bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Development Management as the Basis for the Pre-Adaptation of Complex Systems in Conditions of Uncertainty and Unpredictability
Authors: GUBANOVA Svetlana
Published: December 2021

The article is devoted to the issue of managing the balanced development of human potential in a new socio-economic reality, which is characterized by a high degree of unpredictability, interconnectedness and interdependence, globalization and informatization of the environment and introduction of digital, cognitive and hybrid technologies. There is a need to recognize the dominant role of scientific knowledge and creative implementation, wise management and consumption. For the first time, the term “noo- management” was introduced: it is a method of intelligent management of the fundamental processes of personality development focused on higher-order values and creative implementation.
Philosophical and Psychological Approach to Self-Development of Scientific and Pedagogical Workers
Authors: KRYSHTANOVYCH Svitlana , CHUBINSKA Nataliia , GAVRYSH Iryna , KHLTOBINA Oleksandra , SHEVCHENKO Zhanna
Published: December 2021

The study?s main purpose is to highlight the philosophical and psychological aspects of the self- development of scientific and pedagogical workers in the context of the development of the education sys- tem. The article uses various methods to conduct research, namely general scientific methods: formal- logical, systemic, structural-functional, concrete-historical. The pedagogical synergetics is considered as part of the research. Pedagogical synergetics, which explains the development of a complex system, edu- cation, is a new philosophy of the educational process. Pedagogical synergetics makes it possible to ap- proach the development of problems of the development of pedagogical systems and the pedagogical pro- cess in a new way, considering them primarily from the standpoint of openness, co-creation and orienta- tion towards self-development. As a result, philosophical, psychological and pedagogical approaches to self-improvement are characterized.
Existential Focus of Reality in “Silent Poetry”
Authors: SHARAGINA Olga , SHEVEL Tamara , ALEKSANDRENKO Viktoria , RYZHENKO Kateryna
Published: December 2021

Ukrainian literature of the 1960-80s is notable for the creative achievements of the Sixtiers, the hermeticism of Kyiv school poetry, Samvydav activity, and dissident nonconformism, which was aesthetically enriched by the poetic movement of “silent poetry”. His creative practice involved a latent rejection of the political state, which imposed its ideological criteria on the culture. Poets continued to defend the right to creative self-realization, which gave impetus to the ideological and artistic formation of “silent poetry” by the efforts of I. Zhylenko, S. Yovenko, A. Kychynskyi, V. Pidpalyi, L. Skyrda, L. Talalai, P. Movchan, D. Cherednychenko and others, whose aesthetic dominants of creativity are characterized by existential, cordo-centric and natural philosophical motives. This generation was in search of an individual manner, expressed national consciousness and recognized the autonomy of the poet and art.
The Problem of Consent in Feminist Practical Ethics
Authors: AVAKYAN Laura , TSIMMERMAN Galina , ZIMMERMANN Alexander , SHCHERBAKOV Vladimir
Published: December 2021

The article analyzes the topical problem of consent in modern feminist theory as a way of achieving public consensus on the goals and forms of women?s emancipation. The emancipation of women is one of the most important achievements of modern society and an ongoing process. Therefore, the issues that are being discussed within the framework of feminist ethics are appropriate. For example, the extent to which men who hold power and dominance for thousands of years can genuinely liberate women and share with them equal rights and opportunities. There is also an acute problem of the extent to which women them- selves are willing to show solidarity and their consent on social and political issues. These issues and dis- cussions by contemporary feminists, who deserve the attention of a wide range of experts in applied ethics, argumentation theory, social and political theory, are addressed in this study.
“The Essays” by Montaigne: Postmodernist Interpretation
Authors: SHEVCHENKO Tetiana , FILIPENKO Olha , YAKUBOVSKA Mariia
Published: December 2021

The article is devoted to the analysis of Montaigne?s book “The Essays” from the point of view of postmodernist criticism. The work is conceived as an experimental eclectic and mosaic formation, full of paradoxes, which creates the multiplicity of its interpretations in terms of different practices, including postmodernist practices. The features of the author’s self-identification are analysed through the postmodernist paradigm. The originality of the essayistic method of understanding reality through the philosopher?s own beliefs is investigated. The intertextual nature of his essays, based on individual authorial commentary on citation material, reinterpretation, and reevaluation of the past experiences, through which the author creates his image, are analysed. The ironic nature of Montaigne?s works, his methods of playing with the reader are analyzed separately. It is generalized that the author?s ironic position in the book “The Essays” is an indicator of the freedom of his personal thinking and a catalyst for readers to develop their own attitude to everything he contemplates.
The comprehension of the compositional organization of the book “The Essays” from the point of view of rhizomatism is suggested. It is concluded that by combining tradition and experiment, Montaigne demonstrates the limitations of both classical tradition and postmodern aesthetics.
Philosophy of the Female Image in the Context of Social Circumstances in Fiction
Authors: STADNICHENKO Olga , KRAVCHENKO Valentyna , LASKAVA Yuliia , BONDARENKO Volodymyr , LENOK Mariia
Published: December 2021

