bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional and Free Radical Responses to LVAD Therapy
Authors: Dhar Kajari , Asmini KC , Qiu Fang , Basma Hesham , Savalia Krupak , Jones Jocelyn , Moulton Alexandra M. , Zimmerman Matthew C. , Um John , Anderson Daniel , Hyden Marshall , Lowes Brian D.
Published: April 2020

Background: Myocardial recovery with Left ventricular assistant device (LVAD) therapy is dichotomous with some patients obtaining remission from end-stage heart failure whereas most require transplantation or remain as destination therapy. Our goal was to determine transcriptional and free radical responses to LVAD treatment. Methods: Tissues were collected from patients before and after LVAD placement in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients (n=14) along with non-failing controls (n=3). RNA sequencing (RNASeq) analysis quantified transcriptional profiles by using a custom targeted panel of heart failure related genes on the PGM sequencer. The differential expression analysis between groups was conducted using edgeR (Empirical analysis of digital gene expression data in R) package in Bioconductor. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was carried out on differentially expressed genes to understand the biological pathways involved. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy was utilized to measure levels of free radicals in whole blood collected pre- and post-LVAD implantation (n=16). Results: 35 genes were differentially expressed in pre-LVAD failing hearts compared to non-failing controls. In response to LVAD therapy, only Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) and period circadian protein homolog 1 (PER1) were altered with 34 heart failure related genes still differentially expressed post-LVAD compared to non-failing hearts. IPA showed that DNA methylation-related genes were upregulated in both pre- and post-LVAD and was persistent with a Z-score of 2.00 and 2.36 for DNA Methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) and DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B), respectively. Inhibition of micro RNA21 (mir21) was also significant on pathway analysis in the post-LVAD population with a Z-score of -2.00. Levels of free radicals in blood of pre- and post-LVAD patients did not change significantly. Conclusion: LVAD therapy does not reverse many of the transcriptional changes associated with heart failure. Persistent changes in gene expression may be related to ongoing oxidative stress, continued DNA methylation, or changes in metabolism. PDK4 is a key regulator of glucose metabolism and its increased expression by LVAD therapy inhibited pyruvate metabolism.
Corona virus disease 2019: hysteresis effect of chest CT and the correlation of its severity with lymphocyte count in peripheral blood
Authors: Li Kui , Wang Wei , Zhao Chang-Wu , Wu Lei , Zhu Ya-Nan , Ran Ren-Yu , Li Tao , Jiang Zi-Cheng
Published: April 2020

Background Chest computed tomography (CT) has been accepted to provide reference for the diagnose and assessment the severity of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Decrease in the counts of lymphocyte and leukocyte is used as the diagnostic indicator of suspected COVID-19 cases. However, there is few study on exploring the hysteresis of chest CT changes and the predictive role of lymphocyte count in peripheral blood before treatment in the severity of the disease. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out focusing on the data of patients tested to be positive for RNA nucleic acid test of SARS-CoV-2 with nasopharyngeal swabs in 4 hospitals. An independent assessment was performed by one clinician using the DEXIN FACT Workstation Analysis System, and the assessment results were reviewed by another clinician. Furthermore, the mean hysteresis time was calculated according to the median time from progression to the most serious situation to improvement of chest CT in patients after fever relief. The optimal scaling regression analysis was performed by including variables with statistical significance in univariate analysis. In addition, a multivariate regression model was established to investigate the relationship of the percentage of lesion/total lung volume with lymphocyte and other variables. Results In the included 166 patients with COVID-19, the average value of the most serious percentage of lesion/total lung volume was 6.62, of which 90 patients with fever had an average hysteresis time of 4.5 days after symptom relief, with a similar trend observed in those without fever. Multivariate analysis revealed that lymphocyte count in peripheral blood and transcutaneous oxygen saturation decreased with the increase of the percentage of lesion/total lung volume. Meanwhile, age, fever and C-reactive protein exhibited no such effect in the established model. Conclusions There is a hysteresis effect in the improvement of chest CT image in relative to fever relief in patients with COVID-19. Besides, the percentage of lesion/total lung volume of chest CT correlates negatively with lymphocyte count in peripheral blood and transcutaneous oxygen saturation. Findings in our study may contribute to understanding the disease status of patients with COVID-19 and grasping the opportunity of treatment by clinicians.
A simple transmission dynamics model for predicting the evolution of COVID-19 under control measures in China
Authors: Shang Chenjing , Yang Yang , Chen Gui-Ying , Shang Xiao-Dong
Published: April 2020

Epidemic forecasting provides an opportunity to predict geographic disease spread and counts when an outbreak occurs and plays a key role in preventing or controlling their adverse impact. However, conventional prediction models based on complex mathematical modeling rely on the estimation of model parameters, which yields unreliable and unsustainable results. Herein, we proposed a simple model for predicting the epidemic transmission dynamics based on nonlinear regression of the epidemic growth rate and iterative methods, which is applicable to the progression of the COVID-19 outbreak under the strict control measures of the Chinese government. Our model yields reliable and accurate results as confirmed by the available data: we predicted that the total number of infections in mainland China would be 91,253, and the maximum number of beds required for hospitalized patients would be 62,794. We inferred that the inflection point (when the growth rate turns from positive to negative) of the epidemic across China would be mid-February, and the end of the epidemic would be in late March. This model is expected to contribute to resourceallocation and planning in the health sector while providing a theoretical basis forgovernments to respond to future global health crises or epidemics.
Sofosbuvir as a potential alternative to treat the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic
Authors: Jácome Rodrigo , Campillo-Balderas José Alberto , de León Samuel Ponce , Becerra Arturo , Lazcano Antonio
Published: April 2020

