bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Missing Values Compensation in Duplicates Detection Using Hot Deck
Authors: Ali Abdulrazzak , Emran Nurul A. , Asmai Siti A.
Published: April 2021

Duplicate record is a known problem within the datasets especially within databases of huge volumes. The accuracy of duplicates detection determines the efficiency of the duplicates removal process. Unfortunately, the effort to detect duplicates becomes more challenging due to the presence of missing values within the records. This is because, during the clustering and matching process, missing values can cause records that are similar to be assigned in a wrong group, causing the duplicates left undetected. In this paper, we present how duplicates detection can be improved even though missing values are present within a data set using our Duplicates Detection within the Incomplete Data set (DDID) method. We hypothetically add the missing values to the key attributes of two datasets under study, using an arbitrary pattern to simulate both complete and incomplete data sets. We analyze the results to evaluate the performance of duplicates detection using the Hot Deck method to compensate for the missing values in the key attributes. We hypothesize that by using Hot Deck, there is a performance improvement in duplicates detection. The performance of the DDID is compared with an early duplicates detection method (called DuDe) in terms of its accuracy and speed. The findings of the experiment show that, even though the data sets are incomplete, DDID is capable to offer better accuracy and faster duplicates detection as compared to a benchmark method (called DuDe). The results of this study contribute to duplicates detection under incomplete data sets constraint.
Comparative Analysis of Streptococcus Agalactiae S03 and S07 Isolated From Schizothorax Prenanti With Different Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence
Authors: Deng Lishuang , Li Yajun , Geng Yi , Chen Defang , Ouyang Ping , Huang Xiaoli , Guo Hongrui , Zuo Zhicai , Huang Chao , Chen Zhengli , Lai Weiming , Rehman Tayyab
Published: April 2021

Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), is an important Gram-positive pathogen of ﬁsh aquaculture worldwide. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of GBS S03 and S07 isolated from Schizothorax prenanti and explored the association between phenotypic antibiotic resistance as well as virulence and the genomic characteristics. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests on 12 common antibiotics using the disc diffusion method revealed that the S03 showed resistance to seven antibiotics, while S07 showed sensitivity to the tested antibiotics. Pathogenicity analysis demonstrated greater virulence of S07 than S03. Then, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was identified using whole-genome sequence (WGS) of S03 and S07. There were mefE, tetO, lnuB, lsaE, APH3', and sat-4 resistance genes present only in S03 genome. And just S03 had gyrA and parC genes mutations. In addition to 51 virulence genes in both S03 and S07 genomes, S07 additionally carried virulence genes associated with invasion, such as SAN_1519, rfbA and cylE genes. There was complete concordance between genotypic evidence and phenotypic characteristics. Virulence factors and phylogenetic analysis showed that S03 and human sources shared an extremely close evolutionary relationship. Our findings provide important proof for using WGS as an effective tool of phenotypic predictions of GBS.
Standardization of electrolyte leakage data and a novel liquid nitrogen control improve measurements of cold hardiness in woody tissue
Authors: Kovaleski Alisson Pacheco , Grossman Jake J
Published: April 2021

Background. A variety of basic and applied research programs in plant biology require the accurate and reliable determination of plant tissue cold hardiness. Over the past 50 years, the electrolyte leakage method has emerged as a popular and practical method for quantifying the amount of damage inflicted on plant tissue by exposure to freezing temperatures. Numerous approaches for carrying out this method and analyzing the resultant data have emerged. These include multiple systems for standardizing and modeling raw electrolyte leakage data and multiple protocols for boiling samples in order to maximize leakage as a positive control. We compare four different routines for standardization of leakage data and assess a novel control method - immersion in liquid nitrogen in lieu of traditional boiling – and apply them to woody twigs collected from 12 maple (Acer) species in early spring. We compare leakage data from these samples using each of four previously published forms of data analysis and boiling vs. liquid nitrogen controls and validate each of these approaches against visual estimates of freezing damage and differential thermal analysis. Results. Through presentation of our own data and re-analysis of previously published findings, we show that standardization of raw data against estimates of both minimum and maximum attainable freezing damage allows for reliable estimation of cold hardiness at the species level and across studies in diverse systems. Furthermore, use of our novel liquid nitrogen control produces data commensurate across studies and enhances the consistency and realism of the electrolyte leakage method, especially for very cold hardy samples. Conclusion. Future leakage studies that relativize data against minimum and maximum leakage and that employ our updated liquid nitrogen control will contribute generalizable, repeatable, and realistic data to the existing body of cold hardiness research in woody plants. Data from studies conducted using a liquid nitrogen (and not a boiling) control can still be compared to previously published data, especially when raw data are standardized using the best-performing approach among those we assessed. Electrolyte leakage of woody twigs emerges as a useful technique for quickly assessing the probability of tissue death in response to freezing in dormant plants. Differential thermal analysis may provide different and complementary information on cold hardiness.
Fungal Deterioration of the Bagasse Storage from the Harvested Sugarcane
Authors: Peng Na , Yao Ziting , Wang Ziting , Huang Jiangfeng , Khan Muhammad Tahir , Chen Baoshan , Zhang Muqing
Published: April 2021

