bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Η θεολογία των δερμάτινων χιτώνων στον Νικόλαο Καβάσιλα και τον Παναγιώτη Νέλλα
Authors: Γκουνέλας Χρήστος
Published: March 2024

Οι βιβλικοί Δερμάτινοι Χιτώνες έχουν συμβολισθεί από Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας και νεότερους ερμηνευτές ως υλικότητα, παχυμμένη σωματότητα, αλογότητα, βιολογικότητα και νεκρότητα, αλλά και ως πολιτισμός, τέχνες, επιστήμη και πολιτική. Με αυτούς ενέδυσε ο Θεός τους πρωτόπλαστους αμέσως με την πτώση τους. Τόσο ο Νικόλαος Καβάσιλας όσο και ο Παναγιώτης Νέλλας, ο καθένας στην εποχή του, ερμήνευσε θεολογικά τη δίμορφη πραγματικότητα των Δερμάτινων Χιτώνων δίνοντας τις ανάλογες οντολογικές, ανθρωπολογικές και κοσμολογικές προεκτάσεις. Στόχος τους ήταν ο διάλογος με τον καιρό τους τον οποίο κατόρθωσαν όχι μόνο μέσα από τα συγγράμματά τους αλλά και από την καθημερινή τους πράξη μέσα στον κόσμο. Σήμερα, στην εποχή της Τέταρτης Βιομηχανικής Επανάστασης, υπάρχει η ανάγκη μιας νέας σύγχρονης ερμηνείας της θεολογίας των Δερμάτινων Χιτώνων, όπως την αποπειρώμεθα εδώ, σε ανοιχτό διάλογο με τις σύγχρονες επίγειες πραγματικότητες με οντολογικές, ανθρωπολογικές και κοσμολογικές προεκτάσεις.
Policy Brief 13: Catalysing the private sector for disaster response and resilience – Case study of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation
Authors: Hans Vanessa , Luz Bill
Published: March 2024

Extreme weather events, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and epidemics cause the loss of countless lives and bring disruption to many countries. Governments and humanitarian aid agencies are expected to be at the forefront of preparing for and responding to such disasters.

However, occasionally the scale and impact of some natural disasters are so large that additional resources beyond what governments can provide become necessary. In such cases, efforts may be perceived as insufficient and slow. Resources and efforts need to be augmented in order to provide relief and support to those who need it most.

Could the private sector take a more leading role in pre- and post-disaster efforts? How could a structured, long-term engagement reduce the inevitable integrity risks in high-stress disaster situations involving numerous government, business and international actors?

This Policy Brief looks at how the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) has emerged as a leading private-sector coordinator for disaster risk reduction and management.

It illustrates the important role that the private sector can play in responding to – and building resilience to – natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. It also showcases how vital it is for good governance, integrity and transparent collaboration to be at the heart of those efforts.
Working Paper 48: A collaborative approach to improve business integrity in ASEAN
Authors: Binder Lucie , Hans Vanessa , Stransky Anna
Published: March 2024

This working paper provides an overview and analysis of anti-corruption Collective Action case studies in the ASEAN region. It builds on the 2014 paper: Collective Action against Corruption: Business and Anti-Corruption Initiatives in ASEAN, which was published by the ASEAN CSR Network and the Asian Institute of Management.

This 2023 paper reviews the initiatives featured in the 2014 paper and highlights new initiatives that have emerged in the region since then. It covers:

Indonesia: Indonesia Business Links

Malaysia: Corporate Integrity System Malaysia

Philippines: Integrity Initiative and project SHINE

Thailand: Collective Action Against Corruption

Thailand: Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand

Vietnam: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Office for Business

The analysis identifies several success factors, while noting that Collective Action is a flexible approach that can and must be tailored to different contexts.
Working Paper 50: Seedlings of hope: Addressing corruption linked to crimes that impact the environment in line with UNCAC Resolution 8/12
Authors: Lemaître Sophie
Published: March 2024

At the 8th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), in December 2019, States parties adopted a resolution recognising the relationship between corruption and environmental crimes. 

Resolution 8/12 – Preventing and combating corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment – is a landmark Resolution. With its 23 operative paragraphs (OPs), it underlies the importance of addressing corruption linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment. It urges States parties to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption offences where they may be linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment. 

This Working Paper report presents a concise overview of prevention and enforcement actions, initiatives and measures implemented by UNCAC States parties between 2019 and 2023 to combat corruption as it pertains to crimes that have an impact on the environment. Section 2 focuses on prevention and Section 3 on enforcement actions.

Section 4 underscores the valuable contributions made by non-state actors, in particular civil society, academia and the media in this collective endeavour.

