bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearability Testing of Ambulatory Vital Sign Monitoring Devices: Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Areia Carlos , Young Louise , Vollam Sarah , Ede Jody , Santos Mauro , Tarassenko Lionel , Watkinson Peter
Published: October 2020

Background

Timely recognition of patient deterioration remains challenging. Ambulatory monitoring systems (AMSs) may provide support to current monitoring practices; however, they need to be thoroughly tested before implementation in the clinical environment for early detection of deterioration.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the wearability of a selection of commercially available AMSs to inform a future prospective study of ambulatory vital sign monitors in an acute hospital ward.

Methods

Five pulse oximeters (4 with finger probes and 1 wrist-worn only, collecting pulse rates and oxygen saturation) and 2 chest patches (collecting heart rates and respiratory rates) were selected to be part of this study: The 2 chest-worn patches were VitalPatch (VitalConnect) and Peerbridge Cor (Peerbridge); the 4 wrist-worn devices with finger probe were Nonin WristOx2 3150 (Nonin), Checkme O2+ (Viatom Technology), PC-68B, and AP-20 (both from Creative Medical); and the 1 solely wrist-worn device was Wavelet (Wavelet Health). Adult participants wore each device for up to 72 hours while performing usual “activities of daily living” and were asked to score the perceived exertion and perception of pain or discomfort by using the Borg CR-10 scale; thoughts and feelings caused by the AMS using the Comfort Rating Scale (CRS); and to provide general free text feedback. Median and IQRs were reported and nonparametric tests were used to assess differences between the devices’ CRS scores.

Results

Quantitative scores and feedback were collected in 70 completed questionnaires from 20 healthy volunteers, with each device tested approximately 10 times. The Wavelet seemed to be the most wearable device (P<.001) with an overall median (IQR) CRS score of 1.00 (0.88). There were no statistically significant differences in wearability between the chest patches in the CRS total score; however, the VitalPatch was superior in the Attachment section (P=.04) with a median (IQR) score of 3.00 (1.00). General pain and discomfort scores and total percentage of time worn are also reflective of this.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that adult participants prefer to wear wrist-worn pulse oximeters without a probe compressing the fingertip and they prefer to wear a smaller chest patch. A compromise between wearability, reliability, and accuracy should be made for successful and practical integration of AMSs within the hospital environment.
Implementation of a Self-Triage Web Application for Suspected COVID-19 and Its Impact on Emergency Call Centers: Observational Study
Authors: Galmiche Simon , Rahbe Eve , Fontanet Arnaud , Dinh Aurélien , Bénézit François , Lescure François-Xavier , Denis Fabrice
Published: October 2020

Background

We developed a self-triage web application for COVID-19 symptoms, which was launched in France in March 2020, when French health authorities recommended all patients with suspected COVID-19 call an emergency phone number.

Objective

Our objective was to determine if a self-triage tool could reduce the burden on emergency call centers and help predict increasing burden on hospitals.

Methods

Users were asked questions about their underlying conditions, sociodemographic status, postal code, and main COVID-19 symptoms. Participants were advised to call an emergency call center if they reported dyspnea or complete loss of appetite for over 24 hours. Data on COVID-19–related calls were collected from 6 emergency call centers and data on COVID-19 hospitalizations were collected from Santé Publique France and the French Ministry of Health. We examined the change in the number of emergency calls before and after the launch of the web application.

Results

From March 17 to April 2, 2020, 735,419 questionnaires were registered in the study area. Of these, 121,370 (16.5%) led to a recommendation to call an emergency center. The peak number of overall questionnaires and of questionnaires leading to a recommendation to call an emergency center were observed on March 22, 2020. In the 17 days preceding the launch of the web application, emergency call centers in the study area registered 66,925 COVID-19–related calls and local hospitals admitted 639 patients for COVID-19; the ratio of emergency calls to hospitalizations for COVID-19 was 104.7 to 1. In the 17 days following the launch of the web application, there were 82,347 emergency calls and 6009 new hospitalizations for COVID-19, a ratio of 13.7 calls to 1 hospitalization (chi-square test: P<.001).

Conclusions

The self-triage web application launch was followed by a nearly 10-fold increase in COVID-19–related hospitalizations with only a 23% increase in emergency calls. The peak of questionnaire completions preceded the peak of COVID-19–related hospitalizations by 5 days. Although the design of this study does not allow us to conclude that the self-triage tool alone contributed to the alleviation of calls to the emergency call centers, it does suggest that it played a role, and may be used for predicting increasing burden on hospitals.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04331171; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04331171
Personalized Monitoring Model for Electrocardiogram Signals: Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Authors: Kotorov Rado , Chi Lianhua , Shen Min
Published: October 2020

Background

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for remote electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring has increased drastically in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus and keep vulnerable individuals with less severe cases out of hospitals. Enabling clinicians to set up remote patient ECG monitoring easily and determining how to classify the ECG signals accurately so relevant alerts are sent in a timely fashion is an urgent problem to be addressed for remote patient monitoring (RPM) to be adopted widely. Hence, a new technique is required to enable routine and widespread use of RPM, as is needed due to COVID-19.