Background

Sugarcane is an essential crop for sugar and ethanol production. Immediate processing of sugarcane is necessary after harvesting because of rapid sucrose losses and deterioration of stalks. This study was conducted to fill the knowledge gap regarding the exploration of fungal communities in harvested deteriorating sugarcane. Experiments were performed on simulating production at 30 ℃ and 40 ℃ after 0, 12, and 60 hours (h) of sugarcane harvesting and powder-processing.
Results

Both pH and sugar content declined significantly within 12 h. Fungal taxa were unraveled using ITS amplicon sequencing. With the increasing temperature, the diversity of the fungal community decreased over time. The fungal community structure significantly changed within 12 h of bagasse storage. Before storing, the dominant genus (species) in bagasse was Wickerhamomyces (W. anomalus). Following storage, at 30 ℃ and 40°C, Kazachstania (K. humilis) and Saccharomyces (S. cerevisiae) gradually grew, becoming abundant fungi. We found that the bagasse at different temperatures had a similar pattern after storage for the same intervals, indicating that the temperature was the primary cause for the variation of core features. Moreover, the impact of dominant fungal species on sugar content and pH of stored sugarcane juice was investigated. Also, the correlation between top fungal genera and significant environmental factors was assessed.
Conclusions

The study highlighted the importance of timeliness to refine sugar as soon as possible after harvesting the sugarcane crop. The lessons learned from this research are vital for sugarcane growers and the sugar industry for minimizing postharvest losses.
Subsidence Prediction of Overburden Strata and Ground Surface in Shallow Coal Seam Mining
Authors: Cao Jian , Huang Qingxiang , Guo Lingfei
Published: April 2021

Shallow coal seam with thick soil layer is widely reserved in the Jurassic Coalfield, Western China, mining-induced subsidence represents complex characteristics. Combining with physical simulation, theoretical analysis and in-situ observation, the overburden strata structure in dip direction were revealed, and the subsidence prediction models were established, based on this, the subsidence equations of overburden strata and ground surface were proposed. The results show that after shallow coal seam mining, based on the subsidence and movement characteristics, the overburden strata structure can be divided into three zones, which are "boundary pillar F-shape zone" (BPZ), "trapezoid goaf zone" (TGZ) and "coal pillar inverted trapezoidal zone" (CPZ). The subsidence of overburden strata depends on the key stratum, while the subsidence of soil layer depends on the bedrock subsidence basin, which is between the bedrock and thick soil layer. The bedrock subsidence is mainly related to mining height and bulking coefficient in TGZ, while it is mainly affected by mining height and distribution load on the key stratum in BPZ and CPZ. According to physical simulation and theoretical model, the maximum surface subsidence of No.1–2 seam mining in Ningtiaota coal mine are 1.1m and 1.07m respectively, which is basically consistence with the result of in-situ observation (1.2m).
Synthesis and Characterization of CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln=La, Nd) Ceramics Manufactured by Reaction Sintering Method
Authors: Zhou Shicheng , Wu Qiang , Xu Hanrui , Luan Xiaowen , Hu Sang , Zhou Xianjie , He Sen , Wang Xi , Zhang Hailin , Chen Xiuli , Zhou Huanfu
Published: April 2021

CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln = La, Nd) ceramics were manufactured by reaction-sintering for produce low cost and high efficiency materials. Using reaction-sintering method to manufacture these ceramics, which have excellent comprehensive properties. The subtle variations on densification behavior, phase transformation, phase composition, microstructure evolution and performances of CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln = La, Nd) ceramics were studied systematically. The XRD pattern indicates that the Ca0.61La0.39Al0.39Ti0.61O3 phase and Ca0.7Nd0.3Ti0.7Al0.3O3 phase were generated under certain environmental conditions respectively. The ceramics exhibited excellent performance parameters: when εr is 42.03(45 635), the quality factor is 45500GHz (45 635) In addition, even in the environment of large temperature changes the ceramics can still maintain good performance. In conclusion, the reaction sintering method is an economic, convenient, available preparation means of making the CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln = La, Nd) ceramics and has broad prospects of application and development.
Flood Early Warning Systems using Machine Learning Techniques. Application to a Catchment located in the Tropical Andes of Ecuador.
Authors: Muñoz Paul , Orellana-Alvear Johanna , Bendix Jörg , Célleri Rolando
Published: April 2021

