bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of stroke related risk factors in wake up and non-wake up stroke patients
Authors: Sadeghi-Hokmabadi Elyar , Shams Vahdati Samad , Rikhtegar Reza , Karzad Nazila , Rezabakhsh Aysa
Published: August 2020

Wake-Up Stroke (WUS) is defined as a stroke with the unclear onset of symptoms and subsequent neurological deficits which perceived upon awakening. WUS patients are often excluded from acute fibrinolytic and reperfusion therapy due to the unknown exact time of symptoms onset. This study aimed to evaluate patients with and without WUS characteristics and associated risk factors at two tertiary hospitals. First, we prospectively evaluated consecutive patients with stroke symptoms and determined stroke sub groups by using Computed Tomography (CT) scan. Next, demographic and clinical characteristics including past medical and drug consumption history as well as cardiac function index (ejection fraction), LDL (mg/dl) level and hematologic parameters: hemoglobin (Hb); hematocrit (Hct); platelet (Plt) were assessed. Results: 510 patients (56.1% men and 43.9% women) with averaged age of 70 and 72 years were studied, respectively. Of 510 patients, 405 (79.4%) had non-WUS stroke (known-onset stroke) and 105 (20.6%) had WUS strokes (unknown-onset stroke). The WUS occurrence most likely was observed in ischemic stroke compared to hemorrhagic one. No significant differences were found between patients from both groups regarding stroke risk factors. However, hypertension and family history were more common in patients with WUS (p>0.05). Moreover, individuals with a previous cerebrovascular accident in WUS group were almost similar to non-WUS counterparts. No differences also detected in case of hematologic characteristics, heart function index and LDL levels between study groups (p>0.05). Together, wake-up stroke occurs in approximately 20% of stroke subjects. In this study, patients with WUS had more hypertension and family history.
Curcumin Effects in Inducing mRNA Gene Cathelidicin Antimicrobial Peptide (CAMP) in Balb/c Mice Infected with Salmonella Typhi
Authors: Febriza Ami , Natzir Rosdiana , Hatta Mochammad , Uiterwaal Cuno S.P.M , As'ad Suryani , Budu Budu , Alam Gemini , Kasim Vivien Novarina , Idrus Hasta Handayani
Published: August 2020

Due to many cases of antibiotic resistance in typhoid fever, efforts have been made to combine antibiotic therapy or active compounds with herbs. Curcumin is an active compound found in herbal plants. Curcumin has an antimicrobial effect; through binding to vitamin D receptors as a ligand, this increases the expression of mRNA CAMP gene and eradicates bacteria. 25 Adult balb/c mice, aged 8-12 weeks and weighing 30-40 grams, were induced with S. Typhi via intraperitoneal. They were randomly allocated in equal blocks to receive CM200 (Curcumin 200 mg/kg), CM400 (Curcumin 400 mg/kg), CM200+Vit.D(Curcumin 200 mg/kg with Vitamin D), positive control or negative control for 5 days. Mice were then maintained for 3 weeks to determine the amount of colony in the post-intervention period and the level of mRNA CAMP gene. Real time PCR was used to measure the expression of CAMP gene. The level of mRNA gene CAMP expression significantly increased in CM200 (2.01±0.75) and CM400 (4.06±0.68), pdifference< 0.0001. The highest increase of CAMP gene expression was observed in CM200+Vit.D(5.47±0.53), pdifference< 0.0001. Curcumin increased the mRNA expression of CAMP gene.
The Broad Variability in Dental Age Observed among Childhood Survivors Is Cancer Specific
Authors: Proc Patrycja , Szczepańska Joanna , Zubowska Małgorzata , Zalewska-Szewczyk Beata , Młynarski Wojciech
Published: August 2020

PurposeThe study aimed to assess the differences in dental maturation between childhood cancer survivors and healthy children.Materials and MethodsFifty-nine cancer patients including 16 (27.1%) girls and 43 (72.8%) boys, aged between 4 and 16 years, underwent dental and radiographic examinations. The mean duration of anticancer therapy was 16.8 months (range, 1 to 47 months), and 4.6 years (range, 8 to 123 months) had passed since the termination of disease. The control group consisted of 177 panoramic radiographs of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Dental age (DA) was estimated with Demirjian’s scale and delta age, i.e., DA–chronological age (CA), was used to compare groups. ResultsThe DA of cancer survivors was accelerated by almost 1 year compared to their CA (9.9±3.1 vs. 8.9±2.8, p=0.040). The greatest difference was observed among patients with brain tumor: delta (DA–CA) was 2.2±1.1 years. Among all cancer patients, only children with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)-associated hepatoblastoma (HP) demonstrated delayed DA, with regard to both other cancer survivors (p=0.011) and healthy patients (p=0.037). All four patients with HP suffered from FAP, and three of them had documented adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) genes mutation. The DA of cancer patients having teeth with short roots was significantly greater than that of the cancer survivors without this anomaly (12.8±3.2 vs. 9.0±2.4, p < 0.001).ConclusionDA in children may be altered by cancer disease.
Regularity theory of Kolmogorov operator revisited
Authors: Kinzebulatov Damir
Published: August 2020

