bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen Enriched Organic Fertilizer (NEO) and Its Effect on Ryegrass Yield and Soil Fauna Feeding Activity under Controlled Conditions
Authors: Mousavi Hesam , Cottis Thomas , Hoff Gina , Solberg Svein Øivind
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a new nitrogen-enriched organic-based fertilizer (NEO) on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) yield and soil fauna feeding activity. Nitrogen is transformed from the air to manure by a plasma process. At the farm level, NEO could improve self-sufficiency and sustainability. The work was carried out under controlled conditions in two pot trials. Five fertilization regimes were used: no fertilizer, different amounts of mineral fertilizer, three NEO types, organic fertilizer (untreated manure), and organic fertilizer + different amounts of N in mineral fertilizer, including 14 treatments in trial one and 11 treatments in trial two. Besides evaluating dry matter yields, we utilized the Bait-lamina test system to assess the feeding activity of soil fauna. The results indicated a clear positive impact of nitrogen (N) on ryegrass yield where all fertilizers increased the yield in correspondence with their N availability regardless of the fertilizer type; whereas the yield was highest with mineral fertilizer up to our maximum level of 235 kg N ha−1 in trial one and 175 kg N ha−1 in trial two. The NEO fertilizers yielded in the same range as mineral fertilizers. The same clear pattern was not observed for soil fauna feeding activity. Instead, a tendency was observed where no fertilization tends to give the highest feeding activity. We saw no correlation between the yield and the soil fauna feeding activity. The feeding activity was highest in depth below 5 cm from the soil surface. Feeding activity also increased over time after fertilization. The NEO fertilizers had no more adverse effects on soil fauna feeding activity than other fertilizers. Other factors than fertilization alone are determining the soil fauna feeding activity.
Land Cover Changes in Selected Areas Next to Lagoons Located on the Southern Coast of the Baltic Sea, 1984–2021
Authors: Gozdowski Dariusz , Žukovskis Jan , Razinkovas-Baziukas Artūras , Wójcik-Gront Elżbieta
Published: February 2022

The aim of the study is the evaluation of land cover changes in selected areas next to three lagoons (the Curonian Lagoon, the Vistula Lagoon and the Szczecin Lagoon) located on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea (in Lithuania, Russia, Poland and Germany) from 1984 to 2021. The changes are evaluated using multispectral (visible light—RGB and near infrared—NIR) satellite images from the Landsat 5 and Sentinel-2 sensors. Due to their high importance for ecosystem services, two main land cover types are evaluated, i.e., forest area and inland water reservoirs. The classification of the images is performed using a random forest algorithm. Areas of water bodies and forests are evaluated for the years 1984 and 2021. During period 1984–2021, positive changes in land cover are observed in all three regions included in the study. In almost all parts, with the exception of the Polish part of the area located next to the Szczecin Lagoon, of these regions, an increase in forest area is observed. The increase ranges from 0.1% (Poland, area next to the Vistula Lagoon) to 1.2% (Germany, area next to the Szczecin Lagoon). The area of inland water reservoirs has not changed significantly in the long term. Despite the global warming, no reduction in the area of these water reservoirs is observed, even new seminatural reservoirs have been created in some parts of the study area.
Assessment of Different Envelope Configurations via Optimization Analysis and Thermal Performance Indicators: A Case Study in a Tropical Climate
Authors: Araúz Jesús , Mora Dafni , Chen Austin Miguel
Published: February 2022

Passive solutions for more energy-efficient buildings are critical to improving our odds in the current energy crisis. This work focuses on assessing the thermal performance of different envelope construction layouts in a tropical climate through proposed indicators regarding the thermal mass degree (TMD) and insulation degree (ID). For this, a numerical study was performed for a reference building (RB) in Panama City and validated with the electricity consumption bills. Behavioral and sensitivity analyses were employed to identify critical heat gains and the most important envelope constructions, resulting in the layouts of the roof and external walls. Optimization analyses were performed to find adequate layouts to reduce the discomfort hours. Different roofs, external walls, internal partition layouts, and glazing types were evaluated. Results indicated that the adequate envelope configuration is a roof layout with low TMD and ID, along with wall layouts with high TMD and low ID.
Case Study of Using the Geothermal Potential of Mine Water for Central District Heating—The Rožná Deposit, Czech Republic
Authors: Vokurka Michal , Kunz Antonín
Published: February 2022

