bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined use of GABA and sitagliptin promotes human β-cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , Lau Harry Kevin , Son Dong Ok , Jin Tianru , Yang Yehong , Zhang Zhaoyun , Li Yiming , Prud’homme Gerald J , Wang Qinghua
Published: December 2020

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) improve rodent β-cell survival and function. In human β-cells, GABA exerts stimulatory effects on proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects, whereas GLP-1RA drugs have only limited effects on proliferation. We previously demonstrated that GABA and sitagliptin (Sita), a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor which increases endogenous GLP-1 levels, mediated a synergistic β-cell protective effect in mice islets. However, it remains unclear whether this combination has similar effects on human β-cell. To address this question, we transplanted a suboptimal mass of human islets into immunodeficient NOD-scid-gamma mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, and then treated them with GABA, Sita, or both. The oral administration of either GABA or Sita ameliorated blood glucose levels, increased transplanted human β-cell counts and plasma human insulin levels. Importantly, the combined administration of the drugs generated significantly superior results in all these responses, as compared to the monotherapy with either one of them. The proliferation and/or regeneration, improved by the combination, were demonstrated by increased Ki67+, PDX-1+, or Nkx6.1+ β-cell numbers. Protection against apoptosis was also significantly improved by the drug combination. The expression level of α-Klotho, a protein with protective and stimulatory effects on β cells, was also augmented. Our study indicates that combined use of GABA and Sita produced greater therapeutic benefits, which are likely due to an enhancement of β-cell proliferation and a decrease in apoptosis.
Steuerungsgrößen für digitale Geschäftsmodelle in Produktionsunternehmen
Authors: Hupfer Garlef , Wytopil Benedict , Gebhardt Linda
Published: December 2020

Die digitale Transformation von Geschäftsmodellen bewegt Unternehmen aktuell wie kaum ein anderer Trend. Der produzierenden Industrie versprechen digitale Geschäftsmodelle umfassende Effizienzsteigerungen sowie die Erschließung neuer Umsatzquellen und Wachstumsfelder. Zudem gelten sie als Voraussetzung für den Erhalt der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. Diese Transformation verändert die Wertschöpfungsprozesse, sodass eine Anpassung der betriebswirtschaftlichen Steuerung notwendig wird.
Metabolitos secundarios y capacidad antioxidante del extracto hidroalcohólico de hojas de Minthostachys mollis (muña)
Authors: Cano P. Carlos , Bonilla R. Pablo , Valdivieso I. Ruben
Published: December 2020

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue identificar algunos metabolitos secundarios en el extracto hidroalcóholico de hojas de Minthostachys mollis (muña), y determinar su Capacidad antioxidante. La especie vegetal se recolectó en el distrito de Huamanguilla (3276 msnm), provincia de Huanta, Ayacucho. El extracto se preparó con hojas secas pulverizadas de Minthostachys mollis (muña), mediante maceración hidroalcóholica, con el que se realizaron ensayos de solubilidad con solventes de diferente polaridad, así como también la marcha fitoquímica, luego se separaron algunos metabolitos secundarios por cromatografía en capa fina obteniéndose 12 fracciones las que fueron leídas al espectrofotómetro UV-vis. En el extracto hidroalcóholico se determinó su capacidad antioxidante (DPPH, ABTS). Mediante espectroscopia UV visible se propone la estructura química de 5 flavonas y 1 flavanona. Se halló buena Capacidad antioxidante mediante los métodos DPPH y ABTS.
Giomeros en Odontopediatría. Revisión narrativa
Authors: Meza Salcedo Rocío , Pérez Valverde Alan
Published: December 2020

La presente revisión tiene por objetivo comparar las ventajas que otorgan los giomeros en Odontopediatría frente a otros cementos dentales. Se realizó una revisión narrativa en las bases de datos SciELO y en los buscadores bibliográficos PubMed y Google Schoolar, hasta el 2019. De los 43 artículos se excluyeron ocho ya que no presentaban información con resultados relevantes, quedando así un total de 35 artículos para nuestra investigación. Se obtuvieron resultados comparativos, en cuanto a la recarga o liberación de flúor, fuerza de cizallamiento, estabilidad de color y comportamiento clínico en la superficie dentaria; encontrándose que el giomero es un material liberador de flúor por excelencia, así como por su adhesión a la dentina cumpliendo con la aceptación y directrices de la dentina y esmalte del programa de Materiales Adhesivos establecidos por la Asociación Dental Americana.
Efecto del ensilado de tubérculos de taro (Colocasia esculenta [L.] Schott) sobre indicadores productivos y reproductivos en cerdas F1 Landrace x Duroc
Authors: Caicedo Willan Orlando , Alves Ferreira Felipe N orberto , Caicedo Luis Gabriel
Published: December 2020