We consider Kolmorogov operator

$-\Delta +b \cdot \nabla $
with drift b in the class of form-bounded vector fields (containing vector fields having critical-order singularities). We characterize quantitative dependence of the Sobolev and Hölder regularity of solutions to the corresponding elliptic equation on the value of the form-bound of b.
Editorial: Reality in a Pandemic
Authors: Okonokhua Ozy L.
Published: August 2020

No Abstract.
Psycho-Cognitive Predictors of Eye Healthcare Seeking Behaviours among Secondary School Students in South-West Nigeria
Authors: Aham-Onyebuchi Ugochi O. , Atulomah Nnodimele O.
Published: August 2020

Purpose: Poor eye healthcare seeking behaviour remains a global challenge among youth populations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This has further impeded global efforts in eliminating avoidable causes of blindness among at-risk individuals and directly accounts for poor outcomes in their quality of life and the potentials of their contribution to economic development. This study sought to investigate the psychocognitive predictors of eye healthcare seeking behaviours of secondary school students in a semi-urban community of south-west Nigeria.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey design that adopted a multistage sampling technique to collect data in respect of demographic  characteristics and psycho-cognitive disposition of 422 consenting students attending eight secondary schools in Ikenne LGA, Ogun State. A self-administered 57-item validated instrument was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, tables, means, standard deviation and multiple regression with statistical significance at 5% level.Results: Demographics of the respondents revealed that 44.3% were between the ages of 15 and 17 while 56.4% of the respondents were female. Psycho-cognitive disposition of respondents comprising knowledge of eye care, attitudinal disposition towards eye care were significant predictors (p≤.0001), while perceived threat/susceptibility to eye infections was also a significant predictor (p=.017).Conclusion: The eye healthcare seeking behaviours of secondary school students in the study remained poor. Quality eye health education on good ocular hygiene and promotion programmes need to be conducted for the students to increase their eye healthcare seeking behavior.

Keywords: Eye healthcare seeking, blindness, cognitive factors
Accommodative-Convergence Mechanism failure in HIV-Positive Non Presbyopic Patient on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy: A case report
Authors: Hassan Sadiq , Ebisike Philips I. , Timothy Christopher O. , Chedi Basheer A.Z. , Sani Rabi Y. , Habib Saudat G.
Published: August 2020

Purpose: Accommodative-convergence mechanism failure could occur in non presbyopic HIV- sero positive patients on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral  Therapy (HAART). This could be due to either direct neuronal infection by HIV, pathologic changes of the lens or the ciliary body or adverse effects of some individual drugs constituting the HAART regimen on the cranial nerves which play vital roles in the mechanism of accommodation and convergence.

Case report: This is a case report of an accommodative- convergence mechanism failure in HIV positive non presbyopic 32-year-old male patient  that was on HAART for more than five years. He presented with distance visual acuity (VA) of OD: 6/9 +2, OS: 6/9, and near visual acuity (NVA) of N24 both eyes, 3Δ esophoria at distance and 4Δ esophoria at near. Amplitude of accommodation (AA) was 3.50D and accommodative  convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio was 6/1. Following comprehensive evaluation, his refractive correction was OD: Plano/-0.50DC X 180 6/5 and OS: Plano/-0.50DC X 90 6/5 at distance with near addition (Add) 2.50D N5. This was prescribed for regular wear in form of D-Top bifocal lens.

Conclusion: These findings showed that HIV sero-positive adults on HAART could develop accommodativeconvergence mechanism failure, which may be characterized by low amplitude of accommodation, receded near point of convergence and high non presbyopic reading addition. These conditions may be under-recognized and need for reading addition of a non presbyopic age is often overlooked.

Key Words: Accommodative-Convergence, HIV, Lateral Phoria, Refractive error.
A hegemonização do proibicionismo brasileiro: a disputa em torno do consenso sobre as drogas
Authors: Abreu Teixeira Isabela Bentes , Jesus Claudio Roberto
Published: August 2020

O presente artigo têm como intuito apresentar, através de uma abordagem sócio-histórica, a produção da hegemonia proibicionista no campo das drogas no contexto brasileiro. Mediante a análise de leis e políticas públicas que vigoraram, e vigoram, no Brasil, os movimentos de atores sociais organizados e sua inserção nas estruturas de poder são chaves para compreender as dinâmicas de fabricação de consenso que ampliou as formas de controle social das populações empobrecidas pelo capital. Esta evolução histórica sinaliza para a atual conformação das frentes parlamentares como sujeitos protagonistas que, em um contexto de crise da democracia representativa e ascenso de uma conjuntura de moral religiosa, atende a demandas pontuais que fortalecem o sistema de justiça criminal e de saúde pública de forma mais punitiva e mais repressiva.Palavras-Chave: Hegemonia. Proibicionismo. Drogas. Políticas Públicas. Lei de Drogas.
Redução de danos no aos usuários de substâncias psicoativas estimulantes: uma resenha
Authors: Gimenes Pedroso João Maurício
Published: August 2020

