bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term water stress and drought monitoring of Mediterranean oak savanna vegetation using thermal remote sensing
Authors: González-Dugo María P. , Chen Xuelong , Andreu Ana , Carpintero Elisabet , Gómez-Giraldez Pedro J. , Carrara Arnaud , Su Zhongbo
Published: May 2020

Abstract. Drought is a devastating natural hazard, difficult to define, detect and quantify. Global meteorological data and remote sensing products present new opportunities to characterize drought in an objective way, and to extend this analysis in space and time. In this paper, we applied the surface energy balance model SEBS (Surface Energy Balance System) for the period 2001–2018, to estimate evapotranspiration and other energy fluxes over the dehesa area of the Iberian Peninsula, with a monthly temporal resolution and 0.05° pixel size. A satisfactory agreement was found between the fluxes modelled and the measurements obtained for three years by two flux towers located over representative sites (RMSD = 21 W m−2 and R2 of 0.76, for all energy fluxes and both sites). The estimations of the convective fluxes (LE and H) showed higher deviations, with RMSD = 26 W m−2 on average, than Rn and G, with RMSD = 15 W m−2. At both sites, annual ET was very close to total precipitation with the exception of a few wet years in which intense precipitation events, producing high run-off, were observed. The analysis of the anomalies of the ratio of evapotranspiration (ET) to reference ET (ETo) was used as an indicator of agricultural drought on monthly and annual scales. Hydrological years 2004/2005 and 2011/2012 stood out for their negative values, with the first one being the severest of the series, the impact observed on vegetation coverage and grain production. On a monthly scale, this event was also the longest and most intense, with peak negative values in January–February and April–May of 2005, explaining its great impact on cereal production (up to 45 % reduction). During the drier events, the changes in vegetation ground cover over the months, with a preponderant presence of grasslands compared with those in which only oak trees were active, allowed a separate analysis of the strategies adopted by the two strata to cope with water stress. These results indicate that the drought events characterized for the period did not cause any permanent damage on the vegetation of dehesa systems. The approach tested has proved useful to provide insight into the characteristics of drought events over this ecosystem and will be helpful to identify areas of interest for future studies at finer resolutions.
Combining TerraSAR-X and time-lapse photography for seasonal sea ice monitoring: the case of Deception Bay, Nunavik
Authors: Dufour-Beauséjour Sophie , Wendleder Anna , Gauthier Yves , Bernier Monique , Poulin Jimmy , Gilbert Véronique , Tuniq Juupi , Rouleau Amélie , Roth Achim
Published: May 2020

Abstract. This article presents a case study for the combined use of
TerraSAR-X and time-lapse photography time series in order to monitor
seasonal sea ice processes in Nunavik's Deception Bay. This area is at the
confluence of land use by local Inuit, ice-breaking transport by the mining
industry, and climate change. Indeed, Inuit have reported greater
interannual variability in seasonal sea ice conditions, including later
freeze-up and earlier breakup. Time series covering 2015 to 2018 were
acquired for each data source: TerraSAR-X images were acquired every 11 d, and photographs were acquired hourly during the day. We used the combination of the
two time series to document spatiotemporal aspects of freeze-up and breakup
processes. We also report new X-band backscattering values over newly formed
sea ice types. The TerraSAR-X time series further show potential for melt
and pond onset.
Analysing uncertainties in offshore wind farm power output using measure–correlate–predict methodologies
Authors: Mifsud Michael Denis , Sant Tonio , Farrugia Robert Nicholas
Published: May 2020

Abstract. This paper investigates the uncertainties resulting from
different measure–correlate–predict (MCP) methods to project the power and energy
yield from a wind farm. The analysis is based on a case study that utilises
short-term data acquired from a lidar wind measurement system deployed at a
coastal site in the northern part of the island of Malta and long-term
measurements from the island's international airport. The wind speed at the
candidate site is measured by means of a lidar system. The predicted power
output for a hypothetical offshore wind farm from the various MCP
methodologies is compared to the actual power output obtained directly from
the input of lidar data to establish which MCP methodology best predicts the
power generated. The power output from the wind farm is predicted by inputting wind speed and
direction derived from the different MCP methods into windPRO® (https://www.emd.dk/windpro, last access: 8 May 2020). The predicted power is compared to
the power output generated from the actual wind and direction data by using
the normalised mean absolute error (NMAE) and the normalised mean-squared
error (NMSE). This methodology will establish which combination of MCP
methodology and wind farm configuration will have the least prediction
error. The best MCP methodology which combines prediction of wind speed and wind
direction, together with the topology of the wind farm, is that using
multiple linear regression (MLR). However, the study concludes that the
other MCP methodologies cannot be discarded as it is always best to compare
different combinations of MCP methodologies for wind speed and wind
direction, together with different wake models and wind farm topologies.
Beyond Training: Supporting Teachers of Deaf Students with Additional Disabilities in the Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study
Authors: Musyoka Millicent M. , Gentry Mary A.
Published: May 2020

This study investigated teachers’ perceptions of the nature of support, or lack thereof, while teaching deaf students with additional disabilities (DSAD). A total of forty teachers, from five schools in four states in the United States, participated in the study. A content analysis of written responses to four open-ended questions, using a questionnaire survey was conducted. As a result, six themes emerged from the study, including (i) resources, (ii) managerial support, (iii) personnel staff services, (iv) team support, (v) mentoring, and (vi) professional development. Implications of the findings related to school administrators and preparation programs for educational leadership were discussed.
Spinopelvic Dissociation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bäcker Henrik C. , Vosseller J. Turner , Deml Moritz C. , Perka Carsten , Putzier Michael
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

Spinopelvic dissociation is a rare type of injury which occurs in approximately 2.9% of pelvic disruptions and correlates with high-energy trauma.