This paper analyzes the possibility of using the thermal energy of discharged environmentally friendly mine water for the heat supply of a selected locality. There are few cases of industrial use of geothermal water in the Czech Republic, but mine water has never been the source. Based on this fact, an analysis of the usability of mine water at the Rožná I Mine was carried out. The analysis showed that the energy output of this pumped water was sufficient for the selected location of the municipality of Dolní Rožínka, where long-term annual average consumptions are at a level of 4350 GJ. The theoretical maximum output of this source is calculated as 837.4 kW; therefore, it exceeds the output required to satisfy the energy needs of this location several times over. Based on this input information, a technical and economic model of the heating system installation project was developed with three options. The case study aimed to find and propose an optimal alternative solution to replace the current unsatisfactory state of heat supply in the village of Dolní Rožínka. In the final part of this paper, the most optimal option is identified by a comparative method, which replaces the existing central district heating based on the production of heat energy from natural gas, i.e., fossil fuels. This study was motivated by a strategy to replace fossil energy sources with renewable energy sources wherever conditions are suitable.
Selecting Key Resilience Indicators for Indigenous Community Using Fuzzy Delphi Method
Authors: Tseng Yung-Ping , Huang Yu-Chin , Li Mei-Syuan , Jiang You-Zih
Published: February 2022

Resilience is the concept that emphasizes change and adaptation and focuses on the capacity to absorb shocks and still maintain function. How can an Indigenous community assess the resilience of the tribe when it is affected by an array of obstacles? What are the assessment factors of resilience? This study consolidated relevant literature on resilience through in-depth interviews and the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to identify the resilience indicators for Indigenous community development. It eventually identified 5 domains, 26 types, and 45 evaluation indicators. The final indicators are divided into five domains: economic, social, cultural, environmental, and policy. The social resilience indicators: “the ability to overcome obstacles”, “the ability to accept stimuli”, and “the degree of connection between tribal and external resources” were not mentioned in the past studies of resilience. For the first time, the following cultural resilience indicator was also included: “maintain the traditional ancestral teachings and respect for ancestral norms”. Finally, this study suggests that follow-up research may extend these resilience indicators and apply them to other Indigenous tribes. These 26 types of assessment will also be the factors that must be considered in the process of adaptation and reconstruction when the community is faced with emergencies or catastrophes.
Early Childhood Educators’ Practices in Education for Sustainable Development in China: Evidence from Shandong Province
Authors: Cheng Chen , Yu Yongping
Published: February 2022

Educators can drive educational change and enable children’s learning for sustainable development. Early childhood education is an important component of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and analyzing early childhood educators’ ESD practices can help advance the implementation and realization of ESD. However, the existing overseas studies’ survey instruments do not systematically reflect the basic ideas of ESD. Furthermore, few studies have explored early childhood educators’ ESD practices in China. Therefore, this study established a newly developed and validated instrument, the Early Childhood Educators’ Education for Sustainable Development Practices Scale (ECEESDPS), to assess early childhood educators’ ESD practices. We randomly surveyed 7287 early childhood educators from Shandong Province. The psychometric properties show that the ECEESDPS is a reliable and valid scale that contains four constructs: Values, Content, Competency, and Implementation. The descriptive statistics revealed that educators scored relatively higher for the Values and Implementation constructs, and lower for the Content and Competency constructs. These results suggest that early childhood educators’ ESD practices are generally positive, which correlates with the theoretical background and policies of early childhood education in China. We provide implications for policy development and practical improvement.
The “Socialized Architecture”: A Software Engineering Approach for a New Cloud
Authors: Malo-Perisé Pedro , Merseguer José
Published: February 2022

Today, the cloud means a revolution within the Internet revolution. However, an oligopoly sustaining the cloud may not be the best solution, since ethical problems such as privacy or even transferring data sovereignty could eventually happen. Our research, coined as the "socialized architecture," presents a novel disruptive approach to completely transform the cloud as we know it today. The approach follows ideas already working in the field of volunteer computing, since it tries to socialize spare computing power in the infraused hardware that institutions and normal people own. However, our solution is completely different to current ones, since it does not create hyper-specialized muscles in client machines. The solution is new since it proposes a software engineering approach for developing “socialized services”, which, leveraging an asynchronous interaction model, creates a network of lightweight microservices that can be dynamically allocated and replicated through the network. The use of state-of-the-art patterns, such as Command Query Responsibility Segregation, helps to isolate domain events and persistence needs, while an API Gateway addresses communication. All previous ideas were tested through a complete and functional proof of concept, which is a prototype called Circle implementing a social network. Circle has been useful to expose problems that need to be addressed. The results of the assessment confirm, in our view, that it is worth to start this new field of work.
Speaking Their Language: Does Environmental Signage Align to Personal Dimensions of Environmentally Responsible Behavior in Undergraduate Residence Halls?
Authors: Hamilton Erin Miller , Rane Apoorva
Published: February 2022

