bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen Nanobubble Water Delays Petal Senescence and Prolongs the Vase Life of Cut Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) Flowers
Authors: Li Longna , Yin Qianlan , Zhang Tong , Cheng Pengfei , Xu Sheng , Shen Wenbiao
Published: August 2021

The short vase life of cut flowers limits their commercial value. To ameliorate this practical problem, this study investigated the effect of hydrogen nanobubble water (HNW) on delaying senescence of cut carnation flowers (Dianthuscaryophyllus L.). It was observed that HNW had properties of higher concentration and residence time for the dissolved hydrogen gas in comparison with conventional hydrogen-rich water (HRW). Meanwhile, application of 5% HNW significantly prolonged the vase life of cut carnation flowers compared with distilled water, other doses of HNW (including 1%, 10%, and 50%), and 10% HRW, which corresponded with the alleviation of fresh weight and water content loss, increased electrolyte leakage, oxidative damage, and cell death in petals. Further study showed that the increasing trend with respect to the activities of nucleases (including DNase and RNase) and protease during vase life period was inhibited by 5% HNW. The results indicated that HNW delayed petal senescence of cut carnation flowers through reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation and initial activities of senescence-associated enzymes. These findings may provide a basic framework for the application of HNW for postharvest preservation of agricultural products.
Environmentally Friendly Melt-Processed Chitosan/Starch Composites Modified with PVA and Lignin
Authors: Janik Weronika , Wojtala Anna , Pietruszka Anna , Dudek Gabriela , Sabura Ewa
Published: August 2021

Chitosan/starch-based composites were prepared by thermomechanical processing as an alternative to the traditional solution method, with the aim of fabricating environmentally friendly materials on a larger scale. Different contents and types of lignin and poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA were incorporated into chitosan/starch compositions to improve their mechanical properties. It was demonstrated that the presence of both lignin and PVA increases the values of tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites. Moreover, it was observed that by the selection of a type of lignin and PVA, it was possible to tailor the internal microstructure of the samples. As observed in scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, the introduction of lignin and PVA resulted in the formation of a smooth surface and homogeneous samples.
Properties and Degradation Performances of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Blends and Keratin Composites
Authors: Danko Martin , Mosnáčková Katarína , Vykydalová Anna , Kleinová Angela , Puškárová Andrea , Pangallo Domenico , Bujdoš Marek , Mosnáček Jaroslav
Published: August 2021

From environmental aspects, the recovery of keratin waste is one of the important needs and therefore also one of the current topics of many research groups. Here, the keratin hydrolysate after basic hydrolysis was used as a filler in plasticized polylactic acid/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) blend under loading in the range of 1–20 wt%. The composites were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, and the effect of keratin on changes in molar masses of matrices during processing was investigated using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermal properties of the composites were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effect of keratin loading on the mechanical properties of composite was investigated by tensile test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Hydrolytic degradation of matrices and composites was investigated by the determination of extractable product amounts, GPC, DSC and NMR. Finally, microbial growth and degradation were investigated. It was found that incorporation of keratin in plasticized PLA/PHB blend provides material with good thermal and mechanical properties and improved degradation under common environmental conditions, indicating its possible application in agriculture and/or packaging.
Simulation of a Wideband Radar Echo of a Target on a Dynamic Sea Surface
Authors: Jiang Wang-Qiang , Wang Liu-Ying , Li Xin-Zhuo , Liu Gu , Zhang Min
Published: August 2021

Unlike a generally rough ground surface, the sea surface varies over time. To analyze the impact of the motion of sea waves on the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of a target, the wideband echo simulation method based on a frequency domain is used. For the wideband echo, the electromagnetic (EM) scattering properties of the main frequency components are analyzed by the simulation method. Based on the EM scattering properties, the echo can be accurately simulated by using the inverse fast Fourier transformation (IFFT). Combined with the flight path of the radar, the echo of each pulse can be simulated to obtain the SAR image. The correct evaluation of the EM scattering properties is indispensable to the acquisition of an accurate SAR image. For complex targets, such as ships, the multiple scattering effects have a significant influence on the EM scattering properties. Thus, a rectangular wave beam-based geometrical optics and physical optics (GO/PO) method is introduced to calculate the EM scattering properties, which is more efficient than the traditional GO/PO. The GO/PO method is suitable to simulate SAR images in which the EM scattering properties of each pulse need to be calculated. With these methods, the SAR images of the target on the sea surface are simulated. Based on the comparison of the SAR images between a static and dynamic sea surface, it is found that the region corresponding to the target is blurred and the texture of the dynamic sea is blurrier. The impact of multiple scattering and sea wave motion on target recognition are also analyzed with the SAR images that were generated under different conditions. Some strong scattering points appear when multiple scattering effects are considered. It is also found that the texture of the SAR images, corresponding to the sea surface, changes with the synthetic aperture time.
Semantic Boosting: Enhancing Deep Learning Based LULC Classification
Authors: Mc Cutchan Marvin , Comber Alexis J. , Giannopoulos Ioannis , Canestrini Manuela
Published: August 2021