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the incidence, demographics, treatment, clinical outcome, and complication rate associated with these injuries.

Methods:

A literature review on Medline, PubMed, and Google was performed. Overall, 216 abstracts were reviewed in English, German, and French, of which 50 articles were included.

Results:

Within the 50 studies, 19 publications were case reports and 16 were case series with low-level evidence. Overall, 379 patients with spinopelvic dissociation were identified at a mean age of 31.6 ± 11.6 years and an injury severity score of 23.1 ± 3.8 between 1969 and 2018. Most cases were related to fall from heights (55.7%), followed by road accidents (28.5%). Two hundred fifty-eight patients (68.1%) showed neurologic impairment at initial presentation, which improved in 65.1% after surgery. The treatment of choice was surgery in 93.1% of cases with triangular fixation in 68.8%. Regardless of the technique, the healing/fusion rate was 100% with a complication rate of 29.9% (n = 96/321).

Conclusion:

Spinopelvic dissociation is a rare type of injury with limited data in the literature. Based on our review, it is possible that a streamlined, evidence-based algorithm may improve care for these difficult patients.

Level of Evidence:

II

Study Design:

Systematic Review
Women’s Agency in Peacebuilding in Polarized Post-Conflict Communities in Plateau State, Nigeria
Authors: Bulus Kwopnan Ibrahim , Bhatti Feyza , Beysoylu Cemaliye
Published: May 2020

Over the last two decades, while significant consideration is given to women’s participation and representation in formal peacebuilding processes, there is the dearth of research on the grassroots level involvement and contributions of women to peacebuilding processes in post-conflict communities. Utilizing 28 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions with women in Bukuru and Gyel communities, this article aims at improving the understandings on the agency of women in building and sustaining peace in polarized post-conflict communities in Plateau State, Nigeria. The article argues that in spite of the global marginalisation of women in formal peace processes, women are actively involved in peacebuilding and use various forms of individual and collective agency to restore harmonious relations, build peace and foster social cohesion in polarized post-conflict communities.
Technical Efficiency of Yam Producers: The Case of the Municipality of Glazoue in Benin
Authors: Adanguidi Jean , Amegnaglo Cocou Jaures
Published: May 2020

In Benin republic, yam plays an important role both in production systems and in people’s food security and trade. In view of the decline in agricultural yields in recent years combined with strong population growth, it is essential today to analyse the technical efficiency of yam producers in order to formulate the best recommendations for relaunching yam production. The objective of this paper is to analyse the technical efficiency of yam producers in Benin and its determinants. To achieve this objective, data were collected from 150 yam producers living in the Municipality of Glazoué. A stochastic production frontier is used to analyse the technical efficiency of the yam producer. The results revealed that the mean efficiency score of producers is around 80%. This implies that yam production could be increase by 20% through better use of available resources such as land, labour, herbicides, taking into account the state of technology. Access to credit and mobile phone ownership increase the inefficiency of actors while experience in agricultural production, age and household size reduce the inefficiency of producers.
Presentation. Rural Landscapes Beyond the Idyll
Authors: Paül Valerià , Tort Joan , Trillo Juan M.
Published: May 2020

Presentation of issue 66/2: Rural Landscapes Beyond the Idyll
El rol de la estrategia y la estructura organizacional en la innovación no I+D
Authors: Elizalde-Bobadilla Lucy Carolina , Rojas-Santoyo Francisca , Ochoa-Urrego Rafael Leonardo
Published: May 2020

Objetivo: este estudo analisa a relação entre estratégia e estrutura organizacional no âmbito da inovação não-PD.Metodologia: foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura, na qual foram identificados 64 artigos das bases de dados Scopus, Emerald e Proquest.Originalidade: o presente estudo evidencia um conjunto de características, tanto das organizações quanto do meio ambiente, que contribuem para o surgimento dos resultados do ANID e do INID.Principais resultados: foram determinados 24 fatores que melhoram, condicionam ou resultam desse tipo de inovação.Contribuições teóricas: como parte dos resultados, destacam-se a identificação de estratégias específicas, a importância da capacidade de absorção para a compreensão do fenômeno da inovação não-PD e o fato de que as inovações mais comuns sob essa abordagem são do tipo marketing. e organizacional.
Olympian Jupiter. Winckelmann and Quatremère de Quincy on Ancient Polychromy
Authors: Hodne Lasse
Published: May 2020