The philosophy of the image of a woman, her behaviour and functions in society have changed over time. The processes of transformation of the philosophy of the female image can be observed in fiction, which is a means of comprehending the life of previous generations. Therefore, female images help to know better the national character, national spirit, even the national idea of the philosophy of each nation. The study?s main goal is to reveal the philosophy of the female image in the context of the social circum- stances of fiction. For a better understanding of the evolution and development of the philosophy of the female image in world literature, we have formed a morphological analysis of the image of a woman in fiction and a matrix of structural elements of the image of a woman in fiction in the context of different timeframes.
Higher Order Reduction of Uncertain Systems: Affine Arithmeti
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Electrical, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, Dora H Mallesam
Published: December 2021

In this paper the Modified Routh Approximation (MRA) and Affine Arithmetic (AA) methods are investigates for obtaining the reduced order model (ROM) of SISO, discrete & MIMO uncertain systems into lower order system. Rigorous study and analysis of physical system direct to the outcome of systems with uncertainty instead of certain coefficients. Thus, systems having uncertain but bounded parameters known as uncertain systems are under consideration in this paper. An effective algorithm to determine the reduced order model is proposed here. This proposed methodology is verified using numerical examples available from the literature.
Image design and interaction technology based on Fourier inverse transform
Authors: Lu Shaojun , Abozinadah Ehab , Erkec Elif
Published: December 2021

As one of the main directions of applied mathematics research, inverse Fourier transform (FT) has been widely used in image speech analysis and other fields in recent decades of development. FT is the basic content of digital image processing technology. In practical analysis, image design and interaction can be realised by using time-space domain and frequency domain, which can accurately obtain image information characteristics and achieve the expected application goals. In this paper, based on the understanding of FT and inverse transform, an improved algorithm is used to lay the foundation for the realisation of image design and interactive technology.
Research on visual optimization design of machine–machine interface for mechanical industrial equipment based on nonlinear partial equations
Authors: Yan Yan , Zeng Bin , Alqurashi Fahad Abdullah , Shorman Samer M.
Published: December 2021

With the continuous development and progress of machinery and industry equipment, human-machine interface has become an important operation in industry equipment and has been widely used in aviation, monitoring, traffic, special engineering vehicles, and a series of complex fields. Through the human-machine interface information system, information and data are provided for operators s. As the human-machine interface information data of the mechanical equipment system are numerous, complex, and changeable, operators often make operation mistakes, misread and misjudge, and do not give timely feedback, resulting in task failure or, in serious cases, major mechanical faults and accidents. Therefore, the human-machine interface data information is screened, and the information useful for the operator is directly obtained according to the target set by the operator, so as to effectively solve the complex and changeable data information in the information system. Human-machine interface uses electronic communication technology, computer network technology, and database technology to expand and update machinery and industrial equipment. Among them, nonlinear partial differential equations comprise an important branch of equation in mathematics. In this paper, according to the nonlinear partial differential equations, we research and analyze the information system of the human-machine interface design field and solve the system of the cognitive load, which is too large, such as cognitive mismatch problem in the working mode of operating personnel, by satisfying the needs of different users. The human-machine interface of mechanical industrial equipment uses visual optimization design and innovation.
Educational reform informatisation based on fractional differential equation
Authors: Man Shuai , Yang Rongjie
Published: December 2021

In order to solve the problem that the image processing time is too long in the use of the original college education information power method, therefore, the design of the fractional differential equation of higher education information power method was created. According to the information source, a combination of various methods is set to complete the data collection. Compared with the content of fractional differential equation, the fractional differential equation is selected to complete the image information processing, develop the processing process and select the appropriate equipment to complete the image processing, set up the experimental equipment, and select the experimental samples to obtain the experimental results. Compared with the original method, the image processing time of this method is significantly shorter than that of the original method. Therefore, this method is more efficient for image processing and has a more obvious effect on the informatisation of university education.
College Students’ Mental Health Climbing Consumption Model Based on Nonlinear Differential Equations
Authors: Zhi Licong , Alotaibi Fahd S
Published: December 2021