The classification of land use and land cover (LULC) is a well-studied task within the domain of remote sensing and geographic information science. It traditionally relies on remotely sensed imagery and therefore models land cover classes with respect to their electromagnetic reflectances, aggregated in pixels. This paper introduces a methodology which enables the inclusion of geographical object semantics (from vector data) into the LULC classification procedure. As such, information on the types of geographic objects (e.g., Shop, Church, Peak, etc.) can improve LULC classification accuracy. In this paper, we demonstrate how semantics can be fused with imagery to classify LULC. Three experiments were performed to explore and highlight the impact and potential of semantics for this task. In each experiment CORINE LULC data was used as a ground truth and predicted using imagery from Sentinel-2 and semantics from LinkedGeoData using deep learning. Our results reveal that LULC can be classified from semantics only and that fusing semantics with imagery—Semantic Boosting—improved the classification with significantly higher LULC accuracies. The results show that some LULC classes are better predicted using only semantics, others with just imagery, and importantly much of the improvement was due to the ability to separate similar land use classes. A number of key considerations are discussed.
Mild Steel GMA Welds Microstructural Analysis and Estimation Using Sensor Fusion and Neural Network Modeling
Authors: Caio Leandro Bruno Alves , Silva Alysson Martins Almeida , Bestard Guillermo Alvarez , Vieira Lais Soares , de Carvalho Guilherme Caribé , Alfaro Sadek Crisóstomo Absi
Published: August 2021

This study aims at evaluating the efficiency of sensor fusion, based on neural networks, to estimate the microstructural characteristics of both the weld bead and base material in GMAW processes. The weld beads of AWS ER70S-6 wire were deposited on SAE 1020 steel plates varying welding voltage, welding speed, and wire-feed speed. The thermal behavior of the material during the process execution was analyzed using thermographic information gathered by an infrared camera. The microstructure was characterized by optical (confocal) microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray Diffraction tests. Finally, models for estimating the weld bead microstructure were developed by fusing all the information through a neural network modeling approach. A R value of 0.99472 was observed for modelling all zones of microstructure in the same ANN using Bayesian Regularization with 17 and 15 neurons in the first and second hidden layers, respectively, with 4 training runs (which was the lowest R value among all tested configurations). The results obtained prove that RNAs can be used to assist the project of welded joints as they make it possible to estimate the extension of HAZ.
The Impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Purchasing, Eating Behavior, and Perception of Food Safety in Kuwait
Authors: AlTarrah Dana , AlShami Entisar , AlHamad Nawal , AlBesher Fatemah , Devarajan Sriraman
Published: August 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government in Kuwait implemented public health measures to control the spread of the virus. However, despite the importance of these restrictions, normal activities related to purchasing of groceries, concerns related to food safety, and overall uncertainty may have influenced food behaviors and food consumption. Hence, the study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, and the perception of food safety and security among residents in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was carried out using self-administered questionnaires between 28 July 2020 and 31 August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait. A total of 841 respondents participated in the study. The study identified several changes in food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, food consumption, and consumers perceptions on food safety during the pandemic. The closures, restrictions, and changes in food purchasing evidently influenced individual’s eating behaviors. Largely, participants were found to (i) change their food purchasing behavior (74%); (ii) opt for online food delivery services (42.8%); (iii) purchase long-shelf-life foods (e.g., canned food and dry staples) (76%); (iv) consume more meals at home (76%); and (v) follow public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus and ensure their safety (98%). This study indicates that individuals during times of uncertainty and stress change their food purchasing behaviors, food consumption habits, and follow guidelines and recommendations. These findings may help public health initiatives to focus on raising awareness about the importance of health, wellbeing, and nutrition during times of crises.
Sanky (Corryocactus brevistylus) Peel as Low-Cost Adsorbent for Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Contreras-López Eliana , Miyashiro Kiyan Victor , Porras Cerrón Jaime , Muñoz Ana María , Ramos-Escudero Fernando , Portuguez-Maurtua Marcelo , Yuli-Posadas Ricardo , Garayar-Tasayco Humberto
Published: August 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption capacity of an adsorbent obtained using sanky peel for the removal of phosphate from aqueous solutions. The study was conducted in two stages: (1) adsorbent preparation considering yield, phosphate removal, adsorption capacity, and textural characteristics; (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of using sanky peel as an adsorbent for removing phosphates from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption was studied in aqueous solutions containing phosphate and calcium ions with the selected adsorbent. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms were studied using mathematical models. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and Weber–Morris models, thus demonstrating that adsorption rates were not controlled by multiple processes. Adsorption equilibrium data fitted best with the Dubinin–Radushkevich model. Finally, a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of brushite spectra bands after adsorption. The results of this study can help better understand the use of sanky peel as an adsorbent and good alternative for aqueous phosphate adsorption.
A Good Practice for Integrating Stakeholders through Standardization—The Case of the Smart Mature Resilience Project
Authors: Lindner René , Jaca Carmen , Hernantes Josune
Published: August 2021