A number of Western museums may boast of their important collections of Classical Greek and Roman art. Marble statues of deities or heroes from Classical Antiquity, and important works in painting and architecture from different historical epochs, have traditionally made up the canon of Western art. In recent years, critics have claimed that this tradition represents an idealisation of the white, Caucasian body type which excludes other races from the concept of beauty. Although we today know that ancient statues in marble were often painted in vivid colours, they say that art theorists have either been ignorant of, or glossed over, this fact. While the German art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann has often been regarded as a proponent of our Western predilection for whiteness, the French archaeologist Antoine Chrysostome Quatremère de Quincy is by many celebrated as the first to realise the extent and importance of ancient polychromy. In this paper, I will try to show that this is a distorted view, especially where Winckelmann’s theories are concerned. Far from being ignorant about ancient polychromy, Winckelmann was an important source for Quatremère de Quincy. In addition, Winckelmann’s appreciation of the white marble surface was not the result of racial prejudice, but the expression of an aesthetic opinion that he shared with Quatremère de Quincy.
COVID-19 Epidemic and Spirituality: A Review of the Benefits of Religion in Times of Crisis
Authors: Fardin Mohammad Ali
Published: May 2020

Context: The current world crisis, COVID-19 disease, is different from any other world’s previous crises since it has killed thousands of people all around the world and made the medical science desperate. During the COVID-19 outbreak, spirituality can be one of the proper methods to create mental relaxation. Evidence Acquisition: The present study is a review of the literature from 1978 to 2019. The search was done in electronic databases and reputable websites including PubMed, Medline, Springer, Elsevier, Science Direct, Scopus, and SID for both English and non-English language articles using the following keywords: “spirituality”, “prayer”, “and “some religious advice were assessed in times of crisis”. A total of 11 articles were selected for review. Results: The results indicated that spirituality could aid people to have mental relaxation in times of crisis and dangerous diseases. Some of the religious solutions proposed against the COVID-19 prevalence could be helpful. Conclusions: Since a long time ago, religions have attempted to provide behavioral pieces of advice in times of crisis to help humankind spiritually. In the present study, some of these pieces of advice are mentioned. It has been suggested that medical staff in hospitals pay more attention to the spiritual and religious beliefs of COVID-19-infected patients to improve their calmness and well-being.
LIQUID PHASE CATALYTIC OXIDATION 3,5 – XYLENOL
Authors: Lebedeva Nina V. , Koshel George N. , Koshel Sergei G.
Published: May 2020

5-Hydroxyisophthalic acid is of practical interest in the synthesis of polymers, drugs, cosmetics. The methods for its preparation described in the literature are characterized by a number of significant drawbacks, which hinders the use of this compound in the development of new materials with valuable consumer properties. In this regard, a method for the synthesis of 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid by the oxidation of 3, 5-xylenol has been developed. It has been established that the hydroxyl group inhibits the oxidation of methyl groups; therefore, to carry out oxidative transformations, the hydroxyl group was replaced by acetyl. For this, 3,5-xylenol was acylated with acetic anhydride in the presence of sulfuric acid. The resulting 3, 5-dimethylphenylacetate is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen in an acetic acid medium in the presence of a catalytic system containing cobalt acetals manganese and bromide ions up to 5-acetoxyisophthalic acid. The effect of temperature on the reaction was studied and the activation energy was determined. It was 50 ± 5 kJ/mol that corresponds to the activation energy of oxidation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons. The dependence of the rate of the process and the yield of the target product on the concentrations of the starting compound and the components of the catalytic system is investigated. It has been established that carrying out the oxidation process of 3,5-dimethylphenylacetate at its initial concentration of 0.75 mol/l, temperature 110 °C and cobalt (II) acetate concentration 0.1 mol/l, sodium bromide 0.05 mol/l, manganese (II) acetate 0.003 mol/l provides the reaction with high rate and the yield of 5-acetoxyisophthalic acid 70-75%. In these conditions, the balance experiment was carried out. 5-Acetoxyisophthalic acid is of practical interest as a monomer for heat-resistant polymers. To obtain 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid, 5-acetoxyisophthalic acid is subjected to alkaline hydrolysis.
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF TRYPTOPHAN: GAS PHASE ELECTRON DIFFRACTION AND QUANTUM-CHEMICAL STUDIES
Authors: Dunaeva Valeriya V. , Girichev Georgiy V. , Giricheva Nina I.
Published: May 2020

The molecular structure and conformational properties of tryptophan have been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical methods. Quantum chemical calculations realized by program Gaussian 03 (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) have been predicted the existence of six conformers at the temperature of experiment (T = 495 K). The ability of gas-phase electron diffraction method to distinguish the structure of conformers was estimated theoretically. Conformers have different orientations of carboxylic and amine group, backbone and indole fragment to each other. These conformers can be divided on two groups: distinguishable parameters (with different torsion angle C(OOH)-C(HNH2)-C(H2)-C(ind)) and weekly distinguishable ones (with different torsion angles H-N-C-C and H-O-C-C) by gas-phase electron diffraction. The molecular parameters of the conformers were determined. The conformers have intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the H2N···HO. The analysis of the gas-phase electron diffraction data have been carried out assuming the saturated vapor of tryptophan at T = 495 K consists of mixture at least of two conformers with lowest energy. It was shown that optimal ratio between conformers I : II was 50 : 50, respectively. The geometrical parameters of amino acids molecules (glycine, alanine, tryptophan) obtained by gas-phase electron diffraction were compared. The influence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond was established onto the structural parameters of the backbone of the above amino acids molecules.
SYNTHESIS OF ETHYL ETHER OF 4(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)- AND 4′-METHYL-4(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)CYCLOHEXANCARBONIC ACIDS AND THEIR AMINOMETHYLATED DERIVATIVES
Authors: Naghiyeva Mehriban V.
Published: May 2020