Objective

The primary aim of this research is to create a robust and easy-to-use solution for personalized ECG monitoring in real-world settings that is precise, easily configurable, and understandable by clinicians.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a Personalized Monitoring Model (PMM) for ECG data based on motif discovery. Motif discovery finds meaningful or frequently recurring patterns in patient ECG readings. The main strategy is to use motif discovery to extract a small sample of personalized motifs for each individual patient and then use these motifs to predict abnormalities in real-time readings of that patient using an artificial logical network configured by a physician.

Results

Our approach was tested on 30 minutes of ECG readings from 32 patients. The average diagnostic accuracy of the PMM was always above 90% and reached 100% for some parameters, compared to 80% accuracy for the Generalized Monitoring Models (GMM). Regardless of parameter settings, PMM training models were generated within 3-4 minutes, compared to 1 hour (or longer, with increasing amounts of training data) for the GMM.

Conclusions

Our proposed PMM almost eliminates many of the training and small sample issues associated with GMMs. It also addresses accuracy and computational cost issues of the GMM, caused by the uniqueness of heartbeats and training issues. In addition, it addresses the fact that doctors and nurses typically do not have data science training and the skills needed to configure, understand, and even trust existing black box machine learning models.
Accuracy of Nutrient Calculations Using the Consumer-Focused Online App MyFitnessPal: Validation Study (Preprint)
Authors: Evenepoel Charlotte , Clevers Egbert , Deroover Lise , Van Loo Wendy , Matthys Christophe , Verbeke Kristin
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Digital food registration via online platforms that are coupled to large food databases obviates the need for manual processing of dietary data. The reliability of such platforms depends on the quality of the associated food database.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we validate the database of MyFitnessPal versus the Belgian food composition database, Nubel.

METHODS

After carefully given instructions, 50 participants used MyFitnessPal to each complete a 4-day dietary record 2 times (T1 and T2), with 1 month in between T1 and T2. Nutrient intake values were calculated either manually, using the food composition database Nubel, or automatically, using the database coupled to MyFitnessPal. First, nutrient values from T1 were used as a training set to develop an algorithm that defined upper limit values for energy intake, carbohydrates, fat, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, and sodium. These limits were applied to the MyFitnessPal dataset extracted at T2 to remove extremely high and likely erroneous values. Original and cleaned T2 values were correlated with the Nubel calculated values. Bias was estimated using Bland-Altman plots. Finally, we simulated the impact of using MyFitnessPal for nutrient analysis instead of Nubel on the power of a study design that correlates nutrient intake to a chosen outcome variable.

RESULTS

Per food portion, the following upper limits were defined: 1500 kilocalories for total energy intake, 95 grams (g) for carbohydrates, 92 g for fat, 52 g for protein, 22 g for fiber, 70 g for sugar, 600 mg for cholesterol, and 3600 mg for sodium. Cleaning the dataset extracted at T2 resulted in a 2.8% rejection. Cleaned MyFitnessPal values demonstrated strong correlations with Nubel for energy intake (r=0.96), carbohydrates (r=0.90), fat (r=0.90), protein (r=0.90), fiber (r=0.80), and sugar (r=0.79), but weak correlations for cholesterol (ρ=0.51) and sodium (ρ=0.53); all P values were ≤.001. No bias was found between both methods, except for a fixed bias for fiber and a proportional bias for cholesterol. A 5-10% power loss should be taken into account when correlating energy intake and macronutrients obtained with MyFitnessPal to an outcome variable, compared to Nubel.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary analysis with MyFitnessPal is accurate and efficient for total energy intake, macronutrients, sugar, and fiber, but not for cholesterol and sodium.
Overview of Graves Ophthalmopathy Literature From 1999 to 2019: Bibliometric Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Cao Jiamin , Wang Nuo , Hou Shiying , Qi Xin , Chen Yu , Xiong Wei
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Research on Graves ophthalmopathy has increased remarkably over the last 2 decades; however, few statistical analyses of the data presented in these publications have been conducted.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to detect and analyze emerging trends and collaboration networks in Graves ophthalmopathy research.

METHODS

Graves ophthalmopathy–related publications from 1999 to 2019 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection Database. Collected publications were restricted by category (article or review) and language (English). Bibliometric analyses included changes in the annual numbers of publications, journals, authors, countries, institutions, keywords, and references.

