bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Cathecol -O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val 158 Met Polymorphisms and Psychosocial Stressors in Torajanese Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Lisal T Sonny  , Tanra Andi Jayalangkara  , AndaSantiwati  , Bahar Burhanuddin  , Wahid Isra  , Syamsuddin Saidah
Published: August 2021

Objectives: TheTorajanese has a ritual tradition for the dead and marriage ceremonies from generation togeneration on a large-scale; this is one of the cultural factor that influences the evolution of genetic adaptation.Increased incidence of schizophrenia annually is often associated with Cathecol-O-Methyltransferase(COMT) Val 158 Met polymorphisms as one of the genes causing schizophrenia. This study was aimedto determine the association between Cathecol -O- Methyltrnasferase Val 158 Met polymorphisms andpsychosocial stressors with schizophrenia in Torajanese schizophrenia patients.Method: This was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional analytical description. There were 210 subjectsdivided equally into 3 groups, namely the Torajanese schizophrenia group with three subsequent generations(n = 70), normal Torajanese group (n = 70) and normal non-Torajanese group (n = 70). This study wasconducted at Hasanuddin University Hospital and its network. PCR and RFLP examination were used forCathecol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val 158 Met polymorphism. Questionnaire was used to assess thepsychosocial stressors.Result: There was a significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between the Torajaneseschizophrenia group and the normal Torajanese group, between the normal Torajanese group and the thenormal non-Torajanese group (p <0.05). There were 3 genotypes in Cathecol -O-Methyltransferase (COMT)Val 158 Met polymorphisms in Torajanese, namely Val/Val, Val/Met and Met/Met; and for the 140 subjectsof the Torajanese, the amount of Val/Val genotypes was 104 (74.3 %) subjects, Val/Met genotype was 32(22.9%) subjects and Met/Met genotype was 4 (2.9%) subjects. It was found that 66 (47.1%) subjects hadpsychosocial stressors and 74 (52.9%) subjects didn’t have psychosocial stressor.Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between Cathecol -O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val158 Met polymorphisms and Torajanese schizophrenia group. There was a significant association betweenpsychosocial stressors and Torajanese schizophrenia group. There was no significant difference in PANSSscores on the COMT Val 158 Met polymorphism genotypes.
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE – ASPECTE ALE INFECŢIEI COMUNITARE ÎN JUDEŢUL DOLJ
Authors:   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România, Dragonu Livia ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România, Cupşa Augustin ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România, Bobârnac Ana ,   Direcţia de Sănătate Publică Dolj, România, Dumitrescu Florentina ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România, Giubelan Lucian ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România, Niculescu Irina ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România, Stoian Andreea ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România, Diaconescu Iulian ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Craiova, România,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Pneumoftiziologie „Victor Babeş“, Craiova, România
Published: August 2021

Infecţia cu Clostridium difficile (ICD), considerată mult timp ca o infecţie asociată spitalizării şi consumului de antibiotice, a înregistrat în ultimul deceniu o emergenţă a formelor comunitare. Obiective. Lucrarea urmăreşte particularităţi ale ICD cu debut comunitar în funcţie de originea comunitară sau nosocomială a infecţiei. Material şi metodă. Studiu retrospectiv pe 3 ani (1 iulie 2014 – 30 iunie 2017) al fişelor de declarare a 767 cazuri confirmate cu ICD primare, spitalizate în unităţi medicale din judeţul Dolj (România). Au fost analizate 2 loturi de pacienţi cu debut comunitar al ICD: lotul ICDC cu origine comunitară a infecţiei şi lotul ICDNc cu origine nosocomială a infecţiei. Rezultate. Debutul ICD de tip comunitar a fost identificat la 453 de pacienţi (59,1% din total); dintre aceştia, 106 (23,4%) au avut origine comunitară (ICDC) şi 305 (67,3%) nosocomială (ICDNc). ICDC a crescut de la 4,3% (2014) la 17,9% (2017) din totalul ICD, cu o medie de 13,1% pentru perioada studiată. Comparativ cu infecţia dobândită în spital, pacienţii cu infecţie dobândită comunitar au fost mai tineri (mediana vârstei 57 ani vs. 65 ani), cu afectarea mai frecventă a sexului feminin (58,4 % vs 46,2%), expunere mai redusă la antibiotice (75,4% vs 85,9%), imunodepresie asociată (4,7% vs 18,6%) şi letalitate (0,9% vs 5,5%) mai scăzute. Concluzii. Epidemiologia ICD este dinamică, dimensiunea reală a infecţiei comunitare necesitând evaluare în continuare. ICDC trebuie luată în considerare în investigarea diareei comunitare chiar şi în absenţa factorilor de risc tradiţionali (spitalizare, vârsta înaintată, tratament antibiotic).
PROFILUL ETIOLOGIC ŞI CLINIC AL MENINGITELOR INFECŢIOASE INTERNATE ÎN SPITALUL CLINIC DE BOLI INFECŢIOASE ŞI TROPICALE „DR. VICTOR BABEŞ“, BUCUREŞTI
Authors:   Disciplina Boli Infecţioase II, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, Ceauşu Emanoil , Florescu Simin-Aysel ,   Disciplina Boli Infecţioase II, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, Nica Maria ,   Disciplina Boli Infecţioase II, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, Smădu Sebastian ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Codreanu Daniel ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Oprişan Corina ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Dascălu Ana Maria ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Oprea Cristiana ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Lazăr Ştefan ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Popescu Corneliu ,   Disciplina Boli Infecţioase II, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, Kosa Alma ,   Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. Victor Babeş“, Bucureşti, Calistru Petre I. ,   Disciplina Boli Infecţioase II, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti
Published: August 2021