Short-rain floods, especially flash-floods, produce devastating impacts on society, the economy, and ecosystems. A key countermeasure is to develop Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWSs) aimed at forecasting flood warnings with sufficient lead time for decision making. Although Machine Learning (ML) techniques have gained popularity among hydrologists, the research question poorly answered is what is the best ML technique for flood forecasting? To answer this, we compare the efficiencies of FEWSs developed with the five most common ML techniques for flood forecasting, and for lead times between 1 to 12 hours. We use the Tomebamba catchment in the Ecuadorean Andes as a case study, with three warning classes to forecast No-alert, Pre-alert, and Alert of floods. For all lead times, the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) technique achieves the highest model performances (f1-macro score) followed by Logistic Regression (LR), from 0.82 (1-hour) to 0.46 (12-hour). This ranking was confirmed by the log-loss scores, ranging from 0.09 (1-hour) to 0.20 (12-hour) for the above mentioned methods. Model performances decreased for the remaining ML techniques (K-Nearest Neighbors, Naive Bayes and Random Forest) but their ranking was highly variable and not conclusive. Moreover, according to the g-mean, LR models depict greater stability for correctly classifying all flood classes, whereas MLP models are specialized in the minority (Pre-alert and Alert) classes. To improve the performance and the applicability of FEWSs, we recommend future efforts to enhance input data representation and to develop communication applications between FEWSs and the public as tools to boost the preparedness of the society against floods.
Clinical Effectiveness of Treatment of Children Afflicted by Lumbar Tuberculosis With Posterior-only Approach Using Poly-ether-ether-ketone Cage Combined With Single-segment Instrumentation
Authors: Xu Zhengquan , Chen Lanhua , Wang Changsheng , Zhang Liqun , Xu Weihong
Published: April 2021

Background: We sought to investigate the clinical outcomes of posterior-only approach using poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) cage combined with single-segment instrumentation in the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis in children.Methods: Between February 2008 and August 2017 in our hospital, 18 children with single-segment lumbar tuberculosis were enrolled in this study. Children were treated by a posterior-only approach using PEEK cage combined with single-segment instrumentation. Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analogue scores (VAS) were used to evaluate measures of quality of daily life. Criteria defined from the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) were used to evaluate measures of neurological function.Results: Mean follow-up time was 54.6 ± 12.1 months (39–84 months). No severe complications were noted to have occurred. Measures indicated there was satisfactory bone fusion for observations for all patients. Mean Cobb angles were significantly decreased from the mean preoperative angle (19.8° ± 13.1°) to those both postoperatively (-4.9° ± 7.6°) and at final follow-up (-3.5° ± 7.3°) (both P < 0.05), with a mean angle loss of 1.7° ± 0.9°. Th erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) returned to normal levels for all patients within 3 months postoperatively. All patients had significant postoperative improvement in respect to neurological performance and VAS scores.Conclusions: The posterior-only approach using PEEK cage combined with single-segment instrumentation was found to be an effective and feasible treatment option for children with lumbar tuberculosis. Such procedures can likely be used to help patients by facilitating reconstruction of spinal stability, and increasing retainment of lumbar mobility in conjunction with reduced invasiveness compared to counterpart treatments.
A novel nomogram to predict 90-day mortality of patients with sepsis
Authors: Zeng Qingbo , He Long-Ping , Zhang Nianqing , Lin Qin-Wei , Zhong lin-Cui , Song Jing-Chun
Published: April 2021

Background

Sepsis is a prevalent disease among intensive care units and continues to be a frequent cause of death. This study aimed to establish a nomogram for mortality prediction in patients with sepsis.
Methods

We carried out a retrospective, single-center study based on 231 patients with sepsis and data was collected from May 2018 to October 2020. Patients were randomly split into training and validation cohorts. In the training cohort, multivariate logistic regression analysis and a stepwise algorithm were performed to identify risk factors, which were presented with a predictive nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to estimate the performance of the nomogram in both the training and validation cohorts.
Results

A total of 231 patients with sepsis were enrolled in the study, and the 90-day mortality was 31.6%. There were 161 and 70 cases in training and validation cohorts respectively. Statistical analyses showed that Age, international normalized ratio (INR), lactate (Lac), and thrombomodulin (TM) were the risk factors for 90-day mortality. The area under the curve was 0.810 (95% CI, 0.739 to 0.881) in training cohort and 0.813(95% CI, 0.708 to 0.917) in the validation cohort. Calibration curve showed good performance of this nomogram. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinical utility.
Conclusion

This nomogram offering a probability of mortality for a given patient can benefit outcome improvement and clinicians in making clinical decision.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Grass pea (Lathyrus Sativus L.) Accessions Collected from North-Western Ethiopia Using SSR Markers
Authors: Abebe Desalegn , Abraham Adane , Oselebe Happiness , Afiukwa Celestine , Ilesanmi Oluyinka , Abebe Tiegist Dejene
Published: April 2021

