strengths between nutrient cycling, biological productivity, and ocean redox, requires a spatially-resolved representation of ocean circulation together with an extended set of (bio)geochemical reactions. Here, we extend the muffin release of the intermediate-complexity Earth system model cGENIE, to now include an anoxic iron and sulphur cycle, enabling the model to simulate ferruginous and euxinic redox states as well as the precipitation of reduced iron and sulphur minerals (pyrite, siderite, greenalite) and attendant iron and sulphur isotope signatures, which we describe in full. While we cannot make direct model comparison with present-day (oxic) ocean observations, we use an idealized ocean configuration to explore model sensitivity across a selection of key parameters. We also present the spatial patterns of concentrations and δ56Fe isotope signatures of both dissolved and solid-phase Fe species in an anoxic ocean as an example application. Our sensitivity analyses show how the first-order results of the model are relatively robust against the choice default kinetic parameters within the Fe-S system, and that simulated concentrations and reaction rates are comparable to those observed in process analogues for ancient oceans (i.e., anoxic lakes). Future model developments will address sedimentary recycling and benthic iron fluxes back to the water column, together with the coupling of nutrient (in particular phosphate) cycling to the iron cycle.
The role of household adaptation measures in reducing vulnerability to flooding: a coupled agent-based and flood modelling approach
Authors: Abebe Yared Abayneh , Ghorbani Amineh , Nikolic Igor , Manojlovic Natasa , Gruhn Angelika , Vojinovic Zoran
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Flood adaptation measures implemented at the household level
play an important role in reducing communities' vulnerability. The aim of
this study is to enhance the current modelling practices of human–flood
interaction to draw new insights for flood risk management (FRM) policy design. The paper presents a
coupled agent-based and flood model for the case of Hamburg, Germany, to
explore how individual adaptation behaviour is influenced by flood event
scenarios, economic incentives and shared and individual strategies.
Simulation results show that a unique trajectory of adaptation measures and
flood damages emerges from different flood event series. Another finding is
that providing subsidies increases the number of coping households in the
long run. Households' social network also has a strong influence on their
coping behaviour. The paper also highlights the role of simple measures such
as adapted furnishings, which do not incur any monetary cost, in reducing
households' vulnerability and preventing millions of euros of contents
damages. Generally, we demonstrate that coupled agent-based and flood models
can potentially be used as decision support tools to examine the role of
household adaptation measures in flood risk management. Although the
findings of the paper are case-specific, the improved modelling approach
shows the potential to be applied in testing policy levers and strategies
considering heterogeneous individual behaviours.
TEACHING GEOMATICS FOR GEOHAZARD MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE COVID-19 TIME
Authors: Scaioni M. , Longoni L. , Zanzi L. , Ivanov V. , Papini M.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Starting from the Academic Year 2018–2019, Politecnico di Milano university has established a BSc programme on “Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation” (ICMR). This course is aimed at training students to cope with issues related to different types of natural and anthropogenic hazards, among which Geohazards are paid a primary attention. A “Workshop on Monitoring Techniques for Geohazards” is included to present different Geological, Geophysical and Geodetic techniques to be applied to landslides within an integrated approach. The use of active and problem-based learning techniques was one of the basic principles in the design of ICMR programme. This resulted in planning some visits and field campaigns to allow students to directly work on real case studies. The course has been scheduled for the first time in the second term of A.Y. 2019–2020, when the COVID-19 pandemics developed and prevented the lab activities in the field to be implemented as planned. The paper presents how the content and the organization of the course have been revised to try to reach the same learning objectives notwithstanding the limitations on the activities “in presence”.
GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACES AND THEIR EFFECT ON LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