Se evaluó el efecto del ensilaje de tubérculos de taro (Colocasia esculenta [L.] Schott) sobre indicadores productivos y reproductivos de cerdas comerciales en gestación y lactancia. Se utilizaron 40 cerdas F1 Landrace x Duroc, con peso inicial de 174.2 ± 2.6 kg, distribuidas aleatoriamente en dos dietas. En gestación se incluyó 0 y 30% de ensilado en la dieta y se determinó el peso final de las cerdas gestantes (PFCG), número total de lechones nacidos al parto (NTLNP), número total de lechones nacidos vivos al parto (NTLNVP), peso de la camada al nacimiento (PCN), peso de los lechones al nacimiento (PLN), consumo de alimento por cerda en gestación (CACG) y el costo de alimentación en gestación (CAG). En lactancia se incluyó 0 y 10% de ensilado en la dieta y se evaluó el peso final de las cerdas lactantes (PFCL), número de lechones destetados por cerda (NLDC), peso de los lechones al destete (PLD), peso de la camada al destete (PCD), días para el inicio del celo posdestete (DICP), días para la concepción desde el destete (DCDD), consumo de alimento por cerda en lactancia (CACL) y el costo de alimentación en lactancia (CAL). En gestación no hubo diferencias significativas para PFCG, NTLNP, NTLNVP, PCN, PLN y CACG, pero el CAG fue menor en cerdas alimentadas con ensilado (p<0.05). En lactancia no hubo efecto para PFCL, NLDC, PLD, PCD, DICP y DCDD, pero el CACL y CAL fueron mejores (p<0.05) en las cerdas que consumieron ensilado. Se concluye que la inclusión de ensilaje de tubérculos de taro en la dieta de cerdas comerciales en gestación y lactancia no afectó los indicadores productivos y reproductivos, pero redujo los costos de alimentación.
Estrategias para mejorar los pastizales altoandinos
Authors: Lima Molina Nila , Aguirre Terrazas Lucrecia , Flores Mariazza Enrique
Published: December 2020

Un estudio de campo fue conducido para evaluar el impacto de la fertilización fosforada y la introducción del trébol blanco (Trifolium repens) en praderas naturales dominadas por Festuca dolichophylla (festuca). El área de estudio estuvo ubicado a 4500 msnm, en el sector Ayaracra, región Pasco, la cual corresponde a la eco región Puna del Perú. El diseño experimental fue factorial 2x2x5 en bloques con dos niveles de fósforo (0 y 80 kg/ha), dos distanciamientos entre puntos de siembra (0.5 y 1.0 m) y cinco épocas climáticas de crecimiento. Se evaluó la altura de planta, expansión foliar, vigor (volumen, altura), peso de la planta (g/m2), numero de cabezas florales (inflorescencias), grado de nodulación, contenido de nitrógeno en la hojas y tallos de festuca y contenido de nitrógeno en el suelo con presencia de trébol. La fertilización con fósforo (80 kg/ha) y el distanciamiento de siembra (0.5 cm) mostraron un efecto significativo en la altura, expansión foliar y grado de nodulación del trébol. En la festuca, la fertilización fosforada mostró una mejora significativa en el volumen y altura de planta, el distanciamiento de siembra de 0.5 cm mejoró el número de inflorescencias, y el distanciamiento a 1 m mejoró la altura. La precipitación (durante el pico de lluvia) favoreció la respuesta de expansión foliar y altura de planta del trébol y festuca.
Efecto de la aplicación de plasma seminal, GnRH y ablación folicular sobre la dinámica folicular en llamas (Lama glama)
Authors: Silva H. Nancy , Huanca M. Willian F. , Medina S. Guido , Huanca L. Wilfredo
Published: December 2020

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de plasma seminal, un análogo de GnRH y la ablación folicular sobre la dinámica folicular en llamas. El estudio se realizó en Puno, Perú, utilizando 24 llamas seleccionadas bajo el criterio de presentar un folículo preovulatorio >7 mm, determinado mediante ecografía transrectal. Las llamas fueron distribuidas aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos: T1, 1 ml PBS IM; T2, 2 ml plasma seminal IM; T3, 1 ml GnRH IM; T4, ablación folicular. Los animales fueron evaluados, mediante ecografía transrectal, cada 2 h entre las 20 hasta las 36 h post-tratamiento para determinar la ovulación; posteriormente en forma diaria hasta el día 9 y luego cada 2 días hasta el día 15 pos-estímulo para determinar el intervalo a la emergencia de una nueva onda folicular, la aparición del nuevo folículo dominante y el diámetro del cuerpo lúteo al día 8 del tratamiento. No se encontró diferencia significativa (p<0.05) entre tratamientos en las variables en estudio. Es posible que existan otros factores que podrían afectar el intervalo a la emergencia de una nueva onda folicular.
Presentación
Authors: Ríos Burga Jaime
Published: December 2020

Primero que el conocimiento la vida. Vemos entre la creciente racionalidad del sistema nacer en plena transición civilizatoria un nuevo horizonte de sentido que ubica hoy nuevas situaciones y problemáticas centrales en el cambio societal global. Nuestra Revista aparece precisamente bajo este imaginario en una coyuntura del Encuentro Internacional Pre ALAS Perú 2015 que nos llevará este fin de año cada vez más organizados al XXX Congreso ALAS Costa Rica.
El impacto social del SIDA en el siglo XX
Authors: Balarezo López Gunther
Published: December 2020