A priority must be made on making cities more resilient against crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic to help plan for an uncertain future. However, due to the insufficient transfer of knowledge from, among others, research projects to cities, they are often unaware of the resilience tools available as well as possible standardization activities to foster the integration of relevant stakeholders. To address this issue, this paper analyzes the use of standards and the contribution to standardization in a multi-case study of nine European Framework Program projects and with the Smart Mature Resilience (SMR) project, a more in-depth case study. SMR integrated several European cities in its co-creative approach for developing city resilience tools and the related standards series CWA 17300 on ‘City Resilience Development’. Furthermore, the paper defines five steps for integrating standardization in research projects with a focus on (city) resilience and shows the benefits of the standardization process for fostering the engagement of relevant stakeholders.
Understanding Traditional Healing Practices and the Categories of Practices from Fijian iTaukei’s Perspectives
Authors: Orcherton Dan Frederick , Orcherton Maria , Kensen Matthew
Published: August 2021

This study takes an in-depth look at how traditional healing practices (THPs) are perceived by the iTaukei people living in villages and periurban areas in Fiji Islands. The research used both qualitative and quantitative knowledge/data gathered from six villages in Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, to determine, first, the perception(s) of THPs among the iTaukei; second, what THPs successfully survive and are still important to the iTaukei way of life; and third, what factors influence the iTaukei’s health-seeking behavior or choices between Western and traditional medical systems in their villages. Results confirm that the knowledge healers used to hold to cure common illnesses is now more dispersed and shared with community members; healers/elders’ roles in iTaukei villages are important for cultural–spiritual–social causes of illnesses, and for more complex cases, there are specialized iTaukei healers. Recommendations in the form of categories of practices are offered for practitioners to work more effectively and affectively with the iTaukei.
Urban Form and Natural Hazards: Exploring the Dual Aspect Concept of Urban Forms on Flood Damage
Authors: Kang Seungwon , Yeom Jaeweon , Jung Juchul
Published: August 2021

The purpose of the paper is to explore the dual aspect concept of the impact of urban forms on flood damage. Theoretically, urban form has the dual aspect concept of increasing or decreasing flood damage. Recent issues such as climate change and pandemics are increasing the need to re-discuss the relationship between urban forms and natural hazards. By revisiting the dual aspect concepts of urban forms such as aggregation and dispersion, we can effectively respond to specific urban problems that present complex issues at the city level. Accordingly, this paper once again considers what is a more resilient and ideal urban form for natural hazards by exploring dual aspect concepts of urban form for flood damage spatially and quantitatively from a macroscopic point of view.
Crash Prediction Models for Horizontal Curve Segments on Two-Lane Rural Roads in Thailand
Authors: Kronprasert Nopadon , Boontan Katesirint , Kanha Patipat
Published: August 2021

The number of road crashes continues to rise significantly in Thailand. Curve segments on two-lane rural roads are among the most hazardous locations which lead to road crashes and tremendous economic losses; therefore, a detailed examination of its risk is required. This study aims to develop crash prediction models using Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) as a tool to identify the relationship among road alignment, road geometric and traffic conditions, and crash frequency for two-lane rural horizontal curve segments. Relevant data associated with 86,599 curve segments on two-lane rural road networks in Thailand were collected including road alignment data from a GPS vehicle tracking technology, road attribute data from rural road asset databases, and historical crash data from crash reports. Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) for horizontal curve segments were developed, using Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, and calibrated Highway Safety Manual models. The results showed that the most significant parameter affecting crash frequency is lane width, followed by curve length, traffic volume, curve radius, and types of curves (i.e., circular curves, compound curves, reverse curves, and broken-back curves). Comparing among crash prediction models developed, the calibrated Highway Safety Manual SPF outperforms the others in prediction accuracy.
Numerical Evaluation of the Flow around a New Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Concept
Authors: Malael Ion , Bucur Ioana Octavia
Published: August 2021

In order to develop a sustainable economy based on the efficient use of green energy resources, it is necessary to research and innovate systems such as wind turbines. In this paper, a new configuration for vertical axis wind turbines was proposed and numerically analyzed using CFD methods. The concept is based on solving the starting problem of lift-based vertical axis wind turbines. The new concept consists of three blades with different chords, arranged at different radii so that the interaction between the blades is reduced and the operation in the vortex wake is minimal, thus reducing the losses. Through comparing a classic case of an H-Darrieus wind turbine with the new concept, not only were satisfying results regarding the blade-to-blade interaction presented, but an increased efficiency of up to 10% was also observed. Among the presented results is the variation of the vorticity magnitude at different positions of the blades, thus, the concept’s blade-to-blade interaction is reduced. Conclusions drawn after the investigation are in favor of the proposed geometry and the concept should be pursued further.
Developing Conversion Factors of LCIA Methods for Comparison of LCA Results in the Construction Sector
Authors: Dong Yahong , Hossain Md. Uzzal , Li Hongyang , Liu Peng
Published: August 2021