Authors: Akomolafe E. A. , Isioye O. A. , Awulu J. U.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. The rapid urban expansion in Abuja, Nigeria, has resulted in the replacement of land surface previously occupied by natural vegetation with various impermeable materials. This study examines the impact of the spatial distribution of impervious surfaces (IS) on land surface temperature (LST) in the study area using both graphical and quantitative approach. A Normalized Difference Impervious Surface Index (NDISI) was adopted to estimate IS and LST from Landsat ETM+ and OLI/TIRS satellite images (path: 189, row: 54) of Abuja for 4 distinct epochs of 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2018. In order to analyze the effect of IS on LST, the relationship between the normalized difference indices and LST, for each epoch, were determined using regression and correlation analyses. Results show the spatial patterns of impervious surfaces as distributed over Abuja, Nigeria and its impact on LST dynamics. It was observed that mean surface temperature increased by at least 2 °C every 4 years. Furthermore, results of the correlation analysis between NDISI and LST reveal that there exist varying positive correlations between the two variables in with correlation coefficients; R = 0.511, 0.166, 0.505, 0.785 in 2004,2008, 2014 and 2018 respectively, suggesting that impervious surfaces areas accelerate LST rise and Urban Heat Island (UHI) formation. This study gives great insight on the concept of impervious surfaces and its spatial pattern in Abuja city, Nigeria. The study recommends the widespread use of highly reflective or natural surfaces for rooftops, pavements and roads and that afforestation should be encouraged to increase green areas.
Evaluation of EURO-CORDEX (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment for the Euro-Mediterranean area) historical simulations by high-quality observational datasets in southern Italy: insights on drought assessment
Authors: Peres David J. , Senatore Alfonso , Nanni Paola , Cancelliere Antonino , Mendicino Giuseppe , Bonaccorso Brunella
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Many recent studies indicate climate change as a
phenomenon that significantly alters the water cycle in different regions
worldwide, also implying new challenges in water resource management and
drought risk assessment. To this end, it is of key importance to ascertain
the quality of regional climate models (RCMs), which are commonly used for
assessing at proper spatial resolutions future impacts of climate change on
hydrological events. In this study, we propose a statistical methodological
framework to assess the quality of the EURO-CORDEX RCMs concerning their
ability to simulate historic climate (temperature and precipitation, the basic variables that determine meteorological drought). We then
specifically focus on drought characteristics (duration, accumulated
deficit, intensity, and return period) determined by the theory of runs at
seasonal and annual timescales by comparison with high-density and
high-quality ground-based observational datasets. In particular, the
proposed methodology is applied to the Sicily and Calabria regions (southern
Italy), where long historical precipitation and temperature series were
recorded by the ground-based monitoring networks operated by the former
Regional Hydrographic Offices, whose density is considerably greater than
observational gridded datasets available at the European level, such as
E-OBS or CRU-TS. Results show that among the more skilful models able to
reproduce, overall, precipitation and temperature variability as well as
drought characteristics, many are based on the CLM-Community RCM,
particularly in combination with the HadGEM2 global circulation model (GCM). Nevertheless, the ranking
of the models may slightly change depending on the specific variable
analysed as well as the temporal and spatial scale of interest. From this
point of view, the proposed methodology highlights the skills and weaknesses
of the different configurations and can serve as an aid for selecting the
most suitable climate model for assessing climate change impacts on drought
processes and the underlying variables.
Inhomogeneous precursor characteristics of rock with prefabricated
cracks before fracture and its implication for earthquake monitoring
Authors: Xu Andong , Zhao Yonghong , Ehsan Muhammad Irfan , Yang Jiaying , Zhang Qi , Liu Ru
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Earthquake precursor and earthquake monitoring are always important in the earthquake research field, even if there is still debatable about the existence of earthquake precursor. Laboratory rupture experiment is a useful technique to simulate and make an insight into the complex mechanisms of earthquakes. Five marble samples with prefabricated cracks are used for uniaxial loading experiments to investigate whether there is a precursory signal before rock fracture, and to simulate the rupture process of strike-slip fault and its surrounding area. The existence of precursory signal is confirmed by the coefficient of variation (CV) results, from which we can see two patterns which are known as seismicity acceleration and quiescence before an earthquake. Moreover, these CV findings are applied to determine the locations of large deformation sampling points on the rock surface at different loading stages, which indicates that such kinds of points migrate towards the prefabricated cracks as the rock approaches rupture. Similar results are obtained when we consider actual seismicity at the northern end of the San Andreas Fault in California. It provides a crucial evidence to prove the existence and role of precursor characteristics. In this case, three kinds of seismic monitoring models are designed to find out how to arrange the locations of seismic stations in the case of limited number of stations, so as to monitor these precursor characteristics more effectively.
¿Al pie de la letra? Filosofía y enciclopedismo en la España del siglo XIX: mermas y cesuras en la traducción al castellano del texto “Philosophie Des Japonois” de Diderot.
Authors: Crespín Perales Montserrat
Published: November 2020