El SIDA fue un problema de salud que tuvo un fuerte impacto social por la desinformación de las personas, lo cual conllevó a la discriminación de los enfermos y sus familiares. En tal sentido, se hizo una revisión bibliográfica sobre algunos aspectos sociales del SIDA a finales del siglo XX, analizándose y resumiendo los aspectos más relevantes de diversas publicaciones. Se resalta que los medios de comunicación jugaron un rol fundamental en la información que se brindó a la sociedad, la cual fue en muchos casos fatalista, afectando a diversos grupos poblacionales, mediante la discriminación. Pero el enemigo más terrible no era el virus en sí, sino los prejuicios, los valores y la ignorancia de la sociedad que tenía con respecto a esta enfermedad.
Bagua y el Perú: extractivismo, dominación patriarcal y comunalidad
Authors: Ortiz Fernández Carolina
Published: December 2020

Reflexionar en torno a los códigos, las relaciones sociales y afectivas que emergen de la enunciación discursiva y los actos de las y los actores sociales que participaron en el conflicto socioambiental ocurrido en Bagua el 5 de junio de 2009, en diálogo con la teoría social clásica y la teoría de la colonialidad del poder, en primer lugar nos permite comprender otra visión del mundo y de la vida desde la perspectiva de ser “indígena” y habitante de la Amazonía en Perú; en segundo, que todo el proceso previo forma parte de las estrategias de recolonización de los territorios de nuestra América, en particular de la Amazonía y al mismo tiempo constituye un punto de inflexión, de cuestionamiento al modelo de desarrollo impuesto. A diferencia de la concentración autoritaria de poder que irradia del gobierno y del “Estado Nación”, las comunidades dan lecciones de una democracia de mayor intensidad y revelan las contradicciones entre la existencia social comunitaria y el “estado nación” que representa a las corporaciones y al patrón global de poder.
La narrativa histórica de José Carlos Mariátegui: la construcción de una subjetividad revolucionaria en los Andes peruanos
Authors: Nación Pantigoso Miguel Ángel
Published: December 2020

A finales del siglo XIX e inicios del XX en el Perú se desarrollaba un debate respecto de qué Estado podía levantarse sobre la base de la sociedad peruana. En este sentido, fue imprescindible conocer las características de la sociedad. Las emergentes y noveles ciencias sociales asumieron esta tarea. Sin embargo, la construcción del Estado-nación peruano exigía una mirada de conjunto, es decir una narrativa del derrotero que ha seguido y seguirá la comunidad. Es en este punto en el que las narrativas históricas toman un papel central en la proyección de una nacionalidad. José Carlos Mariátegui participó en la elaboración de una narrativa histórica de carácter moderno para el Perú. En este texto sostenemos que hay dos conceptos que articulan la narrativa mariateguiana de la historia: el indio y el mito. Ambos conceptos se articulan mediados por el marxismo construyendo así una subjetividad revolucionaria como factor de concreción de la nación peruana.
La ciudad, la COVID-19 y “el desborde inverso”
Authors: Zolezzi Chocano Mario
Published: December 2020

El autor se plantea los cambios que pueden desencadenarse en las ciudades a partir de una reflexión sobre sobre la gestión de la pandemia por COVID-19 en el caso peruano. El punto de partida es el proceso de movilización que miles de personas inician desde la declaración de inamovilidad total y cuarentena estricta decretada por el gobierno a partir de la segunda quincena de marzo del año 2020. Se hace una rápida revisión del surgimiento de los centros urbanos en el territorio actual del Perú desde los hallazgos arqueológicos de hace varios miles de años hasta el presente. En ese recorrido se señalan algunas características que los diferencian y el papel que han cumplido las migraciones y desplazamientos internos. En particular las migraciones ocurridas desde la segunda mitad del siglo XX hasta el surgimiento de la pandemia del COVID-19 y el desborde inverso que está ocasionando de Lima Metropolitana hacia centros urbanos menores y de estos a villas y pueblos, así como a las zonas rurales. Concluye señalando la urgencia de levantar políticas de urbanismo y acondicionamiento territorial dentro del nuevo escenario que se abre a partir de los efectos y consecuencias económicas, demográficas, sociales y culturales de la pandemia del COVID19 de migrantes que no son bien recibidos.
Nanostructured Bioceramic Materials 2020
Authors: Kareiva Aivaras , Inkrataitė Greta , Daumantas Liudas
Published: December 2020

The aim of the conference “Nanostructured Bioceramic Materials” is to overview and share information about the newest achievements concerning bioceramic nanotechnologies with the scienti­c community. During the conference, scientists from chemistry, physics, technology, medicine and implantology will be able to acquaint themselves with synthesis methods, unique properties and applications of bioceramic nanomaterials in implantology.
A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Potential of Benzimidazole: A Miracle Scaffold
Authors:   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Akal College of Pharmacy and Technical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur-148001, India, Arora Sandeep ,   Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab-140401, India, Babbar Ritchu ,   Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab-140401, India
Published: December 2020