The inconsistency caused by different life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods is a long-term challenge for the life cycle assessment (LCA) community. It is necessary to systematically analyze the differences caused by LCIA methods and facilitate the fair comparison of LCA results. This study proposes an effective method of conversion factors (CFs) for converting the results of 8 LCIA methods for 14 impact categories and then demonstrates its application in the construction sector. Correlation analyses of the datasets of construction materials are conducted to develop CFs for the impact categories. A set of conversion cards are devised to present the CFs and the associated correlation information for the LCIA methods. It is revealed that the differences between LCIA methods are largely caused by the characterization methods, rather than due to the metrics. A comparison based only on the same metrics but ignoring the underlying LCIA mechanisms is misleading. High correlations are observed for the impact categories of climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and resource depletion. The developed CFs and conversion cards can greatly help LCA practitioners in the fair comparison of LCA results from different LCIA methods. Case studies are conducted, and verify that by applying the CFs the seemingly incomparable results from different LCIA methods become comparable. The CF method addresses the inconsistency problem of LCIA methods in a practical manner and helps improve the comparability and reliability of LCA studies in the construction sector. Suggestions are provided for the further development of LCIA conversion factors.
Eulerian and Even-Face Graph Partial Duals
Authors: Metsidik Metrose
Published: August 2021

Eulerian and bipartite graph is a dual symmetric concept in Graph theory. It is well-known that a plane graph is Eulerian if and only if its geometric dual is bipartite. In this paper, we generalize the well-known result to embedded graphs and partial duals of cellularly embedded graphs, and characterize Eulerian and even-face graph partial duals of a cellularly embedded graph by means of half-edge orientations of its medial graph.
A Brief Survey on Important Interconnection Standards for Photovoltaic Systems and Electric Vehicles
Authors: Poyyamani Sunddararaj Suvetha , Rangarajan Shriram S. , Nallusamy Subashini , Collins E. Randolph , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: August 2021

The consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has become most popular. Numerous studies are being carried out on the usage of EVs, the challenges of EVs, and their benefits. Based on these studies, factors such as battery charging time, charging infrastructure, battery cost, distance per charge, and the capital cost are considered factors in the adoption of electric vehicles and their interconnection with the grid. The large-scale development of electric vehicles has laid the path to Photovoltaic (PV) power for charging and grid support, as the PV panels can be placed at the top of the smart charging stations connected to a grid. By proper scheduling of PV and grid systems, the V2G connections can be made simple. For reliable operation of the grid, the ramifications associated with the PV interconnection must be properly addressed without any violations. To overcome the above issues, certain standards can be imposed on these systems. This paper mainly focuses on the various standards for EV, PV systems and their interconnection with grid-connected systems.
The influence of morphofunctional parameters on the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy for patients with hypertrophic skin scars
Authors: Kurganskaya Inga Gennadievna , Kovlen Denis Viktorovich
Published: August 2021

Different combinations of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) methods cause multidirectional therapeutic effects, the causes of dissociation of which may be due to the parameters of the morphofunctional status of scar tissue — the determinants of the effectiveness. Objective: to identify the determinants of the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in patients with developing and mature hypertrophic skin scars. Methods: 100 patients with developing (n=49) and mature (n=51) hypertrophic scars were studied. In patients with developing scars, acombination of selective angiophotothermolysis (λ=0,578 µm) and subsequent fractional ablative photothermolysis (λ=10,6 µm) was used, and in patients with mature scars, acombination of selective angiophotothermolysis (λ=0,578 µm) followed by planar ablative photodisruption (λ=10,6 µm) was applied. Dermatoscopic methods for assessing the morphofunctional properties of the skin, instrumental methods for assessing the elasticity, microcirculation and metabolism of scar tissue, and assessment of the quality of life of patients were used. Results. Combinations of selective angiophotothermolysis, fractional ablative photothermolysis and planar ablative photodisruption cause pronounced therapeutic effects in patients with developing and mature hypertrophic skin scars, which are manifested by regression of clinical signs of scar tissue, remodeling of scar tissue, improvement of elasticity, microcirculation and metabolism of scars, which leads to an improvement in the quality of life of patients. Conclusion. The determinants of the effectiveness of HILT in patients with developing hypertrophic scars are the indicators of the patient’s clinical status, the morphofunctional properties of the scar tissue, the parameters of microcirculation and metabolism.
The effectiveness of the photobioacoustic complex in children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent acute recurrent infections
Authors: Kulikova Natalya Gennadievna , Volkova Inna Vladimirovna , Tkachenko Albina Sergeevna
Published: August 2021