En este artículo se presenta el texto de Diderot “Philosophie Des Japonois” en el que expone los rasgos del pensamiento japonés y se coteja luego con la translación de Tomás Lapeña en su Ensayo sobre la historia de la filosofía desde el principio del mundo hasta nuestros días. Del texto diderotiano se estudian las “peculiaridades” que encuentra en la filosofía japonesa. En la versión castellana, se identifican las mermas, explicándose las motivaciones tras las cesuras halladas. Se busca esclarecer el patrón moderno de transmisión y distorsión de las filosofías no-europeas.
“El hombre no tiene naturaleza”. Un examen de la metafísica orteguiana
Authors: Alonso Fernández Marcos
Published: November 2020

Este artículo trata de analizar la célebre frase orteguiana “el hombre no tiene naturaleza, sino que tiene… historia” dentro del contexto de su obra, mostrando su génesis y su evolución, así como las interpretaciones que se le han venido dando a la misma. Junto a este análisis, se mostrará también la importancia de esta idea dentro de la filosofía de Ortega, así como la relevancia que estas ideas podrían tener para una posible reforma de la metafísica tradicional.
Synthesis of Azobenzenes via direct oxidation of Aryl amines using aqueous tert-Butyl HydroPeroxide
Authors: Shaikh Tanveer MahmadAlli
Published: November 2020

A new method for the direct oxidation of aromatic amines to azobenzenes employing aqueous tertiary-butyl hydrogen peroxide and potassium tertiary butoxide as an oxidant and base, respectively is described. The desired products are obtained in good yields. The developed protocol is associated with certain advantages for example free from any metal oxidants.
Effectiveness of zinc oxide nanoparticles against helminthiasis: a preliminary investigation conducted on Pheretima posthuma
Authors: Hosain Faruk , Islam Md Shafiul , Ragib Abdullah Al , Islam Muhammad Zukaul , Islam Tariqul
Published: November 2020

Based on paralyzed and death time, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were preliminarily investigated for possible biological effectiveness of anthelmintic activity on Pheretima Posthuma. After synthesizing ZnO NPs by low-temperature precipitation method with slight modification, size, morphology, and shape evaluation of these nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and annealing temperature in the range 400-700C. In this anthelmintic assay, the paralyzed time (PT) was gradually shorter with the increase of the sample concentration, for instance, when high concentration (40mg/ml) sample was applied on adult worms the paralyzed time was 35.6 minutes only. The death time (DT) was 450 and 80 minutes when the sample concentration was 20 and 40 mg/ml respectively. These results were compared with albendazole as a reference showed PT and DT 378.6 and 402.3 minutes respectively, and showed maximum dose-dependent anthelmintic activity. Finally, at higher concentration paralytic effect (PE) was showed much earlier and subsequently, it is important to note that the time taken for death observation was shorter.
Business Continuity in the Telecom Sector During Turbulence Time in the Republic of Yemen (Case Study: TeleYemen Corporation)
Authors: Alsohybe Nabeel Taher , Al-Shami Kamal Hamood
Published: November 2020