A presente resenha se debruça sobre o livro "limites da correria" que descreve a pesquisa realizada pela agencia internacional MainLine sobre boas práticas de redução de danos direcionadas a usuários de drogas estimulantes em sete programas de sete paises diferentes.
Entre avanços e retrocessos: o que esperar da Política Nacional sobre Drogas do Brasil?
Authors: Gomes Ronaldo Martins , Gimenes Pedroso João Mauricio , Vichiato Breda Thalles
Published: August 2020

O uso de substâncias psicoativas, comumente chamadas nos meios de comunicação de “drogas”, isto é, elementos naturais ou sintéticos que propiciam experiências passageiras de alteração da percepção e do humor, é, segundo Escohotado (1998), um fenômeno comum na história social dos diferentes povos ao longo da história das sociedades. Mas, desde meados do século XIX até os dias atuais, alguns psicoativos como o ópio, a cocaína, a heroína e a maconha (hoje regulada em alguns países) passaram a ter sua produção, posse, comercialização e uso como objeto de interdição por parte do Estado. Com isso, diferentes legislações com caráter fortemente punitivista deram aos psicoativos classificação de “problema social”, a ser tratado por meio de regime jurídico de perseguição e punição legal. Emerge assim na história social dos povos, a política de guerra às drogas, amparada no discurso médico/legal e que tem, como “pano de fundo”, os padrões da moralidade única do pensamento judaico-cristão
Sino-Russian cooperation potential within the BRICS framework
Authors: Vorobiev V. Ya.
Published: August 2020

The article describes history of the BRICS group and its activities as a phenomenon of new multipolar world order. It studies Sino-Russian interactions in the BRICS against the background of Beijing’s foreign policy. The aim of China in international affairs, in the author’s opinion, is to avoid spoiling relations with any country and to secure the status of the second global superpower. The global balance of power is being increasingly determined not by West vs. Non-West opposition, but by new rivalry-conjugation: USA vs. China.
Peculiarities of Israel’s participation in regional economic integration
Authors: Fedorchenko A. V.
Published: August 2020

At present, the majority of countries are involved in regional economic associations. National economies are attracted primarily to the neighboring countries and regions. Therefore, the term «regional economic integration» is used more often than the term «international economic integration». Israel is in a difficult geopolitical condition, it has a unique experience of participating in such associations that is in the center of investigation. The research is focused at the free trade zones between Israel and the European Union (EC), the United States, state and economic integration prospects in the Middle East as a whole. In the final part of the article the author notes the possibility of liberalization of foreign trade regime between Israel and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Georgia in 2015. An analytical survey
Authors: Silaev N. Yu.
Published: August 2020

The paper is devoted to the analysis of internal and foreign political processes in Georgia in 2015. This analytical chronicle is to trace and describe the most important tendencies in such fields as the contention between political parties, the balance within the ruling coalition and the relations with Georgia’s key foreign partners. Though “Georgian Dream” (GD) government met the crisis and had to change premier by the end of the year, it managed to keep the leading position in domestic politics. The main opponent of the GD, the United National Movement (UNM) could not increase its influence. The Republican party of Georgia, the member of ruling coalition that has rather weak support from the voters, was able to strengthen its position in the government by getting some key offices. The expansion of cooperation with NATO does not bring near prospects of membership. Although every single measure the sides are taking seems to be insignificant, as a complex these measures can lead to a deeper involvement of NATO and USA in the South Caucasus. The relations with European Union are inertial and strongly overestimated in Georgian internal politics. The relations with Russia are routinized; both sides acknowledge the achievements of the normalization and do not expect any breakthrough.
“Islamic State” and the North Caucasus in the Middle East Perspective: Challenges to and Lessons for Russia
Authors: Yarlykapov A.
Published: August 2020

The author considers, in the broad Middle East perspective, the impact of the ISIS and its activities on the situation in the North Caucasus. An analysis is suggested of the recent trends in Russian Islamic community and in the whole Ummah as well as challenges to Russia from the ISIS. The article also proposes some recommendations aimed to reduce security threats to our country.
Possibilities and limits of the Implementation of the Policy of EU in Central Asia
Authors: Gusev L.
Published: August 2020

In this paper the author considers policy of the European Union in the Central Asia. The author analyzes an updated EU strategy for the Central Asia and emphasizes its pragmatism, based on individual economic interests of the Central Asian countries in promoting bilateral relations. In the offered paper is also considered the evolution of the EU policy in the Central Asia.
Regional Economic Integration in the Maghreb: The Present State and Future Prospects
Authors: Fedorchenko A.
Published: August 2020