The conclusion includes a list of promising initiatives for corruption prevention and enforcement.
Digital Twins along the product lifecycle: A systematic literature review of applications in manufacturing
Authors: Pronost Guillaume , Mayer Frédérique , Camargo Mauricio , Dupont Laurent
Published: March 2024

Background The evolution of product expectations in the era of mass personalization implies an improvement and a better control of individualized creation and production processes throughout the product lifecycle. The application of the digital twin seems to be a favoured solution in this context, but its study during the lifecycle of a product has only been partially evoked in the literature. Methods The purpose of this research is to identify the leverages and barriers to support the digital twin diffusion in the manufacturing industry from a technological, operational, and social standpoint. To determine these elements, this paper will identify current digital twins applications in the literature under two main dimensions: the type of digital twin, and its applications along the product lifecycle. To achieve this analysis a systematic literature review was carried out. The publications selection was based on the presence in these of a case of application of a digital twin with a focus in the Manufacturing sector. Within this review, 188 scientific papers were comprehensively compiled and analyzed. Results Results showed that although the term digital twin is widely used, the deployment of digital twin technologies in manufacturing is still at an early stage as most of the reported digital twin applications were in fact prototypes focused on the real-time observability of the physical system, either for optimization or predictive maintenance. Moreover, regarding the product lifecycle, most of the applications have been focused on the production and operational phases whereas those at the design and disposal phases are still limited. Conclusions This paper presents an original approach to the study of digital twins, focusing simultaneously on the type of digital twin, the application area and the lifecycle phase. Under the basis of the obtained results, future perspectives on the use of digital twins along the lifecycle are proposed.
Strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing shows potential for managing underrun heels in horses
Authors: Poochipakorn Chanoknun , Sanigavatee Kanokpan , Wonghanchao Thita , Huangsaksri Onjira , Chanda Metha
Published: March 2024

Background Underrun heels are among the most hoof imbalances, causing poor performance in hoses. Several corrective shoeing protocols have been performed, but the outcomes have yet to be consistent. In this study, we proposed an alternative trimming protocol for managing underrun heels: strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potential of strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing for managing hoof imbalance in horses with underrun heels. Methods Eleven affected horses were divided into control (5 horses with 14 defective hooves) and experimental (6 horses with 16 defective hooves) groups. The experimental group underwent strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing, while the control horses received regular trimming before traditional shoeing. Dorsal hoof wall angle (DHWA)/heel angle (HA) ratios, heel-bulb distance, and six parallel lines indicating solar surface dimension were determined before, and after 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 weeks of the different trimming protocols. Palmar trimming distance was only measured in experimental horses. Results A group-by-time interaction was observed for DHWA/HA ratios and solar surface dimension. Separate effects for group and time were observed in the heel–bulb distance. A modification in hoof conformation was detected at 25-30 weeks only in horses in the experimental group, including decreases in DHWA/HA ratio, heel–bulb distance, and palmar trimming distance, coinciding with an increase in palmar width of trimmed hooves. Conclusions Different trimming protocols produced a different effect on hoof conformation. Therefore, tactical remedial trimming can potentially control poor hoof conformation in horses with underrun heels.
Lecturers’ experiences of online learning communication in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A phenomenological study
Authors: Venus Anter , Waluyo Lukman Saleh , Ayuningtyas Fitria , Kusumajanti Kusumajanti
Published: March 2024

Background Indonesia is currently implementing educational reforms to enhance university teaching and learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected Indonesian universities, requiring lecturers to implement various changes. The phenomenon of online learning communication at various universities in Indonesia is critical considering today’s increasingly fierce competition due to digital disruption coupled with the impact of the pandemic. Therefore, lecturers must implement appropriate methods to conduct online learning communication effectively. Methods This qualitative phenomenological study was designed to explore lecturers’ understanding of the implementation of changes in online learning communication at Indonesian universities. In-depth interviews and field observations were conducted with lecturers who were efficient in online learning using a specific measurement standard. The research participants were identified using purposive sampling with a snowball approach. The study comprised 10 lecturers from UPN Veteran Jakarta who were experienced and efficiently delivered online lectures. Results The results provide a review of factors identified by the phenomenological and qualitative study that contribute to online learning communication, such as chemistry, lecturer preparation, and learning materials. The results of this study revealed several themes. Each section centers on the major themes that emerged from the datasets. Conclusion Our findings aid in a better understanding of the benefits and constraints of using online learning communication in the classroom. These findings are crucial for university lecturers developing methods for enhancing the implementation of online learning communication. Moreover, the findings revealed that lecturers should engage in and create trusting interactions with their students. Providing technical support to keep both teachers and students engaged can be useful. More crucially, multimedia support and learning systems are essential for properly addressing lecturers’ tasks and learning materials. This study improves the understanding of online learning communications implemented by lecturers.
Assessment of potential drug-drug interactions in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases: an experience from a secondary care hospital
Authors: Shareef Javedh , Sridhar Sathvik Belagodu , Ahmad Ismail Abu Nawa , Rao Padma G.M. , Ain Ur Rashid
Published: March 2024