Meningitele infecţioase sunt afecţiuni severe cu evoluţie rapid nefavorabilă în cazul întârzierii aplicării tratamentului corect. Obiective. Prezentarea aspectelor clinice şi paraclinice (laborator) ale pacienţilor suspectaţi de meningită, internaţi în perioada 2014-2017 la Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecţioase şi Tropicale „Dr. V. Babeş“. Metode. Au fos incluşi în studiu pacienţii care prezentau semne şi simptome de meningită acută conform definiţiei de caz. Valorile clinice şi paraclinice au fost înregistrate într-o bază de date care ulterior a fost prelucrată statistic pentru identificarea diferenţelor semnificative statistic între grupul infirmat şi grupul celor confirmaţi de meningită şi între diferitele subgrupuri din cadrul celor confirmaţi de meningită. Rezultate. Dintre cele 96 de cazuri de meningite infecţioase confirmate, 53 (54%) de cazuri au fost virale, 31 (32%) bacteriene, 12 cazuri de meningită tuberculoasă, 1 caz de meningită fungică. Au fost identificate diferenţe semnificative statistic între variabilele clinice şi paraclinice şi etiologia meningitei.
CHALLENGES AND PARTICULARITIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN HIV-INFECTED INJECTING DRUG USERS
Authors:   “Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania, Ianache Irina , Oprea Cristiana ,   “Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Published: August 2021

Injecting drug use became during last decade a major health public issue, both in Romania and around the world. Incidence of HIV and viral hepatitis in injecting drug users (IDUs) has dramatically increased due to the appearance of new highly addictive drugs (called “ethnobotanicals”) with unknown effects and associated with increased use of unsterile injecting equipment. Severe bacterial infections with poor outcome often complicate the clinical evolution of these patients, especially in case of severe immunosuppression secondary to HIV. We will describe in this review the most common bacterial infections developed due to injecting drug use. Bacterial endocarditis in IDUs are usually right-sided, Staphylococcus aureus being the most common pathogen. These patients also develop skin/soft tissues and respiratory tract infections (due to altered local defense mechanisms), as well as sexually transmitted diseases due to high risk sexual behavior, usually determined by recreational drug use. This behavior is known as “ChemSEX” and is usually practiced by men having sex with men. There were also reported cases of wound botulism, tetanus and even anthrax epidemics among IDUs. HIV infected IDUs usually require complex management with multidisciplinary approach and sometimes surgical treatment.
EOSINOPHILIA AS TRIGGER FACTOR FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLIA IN A PACIENT WITH THROMBOPHILIA
Authors:   „Victor Babes“ Foundation, Constantin Marilena , Zamfirescu Gabriel ,   „Victor Babes“ Foundation, Voinea Cristina ,   „Victor Babes“ Foundation, Constantinescu Sorin ,   „Victor Babes“ Foundation
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Pulmonary infiltrate and eosinophilia represent a heterogenous group of diseases causes by extrinsic or intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors represented by medication or infectious agents (parasites, fungi, mycobacteria) may trigger an eosinophilic immune response. We report the case of a 53 years old male patient with pulmonary infiltrate and eosinophilia secondary to Toxocariasis infection who was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism one month later from the diagnosis of pneumonia. Further investigations demonstrated a hypercoagulable state. Case presentation. On March 2015 a 53 years old male came to my office because of a very intense pain on the left posterior thorax which increased by deeply breathing. Physical exam was in normal range, but chest computer tomography without contrast done in emergency showed pulmonary infiltrate at the base of the left lung with pleuritic reaction. Blood tests showed white blood cells at the upper range with eosinophilia (21.75%, 2,050/mc) and inflammatory syndrome. Investigations for eosinophilia showed a positive Western blot test for Toxocara canis so the patient began the treatment with Albendazolum 800 mg/day for three weeks with positive response. One month later the patient visited us for a pain on the right calf. The ultrasound Doppler vein confirmed the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and the chest Computer Tomography with contrast substance described mild right pulmonary embolism. The patient started the anticoagulant treatment. Thrombophilia tests were done, MTHFR A1298C gene and PAI1 675 were positive. Discussions. Helminthic infections are associated with eosinophilia. Helminths who migrate to the viscera as like as Toxocara canis could produce high eosinophilic response. Our questions was if eosinophilia was responsible for the patient thrombosis or was it only the trigger factor? As two genetic tests for thrombophilia (MTHFR A1298C gene and PAI1 675) were positive we considered deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the context of hypercoagulable states. Conclusion. This case highlights the implication of eosinophilia as trigger factor for vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
PARTICULARITIES OF PEDIATRIC SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS – LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors:   Alessandrescu-Rusescu, National Institute for Mother and Child Health, Bucharest, Farkas Oana-Maria ,   Dr. I. Cantacuzino University Hospital, Bucharest, Covaci Sigrid ,   Alessandrescu-Rusescu, National Institute for Mother and Child Health, Bucharest,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest,   Sf. Maria University Hospital, Bucharest, Cochino Alexis-Virgil ,   Alessandrescu-Rusescu, National Institute for Mother and Child Health, Bucharest,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
Published: August 2021

Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (pSLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with onset of symptoms before 18 years of age, accounting for 18-20% of all SLE cases. Although the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria and the SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics) classification criteria for adults with SLE are commonly applied to pSLE, its clinical onset is different. Renal and neurological involvement tend to be more common and more severe in pediatric population as compared to adults, being therefore major determinants of prognosis and mortality. Renal biopsy should be performed as early as possible in every case of pSLE with signs and symptoms of renal impairment.
TRIGGER FINGER – SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Authors:   Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Berghea Florian
Published: August 2021

Trigger finger is a very frequent problem identified by rheumatologists. It comes in association with diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis but also in patients that put their fingers to high mechanical pressure daily. In the incipient stages is not painful and much more difficult to be recognized – both in this phase and in the subsequent, the MSUS offer valuable diagnostic information. Corticoid injection in the affected area represents the best option for trigger fingers with recent onset. The technique should be done under US guidance to maximize the results. Surgery and other conservative options might not possess some benefit to risk ratio in this case.
INFLAMMATION-LOWERING EFFECTS OF ORAL ANTIDIABETIC DRUGS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors:   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Roman Iulia , Negru Maria Magdalena ,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Berghea Florian ,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Dună Madalina ,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Stoian Cristina ,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Predeteanu Denisa ,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Ionescu Ruxandra ,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest,   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital, Bucharest
Published: August 2021

Objective. The primary aim of this study is to underline the inflammation-lowering effect of oral antidiabetic drugs, namely the CRP, ESR and DAS28 levels. The secondary aim was to show that these effects are dependent on the dose of the antidiabetic drug. Methods. The study has an observational, case-control design. The information was gathered from the case reports of the patients that were admitted in Sf. Maria Clinical Hospital in Bucharest, beginning with 2010 and until May 2016. It included a case group of 20 subjects and a control group of 20 subjects who were followed approximately 3 years from the diagnosis of RA. Results. There were no significant group differences at baseline. During the follow-up, the medians of DAS28, CRP and ESR were significantly lower in the group treated with oral glucose lowering agents (p<0.005). Secondly, the presence of metformin both as monotherapy and in combination with other antidiabetic drugs was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the medians of the three mentioned variables (p<0.05). The metformin dose can predict the value of CRP (p=0.005), accounting for 18.9% of the variation of CRP. Moreover, there is a negative correlation between CRP level and metformin, r=-0.434, p=0.003. This negative correlation was also seen between metformin and CRP value (p=0.027), when metformin was used in monotherapy. Conclusion. The main insights achieved in this study relate to the ability of metformin to significantly lower both DAS28 and CRP level in patients with RA and T2DM, when compared to those that are affected only by RA. An element that needs further study is if these benefits can also extend to RA patients without T2DM, but with impaired glucose tolerance or important cardiovascular risk factors.
Effect Of Equivalent Ratio (ER) On the Flow and Combustion Characteristics in A Typical Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) Cavity
Authors: Arup Kumar Biswas  , Wasu Suksuwan  , Khamphe Phoungthong  , Makatar Wae-hayee
Published: August 2021

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is thought to be the most favourable clean coal technology option from geological-engineering-environmental viewpoint (less polluting and high efficiency) for extracting energy from coal without digging it out or burning it on the surface. UCG process requires only injecting oxidizing agent (O2 or air with steam) as raw material, into the buried coal seam, at an effective ratio which regulates the performance of gasification. This study aims to evaluate the influence of equivalent ratio (ER) on the flow and combustion characteristics in a typical half tear-drop shape of UCG cavity which is generally formed during the UCG process. A flow modeling software, Ansys FLUENT is used to construct a 3-D model and to solve problems in the cavity. The boundary conditions are- (i) a mass-flow-inlet passing oxidizer (in this case, air) into the cavity, (ii) a fuel-inlet where the coal volatiles are originated and (iii) a pressure-outlet for flowing the product Syngas out of the cavity. A steady-state simulation has been run using k-? turbulence model. The mass flow rate of air varied according to an equivalent ratio (ER) of 0.16, 0.33, 0.49 and 0.82, while the fuel flow rate was fixed. The optimal condition of ER has been identified through observing flow and combustion characteristics, which looked apparently stable at ER 0.33. In general, the flow circulation mainly takes place around the ash-rubble pile. A high temperature zone is found at the air-releasing point of the injection pipe into the ash-rubble pile. This study could practically be useful to identify one of the vital controlling factors of gasification performance (i.e., ER impact on product gas flow characteristics) which might become a cost-effective solution in advance of commencement of any physical operation.
Catalyzing the quantum leap
Authors: Seetharam Kushal , DeMarco Michael
Published: August 2021