As of today, there is no antiviral for the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the development of a vaccine might take several months or even years. The structural superposition of the hepatitis C virus polymerase bound to sofosbuvir, a nucleoside analog antiviral approved for hepatitis C virus infections, with the SARS-CoV polymerase shows that the residues that bind to the drug are present in the latter. Moreover, a multiple alignment of several SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS-related coronaviruses polymerases shows that these residues are conserved in all these viruses, opening the possibility to use sofosbuvir against these highly infectious pathogens.
Human SARS-CoV-2 has evolved to reduce CG dinucleotide in its open reading frames
Authors: Wang Yong , Mao Jun-Ming , Wang Guang-Dong , Qiu Ze , Yao Qin , Chen Ke-Ping
Published: April 2020

The causative agent of COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus which has been officially named SARS-CoV-2. Here we report the discovery of extremely low CG abundance in its open reading frames. We found that CG reduction in SARS-CoV-2 is achieved mainly through mutating C/G into A/T, and CG is the best target for mutation. In view of energy usage, a coronavirus with low CG abundance has higher efficiency in translating its RNA, because the secondary structure formed by viral genome is less stable. 5’-untranslated region of SARS-CoV-2 has much more CGs and is capable of recruiting host ribosomes to initiate translation. Notably, genomes of cellular organisms also have very low CG abundance, suggesting that mutating C/G into A/T occurs universally in all life forms. Moreover, CG is related to mutational hotspots and CpG islands in cellular organisms. The relationship between them is worthy of further investigations.
PSYCHOLINGUISTIC FEATURES OF IMAGINATION AS A COMPONENT OF LUDIC COMPETENCE
Authors: Kobzieva Iuliia , Gordiienko-Mytrofanova Iia , Sauta Serhii
Published: April 2020

Ludic competence is an integral part of the professional competence of would-be psychologists; the psycholinguistic features of imagination are in turn an integral component of the ludic competence. We used the method of applied psycholinguistic research in order to define and explain the psycholinguistic features of imagination as a component of the ludic competence. The main stage of the research was a free association test with the stimulus word “imagination”, as the most elaborated technique of semantic analysis. The psycholinguistic features of imagination as a notion that belongs to the inner world and as a component of the ludic competence were reflected in everyday linguistic consciousness as three core (more than 10 %) semantic clusters: (a) associates that reflect psychological processes and states (54.5 %); (b) associates that are connected with creative activity (25.5 %); and (c) associates that describe the outside world (11 %). Imagination was mostly represented by lexemes with abstract semantics. The semantic content of the word “imagination” did not depend on gender identification. Both male and female respondents showed a positive emotional attitude to the stimulus “imagination” and evaluated it as something positive. Our data confirm that the psycholinguistic experiment and the method of free association, in particular, can be extensively applied beyond linguistics and prove to be rather effective.
BEHAVIORAL COMPONENTS IN RELATIONSHIPS OF ECONOMIC AGENTS (EXAMPLE OF THE UKRAINIAN CAR MARKET)
Authors: Mazhara Glib , Kapustian Volodymyr
Published: April 2020

In neoclassical economics a concept of individual is seen as a logical thinking machine, which accurately analyzes all information received and, based on it, makes decisions that maximize his/her personal gain and minimize risks while achieving his/her goals. Such behavior of a person is called rational. Such concept serves as a source of neoclassicism for the construction of supply and demand models, operation of tax systems, business cycles, inflation etc.
It was not accepted to pay attention to the psychology of decision-making, it was believed, that these transient, random factors pale against the grandeur of economic incentives. Psychologists are interested in solutions that are emotional, casual, pursued by some sort of cultural ideas, norms, rules, and may even be phobias, conversely economics is the science of rational behavior.
The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the behavioral components and their influence on the interaction of economic agents in the commodity market. The study used methods of constructing a multivariate regression model, OLS, Student and Fisher criteria, statistical research, sociological surveys and expert opinion. Authors will analyze the behavioral aspects of market relationships on the example of used car market in Ukraine
This paper provides several different situations and tested them with real market data to demonstrate that both buyers and sellers may not act rationally on the market, set prices, based on their personal beliefs, subjective and psychological factors and that must be considered when building economical models.
INFLUENCE OF THE ACUTE INFLAMMATION AND ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION ON THE RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION FORMATION AFTER CARDIO-SURGICAL INTERFERENCES WITH THE USE OF CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS
Authors: Venediktova Olga
Published: April 2020

Acute inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (EDF) are typical pathological processes, which determine the development of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) during cardio-surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CB), but the connection of seromarkers according to the terms of occlusion appearance remains undefined.