Background Polypharmacy is common among hospitalized patients with infectious infections owing to comorbidities or concomitant illnesses. This raises the likelihood of drug-drug interactions and creates uncertainty for healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) among hospitalized patients with infectious diseases in a secondary care hospital. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in the internal medicine ward for six months after the ethics committee’s approval. Data were collected from patient case records, and prescriptions were screened for pDDIs from a portable electronic physician information database (PEPID) resource analyzed using SPSS, version 27.0. Results In total, 148 patient case records were analyzed, and 549 pDDIs were identified, with 66.8% having at least one or more DDIs. The mean number of drug interactions was 3.70 ± 4.58 per prescription. The most frequently encountered drug interactions were drug combinations such as bisoprolol with atorvastatin and aspirin with tazobactam/piperacillin. Bivariate analysis showed that age, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, and the number of drugs prescribed were risk factors associated with DDIs (p<0.05). In the multiple binary logistic regression analysis, DDIs were significantly associated with comorbidities and the number of prescribed medications (p<0.0001). Conclusions This study observed the prevalence of DDIs in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases of ‘moderate’ severity. Prescription screening using a drug information database assists in early identification and prevention of DDIs, enhancing drug safety and quality of patient-centered care.
The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey: Review of the methodology and protocol for the seventh version (RAAB7)
Authors: McCormick Ian , Butcher Robert , Ramke Jacqueline , Bolster Nigel M , Limburg Hans , Chroston Hannah , Bastawrous Andrew , Burton Matthew J , Mactaggart Islay
Published: March 2024

The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) is a population-based cross-sectional survey methodology used to collect data on the prevalence of vision impairment and its causes and eye care service indicators among the population 50 years and older. RAAB has been used for over 20 years with modifications to the protocol over time reflected in changing version numbers; this paper describes the latest version of the methodology–RAAB7. RAAB7 is a collaborative project between the International Centre for Eye Health and Peek Vision with guidance from a steering group of global eye health stakeholders. We have fully digitised RAAB, allowing for fast, accurate and secure data collection. A bespoke Android mobile application automatically synchronises data to a secure Amazon Web Services virtual private cloud when devices are online so users can monitor data collection in real-time. Vision is screened using Peek Vision’s digital visual acuity test for mobile devices and uncorrected, corrected and pinhole visual acuity are collected. An optional module on Disability is available. We have rebuilt the RAAB data repository as the end point of RAAB7’s digital data workflow, including a front-end website to access the past 20 years of RAAB surveys worldwide. This website (https://www.raab.world) hosts open access RAAB data to support the advocacy and research efforts of the global eye health community. Active research sub-projects are finalising three new components in 2024-2025: 1) Near vision screening to address data gaps on near vision impairment and effective refractive error coverage; 2) an optional Health Economics module to assess the affordability of eye care services and productivity losses associated with vision impairment; 3) an optional Health Systems data collection module to support RAAB’s primary aim to inform eye health service planning by supporting users to integrate eye care facility data with population data.
THE STATE OF NON-SPECIFIC RESISTANCE OF THE SMALL BAT (PIPISTRELLUS PYGMAEUS LEACH, 1825) UNDER ADVERSE ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS
Authors: Karpenko Elizaveta N. , Kharlan Alexey L. , Zaitseva Elena V.
Published: March 2024

At present, an important feature of the study of bats is their ability to carry pathogens of dangerous viruses, which is important for epidemiology when analyzing the spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, the study of the nonspecific immunity of bats will be able to suggest their morbidity and ability to endure diseases dangerous to humans. The purpose of the study is to consider the state of nonspecific resistance of the small bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus Leach, 1825) under the conditions of unfavorable anthropogenic factors in the territory of the Bryansk region. The article presents the results of the analysis of indicators of nonspecific immunity of the small bat, living in areas with different anthropogenic pressure: colony №1 - rural area, colony №2 - urban area. To determine the natural resistance, physiological reactivity and general nonspecific resistance in the small bat, hematological and biochemical studies were conducted according to standard methods in males and females of two colonies. Blood serum lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity, phagocytic activity, circulating immune complexes were measured. In the body of males and females of the small bat, adaptation to new conditions of a negative urban environment is associated with adaptive-compensatory processes, manifested in hyperactivity of the immune system, pronounced disorders of the immune system and cellular immunity.
PLANT COMPOSITION AND SOIL PROPERTIES DURING POSTAGROGENIC EVOLUTION IN THE CIS-BAIKAL FOREST-STEPPE ZONE
Authors: Zorina Svetlana Yu. , Sokolova Lada G. , Kazanovsky Sergey G. , Dorofeev Nikolai V.
Published: March 2024

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the features of the restoration of plant communities and some properties of gray forest soils, including the humus state, during their post-agrogenic transformation in the conditions of the Cis-Baikal forest-steppe zone.

Materials and methods. The study was carried out using the post-agrogenic chronosequences, including arable land, abandoned soils of different ages, and natural cenoses (meadow and forest). Traditional methods of phytocenology were applied to study the plant composition. Mixed soil samples from three trenches were collected from the former arable layer of 0–20 cm. The content of organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (N), and the C/N ratio, the pH(H2O) and pH(KCL) values, as well as soil density and the reserves of Corg were determined.  The statistical processing of data was performed using One Way ANOVA (Sigma Plot from Windows Version 14.0).