At present, the majority of countries are involved in regional economic associations. National economies are attracted primarily to the neighboring countries and regions. MENA countries have generally failed to seriously implement most PTAs. On the political front, concerns over the distribution of gains from integration across and within countries, issues of national sovereignty, and the cost of adjustment resulting from increased competition, all constrained intra-MENA FTAs. On the economic front, Arab countries have not had sufficient incentives to integrate because of similar production structures sheltered by high levels of protection. The research is focused at proceedings and prospects of integration process in the Arab Maghreb.
Taxation and Economic Development
Authors: Jomo K. S.
Published: August 2020

Мы продолжаем начатую в предыдущем номере «Международной аналитики» публикацию статей известного малайзийского экономиста Джомо Кваме Сундарама, в прошлом – помощника Генерального секретаря ООН по экономическому развитию (2005–2012 гг.) и помощника Генерального директора Продовольственной и сельскохозяйственной организации ООН (2012–2015 гг.), в настоящее время – профессора малайзийского Института стратегических и международных исследований. Настоящая подборка посвящена влиянию налоговых систем на экономическое развитие, а также проблемам безработицы. Статьи, любезно предоставленные редакции автором, публикуются на английском языке.
The Limits of Normalization: Russian-Georgian Relations after the Parliamentary Elections in Georgia
Authors: Silaev N.
Published: August 2020

The article analyzes the influence of the parliamentary elections in Georgia in October 2016 to Russian-Georgian relations. Ruling party “Georgian Dream” (GD) overwhelmingly won the elections and it shows that the current policy towards Moscow will not be radically revisited. At the same time we can expect GD’s policy will be less flexible, than it was before. So the limits of normalization between Russia and Georgia will be more evident.
“Islamic state”: ideology, structure, military and political activities
Authors: Vavilov A.
Published: August 2020

The article atempts to retrace the establishment of the terrorist group “Islamic State” (IS, ISIS) by analyzing its structure, ideological and propaganda pratices, economic foundation and sources of recruitment.
A Comparative Analysis of the Activities of “5+1” Formats’ Launched in Central Asia with Participation of the US, Republic of Korea, Japan, and the EU
Authors: Alekseenkova E.
Published: August 2020

Central Asia as a region has become a subject of scientific research not so long ago. Complicated historic background that includes the long period of being a part of another states influenced rather seriously the feeling of subjectivity of the countries of the region. As a result, after the collapse of the USSR in 1991 a difficult period commenced when the countries of the region started to construct their own political and economic relations with foreign counterparts including their neighbors, regional and global powers. During this more then 25-years long period of independence countries of Central Asia have accumulated rich experience of interaction with the US, China, Russia, the EU, Japan, South Korea and other states interested in the region in terms of their own national interests.

Besides bilateral relations with Central Asian states some of these countries are trying now to develop multilateral formats of interaction with the region. Divergent national interests, peculiarities of socioeconomic and political development of Central Asian states inevitably influence their relations with other countries and the efficiency of multilateral formats. “5+1” dialogues with Central Asian states are being developed by the US, the EU, Japan and South Korea. These formats differ in their goals, mechanisms, areas of cooperation and give participants possibilities to realize different national interests.

The paper presents an analysis of these formats aiming to reveal the principal interested actors, preliminary results and possibilities for further development. The analysis could be helpful for strategic planning of Russia’s approaches to relation with Central Asian states.
India’s Approaches to the Problem of Energy Security
Authors: Artyushkin V. , Parshin P.
Published: August 2020

Since the ration between production and consumption of electricity in the context of present and future demands of various countries determines the level of their energy security, it is this ration which is the main object of the research reported in the article. The case of India, with its huge population, rapid economic growth of the last decade and obvious scarcity of energy resources is of special interest and importance. The consideration of different indicators of demographic situation in the country shows that the number of population and the dynamics of its growth are still the main factors which determine prospects for solution of India’s energy security problem -

The paper analyses the situation of energy demand and supply across all sources of energy available to India and identify the directions along which the most effective and efficient projects can be realized. Due to its obvious peculiarities, a special attention is paid to the nuclear program of Indian, and, particularly, to the supply of Uranium necessary for instigation of nuclear energy production. The importance of the current moment is emphasized, when, in the context of limited energy resources, both Indian Government and society should decide what segments of population and branches of economy are to be given priorities to in meeting their growing demands, and how the priorities can be realized.
Jewish extremist and terrorist organizations in Israel
Authors: Krylov A. V.
Published: August 2020

This article is an extension of the research material published in the previous issue of the Journal “International Analytics” (2016, vol. 3 (17), p. 45–58), and focused on the activity of the Jewish paramilitary groups in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Originally the conspiratorial Jewish extremist organization opposed the policy of the Jewish immigration restraint which had been carried out by the socialist countries, especially the USSR. Some ultra-Orthodox groups, such as the Union of Zealots, used openly the terrorist methods in the struggle against the development of Israel as a secular and democratic state. After the war of 1967 and the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories the orthodox-nationalists, who formed the vanguard of the “Movement for Greater Israel”, created an underground network of extremist armed organizations. From the beginning, the activities of these groups were contrary to the Israeli Law on the Fight against Terror. The term commonly used for the Jewish underground groups in Hebrew is “mahteret”. There have been several dozen groups of this kind in the history of the Israeli settlements movement. The most famous of them are “Kach” (“Thus”) and “Kahane Chai” (“Kahane Lives”).