RESULTS

In total, 3051 publications that met the criteria were collected. The number of annual publications has exhibited an increasing trend over the last 20 years. The journal Thyroid ranked first, publishing 183 Graves ophthalmopathy–related studies. There was no evidence of a relationship between impact factor (IF) and the number of publications (P=.69). The author Smith TJ had the largest number of publications on Graves ophthalmopathy (n=83). Of the countries that had published Graves ophthalmopathy–related articles, the United States had the largest number (n=784) and the highest centrality (0.18). Among institutions, the University of Pisa (Italy) contributed the most Graves ophthalmopathy–related articles (n=114). The most recent burst keywords (proliferation, rituximab, and selenium) and references may provide clues on emerging trends in research and clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

This bibliometric analysis highlights countries, institutions, and authors who contributed to Graves ophthalmopathy–related publications. Emerging trends in Graves ophthalmopathy research, based on burst keywords and references, may provide clues relevant to clinical practice and future research.

CLINICALTRIAL
Relationship Between Coronavirus-Related eHealth Literacy and COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among US Adults: Web-Based Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: An Lawrence , Bacon Elizabeth , Hawley Sarah , Yang Penny , Russell Daniel , Huffman Scott , Resnicow Ken
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

During a global pandemic, it is critical that the public is able to rapidly acquire new and accurate health information. The internet is a major source of health information. eHealth literacy is the ability of individuals to find, assess, and use health information available on the internet.

OBJECTIVE

The goals of this study were to assess coronavirus-related eHealth literacy and examine the relationship between eHealth literacy and COVID-19−related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs).

METHODS

We conducted a web-based survey of a representative sample of 1074 US adults. We adapted the 8-item eHealth Literacy Scale to develop the Coronavirus-Related eHealth Literacy Scale (CoV-eHEALS) to measure COVID-19−related knowledge, conspiracy beliefs, and adherence to protective behaviors (eg, wearing facial masks and social distancing). Our analyses identified sociodemographic associations with the participants’ CoV-eHEALS scores and an association between the CoV-eHEALS measure and COVID-19 KAPs.

RESULTS

The internal consistency of the adapted CoV-eHEALS measure was high (Cronbach α=.92). The mean score for the CoV-eHEALS was 29.0 (SD 6.1). A total of 29% (306/1074) of the survey participants were classified as having low coronavirus-related eHealth literacy (CoV-eHEALS score <26). Independent associations were found between CoV-eHEALS scores and ethnicity (standardized β=–.083, P=.016 for Black participants) and education level (standardized β=–.151, P=.001 for participants with high-school education or lower). Controlling for demographic characteristics, CoV-eHEALS scores demonstrated positive independent associations with knowledge (standardized β=.168, P<.001) and adherence to protective behaviors (standardized β=.241, P<.001) and a negative association with conspiracy beliefs (standardized β=–.082, P=.009).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an estimate of coronavirus-related eHealth literacy among US adults. Our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of US adults have low coronavirus-related eHealth literacy and are thus at a greater risk of lower and less-protective COVID-19 KAPs. These findings highlight the need to assess and address eHealth literacy as part of COVID-19 control efforts. Potential strategies include improving the quality of health information about COVID-19 available on the internet, assisting or simplifying web-based search for information about COVID-19, and training to improve general or coronavirus-specific search skills.
Comparison of Intercom and Megaphone Hashtags Using Four Years of Tweets From the Top 44 Schools of Nursing: Thematic Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Acquaviva Kimberly
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

When this study began in 2018, I sought to determine the extent to which the top 50 schools of nursing were using hashtags that could attract attention from journalists on Twitter. In December 2020, the timeframe was expanded to encompass 2 more years of data, and an analysis was conducted of the types of hashtags used.

OBJECTIVE

The study attempted to answer the following question: to what extent are top-ranked schools of nursing using hashtags that could attract attention from journalists, policy makers, and the public on Twitter?

METHODS

In February 2018, 47 of the top 50 schools of nursing had public Twitter accounts. The most recent 3200 tweets were extracted from each account and analyzed. There were 31,762 tweets in the time period covered (September 29, 2016, through February 22, 2018). After 13,429 retweets were excluded, 18,333 tweets remained. In December 2020, 44 of the original 47 schools of nursing still had public Twitter accounts under the same name used in the first phase of the study. Three accounts that were no longer active were removed from the 2016-2018 data set, resulting in 16,939 tweets from 44 schools of nursing. The Twitter data for the 44 schools of nursing were obtained for the time period covered in the second phase of the study (February 23, 2018, through December 13, 2020), and the most recent 3200 tweets were extracted from each of the accounts. On excluding retweets, there were 40,368 tweets in the 2018-2020 data set. The 2016-2018 data set containing 16,939 tweets was merged with the 2018-2020 data set containing 40,368 tweets, resulting in 57,307 tweets in the 2016-2020 data set.