Background: Benzimidazole is a category of heterocyclic aromatic compounds formed from the fusion of six membered benzene with five membered imidazolering. The moiety possesses diverse biological and clinical applications. A number of studies have shown that a varied substituent around the benzimidazole nucleus results in pharmacologically active compounds of therapeutic interest. Purpose: Owing to its number of pharmacological properties, this moiety is of choice of interest in designing and synthesis of new therapeutic compounds. The existence of the benzimidazole core in numerous groups of biological agents like antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antihypertensive, anticancer, CNS stimulant as well as depressants has made important scaffold for development of many newer therapeutic agents. There is utmost need to understand the synthesis and associated role of benzimidazole derived compounds in different diseases. Therefore, in the present review, we attempt to discuss various derivatives of benzimidazole nucleus with different pharmacological activities. Conclusion: Benzimidazoles have played a great role in discovery of drug and development. Huge attempt has been made towards benzimidazole heterocyclic-based organic compounds with great excellence that resulted in drugs with enormous biological activity. Therapeutic drugs containing benzimidazole nucleus are used in building drugs that serve to be an active area of research. This article becomes a source that will lead to discovery of new opportunities for all researchers interested in benzimidazole-based heterocyclic medicinal chemistry.
Improving Physicochemical Properties of Repaglinide Through Pharmaceutical Adduct Formation
Authors:   GHG Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Gurusar Sadhar, Ludhiana, Punjab-141104, India, Gill Sharen , Arora Poonam ,   Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab-140401, India
Published: December 2020

Background: Many formulation strategies are presently in development in pharmaceutical industry. However, the formation of pharmaceutical adducts is considered to be the most appropriate technique for improving the drug solubility and dissolution as no chemical bond changes are involved in this technique. Purpose: This technique is highly used for compounds which are not able to give viable formulation products with standard techniques such as salt formation and polymorph generation. In the present study, this method is applied to repaglinide, which is an hypoglycemic agent, with compromised solubility. Methods: The adducts were prepared by slow evaporation method and characterized using DSC, FTIR and PXRD studies. The solubility and dissolution studies were carried out to determine the increased solubility of drug in adducts. The drug amount interacted with coformers has also been determined. Results: The present study demonstrates the improvement in solubility and thus dissolution of repaglinide in adducts. Conclusion: The adducts formed in the present study can be further exploited to prepare formulation of repaglinide adducts with better physicochemical characteristics.
Effect of IL4-589C>T, FCGR2A-166His>Arg, DEFB1-20G>A, DEFB1-52G>A gene polymorphisms on TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10 contents in the patients with primary hip osteoarthrosis
Authors: Miromanov A. M. , Zabello T. V. , Miromanova N. A.
Published: December 2020

Our objective was to study the effects of IL4-589C>T, FCGR2A-166His>Arg, DEFB1-20G>A, DEFB1-52G>A gene polymorphisms upon content of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10 in primary osteoarthrosis of the hip joints. We performed a survey of 100 patients of Russian ethnicity (average age 61.3±8.5 years) with primary coxarthrosis at the stage III-IV who lived in the Trans-Baikal region. The control group (n = 100), were local residents, comparable by age (60±8.3 years), gender, habitation place and nationality. The exclusion criteria were as follows: close relationship; other types of osteoarthritis (post-traumatic, rheumatoid, metabolic, etc.); dysplastic syndromes and phenotypes; acute and chronic inflammatory diseases at the exacerbation stage; diabetes mellitus; osteoporosis; vascular diseases; obesity; malignant neoplasia; alcohol abuse. Along with clinical examination, the following laboratory methods were applied: immunological techniques, i.e., determination of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10; genetic testing using polymerase chain reaction, e.g., a point mutation of the IL4 gene at the 589(C>T) position, FCGR2A at 166(His>Arg) site, DEFB1 at the 20(G>A) and 52(G>A) positions. DNA from the peripheral blood of patients was used for the molecular genetic analysis. Radiographic examination was also carried out. The data were statistically processed using STATISTICA 6.1 software package (StatSoft, USA), Microsoft Office Excel 2019 for Windows 10. The differences were considered statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05. Results. The -589T/T genotype of IL4-589C>T gene polymorphism indirectly contributes to higher content of TNFα and IL-1β for primary osteoarthritis of the hip joints. The patients with -166Arg/Arg genotype have a 1.3-fold increase of certain cytokine concentrations, e.g., TNFα and IL-1β, as compared with -166His/Arg genotype, and, conversely, lower content of IL-4 and IL-10 (1.3- fold) in comparison with -166His/His genotype. The patients with -20A/A genotype showed higher levels of TNFα and IL-1β, respectively, 1.2 and 1.3 times, compared with -20G/G genotype, and 1.3 times versus the -20G/A genotype. Conclusions: 1. The presence of -589T/T genotype of the IL4-589C>T gene polymorphism and the -20A/A genotype of the DEFB1-20G>A gene polymorphism contributes to a high content of TNFα and IL-1β in the blood serum, and the carriage of -166His/His FCGR2A-166His>Arg gene polymorphism is associated with both higher level of TNFα, IL-1β, and a low concentration of IL-4, IL-10. 2. Complex carriers of FCGR2A166HisArg x DEFB152AA x DEFB120AA x IL4589TT genotypes in the patients with primary coxarthrosis increases the contents of TNFα, IL-1β cytokines by 1.5 and 1.7 times, respectively.
Is there a dependence between expression of integrin receptors by peripheral blood immune cells and duration of tuberculous granuloma existence in the patients?
Authors: Berdyugina О. V.
Published: December 2020