The article presents the results of cycloalkylation of phenol with ethyl cyclohexane- and 4-methylcyclohexenecarboxylic esters in the presence of a zeolite-Y catalyst impregnated with phosphoric acid. It has been established that to perform the cycloalkylation of phenol with ethyl cyclohexenecarboxylic acid in the presence of a zeolite-Y catalyst impregnated with orthophosphoric acid, the optimal conditions are: temperature 120 °С, reaction time 5 h, molar ratio of phenol to ether 1 : 1 mol/mol. And amount of catalyst is 10% for taken phenol. The yield of the target product was 74.7% of the theory for taken phenol, and selectivity - 93.8% for the target products. It was found that under optimal reaction conditions cycloalkylation (temperature 110 °C, reaction time 4 h, the ratio of phenol to ether 1 : 1, the amount of catalyst 7%) of phenol with ethyl 4-methylcyclohexenecarboxylic acid yield of ethyl 4 (4-hydroxyphenyl) -4'-methylcyclohexane-carboxylic) acid was 78.3% of the theory per phenol taken, and the selectivity was 95.7% for the desired product. The synthesis of aminomethyl derivatives of 4-hydroxyphenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids in the presence of formalin and aniline was also carried out. As a result of aminomethylation, ethyl esters of 4 (4-hydroxy-3-phenylaminobenzyl) cyclohexane- and 4 (4-hydroxy-3-phenylaminobenzyl) -4'-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid were obtained. The yields of the target products were 67.3 and 71.7%, respectively, from the theory on taken ether. The structure and composition of the products were determined using IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. And the purity of the products obtained was studied by chromatographic analysis. Ethyl esters of 4 (4-hydroxy-3-phenylaminobenzyl) cyclohexane- and 4 (4-hydroxy-3-phenylaminobenzyl) -4'-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid can be used as an antioxidant to diesel fuel and turbine oil T-46.
SEMI-INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR SYNTHESIS OF 2-(1,3-DITHIOLAN-2-YLIDENE) MALONONITRILE
Authors: Lipin Konstantin V.
Published: May 2020

This article analyzes the developments of the scientific team of the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Faculty of Chuvash State University I.N. Ulyanov in the field of synthesis of 1,3-dithioheterocycles and based on them a method of synthesis of 2-(1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidene) malononitrile suitable for scaling was developed. The basis was chosen for the well-known three-component synthesis method, which has several disadvantages: the use of toxic and inaccessible reagents, multi-stage. During laboratory testing, this method of synthesis was improved. The developed method for producing 2-(1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidene)malononitrile consists of reacting malononitrile with carbon disulfide in the presence of potassium carbonate, adding dichloroethane to the resulting mixture, and boiling the mixture for 10-15 min. The final compound is isolated by diluting the reaction mass with water. Based on the developed method, a technological scheme for the synthesis of 2- (1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidene)malononitrile was compiled. The selected production method consists of four technological operations: mixing the starting components in the reactor, heating and boiling the reaction mixture, diluting the reaction mass with water and crystallizing the product, filtering 2-(1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidene)malononitrile. The first three stages can be carried out in one technological equipment - a reactor equipped with a stirrer and a jacket. For filtering it is necessary to use a nutsche filter. Based on the developed methodology, a technological scheme has been created, its description has been compiled. The design process capacity is 5 kg/h of 2-(1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidene)malononitrile. The necessary equipment is calculated. A standard mixing reactor with a volume of 0.1 m3 and a nutsche filter NFP-0.25-630 PP were selected. To mix the reaction mass, the reactor should be equipped with an anchor type mixer. The developed technology compares favorably with the use of simple and cheap raw materials common in the chemical industry, the short synthesis time and the use of standard technological equipment.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOCCULES OF CLAY-SALT SLUDGE FORMED BY POLYACRYLAMIDE AND ITS COPOLYMERS
Authors: Rakhimova Olesya V. , Seredkina Olga R. , Lanovetskiy Sergey V.
Published: May 2020