Business continuity at any circumstances is the most important practice to be done by companies and organizations in order to survive, especially when a disaster event suddenly occurs. Today, almost every sector uses information technology and telecom services to run and advance their business and compete in the 21st century’s environment. The dependency of the telecom sector makes it very important sector since all sectors run their business based on the telecom sector during this interconnected and global business world. Although turbulence times and wars affect all sectors, its effects on the telecom sector is more severe. Since 2014, the Republic of Yemen is going through a civil and regional war which it consequently effects all companies in the country. The war effects were more sever on TeleYemen, the company chosen for this case study. The company needed to overcome these effects challenges by adopting business continuity management best practices and standards.  TeleYemen is the most critical telecom service provider in Yemen as it is the main international gateway for telecom and Internet services in Yemen. Therefore, any disruption in TeleYemen will affect not just any company but the whole country, including all governmental and non-governmental sectors since they use TeleYemen services locally and globally. To evaluate the current business continuity situation in TeleYemen during turbulence times, this study evaluates the readiness of business continuity in IT departments. The main objective of the study is to find to what extent BC implementation meets the international standard’s requirements and offers appropriate recommendations to management. A single embedded case study used, with a combination of descriptive quantitative and descriptive qualitative approaches.
O STF e o controle das leis sobre o regime jurídico das agências reguladoras federais
Authors: Jordão Eduardo , Toledo Cabral Jr. Renato , Brumati Luiza
Published: November 2020

Fruto do projeto “Regulação em Números”, da FGV Direito Rio, este trabalho busca avaliar o papel do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) como foro de debate sobre o modelo das agências reguladoras no Brasil. O tema é analisado em duas partes distintas, relativas às perspectivas dos postulantes e do STF. No primeiro caso, pretendeu-se verificar (i) quais atores buscam a invalidação ou a imposição de limites aos poderes das agências reguladoras pela via do controle abstrato de constitucionalidade de normas (“quem postula?”); (ii) quais são suas motivações (“por que postula?”) e (iii) em que momento tais demandas são ajuizadas (“quando postula?”). As mesmas perguntas básicas se repetem no segundo caso: (i) quanto tempo as contestações levam tramitando e sendo deliberadas (“quando decidem?”); (ii) o que é examinado e com base em quais fundamentos eles decidem (“o que e como decidem?”); e (i) qual o comportamento e entendimento individual dos ministros frente a estas contestações (“quem e como decidem?”). Para responder a estas perguntas, foram lidas as 18 ações movidas perante o STF e as respectivas decisões da Corte que envolvem leis sobre o regime jurídico das agências reguladoras federais no país entre os anos de 1997 e 2018.
Editorial
Authors: Hachem Daniel Wunder , Faria Luzardo
Published: November 2020

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Sumário Bilingue
Authors: Table of Contents Bilingual
Published: November 2020

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Impacts of COVID on University’s Finances
Authors: Bouchard St-Amant Pier-André , Tadjiogue Yanick Wilfred , Raymond-Brousseau Lucie , Fortier-Martineau Camille , Tchokouagueu Franck-Aurelien , Dumais Guillaume , Vallée Laurence
Published: November 2020

Did universities benefit from the pandemic? Some did receive more funding than usual. We use vector autoregressive models to forecast both enrollment and public subsidies in a jurisdiction where public funding depends mostly on enrollment. Using unemployment as an established proxy for the impact of recessions on enrollment, we show that the recent COVID pandemic increases pressure on public subsidies. Further, we use our forecasts to decompose the current subsidies between long-term subsidies, recession induced subsidies, and additional funding. We find that the subsidies given during the pandemic were higher than what a typical recession would command for 8 universities out of 18.
Stunting, Underweight and Wasting Among Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme Children Aged 6 Months – 5 Years of Urban Surat, Western Gujarat, India
Authors: Vakilna Roshni Sharad , Nambiar Vanisha
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to under nutrition; under nutrition increases morbidity and delays recovery.

Objective: To investigate age and gender variations in height and weight, levels of stunting, underweight and wasting among children under 5 years in Surat city.

Methodology: Levels of stunting, underweight and wasting among 970 children of urban Surat from 20 Anganwadi centers were assessed. Z-scores were used to assess the prevalence of malnutrition following the WHO Guidelines.

Results: Results revealed that as age increased, the mean weight and height also increased. However, even the prevalence of malnutrition increased. Older children met lower percentages of the standards than younger children. The overall (age and sex combined) rates of stunting, underweight and wasting were 39.27%, 38.14% and 20.41%, respectively. The rates of underweight and wasting were significantly higher among boys (underweight = 38.73 %, wasting = 22.31 %) compared with girls (underweight = 37.57%, wasting = 18.78 %).