Grass pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) is a legume crop known to be an excellent source of protein, tolerant to drought, waterlogging, and salinity. The crop is used as an alternative source of protein to reduce malnutrition for resource-poor people and farmers leaving in marginal areas. However, due to the presence of a neurotoxin that causes lathyrism in the crop, it has been neglected and underutilized. As a necessary first step towards, therefore, this investigation was undertaken to assess the genetic diversity and population structure that existed within grass pea accessions collected from the North-Western part of Ethiopia using simple sequence repeat markers. Twenty-five grass pea accessions collected from the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute were planted at the College of Agricultural Science, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. The genomic DNA was extracted using Quick-DNA™ ZR Plant/Seed Miniprep Kit and amplified by ABI Veriti PCR with 10 pairs of SSR markers in IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. Out of 10 SSR primers, only eight primers were polymorphic. A total of 41 alleles were detected with an average of 5.13. The Polymorphic information content and gene diversity values ranged from 0.074 to 0.944 with a mean of 0.474 and 0.536 respectively. The largest pairwise genetic distance (0.365) was detected between North Gondar and East Gojam populations. The ФPT (analogs of FST test) estimated through AMOVA were 0.24, 0.20, and 0.05 for within accessions, among regions, and population within regions respectively. The highest genetic differentiation value (76%) resides within accessions followed by 20% among regions. Both population structure and cluster analysis grouped the 25 grass pea accessions into two distinctive subgroups. This grouping pattern indicates the presence of gene flow among geographic regions. In general, the findings of this study indicate that despite few numbers of SSR markers it was possible to detect genetic diversity among grass pea accessions indicating the power of the SSR marker in picking up the existing genetic diversity within the studied accessions.
Adaptation and Validation of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) with Indian Women from Slums Reporting Gender-Based Violence
Authors: Patel Anushka , Newman Elana , Richardson Julia
Published: April 2021

Background: Despite high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in India, culturally sensitive measures that examine universal and culturally relevant trauma reactions are lacking. Although the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) has been used in India, no study has adapted the measure in full for use with this population. This study describes the adaptation, validation, and results from the adapted HTQ, containing the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5), for Indian women from slums reporting GBV. Method: This study used the adaptation framework proposed by the HTQ measure developers. The adapted HTQ contained a (1) trauma screen relevant for stressors faced by Indian women from slums, (2) description of the index trauma, (3) description of any ongoing stressors, (4) universal trauma reactions (i.e., PTSD measured by the PCL-5), and culturally relevant trauma reactions (i.e., idioms of distress measured by a scale developed for the study). This measure was piloted on 111 women from Indian slums in face-to-face interviews. Trauma characteristics, types of ongoing stressors, and psychometric properties of the PCL-5 and idioms of distress scale were explored. These scales were validated against measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and somatic complaints (PHQ-9). Results: The majority of participants (77%) reported physical beatings, 18% reported unwanted sexual touch, and 28.8% reported infidelity as the primary emotional abuse. Further, 96.7% of GBV was perpetrated by partner or family member and over half reported ongoing stressors (e.g., poverty-related strain). The PCL-5 embedded in the HTQ yielded good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=.88) as did the idioms of distress scale with deletion of one item (Cronbach’s alpha=.80). Both scales were externally valid, yielding large correlations with depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints (rs between .54 to .80, ps < .05). Discussion: This is the first study to develop a comprehensive measure of trauma exposure with universal and culturally relevant reactions in India. This study also enhances HTQ usage in India by delineating all the steps in the adaptation process. Results can inform the development of trauma-focused interventions for Indian women from slums.
An optimized method to obtain high-quality RNA from different tissues in Lilium davidii var. unicolor
Authors: Wang Chunlei , Hou Xuemei , Qi Nana , Li Changxia , Luo Yanyan , Hu Dongliang , Li Yihua , Liao Weibiao
Published: April 2021

Background: The high quality, high yield and purity RNA samples are essential for subsequent molecular experiments such as RT-PCR, qPCR and RNA-seq. However, harvest high quality RNA samples from different tissues in Lilium davidii var. unicolor is a great challenge due to its polysaccharides, polyphenols and other secondary metabolites. In this study, three RNA extraction methods, namely modified TRIzol method, Kit and CTAB methods were reported to obtain the total RNA from Lilium davidii var. unicolor, and the efficient RNA extraction protocol (modified TRIzol method) was described. Results: A Nano drop spectrophotometer and 1% gel electrophoresis were used to detect the RNA quality and integrity. Compared with Kit and CTAB methods, the higher RNA concentrations from different tissues were obtained and the A260/280 ratios of RNA samples were ranged from1.97 to 2.27 when using the modified TRIzol method. None of intact RNA bands were gained from the modified CTAB method, indicating that the RNA samples isolation were degraded. As a result of the modified TRIzol method, the RNA samples in the different tissues from Lilium presented clear 28S and 18S bands.Conclusions: Here, modified TRIzol method is an easy, efficient, and low-cost method for RNA isolation from Lilium davidii var. unicolor. Thus, modified TRIzol method is sufficient to gain eligible RNA to support further molecular experiments in Lilium davidii var. unicolor.
Histological classification of non-small cell lung cancer using Gabor filtering Minkowski functionals and Neighborhood Component Analysis on CT images.
Authors: Yamagishi Kentaro , Naruto Norihito , Mizukami Tatsuji , Saito Junichi , Noguchi kyo
Published: April 2021