The main characteristics of aggregates formed during the flocculation of clay-salt slurry using polyacrylamide-based polymers with various types of charge and molecular weights were studied using a laser analyzer of particle size Lasentec D600L of the FBRM system. The effect of the polymer type on the size of the floccules formed and their density was shown. It has been established that when using non-ionic polyacrylamide and its anionic copolymers floccules with a size of 500-600 mm are formed, and when flocculated with a cationic reagent, the floccules do not exceed 300 mm It was shown that an increase in the molecular weight of the cationic polymer does not contribute to an increase in the size of the aggregates of the clay slurry particles. It has been proven that with the use of non-ionic polyacrylamide and its anionic copolymers, the density of floccules significantly decreases with increasing their size, which is an important property of fractal aggregates. If the charge density of anionic polymers increases, the aggregates density decreases, due to electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged polymer and the negatively charged surface of the sludge. Analysis of the kinetics of the clay sludge flocculation process showed that when using non-ionic and anionic polymers, fast flocculation occurs, and the number of primary particles in the aggregate does not exceed several units. When using a cationic polymer, the filling of the intraflouclear volume with primary particles occurs due to the displacement of the liquid phase, which contributes to the formation of dense and compact floccules. The results obtained can be used for the selection of flocculant in order to improve the process of thickening clay-salt sludge in the production of potash fertilizers.
ISOMERS OF 3-CHLORO-N,N,N-TRIS(3-METHYLBUTYL)PROP-2-EN-1-AMMINIUM CHLORIDE AS COMPLEX OIL AND GAS FIELD REAGENTS WITH ANTIHYDRATE, ANTICORROSIVE AND BACTERICIDAL ACTION
Authors: Shakhmaev Rinat N. , Sunagatullina Alisa Sh. , Zorin Vladimir V.
Published: May 2020

One of the most promising classes of low-dosage hydrate inhibitors is anti-agglomerants, which are favorably characterized by high efficacy at very low working concentrations (0.1-0.5%). We have investigated the possibility of creating new anti-agglomerants with enhanced anticorrosive and bactericidal properties based on the quaternization of tris(3-methylbutyl)amine with (E)- and (Z)-1,3-dichloropropene isomers. It is well known that compounds with a 3-chloroprop-2-enyl fragment have a pronounced anticorrosive and bactericidal action. Thus, the presence in the quaternization products of isopentyl groups and 3-chloroprop-2-enyl fragments that are optimal for preventing agglomeration of the gas hydrates can contribute to the complex antihydrate, anticorrosive and bactericidal activity of these compounds. An attempt to conduct the alkylation of tris(3-methylbutyl)amine with (E)-1,3-dichloropropene in standard solvent – boiling ethanol for 3 days leads to a low yield of the target quaternary salt. Using chromatography-mass spectrometry, it was established that there are significant amounts of by-products in the reaction mixture, which are formed as a result of various nucleophilic substitutions and elimination reactions. Alkylation of tris(3-methylbutyl)amine in boiling acetonitrile proceeds faster and more selectively in 80% yield of (E)-3-chloro-N,N,N-tris(3-methylbutyl)prop-2-en-1-amminium chloride in 20 h. A quaternization with (Z)-1,3-dichlopropene under the same conditions gives an isomeric quaternary salt with a similar yield. The alkylation of tris(3-methylbutyl)amine with isomers of 1,3-dichloropropene proceeds without allyl rearrangement and with full retention of the configuration of the chlorovinyl fragment. The structure and purity of the obtained compounds was unambiguously confirmed by NMR spectroscopy data. Tests in rocking cells using tetrahydrofuran-water model systems (forming the structure sII similar to natural gas hydrates), gravimetric and microbiological methods showed high antihydrate, anticorrosive and bactericidal efficiency of the obtained compounds in concentrations of 0.5%.
Religion, fantasyfilm og fantastiske væsener:
Authors: Feldt Laura
Published: May 2020

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article discusses the nexus of religion and media on the basis of an analysis of one example of religion in popular culture: the expansion of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001) and the subsequent film by the same title connected to the book (directed by David Yates, screenplay by J.K. Rowling 2016). I present a study of religion-based, media-focused approach to film analysis that distinguishes between verbal and non-verbal aspects of mediation. The analysis treats the mediation of religion – traditional religion, magic and monstrous beings – in the film, as well as the mediality of the film. The analysis shows that the film forms part of a broader trend that portrays traditional religion as ossified and authoritative, while magic, monsters and green religion are represented as fascinating and attractive. Moreover, I argue that the mediality of the film sustains a blurring of boundaries between worlds in terms of the film-internal world structure, in terms of the diegetic vs. the afilmic world, and in terms of the hu-man vs. the nonhuman world. The key argument of the article is that pop-cultural me-dia constitute an important arena for religion, as media such as fantasy films both re-flect and form religious transformations today. This arena needs more attention in the study of religion.

DANSK RESUME: Denne artikel diskuterer religion og medier ud fra en analyse af et eksempel på religion i populærkultur, nemlig en videreudvikling relateret til J.K. Row-lings Harry Potter univers: udgivelsen af bogen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001), en bog der er fiktivt indlejret som undervisningsbog på Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, og den senere filmatisering der knytter sig til bo-gen, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (instrueret af David Yates, screenplay af J.K. Rowling 2016). Artiklen præsenterer en religionsvidenskabelig, mediefokuseret tilgang til filmanalyse, der inkluderer både verbale og non-verbale medierings-aspekter. Analysen behandler fremstillingen af religion – hhv. traditionel religion, magi og det monstrøse – i det filmiske univers, samt filmens medialitet. Analysen viser, at filmen indlejrer sig i en bredere trend, hvor traditionel religion fremstilles som forstenet og autoritær, mens magi, monstre og grøn religion fremstilles positivt og tiltrækkende, samt endvidere at filmens medialitet understøtter en udviskning af grænserne mellem verdener både i den tekst-interne verdensstruktur, mellem den diegetiske og den afilmi-ske verden, samt mellem den humane og den non-humane verden. Artiklen argumente-rer grundlæggende for at populærkulturelle medier såsom fantasyfilm udgør en vigtig arena for religion, og at denne arena bør behandles religionsvidenskabeligt, da den både afspejler og former religiøse forandringer i samtiden.
SPREMNOST URBANOG I RURALNOG STANOVNIŠTVA ZA UKLJUČIVANJE U LANAC SNABDIJEVANJA NEDRVNIM ŠUMSKIM PROIZVODIMA NA PODRUČJU DRVARA
Authors: Marčeta Dane , Grahovac Dejan
Published: May 2020