Purpose: To optimize the treatment of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent acute recurrent infections with the use of physiotherapy methods. Research methods: The study of 140 children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent recurrent infections included the analysis of the data on developmental histories (form № 026/in «Children’s Medical Card for School» and form 112/ «History of Child Development»), clinical complaints, functional (ECG and cardiointerval recording) and vegetative indicators (Kerdo, Hildebrandt, Baevsky-Parin indices) before and after the use of the photobioacoustic complex, which includes: biofeedback bioacoustic impact on the head area and LLLR on the projection of the cubital area and thymus. The ECG was performed on the device of the «Shiller» company (Switzerland) with a computer console for cardiointerval recording. The vegetative indices were studied on the «Poly-Spectr» device of Neurosoft (Russia). LLLR was performed on the «Milta» (l=0,89 mcm) on the overhead projection area at a frequency of 80Hz for 5 minutes and on the projection zone of the thymus at a frequency of 1500 Hz for 3minutes, as responsible for immune support. The total duration is 8–9 minutes (children of 7–8 years — 5–8 minutes; children of 9–12 years — 8–9 minutes). Bioacoustic effects on the head area were performed on the hardware-computer complex of acoustic correction (biofeedback bioacoustic correction) «SINKHRO-S» (Russia). Results: Parasympathicotonia (VI) was identified in 35% (18,5% of boys, 16,4% of girls); sympathicotonia (SA) — in 54,1% (28,5% of boys, 25,7% of girls); a mixed type of vegetative dystonia — in 10,9% (4,4% of boys, 6,5% of girls). Subjective complaints of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent recurrent infections had a brighter picture than those of children without an infectious factor. Gender-age differences in subjective complaints of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction, which correlated with vegetative types: sympathoadrenal (SA), parasympathetic or vagoinsular (VI) and mixed (eutonia, C), have been identified. Conclusion: The developed photobioacoustic complex provides a high correction of index indicators of vegetative tension and vegetative reactivity in children with elevated Kerdo and Baevsky-Parin indices. After the reduction of these indicators, the elimination of correlations between them was noted, which positively affected the vegetative reactivity and parameters of myocardial bioelectrogenesis.
Assessment of the dynamics of indicators of morphological and functional characteristics of the skin in patients with the combined subtype of rosacea under the influence of complex phototherapy
Authors: Novikov K. A. , Tamrazova O. B. Tamrazova O. B. , Matushevskaya Yu. I.
Published: August 2021

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory dermatosis of vascular origin, characterized by a lesion of the face skin in the form of erythema and papulopustular elements. Taking into account the new research devoted to the treatment of rosacea, it is of scientific and practical interest to develop new methods for the treatment of this dermatosis using complex physiotherapy approaches and their synergy, for example, IPL radiation (without the use of photo filters) and submilisecond neodymium 1,064 nm laser radiation. Material and methods: The study included 130 patients with the combined subtype of rosacea (CSR) with varying degrees of severity of ETR and PPR. In order to study the effectiveness of complex photo- and laser therapy of CSR, all patients were divided into 4 groups by simple randomization (envelope method). The treatment of the patients in each separate group included: group I — laser therapy and 1% metronidazole cream; group II — phototherapy and 1% metronidazole cream; group III — complex photo-laser therapy and 1% metronidazole cream; group IV — comparison group, patients received only 1% metronidazole cream. This work takes into account the synergism of both physiotherapeutic effects provided by non-truncated (without the use of photo filters) IPL radiation and submilisecond neodymium 1,064 nm laser radiation, as well as the increased destruction of pathologically altered vessels observed during the sequential use of both procedures, and the developed original method of treating patients with CSR. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the maximum improvement in the morphofunctional parameters of the skin was in the third group of patients with CSR. The increase in the hydration index of the skin exceeded the indicators of the other groups of patients with CSR. Also, the intensity of sebum production decreased most significantly. There was a maximum narrowing of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands, while in the other groups, the narrowing of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands occurred to a lesser and equal extent. Such changes reflect the pronounced effect of complex phototherapy on the tone of the sphincter of the excretory duct, the intensity of sebum production, as well as on the synthesis of collagen and elastin, which is reflected in the maximum approximation to the indicators of the group of healthy volunteers of such characteristics as «hydration» and «smoothness».
The first experience of using «evagination» method in patients with rectovaginal fistulas
Authors: Mudrov Andrei Anatolevich Mudrov Andrei Anatolevich , Frolov Sergei Alekseevich , Serebriy Alena Borisovna , Omarova Mariyam Magomedovna , Fomenko Oksana IUrevna , Blagodarnyi Leonid Alekseevich , Kostarev Ivan Vasilevich , Titov Aleksandr Yur’evich
Published: August 2021