Given the growing hype and investment in quantum
technology, it is important to understand its current
landscape and how best to catalyze progress in QIS
towards the eventual goal of societally-relevant innovation
in materials, pharmaceuticals, industrial processes,
cybersecurity and myriad other areas. We give a brief
overview of the policy landscape of the emerging QIS
innovation system. The most important requirement for
steady progress in QIS is a robust workforce. Here, we
focus on one key slice of workforce development: the
training of adaptable quantum scientists and engineers.
Do proposed regulatory approaches for commercialfusion energy jeopardize successful technologydeployment?
Authors: White R. Patrick , Hines Liam
Published: August 2021

Fusion energy has long been touted as an energy source capable of producing large amounts of clean energy without the fuel, pollution, siting, and safety constraints of other energy sources. Despite this promise, fusion energy has not come to fruition after six decades of research and development due to continuing scientific and technical challenges. Significant private investment in commercial fusion start-ups signals a renewed interest in the prospects of near-term development of fusion technology. Successful deployment of fusion energy, however, will require an appropriate regulatory framework to ensure public safety and economic viability. Initial discussions and proposals from fusion start-ups (e.g., Commonwealth Fusion Systems, General Fusion, TAE Technologies) and industry associations (e.g., Fusion Industry Association)have advocated the use of risk-informed regulations as the basis for the licensing of commercial fusion technology in the United States. These proposals are based, in part, on regulatory methods used for licensing commercial fission technology that developed in parallel with the commercial fission industry. Risk-informed regulations incorporate risk information from probabilistic safety analyses to ensure that regulations are appropriate for the actual risk of an activity. Proponents of risk-informed regulation believe that these methods can improve the economics and operation of nuclear facilities by focusing regulatory resources on addressing credible accident scenarios that are most likely to pose threats to worker and public safety. In addition to interest from industry, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)has begun an initiative to develop a new risk-informed regulatory framework for the licensing of advanced nuclear fission power plants, but it is unclear if this framework would be applied to fusion. Despite the benefits of adopting a risk-informed framework for a mature fission industry, use of risk-informed regulations for the licensing of first-generation commercial fusion technology could be detrimental to the goal of economic near-term deployment of fusion. Commercial fusion technology has an insufficient operational and regulatory experience base to support the rapid and effective use of risk-informed regulations. More conservative regulatory analyses could instead be used for first-generation fusion facilities to facilitate more rapid deployment, and enable collection of operating experience to support future use of risk-informed regulations. A hybrid regulatory pathway that incorporates seven decades of lessons learned in commercial fission would enable the implementation of regulatory requirements that evolve with the development of commercial fusion technology, from a first-of-a-kind demonstration plant to a mature low-carbon energy source.
CAPÍTULO 3 - SAÚDE
Authors: Paiva Andrea Barreto de , Sá Edvaldo Batista de , Barros Maria Elizabeth Diniz , Servo Luciana Mendes Santos , Stivali Matheus , Vieira Roberta da Silva , Piola Sérgio Francisco
Published: August 2021

Seguindo a estrutura proposta para este capítulo, a seção 2 repercute o relatório nacional de acompanhamento do cumprimento dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio (ODM) e mostra que, apesar das melhoras sensíveis ocorridas desde a criação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), muito ainda precisa ser feito para se atingir níveis aceitáveis de mortalidade infantil e materna e reduzir as disparidades regionais e entre grupos populacionais existentes. Também será necessário lidar com questões específicas, como a ilegalidade do aborto e a epidemia de cesarianas, que colocam em risco a saúde de gestantes e crianças, e o aumento na mortalidade por câncer de mama. Algumas das iniciativas adotadas ao longo do ano de 2013 e parte do ano de 2014 para expansão da cobertura e melhoria da qualidade dos serviços prestados pelo SUS são apresentadas na seção 3.
DP 0251 - Brazil in Antarctica: the scientific and geopolitical importance of PROANTAR in the brazilian strategic surrounding area
Authors: Andrade Israel de Oliveira , Mattos Leonardo Faria de , Cruz-Kaled Andrea Cancela da , Hillebrand Giovanni Roriz Lyra
Published: August 2021