U radu je predstavljeno istraživanje kojem je bio cilj da se utvrdi na koji način urbano i ruralnostanovništvo percipira i koristi nedrvne šumske proizvode (NDŠP). Za primjer je odabrana opština Drvar,na čijem području je odabrano na bazi vrijednosnog suda i anketirano 60 stanovnika, 30 sa urbanogi 30 sa ruralnog područja. Pitanja su se ticala njihovog socio-ekonomskog statusa, poznavanja NDŠP,trenutnog stava prema sakupljanju i preradi i dr. Obrađeni su akti koji tretiraju oblast NDŠP metodomanalize sadržaja. Rezultati su pokazali, između ostalog, da ruralno stanovništvo veći značaj daje šumikao izvoru NDŠP od urbanog stanovništva i da je svega 6 ispitanika imalo bilo kakav oblik formalnogobrazovanja u vezi s poznavanjem NDŠP, te da većina onih koji se bave sakupljanjem to rade više usvrhu lične upotrebe nego komercijalno. Većina sakupljača sa ruralnog područja na sakupljanju provede8–20 dan/god., a sa urbanog područja do 7 dan/god. Kada se govori o količini, većina sakupljača sakupipreko 50 kg/god. Kod sakupljača sa urbanog područja je značajan udio onih koji sakupe do 10 kg/god.Većina ispitanika sa urbanog područja smatra da će najveći problem oko sakupljanja NDŠP u budućnostipredstavljati klimatske promjene, dok ispitanici sa ruralnog područja smatraju da će najveći problemu budućnosti ipak biti smanjenje površine pod šumom. Dostupnost u prirodi i niski početni troškovimogu podstaknuti pojavu malih preduzeća koja mogu biti važan faktor u razvoju ruralnih područja ismanjivanju siromaštva.
Appalachia as Trumpland: Honor, Precarity, and Affect in Literature from the Mountain South
Authors: Kongerslev Marianne , Juncker Clara
Published: May 2020

Literary and cultural texts by southern poor whites in the hills of the Ozarksand Appalachia and southern migrants in Rustbelt Ohio explode with feelings such ashatred, desperation, and anger, resulting from the continual precaritization andmarginalization of the mountain communities. In (auto)biographical texts as well as inliterary fiction, the ?hillbilly? community is represented as self-segregated, proud,and independent, with special notions of honor and loyalty. Exploring the(dis)connections between the literary emotions of the people of the Mountain South andthe code of southern honor that has produced and sustained them, this article arguesthat the anxious and angry emotions that Donald Trump taps into as a political strategyare not new, but rather have been building throughout the 20th and into the 21stcenturies. The first manifestations that this precarious affective structure was formingcan be seen in this regional literature, illustrating the potential in explorations ofliterary ugly feelings (Ngai, 2005) of marginalized southerners. Thus, the articleuncovers how poor whites position their precarious existences in Trump?s USA and howthey employ various affective strategies to articulate their whiteness and theiranxiety.
Presynaptic APP levels and synaptic homeostasis are regulated by Akt phosphorylation of huntingtin
Authors: Bruyère Julie , Abada Yah-Se , Vitet Hélène , Fontaine Gaëlle , Deloulme Jean-Christophe , Cès Aurélia , Denarier Eric , Pernet-Gallay Karin , Andrieux Annie , Humbert Sandrine , Potier Marie-Claude , Delatour Benoît , Saudou Frédéric
Published: May 2020

Studies have suggested that amyloid precursor protein (APP) regulates synaptic homeostasis, but the evidence has not been consistent. In particular, signaling pathways controlling APP transport to the synapse in axons and dendrites remain to be identified. Having previously shown that Huntingtin (HTT), the scaffolding protein involved in Huntington’s disease, regulates neuritic transport of APP, we used a microfluidic corticocortical neuronal network-on-a-chip to examine APP transport and localization to the pre- and post-synaptic compartments. We found that HTT, upon phosphorylation by the Ser/Thr kinase Akt, regulates APP transport in axons but not dendrites. Expression of an unphosphorylatable HTT decreased axonal anterograde transport of APP, reduced presynaptic APP levels, and increased synaptic density. Ablating in vivo HTT phosphorylation in APPPS1 mice, which overexpress APP, reduced presynaptic APP levels, restored synapse number and improved learning and memory. The Akt-HTT pathway and axonal transport of APP thus regulate APP presynaptic levels and synapse homeostasis.
Lumbar Diagnosis and Pressure Difference Variance
Authors: Voleti Navya , Gaspari Michael A. , George Elizabeth , Angelo Nicole , Yao Sheldon
Published: May 2020

Context

There is no consensus on the correlation between clinical experience and accuracy in diagnosing somatic dysfunctions, which makes it difficult to justify the use of more subjective measures to evaluate this important association. To better understand this relationship, palpatory forces can be observed while diagnosing a somatic dysfunction.