Everyday environmental behaviors within the residential sphere contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. Understanding the factors underlying these behaviors is key to changing behavior. This paper examines undergraduate behavior in on-campus housing as a case study with the following aims: (1) to identify the personal dimensions that underlie undergraduates’ environmentally responsible behaviors (ERBs) and (2) to determine if environmental signage in on-campus housing aligns with these existing personal dimensions. This study involved an online survey of ERBs, values, motivations, and knowledge of students in six residence halls. A content analysis of environmental signage examined how values and motivations were used to frame environmental messages. Comparisons were made to determine how the communications aligned to occupants’ values and motivations. Undergraduate ERBs are supported by subjects’ Biospheric values, Environmental Concern, and motivation to engage with Technology. Female subjects performed significantly more ERBs than male students. Male students placed a significantly higher value on Egoism, which was significantly associated with poorer environmental behaviors. Signage with behavioral appeals is a relatively cost-effective and prevalent intervention strategy. However, signage should be tailored to appeal to a range of values and motivations of the target audience, including students’ desires to interact with technology and the personal benefits of environmental responsibility.
Motives, Means, and Belonging in a Strange Land: Female International Students Navigating a Racially and Ethnically Homogeneous Korean Society
Authors: Kim Seohyun , Feyissa Israel Fisseha
Published: February 2022

Using Mandelbaum’s (1973) life history analysis framework, this study analyzed the intersection of female experience, social wellbeing, gender role, and the cost of migration as a female international student in an ethnically homogenous and ethnical nationalist host country, South Korea. A cross-cultural comparison also followed to understand factors affecting belongingness and the ability to incorporate. As a result, immigrant life course dimensions are affected by extremities of cultural nearness or distance, cultural fluency or disfluency, positive cultural experience, intense ethnic and cultural contact, and the existence of a diaspora. The emigration to Korea and structural systems significantly turn the female immigrants’ course of life. Adaptation and belongingness are also affected by a desire for an abundant “Korean” cultural experience, rare cultural contact, code-switching, or indifference for a cultural experience. A comparative look at the experiences also produced common and different patterns based on the cultural origin of the students. Overall, the distinct ethnic characteristics of Korea as a host not only created a demanding assimilation (a strong pull to Korean ethnic identity assumed roles) but it also brought a unique and transforming female and belongingness experience. As migration may redirect or reward female gender roles, this study points to a proper discussion to understand the relativity of female experience within a distinctive and culturally demanding host country.
Correlation between Building Damages and Losses with the Microzonation Map of Mataram—Case Study: Lombok Earthquake 2018, Indonesia
Authors: Setyogroho Bambang , Muslim Dicky , Sadewo Muhammad Suwongso , Muslim Ghazi Oktavidi , Burhanuddin Safri , Hendarmawan Hendarmawan
Published: February 2022

The high intensity of the earthquake on Lombok Island on 5 August 2018, with a magnitude of 7.0 Mb, caused material losses experienced by the affected residential areas. The Indonesian Geological Agency in 2015 published a microzonation map that mapped zones prone to earthquake shocks to mitigate disasters. This study aimed to compare the level of damage and loss in residential areas due to earthquakes in Mataram City with earthquake-prone zones using a microzonation map. The correlation between damage and loss value of residentials with microzonation maps was evaluated using the overlay method. The results showed that the level of damage and the value of the loss of houses in the high disaster-prone zone (red zone) showed the highest loss value. In comparison, the level of losses in the moderate disaster-prone zone (yellow zone) and light disaster-prone zone (blue zone) on the microzonation map shows a low and lower loss value. This study concludes that the microzonation map helps determine the damage zone and the level of disaster vulnerability caused by the earthquake hazard.
Bridging Modeling and Certification to Evaluate Low-ILUC-Risk Practices for Biobased Materials with a User-Friendly Tool
Authors: Balugani Enrico , Sumfleth Beike , Majer Stefan , Marazza Diego , Thrän Daniela
Published: February 2022

Biobased materials may help to achieve a renewable, circular economy, but their impact could be similar to those of non-renewable materials. In the case of biofuels, the indirect land use change (ILUC) effects determine whether they can provide sustainability benefits compared to fossil fuels. ILUC modeling estimates have large uncertainties, making them difficult to include in a policy aiming at reducing environmental impacts. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II reduced ILUC estimate uncertainties by shifting the focus from ILUC environmental impacts to ILUC risk. Nevertheless, this does not take into account either certifiable additionality practices to reduce the ILUC risk for the production of biobased materials, or biobased materials other than biofuels. Here we propose a simple, user-friendly tool to bridge the gap between ILUC modeling and policy, by estimating the ILUC risk of biobased material production and to assess by how much different additionality practices can reduce that risk at different levels of the value chain. This was done by explicitly including the additionality practices in an ILUC model, simplifying the model to a spreadsheet tool that relates automatically the input provided by the user, which may be a producer or a policy maker, with a certain ILUC risk. We demonstrate the functioning of the tool on two examples: maize production in Iowa and in Romania. In Iowa, maize production is already very intensive, so the additionality practices proposed have little effect on its ILUC risk category, and the low-ILUC-risk-produced maize would amount to 0.03 t ha−1 year−1. In Romania there is ample margin for implementation of additionality practices, and thus a large potential to reduce the ILUC risk category of maize production, with low-ILUC-risk-produced maize amounting to 0.19 t ha−1 year −1.
Properties Assessment by Quantum Mechanical Calculations for Azulenes Substituted with Thiophen– or Furan–Vinyl–Pyridine
Authors: Ciocirlan Oana , Ungureanu Eleonora-Mihaela , Vasile (Corbei) Alina-Alexandra , Stefaniu Amalia
Published: February 2022