The initiator and inspirer of the “Jewish Underground” was an American Orthodox Rabbi Meir Kahane. He founded a political settlement party “Kach” which had legally existed until in 1988 a ban on the list of its candidates in the parliamentary elections was imposed by the Supreme Court of Israel because of the accusations of the denial of the democratic character of the state of Israel and the promotion of racism. The activities of both organizations were declared terrorist and banned in the USA and some other countries.

The article analyses religious, philosophical and political routes of the modern ideology of Israeli orthodox nationalists who participate in the settlement movement on the occupied Arab territories as well as the illegal activities of the most famous parties and organizations supporting the policy of the extension of the Israeli jurisdiction over the occupied Arab territories.
The U.S. and Allies’ Forward-Based BMD Systems: An Emerging Threat to Strategic Stability
Authors: Kuznetsov I.
Published: August 2020

The subject of this expert study is an evaluation of risks and potential threats of globalization of the U.S. and the allied BMD systems as well as of their sea-based deployments as the most important component of integrated forward-based BMD systems. Negative consequences of the large-scale deployments of these systems for negotiating strategic arms limitations as well as for reversibility of the existing treaties are evident in the midterm perspective.

The versions of “moderate” qualitative and quantitative estimations of these plans and programs promoted by the U.S. and allied countries allow to become firmly convinced about intentions to create the phenomena of “a window of vulnerability” for the Russia’s SLBM and ICBM retaliation potential. This temporal interval tends to widen, owing to a lower limit by a deployment closer to seashore of defense installations and objects in the depth of territory, as well as, by a shorter time-reaction to launches of the strategic retaliation forces by sea-based BMD’s.

The most possible scenarios of the deployment of ships equipped with BMD’s and organized in groups that are engaged in “active-offensive” missions show the unavoidable necessity to include “a less favorable scenario” in the Russia’s strategic planning. The calculations adduced by the author give serious grounds to suggest that realization of corresponding plans of shipbuilding and deployments in the mid-term perspective will create conditions for reversibility of the existing strategic balance and totally undermine negotiating processes on arms control.
Military-technical cooperation of Japan with foreign countries and the interests of Russia
Authors: Paramonov O. G.
Published: August 2020

Nowadays military-technical cooperation is considered by many states as one of the effective tools for ensuring national security, as well as accomplishing a broader range of foreign policy objectives. Under a crisis of regional security environment, the Japanese government also concluded that further refusal to participate in international cooperation in the development and production of weapons begins to negatively affect its own defense capabilities. Nevertheless, Shinzo Abe-led Government’s plans to put an end to Japan’s self-isolation from external arms markets and thus strengthen relations with the United States in the military-and political fields are likely to lead to certain problems in Japan’s relations with such powerful regional actors as Russia and China.
International Environmental Law and Protection of the Environment during Military Conflicts (International Legal Aspects)
Authors: Kukushkina A.
Published: August 2020

The paper raises the problems of developing international environmental law in its military aspects. The author maintains that current norms are insufficient for protection of existing natural resources which support the living of humanity. The efforts being made in this direction by the International Law Commission of the UN General Assembly are analyzed in some details. The author concludes that a special agreement might be currently elaborated in in order to protect the environment in wartime. This agreement should be formulated in such a way that it could be admitted in a short time by as many military developed powers as possible. A proposal concerning elaboration of the Fifth Geneva Convention on protection of the environment in wartime also seems realistic.
A New Stage of Afghan Crisis and U.S. Strategy Options
Authors: Shapiro N. I.
Published: August 2020

This article explores the evolution of the U.S. policy towards Afghanistan between 2009-2017 with particular emphasis on major adjustments to the original plans outlined by President Obama. The article analyses the main reasons underlying contraction of foreign policy decision-making cycles during Obama’s second term. It examines regional dynamics and the new developments in Afghanistan primarily the Taliban’s dramatic gains and the Islamic State’s growing presence since the official end of the coalition’s combat mission. It also analyzes the continuity and change aspects of Donald Trump’s new strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia.
Online Political Advertising in the Modern Political Competition (A Comparative Analysis of the 2008 And 2016 U. S. Presidential Campaigns)
Authors: Murashova E. P.
Published: August 2020

The article suggests an empirical analysis of online political advertising in the modern political struggle. Nowadays, due to the ongoing informatization of political processes, online technologies are used alongside with traditional media (TV, radio, etc.) for disseminating political advertisements. The development of online political advertising is tracked through time since the mid-1990s, when webtechnologies began to be applied in politics, up to today. The author conducts a comparative analysis of the 2008 and 2016 U.S. presidential campaigns to reveal the effectiveness and feasibility of online technologies in the political struggle. The analysis yielded the following results. First, the candidates of the two presidential races took into account both the positive and negative experience of the participants of the preceding election campaigns to elaborate their own marketing strategies. Second, concurrent use of traditional and online means of political advertising can contribute to the effectiveness of an election campaign. Third, an emphasis on online technologies increases a candidate’s chance to win the elections. Fourth, use of social networks and adaptation of existing genres of political advertising to the cyberspace appear to be promising ways of a candidate’s self-presentation.
The Transnistrian conflict is waiting for its solution
Authors: Chernyavskiy S. I.
Published: August 2020