College students continue to improve their consumption levels due to compassion or vanity, but it not only increases the financial burden of the family, but is also not conducive to their personal health. In order not to affect the mental health of college students, to solve the problem of mutual comparison consumption, this paper establishes differential equation models to describe this phenomenon, from qualitative and quantitative angles to interpret and predict the results of comparison consumption. The results show that the current consumption behaviour of college students also has a reasonable place for being unreasonable, mainly from college students’ own and living environment.
Spectral Characteristics of Solar Radiation in Timisoara, Romania
Authors: Hațegan Sergiu , Paulescu Marius
Published: December 2021

This study deals with the spectral distribution of solar radiation in Timisoara, Romania. Solar spectrum at the ground level was estimated based on Leckner’s spectral solar irradiance model and measured atmospheric parameters over the years 2019-2020. The average photon energy index (APE) was used to capture the characteristic signature of the solar radiation spectrum. The results emphasize considerable differences between the solar radiation spectrum in Timisoara and the standard AM1.5G spectrum. During 2019-2020, APE has taken values between 1.841 eV and 1.929 eV, indicating both red- and blue-shift from the standard AM1.5G spectrum. To our best knowledge this is the first study which discusses the signature of solar radiation spectrum in terms of APE for a location in Romania.
Public debt and inflation dynamics: Empirical evidence from Zimbabwe
Authors: Saungweme Talknice , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: December 2021

The study seeks to empirically test the hypothesis that public debt has a significant influence on inflation in Zimbabwe, covering the period 1980-2020. The study was motivated by recent trends in public debt and domestic inflation in Zimbabwe, and the need to guide debt-inflation related policy. These latest trends have started to ring alarming bells, which raises questions on the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies in bringing macroeconomic stability in the country. Applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing procedure to cointegration and an error correction mechanism (ECM), expanded by incorporating structural breaks, the study finds evidence in support of positive and significant impact of public debt on inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe, particularly in the long run. Based on the findings, public debt dynamics matter for inflation process in Zimbabwe. That is, fiscal policy can be considered to be an important determinant of the effectiveness of monetary policy in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the government should be mindful of increases in public debt as this was found to be inflationary.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Firms’ Financial Performance: A Study of Nigerian Consumer Goods Companies
Authors: Emamoke Jarikre Victor , Omodero Cordelia Onyinyechi
Published: December 2021

The study is based on corporate social responsibility and financial performance of companies in Nigeria. The study focuses on the issues and ideologies that surround the practices of corporate social responsibility by consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to explore the impact of corporate social responsibility on profit after tax, earnings per share and net asset per share of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The study adopts ex-post facto research design. Data were collected from financial reports of five listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria for a period of 5 years from 2015 to 2019. The financial reports and the hypotheses were statistically analysed using the panel data regression analysis. The results revealed a positive but insignificant effect of corporate social responsibility on profit after tax, earnings per share and net asset per share. According to the findings of the study, corporate social responsibility requires more attention and commitment from corporations because it ensures benefits other than profits which in the end boost financial performance.
Case Study of Selected Nature Swimming Pools in the South Moravian Region
Authors: Poloprutská Tereza , Nováček Michal , Oppeltová Petra
Published: December 2021

Nature swimming pools are a sought-after alternative to conventional swimming pools. Their natural water purification system, without the need for chemicals, is beneficial to health and environmentally friendly. Designing such a nature swimming pool is a complex matter because it requires coordination of a number of effects, which can easily cause an imbalance in the entire system. This work uses the case study method to analyse the overall condition of three nature swimming pools in the South Moravian Region during the second half of the swimming pool operation season.
Prediction of Soc in Calcic Chernozem in the Steppe Zone of Ukraine Using Brightness and Colour Indicators
Authors: Gorban Vadym , Huslystyi Artem , Espejo José Manuel Recio , Bilova Natalia
Published: December 2021