In this paper, azulenes substituted with thiophen– or furan–vinyl–pyridine are reported as heavy metal ligands in systems based on chemically modified electrodes. We undertook a computational study of their structures using density functional theory (DFT). Based on these computations, we obtained properties and key molecular descriptors related to chemical reactivity and electrochemical behavior. We investigated the correlation between some quantum parameters associated with the chemical reactivity and the complexing properties of the modified electrodes based on these ligands. The best correlations for the parameters were retained. We showed that the linear correlation between DFT-computed HOMO/LUMO energies and experimental redox potentials is very good.
On the Minimum-Area Parallelogram Annulus Problem
Authors: Bae Sang Won
Published: February 2022

The minimum-area parallelogram annulus problem is studied, in which one wants to compute a parallelogram annulus of minimum area that includes n input points in the plane. Extending an usual, doughnut-shaped circular annulus, a parallelogram annulus is defined to be a region between two edge-parallel parallelograms. As a parallelogram has two distinct orientations for its sides, so does a parallelogram annulus as well. In this paper, several variants of the problem are considered: (1) when both side orientations are given and fixed, (2) when one of them is fixed and the other can be freely chosen, (3) when the interior angles of the resulting parallelogram annulus is given and fixed, and (4) when both side orientations can be chosen arbitrarily. The first and efficient algorithms for each of these cases are presented, whose running times are (1) O(n), (2) O(n2logn), (3) O(n2logn), and (4) O(n4+ϵ), respectively. Further, bicriteria variants of the problem are considered, in which both width and area of the resulting parallelogram annulus are simultaneously minimized. In order to obtain these new algorithms, geometric observations, newly obtained in this paper and known in previous papers, and the symmetric nature of parallelograms and parallelogram annuli are exploited.
Overexpression of Bcl2 and Bcl2L1 Can Suppress Betanodavirus-Induced Type III Cell Death and Autophagy Induction in GF-1 Cells
Authors: Lee Ang-Jung , Liao Hong-Jun , Hong Jiann-Ruey
Published: February 2022

Betanodavirus infection induces viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in fish. However, the role of cell death and autophagy in the pathogenesis of VNN remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) infection on Bcl2 downregulation and overexpression on asymmetric interaction between cell death and autophagy. The mRFP-LC3 reporter system was used to identify autophagosome formation in GF-1 (Grouper fin-1) fish cells. We found that the RGNNV could strongly induce autophagosome formation 36 h post-infection (hpi) after autophagy inhibitor 3-MA had downregulated anti-apoptotic genes such as Bcl2 and Bcl2L1 (Bcl-xL). We proposed that the overexpression of Bcl2 and Bcl2L1 can modulate both cell death and autophagy. Then, we found that it can also reduce either type III cell death or autophagy, which are mildly correlated with reduced viral replication. Our data suggest that RGNNV-induced Bcl2 downregulation correlates with the asymmetrical interaction between cell death induction and the autophagy process, which resembles viral replication.
Protective Effect of Nebivolol against Oxidative Stress Induced by Aristolochic Acids in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Antoine Marie-Hélène , Husson Cécile , Yankep Tatiana , Mahria Souhaila , Tagliatti Vanessa , Colet Jean-Marie , Nortier Joëlle
Published: February 2022

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are powerful nephrotoxins that cause severe tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The biopsy-proven peritubular capillary rarefaction may worsen the progression of renal lesions via tissue hypoxia. As we previously observed the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cultured endothelial cells exposed to AA, we here investigated in vitro AA-induced metabolic changes by 1H-NMR spectroscopy on intracellular medium and cell extracts. We also tested the effects of nebivolol (NEB), a β-blocker agent exhibiting antioxidant properties. After 24 h of AA exposure, significantly reduced cell viability and intracellular ROS overproduction were observed in EAhy926 cells; both effects were counteracted by NEB pretreatment. After 48 h of exposure to AA, the most prominent metabolite changes were significant decreases in arginine, glutamate, glutamine and glutathione levels, along with a significant increase in the aspartate, glycerophosphocholine and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine contents. NEB pretreatment slightly inhibited the changes in glutathione and glycerophosphocholine. In the supernatants from exposed cells, a decrease in lactate and glutamate levels, together with an increase in glucose concentration, was found. The AA-induced reduction in glutamate was significantly inhibited by NEB. These findings confirm the involvement of oxidative stress in AA toxicity for endothelial cells and the potential benefit of NEB in preventing endothelial injury.
Analysis of Mycotoxin and Secondary Metabolites in Commercial and Traditional Slovak Cheese Samples
Authors: Izzo Luana , Mikušová Petra , Lombardi Sonia , Sulyok Michael , Ritieni Alberto
Published: February 2022