RESULTS

Each hashtag used 100 times or more in the 2016-2020 data set was categorized as one of the following seven types: nursing, school, conference or tweet chat, health, illness/disease/condition, population, and something else. These types were then broken down into the following two categories: intercom hashtags and megaphone hashtags. Approximately 83% of the time, schools of nursing used intercom hashtags (inward-facing hashtags focused on in-group discussion within and about the profession). Schools of nursing rarely used outward-facing megaphone hashtags. There was no discernible shift in the way that schools of nursing used hashtags after the publication of The Woodhull Study Revisited.

CONCLUSIONS

Top schools of nursing use hashtags more like intercoms to communicate with other nurses rather than megaphones to invite attention from journalists, policy makers, and the public. If schools of nursing want the media to showcase their faculty members as experts, they need to increase their use of megaphone hashtags to connect the work of their faculty with topics of interest to the public.
Comparing Two Commercially Available Diabetes Apps to Explore Challenges in User Engagement: Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study (Preprint)
Authors: Maharaj Alita , Lim David , Murphy Rinki , Serlachius Anna
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Diabetes apps represent a promising addition to face-to-face self-management interventions, which can be time and resource intensive. However, few randomized controlled trials have evaluated the efficacy of diabetes apps, in particular as a stand-alone intervention without additional clinical support.

OBJECTIVE

We used a feasibility randomized trial design to investigate differences in user engagement between 2 commercially available apps (free versions of Glucose Buddy and mySugr) over 2 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes. Feasibility was assessed based on recruitment uptake, adherence to the diabetes apps, and follow-up rates. We also hypothesized that the diabetes app mySugr would demonstrate higher user engagement at follow-up due to its use of gamification. We also predicted higher user engagement would be associated with improved self-care behaviors and illness beliefs.

METHODS

Adults with type 2 diabetes attending outpatient diabetes clinics in Auckland were recruited and randomized (1:1 without blinding) to use either the Glucose Buddy or mySugr diabetes apps. User engagement, self-care behaviors, and illness beliefs were measured 2 weeks after baseline. Spearman rank correlations, Mann-Whitney tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to explore associations between the outcome measures and to investigate possible changes between and within groups. Six participants were interviewed to further explore acceptability and usability.

RESULTS

In total, 58 participants (29 per group) completed the 2-week follow-up, of whom only 38 reported using the apps (Glucose Buddy: n=20; mySugr: n=18). Both groups reported low engagement (Glucose Buddy: median 4 days; mySugr: median 6.5 days; P=.06; use for both groups: median 10 minutes). No changes were observed in self-care or illness beliefs in either group. Out of the self-care behaviors, only blood glucose testing was significantly associated with minutes of app use (P=.02). The interviews suggested that although both apps were deemed acceptable, they were generally viewed as time-consuming and too complicated to use.

CONCLUSIONS

Low engagement with both Glucose Buddy and mySugr reflect the challenges associated with engaging users with diabetes apps. Due to low engagement and loss to follow-up, the changes in outcome measures should be interpreted with caution. The results highlight the need for more clinical support as well as involvement from end users and behavior change specialists in order to incorporate evidence-based behavior change techniques to motivate and provide value to users.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000424202; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374671
Smooth Sailing or Rough Seas: The Future of International Liner Shipping
Authors: Menachof David A
Published: October 2020

The last 5 years have been exciting for the world of international liner shipping. Mergers, new and larger vessels, charter rates becoming more volatile and demand continuing to increase are just part of this world of liner shipping. This article is an attempt to highlight some of the issues that will be affecting international shipping in the forthcoming years. At its best, this article will be right on the money. At its worst, readers will look back at this article and wonder how the author could have been so wrong. More likely is that some things will occur as predicted, while others have not even been thought of yet.
Artificial intelligence as a component of innovative content of general education: analysis of world experience and domestic prospects
Authors: Sadykova Albina R. , Levchenko Irina V.
Published: October 2020