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important component of any soil which determines many of its properties. Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to the SOC content determination in soils by not using the conventional, time-consuming and expensive technique, but by using colour image processing of soil samples. In this case, even the camera of modern smartphones can be used as an image source, making this technique very convenient and practical. However, it is important to maintain certain standardised conditions (light intensity, light incidence angle, etc.) when capturing the images of soil samples. In our opinion, it is best to use a regular scanner for this purpose, with subsequent image processing by graphic programs (e.g., Adobe Photoshop). To increase the reliability of the colour information obtained in this way, it is desired (if possible) to use a spectrograph or a monochromator in the subsequent calculation of reflection or brightness ratios. It is these two approaches that we have implemented in our work. As a result of the experiment, the values of brightness ratios (at 480, 650 and 750 nm wavelengths and integral brightness ratio), colour indicators (the hue, saturation and value [HSV], red, green and blue [RGB], CIE L*a*b* and cyan, magenta, yellow and key [CMYK] systems) and SOC content in Calcic Chernozem samples of the steppe zone of Ukraine were obtained. Using correlation analysis of the dataset, the existence of direct (r = 0.88–0.90) and inverse close relationships (r = −0.75–0.90) between SOC, values of brightness ratios and colour indicators of the soil samples were established. This allows us to develop predictive models. Statistical analysis showed that the models were significant when they were based on the values of brightness ratios at 650 nm wavelength, integral brightness ratio, V indicator in HSV system, R, G and B indicators in RGB system, C, M and K indicators in CMYK system and L* and b* indicators in L*a*b* system. The subsequent calculation of variation coefficients showed that the largest variability was observed in SOC indicators (CV = 0.72) and slightly less variability in the K index of CMYK system and brightness ratio values at 650 nm wavelength (CV = 0.67 and 0.53, respectively). Based on this, we believe that the models y = 0.0188 + 0.0535*x (x is the value of the K index in CMYK system) and y = 5.0716 – 3.2255*log10(x) (x is the value of brightness ratio at 650 nm wavelength) were the most statistically significant and promising parameters for determining SOC content (y in these equations) in Calcic Chernozem samples of the steppe zone of Ukraine.
Current State of Coenopopulations of Some Rare Endemic Species in Navoi Region, Uzbekistan
Authors: Rakhimova Tashkhanim , Rakhimova Nodira , Sharipova Vasila , Beshko Natalya , Rizamat Hayitov
Published: December 2021

The problem of preserving the biological diversity of the Earth is attracting increasing attention of the world scientific community. Rare plant species, as the most vulnerable part of the flora, are under the greatest threat of extinction. In the study of this group of plants, population methods are increasingly being used. Revealing the number, structure, efficiency of self-renewal and resistance of populations of rare plants in relation to anthropogenic influences creates the basis for developing effective measures for their protection. The aim of the study was to assess the current state of coenopopulations of some rare endemic species – Acantholimon nuratavicum Zakirov ex Lincz. (Plumbaginaceae), Cousinia pseudolanata Popov ex Tscherneva (Asteraceae), Lepidolopha nuratavica Krasch. (Asteraceae) included in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. The results showed that in the ecological–coenotic conditions of the Navoi region, the studied coenopopulations are normal and incomplete. Ontogenetic spectra of coenopopulations are centred and left sided, with a peak for middle-aged and young generative individuals, which is associated with the ecological conditions of habitation and anthropogenic pressure.
A Missed Opportunity? Transylvania as a Virtual Central Europe
Authors: Boka László
Published: December 2021

The article focuses on the analysis of the ideas of Aladár Kuncz, a writer, literary critic and editor who defined Transylvanian Hungarian literature after 1918 in a European context. The concept of Transylvanism is discussed through the debates of the interwar period, and is situated within the context of Hungarian literary modernism. In the light of the Transylvanian literary ideas of the 1920s and 1930s, minority / regional literatures would have been directly related to a new concept of European and world literature beyond national literatures, along a line of thought that acknowledged the deterministic character of regionalism, and prioritized it also at the level of cultural memory, considering it to be primary over linguistic, national, and the changing geographical boundaries. These endeavours sought to revive an emphatic idea of Central Europe with its strict ideals of quality besides strong local, decentralized, yet transnational aspirations, while making them compatible with the preservation of linguistic and cultural ties with the three traditional Transylvanian nations. The article also discusses the reasons why, in the midst of the 1930s, facing political restrictions, the literary form of Transylvanism became outdated in the eye of the younger generations of the Hungarian community.
Components of Belonging in Two Finno-Ugric Minority Literatures
Authors: Molnár Bodrogi Enikő
Published: December 2021