As the most inhospitable continent on Earth, Antarctica has more than 90% of its
territory covered with ice and contains around 70% of all potable water in the world.
Its proximity to South America is especially relevant to Brazil, which includes it in the
country’s strategic surrounding area. Furthermore, Antarctica is administered through
an international regime based on a system of conventions and documents, which defined research activities as its fundamental purpose. The objective of this paper is to present the aspects of the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR, in Portuguese), the main instrument of the national Antarctic policy, and the Brazil’s continued presence in the continent. In addition, this work aims to depict the importance of Antarctic activities to Brazil, considering not only strategic concerns, but also their relevance to national scientific research. Finally, it investigates PROANTAR’s budgetary elements, pointing out its current perspectives, and examines which directions public policies should take to contribute to the program’s continuity and strengthening.
DP 0254 - Brazil’s Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: evolution, challenges, and opportunities
Authors: Andrade Israel de Oliveira , Hamann Eduarda Passarelli , Soares Matheus Augusto
Published: August 2021

Based on a state policy perspective, this paper seeks to present the path of Brazil’s
participation in United Nations (UN) peace operations, from its genesis in 1947 to the present day, with the intent to comprehend whether there is a progressive and evolutionary pattern in these engagement efforts, and which would be the main challenges, contributions and future orientations to the country in this matter. To this end, in a first moment, the text will bring a conceptual discussion regarding the different definitions and understandings on peace operations. Subsequently, we will analyze the evolution of UN peace operations throughout its 70 years and the Brazilian positions during this period. In a third moment, we will present final considerations, identifying the upcoming challenges and the main possible perspectives for Brazil to engage in future peace operations. The intention, therefore, is to ascertain whether peacekeeping operations, as an instrument of international politics aligned to the guidelines of Brazilian defense and foreign policies, should continue to be supported by Brazil or if new reorientations are necessary as a national strategy.
REGULATORY AND LEGAL COMPONENT IN ENSURING STATE’S FINANCIAL SECURITY
Authors: Rushchyshyn Nadiya , Medynska Tetyana , Nikonenko Uliana , Kostak Zoryana , Ivanova Roksolana
Published: August 2021

The purpose of the study is to scientifically substantiate the place and role of regulatory support in the formation of financial security, study the factors influencing its level and identify ways to improve it. The study used general scientific and special research methods: analysis, synthesis, methods of systematization and logical generalization − when disclosing the theoretical provisions of the financial security of the state and its legal regulation; correlation and regression analysis, econometric methods and models − to determine and study the influence of factor values on the volume of gold and foreign exchange reserves of the NBU; method of expert assessments − when developing recommendations for the formation of an effective mechanism for ensuring the financial security of the state, a graphical method. The nature and significance of the legal support of financial security are outlined, which is aimed at creating an improved legal framework and a system for controlling financial business entities in order to detect and prevent financial crimes. The factors influencing the level of the state’s financial security are considered. Their influence on the volume of gold and exchange reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine which in the conditions of financial stability should be balanced is determined. The mechanism to ensure the state’s financial security is offered, which further contributes to the implementation of a set of legal, structural and organizational, procedural, personnel, technological and resource tasks. In the future special attention should be paid to improving the current legal framework that would protect the interests of entities of a financial system from illegal encroachment and help recover offense damages. All these measures will contribute to raising the level of the state’s financial security and will help integrate the state into the international financial and economic space.
ANALYSIS OF LINUX OS SECURITY TOOLS FOR PACKET FILTERING AND PROCESSING
Authors: Melkov Dmitrij , Paulikas Šarūnas
Published: August 2021

Open-source software and its components are widely used in various products, solutions, and applications, even in closed-source. Majority of them are made on Linux or Unix based systems. Netfilter framework is one of the examples. It is used for packet filtering, load-balancing, and many other manipulations with network traffic. Netfilter based packet filter iptables has been most common firewall tool for Linux systems for more than two decades. Successor of iptables – nftables was introduced in 2014. It was designed to overcome various iptables limitations. However, it hasn’t received wide popularity and transition is still ongoing. In recent years researchers and developers around the world are searching for solution to increase performance of packet processing tools. For that purpose, many of them trying to utilize eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) with XDP (Express Data Path) data path. This paper focused on analyzing Linux OS packet filters and comparing their performances in different scenarios.
Improved Measurements of the Sun’s Meridional Flow and Torsional Oscillation from Correlation Tracking on MDI and HMI Magnetograms
Authors: Mahajan Sushant S. , Hathaway David H. , Muñoz-Jaramillo Andrés , Martens Petrus C.
Published: August 2021