Objective

To quantify the pressure applied in diagnosing lumbar somatic dysfunction, find a correlation between accuracy of diagnosis and palpation pressure, set the standards for palpation, and develop precise palpatory skills for osteopathic medical students.

Methods

The palpatory forces were evaluated between participants with varying experience levels (osteopathic medical students and attending physicians from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine). Two osteopathic physicians confirmed an L5 somatic dysfunction diagnosis in a volunteer standardized patient (SP), who served as the control. Participants then palpated the lumbar segment of the SP in a prone position with F-Scan System (TekScan) sensors, which recorded the amount of pressure and time used to reach a full diagnosis.

Results

Participants (11 osteopathic medical students and 10 attending physicians) who diagnosed an L5 somatic dysfunction consistent with the SP's diagnosis had less of a difference in peak force (mean [SD] difference, 62.50 [325.7] g/cm2) between the contact points (right hand vs left hand). In contrast, participants with a dissimilar L5 diagnosis from the SP's had a mean (SD) difference in peak force of 319.38 (703.1) g/cm2. Similarly, the difference in the mean (SD) force of palpation between the contact points was lower in participants who made the correct diagnosis (16.81 [117.4] g/cm2) vs those who made an incorrect diagnosis (123.92 [210.3] g/cm2). No statistical significance was found between the diagnostic accuracy of the students and physicians (P=.387) or the time taken to reach a diagnosis (P=.199).

Conclusion

We observed that using equal pressures in both hands while palpating a lumbar segment correlates to more accurate somatic dysfunction diagnoses.
Isolation and functional analyses of PvFAD2 and PvFAD3 involved in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids from Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis)
Authors: Yang Tianquan , Wang Xiaojuan , Dong Tingnan , Xu Wei , Liu Aizhong
Published: May 2020

The development of ω-3 fatty acid-rich vegetable oils is essential to enrich the production of functional foods. Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is a unique oilseed crop with much potential. Its seeds contain rich polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially linoleic acid (LA, C18:2) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3). Endoplasmic reticulum -located ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acid desaturases (FAD) are responsible for the biosynthesis of LA and ALA, respectively, in plant seeds. Here, we isolated two full-length FAD genes from Sacha Inchi, named PvFAD2 and PvFAD3, which encoded predicted amino acid residues of 384 and 379 in protein, respectively. Protein sequence and subcellular localization analysis revealed that they were located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that PvFAD2 and PvFAD3 could catalyze LA and ALA synthesis, respectively. The stability and catalytic efficiency of the PvFAD3 protein may be closely related to temperature. In transgenic tobacco, using seed-specific expression promoters, PvFAD2 and PvFAD3 significantly promotes the production of LA (from 68% to 70.5%) and ALA (from 0.7% to 3.1%) in seed oil. These results show that PvFAD2 and PvFAD3 do, indeed, function as crucial enzymes for PUFAs biosynthesis, and provide a key gene source for the sustainable production of lipids with tailored fatty acid compositions via genetic engineering in other oil crops.
The high expression of MTH1 and NUDT5 predict a poor survival and are associated with malignancy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jing-Jing , Liu Teng-Hui , Li Jin , Li Dan-Ni , Tian Xin-Yuan , Ouyang Qiu-Geng , Cai Jian-Ping
Published: May 2020

Background

MTH1 and NUDT5 effectively degrade nucleotides containing 8-oxoguanine. MTH1 and NUDT5 have been linked to the malignancy of multiple cancers. However, their functions in tumor growth and metastasis in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) remain obscure. Our present study aims to explore their prognostic value in ESCC and investigate their function in MTH1 or NUDT5-knockout tumor cells.

Methods

MTH1 and NUDT5 protein expression in ESCC adjacent normal tissues and tumor tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry staining. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to assess the association between their expression and overall survival (OS) in ESCC patients. Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression analyses were generated to determine the correlation between these protein expression and OS of ESCC patients. Protein expression in ESCC cell lines were measured by Western blotting. To explore the potential effects of the MTH1 and NUDT5 protein in ESCC, cell models with MTH1 or NUDT5 depletion were established. CCK-8, cell cycle, Western blotting, migration and invasion assays were performed.

Results

Our present study demonstrated that the levels of MTH1 and NUDT5 were upregulated in ESCC cell lines and ESCC tissues, the expression of MTH1 and NUDT5 in ESCC tissues was significantly higher than in adjacent non-tumorous, and higher levels of MTH1 and NUDT5 predicted a worse prognosis in patients with ESCC. MTH1 and NUDT5 are novel biomarkers of the progression of ESCC and a poor prognosis. We also found for the first time that the high expression of NUDT5 independently predicted lower OS in patients with ESCC (hazard ratio (HR) 1.751; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.056–2.903];p= 0.030). In addition, the depletion of MTH1 and NUDT5 strongly suppressed the proliferation of ESCC cells and significantly delayed the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, we found that MTH1 and NUDT5 silencing inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition mainly by the MAPK/MEK/ERK dependent pathway, which in turn significantly decreased the cell migration and invasion of ESCC cells. Our results suggested that the overexpression of MTH1 and NUDT5 is probably involved in the tumor development and poor prognosis of ESCC.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of the fibrillin gene family in Triticum aestivum
Authors: Jiang Yaoyao , Hu Haichao , Ma Yuhua , Zhou Junliang
Published: May 2020

Background

The fibrillin (FBN) gene family is highly conserved and widely distributed in the photosynthetic organs of plants. Members of this gene family are involved in the growth and development of plants and their response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), an important food crop, has a complex genetic background and little progress has occurred in the understanding of its molecular mechanisms.