The topics of the present research are, in a larger sense, two multilingual and multicultural regions: the Tornio Valley in Northern Scandinavia and Transylvania in Eastern Europe. In a narrower sense, I am analysing two novels written in minority languages, a Transylvanian Hungarian novel written by Károly Molter, entitled Tibold Márton and a novel written in Meänkieli by Bengt Pohjanen, Jopparikuninkhaan poika (The Smuggler King’s Son). I attempt to answer two main research questions: 1. How is the belonging of the two main characters to a different language and ethnic group presented in the analysed Hungarian and Meänkieli novels? 2. How can the borders between “us” and “them” be constructed through inclusion and exclusion and how can they be crossed at the individual level? I will thus concentrate on some aspects of the narratives of inclusion and exclusion, as represented in the above-mentioned novels.
Difficulties in Reading Comprehension of Hungarian Primary School Students in Slovakia
Authors: Gergelyová Viktória , Vančo Ildikó
Published: December 2021

Our study aimed to assess the level of reading comprehension, one of the cornerstones of education of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, and to answer the research question of what kind of deficits need to be addressed in the development of reading comprehension. The research was conducted with the participation of students from primary schools with Hungarian as the language of instruction in Slovakia. In our study, we shed light on the problems found in cognitive reasoning, accurate interpretation of information and complex reading comprehension. The extent to which the development of new cognitive schemata caused problems for the studied groups was also investigated. In several cases, the responses were not based on textual information, but only on the respondents’ existing schemas. The results also show that it was a problem for the learners to answer both the multiple-choice questions and the open-ended and explanatory questions.
Living on the both sides of an invisible border – the impacts of Covid-19 in the Tornio River Valley
Authors: Ruotsala Helena
Published: December 2021

In her article “Living on the both sides of an invisible border – the impacts of Covid-19 in the Tornio River Valley” Helena Ruotsala discusses what impacts the Covid-19 had in the cross-border region between Finland and Sweden. She uses concepts of transnationalism and multilocality when studying local everyday life. The area is divided by a national border, which has been invisible until March 2020, but when Covid-19 spread over the nations, Finland and Sweden, the border became visible and was marked by a riot fence. The effects of Covid-19 and closing the border from the point of view of local inhabitants are discussed in this article.
Geographical Distribution of the Traditional Dance Culture in Mezőség
Authors: Varga Sándor
Published: December 2021

The exact definition of the Mezőség/Câmpia Transilvaniei/Transylvanian Plain, hereafter Plain, as a region with an independent folk culture having a coherent internal structure is still a subject of debate among ethnographers. Some of them regard certain small regions (Borsa/Borșa Valley, Kis and Nagy Szamos/Someșul Mic și Someșul Mare etc.) as belonging to the Mezőség/Plain, while others do not. I distinguish a central group of the villages in the Mezőség/Plain region (Belső-Mezőség or Central Plain: e.g. Visa/Vișea, Magyarpalatka/Pălatca, Katona/Cătina, Pusztakamarás/Cămăraşu) from the rest of the territory, similarly to György Martin, István Pávai and László Barabás, relying on material culture and folklore research, as well as my own investigations. When advancing outward from this core area, the concentric circle of so-called peripheral areas follow (the West, North, East and South Plain/Mezőség), reaching the boundaries on the edges of the region: Nagy Szamos/Someșul Mare Valley, Lápos/Lăpuș Valley, Sajó/Șieu Valley, Maros/Mureş Valley, Marosszéki1 Mezőség/Mureș Seat Plain, Erdőalja/Sub Pădure area, Borsa/Borșa Valley, and Kis Szamos/Someșul Mic Valley. A further, smaller group of villages can be distinguished in the area of Belső-Mezőség/Central Plain by their dance and music culture; for the regular weekend dance events of these villages, organised by local youths in the 1960s, Roma musicians of Magyarpalatka/Pălatca would play the music. I assign the name Palatka dance district to this area in my paper.
Bandwidth and Common Mode Optimization for Current and Voltage Sources in Bioimpedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Menden Tobias , Matuszczyk Jascha , Leonhardt Steffen , Walter Marian
Published: December 2021

Bioimpedance measurements use current or voltage sources to inject an excitation signal into the body. These sources require a high bandwidth, typically from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. Besides a low common mode, current limitation is necessary for patient safety. In this paper, we compare a symmetric enhanced Howland current source (EHCS) and a symmetric voltage source (VS) based on a non-inverting amplifier between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. A common mode reduction circuit has been implemented in both sources. The bandwidth of each source was optimized in simulations and achieved a stable output impedance over the whole frequency range. In laboratory measurements, the output impedance of the EHCS had its -3 dB point at 400 kHz. In contrast, the VS reached the +3 dB point at 600 kHz. On average over the observed frequency range, the active common mode compensation achieved a common mode rejection of -57.7 dB and -71.8 dB for the EHCS and VS, respectively. Our modifications to classical EHCS and VS circuits achieved a low common mode signal between 1 kHz and 1 MHz without the addition of complex circuitry, like general impedance converters. As a conclusion we found VSs to be superior to EHCSs for bioimpedance spectroscopy due to the higher bandwidth performance. However, this only applies if the injected current of the VS can be measured.
Same Degree of Intensification with Different Degrees of Sentential Projections
Authors: Xiong Jiajuan , Hsieh Feng-fan
Published: December 2021