Conclusion: The nutritional status of the subjects of the present study is not satisfactory, there is a scope for improvement in the form of enhanced supplementary nutrition. Therefore, it is imperative that the ICDS authorities consider its enhancement.
Professional Experience in Australian Initial Teacher Education: An Appraisal of Policy and Practice
Authors: Ledger Susan , Ure Christine , Burgess Madeline , Morrison Chad
Published: November 2020

Legislative guidelines regulate professional experience within initial teacher education (ITE) but little is known about teacher educators’ perspectives on how these guidelines are operationalised. ITE providers, in collaboration with school partners, implement a range of programs designed to develop pre-service teachers’ ‘classroom readiness’. We examine how current legislation influences the delivery of professional experience, the provision of funding, and support for university-school partnerships and in-school supervision. This analysis highlights ambiguities in the interpretation of the legislative guidelines, creating a disconnection between policy and practice, an over-reliance on the ‘good will’ of key stakeholders, and competing demands between the ‘actual’ and ‘hidden’ costs of professional experience. Without reform of both policy and practice ITE providers will continue to be constrained when attempting to meet regulatory expectations. These findings demonstrate a need for government departments and ITE regulators to work more closely to improve integration of policy and practice for professional experience.
Identification of hazards related to human factors in the railway transport system
Authors: Karasiewicz Iwona
Published: November 2020

The article presents the significance of the analysis of threats related to the human factor in the rail transport system. The place and role of the human factor in the Directive on railway safety is described. Railway incidents in 2010–2017 were analyzed in terms of events caused by the direct action of employees in positions related to the safety and conduct of railway traffic. Methods that infrastructure managers and rail operators can
use to correctly define the place and role of individual work posts in the organization and their impact on rail traffic safety are indicated. In addition, the article proposes a procedure for identifying threats in the area of the human factor, the interfaces associated with the work position of the traffic dispatcher are defined.
Die Degeto und der Staat
Authors: Aurich Rolf
Published: November 2020

Zehn Jahre nach dem Ende des Ersten Weltkriegs und inmitten des Tonrauschs, der die Filmwelt erfasst hatte, wurde die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ton und Bild e. V. "Degeto" gegründet. Sie machte es sich zur Aufgabe, alle künstlerischen, bildenden und wissenschaftlichen Werke des Films zu fördern. Die Gründungsvertreter, darunter das Preußische Kultusministerium und die Tobis, einte nicht zuletzt die Hoffnung, Kultur, Bildung und Wissen mithilfe des Tonfilms auch in die sogenannte Provinz zu bringen. Mit Übernahme der Macht durch die Nationalsozialisten wurde die Mittlerfunktion der Degeto erschwert. Schlussendlich interessierte sich 1935 der Deutsche Fernseh-Rundfunk für ihre Filmkopien. Bei Kriegsende 1945 gehörte die Gesellschaft zu dem unter Treuhandschaft stehenden Ufa-Vermögen. Das westdeutsche Nachkriegsfernsehen erkannte früh den Bedarf an Kultur- und Dokumentarfilmen und die Degeto verfügte über entsprechende Filmrechte. Nach einigen wirtschaftsrechtlichen Modifikationen entwickelte sie sich in den späten 1950er Jahren zur zentralen Programmbeschaffungseinrichtung der ARD, wo sie wieder die Rolle als Vermittlerin kultureller Werte einnahm.
Self-Immolation among Women in Iran: A Narrative Review
Authors: Masoomi Maryam , Gholamian Faezeh , Sharifi Vandad , Shadloo Behrang
Published: November 2020