Over recent years, the number of patients with tuberculosis has not decreased in the country and in worldwide. This is due to high resistance of the pathogen and changing mechanisms of bacterial perception by the human immune system thus requiring closer examination of the issue. Cell fusion during the formation of pulmonary tuberculous granuloma involves a large number of adhesive events. Importance of α1β1 integrin has been shown for the granuloma integrity during the chronic phase of infection. It has been proven that pulmonary tuberculous granuloma should be monitored, including with the detection of cells expressing CD11c, since they support the continuous priming of T cells at different stages of infection. The aim of this study was to answer the question, if there is a different expression of integrin receptors by immune cells from the patient’s peripheral blood at different stages of the existence of pulmonary tuberculous granuloma? The study involved 38 people: the first group (control) consisted of 15 practically healthy people; a second group included 11 subjects with pulmonary tuberculous granuloma; the condition was first diagnosed 2 to 10 months before the present study. A third group consisted of 12 patients with pulmonary tuberculous granuloma, with primary diagnosis established 12 to 219 months before this study. All the participants underwent a general clinical blood tests using a 5 Diff Mythic 22 AL analyzer (Cormay, Poland). The adhesion markers CD11b, CD11c were detected with a Coulter Epicx XL instrument (Beckman Coulter, USA). The following peripheral blood cell populations were determined: CD14- CD13lowCD11b+, CD14- CD13lowCD11c+, CD14+CD11b+, CD14+CD11c+, CD45+CD3- CD16+CD56+, CD45+CD3- CD16+CD56+CD11b+. Statistical processing of the results was performed in the Windows 10 operating environment (Microsoft Corp., USA), using Statistica v. 12.5 software (StatSoft, USA). Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance (pk-w), with differences significant at p < 0.017, as well as the Wald–Wolfowitz test (pw-w) at a significance level of p < 0.05 were used as criteria for assessing differences between the compared groups. In addition, cluster and factor analysis were implemented. When studying the role of β2-integrins, we have found that they play an important role in maintaining the existence of pulmonary tuberculous granuloma. An increase in total number of granulocytes, and CD11b-expressing granulocytes, a decrease in the population of lymphocytes, NK cells and NK cells expressing CD11c proved to be distinctive in cases of pulmonary tuberculous granuloma detected 0.5 years before the study. Characteristic changes observed in the study of peripheral blood in the patients with pulmonary tuberculous granuloma detected 9.5 years before the study were as follows: an increase in the leukocyte population, total monocyte number, as well as CD11band CD11c-expressing monocytes.
A practical framework to assess the sustainability and resiliency of civil infrastructure
Authors: Robbins Thomas Adam , Chittoori Bhaskar C S
Published: December 2020

Research within civil engineering is focusing on newer ideas and philosophies such as sustainability and resiliency (S&R). This is evident in the development of frameworks for assessing the sustainability or the resiliency of civil infrastructures. Several frameworks have been developed by researchers to quantify the S&R of civil infrastructures. It is evident that the S&R are not mutually exclusive, and it is important to assess these aspects at the same time and that frameworks are able to accommodate simultaneous assessments. While there are other frameworks that follow a unified approach to S&R assessments, they do not account for the risk of the hazard as part of the framework. In the proposed framework, an attempt was made to include the risk of the hazard as part of the assessment to gain a realistic perspective of the hazard impact. This paper presents explicit steps to use the framework, along with an example of using the framework in assessing an earthen dam subjected to two types of hazards, earthquakes and floods. The novel aspects of this framework revolve around the simplicity and flexibility of the framework. Major input parameters are user-defined, which allows for a wide range of variables to be considered when determining the overall quality of the infrastructure.
Multiscale modelling and analysis of footing resting on an anisotropic sand
Authors: Guo N. , Chen L. F. , Yang Z. X.
Published: December 2020

The influence of the inherent fabric anisotropy of sand and its evolution on the footing bearing capacity and failure mechanism has been modelled and analysed with a multiscale approach that couples the finite-element method (FEM) and the discrete-element method (DEM). In this approach, the material constitutive responses are captured by DEM simulations on representative volume elements (RVEs) assigned to the FEM Gauss points. The inherent fabric anisotropy of sand is reflected by the bedding plane angle α of the RVEs composed of elliptic particles, where α measures the average angle between the long axes of the particles and the horizontal direction. The bearing capacity is found to decrease with an increasing α and the reduction can reach as high as 25%. Asymmetric deformation has been observed in the α other than 0° or 90° cases, which is mainly attributable to the different relative principal directions between the stress and the fabric at the two sides of the domain. Further multiscale analyses reveal that the load-bearing structure of the material expressed by the contact-normal-based fabric tensor is more fragile under the footing loading at one side of the domain and in larger α cases, which offers a micromechanical explanation to the observation of the asymmetric deformation and the decreased bearing capacity with increased α.
Key factors for the improvement of smallholder farmers' participation in agro-processing industries of Gauteng province of Republic of South Africa: lessons for the extension advisory services
Authors: Mmbengwa V.M. , Rambau K. , Rakuambo J .N. , Qin X.
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT This study aims at identifying factors that could be used as parameters to improve the smallholder farmers' participation in the agro-processing industries of Gauteng province in order to enhance job creation and self-employment. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The focus sessions were used to exploit the respondents' views regarding their participation or lack thereof. On the other hand, the quantitative approaches were used to quantify the effect of the factors under consideration. A sample of (n = 78) smallholder farmers were purposively selected across ten (n=10) local municipalities. The data were analysed using a logistic regression model where non-participation and participation were coded 0 and 1, respectively. The effect of profit, access to advice, age of the farmers, and information flow to the participation of the smallholder farmers was tested. The study found that five identified parameters {information supply (beta = 0.315, p = 0.002), bonds (beta = 0.332, p = 0.000), mutual trust (beta = 0.410, p = 0.000), age (beta = 0.242, p = 0.004) and access to study group (beta = -0.416, p = 0.000)} have significant probabilities to improve the participation of smallholder farmers in the agro-processing sub-sector. The results imply that extension advisors and policymakers can use these parameters to improve the participation and representativeness of the smallholder farmers in the agro-processing industries. Keywords: agro-processing, smallholder, participation, sector, factors
Reseña del libro: Motivos y factores explicativos del abandono de los estudios. Claves y estrategias para superarlo
Authors: Barca-Enríquez Eduardo
Published: December 2020