In Chengdu Chinese, degree intensifiers for APs/VPs are attested to pair with three different types of sentence-final particles (SFPs), i.e., the FinP-level, the FocP-level and the ExclP-level SFPs, which function to complete a sentence, encode a focus and express exclamation. In our analysis, a degree intensifier projects a DegP, which pairs with one of the three sentential projections, viz., FinP, FocP and ExclP. This pairing is motivated by feature checking, as intensifiers contain the uninterpretable semantic features of [+Fin], [+Foc] or [+Excl], which need to be checked by sentential projections. Due to the inalienable sentential functions, intensifiers are barred from occurring in any kind of non-finite contexts. Furthermore, FinP and FocP are within the vP-domain, whereas ExclP is in the CP domain. Thus, ExclP-type intensifiers, unlike FinP-type and FocP-type intensifiers, defy relativization. This study of associating degree intensification with sentential functions not only explains the syntactic behaviors of Chengdu intensifiers but also sheds new light on the well-known Mandarin hen puzzle.
A comprehensive Monte Carlo study to design a novel multi-nanoparticle loaded nanocomposites for augmentation of attenuation coefficient in the energy range of diagnostic X-rays
Authors: Sayyadi Elahe , Mesbahi Asghar , Zamiri Reza Eghdam , Nejad Farshad Seyyed
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the radiation protection properties of silicon-based composites doped with nano-sized Bi2O3, PbO, Sm2O3, Gd2O3, WO3, and IrO2 particles. Radiation shielding properties of Sm2O3 and IrO2 nanoparticles were investigated for the first time in the current study.

Material and methods: The MCNPX (2.7.0) Monte Carlo code was utilized to calculate the linear attenuation coefficients of single and multi-nano structured composites over the X-ray energy range of 10–140 keV. Homogenous distribution of spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of 100 nm in a silicon rubber matrix was simulated. The narrow beam geometry was used to calculate the photon flux after attenuation by designed nanocomposites.

Results: Based on results obtained for single nanoparticle composites, three combinations of different nano-sized fillers Sm2O3+WO3+Bi2O3, Gd2O3+WO3+Bi2O3, and Sm2O3+WO3+PbO were selected, and their shielding properties were estimated. In the energy range of 20-60 keV Sm2O3 and Gd2O3 nanoparticles, in 70-100 keV energy range WO3 and for photons energy higher than 90 keV, PbO and Bi2O3 nanoparticles showed higher attenuation. Despite its higher density, IrO2 had lower attenuation compared to other nanocomposites. The results showed that the nanocomposite containing Sm2O3, WO3, and Bi2O3 nanoparticles provided better shielding among the studied samples.

Conclusions: All studied multi-nanoparticle nanocomposites provided optimum shielding properties and almost 8% higher attenuation relative to single nano-based composites over a wide range of photon energy used in diagnostic radiology. Application of these new composites is recommended in radiation protection. Further experimental studies are suggested to validate our findings.
Empirical method for modeling the percent depth dose curves of electron beam in radiation therapy
Authors: Chen Dong-Ji , Zhang Yan-Shan , Ye Yan-Cheng , Wu Jia-Ming
Published: December 2021

Introduction: This study presents an empirical method to model the electron beam percent depth dose curve (PDD) using the primary and tail functions in radiation therapy. The modeling parameters N and n can be used to derive the depth relative stopping power of the electron energy in radiation therapy.

Methods and Materials: The electrons PDD curves were modeled with the primary-tail function in this study. The primary function included exponential function and main parameters of N, µ while the tail function was composed by a sigmoid function with the main parameter of n. The PDD for five electron energies were modeled by the primary and tail function by adjusting the parameters of N, µ and n. The R50 and Rp can be derived from the modeled straight line of 80% to 20% region of PDD. The same electron energy with different cone sizes was also modeled with the primary-tail function. The stopping power for different electron energies at different depths can also be derived from the parameters of N, µ and n. Percent ionization depth curve can then be derived from the percent depth dose by dividing its depth relevant stopping power for comparing with the original water phantom measurement.