Cheese represents a dairy product extremely inclined to fungal growth and mycotoxin production. The growth of fungi belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Claviceps, Alternaria, and Trichoderma genera in or on cheese leads to undesirable changes able to affect the quality of the final products. In the present investigation, a total of 68 types of commercial and traditional Slovak cheeses were analyzed to investigate the occurrence of fungal metabolites. Altogether, 13 fungal metabolites were identified and quantified. Aflatoxin M1, the only mycotoxin regulated in milk and dairy products, was not detected in any case. However, the presence of metabolites that have never been reported in cheeses, such as tryptophol at a maximum concentration level from 13.4 to 7930 µg/kg (average: 490 µg/kg), was recorded. Out of all detected metabolites, enniatin B represents the most frequently detected mycotoxin (0.06–0.71 µg/kg) in the analyzed samples. Attention is drawn to the lack of data on mycotoxins’ origin from Slovak cheeses; in fact, this is the first reported investigation. Our results indicate the presence of fungal mycotoxin contamination for which maximum permissible levels are not established, highlighting the importance of monitoring the source and producers of contamination in order to protect consumers’ health.
Selection of Primer–Template Sequences That Bind with Enhanced Affinity to Vaccinia Virus E9 DNA Polymerase
Authors: DeStefano Jeffrey J. , Iseni Frédéric , Tarbouriech Nicolas
Published: February 2022

A modified SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) pr,otocol (referred to as PT SELEX) was used to select primer–template (P/T) sequences that bound to the vaccinia virus polymerase catalytic subunit (E9) with enhanced affinity. A single selected P/T sequence (referred to as E9-R5-12) bound in physiological salt conditions with an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (KD,app) of 93 ± 7 nM. The dissociation rate constant (koff) and binding half-life (t1/2) for E9-R5-12 were 0.083 ± 0.019 min−1 and 8.6 ± 2.0 min, respectively. The values indicated a several-fold greater binding ability compared to controls, which bound too weakly to be accurately measured under the conditions employed. Loop-back DNA constructs with 3′-recessed termini derived from E9-R5-12 also showed enhanced binding when the hybrid region was 21 nucleotides or more. Although the sequence of E9-R5-12 matched perfectly over a 12-base-pair segment in the coding region of the virus B20 protein, there was no clear indication that this sequence plays any role in vaccinia virus biology, or a clear reason why it promotes stronger binding to E9. In addition to E9, five other polymerases (HIV-1, Moloney murine leukemia virus, and avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptases (RTs), and Taq and Klenow DNA polymerases) have demonstrated strong sequence binding preferences for P/Ts and, in those cases, there was biological or potential evolutionary relevance. For the HIV-1 RT, sequence preferences were used to aid crystallization and study viral inhibitors. The results suggest that several other DNA polymerases may have P/T sequence preferences that could potentially be exploited in various protocols.
Optimization of Heat-Resistance Technology for a Duck Hepatitis Lyophilized Live Vaccine
Authors: Zhao Yanhong , Deng Bihua , Pan Xiaoqing , Zhang Jinqiu , Zuo Xiaoxin , Wang Junning , Lv Fang , Lu Yu , Hou Jibo
Published: February 2022

In this study, to improve the quality of a live attenuated vaccine for duck viral hepatitis (DHV), the lyophilization of a heat-resistant duck hepatitis virus vaccine was optimized. The optimized heat protectors were made of 10% sucrose, 1.2% pullulan, 0.5% PVP, and 1% arginine, etc., with a titer freeze-drying loss of ≤0.50 Lg. The vaccine product’s valence measurements demonstrated the following: the vaccine could be stored at 2–8 °C for 18 months with a virus titer loss ≤0.91 Lg; at 37 °C for 10 days with a virus valence loss ≤0.89 Lg; and at 45 °C for 3 days with a virus titer loss ≤0.90 Lg. Regarding safety, no deaths occurred in two-day-old ducklings immunized with a 10 times dose vaccine; their energy, diet, and weight gain were all normal, demonstrating that the DHV heat-resistant vaccines were safe for ducklings and did not cause any immune side effects. Duck viral hepatitis freeze-dried vaccine began to produce antibodies at 7 d after immunization, reached above 5.0 on 14 d, and reached above 7.0 on 21 d, showing a continuous upward trend. This indicates that duck viral hepatitis vaccine has a good immunogen level. The optimization of the freeze-drying process saves costs and also improves the quality of the freeze-drying products, which provides important theoretical and technical support for the further study of vaccine products.
Noncoding-RNA-Based Therapeutics with an Emphasis on Prostatic Carcinoma—Progress and Challenges
Authors: Nava Victor E. , Perera Pin-Yu , Kumar Nirbhay , Jain Maneesh
Published: February 2022