The aim – to determine the influence of the acute inflammation and EDF for RVO formation after cardio-surgical interferences with the use of CB according to the terms of occlusion appearance.

Material and methods. There were selected for the research the data of 137 eyes (126 patients, the main group) with RVO after the surgery with CB. The comparison group contains the data about examination of 86 eyes (43 patients), who had not any occlusion during all term of examination. The control group consisted of 10 eyes (5 patients) without occlusion, which were examined before surgery. An ophthalmologist 2, 7, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days after cardio-surgical interference, examined patients. The content of IL-6, IL-8 and VE-cadherin in blood serum was determined by immunoenzyme technique (Bender Medsystems, Austria). Statistical data processing was performed with the use of Statistica 10 program (StatSoft, Inc., USA), regression analysis – with the use of the program package GLZ.

Results. The conduction of cardio-surgeries with the use of CB caused an increase of the interleukins content in the early period (IL-6 on the 2nd and 7th days, and IL-8 up to 30 days), while the content of VE-cadherin (VE-C) was slightly increased during almost all period of monitoring. With the availability of RVO, the content of IL-6 during all terms of occlusion appearance was significantly higher, the content of IL-6 was up to 30 days, and the content of VE-C in a greater degree was after the 7th day.

The regression analysis showed that after 1-2 days RVO appearance was directly related with the content of IL-6 and IL-8 in the blood, on the 3rd and 7th days – only with the content of IL-8, on the 8th and 30th days – with the content of all markers, and then with the content of IL-6 and VE-C. The accuracy of the prediction of the presence or absence of RVO at the appropriate period according to the calculated regression model is at least 78 % (p <0.001), what proves the influence of markers on the development of RVO.

Conclusions. The undertaken study shows the meaning of the acute inflammation and EDF by appearance of RVO with the use of CB, what justifies the application of the preventive measures - at the early stages the restriction of activity of the inflammatory process, at the later stages – prevention of EDF development.
PREOPERATIVE ENDOBRONCHIAL SANITATION AS PREPARATION FOR THORACIC INTERVENTIONS
Authors: Kritsak Vasiliy , Ponomarova Kateryna , Minukhin Dmitriy
Published: April 2020

The aim – to study the effectiveness of endoscopic photodynamic therapy as a preoperative preparation of the tracheobronchial tree in patients with lung cancer.

Materials and methods. The study included 181 patients with II-III stage of lung’s cancer. Diagnose of lung’s cancer was confirmed with a morphologically and concomitant endobronchitis. During the preoperative preparation, we used a technique developed by us introducing into the tracheobronchial tree an aqueous solution of brilliant green at concentration of 0.04 %, followed by irradiation of this solution with laser radiation with the wavelength of 0.63 μm (AFL-2 helium-neon laser) in an independent form and in combination with traditional anti-inflammatory therapy. Endoscopic endobronchial sanitation therapy was carried out by low-intensity radiation of the red part of the spectrum (λ=0.63–0.66 μm) in a pulsed mode, with a power of 12 mW.

Results. After 3–5 days of the start preoperative preparation and 1–2 sessions of endoscopic bronchosanation, the general state of patients was improved, the amount of sputum decreased and was changing from mucopurulent to mucous. To completely stop the clinical phenomena of endobronchitis, it was necessary to conduct 5-6 sessions of endoscopic photodynamic therapy according to our methodology, with the introduction of our method. In patients without pronounced clinical symptoms of concomitant chronic bronchitis, it was enough to complete only 3 sessions of bronchosanation.

Conclusion. Endoscopic photodynamic bronchosanation in the preoperative period in patients for correcting accompanying endobronchitis can significantly reduce or completely stop the clinical manifestations of endobronchitis in the shortest time and leads to a significant decrease in the number of endobronchial complications in surgical and combined treatment of lung cancer.
CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF GSTP1 GENE POLYMORPHISM WITH MORBIDITY OF PRIMARY METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER
Authors: Bazhora Yuri , Chetverikov Sergii , Onyshchenko Viacheslav , Chetverikov Mykhailo , Chetverikova-Ovchynnyk Valeriia
Published: April 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies. Susceptibility to malignant processes is mediated by genetically driven differences in the effectiveness of detoxification of potential carcinogens. One of the factors that may influence the risk of CRC is the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) gene family that encodes glutathione transferase enzymes. The GSTP1 gene is expressed both in normal and pathological conditions. Determining its specific alleles may be a marker of CRC.

The aim of the research – to study GSTP1 gene polymorphism, which is likely to be more common among patients with primary metastatic colorectal cancer compared with healthy population.

Materials and methods. The study involved 12 patients with primary metastatic colorectal cancer aged 43 to 72 years, the control group was represented by a sample of 31 people without cancer.

Results. The incidence of advanced CRC in the presence of GSPT1 Val / Val (aa) polymorphism is statistically significantly higher than in the presence of Ile / Ile (AA) and Ile / Val (Aa) GSPT1 polymorphism.