Results: The main parameters N, n increase, but µ decreases in primary-tail function when electron energy increased. The relationship of parameters n, N and LN(-µ) with electron energy are n = 31.667 E0 - 88, N = 0.9975 E0 - 2.8535, LN(-µ) = -0.1355 E0 - 6.0986, respectively. Stopping power of different electron energy can be derived from n and N with the equation: stopping power = (−0.042 ln N
E
0
+ 1.072)e(−n−E0·5·10−5+0.0381·d), where d is the depth in water. Percent depth dose was derived from the percent reading curve by multiplying the stopping power relevant to the depth in water at certain electron energy.

Conclusion: The PDD of electrons at different energies and field sizes can be modeled with an empirical model to deal with the stopping power calculation. The primary-tail equation provides a uncomplicated solution than a pencil beam or other numerical algorism for investigators to research the behavior of electron beam in radiation therapy.
Women’s health in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Do sex and gender matter?
Authors: Zembala-John Joanna
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 epidemic has negatively affected all spheres of life, leading to the deterioration of health and quality of life. Although it has affected both men and women, it has had an extraordinary impact on the latter, exposing and exacerbating the existing health inequalities among those groups.

There is increasing evidence that both sex and gender-related factors make women more prone to the harmful effects of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is expected that the crisis caused by coronavirus will have long-term severe medical, social, and economic consequences in this population. This paper aimed to investigate the key factors contributing to the different outcomes of COVID-19 in men and women and present multi-dimensional effects of coronavirus pandemic from the perspective of women.

Sex and gender differences must not be ignored in analyzing the impact of COVID-19. Sex/gender-oriented approach should be implemented in all public health actions: from collecting sex-disaggregated data to designing tailored repair post-COVID policies.
Slaughter Results, Meat Chemical Composition and pH of Aberdinangus, Hereford and Limousin bulls
Authors: Muizniece Inga , Kairisa Daina
Published: December 2021

Beef production must combine the interests of both producers and consumers, taking into account the sustainable use of environmental resources. The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the slaughter results, meet chemical composition and pH value of three beef breeds – Aberdinangus (AA), Hereford (HF) and Limousin (LI) bulls. The bulls were fattened on Latvian and Lithuanian farms, mainly using grass forage.

The breed and age of bulls before slaughter significantly affected all slaughter results, except for fat class. From the meat chemical composition traits, the bull breed and age before slaughter had a significant effect only on the protein content. LI bulls showed the highest carcass weight 301.1±6.8 kg (p<0.05), dressing percentage 58.2±1.1% (p<0.05) and conformation score 3.56±0.18 points. The best fattened carcasses were obtained from AA bulls - 2.43±0.20 points. Muscle samples of musculus longissimus (M. longissimus) bulls of LI breed showed higher content of moisture (72.0±1.0%), protein (23.0±0.2%), ash (1.1±0.0%) and cholesterol (56.7±6.6 mg 100 g−1). AA breed bulls showed higher total fat (6.6±1.2%) and iron content (13.1±0.6 mg). The highest pH was observed in the meat obtained from AA bulls – 6.0±0.1, LI and HF breed bulls showed pH 5.8±0.0 and 5.8±0.1 respectively. Correlation analysis showed a significant, strong positive correlation between cold carcass weight and dressing percentage for AA and LI bulls, r=0.90 and r=0.88, respectively. For LI breed bulls, a strong positive correlation was also found between the cold carcass weight and the conformation score (r=0.98, p<0.01).
Creating a Regulatory Framework for the ESG-investment in the Multimodal Transportation Development
Authors: Datsii Oleksandr , Levchenko Nataliia , Shyshkanova Ganna , Platonov Oleg , Abuselidze George
Published: December 2021