Results. It was shown that plant vegetation being typical for the Baikal forest-steppe zone was recovering after the cessation of plowing. At the same time, the several ruderal species were preserved in the plant composition during a long period. This specific phenomenon could be the cause for inhibition of terminal phytocenoses formation. Along with the change in the vegetation, a significant increase in the organic carbon content was revealed in the soils of chronosequences. At the later stages of post-agrogenic succession the carbon reserves in soil were 1.5 times higher than those in arable soil. The humus content in the soils increased with age of the abandoned lands, but no cardinal changes in its qualitative composition were observed. The data indicated the stable functioning of the system of humus substances in the gray forest soils of the Baikal forest-steppe zone during their post-agrogenic evolution.

Conclusion. The results can be used for the forecast of post-agrogenic soil changes under various scenarios of land use in conditions of the Baikal region.
THE ACID-BASE CHANGES IN HIGHLY QUALIFIED ORIENTER SPORTSMEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GLUCOSE ELECTROLYTE DRINK WITH THE PLANT EXTRACTS ADDITION
Authors: Biryukova Yelena A. , Khusainov Denis R. , Burtseva Yelena V. , Mishin Nikolay P. , Tribrat Natalya S.
Published: March 2024

In real conditions of high-intensity training and competitive load of athletes, the most important for sports success is the preservation of energy metabolism indicators, and, in particular, the acid-base balance in the range of homeostatic normal values. One of the possible ways to maintain the acid-base balance of an athlete is the use of homeostatic electrolyte drinks, which can have a fairly rapid effect. In this regard, for our work we have identified the following goal of the study: to analyze the possibility of using the functional drink "Aluston" (FDA) produced by JSC "Alushta Essential Oil Plant" to maintain the acid-base balance of athletes and a possible increase in performance, training duration, resistance of athletes to long-term physical activity of high intensity.

Methods: Stepwise loading protocol was used on a Kettler bicycle ergometer (Hmbq, Germany). Capillary blood sampling from athletes was carried out at rest before the start of the load and immediately after it was completed using an Epoc capillary (Epocal Inc., Canada). Biochemical parameters of blood like pH, concentration of CO2 and O2, [Na+], [К+], [Сa2+], [Cl–], [HCO3–], Lactate, Glucose, Crea, Hct, Hb, BE(ecf), BE(b ) were recorded by the Epocreader and Epochost analyzers (Epocal Inc., Canada). It was shown that FDA contributes to the stabilization of anion gaps, reduces the severity of the shift of the standard (BE-ecf) and true (BE-b) excess bases into the negative range, which can be regarded as a more pronounced preservation of the “strength” of blood buffer systems, and contributed to a decrease in tension in the pair acidosis-alkalosis. In addition, FDA supplementation likely shifts the phase of creatine fermentation to later loading stages.

The last experimental fact requires further research, and also, modification changes in the composition, concentration ratio of active components in the “Aluston” drink remain relevant.
EVALUATION OF VITICULTURE AND WINEMAKING REGIONS OF CRIMEA IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLIMATIC FACTORS, AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAPES
Authors: Rybalko Evgeniy A. , Cherviak Sofia N. , Ermikhina Marianna V.
Published: March 2024

A grape plant is capable to adapt, grow and produce crops in different environmental conditions. At the same time, agro-climatic conditions of grape growing area have a significant effect on the product quality. Environmental climatic conditions of Crimea contribute to cultivating grapes from very early to late ripening varieties. Diverse range of abiotic conditions allows choosing an optimal terroir for the formation of necessary grape conditions depending on the application target. Significant spatial climate variability within the region makes it possible to evaluate the impact of environmental factors on biosynthetic and accumulative properties of grapes.

The purpose is to study changes in the profile of carbohydrate-acid complex of wine grape varieties under the influence of agro-ecological growing conditions.

Materials and methods. Study objects were white and red grape varieties growing in various viticulture and winemaking regions of Crimea. A research for grape plant response to the variability of environmental factors basing on a long-term comparative study of chemical composition of its fruits, determining the varietal biochemical identity and technological properties in a particular region, was carried out.

Results and conclusion. As a research result, the cumulative effect of agro-ecological factors on the accumulation of components of carbohydrate-acid grape complex was established, and in particular years it was possible to identify the dependence between their quantitative content and individual environmental factors. Accumulation of the mass concentration of sugars in grape berry directly correlated with the Huglin index value (r = 0.7). With regard to the mass concentration of titratable acids, an inverse correlation was revealed with the Winkler index value (r = -0.59). A comparative analysis of the results shows that one grape variety grown under different climatic conditions may show different ability to synthesize the components of carbohydrate-acid complexes, determining its suitability for various output production. There is a direct correlation of the mass concentration of sugars on the average air temperature for the last month before harvest (r=0.70) within the variety.
MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SORPTION PROCESS OF MINE WATER PURIFICATION
Authors: Smolyanichenko Alla S. , Khaljushev Alexander K. , Yakovleva Elena V.
Published: March 2024