Methods

In this study, we identified 26 FBN genes in the whole genome of T. aestivum through bioinformatic tools and biotechnological means. These genes were divided into 11 subgroups and were distributed on 11 chromosomes of T. aestivum. Interestingly, most of the TaFBN genes were located on the chromosomes 2A, 2B and 2D. The gene structure of each subgroup of gene family members and the position and number of motifs were highly similar.

Results

The evolutionary analysis results indicated that the affinities of FBNs in monocots were closer together. The tissue-specific analysis revealed that TaFBN genes were expressed in different tissues and developmental stages. In addition, some TaFBNs were involved in one or more biotic and abiotic stress responses. These results provide a basis for further study of the biological function of FBNs.
Automation of Monte Carlo‐based treatment plan verification for proton therapy
Authors: Kaluarachchi Maduka , Moskvin Vadim , Pirlepesov Fakhriddin , Wilson Lydia J. , Xie Fang , Faught Austin M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Independent calculations of proton therapy plans are an important quality control procedure in treatment planning. When using custom Monte Carlo (MC) models of the beamline, deploying the calculations can be laborious, time consuming, and require in‐depth knowledge of the computational environment. We developed an automated framework to remove these barriers and integrate our MC model into the clinical workflow.

Materials and Methods

The Eclipse Scripting Application Programming Interface was used to initiate the automation process. A series of MATLAB scripts were then used for preprocessing of input data and postprocessing of results. Additional scripts were used to monitor the calculation process and appropriately deploy calculations to an institutional high‐performance computing facility. The automated framework and beamline models were validated against 160 patient specific QA measurements from an ionization chamber array and using a ±3%/3 mm gamma criteria.

Results

The automation reduced the human‐hours required to initiate and run a calculation to 1–2 min without leaving the treatment planning system environment. Validation comparisons had an average passing rate of 99.4% and were performed at depths ranging from 1 to 15 cm.

Conclusion

An automated framework for running MC calculations was developed which enables the calculation of dose and linear energy transfer within a clinically relevant workflow and timeline. The models and framework were validated against patient specific QA measurements and exhibited excellent agreement. Before this implementation, execution was prohibitively complex for an untrained individual and its use restricted to a research environment.
Stress‐matrix‐based formation transformation control under mixed control variables
Authors: Pan Yunlong , Yang Qingkai , Zhou Bo , Fang Hao
Published: May 2020

In this article, we consider the distributed planar formation control problem, in which only three agents have access to the desired geometry information specified by different sensing control variables, including the distance and bearing (angle). With the aim to achieve flexible transformation motions, the stress matrix is invoked to activate the affine formation control technique, rendering the system more freedom in the sense that the whole formation shape can be altered via controlling a small number of agents. By integrating the distance and bearing (angle) measurements, a new control algorithm is proposed such that the formation can be smoothly changed according to the prescribed control variables imposed on the informed agents. Moreover, the orientation of the whole formation is also controllable while forming the desired geometry shape. Finally, simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Zinc Complexes of β‐Ketoiminato Ligands as Efficient Catalysts for the Synthesis of α‐Amino Nitriles via Strecker Reaction
Authors: Das Suman , Kumar Ravi , Devadkar Ajitrao , Panda Tarun K.
Published: May 2020

We report the synthesis of α‐aminonitriles by one‐pot coupling reaction of aldehyde, amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) using β‐ketoiminato zinc complexes as a pre‐catalyst in very good yield under mild reaction condition. Homoleptic zinc complex [{κ2‐(2,4,6‐Me3C6H2NC(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)}2Zn] (1 a) was synthesized by the treatment of protic ligand [(2,4,6‐Me3C6H2NHC(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)] (L1H) with potassium hydride and anhydrous zinc diiodide in 2 : 2 : 1 molar ratio in THF. Analogous reactions using [(2,6‐iPr2C6H3NHC(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)] (L2H) and [(Ph2CHNHC(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)] (L3H) as protic ligands, dinuclear zinc complexes [{κ3‐(2,6‐iPr2C6H3NC(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)}ZnI]2 (1 b) and [Zn(Ph2CHNHC−(Me)=CHC(Me)=O)ZnI2] (1 c) were obtained in good yield. Molecular structures of ligands L1H, L3H, and zinc complexes 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c were established by single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction analysis. Dinuclear zinc complexes 1 b, and 1 c exhibited high transformation, greater selectivity and broad substrate scope for the synthesis of α‐aminonitrile under mild condition. A most plausible mechanism for synthesis α‐aminonitrile is proposed based on several controlled reactions.