El análisis de los factores que explican el abandono de los estudios, tanto en niveles de educación secundaria como de universidad, se aborda en esta obra como uno de los temas relevantes por su trascendencia, importancia y reincidencia en Psicología de la educación y desde varias perspectivas y por varios autores de diferentes universidades, así como por profesionales de reconocido prestigio. Consta de dos partes: en la primera se explican los factores de riesgo y las causas que condicionan el abandono escolar prematuro en educación secundaria; en la segunda parte, se aborda el abandono de los estudios universitarios explicando las variables de influencia y las diversas medidas de intervención.
Yarı Sentetik Spinosin Insektisidi Spinetoram’ ın Alman Hamam Böceği (Blatella Germanica (L.))’ Ergin Dönemine Karşı Rezidual Kontak Toksik Etkisi
Authors: KÜÇÜKSARI Ferhat , TUNAZ Hasan
Published: December 2020

Mevcut çalışmada laboratuar koşullarında yarı-sentetik spinosin insektisidi Spinetoram’ ın solüsyon halinde üç farklı uygulama yüzeyinde (beton, fayans ve parke) Alman Hamam böceği ‘nin ergin dönemine karşı kontak toksisitesi araştırılmıştır. Üç farklı yüzeyde B. germanica’ erginlerine karşı 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 gün süreyle Spinetoram’ ın 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100 (mg aktif madde-m2) konsantrasyon-larında biyolojik testler yapılmıştır. B.germanica erginlerinin ölüm oranları üzerinde spinetoram’ ın tüm uygulama yüzeylerinde spinetoram konsantrasyonu ve maruz bırakma süresi önemli etkiye sahip olmuştur. Spinetoram’ ın düşük konsantrasyonları (2.5 ve 5 mg-m2) tüm uygulama yüzeylerinde B.germanica nimf ve erginlerini düşük oranlarda öldürmüştür. Diğer yandan Spinetoram’ ın 75 ve 100 mg-m2 konsantrasyonları her üç uygulama yüzeyinde uygulamanın 5. gününde B.germanica erginlerinde %100 ölüme sebep olmuştur. Genel olarak, B. germanica erginlerinin ölüm oranı maruziyet süresi ile artarken, spinetoram konsantrasyonları için (7.5, 10, 15, 25 ve 50 mg-m2)% 100 ölüm sağlanamamıştır. Uygulanan üç yüzeyin hepsinde B. germanica erginlerine karşı spinetoram konsantrasyonlarının etkililiğin de önemli farklılıklar olusmuştur. 100 mg / m2 spinetoram konsantrasyonunda B. germanica erginlerinin ölüm oranı beton yüzeyde diğer yüzeylere göre daha yüksek gerçekleşmiştir. Bununla birlikte, diğer spinetoram konsantrasyonlarda, erginlerin ölüm oranı genellikle üç yüzeyde de benzer olmuştur. Bu çalışmadan çıkan sonuç Spinetoram’ ın ev ve diğer binalarda sorun olan B.germanica mücadelesinde kullanılabilme potansiyeline sahip olduğu ve Spinetoram’ ın bu zararlıya karşı kullanılan çevreye zararlı kimyasalların oranını azaltacağı düşünülebilir.
Dissimilarity weighting for graph-based point cloud segmentation using local surface gradients
Authors: Sağlam Ali , Makineci Hasan Bilgehan , Baykan Ömer Kaan , Baykan Nurdan
Published: December 2020