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) defy the central dogma by representing a family of RNA molecules that are not translated into protein but can convey information encoded in their DNA. Elucidating the exact function of ncRNA has been a focus of discovery in the last decade and remains challenging. Nevertheless, the importance of understanding ncRNA is apparent since these molecules regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level exerting pleiotropic effects critical in development, oncogenesis, and immunity. NcRNAs have been referred to as “the dark matter of the nucleus”, and unraveling their role in physiologic and pathologic processes will provide vast opportunities for basic and translational research with the potential for significant therapeutic progress. Consequently, strong efforts are underway to exploit the therapeutic utility of ncRNA, some of which have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. The use of ncRNA therapeutics (or “vaccines” if defined as anti-disease agents) may result in improved curative strategies when used alone or in combination with existing treatments. This review will focus on the role of ncRNA therapeutics in prostatic carcinoma while exploring basic biological aspects of these molecules that represent about 97% of the transcriptome in humans.
Changes in Reticular River Network under Rapid Urbanization: A Case of Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Authors: Shi Yuqing , Yao Yang , Zhao Jun , Li Xiangying , Yu Jia , Qian Guangren
Published: February 2022

Large quantity of rivers have disappeared during rapid urbanization in China’s Yangtze River Delta, and it is difficult to define the changes in the river network owing to its high dense and complex reticular structure. Shanghai’s Pudong New Area (SPNA) is a typical area of rapid urbanization in the delta. A Comprehensive River-network Indicator System (CRIS), including quantity and area, geomorphologic structure, and landscape connectivity indicators, was established to characterize the changes in the dense reticular river network in SPNA from 1965 to 2010. The percentage of urban area rapidly increased from 22.52% to 59.49% in SPNA, whereas that of water surface (Wp) decreased from 10.57% to 7.23% during the same period. The changes in river network displayed a clear spatial gradient, and the closer the functional area is to the city center, the earlier and faster the changes in the rivers. CRIS obviously changed when the percentage of built-up area increased from 10% to 30%; however, the CRIS changed more gently when the percentage exceeded 30%. Among the three sub-indicators of CRIS, quantity and area strongly corresponded to urbanization stages, geomorphologic structure was most sensitive to urbanization, and landscape connectivity accurately captured the threshold phenomena in the change in reticular river network.
Development of Solid Phase Extraction Method Based on Ion Imprinted Polymer for Determination of Cr(III) Ions by ETAAS in Waters
Authors: Trzonkowska Laura , Leśniewska Barbara , Godlewska-Żyłkiewicz Beata
Published: February 2022

In this work, a new solid phase extraction method for the determination of chromium species in water samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. For selective separation of Cr(III) ions under dynamic conditions, two ion imprinted polymers containing Cr(III)-1,10-phenanthroline complex (Cr(III)-phen) were prepared with the use of one (styrene, ST) or two (styrene and 4-vinylpyridine, ST-4VP) functional monomers. The physicochemical properties of those solid sorbents towards Cr(III) ions were studied and compared. It was found that Cr(III) ions were retained on the Cr(III)-phen-ST and Cr(III)-phen-ST-4VP polymers with high efficiency and repeatability (91.6% and 92.9%, RSD < 2%) from solutions at pH 4.5. The quantitative recovery of the analyte (91.7% and 93.9%, RSD < 4%) was obtained with 0.1 mol/L EDTA solution. The introduction of 4VP, an additional functional monomer, improved selectivity of the Cr(III)-phen-ST-4VP polymer towards Cr(III) ions in the presence of Cu(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) ions, and slightly decreased the sorption capacity and stability of that polymer. The accuracy of procedures based on both polymeric sorbents was proved by analyzing the standard reference material of surface water SRM 1643e. The method using the Cr(III)-phen-ST polymer was applied for determining of Cr(III) ions in tap water and infusion of a green tea.
Historiographic analysis of Leslie White's critique of the concept of culture in Russian literature
Authors:   Faculty of History of the Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev, Zhigalov A.V.
Published: February 2022

The article analyzes the criticism of the conceptual developments of Leslie white's theory of culture in Russian literature. The author, being an investigator of the theory of the evolutionary development of cultural processes, enters into a correspondence polemic with famous figures of the Humanities, appealing to the words of white, as well as on the basis of his own observations and conclusions.
V.A. Zhukovsky: Finding a Home
Authors:   Independent Researcher, Koptev L.N.
Published: February 2022

The article examines the way of forming a triunity of life experiences, poetic dreams and spiritual aspirations of the poet V.A. Zhukovsky, leading to the acquisition of creative joy, the fullness of which is symbolically expressed in the image of native Home.
Book of the prophet Jeremiah in theological and philosophical reading
Authors:   Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, Panyshev A.L.
Published: February 2022