Problem and goal. The article discusses the world experience of introducing artificial intelligence into the educational system of schoolchildren. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of the consideration of artificial intelligence as a component of the content of educational systems in individual countries of the world and possible approaches to teaching the basics of artificial intelligence in Russian schools. Methodology. In the research process, a set of methods was used: analysis of information resources and regulatory documents; generalization and systematization of professional and pedagogical experience; reflection of the content of the generated knowledge. Results. The features of the inclusion of artificial intelligence in the educational systems of individual countries of the world are revealed and differences in approaches to the process of teaching elements of artificial intelligence at the substantive and at the organizational and methodological levels are indicated. The results of the study made it possible to find approaches to teaching students of Russian schools the basics of artificial intelligence. Conclusion. It is shown that the issue of including artificial intelligence in the educational systems of various states is at the stage of development and design, which is based on various approaches. It was revealed that today, artificial intelligence is most often regarded as a means of teaching schoolchildren, and not as their object of study. The results of the study made it possible to propose approaches to teaching the basics of artificial intelligence in a general school.
Cloud technologies as a basis for the integration of teacher training systems for the International Baccalaureate schools
Authors: Grinshkun Vadim V. , Shunina Lyubov A.
Published: October 2020

Problem and goal. The article describes and substantiates the ways of solving the problem of the lack of approaches to the integration of methodical systems for training future teachers for International Baccalaureate programs based on the use of cloud technologies. The need for such integration is due to the fact that the training of teachers for International Baccalaureate schools involves professionals from various fields and organizations, including foreign speakers. The purpose of the described study was to confirm the effectiveness of the developed model of approaches to informatization of the system of training for future teachers of International Baccalaureate schools. Methodology. A pilot study consisting of two stages was conducted. At the first stage, we worked with professors of the pedagogical university who are training future teachers for International Baccalaureate schools. The second stage was carried out based on the formation of two groups of students of the pedagogical university: control group (19 people) and experimental group (17 people). In the experimental group, students were trained in the conditions of integrated methodical systems of disciplines based on a specially developed model of approaches to informatization of training for future teachers of International Baccalaureate schools. Results. The study found that the integration of methodical systems using cloud technology to organize joint work on training future teachers for International Baccalaureate schools contributes to the effectiveness of the formation of professional competence of such teachers. Conclusion. The effectiveness of the developed model of approaches to the integration of methodical disciplines that form the basis for training future teachers for International Baccalaureate schools is experimentally proved.
Patterns of Discussion of Current Events by Internet Users: Case Study of Runet Sites
Authors: Pavlova Natalya D. , Afinogenova Victoriya A. , Grebenschikova Taisiya A. , Zachesova Irina A. , Kubrak Tina A.
Published: October 2020

The article deals with the problem of network discussions representing the new social reality of modern digital society. Communicative online activity sets an idea of what is happening, stimulating interest in the study of post-event Internet discourse. It is noted that the dominant role in this communication environment is played by the focus on promoting ones own world view and suppressing the activity of other users. This work continues a series of studies aimed at concretising these ideas. In previous studies conducted using the method of intent analysis, it was found that, in the process of discussion, there is a modification of referential objects and a shift in the intentional composition of discourse relative to the initial presentation of the event. In addition to it, differences in the types of post-event discourse were found in terms of the degree of conflict, the composition of intentions, etc. Verification of the revealed patterns associated with the intentional space of post-event discourse was the goal of the study carried out on the material of the discussion of the same event at different sites, i.e. the refusal of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the status of members of the royal family. According to the data obtained, a significant modification is confirmed during the discussion of referential objects and the intentional content of discourse regarding the received message: additional reference objects appear, their meaning is blurred, the number of categories of intentions increases many times with the increase of numerous emotionally coloured intentions. At the same time, a shift towards intentions of distancing and discrediting is revealed in relation to most of the discussed thematic objects. The discussion develops mainly due to the focus of users on the comments of interlocutors and the corresponding interactive objects, which is associated with the high dialogueness of post-event discourse. The data obtained allow us to advance in studying the discussion of events by Internet users and understanding which characteristics of the post-event Internet discourse are stable, and which are modified in connection with the leading function, theme, etc.
Концепция стратегирования. Том 1.
Authors: Квинт Владимир Львович
Published: October 2020

Том I книги «Концепция стратегирования» академика, иностранного члена РАН В. Л. Квинта, по-существу, представляет собой краткое отражение основных положений Общей теории стратегии, разрабатываемой автором более сорока лет. Изложенные в книге дефиниции, концептуальные постановки, методологические и практические рекомендации полезны широкому кругу читателей, включая лидеров корпоративного, государственного, муниципального и военного руководства и управления, теоретикам и практикам стратегирования, преподавателям и студентам.
Evaluation of compliance of existing forest machine information systems for the implementation of the standard StanForD 2010
Authors:   Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Strubergs Aigars , Lazdins Andis ,   Latvia State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, Sisenis Linards ,   Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Published: October 2020