Despite the variety of methods of rectovaginal fistulas surgery, the recurrence of the disease reaches 80 % of cases. The «evagination» method was proposed in the NMRC of coloproctology for the combined treatment of RVF and anal sphincter insufficiency. The study included 10 women with rectovaginal fistula and anal sphincter insufficiency. The age of patients was from 25 to 52 (33,6 ± 7,73) years. Etiology of rectovaginal fistula: postpartum — 7 (70.0 %); iatrogenic — 2 (20.0 %); malformation — 1 (10.0 %). The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 14 months (8,4 ± 2,9). The «evagination» method was used in all patients. The disease recurrence occurred in 1 patient (10.0 %) on the 8th day after surgery. Conclusion: the «evagination» method can be considered as a surgery of choice in the treatment of extended defects of the rectovaginal septum with anal sphincter insufficiency due to its defect.
Surgical treatment of rectovaginal fistulas (systematic literature review)
Authors: Mudrov Andrei Anatolevich , Titov Aleksandr Yur’evich , Omarova Mariyam Magomedovna , Frolov Sergei Alekseevich , Kostarev Ivan Vasilevich , Shelygin Yuri Anatolevich
Published: August 2021

Despite the large number of available surgical interventions aimed at the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas, the results of their use remain extremely disappointing, associated with the high recurrence rate of the disease reaching 80 %, as well as the lack of a single tactic to minimize the risk of anal incontinence and the need for colostomy. Objective: to conduct a systematic literature review in order to summarize information related to the rectovaginal fistulas surgery. The systematic review includes the results of an analysis of 97 clinical trials selected from 756 publications found in databases. Inclusion criteria: a full-text article, the presence of at least 5 patients in the study, as well as data on the outcome of surgery. Clinical trials with different surgical treatments were identified and classified into the following categories: elimination of the rectovaginal septal defect with a displaced flap (rectal and vaginal); Martius surgery; gracilis muscle transposition; transperineal procedure; abdominal procedure including endoscopic and laparoscopic methods; use of biological or biocompatible materials. Treatment outcomes vary significantly from 0 % to > 80 %. None of the studies were randomized. Due to the low quality of the identified studies, comparison of results and meta-analysis conduction were not possible. Conclusion: as a result of the systematic review, data for the analysis and development of any strategic and tactical algorithms for the treatment of RVF were not obtained. The most important questions still remain open: what and when surgical method to choose, is it necessary to form a disconnecting stoma?
Method for predicting surgical complications
Authors: Anatoly Solomakha Anatoly Solomakha , Gorbachenko Vladimir Ivanovich
Published: August 2021

he problem of predicting the risk of purulent-inflammatory complications after surgery in patients with purulent-destructive lung diseases is still unsolved. When analyzing a sample of 543 patients with purulent-destructive lung diseases in the Penza Regional Clinical Hospital, 45 (8.3 %) had purulent-inflammatory complications. The aim of the study is to create a neural network system for predicting the risk of surgical complications in patients with purulent-destructive lung diseases. As a result of this study, the technology of constructing neural network models for predicting complications in thoracic surgery was developed. In particular: methods of selection and transformation of features have been developed and the neural network system «Neuropredictor» has been developed, which has demonstrated high accuracy rates.
Technology for creating a television program
Authors: Savostyanov Aleksandr Ivanovich
Published: August 2021

The article reveals the process of creating a television program on domestic television. The stages of preparation for the process of creating a TV program, the specifics and features of the implementation of its idea are considered. The material of the article can be used in the framework of the field of training "TV Journalism".
"The Iranian nuclear issue" — origins and history of development
Authors: Filimonova Anna Igorevna
Published: August 2021

The article examines the emergence and escalation of the "Iranian nuclear issue" at the international level, the role, content and character of the measures taken by the UN Security Council and IAEA, global and regional interests of the USA and the corresponding actions of Washington concerning Iran, including the use of multi-level and multi-layered manipulation. The materials of the article can be used in the preparation of students in the field of "International relations".
Culture as a normative social behavior
Authors: Flier Andrey Yakovlevich
Published: August 2021

The article shows that in culture as a social system, a special role is played by normative social behavior, which regulates social interaction and communication between people, and mores, with the help of which the regulation of social interactions is carried out.
Technology of engraving production in the conditions of distance learning
Authors: Tsogoev Elbrus Vladimirovich
Published: August 2021

The article deals with methods of teaching to create colored engraving in the framework of distance learning of the discipline "Graphics Technique" in the field of "Design". Creating an engraving by means of distance learning can give a positive result under condition of strict control by the teacher and the active work of students.
The symbolism of the stone in the iconic buildings of antiquity
Authors: Arkhipova Svetlana Vyacheslavovna
Published: August 2021

The image of the stone city is now firmly embedded in our reality. From a cultural point of view, the stone is of great importance for determining the value of religious and social objects, since it was necessary to make every effort to process and move it. The author traces the history of the use of this material for ritual and religious buildings since ancient times. The research can be useful for determining the focus of attention on symbolic and ritual objects in a historical and social context.
Manufacturing and Measuring Mechanical Properties of Continuous Functionally Graded Beam
Authors: Mansoor Abbood Ahmed , K. Mehbes Haider , F. Hasan Abdulkareem.
Published: August 2021