This article is devoted to the analysis of the Old Testament Book of the prophet Jeremiah. This man lived in Judea in VII–VI centuries BC. The article emphasizes that, in addition to prophecies about the future spread of Christianity, this Book touches on many aspects of the religious life of Jewish society. The purpose of the article is to identify in the book of the prophet Jeremiah those ideas that are characteristic of the Christian worldview. The book of Jeremiah vividly expresses the idea of repentance, and Jeremiah's prophecies are closely related to the New Testament book of Revelation. The book of Jeremiah vividly expresses the idea of the responsibility of human society. The article notes that not all biblical postulates are absolute. For example, the categories of blessing and curse of God are conditioned by the way people live and can change according to the development or regression of the spiritual life of the people. This article can be useful in the preparation of educational material on theological and philosophical disciplines.
Cultural experiences with narratives
Authors:   independent researcher, Armenia, Virapyan Ed.G.
Published: February 2022

Autobiographical note (Sinan). Loris-Melikov. Joseph Orbeli. Night under the sky of Ani. Churchill. Napoleon. Clairvoyant (Rasputin). Columbus and the Queen of Spain in a letter to each other. Brothers of Goncourt (remark).
On a number of issues in the study of management in the field of professional folk choral performance
Authors:   Department of Cultural Heritage of the Moscow State Institute of Culture, Andreeva N.S.
Published: February 2022

The article examines the history of the formation of management of musical art in Russia as a discipline and direction of personnel training. The issues of the history of the state cultural policy in relation to folk choral performance, as well as the emergence of an opposite trend in the interpretation and actualization of folk singing art, formed within the framework of the youth folklore movement, are touched upon. Ideas and proposals were expressed regarding the availability of qualified managers in professional folk choir groups.
ANALYSIS OF TEACHERS’ CREATIVITY IN MEDIA-BASED LEARNING GRADE X AT SMK PENCAWAN MEDAN
Authors: Doloksaribu Likawati , Meliala Epria Primsa , Purba Pebri Wati Romatua , Panjaitan Lavia
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

This study aims to describe the creativity of English teachers when SMK Pencawan Medan grade X use learning media. This research is descriptive. The data is obtained through interviews. The data analysis followed some steps, namely collecting data, reducing, display data, data verification and create reports. The results showed that teachers employed the various teaching-learning media in ELT classes. English teachers used various media to make it easier for students to learn and understand the teaching materials. The media include audio, visual, and audio visual. The most media used in the ELT classes were audio and visual. A small part of the media is produced through internet sources. However, the teacher’s implementation method is not optimal. This can be seen from the imperfect application of the PowerPoint medium when the teacher uses the power point medium. Not every day teachers use the learning medium to achieve their learning goals. Based on the conclusion above, the researchers give suggestion to the teachers should always looking for creative new things and create active, innovative, and fun learning, and also motivate students to seriously participate in learning even though they study through online.

Keywords  : Creativity, Learning media
RELATEDNESS BETWEEN K13 ENGLISH CURRICULUM AND WRITING MATERIALS IN BAHASA INGGRIS TEXTBOOK
Authors: Yanti Wirda , Silaban Alisa Franstia Maria , Saragih Erikson
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Textbook is an important media because contains learning materials that employed learners to get knowledge through learning process. To support the learning process, the textbook should be appropriate to the 2013 curriculum. This research used content analysis. The objectives of this research are (1) to explain the topics of writing materials in Bahasa Inggris textbook (2) to explain the writing materials written in Bahasa Inggris textbook (3) to explain the relatedness between writing materials and the K13 curriculum. Here, the result of this research shows that (1) The topic of writing material is appropriate to the 2013 curriculum. (2) The form of writing tasks meet as good criteria  because the textbook gave good guideline and explanation exactly in social function, text structure and language feature. (3) The writing material in Bahasa Inggris textbook is related to the English 2013 curriculum because the writing material in the textbook have implemented based on the content of the syllabus of the 2013 curriculum. This textbook is good to use because it is suitable for students in Senior High School for the twelfth grade to increase their writing skills.

 

Keywords : Content analysis, writing material, 2013 curriculum
IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS BY DIGITAL STORYTELLING TECHNIQUE IN PANDEMI COVIC-19
Authors: Ginting Nurfadilah , Situmorang Narma A. , Aries Tanti Afrilia , Saras Putri Dara , Tarigan Sri Ninta
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine whether using digital storytelling strategy can help students develop their speaking skills, as well as to clarify how using a digital storytelling strategy can help students improve their speaking skills. Classroom action research was used to perform this analysis, which was completed in two cycles. The research subject is 10 students, they are from XI class of SMK Panca Budi Medan in school years 2020/2021. The research data was taken from quantitative data, were collected by giving the retelling stories tests. The mean score for the pre-test was 42,4, post-test I was 62, post-test II was 80. It also evident from the percentage of the students who passed the Minimum Mastery Criterion – (KKM) score above75. In the pre-test, there were 20% of the students who got score above 75 % In post-test I, there was 40%, meanwhile post-test II, there were 80%. It can be concluded that digital storytelling strategy worked effectively to help students in improving their speaking skills. this research found that using a digital storytelling technique boosted students' speaking abilities significantly. It was suggested that english teachers can apply digital storytelling strategy as one of the alternatives in teaching speaking skills.
Keyword: Digital Storytelling Technique, Improving, And Speaking
DESIGNING READING MATERIAL BASED ON BATAKNESE FOLKLORE
Authors: Sitompul Elen , Situmorang Hotmauli , Sipayung Rika , Siburian Uni
Published: February 2022