The aim of the study is to clarify the compliance of machinery information systems used by Latvian logging service providers with the requirements of the Forest Machine Data and Communications Standard StanForD 2010. For determining the number of logging machines and structure registered in Latvia, data from the State Technical Control Agency of Latvia (VTUA) has been used. This dataset includes 2094 registered machinery units from which 1663 units recorded as harvesters and forwarders are distributed for data processing. Using the national AS Latvian State Forests (LSF) database, where 541 machinery units have been recorded, of which 239 harvesters and 302 forwarders, it is determined what and how many machines already use the standard StanForD 2010, how many machines can implement it and which machines are not suitable for the implementation of StanForD 2010. The study showed that the VTUA register does not fully reflect the true quantity of harvesting machines in Latvia and does not provide information about the use of machines. The LSF data provide reliable information on the possibilities of using StanForD 2010 in harvesters in national forests. From the harvesters working in the country’s forests, 52% of the machines uses the StanForD 2010 standard. Work should be continued to clarify the possible use of the standard in the machines working in private forests. Similarly, work should be continued with dealers of harvesting machines to identify models for which it is possible to adjust the StanForD 2010 standard and what the cost of adapting the indicative information systems is.
Comparative analysis of relative gene expression data reveals novel microRNAs in the artery of rats with renovascular hypertension
Authors: Yu Hui , Hu Hai , Wang Zhanli
Published: October 2020

Hypertension is associated with impaired vascular endothelial function. However, the regulatory mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in rats with renovascular hypertension (RVH) remain poorly understood. In this study, the 2-kidney- 1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rat model was utilized. Next-generation sequencing was then used to detect microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling in the arteries of 2K1C rats. We identified 17 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the 2K1C group compared with the sham group, of which 9 were downregulated and 8 were upregulated. These differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be associated with immune/inflammatory and metabolic pathways, which are involved in vascular dysfunction. Treatment with losartan maintained the expression of the differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-31a-5p and miR-142-3p, and the levels of TNF-?, IL-1?, IL-6 and MCP-1, indicating that the differentially expressed miRNAs and their associated immune/inflammatory pathways play a pivotal role in the modulation of the vascular dysfunction in 2K1C rats. Our study provides valuable information about miRNA expression in the arteries of 2K1C rats, expanding our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying the vascular dysfunction in rats with RVH.
Use of GA-ANN and GA-SVM for a QSPR study on the aqueous solubility of pesticides
Authors: Bouakkadia Amel , Kertiou Noureddine , Amiri Rana , Driouche Youssouf , Messadi Djelloul
Published: October 2020

The partitioning tendency of pesticides, in this study herbicides in particular, into different environmental compartments depends mainly of the physicochemical properties of the pesticides itself. Aqueous solubility (S) indicates the tendency of a pesticide to be removed from soil by runoff or irrigation and to reach surface water. The experimental procedure for determining the aqueous solubility of pesticides is very expensive and difficult. QSPR methods are often used to estimate the aqueous solubility of herbicides. The artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM) methods, always associated with selection of a genetic algorithm (GA) of the most important variable, were used to develop QSPR models to predict the aqueous solubility of a series of 80 herbicides. The values of log S of the studied compounds were well correlated with the descriptors. Considering the pertinent descriptors, a Pearson correlation squared coefficient (R2) of 0.8 was obtained for the ANN model with a structure of 5-3-1 and 0.8 was obtained for the SVM model using the RBF function for the optimal parameters values: C = 11.12; ? = 0.1111 and ? = 0.222.
Environmental Impact Assessment of Hole Conductor Layer Free and Flexible Organo Lead Iodide Perovskite Solar Cell
Authors: SARIALTIN Hüseyin
Published: October 2020

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown a significant increment in power conversion efficiency recently with advantages such as flexibility and low-cost roll-to-roll production. Prior to the commercialization of PSCs, it is significant to investigate its environmental performance with life cycle assessment method. In this work, cradle to gate LCA of solution-based organo-lead iodide perovskite solar cell performed according to the one reported literature method that comprises flexible Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate and hole transport layer (HTL) elimination. Environmental impacts from the generation of 1 m2 of cell area production are determined in six International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) categories. It is found that the major impact comes from the fabrication of the aluminum metal electrode layer due to the high electrical energy required in the vacuum deposition process. The life cycle global warming potential (GWP) that the most widely used environmental indicator has been calculated for per kWh electricity production to make a comparison with commercial photovoltaic technologies. It is found that the HTL-free flexible (HFF) PSC needs 15-20 years of device lifetime to reach competitive GWP value with commercial PVs.
Perlindungan Hukum Keputusan Bisnis Direksi BUMN Melalui Business Judgement Rule Doctrine
Authors: Disemadi Hari Sutra , Yusro Mochammad Abizar , Shaleh Ali Ismail
Published: October 2020

Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji dan menganalisis perlindungan hukum terhadap keputusan bisnis Direksi BUMN yang dikriminalisasi akibat keputusan bisnis tersebut merugikan keuangan negara. Metodologi: Penelitian yang bersifat deskriptif ini menggunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif yang mengedepankan pada data sekunder. Pendekatan yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah pendekatan perundang-undangan dan pendekatan konseptual.Temuan: Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan perlindungan hukum yang diberikan kepada Direksi BUMN dalam mengambil keputusan bisnisnya dapat berupa hak imunitas, yang mana dengan hak ini seorang Direksi BUMN dapat terlepas dari pertanggungjawaban pidana apabila Direksi tersebut dapat membuktikan bahwa keputusan bisnis yang telah diambil dan dijalankan telah sesuai dengan prinsip-prinsip bisnis yang layak (business judgement rule) sesuai ketentuan yang termuat dalam Undang-Undang Perseroan Terbatas.Kegunaan: Hasil penelitian ini dimaksudkan agar dapat berkontribusi dalam literatur mengenai perlindungan hukum bagi keputusan bisnis Direksi BUMN yang telah dikriminalisasi.Kebaruan/Orisinalitas: Berbeda dengan penelitian terdahulu, pada penelitian ini menunjukkan business judgment rule doctrine dapat dipergunakan untuk menlindungi keputusan bisnis Direksi BUMN yang merugikan negara dan penelitian ini berfokus pada perlindungan hukum keputusan bisnis Direksi BUMN setelah adanya Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor No. 48/PUU-XI/2013 dan 62/PUU-XI/2013.
Modern Regulatory Requirements for Gas Fire Extinguishing to Improve the Safety of Facilities
Authors:   FGBU VNIIPO of EMERCOM of Russia, Smirnov N.V. , Kazakov A.V. ,   FGBU VNIIPO of EMERCOM of Russia, Bukhtoyarov D.V. ,   FGBU VNIIPO of EMERCOM of Russia
Published: October 2020

To implement the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union «On the requirements for fire safety and fire extinguishing equipment» (TR EAEU 043/2017), modern regulatory requirements were developed based on the advanced domestic and foreign research in order to increase the efficiency of using automatic gas fire extinguishing installations. The domestic methodology of experimental determination of the gas extinguishing concentration in the fire chamber has a number of advantages in comparison with the foreign analogues. It is established that it is necessary to take into account the conditions of fire experience for the selection of equipment for a fire extinguishing installation with FK-5-1-12 in the process of its design, in order to ensure more complete evaporation of the liquid phase of FK-5-1-12 after leaving the nozzles. An assumption was substantiated that allows setting the normative concentration of fire extinguishing gases at the level of heptane without conducting a fire experiment to extinguish fires of flammable liquids with a flash point of more than 61 оC. In this case, the concentration value can be taken 15 % less than according to the requirements of ISO 12854: 2009. Experimental studies on extinguishing smoldering materials with gases were conducted. It was established that nitrogen, CO2, freons 114B2 and 227ea at a concentration for extinguishing heptane eliminate not only flame combustion, but also smoldering if the free combustion time does not exceed 3 min. With free combustion for more than 6 minutes, reliable suppression of smoldering is achieved when the oxygen content in the volume of the fire chamber is up to 2.5 % vol. The results of the experiments were taken into account in the draft norms for the design of fire extinguishing installations. Additional requirements were developed for gas fire extinguishing containers and selector valves, which will make it possible to exclude the use of low-quality or obsolete products as part of gas fire extinguishing installations in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union. The developed modern requirements are included in the drafts of new regulatory documents, which were publicly discussed, and are at the approval stage.
Ability of Naphthoquinondiazide Photoresists to Exothermic Decomposition
Authors:   D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Shushpanov A.N. , Vasin A.Ya. ,   D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Raykova V.M. ,   D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Gadzhiev G.G. ,   D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
Published: October 2020

The article considers two intermediate products of positive photoresists (1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-(2)-5-sulfonic acid of monosodium salt — Dye M and 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-(2)-5-sulfochloride — Dye N2) from the standpoint of the tendency to explosive transformation. The experimental values of flash points determined on the OTP setup were 130 °C for Dye M and 95 °C for Dye N2. These values are close to the temperatures of the beginning of intensive exothermic decomposition (132 and 111 °C, respectively) obtained by thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, this analysis showed the presence of exothermic peaks in the studied samples both in the air and in an inert atmosphere of helium, which is a necessary condition for the manifestation of a tendency to explosive transformation. To confirm the possibility of explosive transformation, the flash points of substances were also determined by the calculation method according to the formula, which is a consequence of the problem of thermal explosion during convective heat exchange with the environment, and gave a result close to the experimental one (the values were 138 and 105 °C, respectively). For this calculation the following was used: the kinetic parameters determined by the Kissinger method, the values of the density of substances determined on an automatic pycnometer, as well as the values of the heat of explosive transformation obtained with the help of the Real computer thermodynamic program. The research results confirming the tendency of the investigated compounds to explosive transformation, as well as the critical temperatures, exceeding which is unacceptable, were transferred to the production of FGUP GNTs NIOPIK to create a safe technological process, safe storage and transportation conditions. Considering the accuracy of the measuring devices, the process temperature should not exceed 125 °C for Dye M and 90 °C for Dye N2. The conducted studies and calculations show that the computational and experimental approaches have good convergence, give values in a close temperature range, and increase the reliability of the obtained results.
Automated Mobile Telecom Cell Sites System
Authors: Egho-Promise Ehigiator Iyobor , Ola Bamidele
Published: October 2020