Conclusions. Among people with GSTP1 Val / Val (aa) polymorphism, primary CRC is 4.4 times more likely than among people with GSPT1 Ile / Ile (AA) and Ile / Val (Aa) polymorphisms, which are statistically significant (P < 0.05). The obtained results indicate the possibility of conducting a genetic study of GSTP1 polymorphism to form groups of potential risk of CRC.
How American Mineralogist and the Mineralogical Society of America influenced a career in mineralogy, petrology, and plate pushing, and thoughts on mineralogy's future role
Authors: Ernst W.G.
Published: April 2020

My geologic research began at Carleton College. I studied heavy minerals in some midcontinent orthoquartzites, publishing my very first paper in American Mineralogist in 1954. As a master's candidate at the University of Minnesota, I investigated igneous differentiation in a diabase-granophyre sill of the Duluth Gabbro Complex. Later, in a Ph.D. program at Johns Hopkins University, I became Joe Boyd's apprentice at the Geophysical Laboratory (GL), and for a time was phase-equilibrium god of the Na-amphiboles. Doctoral research earned me an offer of a UCLA assistant professorship as a mineralogist in 1960. There, I continued pursuing amphibole P-T stability relations in lab and field. My glaucophane phase equilibrium research would later be found to have instead crystallized Na-magnesiorichterite. However, amphibole research led me to map field occurrences of HP-LT (high P-low T) blueschists of the Franciscan Complex. Thus, when plate tectonics emerged in the late 1960s, I was deep in the subduction zone. My recent studies focused on the petrology and geochemistry of oceanic crustal rocks, Californian calc-alkaline arcs, and coesite ± microdiamond-bearing crustal margin rocks in various parts of Eurasia. Other works treated global mineral resources and population, mineralogy and human health, and early Earth petrotectonic evolution. I tried to work on important problems, but mainly studied topics that fired my interest.

For the future, I see the existential challenge facing humanity and the biosphere as the imperative to stop our overdrafting of mineral resources. This will require reaching a dynamic equilibrium between the use and replenishment of near-surface resources (i.e., nutrients) essential for life. Earth scientists are planetary stewards, so we must lead the way forward in life-supporting mineral usage, recycling, substitution, and dematerialization. In any event, sustainable development will soon return to the Earth's Critical Zone of life because Mother Nature—the ruling terrestrial economist—abhors long-term overdrafting of resources1.
Impacto ambiental y social del vertimiento de residuos sólidos y escombros sobre la calidad del río Medellín y algunos de sus afluentes
Authors: Carvajal Flórez Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

La investigación que se desarrolla a continuación, tiene como objetivo principal evaluar la influencia del vertimiento de residuos sólidos domiciliarios y escombros sobre la calidad del río Medellín y algunos de sus afluentes principales como la quebrada La Hueso, La Iguaná y La García, bajo criterios sanitarios, ambientales y sociales. Se utilizó el método teórico práctico, que aborda el problema de la disposición inadecuada de residuos domiciliarios y escombros sobre las laderas y lechos de las quebradas objeto de estudio, estableciendo en la realidad social una explicación veraz y oportuna de la ocurrencia de dichas prácticas de disposición.El trabajo de campo permitió realizar monitoreos de la calidad de agua a través de los parámetros DBO 5 , DQO, sólidos suspendidos, disueltos y sedimentables, pH, oxígeno disuelto, conductividad y turbiedad, así como la cuantificación y determinación de la composición física de algunos de los materiales encontrados sobre las márgenes y laderas más próximas al cauce. De la misma forma, se determinaron composiciones granulométricas de escombros y materiales de arrastre, se analizaron las causas generadoras de la situación problema y se formuló un esquema de gestión que incluyó cada uno de los componentes del manejo integral de los residuos sólidos. Los recorridos de campo y las metodologías de selección cualitativas y cuantitativas, permitieron clasificar las quebradas bajo tres problemáticas preponderantes: La García con vertimientos recurrentes de escombros, La Hueso con presencia de materiales de arrastre como consecuencia de la explotación en canteras y La Iguaná con el vertimiento de residuos sólidos domiciliarios.En términos generales puede deducirse que la transformación del paisaje de cada una de las quebradas es alta, debido a la gran intervención antrópica relacionada con la  explotación de materiales, vertimientos de aguas residuales, escombros, residuos domiciliarios, ganadería, entre otros. Estas a su vez generan problemas como erosión, pérdida de las coberturas vegetales, malos olores, proliferación de vectores, entre otros, además de los graves problemas hidráulicos que desencadenan socavación de márgenes, desbordamientos e inundaciones, que afectan las comunidades cercanas a la microcuenca. Finalmente, el análisis de causalidad determinó que el origen de la problemática estudiada no solo recae en el generador, sino por el contrario se constituye en una responsabilidad compartida de autoridades ambientales, empresas de aseo, autoridades de control, entre otros. El esquema de gestión propuesto tiene como pilar fundamental “La educación y prevención”, entrelazado con un marco normativo y elementos sociales y técnicos, componentes indispensables para garantizar que toda la gestión de los residuos funcione satisfactoriamente en la región.
Un diagnóstico sobre cadáveres sin identificar (nn) producto del conflicto armado, registrados e inhumados en cementerios del oriente antioqueño
Authors: Moncada Juan José
Published: April 2020