In this study, glass-filled epoxy functionally graded material (FGM) was prepared by adopting the hand lay-up method. The vertical gravity casting was used to produce a continuous variation in elastic properties. A 30 % volume fraction of glass ingredients that have mean diameter 90 μm was spread in epoxy resin (ρ = 1050 kg/m3). The mechanical properties of FGM were evaluated according to ASTM D638. Experimental results showed that a gradually relationship between Young’s modulus and volume fraction of glass particles, where the value of Young’s modulus at high concentration of glass particles was greater than that at low concentration, while the value of Poisson’s ratio at high concentration of glass particles was lower than that at low concentration. The manufacture of this FG beam is particularly important and useful in order to benefit from it in the field of various fracture tests under dynamic or cyclic loads.
Preparing Methane – Air Mixture Using Ejector
Authors: Ali Jabbar, Tahseen , Mezher Hasan Masad , Hameed Faisal Safaa
Published: August 2021

In this research, a two – dimensional numerical investigation is conducted to show the ability of the jet-ejector to prepare the air – methane mixture at different equivalence ratio. The basic dimensions (diameters ratio, throat length, angle α, and angle θ) of the jet-ejector are taken into account on calculating the equivalence ratio. The results showed that the ratio of the diameters has a higher effect than other parameters on preparing a mixture for equivalent ratios including both rich and lean mixture. The rest of the factors did not have a significant effect on the value of the equivalence ratio, and only had a role in preparing an equivalence ratio for rich mixture type.
Experimental, Theoretical and CFD Validations for Solar Powered Atmospheric Water Generation Using Thermoelectric Technics
Authors: Alsheekh Mohammed , E. Najim Saleh , S. Sultan Hussein
Published: August 2021

The Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) is an environmental water recovery that easily dehumidifies water vapor moisture from the air. This article presents an experiment to construct an AWG model using solar energy as a source of power. An experimental and numerical study for a device of (AWG) is performed. The experimental work is performed at Basrah city, located in the south of Iraq, during August and September of 2019 and March of 2020. The theoretical results are calculated by EES and the numerical study has been conducted by the (ANSYS19/CFD/ FLUENT) program. The experimental device is tested for different days with different climate conditions. The Maximum water production obtained is 3.4 L/day from all the testing days, for different hours of operation when the relative humidity in the range of (45 – 95 %) and the temperature range from 17 °C to 45 °C. The results shown that, the water production rate is increased with increasing humidity, temperatures, hours of operation, and model size.
Hemosiderin, a possible biomarker for sudep?
Authors: Pereira Andressa Sampaio , Brandão Patrícia de Morais Ferreira , Auzmend Jerónimo A , Lazarowski Alberto
Published: August 2021

Epilepsy is one of the neurological diseases of complex etiology that affects around 50 million people worldwide and is characterized by abnormal electrical activity and recurrent seizures. Uncontrolled generalized repetitive tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) are the main causes of unexpected sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Hypoxic stress induced by seizure results in neurocardiogenic dysfunctions, including iron overload and cardiomyopathy (IOC) which is related to severe lipid peroxidation caused by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS induces recurrent seizure activity, favoring the overexpression of P glycoprotein (P-gp) in the heart. P-gp plays a depolarizing role in cardiomyocyte membranes and potassium (Kir) channels control cellular excitability regarding the repolarization of the cardiac action potential. All these events result in a possible appearance of severe bradycardia and fatal arrhythmia. Several studies have sought evidence for different possible biomarkers for potential prediction of the risk of SUDEP avoiding its fatal outcome.
On Generating Tridiagonal Matrices of Generalized (s,t)-Pell, (s,t)-Pell Lucas and (s,t)-Modified Pell Sequences
Authors: Uygun S.
Published: August 2021

In this study, we define some tridigional matrices depending on two real parameters. By using the determinant of these matrices, the elements of (s,t)-Pell, (s,t)-Pell Lucas and (s,t)-modified Pell sequences with even or odd indices are generated. Then we construct the inverse matrices of these tridigional matrices. We also investigate eigenvalues of these matrices.
COMBINING BOOTSTRAPPING AND GENETIC ALGORITHM BASED ON FEATURE SELECTION FOR FRANCHISE LOCATION PROSPECTS PREDICTION
Authors: Mardiana Tati
Published: August 2021

Location selection is crucial in the franchise fast-food industry. A thorough location selection model paired with a proper analytical technique can considerably improve the performance of placement decisions, attract more customers, and raise market share and profitability. Franchise location data sets have an imbalanced class nature. The franchise location prospect prediction performance decreased as a result of the dataset's noisy characteristics. We developed a hybrid approach to improve franchise location prospect prediction performance in this study. It combines Bootstrapping to address class imbalance problems and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to select relevant features in the franchise location prospect prediction. We experimented with four different classification methods (Naive Bayes, C4.5, Random Forest, ID3, Gradient Boosted Trees). The results show that almost all classifiers that use Bootstrapping and GA outperform the original technique. We employ the Confusion Matrix and Root Mean Squared Error  (RMSE) to examine the proposed method's performance. The test results demonstrate that the proposed method considerably enhances the franchise location prospect's classification performance.
The Access to and Use of ICT in Learning English: A Case of University Students
Authors: Adeliani Cici , Harahap Alamsyah , Sofyan Dedi , Kurniawan Ildi , Lubis Azhar Aziz
Published: August 2021