The Sun’s axisymmetric flows, differential rotation, and meridional flow govern the dynamics of the solar magnetic cycle, and a variety of methods are used to measure these flows, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Flow measurements based on cross-correlating images of the surface magnetic field have been made since the 1970s that require advanced numerical techniques that are capable of detecting movements of less than the pixel size in images of the Sun. We have identified several systematic errors in addition to the center-to-limb effect that influence previous measurements of these flows and propose numerical techniques that can minimize these errors by utilizing measurements of displacements at several time lags. Our analysis of line-of-sight magnetograms from the Michelson Doppler Imager on the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory shows long-term variations in the meridional flow and differential rotation over two sunspot cycles from 1996 to 2020. These improved measurements can serve as vital inputs for solar dynamo and surface flux transport simulations.
ALMA Observations of the Sub-kpc Structure of the Host Galaxy of a z = 6.5 Lensed Quasar: A Rotationally Supported Hyper-Starburst System at the Epoch of Reionization
Authors: Yue Minghao , Yang Jinyi , Fan Xiaohui , Wang Feige , Spilker Justin , Georgiev Iskren Y. , Keeton Charles R. , Litke Katrina C. , Marrone Daniel P. , Walter Fabian , Wang Ran , Wu Xue-Bing , Venemans Bram P. , Zabludoff Ann
Published: August 2021

We report Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the dust continuum and [C ii] emission of the host galaxy of J0439+1634, a gravitationally lensed quasar at z = 6.5. Gravitational lensing boosts the source-plane resolution to ∼0.″15 (∼0.8 kpc). The lensing model derived from the ALMA data is consistent with the fiducial model in Fan et al. based on HST imaging. The host galaxy of J0439+1634 can be well-fitted by a Sérsic profile consistent with an exponential disk, both in the far-infrared (FIR) continuum and the [C ii] emission. The overall magnification is 4.53 ± 0.05 for the continuum and 3.44 ± 0.05 for the [C ii] line. The host galaxy of J0439+1634 is a compact ultraluminous infrared galaxy, with a total star formation rate (SFR) of 1.56 × 103
M
⊙ yr−1 after correcting for lensing and an effective radius of 0.74 kpc. The resolved regions in J0439+1634 follow the “[C ii] deficit,” where the [C ii]-to-FIR ratio decreases with FIR surface brightness. The reconstructed velocity field of J0439+1634 appears to be rotation-like. The maximum line-of-sight rotation velocity is 130 km s−1 at a radius of 2 kpc. However, our data cannot be fit by an axisymmetric thin rotating disk, and the inclination of the rotation axis, i, remains unconstrained. We estimate the dynamical mass of the host galaxy to be

7.9

sin

−
2

(
i
)
×

10

9

M

⊙

. J0439+1634 is likely to have a high gas-mass fraction and an oversized SMBH compared to local relations. The SFR of J0439+1634 reaches the maximum possible values, and the SFR surface density is close to the highest value seen in any star-forming galaxy currently known in the universe.
The Diffusion Coefficient of the Splashback Mass Function as a Probe of Cosmology
Authors: Ryu Suho , Lee Jounghun
Published: August 2021

We present an analytic model for the splashback mass function of dark matter halos, which is parameterized by a single coefficient and constructed in the framework of the generalized excursion set theory and the self-similar spherical infall model. The value of the single coefficient that quantifies the diffusive nature of the splashback boundary is determined at various redshifts by comparing the model with the numerical results from the Erebos N-body simulations for the Planck and the WMAP7 cosmologies. Showing that the analytic model with the best-fit coefficient provides excellent matches to the numerical results in the mass range of 5 ≤ M/(1012
h
−1
M
⊙) < 103, we employ the Bayesian and Akaike Information Criterion tests to confirm that our model is most preferred by the numerical results compared to previous models at redshifts of 0.3 ≤ z ≤ 3 for both of the cosmologies. We also found that the diffusion coefficient decreases almost linearly with redshift, converging to zero at a certain threshold redshift, z

c
, whose value significantly differs between the Planck and WMAP7 cosmologies. Our result implies that the splashback mass function of dark matter halos at z ≥ z

c
is well described by a parameter-free analytic formula and that z

c
may have the potential to independently constrain the initial conditions of the universe.
Search for Galactic Civilizations Using Historical Supernovae
Authors: Seto Naoki
Published: August 2021

We study an interstellar signaling scheme that was originally proposed by Seto and efficiently links intentional transmitters to extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) searchers through a conspicuous astronomical burst, without prior communication. Based on the geometrical and game theoretic viewpoints, the scheme can be refined so that intentional signals can be sent and received after observing a reference burst, in contrast to the original proposal (before observing a burst). Given this inverted temporal structure, Galactic supernovae recorded in the past 2000 yr can be regarded as interesting guideposts for an ETI search. While the best use period of SN 393 has presumably passed ∼100 yr ago, some of the historical supernovae might allow us to compactify the ETI survey regions down to less than one present of 4π, around two rings in the sky.
Spiders of the Udmurt Republic, Russia
Authors: Sozontov Artëm
Published: August 2021

The long-term project "Spiders of the Udmurt Republic" (2007–2018) aimed to research spiders' regional fauna and zoogeography, diversity (including spatial and seasonal patterns) and habitat preferences. We performed the collection of spiders in all natural zones of the republic, habitats and vegetation layers, both at permanent sampling plots and through ad-hoc sampling en route.