Processing of 3D point cloud data is seen as a problem due to the difficulties of processing millions of unstructured points. The point cloud segmentation process is a crucial pre-classification stage such that it reduces the high processing time required to extract meaningful information from raw data and produces some distinctive features for the classification stage. Local surface inclinations of objects are the most effective features of 3D point clouds to provide meaningful information about the objects. Sampling the points into sub-volumes (voxels) is a technique commonly used in the literature to obtain the required neighboring point groups to calculate local surface directions (with normal vectors). The graph-based segmentation approaches are widely used for the surface segmentation using the attributes of the local surface orientations and continuities. In this study, only two geometrical primitives which are normal vectors and barycenters of point groups are used to weight the connections between the adjacent voxels (vertices). The defined 14 possible dissimilarity calculations of three angular values getting from the primitives are experimented and evaluated on five sample datasets that have reference data for segmentation. Finally, the results of the measures are compared in terms of accuracy and F1 score. According to the results, the weight measure W7 (seventh calculation) gives 0.8026 accuracy and 0.7305 F1 score with higher standard deviations, while the original weight measure (W8) of the segmentation method gives 0.7890 accuracy and 0.6774 F1 score with lower standard deviations.
Follicle Detection for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by using Image Processing Methods
Authors: Yılmaz Perihan Gülşah , Özmen Güzin
Published: December 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder seen in many women. It occurs by the combination of many small and benign cysts in the ovaries. These cysts, called follicles, create a special pattern in the ovaries observed with ultrasound imaging. The number, structure, and size of these follicles provide important information for the diagnosis of ovarian diseases. In this study, two different methods of follicle detection are tested for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The first method consists of noise filtering, contrast adjustment, binarization, and morphological processes. For this method, Median Filter, Average Filter, Gaussian Filter, and Wiener Filter were used for noise reduction, and then histogram equalization and adaptive thresholding were tested. For the second method, Gaussian Filter and Wavelet Transform were selected for noise reduction, and k-means clustering and morphological operations were applied to the images. In the segmentation phase performed for both methods, follicles were detected with the Canny Edge Detection algorithm. False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and False Rejection Rate (FRR) were used to evaluate the accuracy of the results. Our results show that the most accurate follicle detection was obtained by using the Wiener Filter and Gaussian Filter.
UDE Based Robust Control of Grid Tied Inverters
Authors: Uslu Akın
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a modified (proportional-integral) PI control is suggested to improve current tracking performance of three-phase grid-tied inverters (GTI). Presence of the L filter between inverter and grid, makes complex to design a controller with proper parameters, due to characteristics of the filter. Clasical PI control depends on an accurate dynamical model, thus its performance is deteriorated by parametric uncertainties, unmodelled dynamics and external disturbances, when operating conditions affect the filter parameters. To solve this problem, uncertainty and disturbance estimator based PI current control approach is proposed for grid-tied inverters, which provides robustness against to parametric perturbations. An UDE based observer that has been adopted into the PI current loop is used to eliminate lumped disturbances and the steady-state tracking error of current states, which can enhance the robustness of the control performance. Then, parameter design method, stability and robustness analysis are explored and presented. Performance comparison among the clasical PI and proposed control scheme. Efficacy and performance of the proposed approach are carried out by simulations and experiments. Experimental results show that effectiveness of the suggested control method against parametric uncertainties and disturbances are succesfully validated. Besides, the precise current tracking performance with zero steady state error has been reached.
Difficult Diagnoses in Maternal Death: The Negative Maternal Autopsy
Authors: Lucas Sebastian
Published: December 2020

A proportion of mothers who die during pregnancy, delivery or some time post-partum, have no clear-cut cause of death despite autopsy examination. Such ‘negative’ autopsies cause pathologists, and all involved in the mother’s care, much concern. They illustrate the frontiers of what is known about why and how critical organs fail, and highlight the variation in the detail to which pathologists investigate maternal deaths. This review is intended for obstetricians, to illustrate the utility and some limitations of autopsy analysis of maternal death. The major scenarios of maternal death where autopsy reveals nothing or only confusing and subtle abnormal morphologies are considered. These include deaths under general and spinal anaesthesia, pulmonary embolism syndromes (air, fat and amniotic fluid), pre-eclampsia-associated deaths, and cardiac deaths including the SADS/MNH syndrome (sudden arrhythmic cardiac death with a morphologically normal heart). Key to the resolution of these post-mortem diagnostic problems is complete gross and histological examination at autopsy, appropriate additional analysis of body fluids and, in some cases, DNA analysis. All this to be correlated with the clinical circumstances and – critically – the patient’s physiological data available around the time the death. Here, a multi-disciplinary input from experts in obstetrics, medicine, intensive care and anaesthesia is invaluable to narrow down the possible pathogeneses and make as accurate a consensus diagnosis as is possible. A major contribution of the autopsy in such cases to exclude alternative possible clinical pathologies. Newer post-mortem examination techniques, such as cadaveric CT scanning, could prove helpful in the future. It is likely that there are clinico-pathological syndromes in maternal death that still await formal identification and characterisation.
On the Current Situation and Practical Path of “Integration” of Patriotic Education in Universities, Middle Schools, Primary Schools and Kindergartens—Research and Analysis Based on S City
Authors: Wang Bin
Published: December 2020

The construction of “integrated” new system of patriotism education in universities, middle schools, primary schools and kindergartens is an important policy to solve the problem of “who to train people, what kind of people to train and how to cultivate people”, and it is an important project to strengthen the cultivation of socialist core values. This paper analyzes the basic practice and successful experience of patriotism integration education in universities, middle schools and kindergartens in S City, and puts forward that in the new era, the education of patriotism integration in colleges, middle schools and kindergartens should adhere to the “four following laws”.
Selling Points and Promotional Strategies in Advertising: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of a Burger King’s Print Advertisement
Authors: Huang Xin
Published: December 2020

Gone were the days when communication among people can only be achieved by language, the popularization of computers and the soaring development of multimedia technology have brought tremendous changes to the way people communicate with each other. There is little doubt that language is the most important, but never the only, means by which we communicate and create meaning (Han, 2015, p. 415), resources for representing meaning like sound, image, color, motion and other non-verbal communication approaches are significant as well. While most of the studies prefer a content analysis way to find out the semiotic meaning in a certain advertisement, this article, however, would apply a multimodal discourse analysis approach to demonstrate how business enterprises externalize their selling points and promotional strategies in advertisements.
Methodological Aspects of a New Method for Determining the Mass of Oil per Unit Area of Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies
Authors: Vorobiev D.S. , Perminova V.V.
Published: December 2020