Information regarding the histological types of non-small cell lung cancer is essential to determine the treatment strategy. Although several radiomics studies using almost similar feature variables were reported, a considerable variation in the performances has been observed. In this study, as novel radiomic features, 2D Gabor filtering Minkowski functionals were used. They were calculated in rotational invariant and both scale and rotational invariant ways using circular shift operations of Gabor filters on nonenhanced computed tomographic images. Eighty-six patients (47 adenocarcinomas, 39 squamous cell carcinomas) were analyzed. Two independent observers manually delineated a single slice segmentation of a tumor. Feature selection was made by neighborhood component analysis. Among various classifiers, 1-nearest neighbor gave a promising performance. The observer-averaged accuracy of rotational invariant analysis was 86.28% and that of both scale and rotational invariant one was 88.27%. However, there was no common feature among the ten top-ranked features of each observer with the identical Gabor filtering type. Hence further study of the robustness is necessary to create a more reliable model.
Gender Interaction in Association of Perceived Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life among Iranian Older People: A cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Tajvar Maryam , Fletcher Astrid , Grundy Emily , Karami Badrye , Mohabbati Fatemeh
Published: April 2021

Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived social support and dimensions of HRQoL and to examine possible gender interaction in the mentioned associations.Method:A community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 644 participants over the age of 60 years old in Tehran. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted in their own homes, by using a structured multi-sectional questionnaire. The version 1 of the SF-12 scale was used to measure the HRQoL, consisting of two summary measures; PCS and MCS. The Persian version of the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) was used to measure perceived social support. Four multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models in STATA were used to examine the associations.Results:Older people with poor SPS score were 1.8 times more likely to be in the worst quartile of the MCS distribution (p=0.02), and twice as likely to be in the worst quartile of the PCS distribution (p=0.01). We found a strong evidence (p=0.02) to support the hypothesis of gender interaction in the association between economic status and PCS, and a borderline evidence (p=0.05) for gender interaction in the association between physical activity and PCS.Conclusions:Social support could be regarded as one of the main social determinants affecting HRQoL among elderly people. Men with poor economic status and poor physical activity, compared to women, are more likely to suffer from poor quality of life, thus men should be prioritized in intervention of financial support and life styles.
Biomass of generative sphere of Scots pine and drooping birch in the pollution gradient from the Karabash copper smelter on the Ural
Authors: Усольцев В.А. , Цепордей И.С. , Ковязин В.Ф. , Уразова А.Ф. , Борников А.В.
Published: April 2021

Загрязнение лесов сильно влияет на их биологическую продуктивность, но вклад генеративной сферы в нее изучается редко. Наше исследование биомассы генеративных органов деревьев и древостоев сосны обыкновенной и березы повислой проводилось в течение одного вегетационного периода в градиенте загрязнения от Карабашского медеплавильного завода на Южном Урале. Установлено, что максимальная биомасса генеративных органов сосны и березы на уровне как дерева, так и древостоя, приходится на буферную часть градиента загрязнения, в которой древостой, согласно явлению гистерезиса, переходит из одного устойчивого состояния в другое, и на эту же буферную зону приходится максимальная изменчивость биомассы генеративных органов. Полученная закономерность, общая для двух древесных видов, указывает на повышенную адаптивную реакцию массы генеративной сферы деревьев и древостоев на загрязнение в буферной зоне, и можно предположить, что это отражает хорошо известное явление гормезиса в биологии. Высказанное предположение требует углубленного изучения влияния загрязнения на генеративную сферу лесных сообществ.

Forest pollution strongly affects their biological productivity, but the contribution of the generative sphere to it is rarely studied. Our study of the biomass of generative organs of trees and stands of Scots pine and drooping birch was performed during one growing season in the pollution gradient from the Karabash copper smelting plant in the southern Urals. It is stated the maximum biomass of generative organs of pine and birch at the level of both a tree and a stand, falls on the buffer part of the pollution gradient, in which the tree stand, according to the phenomenon of hysteresis, passes from one stable state to another one, and the same buffer zone accounts for the maximum variability of the biomass of generative organs. The resulting pattern, common to the two species, indicates an increased adaptive response of trees and stands to pollution in the buffer zone in terms of the mass of the generative sphere and one can suppose it reflects the well known phenomenon of hormesis in biology. This assumption requires in-depth studies of the impact of pollution on the generative sphere of forest communities.
Kinetics and mechanism of linear crystal growth in As2Se3 glass
Authors: Школьников Е.В.
Published: April 2021