The article analyzes the positions of the Republic of Moldova and the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublika regarding the settlement of the “Transnistrian conflict”. It arose in 1992 in connection with the intention of the Chisinau authorities to prohibit the use of the Russian language in the country and unite with Romania. The split of Moldova into two States led to the creation of a latent military and political crisis in the region. The conflict is still unresolved. International negotiations in the “5 + 2” format on the Transnistrian issue practically ceased. The war in the south-east of Ukraine strengthened the blockade of Transnistria, complicated the socio-economic situation of the population. The leadership of Moldova insists on a forceful version of reintegration, with which the population of Transnistria disagrees.
The burning issues of the Common Russian-Georgian History in Contemporary Socio-Political Discourse
Authors: Мukhanov V. М.
Published: August 2020

The author reveals the burning issues of the common past of Russia and Georgia and the key points of bifurcation in their relations, as well as the possibility of using this direction of debates in the process of normalization of Russian-Georgian relations.
Better Nutrition for Better Lives
Authors: Sundaram J. K.
Published: August 2020

Food systems are increasingly challenged to ensure food security and balanced diets for all, around the world. Almost 800 million people are chronically hungry, while over two billion people suffer from ‘hidden hunger’, with one or more micronutrient deficiencies. Meanwhile, over two billion people are overweight, with a third of them clinically obese, and hence more vulnerable to non-communicable diseases. Overcoming hunger and malnutrition in the 21st century does not simply involve increasing food available, but also improving access, especially for the hungry. Creating healthy, affordable and sustainable food systems for all is the most effective way to achieve this. Since 1945, food production has tripled as average food availability per person has risen by 40 percent. But despite abundant food supplies, almost 800 million still go hungry every day, of whom most live in developing countries. Many more go hungry seasonally or intermittently. Hunger affects their ability to work and to learn. Clearly, the problem is not just one of food availability, but also of access. The health of over two billion people is compromised because their diets lack essential micronutrients, which prevents them reaching their full human potential. ‘Hidden hunger’, or micronutrient deficiencies, undermines the physical and cognitive development of their children, exposing them to illness and premature death. Ironically, in many parts of the world, hunger co-exists with rising levels of obesity. Over two billion people are overweight, with a third of them deemed obese. This, in turn, exposes them to greater risk of diabetes, heart problems and other diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Conquest or voluntary annexation? The political process of incorporation of Kartli-Kakheti on Kingdom into the Russian Empire, 1796 – 1801
Authors: Volhonskiy M. A.
Published: August 2020

The article highlights the political process of accession in 1801, KartliKakheti to the Russian Empire, which was the result of the development of RussianGeorgian relations in the second half of the XVIII century, the article shows that the military-political weakness of the Georgian Kingdom became the main reason for the failure of the prisoner in 1783 the Treaty of Georgievsk, according to which Russia took under its protectorate of Eastern Georgia. Awareness of this fact has forced both Georgian and Russian ruling upper classes to begin to seek new forms of allied relations. Ensuing after the death of king Irakli II between representatives of the Royal family fight for throne significantly weakened the Georgian Kingdom. In the face of external threats from Iran, the only way to keep Eastern Georgia from ruin was its accession to Russia.
Public Diplomacy as an Instrument for Obtaining Foreign Policy Goals of the USA in Central Asia
Authors: Bahriev B.
Published: August 2020

The article deals with the features of public diplomacy resource’ application in US foreign policy in Central Asia. The author claims that American public diplomacy which has been actively working in the region since the collapse of the USSR appears to be an important instrument of achievement of not only regional, but also global objectives of the USA. Despite a certain de-emphasis on the Central Asian direction in the American foreign policy at the present stage, the rising Russian public diplomacy activity and increasing Chinese influence in the region forces Americans to look for public diplomacy response in order to secure their positions in this important, from geopolitical viewpoint and energy resource perspective, region. The aforementioned tendencies shape a competitive regional environment for implementation of public diplomacy.
Mercenaries as a political Tool of World Powers in the Congo Сrisis of 1960–1967
Authors: Nebolsina M. A.
Published: August 2020