Resumen:este artículo presenta los resultados de la investigación “Oriente, Memoria Desenterrada, un Camino para la Identificación de Personas Desaparecidas en el Oriente Antioqueño”, donde se presenta un diagnóstico cualitativo y cuantitativo pionero en Colombia, hasta donde se conoce, sobre las condiciones del registro y disposición final de cadáveres no identificados (NNs) en cementerios, con una delimitación temporal de enero de 1985 hasta junio de 2008, con el ánimo de sacar a la luz la situación histórica y social de esta problemática. La exploración apunta finalmente a dar cuenta del fenómeno de la desaparición forzada de personas; propone un conjunto de prácticas adecuadas con cadáveres no identificados, a ser tenidas en cuenta en los despachos parroquiales y en los cementerios. Así mismo aporta elementos para la construcción de una cultura de paz.Abstract:This article shows the results of the research entitled “West, an Unburried Memory, a Road for the Identification of Missing People in the Western Region of Antioquia.” Where it is shown a qualitative and quantitative diagnosis, which is a pioneering diagnosis in Colombia, as far as it is known, about the conditions of the registration and final disposal of unidentified corpses in cemeteries, within a range period of time, from January 1985 to June 2008, in order to bring the historic and social situation of this issue to light.This research aims at giving an account of the phenomenon of the forced disappearance of people, and it proposes a set of adequate practices with unidentified corpses, to be taken into account in parochial offices and in cemeteries. As well, it provides some elements for the construction of a culture of peace.
Brand loyalty towards online accommodation booking platforms
Authors: Bisschoff Christo , Joubert Wehmeyer
Published: April 2020

This study investigates the brand loyalty of consumers in the online booking platform industry. The Mabalingwe Nature Reserve served as a case study, while the Moolla and Bisschoff brand loyalty model was used to measure brand loyalty across twelve antecedents. This study aimed to, firstly, validate the model for use in online booking platforms, secondly, to measure the reliability of the data, and finally, to measure brand loyalty across twelve antecedents in online booking platforms. Online questionnaires were distributed via an online link by the booking managers of the game reserve, and 131 responses were captured; this represented a statistically adequate sample as per the KMO measure (.741). The descriptive statistics, using a 5-point Likert scale, showed that Brand trust (4.03) and Customer satisfaction (3.96) are the most important brand loyalty antecedents, while Culture (2.34) is the least important brand loyalty antecedent in an online booking platform. Exploratory factor analysis validated the questionnaire for online booking platforms, while Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (.701) indicated that the reliability of the data is acceptable. Regarding latent variable identification, Brand quality and Brand relationship are two most important factors, respectively, explaining variance of 13.1% and 8.7%. The study culminated in a model to measure and manage brand loyalty of online booking platforms. This model can be operationalized for use by managers, researchers, and academia.
Comparative analysis of the accommodation capacities in selected European tourist destinations
Authors: Malec Lukáš , Hamarneh Iveta , Poživil Jaroslav , Pavlíček Antonín
Published: April 2020

This study aims to analyze the business view concerning the using the accommodation capacities in some central European countries, i.e. Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the NUTS-2 regional scope. The special attention is paid to Spain. The research is based on annual post-global economic crisis data. The authors apply a specific partial least squares (PLS) variant of multivariate methods, which relates many fundamental and derived tourism variables due to particular attention to using a weighting procedure. The authors determined that in order to encompass the territory predetermination for the best fit the changed conditions, the majority of significant cities have very good dynamics in capacity parameters and overnights for increasing the offers being greatly supplied by the annual changing number of visitors. However, Spain is substantially different from the other regions analyzed, forming ultimate conditions for mutual comparison. Moreover, the tracks of turning visitors into capital or significant cities, especially associated with the close natural attractions, are substantiated. The tourist’s resource potential specific only to the target region as well as relevant additional potential origins are examined on the sample of countries. Covering tourism as the world’s leading industry directly connected to accommodation tasks and a unique period examined, the results of this study can be used to formulate policy guidelines as well as to solve the tasks of attracting tourism and promote supply.
AcknowledgmentThis research was funded by the Grant Agency of Academic Alliance under Grant Agreement number GA/13/2018.
Dependency of Urban People on Private Motorized Vehicles: A Critical Measurement in Bangladesh
Authors: -Al-Faisal Abdullah , Akter Afrina , Chowdhury Nishita , Das Anutosh , Afrin Zinia Faria
Published: April 2020

Consumption of non-renewable energy resources and global warming are increasing due to excessive dependency on motorized vehicle. The study investigates the influencing factors for private motor vehicle dependency to develop a structural equation model (SEM) for quantifying subjective motor vehicle dependency by examining the determinants. A questionnaire survey of 130 random samples was conducted among private motor vehicle users from different districts of Bangladesh. On the basis of user practical experience and reliance on motor vehicle use, a subjective measure of private motor vehicle dependency is established. Results support to accept the model hypothesis which is MVU [Motor Vehicle Use] affects DEPEND [Dependency on Motor Vehicle] positively and both negatively affect INTENT [Intention to Reduce Motor Vehicle]. Hence, children and monthly income of respondents have large influence on motor vehicle use as the beta weights are 1.22 and 1.01, respectively. In case of dependency, regression weight shows that fuel expenses, average travelling distance, speed have significant influences. Besides, the greater social grade shows less intention to reduce motor vehicle use. The study shows clear overview of possible affecting factors behind dependency which can be reflected in decision-making strategies.
A különböző ágazatokra jellemző professzionalizálódás tanulságai a pedagógus folyamatos szakmai fejlődésének, tanulásának megértésében
Authors: Vámos Ágnes , Kálmán Orsolya , Bajzáth Angéla , Rónay Zoltán , Rapos Nóra
Published: April 2020