Ранее исследовано влияние малых добавок олова и свинца на кинетические параметры изотермической объемной кристаллизации стекол на основе As2Se3. Кинетика преимущественно поверхностной кристаллизация стекла As2Se3, используемого в электронной технике и волоконной ИК оптике, изучалась методами дифференциальной сканирующей калориметрии и микроскопии. Влияние величины переохлаждения ΔТ на механизм и кинетические параметры кристаллизации стекла As2Se3 изучено недостаточно. Автором статьи выполнен теоретический анализ экспериментальных зависимостей скорости линейного роста кристаллов As2Se3 от температуры и вязкости стекла As2Se3. На основе анализа существующих данных и приводимой работы показано, что в стекле As2Se3 при переохлаждениях ΔT = 30–135 вероятен дислокационный рост кристаллов в форме сферолитов. Для индивидуальных пластинчатых кристаллов As2Se3 с бездислокационными гранями внутри сферолитов при ΔT = 75–135° вероятен механизм роста с поверхностной двумерной нуклеацией, или 2Dsg–model. Скорость линейного роста кристаллов в стекле As2Se3 при 240−345 °C теоретически рассчитывается, если в формулу Тернбала–Коэна ввести вероятностный фактор f (ТΔT) роста на ступенях винтовых дислокаций, а свободную энергию активации роста кристаллов ΔGa'' (T) принять равной кинетическому барьеру при вязком течении стекла ΔGη # (T) в уравнении Эйринга.

The influence of small additions of tin and lead on the kinetic parameters of isothermal bulk crystallization of glasses based on As2Se3. The kinetics of mainly surface crystallization of As2Se3 glass used in electronic engineering and fiber IR optics has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and microscopy. The influence of the supercooling value ΔT on the mechanism and kinetic parameters of crystallization of As2Se3 glass is not sufficiently studied, The theoretical analysis of the experimental dependences of the linear growth rate of As2Se3 crystals on the temperature and viscosity of the As2Se3 glass has been performed. In the temperature range 240–345 °С (overcooling 135°–30°), a dislocation mechanism has appeared to be probable for the linear growth of spherulites and the surface crystallized layer in the bulk As2Se3 glass. For individual crystals with dislocation-free faces in As2Se3 spherulites, the lamellar (plate-like) growth mechanism with surface two dimensional nucleation (2Dsg model) appeared to be probable. The linear growth rate in glass As2Se3 at 240–345°C can be theoretically calculated, if we introduce the probability factor f (ТΔT) to the Turnball–Cohen formula of the growth on the steps of screw dislocations and assume the free activation energy for the crystal growth ΔGa'' (T) to be equal to the kinetic barrier at the viscous flow of the glass ΔGη # (T) in the Heiring equation.
Spontaneous pneumothorax as a complication of lung injury due to COVID-19
Authors: Mikheev A. V. , Аftаevа E. V. , Kаzаkovа S. S. , Zinovievа Z. V. , Gаvrikovа I. N.
Published: April 2021

The objective of the study: to study the course and clinical outcomes of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) in patients with lung injury due to COVID-19.

Subjects and methods. Clinical and radiation data of 11 patients (above 18 years old) with SP due to COVID-19 were retrospectively analyzed, they all were treated in the thoracic surgery department. COVID-19 was confirmed in all patients by laboratory tests. According to the chest computed tomography, the patients had signs typical of viral pneumonia and SP.

Results. The surgical treatment of SP that included thoracocentesis on the pneumothorax side and closed drainage of the pleural cavity allowed resolving the pneumothorax and inflating the lung fully in 10/11 patients within 4 days on average (max = 7 days) from the moment when the surgery was done. The lethal outcome was in 1/11 (9.1%) patient which occurred 1 day after the diagnosis and successful drainage of the bilateral SP, the patient had symptoms of acute cardiovascular failure.
On the formation of the center of tuberculosis infection in general medical units
Authors: Repinа O. V. , Golubkovа A. A. , Podgаevа V. A.
Published: April 2021

The objective of the study: to analyze the frequency of admission of tuberculosis patients to general medical units, to describe medical and social parameters of patients – sources of tuberculous mycobacteria which form a nosocomial center of tuberculosis infection.

Subjects and methods. The following sources of information were used: Reporting Form no. 8 on Active Cases of Tuberculosis, data from the Annual Reporting Form on Analysis of Infectious Diseases Carrying drawn up by City Center for Medical Prevention in Yekaterinburg, Register of Infectious Diseases (Form no. 060/y), and 74 documents of Medical File of the Patient Receiving In-Patient Treatment (Form no. 003/y) for tuberculosis patients admitted to a therapy department of the city hospital.

Results. Despite the decreasing tuberculosis incidence among Yekaterinburg residents, there was no significant decrease in the frequency of hospital admissions of patients with this disease to general medical units. Of all tuberculosis patients admitted to general medical units, 40.0 ± 2.7% were admitted to therapy departments. Duration of stay in a therapy department of tuberculosis patients excreting tuberculous mycobacteria made more than 7 days for 70% of such cases before they were discharged. The destruction phase was diagnosed in 56.8 ± 5.8%, 13.5 ± 4.0% had massive bacterial excretion documented by sputum microscopy. The frequency of TB/HIV co-infection made 43.2 ± 5.8%.