Context: Self-immolation is defined as ending life by suicide, particularly through burning, which carries considerable morbidity and mortality. Although its prevalence is low in developed countries, in developing countries, it’s an important problem. Evidence Acquisition: We systematically searched studies published in international and local databases on self-immolation in Iran (either in English or Persian) to identify relevant studies from the time of inception of databases to June 2017. Here, we presented the data regarding the prevalence and factors associated with self-immolation among Iranian women. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this review. In Iran, according to the reports of the forensic organization on deaths by suicide, from 2006 to 2010, 16.4% of the committed suicide were via self-immolation. It is more common in females than males, particularly among young, married, and low educated women. Self-immolation is more common in the north and west of Iran. The most prevalent causes of self-immolation are reported as domestic violence and other stressful events such as family conflicts, intimate relationship break-ups, divorce, and financial difficulties. Conclusions: The prevalence of self-immolation is relatively high among young and middle-aged Iranian women. There are socio-cultural factors that might contribute to this issue. Preventive measures should be strengthened, particularly for young and middle-aged women, to address this problem.
Power, Cohesion, and Structure in Healthy Families and Families with Chronic Psychiatric Patients: A Comparative Study
Authors: Mirshah Elham , Bahreini Masoud , Pouladi Shahnaz , Mirzaei Kamran , Hajinejad Fatemeh
Published: November 2020

Background: The hierarchy of power, dynamic of cohesion, and family structure might be affected in families with psychiatric patients. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the power, cohesion, and structure of healthy families and families with psychiatric patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz in 2018. Participants were 322 people from healthy families and families with schizophrenic, depressive, or bipolar disordered patients that were compared in terms of cohesion and hierarchy of power. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Family System Test, a clinically-derived figure placement technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS-19 with Chi-square and Kruskal Wallis tests at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in terms of power between the families of healthy people and the families of patients with psychiatric disorders (P > 0.05). The family of patients with major depression had less cohesion (8.57 ± 2.2) than had the family of healthy ones (P =0.01). The structure of healthy families was more significantly balanced than that of other groups (P = 0.008). Conclusions: The results indicated that the power, cohesion, and structure of families can be affected by members with psychiatric disorders. Mental health care providers should take into account the mental health of families of psychiatric patients.
The Radio-Sensitivity Effects of Human Umbilical Cord Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell’s Conditional Medium on MDA-MB-231 Cells
Authors: Shoghi Hamed , Neisi Niloofar , Saki Ghasem , Tahmasebi Birgani Mohamad Javad , Danyaei Amir
Published: November 2020

Background: While radiotherapy is the important modality in the treatment of breast cancer cells, radioresistance of some tumor cell lines such as MDA-MB-231 is still a limitation that must be considered. Objectives: The present study was done to examine the effect of the conditioned medium of the human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly stem cells (hWJSCs + CM) on the radiosensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells in combination with megavoltage-radiations. Methods: Groups are Control, CM, GY, and GY + CM. In irradiation groups, breast cancer cells were exposured with 4, 6, and 8 Gy radiation. Each group includes different doses of the conditioned medium of hWJSCs (25%, 50%, and 75%). Results: The MTT assay showed that the proliferative activity of Gy + CM groups at all doses of condition medium decreased significantly compared with the control, rather than Gy groups. Trypan blue viability test showed that the survival rate of MDA-MB-231 cells significantly reduced in the CM and 8 Gy + CM groups compared with the control group, rather than Gy groups. MDA-MB-231 cells lost their normal spindle shape and became thinner and longer after 48h of treatment and the number of cells sharply reduced in Gy + CM groups compared with the control group, rather than Gy groups. These changes were accompanied by inducing significant up-regulation of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the 4 Gy + CM and 8 Gy + CM groups compared with the control group, rather than Gy groups and as a consequence, a decrease in the amount of transmembrane tumor necrosis factor-α (tmTNF-α) as a pro-inflammatory cytokine in the Gy + CM groups compared with the control group, rather than Gy groups. Also, we indicated that the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells was probably enhanced by an increase in different doses of the conditioned medium of stem cells. Conclusions: Treatment of the MDA-MB-231 cells with hWJSCs + CM plus radiotherapy inhibited the growth and proliferation of cancer cells and this method is a novel strategy for breast cancer therapy by overcoming radioresistance.
Changes in the Level of Nursing Students’ Empathy During Four Years Education
Authors: Sedaghati Kesbakhi Maryam , Rohani Camelia
Published: November 2020