The dataset includes occurrences from 53 geographical points with 10,500 records and more than 35,000 specimens. This increases the existing data on Russian spiders on GBIF by four times, from 11,000 (excluding iNaturalist observations) to 46,000. The dataset allows for the exploration of regional fauna, local and general species distribution, spider phenology and habitat preferences for the purposes of monitoring and conservation.
Characterisation of a skin secretion with adhesive properties in the ground frog Eupsophus vertebralis (Alsodidae)
Authors: Suárez-Villota Elkin Y. , Trovatti Eliane , Contreras Felipe A. , Nuñez José J.
Published: August 2021

Some skin secretions with adhesive properties allow frogs to distract predators and escape; their nature is poorly studied. Here, we report the sticky skin secretion released by the Patagonian frog Eupsophus vertebralis when stressed. This secretion contained ~ 50% proteins spanning 25–250 kDa and required a fast setting time to turn into strong adhesive, which worked well on synthetic and biological materials. Lap-shear assays with Eupsophus glue secretion showed average shear strength of 3.34 MPa, comparable to cyanoacrylate (5.47 MPa). These properties suggest its biotechnological value for practical applications in industrial and medical sectors.
A new species of Anteon (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from Turkey
Authors: Speranza Stefano , Olmi Massimo , Capradossi Leonardo , Contarini Mario
Published: August 2021

A new species from Turkey, Anteon lelejisp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae), is described and illustrated. Its relationship with Palaearctic and Afrotropical species of Anteon is discussed. The new species is close to A. xericum Olmi & van Harten described from Yemen, and known also from other Afrotropical countries. The key to the Palaearctic species of Anteon is modified to include the new species. New records of Anteon species from Turkey are registered.
The cuckoo bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from the Middle East and North Africa with descriptions of two new species
Authors: Bogusch Petr
Published: August 2021

Epeolus is one of the more species-rich genera of cuckoo bees globally. Seventeen species are known from Europe, and 23 species have been recorded from various countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Epeolus iranicussp. nov. and E. priesnerisp. nov. are newly described in this study, and E. seraxensis Radoszkowski, 1893, stat. nov., previously a subspecies of E. transitorius Eversmann, 1852, is regarded as a valid species and a lectotype is designated. The first records of E. ibericus and E. intermedius from North Africa are given, and the distribution of E. fallax in North Africa is confirmed. This study compiles known distributional records of the species of this genus from the studied region and provides an overview of the known species richness in the studied countries. Based on available records, Turkey (14 species), Morocco (11) and Iran (9) host the highest numbers of species of Epeolus, whereas in four countries only a single species has been recorded, and the presence of this genus in seven countries has yet to be confirmed.
New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia
Authors: Astafurova Yulia V. , Proshchalykin Maxim Yu.
Published: August 2021

A review of nine species of the bee genusEpeolusLatreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Nomadinae) currently known from Mongolia is given. Two new species,E. lelejisp. nov.andE. mongolicussp. nov.are described. The following five known species are newly recorded from Mongolia:E. alpinusFriese, 1893,E. cruciger(Panzer, 1799),E. melectiformisYasumatsu, 1938,E. nudiventrisBischoff, 1930, andE. ruficornisMorawitz, 1875. A lectotype is designated forEpeolus tarsalisMorawitz, 1874.
Braconid parasitoids of ants (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae, Neoneurini) from Baltic amber with a discussion of records of fossil larvae parasitizing ant workers
Authors: Belokobylskij Sergey A. , Dubovikoff Dmitry A. , Manukyan Andranik R. , Zharkov Dmitry M.
Published: August 2021

A new record of the fossil genus Elasmosomites Brues, 1933 from Baltic amber with an illustrated description of a new species, E. arkadylelejisp. nov. and the first description of a male of E. primordialis Brues, 1933 are provided. A key to currently known Neoneurini genera is compiled. A new record of fossil braconid larva emerging from an ant worker of Lasius schiefferdeckeri Mayr, 1868 is discussed and a correction to previous determination of ant hosts from amber is included.
Caste and wing loading in a social wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Dolichovespula maculata)
Authors: Starr Christopher K. , Jacobson Robert S. , Krispyn Joan W. , Spiers Joshua A.
Published: August 2021

Variation in wing design and wing loading according to body weight is well studied across taxa of birds and flying insects. Comparable studies have not been made in the few insects that show substantial size variation within the same phenon of a single species. We examine body measures of adults of the social waspDolichovespula maculata(Linnaeus, 1763), with particular attention to the limbs and wing loading. As expected, measures of the length of the legs scales isometrically with overall body weight and size. Against expectation, wing size also scales isometrically with body weight and size. This does not match the general pattern of comparison across species of flying animals, in which larger individuals have relatively larger wings, as a partial compensation for greater wing loading. We suggest that wing size inD. maculatamay be constrained by the demands of life in a crowded nest.
A taxonomic study of Nemania from China, with six new species
Authors: Pi Yin Hui , Long Si Han , Wu You Peng , Liu Li Li , Lin Yan , Long Qing De , Kang Ji Chuan , Kang Ying Qian , Chang Chu Rui , Shen Xiang Chun , Wijayawardene Nalin N. , Zhang Xu , Li Qi Rui
Published: August 2021