Conclusion. In a therapy department, there is a high risk of getting infected with tuberculosis infection among patients and personnel who are exposed to a tuberculosis case.
An Archive of Upset : the Shift from Commissioning to Curating through South Africa’s Representations at the Bienal de São Paulo and the Interstitial Nexus of Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso
Authors:   , Dantas Nancy Isabel
Published: April 2021

This thesis explores the distinction between commissioning and curating, adopting the Bienal de São Paulo (or Bienal) as its conceptual propeller and point of departure. The thesis regards exhibitions as palimpsests, in other words, platforms built on previous conscious or sublimated models, beyond the Venetian model inaugurated in 1895. By looking at world expositions, particularly the Cape presence at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886, this project traces a lineage of commissioners, from Sir Henry Cole to Sydney Cowper through to the Director of the Pretoria Art Museum, Albert Werth. It distinguishes these men, their vision and allegiances from the curatorial model instantiated in South Africa by the late Okwui Enwezor as a consequence of the Second Johannesburg Biennale, held in 1997. The aim of this research has been to provide a partial but crucial account of this shift, and to remain attentive to the silences and deletions, to what happens in the interstice, at transitionary moments of ‘betweenness.’ I ask that readers consider the 1979 Bienal as an instance of an interstice where the occluded and silenced ghost of modernist artist Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso, who represented South Africa at the 1973 edition of the Bienal, garnering a substantial award for his work in drawing, resides. Matsoso was the first and only Black South African artist to receive this accolade. This thesis posits that Matsoso’s absence from the exhibition in 1979, an exhibition where he would rightly have featured, constitutes a curatorial haunting, wedged in the archive of the Bienal’s history, and an opportunity for revision and evaluation of commissioning vis-àvis curating. In reading the exhibition histories’ archive “along the grain” (Stoler 2002), the commissioner emerges as a man of letters, a privileged social category found in the archive; a colonial authority whose status was founded as much on his display of European learning as on his studied ignorance of local knowledge; an implementer of the taxonomic state and modernist art historical canon (in the case of Werth); a cultivator of the fine arts of deference, dissemblance and persuasion. At a later stage and moment of dissonance and disruption, the independent curator emerges to reconsider, question and expand the canon, distancing him/herself from the (South African) State to serve the artist or artists and a wider community. This research aims to contribute, albeit in a small way, to a reappraisal of the position of Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso in South African modernism, and the distinction between commissioning and curating.
Structural Development and Geomorphic Relationship in Wadi Atyaruh, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, NE Libya
Authors: Moftah Fawzi , Mohamed MacTar , Abousaif Alzubair
Published: April 2021

The present study has been carried out to analyze the relationship between faulting and geomorphology of the Wadi Atyaruh to reveal the effect of structures on the morphology and distribution of the different karst features. Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques were applied to investigate morphological and topographic characteristics of Wadi Atyaruh, based on ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM) Version 3 (V3) data. Dextral strike-slip fault is the main faulting type in the valley. Conjugate faults system has been found in the study area, which reveals the orientations of the principal stresses. Wadi Atyaruh consists mainly of Dernah formations (Eocene) and Quaternary deposits. Two types of Karren have been recognized, they are Rillen karren and solution basis which are well distributed in Darnah formation. Caves are found in the Darnah formation, the passages and chambers of these caves show a phreatic bedding plane, elliptical shape, laminar profiles, and rectangular and rounded top vadose profiles. The drainage system of this valley is sub-parallel drainage pattern to dendritic drainage pattern, indicating that the area has affected by strike-slip movement (Dextral), joints and it has steep slopes. interpretation of DEM of study area indicate moderate and high relief, low run off and high infiltrations due to the nature of the fracture carbonate rock, the basin have early mature stage of erosion development. Geomorphic parameters such as hill shade, slop, aspect, area shaded and elevation maps, was produced to describe geomorphic forms and processes of the Wadi Atyaruh. The complete morphometric analysis of drainage basin indicates that the given area is having good groundwater prospect.
Array optimization of sparse regularization equivalent source acoustic holography algorithm
Authors: Xia Jing , Chen Hantao , Guo Wenyong , Han Jianggui
Published: April 2021

In order to improve the accuracy of the sparse regularization equivalent source acoustic holography algorithm, based on the analysis of the holographic algorithm theory, an optimized array arrangement is proposed. The sensing matrix constructed by the array parameters directly affects the accuracy of the acoustic imaging algorithm. By analyzing the influence of the sensing matrix on the imaging algorithm, the Restricted Isometry Constant (RIC) is chosen to evaluate the sensing matrix. Using genetic algorithm (GA), the RIC is taken as the fitness value, and the optimal pseudo-random array is selected and compared with the conventional array arrangement for acoustic imaging. Experiments show that the optimized pseudo-random array has better imaging effect under the same number of sensor measurements, and provides an optimization method for the design of acoustic array.
The Process of Re-joining: Reconstruction of Social and Economic Relations between Two Hungarian Villages on Both Sides of the Ipoly River
Authors: Samu István , Kulcsár László
Published: April 2021