Contaminated mine water with a large amount of salts makes underground and surface water sources unsuitable for household and drinking needs. Already in 2016, there was a shortage of drinking water in the Rostov region. Water from surface sources does not meet the hygienic requirements for chemical parameters in 36.1% of the samples taken. Water from underground sources in terms of color, turbidity, total hardness, dry residue, content of iron ions, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, nitrates, ammonia, chlorides, sulfates, magnesium, sodium did not meet the required standards in 72.2% of cases. Due to the need for huge expenses for the purification of highly mineralized waters and the poor development of cheap technologies for the neutralization of large volumes, attempts to purify discharged or flowing mine waters to a safe level turn out to be practically fruitless. In this article, studies were carried out to reduce the concentration of dissolved ions of heavy metals (iron, manganese, copper and zinc) in mine wastewater by sorption in a static mode (charring) using rice husk biochar with electromagnetic treatment. The authors proposed a method for pre-treatment of the sorbent from rice husk biochar in an electromagnetic field at a process activation unit. The results of laboratory tests confirmed the high efficiency of the sorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from mine waters. On the basis of the results obtained, optimization of the sorption purification of mine waters in the mode of carbonization was carried out using the method of mathematical planning of the experiment (full factorial experiment FFE 2k). The factors most influencing the efficiency of mine wastewater treatment from iron and zinc ions have been identified. With a probability of 0.95, the proposed models are adequate, and they can be used to describe the sorption process when using the studied sorbent to remove heavy metal ions (iron, zinc, etc.), while the optimal concentration of the sorbent from rice husks is within 0.5 mg/l. With an increase and decrease in the concentration of the sorbent above the optimal values, the efficiency of sorption decreases, and this affects the iron to a greater extent. In general, the obtained sorbent has a chemical composition similar to that of activated carbon (the most widely used sorbent for water purification), but at the same time it is a cheap production waste, which confirms its efficiency, both technological and economic, when used to purify natural and waste water. With the introduction of the proposed treatment scheme for mine water treatment facilities, it is expected that the concentrations of dissolved heavy metal ions, in particular, iron, zinc, manganese, will decrease to the concentration of the discharge into the reservoir.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE ATROPA L. GENUS SPECIES, CULTIVATED IN THE MOSCOW REGION
Authors: Basalaeva Irina V. , Savchenko Olga M.
Published: March 2024

Background. The application of the anatomical method of studying various forms, varieties and species will allow to determine the degree of plant adaptation to habitat conditions and to assess its ecological plasticity.

Purpose. This work aim is to evaluate the species and breeding samples of the Atropa genus by a set of signs, including morphological description, shape, size and weight of leaves, the nature of the pubescence of the leaf plade epidermis, location, size and number of stomata, as well as the yield of raw materials.

Results. All collection samples of the studied species of the genus Atropa in the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation undergo a full cycle of development. The assessment of the potential resistance of 14 forms and species of belladonna to unfavorable biotic and abiotic environmental factors was carried out, their main morpho-anatomical features were studied. The adaptive potential of the leaves of the studied Atropa plants is due to the variability of the structural elements of the leaf epidermis and is one of the factors of resistance to stress. In the group of studied samples, A. acuminata (406, Lithuania) and A. belladonna (487, Poland) have the lowest stress-adaptive potential (according to the set of signs). It was noted that populations of A. belladonna from Eastern Europe and France have signs of xeromorphism against the background of a decrease in plant size compared to the control and the lowest yield. It is noted that A. belladonna samples from Europe with yellow corolla staining occupy an intermediate value in yield in the presence of xeromorphic signs, which indicates their adaptability to the conditions of agrocenosis. The presence of numerous secreting trichomes in the studied accessions of A. belladonna and A. komarovii (nos. 5 and 14) may indicate their potential resistance to diseases and pests. The A. caucasica and A. komarovii species, as well as the A. belladonna specimen from Great Britain (no. 1), can be considered well adapted.

Conclusion. The highest-yielding populations are from Russia A. belladonna 15/15; A. caucasica 118 compared to the Bagira variety. These samples can be considered promising and well-adapted candidates for creating a new variety of A. belladonna.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AS A SIGNIFICANT CRITERION FOR CREATING FUNCTIONAL ZONES IN A CITY WITHIN URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Authors: May Irina V. , Sedusova Ella V. , Balashov Stanislav Yu. , Saranina Kseniya N.
Published: March 2024

Background. This study focuses on a vital issue concerning the necessity to consider public health when making decisions on urban development.

Purpose. Test approaches to using available data on environmental public health risks when creating functional zones in a large industrial center.

Materials and Methods. Aerogenic health risks associated with ambient air pollution were assessed by calculating dispersion of emissions from 2500 industrial sources and 4000 traffic network sections as well as by using environmental monitoring data.

Results. We established that 1889 land spots of 3619 functional zones with standardized air quality were fully or partially located in areas with unacceptable public health risks. These land spots included 905 residential areas and 984 spots with recreational potential.