During an investigation of Xylariaceae from 2019 to 2020, isolates representing eight Nemania (Xylariacese) species were collected from Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan Provinces in China. Morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, based on combined ITS, α-actin, rpb2 and β-tubulin sequences, confirmed that six of them are new to science, viz. Nemania camelliae, N. changningensis, N. cyclobalanopsina, N. feicuiensis, N. lishuicola and N. rubi; one is a new record (N. caries) for China and one is a known species (N. diffusa). Morphological descriptions and illustrations of all species are detailed. In addition, the characteristics of Nemania are summarised and prevailing contradictions in generic concepts are discussed.
Effects of flavonol quercetin on syndrome of endogenous intoxication in experimental periodontitis
Authors: Demkovych Andrii , Shcherba Vitaliy , Yaremchuk Olha , Stoikevych Halyna , Machogan Volodymyr , Luchynskyi Vitalii
Published: August 2021

The article presents the results of study effect of quercetin on the indicators of endogenous intoxication syndrome under conditions of experimental periodontitis. One of the key links in the pathogenesis of any inflammatory disease, including maxillofacial area, is endogenous intoxication, an important pathophysiological mechanism of which is the activation of lipid peroxidation. The experimental animals were treated by intramuscular injections with water-soluble quercetin for 7 days. For further research the blood serum was selected in which was determined the content of middle molecular weight molecules and erythrocyte intoxication index. Excessive lipoperoxidation was accompanied by accumulation of peroxidation products and depletion of antioxidant reserves, which led to accumulation of toxic substances. That is why the study of the level of middle molecular weight molecules and erythrocyte intoxication index in simulated bacterial-immune periodontitis is a reliable criterion. Quercetin was able to reduce the expression of endogenous intoxication syndrome in experimental bacterial-immune periodontitis.
A review of Madagopsina Feijen, Feijen & Feijen (Diptera, Diopsidae) with description of a new species, key to the species, and discussion of intrageneric relationships
Authors: Feijen Hans R. , Feijen Frida A. A. , Feijen Cobi , Gilles Benoît
Published: August 2021

For the recently established genus Madagopsina (Diopsidae, stalk-eyed flies), Madagopsina makayensis Feijen, Feijen & Feijen, sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. A concise catalogue is given for the genus and an identification key is presented for its six species. The differential character states are listed for the two species groups of the genus: the Madagopsina apollo species group and the Madagopsina apographica species group. The intrageneric relations are discussed based on morphology, geometric morphometrics analysis of wing shape, and allometric data for eye span against body length. Each of these three procedures places the new species in the M. apollo species group with Madagopsina parvapollina as its closest relative. New records are presented for M. apographica and M. parvapollina.
Cultivation of housefly larvae (Musca domestica L.) as a biological method to enrich rice straw and maximise its utilisation
Authors: Abo-Donia F.M. , Nayel U.A.
Published: August 2021

This study is aimed at presenting a new biological technique to enrich rice straw via the cultivation ofMusca domestica (MD) and at evaluating the outcome of this technique usingin vitro andin vivo studies. Rice straw was treated using molasses and water at 17.5: 0.375: 7.0 (w/v/v), respectively. The mixture was left in an open shaded area for 11 successive days to allow MD to lay eggs and produce larvae. During this time, the recorded temperature was 35.6±2.2 °C and the humidity was 49±5.7%. Rice straw treated with 4% urea (URS) and untreated rice straw (RS) were used for comparison within vitro andin vivo MD maggot rice straw (MRS). The crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) contents gradually increased during the first 8 days, and then began to gradually decrease until the 11th day.In vitro studies were performed on RS, MRS and URS as a single substrate. Instead, in thein vivo studies, experimental RS was offeredad libitum to sheep, and a concentrate feed mixture was provided as pellets to cover the maintenance requirements. The volume of produced gas and thein vitro degradability of the organic matter (OM), ash-free neutral detergent fibre, and CP (P<0.05) increased with the fermentation of the mg of MRS, compared to URS, which in turn was (P<0.05) higher than that of RS incubation. The consumed MRS was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the consumed URS. At the same time, the URS consumption was highly (P<0.05) significant, compared to the RS consumption. The eating, ruminating and chewing time (min/head/d) was significantly (P<0.05) higher when RS was consumed, compared to URS and MRS. Eating a diet including MRS led to higher (P<0.05) dry matter, OM, CP, EE, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre digestibility, than the diet containing URS, which was significantly (P<0.05) superior to the diet containing RS. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible crude protein values of the MRS-containing diet improved (P<0.05) more than that of URS, which was significantly (P<0.05) higher than RS. In short, the results indicate that MD maggots could be produced on rice straw to elevate the protein content and nutritional value of feeds. Moreover, this technique improved the feed consumption and digestion coefficients more than the treated and untreated rice straw.