After 1920 the Ipoly river has become the country border between Hungary and Slovakia. Villages that were organically linked to each other cut off the official social and economic connections for almost a hundred years. In the study, we show the survey results in two border villages that support the persistence of unofficial relations between the two villages despite the country border. The study explains how the human, social and economic relationships were reconstructed on both sides of Ipoly river between the two villages, Ipolyhídvég and Drégelypalánk, after joining the European Union. The reconstruction of the organic unity of the two villages may not merely be the result of the economic cooperation between them. However, it is primarily the effect of living traditions and the trust created by families, relatives, and friends.
Synergistic effect of citric acid and carbon dots modified g-C3N4 for enhancing photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)
Authors: Liu Jiamin , Li Jianjun , Liang Juan , Jing Chengjun , Guo Jiaxiu
Published: April 2021

Carbon dot (CD)-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts were synthesized through a one-step homogeneous thermal pyrolysis. The synergetic effect of citric acid (Cit) and g-C3N4/CDs for high-performance visible light Cr(VI) photocatalytic reduction had been investigated. Cit was not only acted as a hole scavenger, but might also form surface charge transfer complexes (CTC) with g-C3N4 which delivered electrons on the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) of Cit to the conduction band (CB) of g-C3N4. CDs decorated on g-C3N4 could provide channels for the preferential transfer of electrons on CTC to the CB of g-C3N4 as well as improved separation of the charge carriers. Owing to these synergistic effects, g-C3N4/CDs displayed much higher photocatalytic performance for the reduction of Cr(VI), which was 1.89 times higher than g-C3N4. Moreover, the synergetic photocatalytic reduction mechanisms of aqueous Cr(VI) were proposed to elucidate the active species formation and photogenerated electron transfer. The results suggested that the in situ generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) dominated the reduction of Cr(VI). The addition of Cit could trigger the in situ generation of H2O2 and the decorated CDs further enhanced the reaction. This work demonstrated the role of widely existed Cit on the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in natural aquatic environment.
Usabilidade da biblioteca digital Dominio Público
Authors: Lopes Daniel Alves , Silva Ilaydiany Cristina Oliveira da
Published: April 2021

Este estudo versa sobre a usabilidade no website da Biblioteca Digital Domínio Público. A temática reflete acerca da relevância do acesso e uso das informações apresentadas nesse ambiente através da aplicação de critérios de análise da usabilidade dessas informações. Visa identificar possíveis fragilidades e sugerir melhorias com o propósito de favorecer a disponibilização do acervo informacional do Domínio Público, que é de suma importância para a história da civilização e contribui para o incentivo à leitura e o aprendizado, possibilitando acesso democrático à informação. Isto posto, objetiva-se analisar a Biblioteca Digital Domínio Público frente aos processos e critérios de usabilidade. Como metodologia, aplicou-se critérios de usabilidade, tais como Lista de verificação e Guia de recomendação, para subsidiar a utilização de métodos heurísticos de avaliação baseados em graus de severidade dos problemas encontrados. Os resultados apontam que o website apresenta aspectos positivos e negativos quanto à ergonomia e usabilidade do espaço. Foram identificados 16 problemas de usabilidade: 4 (quatro) de alta prioridade, 6 (seis) de média prioridade e outros 6 (seis) de baixa prioridade de correção. Infere-se ser necessário que o website corrija as falhas encontradas e busque aprimorar cada vez mais seus produtos e serviços, de modo a permitir o acesso plural e flexível à comunidade.
Proposta de um modelo de visualização de dados
Authors: Santos Rafael Ferreira dos , Coelho Taiane Ritta
Published: April 2021

As atividades de Extensão das universidades alinham a teoria acadêmica à prática se comunicando diretamente com a sociedade por meio de ações que direta e indiretamente causam impacto social. Essas atividades são indissociáveis do Ensino e da Pesquisa. Os atuais indicadores de qualidade disponibilizados pelos órgãos regulatórios não revelam em sua maior parte o impacto da extensão na sociedade. Nessa perspectiva, propõe-se um Modelo de Visualização de Dados para demonstrar o impacto social das atividades de extensão, por meio da aplicação de estudo de caso único em uma universidade associada a metodologia Design Science Research, considerando as premissas de Campus Inteligentes e associação com os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável. O projeto busca contribuir com o avanço das discussões da importância do uso da visualização de dados na educação superior, demonstrar o impacto social da universidade para a sociedade, apoio aos gestores e tomadores de decisão e uma maior aproximação com a comunidade acadêmica e comunidade externa.
A influência da inteligência de mercado no planejamento de uma cidade inteligente
Authors: Gomes André Luiz , Coelho Taiane Ritta
Published: April 2021

Com o surgimento de novas cidades inteligentes empresas evoluem seus processos, produtos e posicionamento de mercado com o intuito de aumentar vendas ou buscar parcerias que propiciem o desenvolvimento de seus negócios, porém quais serão as características desse novo mercado? Qual o perfil do novo consumidor? Será que prefeituras estão preparadas para auxiliar empresas a captarem a demanda gerada no processo de construção de uma cidade inteligente? Visando responder esses questionamentos conduzimos essa pesquisa exploratória com auxílio de dados abertos para nos mostrar quais as contribuições ou oportunidades que a inteligência de mercado poderá proporcionar ao cenário empreendedor de uma cidade inteligente.