Conclusion. Obviously, an inconsistency between actual health hazards for city population and a functional purpose of a zone requires immediate action. Either a functional purpose should be changed, or certain air protection activities should be implemented to make ambient air quality conform to the existing standards and to guarantee acceptable health risks levels. Either option requires environmental and economic substantiation. Any decision on changes in a specific situation in each specific functional zone should be made separately considering hazards, their sources and reasons for their occurrence. These decisions should rely on economic estimates and technical capabilities necessary for implementation of planned activities. People’s life and health should always remain the top priority. The study describes an algorithm for considering environmental factors when functional zones are created within urban development.
“Every Piece Can Fit”: Understanding and Remedying Cultural Mismatches Between Chinese Diaspora Students and Advisors
Authors: Schell Emily P.
Published: March 2024

As higher education diversifies, students from underrepresented groups find themselves on campuses unprepared to support them. Academic advising can cultivate belonging or reify “cultural mismatches” when students’ norms do not match institutional norms. Leveraging interviews with Chinese international, Chinese American, and European American undergraduates and advisors, this study examines whether cultural mismatches in advising exist for Chinese diaspora students and, if so, on what fronts. Findings reveal cultural mismatches in definitions of autonomy; the amount of student voice expected in advising; valuation of exploration; emphasis on passion; and types of socioemotional support. This study yields important findings for advisors to improve the cultural responsiveness of their advising.
Azimuth Angle and Magnetic Declination to Maximize Solar Panel Efficiency (Solar Tracking System)
Authors: Saeed Zubair , Shahzad Waseem , Ur Rehman Asad , Ali Syeda Zuriat e Zehra , Zaman Shah , Shehzad Faheem
Published: March 2024

This study presents the idea of power production through the solar which depends on the light intensity that falls on the solar panel. This project utilizes dual axis solar tracking system based on intensity of light using Arduino UNO. The hardware implementation includes an Arduino UNO and four LDR sensor for sensing the maximum intensity of light. Two DC motors are used, one motor is used for horizontal rotation and the second motor is used for the vertical rotation. This system includes the implementation of MPPT. It controls the charge and stores it in a battery. Battery provides 12V to inverter where DC voltages convert into AC voltages. SPWM inverter is designed over push pull topology. In conclusion, the proposed system operates on low input power and delivers high efficiency in output.
Reliable Temperature Measurement in Radiation-Intensive Environments
Authors: Petrashin Pablo , Lancioni Walter , Laprovitta Agustin , Castagnola Juan
Published: March 2024

Radiation-resistant temperature sensors are vital for ensuring reliability in radiation-intensive environments, where the highly energetic and penetrating nature of radiation can significantly impact electronic devices and sensors. In such environments, like those near intense radiation sources or in challenging radiation-rich settings, such as space, gamma radiation can lead to erroneous measurements or equipment failures. Radiation-resistant sensors play a crucial role in maintaining measurement accuracy as they are designed to minimize interference caused by radiation, protecting electronic components and providing precise and reliable temperature readings. Their resilience to radiation-induced effects ensures data durability, reducing the need for frequent replacements, and enhancing the overall reliability of measurements in these demanding conditions. In this paper, we present and analyze two different configurations, aiming to address the challenges posed by radiation in sensitive environments. By exploring these novel approaches, we seek to enhance the robustness and accuracy of temperature sensors in radiation-intensive settings, enabling reliable data collection and facilitating successful operations in challenging radiation-rich conditions. The comparative analysis of these configurations will shed light on their performance and effectiveness in mitigating radiation-induced effects, thereby contributing to the advancement of radiation-resistant temperature sensing technologies.
Application of Novosorb biodegradable temporising matrix in wounds of different aetiologies: a case series
Authors: Meagher Helen , Holmes Tara , Hanson Catherine , Chaplin Shauna , McKevitt Kevin L , Moloney Michael A , Medani Mekki , Kavanagh Eamon G
Published: March 2024

This case study series outlines the use of Novosorb biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM, PolyNovo, Australia) in the management of 22 patients, each with a complex wound who attended the vascular department in the University Hospital Limerick between 2021 and 2023. The majority of patients presented with acute conditions (e.g. necrotising fasciitis, crush injuries, compartment syndrome) that initially required high dependency level care. The majority of wounds (21/22, 95%) affected the leg or foot, and one wound was on the chest wall. Each patient had a significant complex wound and, in many cases, was complicated further by the patients' medical condition and comorbidities, which had the potential to cause problematic and delayed healing. The BTM was applied following debridement, as required, and provided a stable base for secondary wound healing or skin grafting, as needed. Of the patients: 12 (54%) healed completely; one (4%) progressed towards complete vascularisation with the BTM in situ; two (9%) underwent major amputations despite successful application of the BTM to lower limb wounds; and one (4%) returned to theatre to have retained clips removed. The remaining six (27%) patients failed to heal completely following BTM application. Ischaemia, infection, vasculitis and underlying osteomyelitis were limiting factors in achieving limb salvage or healing.