This research aimed to find out the students’ access to ICT application and how far ICT application helps students in mastering English language skills faced by English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu in the 2020/2021 academic year. This research was an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. The population of this research was English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu. The sample of this research was selected by using purposive sampling technique, totaling 80 students for questionnaire and 24 students for interview. The data were collected by using questionnaire and interview. The instruments were consisted of 15 items adapted from Dang Hoang Tri and Nhung Hong Thi Nguyen (2014). This research used Microsoft Excel to analyze the data.  The result of this study showed that students access 15 ICT applications in English learning. Also, researcher found that the majority of students have positive perception towards ICT application can help students in mastering English language skills.
IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM GERAKAN LITERASI SEKOLAH BERBASIS PEMBELAJARAN MULTILITERASI DI SDN 1 KOBA
Authors: Nurjanah  , Yurdayanti
Published: August 2021

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendalami pelaksanaan program GLS di SDN 1 Koba Kabupaten Bangka Tengah. Jenis penelitian ini yaitu penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Lokasi penelitian di SDN 1 Koba Kabupaten Bangka Tengah. Subjek penelitian yaitu Kepala Sekolah, Guru, dan Peserta Didik. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pelaksanaan program gerakan literasi sekolah di SDN 1 Koba Kabupaten Bangka Tengah berada pada tahap pembiasaan. Upaya-upaya yang dilakukan sekolah dalam melaksanakan program gerakan literasi sekolah, yakni (1) Membaca 15 menit sebelum Pelajaran, (2) Membuat Pojok Literasi dan Lingkungan yang Kaya Teks, (3) Pembelajaran Multiliterasi Membaca dan Menulis. Adapun kendala yang dihadapi sekolah dalam pelaksanaan GLS, yakni (1) Rendahnya kesadaran guru terhadap pentingnya kegiatan literasi, (2) Sebagian guru pada kelas tinggi masih kurang disiplin, (3) Jumlah buku fiksi atau buku cerita bergambar di perpustakaan sekolah masih kurang memadai, (4) Sebagian guru tidak memahami contoh-contoh penerapan gerakan literasi.
PENGGUNAAN MODEL MENULIS KOLABORATIF DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN MENGARANG SISWA
Authors: Dadang Cunandar  , Niken Julia Agustin
Published: August 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan kemampuan mengarang siswa melalui penggunaan model menulis kolaboratif. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif jenis studi kasus. Subjek dalam penelitian ini siswa kelas V SD Negeri 1 Kertawinangun Kecamatan Mandirancan Kabupaten Kuningan yang berjumlah 24 siswa. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, catatan lapangan, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Keabsahan data diperiksa dengan triangulasi. Data dianalisis secara deskrpitif model alur. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa ada peningkatan kemampuan mengarang siswa melalui penggunaan model menulis kolaboratif. Peningkatan kemampuan mengarang siswa melalui model menulis kolaboratif didukung oleh beberapa indicator, yakni perhatian, keaktivan, kerja sama, tanggung jawab, percaya diri, pemilihan kata, huruf kapital, dan tanda baca (tanda titik dan tanda koma). Selain itu, keberhasilan dalam peningkatan kemampuan ini dilakukan dengan cara memberikan waktu untuk bereksplorasi, memberi motivasi berupa penguatan dan hadiah. Kesimpulan dari penelitian yaitu model menulis kolaboratif dapat meningkatkan kemampuan mengarang narasi.
ANALISIS KESALAHAN SISWA MENGERJAKAN SOAL MATEMATIKA MODEL PISA MENGGUNAKAN KONTEKS JUMLAH PENDUDUK
Authors: Rajab Vebrian  , Yudi Yunika Putra
Published: August 2021

PISA merupakan salah satu penelitian tingkat dunia yang menilai kemampuan matematika, sains, dan bahasa siswa umur 15 tahun. Indonesia peringkat 63 dari 70 negara pada tahun 2015. Skor rata-rata kemampuan matematika siswa Indonesia di bawah skor rata-rata kemampuan matematika siswa internasional. Padahal, aspek pengembangan kemampuan matematika siswa Indonesia di SMP/MTs sudah disusun dalam tujuan mata pelajaran. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini yaitu mengetahui dan mengidentifikasi kesalahan siswa mengerjakan soal matematika model PISA menggunakan konteks jumlah penduduk. Metode yang digunakan yaitu metode penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Subjek penelitian ini siswa kelas IX.E SMPN 5 Pangkalpinang tahun ajaran 2019/2020. Berdasarkan kemampuan dasar matematika bahwa hasil penelitian menunjukkan siswa kesulitan menafsirkan dan bernalar dalam menyelesaikan soal matematika model PISA menggunakan konteks jumlah penduduk.