The period of national liberation movements was marked by a struggle for political influence between world powers in the rich newly independent countries. The Congo crisis was the first to witness such an intense use of mercenaries by world powers in modern history. Policies differed – several western countries hired mercenaries to help suppress secessionist insurgencies, while others used them to support the secession of some regions in the Congo (now – Democratic Republic of Congo). Mercenaries were used to suppress Simba rebellion, to help in release of hostages, as well as in training the Congolese National Army. There was much to gain from the use of mercenary forces by the former colonizing nations. While formally they set the colonies free, informally they continued influencing politics in these countries using clandestine forces – the phenomenon which later becomes known as an essential component of “neocolonialism”. The use of numerous “soldiers of fortune” in the Congo will launch a process of corporate mercenarism, leading to the participation of mercenaries and private military contractors in a higher number of conflicts. In a short period of time contractors will become an integral part of military missions worldwide.
FAO and EU Partnership for Decision of Food Security Issues in Crisis Situations and Natural Disasters
Authors: Shcherbak I. , Potapova A.
Published: August 2020

The paper addresses FAO’s main principles and strategy for responding to emergency and crises situations in the field of food security and agriculture. The organization carries out measures for early warning and forecasting of natural disasters and conflicts, which can seriously complicate food security in crisis areas of the world. Active work is carried out to forecast emergencies, as well as to assess risks for individual countries. Particular attention is paid to the new EU strategy to strengthen the “resilience” of vulnerable states and societies under the pressure of humanitarian, climatic and military crises. The partnership between FAO and the EU is based on the integration of conceptual approaches to emergency assistance. Emphasis is placed on early forecasting of crisis situations and helping to restore the socio-economic potential of affected countries and their further development. Such interaction is based on the exchange of data and the exchange of technical tools, as well as on financing mechanisms for emergency assistance. FAO is a politically neutral international organization with a number of comparative advantages. The EU uses partnership with it as an effective tool not only for providing emergency assistance and development assistance, but also for indirectly projecting its interests in various regions of the world.
“Atlantic Еxpansion” and International Legal Basis for Reunification of the Crimea with Russia
Authors: Voronin E.
Published: August 2020

Transatlantic expansion in Europe in order to move NATO’s strategic positions to the borders of Russia together with the inspirited Washington-Brussels duo, the “Ukrainian crisis”, is the main destabilizing factor for the security in the European region. In context of preventing threats to the Russian Federation it should be perceived through the declaration of will by the people of the Crimea, who used their right for self-determination and for their future as part of the Russian state and return of the Crimea to Russian fatherland. The article includes “three groups” of international legal grounds for the reunification of the Crimea with the Russian Federation: territorial succession, secession (but not annexation) and a territorial title. Justification for a fully legal inclusion of the Crimea into Russia as a state of historical sovereignty, unlike Ukraine, which historically never existed as an independent state, without legal claim for the Crimea, which was part of the Ukraine due to an anticonstitutional voluntarism of the soviet ruling of that time.
Karabakh: the Unfinished War
Authors: Krylov A.
Published: August 2020

The author of the article analyzes the present situation on the territory of the Karabakh conflict and the positions taken by the parties. These are based on a “package approach” (Armenia) and a “step by step approach” (Azerbaijan). The two approaches conflict with one another, which is the main reason why the negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group fail. This makes the armed scenario of solving the problem likely. The author describes Russia’s policy, which seeks to prevent a new war in Karabakh by maintaining a comparable military-political balance of power. Given the situation, the main task of the OSCE Minsk Group and Russian diplomacy is to create effective mechanisms to prevent resumption of hostilities. International ceasefire monitoring will create conditions for resuming talks to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Otherwise, the Karabakh problem will continue cause international tension.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Relationship between India’s Volatility Index and Nifty 50 Returns
Authors: Chittineni Jyothi
Published: August 2020

The paper intends to re-examine the relationship between India’s Implied Volatility Index (IVIX) and Nifty 50 Returns during this COVID-19 pandemic. The study results are important for two reasons, one is to understand whether Indian VIX is fulfilling the purpose of measuring the near future volatility of Nifty 50 during this pandemic, and secondly, it reports the impact of COVID-19 on the investors’ perceptions about the returns and its volatility. The study results documented that the Nifty return and IVIX are moving independently during the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no association between market size and the market move. The one period lagged Nifty returns have a significant influence on the future market volatility. The combined impact of negative and positive Nifty returns on IVIX is not significant during the COVID-19 period. This implies that the Indian investors are not much worried about the fluctuation in the market price or size of the market during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The investors might be taking the market decline as an opportunity to invest and market rise as an opportunity to sell the stocks. Indian investors are much focused on the fundamentals than the market movements during this pandemic. The study results are important for the fund managers, policymakers, and analysts to understand the dynamics of emerging market volatility and the trading behavior of Indian investors.
Prospects of mutation breeding in grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.)
Authors: Rana Muhammad Awais , Usman Muhammad , Fatima Bilquees , Fatima Arooge , Rana Iqrar Ahmad , Rehman Waqar , Shoukat Dawood
Published: August 2020