Background: The findings on changes in the level of nursing students’ empathy during the university education are contradictory, and it’s not clear whether it decreases/increases after four years of education. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the level of nursing students’ empathy during different years of education. Methods: In this descriptive study, 122 undergraduate nursing students from the first to the fourth year of the program are included. Data were collected using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy Nursing Student Version-R and analyzed by the descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS version 21. Results: The mean score of empathy was 91.8±28.7. The level of empathy significantly declines in the fourth year of education, compared to the first year (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that the level of empathy of nursing students significantly declines in the fourth year, so exploring its causes would be useful. Also, empathy should be introduced to the nursing students as one of the standards of clinical competency using strategies such as education for empathic communication with the patient in nursing training programs.
An Internet Radio from Turkey as an Example of Community Radio: Nor Radyo
Authors: ALGÜL Figen
Published: November 2020

In this article study, community media and community radios, as different kinds of alternative media will be examined under a theoretical framework. Then Nor Radyo, an internet radio which is an example of the community radios from Turkey will be taken into consideration as the field study. Nor Radyo will be examined within the context of the rhizomatic approach and community radios, over the example of Nor Radyo, will be measured as to whether or not they voice the sound of the counter publicity. For the field study, in-depth interviews were made by Nor Radyo programme-makers; and content and critical discourse analysis was applied in relation with the Nor Radyo programmes.
An Adaptive Normative Multi Agent System using WEb 3.0 for e-Learning Platform
Authors: DHANDA Namrata , DARBARİ Manuj , AHUJA Neelu Jyoti , SIDDIQU Imran Ali
Published: November 2020

The growing concern for education and innovative technologies has led to a new dimension of learning. The paper proposes a new framework NormATel using the concept of Normative Multi-Agent system, Activity Theory and e-Learning. The basic idea of the paper is to make e-learning more user specific using the concept of Web 3.0, like its ability to work on two separate modes: single user learning and community based learning. The proposed framework is verified using Deontic Logic.
Beyond the Anthropocentrism Debate
Authors: Sorgen Jeremy ,   Center for Environmental Philosophy, The University of North Texas
Published: November 2020

The anthropocentrism debate, which centers on the place and status of environmental values, has been a core issue for environmental ethics since the field’s beginning in the 1970s. Nonanthropocentrists attribute value to non-human nature directly, while anthropocentrists claim that humans hold a certain priority. While the debate has produced a wide variety of interesting philosophical positions, it has not achieved its implicit goal of cultural reform. This is not because philosophers fail to agree on a tenable position, but because the debate is misconceived. Both sides of the debate assume that agreement on common values, worldviews, and substantive positions is prerequisite to cultural reform. Pragmatic criticism of this assumption, however, displays its underlying faults, while pragmatic inquiry into the field’s development displays how scholars are already generating methods more commensurate with the goal of cultural reform. Philosophers invested in changing public values should transition from debates in axiology (the study of values) to debating method, where axiology is just one method among others and not the one best suited to supporting cultural reform. A historical survey of the field suggests what scholars of environmental ethics are learning about methods that are both publicly engaged and culturally transformative.
The play of Lola Montes: Dramatic vision by Todor Manojlović
Authors: Bulat Snežana
Published: November 2020

Lola Montes (Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert) is a dominant heroin of Todor Manojlović's drama Fascinated king: historical movie in seven pictures with intermezzo. Manojlović is one of the many writers who have dedicated a piece to the fatal Lola Montes, whose dance adorned stages of the European cities. Having a great faith on authentic historical data, our playwright has created a drama portrait of the Spanish dancer who seduced Bavarian king Ludwig I and became his mistress and the very important political figure. It has been shown, on adequate examples, that the game and adventure are, without a doubt, the essential components of the Manojlović's drama character. Special research attention is given to the symbol of Lola's Spanish dance. Manojlović's Lola Montes is seductive, with great temper, coquettish, cunning, stunning young woman, the bearer of the new political ideas and a cause of many confrontations. The aged and fascinated king Ludwig I gives this woman a palace, title of countess and eventually he is forced to abdicate. The very important segment of this paper is given to the precise analysis of the scene where Lola Montes and king Ludwig are completely ignore the reality and leave their minds to the fairy-tale game and enjoy in the imaginary roles. The way of Todor Manojlović portraying the femme fatale has also been analyzed.
Development of competences for a democratic society in the digital age
Authors: Miljković Ljubomir , Trnavac Dragana
Published: November 2020