Telecommunication is the transmission of traffic from one place to another in a network through a media using mobile station. Cell site is referred to as the base station of telecommunication, it is part of telecom network that allow subscribers to access services from the telecom service providers.

Cell sites depend on core network and transmission system to function, it is not a standalone network. It is the interface between mobile station and the network (core network and transmission system).

In this research, an automated mobile telecom cell site system will be designed and developed. The system will help to provide accurate and reliable online information about cell sites equipment and determine profit or loss from cell sites.

Qualitative research approach will be used in the study while interview will be employed to collect data.
The Landscape of the Invisibles in Lynn Nottage’s Sweat
Authors: Ghazi Mohammed Marwa
Published: October 2020

The rapid growth in technological industries and international trade deals has affected the working-class community in the United States. They have to face unemployment and poverty because machines replaced workers in their work, causing the downsize of the numbers of the workers. The current paper examines how Lunn Nottage explores the de-industrial landscape of Reading town in Pennsylvania to display the impact of the economic crisis on the working-class community. Sweat unveils the dire conditions of work in the factory where those workers used to work and their suffering after losing their jobs. The employers and the government marginalized those workers as being invisible. The playwright set the play between 2000-2008 to present the economic and financial transformations, which consequently have motivated racial hostilities among the different ethnic groups of workers. The paper’s aim is to reveal the impact of poverty and unemployment on raising the evil inside human nature. The significance of the study lies in showing who is to be blamed for racial and hostile actions among various ethnic groups and the reasons for them. The playwright sheds light on the moral decline caused by the economic crisis when human beings feel they are invisible.
The Mediterranean World and the ‘Turk’ in Shakespeare’s Representation of the British Empire
Authors: HALIL Houria , RICHE Bouteldja
Published: October 2020

This research explores Shakespeare’s representation of the so-called British Empire in its contact with other jostling empires, most notably the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean. To this end, four of Shakespeare’s Mediterranean plays Othello, the Moor of Venice (1603), The Merchant of Venice (1596), The Tempest (1611), and Cymbeline (1611) are taken understudy. By considering the Postcolonial historicist approach developed by literary scholars such as Stephen Greenblatt and Edward Said, the research argues that the issues of imperial relationships in Shakespeare are not solely centered on the transatlantic colony of Virginia, but it was also extended to the Mediterranean basin. The latter, during Tudor England and, later, Stuart Britain had much more trade and diplomatic activity than on the Atlantic seaboard. This economic activity created a cosmopolitan zone of contact wherein people of the Orient elbowed people from the West. This encounter gave rise to a pre-modern form of Orientalism, which is reflected in Shakespeare’s celebration of marital-cum-political endogamous relationships in his four plays mentioned earlier.
Upsurges of Timelessness: The Becket Tale between History and Dramaturgy in Tennyson’s Becket, Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral and Anouilh’s Becket, or the Honour of God
Authors: Awadallah Sahar
Published: October 2020

The primary concern of this study is to explore the dramatization of the story of Archbishop Thomas a Becket, in three different plays by three prominent playwrights. These plays are Tennyson’s Becket, Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral, and Anouilh’s Becket, or the Honour of God. The study examines the three plays in the light of their manipulation of the details of Thomas Becket’s contest with Henry II. The shifting relationship between the two men raised fascinating questions that were considered useful materials for playwrights. From the narrow confines of historical conflict, each of the three writers presented a unique artwork of a different dramatic vision. Through shedding light on the tale of the murder of Thomas Becket, this study highlights the significance of his fatal conflict with King Henry II to each of the three dramatists. First, it investigates how Tennyson’s primary purpose was to write a work of “documentary” authenticity. Then, this paper clarifies how Eliot’s interpretation of the play is a religious symbolic one. It also explores how Anouilh’s employed the Becket tale to present his perspective of the dilemma of twentieth-century man. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the different interpretations of the story in the three plays are not only distinctive in themselves but are also, in varying degrees, relating the past to the present.