Declaration of interest:

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Mentha piperita silver nanoparticle-loaded hydrocolloid film for enhanced diabetic wound healing in rats
Authors: Aftab Reema , Akbar Fatima , Afroz Amber , Asif Awais , Khan Muhammad Ramzan , Rehman Nazia , Zeeshan Nadia
Published: March 2024

Objective:

To investigate the role of Mentha piperita silver nanoparticle-loaded carbopol gel for enhanced wound healing in a diabetic rat model. This research further aims to explore bioactive compounds derived from Mentha piperita obtained from high altitude.

Method:

Methanolic extracts of Mentha piperita (MP), Mentha spicata (MS) and Mentha longifolia (ML) were used to synthesise silver nanoparticles (AgNP). AgNP synthesis was confirmed by ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity was assessed by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) assay. Antiglycation potential was determined by measuring the fluorescent advanced glycation end products. The bioactive compound identified in the Mentha piperita methanolic (MPM) fraction through electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometric analysis (ESI-MS) was responsible for the highest antiglycation. The effects of MPM and MPM.AgNP-loaded Carbopol (Sanare Lab, India) on wound healing were compared in male, alloxan-induced, diabetic albino rats (200–250g), divided into control and treated groups. Effects on wound healing were assessed via histopathology.

Results:

UV-Vis and FTIR confirmed NP synthesis with peaks for flavonoids and polyphenols. SEM and XRD explored the cubical, 30–63nm crystalline NP. The maximum antioxidant and antiglycation potential was observed in order of; MP.AgNP>MS.AgNP>ML.AgNP. The highest antioxidant activity was observed by methanolic and aqueous MP.AgNPs (88.55% and 83.63%, respectively) at 2mg.ml-1, and (75.16% and 69.73%, respectively) at 1mg.ml-1, compared to ascorbic acid (acting as a positive control, 90.01%). MPM.AgNPs demonstrated the best antiglycation potential of 75.2% and 83.3% at 1mg.ml-1 and 2mg.ml-1, respectively, comparable to positive control (rutin: 88.1%) at 14 days post-incubation. A similar trend was observed for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli with an inhibition zone of 21mm, 21.6mm and 24.6mm. Rosmarinic acid was the active compound present in Mentha piperita, as identified by ESI-MS. MPM.AgNP-loaded Carbopol resulted in 100% wound closure compared with control at 20 days post-wounding. In the treatment group, re-epithelialisation was achieved by day 18, compared with 25 days for the positive control group.

Conclusion:

MPM.AgNP-loaded Carbopol demonstrated safer and more effective biological properties, hence accelerating the diabetic excision wound healing process in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
SAHA TÜRKLERİNİN GELENEKSEL İNANÇ UNSURLARI İLE İLGİLİ BİLMECELER
Authors: ÇOLAK Doğan
Published: March 2024

Toplumlar kültürlerini birden çok vasıta aracılığıyla geçmişten günümüzde aktarmışlardır. Yazının olmadığı dönemlerde bu kültür aktarımı görevini halk edebiyatı ürünleri üstlenmiştir. Bu ürünler arasında toplumsal bellekte yaygın yeri olan bilmeceler de önemli bir konumdadır. Masal, destan, efsane, fıkra, atasözü vb. çeşitli halk edebiyatı ürünlerinde olduğu gibi bilmeceler de ait olduğu toplumun kültürel kodlarını bünyelerinde barındırmaktadır. Söz konusu sözlü kültür ürününün ilk örneklerinin çok eski dönemlerde görülmüş olması dolayısıyla mitolojiyle ilgileri bulunmaktadır. Bu yönüyle bilmecelerde ait olduğu kültürün geleneksel inancı ile ilgili unsurları tespit etmek mümkündür. Zengin bir sözlü geleneğe sahip olan Saha Türklerinin bilmeceleri de içerisinde taşıdığı zengin malzemelerle inanç sistemine dair önemli bir tür olarak görülmektedir.