Abstract

 

 

The low level of reading comprehension and interest affects their learning motivation at school. Many students are not interested in reading, because they think it is boring. To overcome these problems, this research aims: first, to develop Batak folklore. Second, to determine the effect of Batak folklore on reading comprehension and student motivation. This study takes 3 Batak folklore including 1) The Legend of Pohon Aren, 2) The Legend of Aek Situmandi, 4) The Legend of Air Soda.

This type of research is a qualitative descriptive obtained in writing to describe the moral values and character formation contained in the 3 Batak folk tales. The data of this research were taken from students of SMK Telkom Medan. Data collection is done by reading the story text over and over again. From the research, it can be concluded that Batak folklore can increase students' interest in reading and can be a motivation for every student.

 

 

Keywords: Batak folklore, motivation, reading interesting
Cryptocurrency Blockchain Technology in the Digital Revolution Era
Authors: Astuti Intan Dwi , Rajab Suryazi , Setiyouji Desky
Published: February 2022

Cryptocurrency is a blockchain-based technology that is often used as a digital currency. Digital money is different from conventional money, this type of money does not have a physical form but only a block of data bound by a hash as validation. The data is spread to every cryptocurrency user who is in the environment. So that when a user makes a transaction, data mining will be carried out. Cryptocurrencies have several advantages but also have disadvantages when used as currency, from a legal point of view there is still no law governing the circulation of currency in digital form (cryptocurrency). The government must recognize digital currency so that it can be accepted by the general public as a means of payment. For now, the government has not recognized digital money (cryptocurrency) as a currency, because Cryptocurrency is a new phenomenon by some people in Indonesia. The rapid development of technology in the 4.0 revolution era, in the next few years money in physical form will be replaced by digital money, seeing the many conveniences provided by using digital money.
Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Хамраев Х.Х. , Абдиев К.М.
Published: February 2022

Цель. Изучить сердечно-сосудистый риск по шкале mSCORE у пациентов с ревматоидным артритом. Материалы и методы. Были обследованы 140 пациентов с РА в возрасте от 35 до 60 лет. Диагноз ревматоидного артрита был поставлен на основе критериев ACR (1987) и ACR/EULAR (2010). Для раннего выявления и прогнозирования сердечно-сосудистого риска использовалась шкала mSCORE (SCORE/EULAR). Результаты. У пациентов с РА наследственные факторы риска (ФР) для сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний были выявлены у 31,4%, абдоминальное ожирение у 35%, АГ у 63,6%, ГХС у 25,7% игиподинамия у 37,9% пациентов. Курили 10,8% пациентов в исследовании, так как большинство (82%) обследуемых были женщины. При этом АГ наблюдалась в 1,5 раза, ГХС в 2,1 раза чаще у мужчин, чем у женщин. Согласно результатам исследования по шкале mSCORE низкий риск был у 52 (37,1%), средний риск у 64 (45,7%), высокий риск был у 14 (10%), а очень высокий риск у 10 (7,2%) пациентов. Заключение. У пациентов с РА применение шкалы mSCORE дает возможность ранней диагностики сердечно-сосудистого риска и своевременной коррекции факторов риска.

Purpose. To study cardiovascular risk on the mSCORE scale in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods. We examined 140 RA patients aged from 35 to 60 years. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made on the base of the ACR (1987) and ACR/EULAR (2010) criteria. The mSCORE scale (SCORE/EULAR) was used for early detection and prediction of cardiovascular risk. Results. In patients with RA, hereditary risk factors (RF) for cardiovascular diseases were detected in 31.4%, abdominal obesity - in 35%, arterial hypertension (AH) - in 63.6%, hypercholesterolemia - in 25.7%, and hypodynamia - in 37.9% of patients; 10.8% of patients were smoking, the majority (82%) of the surveyed patients were women. At the same time, AH was observed 1.5 times more often, hypercholesterolemia - 2.1 times more often in men than in women. According to the results of the study on the mSCORE scale, 52 (37.1%) patients had low risk, 64 (45.7%) patients had average risk, high risk was in 14 (10%) patients, and a very high risk was in 10 (7.2%) patients. Conclusion. In RA patients, the use of the mSCORE scale gives the opportunity of early diagnostics of cardiovascular risk and timely correction of risk factors.