The subject of the research is the development of competencies for democratic culture in the digital age through the analysis of youth media culture. The aim of the research is that on the basis of the obtained results adequate solutions to the problem of media influence on the culture of communication and culture in general among young people can be proposed, and theoretically to determine how much the media influence the culture of communication and the development of youth awareness. young people. The paper concludes that the surveyed group of teenagers, 300 of them from Belgrade high schools, mostly watch television and follow an entertainment program, that the media in Serbia promote violence and hate speech, and that most of them enrich their language and culture of expression using electronic media, not a book. The results obtained confirm that the media, as they are today, have a very negative impact on the language culture and the culture of behavior of young people in general.
The importance of the 'Asian values' concept for modern political systems of East and Southeast Asia
Authors: Lončar Mirela
Published: November 2020

This paper analyzes the significance of the concept of "Asian values" for modern political systems of East and Southeast Asia. Taking the theoretical basis of one of the creators of the concept of "Asian values" - Lee Kuan Yew, as a starting point, the author analyzes and explains in what way these values have influenced the contemporary political systems of East and Southeast Asia. Confucian values, which include discipline, education, respect for authority, respect for the family, and many others, have provided a strong foundation of a unique identity of the regions of East and Southeast Asia, which differ from the Western model, and which is embodied in the concept of "Asian values". The aim of this paper is to illustrate how the concept of "Asian values" has influenced the regions of East and Southeast Asia and their political systems.
The Big Five personality traits as determinants of teachers' achievement motivation
Authors: Mirković Biljana , Zečević Ivana , Marinković Nela
Published: November 2020

Many studies have reported that motivated teachers put more effort in order to affect the behaviour of their students in the most desirable and positive manner and to transfer appropriate knowledge to their students. The objective of this study was to determine if the Big Five personality traits predict the achievement motive for teachers' work. The sample consisted of 732 teachers (75.4% female) from 25 Bosnia and Herzegovina elementary schools, and the Big Five Inventory and Achievement Motive Scale were used. The results of Regression Analysis show that personality traits explain 31% of the variance of the achievement motive total score. When it comes to components of the achievement motive, the Big Five personality traits explain 8% of the variance in competition with other people, 49% of the variance in persistence in goal achieving, 34% of the variance in goal achievement as a source of satisfaction, and 18% of the variance in orientation towards planning. Conscientiousness is the most powerful predictor of all components of the achievement motive, as well as of the achievement motive total score. Extraversion and openness are significant positive predictors of the following components: competition with other people, persistence in goal achieving and goal achievement as a source of satisfaction, and the total score for the achievement motive. Finally, the obtained results show that teachers' achievement motive has a significant personal background.
'A progress that threatens all life': Nature vs. nurture in Duncan Williamson's 'Mary and the seal'
Authors: Kaličanin Milena
Published: November 2020

The paper first discusses two documentaries by Donna Read, Signs Out of Time (2004) and Goddess Remembered (1989), that focus on the pacific tradition of the female centered settlements on the territories of modern Eastern Europe in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Read depicts significant findings of a world-renowned archeologist Marija Gimbutas who claims that a peaceful image of Old Europe embodied in the omnipotent Great Mother changed radically towards the end of the third millennium when violent Indo-European nomads came from Russia and shattered the matriarchal utopia of equality and natural harmony. These tribes introduced the principles of hierarchy and violent male-rule. Read's and Gimbutas' findings are further developed and examined in the studies by Riana Eisler and Erich Fromm who also claim that conspicuous material aggrandizement of patriarchal culture severely damaged a blissful matriarchal bond between man and nature. These theoretical insights are applied to Williamson's comprehension of nature vs. nurture issue in "Mary and the Seal" (1997). In portraying a tender relationship between Mary and the seal, as well as its tragic and totally unnecessary shooting, contemporary patriarchal culture is brought to a trial. The mere existence of the bond between Mary and the seal, an embodiment of an idyllic matriarchal unity between man and nature, testifies to the prevalent need for the return to its substantial but long-forgotten values. The theoretical insights of Graves, Althusser, Freire, Fiske and Miller will also be used in the interpretation of the story.