Bu çalışmada bilmece türü üzerine çeşitli araştırmacıların görüş ve tanımlarına yer verildikten sonra bilmecenin mitoloji ile ilişkisine yönelik genel bir değerlendirme yapılmıştır. Geleneksel Saha inanç sistemi hakkında da bilgilendirmenin yapıldığı çalışmanın inceleme bölümünde Saha Türklerinin geleneksel inancının bilmecelere yansımaları ele alınmıştır. Malzemenin tespit için Sardana Platonovna Oyunskaya tarafından 1975 yılında hazırlanan Saxa Taabırınnara “Saha Bilmeceleri” isimli eser taranmıştır. Konumuzla ilgili tespit edilen bilmeceler tarafımızdan Latin harflerine transkribe edilip Türkiye Türkçesine aktarılmıştır. Cevaplarına göre konu tasnifine tabi tutulan örnekler, ifade ettikleri anlam özelliklerine göre incelenmiştir. Bilmecelere dair bulgular sonuç bölümünde değerlendirilmiştir.
Albion W. Tourgée's Forgotten Dystopia: How the South Conspired with Northern Monopolists to Win the Post-Civil-War Peace
Authors: Thomas Brook
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Albion W. Tourgée wrote best-selling novels based on his days fighting the Klan and trying to reconstruct North Carolina. Recently his fiction and his role as Homer Plessy's lead attorney have received renewed attention. But the work to which he devoted most energy remains forgotten. Speaking directly to today's world of ongoing racial injustice and income inequality, "89 (1888) is told by the Grand Master of the Order of the Southern Cross. He and a northern monopolist based on J.D. Rockefeller conspire to bring about peaceful secession of the South and suppression of northern workers. After summarizing the book's elaborate dystopian plot, the essay details how Tourgée forged the often-forgotten historical events on which it is based into a novel that, better than any work of the time, warned the nation of the threat posed by what W.E.B. Du Bois called the "bargain between Big Business and the South."
The New Jersey of the South or Virginia’s Partner: Foreign Affairs and the Ratification of the Constitution in North Carolina
Authors: Smith Robert W.
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Foreign affairs in the North Carolina ratification debates reveals a conflict between two states. The Antifederalists saw North Carolina's interests as those of a southern staple exporter with western holdings, similar to Virginia. The Federalists saw North Carolina as a small state, lacking a large port, with shipping sector. They, like New Jersey and Connecticut, favored a stronger central government that would free their trade from the control of larger neighbors. Tennessee switched sides. It initially saw the Constitution as a threat to its access to the Mississippi, but voted to ratify at the second convention, seeing the union, as its only safe option.
“An Emporium of Beggars,” Medical Rhetoric, Disability, and Philadelphia’s Early Nationalist Welfare Crises
Authors: Schroeder Nicole Lee
Published: March 2024

Abstract: In the early 1800s, cities across the Atlantic world launched welfare reforms designed to curtail excessive spending. Cities like Philadelphia opened numerous investigations into the rise of poverty and local governments ushered in new practices that depended heavily on institutions like hospitals, prisons, and boarding schools. This article considers the rhetoric used by early Philadelphia reformers to defend reform practices. Relying on hundreds of pension applications, I compare descriptions of the poor offered by government officials with actual pension records. I argue that these reforms evidence a shifting of historic protections for disabled persons, and a refusal on behalf of government officials to acknowledge the rise of a disabled minority in the United States. Changes to the poor laws barred disabled populations from securing home-based care resources, and posed institutionalization as the sole solution to rising poverty rates.
Neocolonial Echoes in the Heart of Darkness: Peter Kubelka, Ulrich Seidl, and the Distrust of Sound
Authors: Koch Arne
Published: March 2024

Abstract: The fascination with gaining insight into the motivation of European participants for the private and secretive world of hunting safaris in Africa informs both the avant-garde short film Unsere Afrikareise (1966) by Peter Kubelka and the more recent documentary Safari (2016) by . Both films provoke audiences with an interpretive openness that nonetheless must be understood as unveiled critiques of hunting practices and neocolonial attitudes. By drawing out formal and thematic similarities and differences, this comparative film analysis of Kubelka and Seidl illuminates the function and centrality of hunting via three interconnected aspects of their films: human and nonhuman bodies of otherness as central to understanding how both filmmakers view and instrumentalize the proximity of hunting and neocolonialism; the tension between word (sound) and image, with a focus on how the whitewashing of the hunting industry and conservation practices is exposed and challenged by images; and the key role of controversial images of slayed animals, dissected carcasses, and almost completely voiceless Africans in both films, which prove paradoxically indispensable for both Kubelka and Seidl in producing works that leave viewers with more interpretive specificity than is sometimes acknowledged.
Scanning defocusing particle tracking for the experimental characterization of flows in demanding microfluidic systems
Authors: Galand Quentin , Blinder David , Gelin Pierre , Maes Dominique , De Malsche Wim
Published: March 2024

A novel scanning particle image velocimetry technique, to the best of our knowledge, is
proposed to characterize flows in microfluidic applications.
Three-dimensional information is acquired by oscillating the target
sample over a fixed focal plane, allowing the reconstruction of
particle trajectories with micrometer accuracy over an extended depth.
This technology is suited for investigating acoustic flows with
unprecedented precision in microfluidic applications. In this
contribution, we describe the experimental setup and the data
processing pipeline in detail; we study the technique’s performance by
reconstructing pressure-driven flow; and we report the
three-dimensional trajectory of a 2 µm particle in an acoustic
flow in a 525µm×375µm microchannel with micrometric
accuracy.
Degradation of temporal contrast from post-pedestal interference with a chirped pulse in an optical parametric amplifier
Authors: Webb B. , Feng C. , Dorrer C. , Jeon C. , Roides R. G. , Bucht S. , Bromage J.
Published: March 2024

Pre-pedestal generation is observed in a 0.35-PW laser front end coming from a post-pedestal via instantaneous gain and pump depletion in an optical parametric amplifier during chirped-pulse amplification. Generalized simulations show how this effect arises from gain nonlinearity and applies to all optical parametric chirped-pulse–amplification systems with a post-pedestal. An experiment minimizing the effect of B-integral is used to isolate and study the newly observed conversion of a continuous post-pedestal into a continuous pre-pedestal. Matching numerical simulations confirm experimental results and additionally reveal how third-order dispersion largely controls the slope of the generated pre-pedestal.