A tanulmány bemutatja néhány professzió kialakulásának és változásának megközelítéseit, tipizálási lehetőségeit a vonatkozó főbb és releváns szakirodalmak alapján, inputot adva a közoktatásban dolgozó pedagógusok komplexen értelmezett folyamatos szakmai fejlődési modelljeinek vizsgálatához. Vizsgált professziónak egyrészt a tradicionális, archetipikus professziókat, mint a jogi és orvosi professziót választottuk, valamint egy új szakmához köthető, a pedagógus-szakmához közeli, a felsőoktatásban dolgozó oktatókét. Célunk az volt, hogy ezek változás-történetének tanulságai, megközelítései segítsenek a pedagógus szakma aktuális helyzetének, állapotának megértésében és dinamikusan értelmezett fejlesztésében. A tanulmányban leírtuk az alapfogalmak különböző jellemzők mentén lehetséges meghatározásait, kitértünk a hivatások/szakmák típusaira, a folyamatos szakmai fejlődés és tanulás értelmezéseire, azonosságokra és különbségekre, valamint a folyamatos szakmai fejlődés és tanulás modelljeire és a modellképzés szempontjaira különböző (egyéni, szervezeti és rendszer) megközelítésekben. Az elemzés végén kérdéseket és dilemmákat fogalmaztunk meg, valamint ajánlásokat, javaslatokat tettünk a pedagógus FSZF jelenlegi modelljének fejlesztése, alakítása céljából az egyén, a szervezet és a rendszer szintjén értelmezett holisztikus alapállás mentén.
A pedagógusok folyamatos szakmai fejlődése és tanulása
Authors: Rapos Nóra , Bükki Eszter , Gazdag Emma , Tókos Katalin
Published: April 2020

A tanár (pedagógus) folyamatos szakmai fejlődése olyan fogalom, amelynek tartalmát többféle diskurzus alakítja, így értelmezése a mai napig vitatott (Guskey, 1991; Kelchtermans, 2004; Fraser et al., 2007; Evans, 2014; Kennedy, 2016). Guskey megfogalmazása szerint a probléma gyökere abban rejlik, hogy milyen nézőpontból tekintünk a folyamatos szakmai fejlődésre (FSZF), „makroszintű aggodalmaknak, vagy mikroszintű valóságnak” látjuk-e (McLaughlin, 1990, idézi Guskey, 1991). A tanulmány célja, hogy képet adjon a pedagógusok szakmai fejlődésének fogalmi változásáról az elmúlt két évtizedben. Ennek érdekében összegezzük a folyamatos szakmai fejlődés értelmezési különbözőségeit, rámutatunk arra, hogy ez a fogalmi változás hogyan vezetett el a szakmai fejlődés (PD) szakmai fejlődésként és tanulásként történő értelmezéshez (PDL), s ez milyen új kutatási irányokat jelölt ki a nemzetközi térben a téma kutatásában.
Stiffness of a new unilateral external fixator – a biomechanical study
Authors: Zhao Xia , Shi Qufei , Li Jingjing , Li Jianfeng
Published: April 2020

Unilateral external fixator is commonly used to stabilize initial fractured bone for polytraumatised patients, which is simple and effective method. The stiffness property of the external fixator has a great influence on the local biomechanical environment of bone tissue. In order to investigate the rigidity characteristics of a novel fixator with serrated structure through comparing the stiffness of the Sarafix fixator and the novel fixator in experimental measurement. Polyacetal tubes simulating human tibia were fixed in novel fixator. Axial stiffness, torsional stiffness and bending stiffness of novel fixator were measured through universal material testing machine. In order to improve reliability, corresponding test must be repeated ten times. Due to the improvement of novel fixator’s structural, which has serrated connection between fixator joints, the performance of the novel fixator is better than Sarafix fixator under bending and torsional loads, there is no big difference in axial load for two fixators. The novel fixator has good stiffness properties, the novel fixator with serrated structure plays an important role to improve the stiffness of the novel fixator system. These analysis results can also aid the performance assessment of an novel external fixator and facilitate appropriate application of such a device.
Promoting both passenger comfort and aircraft handling of 6 DOF landing gear utilizing variable mechanical admittance approach
Authors: Pirooz Mehran , Mirmahdi Seyed Hossein , Moafi Seyedeh Razieh
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the mechanical admittance approach is developed to control a 6 DOF aircraft landing gear. The objective of the control system is improving both passenger comfort (PC) and aircraft handling (AH) which are considered as two important criteria in the evaluation of landing gear systems. A 6 DOF vibrational model and state-space equations are proposed for the system. Then, a control system that is comprised of two loops is proposed. The outer loop is designed for generating a suitable trajectory for body displacement subjected to the tire force. In fact, variable admittance control is used for regulating the dynamical behavior of the system. The other loop is a displacement control loop that used a PD controller to track the generated trajectory. The proposed control system and passive system are both simulated in MATLAB software and the results are compared. The results indicate the effectiveness of the control system in promoting both comfort and handling.
Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater flow mechanisms in shallow aquifer in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Fouépé Takounjou Alain , Takem Eyong Gloria , Kuitcha Dorice , Kringel Robert , Fantong Yetoh Wilson , Ndjama Josephine , Tejiobou Alex
Published: April 2020