A method is proposed for determining the mass of oil pollution per unit area of bottom sediments of water bodies, which makes it possible to associate pollution not only with the concentration of pollutants, but also with the area of the reservoir. The article uses the results obtained during the implementation of the project (No. 8.2.13.2020), within the framework of the Competitiveness Improvement Program of Tomsk State University.
Extraction of Valuable Components from Man-made Waters
Authors: Chugunov A.S. , Vinnitskii V.A. , Nafikova G.F.
Published: December 2020

The results of experimental studies on isolation of poly-charged metals cations from man-made waters, which are valuable components, are presented. For their isolation and concentration, the method of homogenous sedimentation was used, which provides self-purification of water bodies in natural conditions and is responsible for the formation of bottom sediments. To implement these processes, energy-consuming low-pressure membrane methods were used- nanofiltration and dialysis, which creates conditions for the formation of solid solutions inside the composite membrane and do not require additional dosage of reagents. With the help of such combination, it was possible to obtain conditionally clean water for technical and household use, to divert environmentally friendly waste waters to the hydrographic network of the region. In addition, the shape of resulting original “ore body” simplifies its processing into individual components. It is noted the use of membrane reactors makes it possible to implement the homogenous deposition regime, which ensures the isolation of transition metals in the form of solid solutions with natural components of surface waters.
Determining the Number of Neurons in Artificial Neural Networks for Approximation, Trained with Algorithms Using the Jacobi Matrix
Authors: Yotov Kostadin , Hadzhikolev Emil , Hadzhikoleva Stanka
Published: December 2020

How can we determine the optimal number of neurons when constructing an artificial neural network? This is one of the most frequently asked questions when working with this type of artificial intelligence. Experience has brought the understanding that it takes an individual approach for each task to specify the number of neurons. Our method is based on the requirement of algorithms looking for a minimum of functions of type 𝑺􁈺𝒛􁈻 􀵌 Σ 􁈾𝝋𝒊 𝒎 􁈺𝒛 􁈻􁈿𝟐 𝒊􀭀𝟏 that satisfy the inequality 𝒑 􀵑 𝒎, where p is the dimensionality of the argument z, and m is the number of functions. Formulas for an upper limit of the required neurons are proposed for networks with one hidden layer and for networks with r hidden layers with an equal number of neurons.
Delamination Buckling of FRP Strips in Strengthened Structural RC Beams and Masonry Walls
Authors: Magagnini E. , Capozucca R. , Khatir S.
Published: December 2020

This paper deals with delamination buckling of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) strips glued to reinforced concrete (RC) beams or to heterogeneous material as masonry. In the field of rehabilitation of existing civil structures, the strengthening using composite materials is becoming a frequent technique although many points have not yet been clarified. The delamination of FRP strips' layer can be often the cause of loss of the strength capacity in strengthened elements. In general, the delamination is due to loss of adhesion of FRP on the adherent material under tensile loading. This type of delamination foresees a slip of FRP strip and development of fracture energy until the detachment. Delamination buckling of FRP strips is instead due to compression loading. Although the FRP is usually adopted to improve the tensile capacity, in civil structural elements subjected to cycle loading, as RC frames in seismic areas or masonry cross walls, the loading is cyclic and the strengthening of FRP strips may be subjected to compressive stresses with separation of the layer from the adherent element. This type of delamination may significantly influence the strength, stiffness and stability. In this paper experiments on the strengthening of RC beams and masonry walls with GlassFRP strips are shown further, analytical and numerical analysis have been developed to study this mechanism of delamination which too often has been missed in the design of strengthening with FRP strips.
Structural Design and Material Cutting Using a Laser End Effector on a Robot Arm
Authors: Pollák Martin , Dobránsky Jozef
Published: December 2020

The paper deals with the structural design of a laser end effector for the arm of the ABB IRB 140 robot which makes products by the laser cutting technology involving soft materials, such as e.g. paper, wood and others. A laser with a power of 1 W was chosen to carry out the cutting. An electrical circuit with a power supply was created for the selected laser; a control method and a structural design of the jig to be attached to the flange of the robot arm were proposed. Subsequently, the robot control program was connected to the control via a computer and the RoboDK simulation software. The paper describes in more detail the creation of the robot control program and the simulation designed in the simulation software environment, as well as the programming of laser control scripts in Python and in the programming environment of Arduino microcontroller.
Analysis of Plastic Waste Processing Methods
Authors: A. Loishyn Anatolii , M. Tkach Ivan , S. Chornyi Vitalii , H. Tyshchenko Maksym , M. Tarasenko Nataliya , Biletskyi Oleksandr
Published: December 2020

The article summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the current state of environmental pollution. The main purpose of the study is to update and promote the processing industry of plastic waste. Systematization of literary sources and approaches to solving the problem of environmental protection has shown that today the problem of plastic recycling is one of the most important facing humanity. The article presents the results of empirical analysis of the main indicators of production, use and processing of plastic, which showed the need to stimulate and develop enterprises in the processing industry.