Grapefruit is considered as a minor citrus crop in Pakistan and its annual production is less than 0.5% of total citrus production. Grapefruit industry is depending upon pink flesh cultivar ‘Shamber’ and need varietal diversification. Mutation breeding has played a pivotal role in grapefruit crop improvement and most of the commercial cultivars are bud sports or induced mutants which were selected and later released as new cultivars. Flesh color enhancement, seedlessness and low furanocoumarin level have been main objectives for grapefruit breeders. An overview of potential of mutation breeding in grapefruit and leading mutants produced is presented in the following sections. Though physical mutagens have been more successful, breeders’ interest is rising in more precise and targeted mutagenesis technologies including CRISPR/Cas9 which has enormous potential in genome editing and could shorten breeding and selection cycle. The available leading grapefruit cultivars were screened for horticultural traits and potential candidate varieties has been selected for diversification and selection of better parents for breeding programs. Several putative mutants have been developed using gamma irradiated plant material. The effect of irradiation on plant growth, morphology and biochemical properties has been evaluated and salient findings are discussed. The developed genetically diverse material could be useful for future biotechnology applications.
Effectiveness of different weed control practices in onion (Allium cepa L.) crop
Authors: Nafees Muhammad , Ahmad Ishtiaq , Maryam  , Ahsan Muhammad , Shaheen Muhammad Rashid , Hussain Rashid , Manzoor Amir
Published: August 2020

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important vegetables in family Alliaceae, which is cultivated worldwide. In onion, weeds are among one of the major concerns which cause its yield reduction. The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness of different methods for weed control in onion. In this study, five treatments were selected including control, black polythene mulch sheet, white polythene mulch sheet, Dual Gold spray @ 9.0 mL L-1 and Preact spray @ 7.5 mL L-1 to control weeds. The weedicides were applied as pre-emergence sprays before transplanting the seedlings. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. From the results, it was concluded that there were significant differences among the studied weed control treatments. Among the five treatments, greater plant height (33.0 cm), number of leaves per plant (8), bulb diameter (4.7 cm) and bulb weight (73 g) were observed in the ridges covered with black mulch sheet. However, the minimum weed biomass (fresh and dry) was recorded in black mulch sheet and Preact pre-emergence weedicide spray (140 and 80 g in both). Thus, black polythene sheet as mulching material was found better option for weed management in onion fields.
Emergência de saúde pública global por pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Lima Clóvis Ricardo Montenegro de , Sánchez-Tarragó Nancy , Moraes Danielle , Grings Luiciana , Maia Mariangela Rebelo
Published: August 2020

Quer-se investigar e discutir os processos e dinâmicas informacionais em torno da emergência global de saúde pública pela pandemia de Covid-19, com ênfase nas manifestações de desinformação ao redor da origem do vírus, da medida de isolamento social e dos tratamentos. Como alicerces teóricos discute os conceitos de desordem informacional, desinformação, assimetria de informações e validação discursiva. A pandemia de Covid-19 atualiza a discussão das estratégias de poder, em um contexto caracterizado pela difusão e uso intenso da informação em tempo real, o uso simples de tecnologias para a edição e publicação de imagens e textos e a emergência do negacionismo científico e a pós-verdade. Esta é uma das grandes novidades desta pandemia, que traz consigo questões críticas de sinceridade, veracidade e honestidade. A sinceridade diz respeito à dimensão subjetiva, a veracidade sobre a dimensão objetiva e a honestidade sobre a dimensão social. Ao mesmo tempo, as notícias na Internet retomam a discussão sobre fraudes que são, de certo modo, uma atualização da questão da "manipulação" nos meios de comunicação. A declaração de alerta sanitário pela Organização Mundial de Saúde dá uma dimensão global para controvérsias sobre objetividade na pandemia. A mudança do modo de comunicação de um para muitos, para uma comunicação de muitos com muitos, torna as questões da informação mais complexas. Na pandemia do Covid-19 são muitas as tensões, controvérsias e conflitos entre autoridades sanitárias, pesquisadores, profissionais de saúde, pensadores críticos e defensores de direitos humanos e sociais. Destaca a importância da validação discursiva da informação pois a disseminação da informação na sociedade enfrenta o filtro do uso público da razão, particularmente aguçado pelo horizonte da finitude humana.
Phytochemical Screening and Elemental Analysis of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Datura innoxia Seeds and Leaves
Authors: Farah Adam , Tota Siddig A. N.
Published: August 2020

The present study is aimed to screen the phytochemicals analysis and elements content of Datura innoxia seeds and leaves. The aqueous and methanol extracts were carried out by using the maceration method and soxhlet apparatus, respectively. Results of the study of Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of a high concentration of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpines, and low concentration of saponin and coummarins. The elements in the leaves and seeds (K, Ca, S, Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, Ti, Mn, Zn, Sr, Cu, V, Br, and Zr) were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. K content was the highest in seeds (5.469 ± 0.021%), Ca and S the highest in leaves (2.461 ± 0.019 %, 1.254 ± 0.022 %, respectively). The elements Ti, Mn, Sr, V, Br, and Zr were detected in the leaves with range concentration 0.062-0.002 %. The elements Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, and Zn concentration in seeds varied from 0.002 to 0.942% and in leaves varied from 0.014 to 0.346%. The concentration of these elements did not exceed the standard of dangerous toxic levels.