Hydrogeochemical processes and flow mechanisms of groundwater in the urban area of Yaoundé were investigated using major chemical constituents, stable isotopes (18O and 2H), and multivariate statistical analysis. Thirty five groundwater samples were collected and analysed for various parameters. Hydrogeochemical evolution visualized with the Gibbs diagram showed that the groundwater is mainly controlled by water–rock interactions. Factor analysis on the other hand identified three major groups of geochemical constituents and showed that weathering and anthropogenic inputs are the dominant factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the study area. Isotopic analyses revealed that oxygen-18 of groundwater (18O = −2.96 ‰ VSMOW) is close to that of rainfall (18O = −2.47), indicating that the groundwater is recharged by rainwater without evaporation. The geogenic composition of urban groundwater in Yaoundé is modified by secondary processes and anthropogenic input.
No-regret selection of effective control handles for integrated urban wastewater systems management under parameter and input uncertainty
Authors: Ledergerber J. M. , Maruéjouls T. , Vanrolleghem P. A.
Published: April 2020

Regulatory water quality limits are extended from the wastewater resource recovery facility (WRRF) to the sewer system. It is thus necessary to properly integrate those systems for the evaluation of the overall emissions to the receiving water. The integration of the sewer system and the WRRF, however, leaves us with multiple potential options to reduce these emissions. The proposed approach builds on previous research using global sensitivity analysis (GSA) as a screening method for available control handles. It considers parameter and input uncertainty to select control handles that generate large benefits even if the model differs from reality. Results from a real-life case study indicate that the three top-rated handles are comparably effective for all considered uncertainty and variability scenarios. But the results also showed that this does not apply to lower-rated handles.
An efficient method for removal of pentachlorophenol using adsorption and microwave regeneration with different magnetic carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zhang Xue , Cui Chunyue , Wang Ying , Chang Jing , Ma Dong , Wang Jing
Published: April 2020

Various magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) Co0.5M0.5Fe2O4-CNTs (M = Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn) were successfully prepared and applied for treatment of pentachlorophenol (PCP) with adsorption and microwave irradiation process. The Co0.5M0.5Fe2O4-CNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, and microwave absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption experiment results showed the adsorption capacity for PCP was in the following order: Co0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4-CNTs > Co0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4-CNTs > Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4-CNTs > Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4-CNTs. After adsorption, the Co0.5M0.5Fe2O4-CNTs was separated by magnetic field and regenerated by microwave irradiation at 850 W for 180 s. It was confirmed that after six adsorption and microwave regeneration cycles, the regeneration efficiency maintained over 90%. In particular, Co0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4-CNTs exhibited excellent adsorption capacity and reusability. These results can open a new avenue for treatment of chlorinated organic compounds with efficiently and non-secondary pollution.
Application of two-component pressure approach and Harten–Lax–van Leer (HLL) solver to model transient flow with regard to air entrapment
Authors: Ahadzadeh Negin , Tabesh Massoud
Published: April 2020

Water distribution systems are basically designed to convey pressurized flow; however, in some situations such as the intermittent operation of the system, the network may experience a transition between free-surface and pressurized flow. On the other hand, combined sewer systems, designed basically for free-surface flow, may undergo pressurization due to extreme rainfalls. During transient flow, free-surface flow changes into a pressurized flow (and vice versa) which could be accompanied by intensive transient pressures causing structural damages to the system. In a pipe filling process, the existing air can be entrapped due to improper ventilation, intensifying the transient pressures in some cases. In this paper, the two-component pressure approach (TPA) and a Harten–Lax–van Leer Riemann solution are applied to model transient flow. The model is validated by comparing its results with the analytical solution of three simple examples, and then the model with an air chamber as the downstream boundary is used to simulate a literature experimental setup that includes air pocket entrapment. As the volume of the air pocket decreases, the errors of the model increase due to the inherent deficiency of the one-dimensional model. Furthermore, it is recommended to limit the Courant number to 0.5 for high acoustic wave speeds.
Assessment of the hydrological response of an urban watershed to rainfall-runoff events in different land use scenarios – Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Authors: Rosa Deyvid W. B. , Nascimento Nilo O. , Moura Priscilla M. , Macedo Gustavo D.
Published: April 2020

Intense urbanization results in greater soil sealing and a consequent increase in surface runoff. When high soil sealing rates and high slopes are encountered in small catchments, high volume and short duration precipitation events increase the probability of flash floods. This study evaluates the hydrological response of an urban catchment with regard to rainfall-runoff events in the following scenarios: current land use, without a detention basin which has been part of the system since the 1970s, with the maximum soil sealing allowed by legislation, and with green infrastructure implantation in 100%, 50% and 10% of the suitable area. Hydrological modelling was performed using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Six level gauges installed along the length of the stream provided the data used in model calibration and validation. The model calibration process provided adequate results: the average Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.72, the mean error of peak flow was 11% and the mean error of the runoff volume was 12%. Rainfall based on 2-, 10-, 50- and 100-year events were simulated for each scenario, as well as two observed events. In the scenario without the detention basin, an average elevation of 10% in the peak flow was observed in the catchment outlet. In the scenario with maximum soil sealing, the catchment outlet peak flow increased by 30% on average. On the other hand, in the scenario with green infrastructure implementation in 100%, 50% and 10% of the available areas, the outlet peak flow was reduced by 60%, 30% and 5%, respectively. Results indicated the efficiency of the detention basin to reduce flooding, the importance of green area preservation to reduce peak flows, as well as the catchment potential of green infrastructure implementation and the hydrological benefits that they can provide, increasing infiltration and reducing runoff volume and peak flow.
Reconfiguración de la economía regional en México 1970-1995
Authors: Ranfla González Arturo
Published: April 2020

El trabajo tiene como objetivo explorar los cambios sectoriales y regionales que experimento la economía mexicana durante el periodo de 1970-1995. Esto se hace revisando brevemente los grandes cambios estructurales de la economía mexicana que caracterizaron este periodo y la dinámica de las regiones que representan las los treinta y dos estados del país en sus aspectos sectorial y regional. En la primera parte se estudia el comportamiento del PIB de los 32 estados que integran el país desagregada en nueve grandes divisiones de la actividad económica. Para el análisis de esta información se aplico un análisis multivariado de componentes principales, cuyos resultados se procesaron posteriormente con un algoritmo de clasificación de punto variable. La clasificación obtenida y su expresión en mapas para los años de 1970,1980,1985 y 1995 hicieron posible identificar las tendencias territoriales del desarrollo sectorial de la economía mexicana durante el periodo estudiado. Palabras clave: Economía, desarrollo regional, desarrollo sectorial, cambios estructurales, PIB
Experiencias en políticas públicas de las ONGs en Baja California
Authors: Moreno Mena José Ascención , Arballo Meza Rosa Amelia
Published: April 2020

En este trabajo se presenta un acercamiento a las experiencias que las Organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONGs) de Baja California han tenido en cuanto a la incidencia en políticas públicas. Se sostiene que aunque su participación es todavía incipiente, puesto que la mayor parte de las veces sólo llegan al nivel de la formulación del problema y la incorporación de éste a la agenda pública, sin embargo, han logrado trascender a esferas públicas nacionales. Se presentan dos ejemplos, como estudios de caso, que dan cuenta de cómo las ONGs locales han logrado poner en la agenda de discusión nacional un problema surgido en el ámbito privado y la influencia que han logrado en cambios legislativos. Se concluye que con la participación de las ONGs se está gestando el germen de una relación más clara entre la sociedad civil y el Estado, en Baja California. El trabajo es resultado de investigación documental y una serie de entrevistas a militantes de las propias ONGs.
Consideraciones acerca de la investigación en analogías
Authors: Fernández González José , González González Benigno Martín , Moreno Jiménez Teodomiro
Published: April 2020

Las analogías han contribuido a la construcción y desarrollo del conocimiento científico y a su posterior comunicación, por lo que se consideran fundamentales en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las ciencias. El avance de la investigación ha permitido contextualizar y establecer un posicionamiento acerca de la concepción y estructura de la analogía, el proceso analógico de enseñanza-aprendizaje, y los criterios que permiten clasificar las analogías presentes en los libros de texto. Esto ha despertado el interés por diseñar un método de aprendizaje con analogías, así como identificar y analizar las analogías presentes en los libros de texto de enseñanza secundaria. Se han identificado, clasificado y analizado las analogías presentes en los libros de texto de enseñanza secundaria de las editoriales de mayor difusión en nuestro país, y en consecuencia, se proponen recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones.
Criminalidad, seguridad pública y turismo en la zona fronteriza de Ciudad Juárez, México
Authors: Costa Jean Henrique , González Herrera Manuel Ramón
Published: April 2020

Este artículo analiza la dinámica de las relaciones entre criminalidad, seguridad y turismo en la zona fronteriza de Ciudad Juárez, con el fin de observar cómo las dinámicas criminales y de desigualdades coinciden o no territorialmente con los espacios destinados a los visitantes. Se investiga el caso de Ciudad Juárez, centro económico fronterizo mexicano que tiene significativo flujo de desplazamientos hacia y desde los EE. UU. El estudio se realizó a través de datos secundarios sobre marginación (2010) y criminalidad homicida prevaleciente (2010-2015). Los datos y mapas muestran que los espacios destinados al turismo no se encuentran en las zonas más peligrosas de la ciudad, lo que implica que el visitante en realidad corre muy poco riesgo al permanecer en zonas de bienestar que caracterizan los lugares turísticos. Se concluye que en Ciudad Juárez hay más representaciones de inseguridad que amenaza real para los turistas, quienes se concentran en las zonas de mayor confort de la ciudad.