The work states that the strategic guideline for building an effective competitive national transport system and prosperous using Ukrainian multimodal potential is the formation of a regulatory environment for scaling ESG-investment in the context of transformation to a “climate-neutral” economy. The absence of a unified methodology for (assessment) scoring ESG-direction of business as the basis for decision-making on ESG-investment is established in the world and national practice. For the first time, the author’s model of scoring trends and regularities of business development is proposed in accordance with ESG-principles, in contrast to traditional trend dynamic models, which identifies and iteratively conceptualizes processes by the set of ESG-indicator components determined using the cocoupling-analysis toolkit (tools for assessing the cocoupling-effect). A classification of the cocoupling-effect has been developed and each of its types has been characterized. Possible options for ESG-effectiveness of business are identified, which conditionally correspond to the four zones of the ESG-investment decision-making matrix. A research on the expected cocoupling-effect of ESG-investment in the multimodal transportation development is carried out to validate the feasibility of implementation the author’s scoring model for the ESG-direction of business and obtaining realistic results according to the data of the International Energy Agency and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. An effective measures arsenal of creating the regulatory framework for ESG-investment in the multimodal transportation development is identified and a Roadmap is proposed for their high-quality implementation, which would ensure positive changes in Ukraine’s position in the world ranking of countries by multimodal potential usage efficiency.
Opportunities for Commercialization of High-Protein Barley: Case of New Variety ‘Kornelija’
Authors: Auziņš Alberts , Leimane Ieva , Bleidere Māra , Šterna Vita , Krieviņa Agnese
Published: December 2021

The objective of the study was to define the main opportunities and challenges for the commercialization of the new hulless barley variety ‘Kornelija’ arising from its biochemical and farming profile, and to present the evaluation for the approach to a new high protein-based payment system. Unlike the agricultural profile with both advantages and disadvantages, the variety shows distinctive grain quality and biochemical properties. Although there is a growing demand for high-nutrition and plant-based protein foods, farmers are focused on yield potential, not the nutritional value of cereals. By paying for the grains of ‘Kornelija’ the price that is equal or higher than winter wheat referenced break-even price, food processors would both motivate farmers to grow the variety and obtain grains with much higher protein content, and significantly higher β-glucans content than winter wheat to produce functional foods for a price that is close to the price of winter wheat.
A Case-study: Temperature Distribution and Heat Penetration in Steam-air Retort, Using Glass Jars and Retort Pouches
Authors: Raits Evalds , Pinte Lasma , Kirse-Ozolina Asnate , Muizniece-Brasava Sandra
Published: December 2021

Retort thermal sterilization of canned food is a technology, which allows preserving food products by applying heat on packaged food in retorts (autoclaves) at temperatures up to 121 °C. The thermodynamics of the processes in the retort are influenced by the product stacking method in the basket and packaging material. The aims of this study were: 1) to analyse and compare temperature distribution (TD) and the slowest to heat location in the steam-air retort stacked with glass jars and with retort pouches; 2) to analyse and compare commercial product heat penetration (HP) characteristics in glass jars and retort pouches. Temperature measurements were performed with wireless thermocouples. The come-up time (heating phase) required to achieve in the retort temperature uniformity criteria of ±0.5 °C, is 28 min when the retort is stacked with glass jars, and 24 min when the retort is stacked with retort pouches. Total calculated process time (holding phase), necessary to achieve the sterilization value (F0 of 3 min), for sample in glass jars was 67 min, but in retort pouches – 62 min. The overall sterilization process time difference between two considered packaging types was 9 min, which is significant amount of time in the context of commercial processing. The study clearly shows the necessity to perform the Temperature Distribution and Heat Penetration study, as each packaging material, stacking method and product will affect sterilization process thermodynamics and, therefore, the overall process time and consequently - the safety of food product.
Diagnostic performance of apparent diffusion coefficient values for the differentiation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma liver metastases
Authors: Yilmaz Temel Fatih , Gultekin Mehmet Ali , Turk Hacı Mehmet , Besiroglu Mehmet , Cesme Dilek Hacer , Simsek Melih , Alkan Alpay , Toprak Huseyin
Published: December 2021

Background

We aimed to investigate whether there is a difference between intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) and liver metastases of gastrointestinal system (GIS) adenocarcinoma in terms of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.

Patients and methods

From January 2018 to January 2020, we retrospectively examined 64 consecutive patients with liver metastases due to gastrointestinal system adenocarcinomas and 13 consecutive IHCC in our hospital’s medical records. After exclusions, fifty-three patients with 53 liver metastases and 10 IHCC were included in our study. We divided the patients into two groups as IHCC and liver metastases of GIS adenocarcinoma. For mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) values, the region of interests (ROI) was placed in solid portions of the lesions. ADCmean values of groups were compared.

Results

The mean age of IHCC group was 62.50 ± 13.49 and mean age of metastases group was 61.15 ± 9.18. ADCmean values were significantly higher in the IHCC group compared to the metastatic group (p < 0.001). ROC curves method showed high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.879) with cut-off value of < 1178 x 10-6 mm2/s for ADCmean (Sensitivity = 90.57, Specificity = 70.0, positive predictive value [PPV] = 94.1, negative predictive value [NPV] = 58.3) in differentiating adenocarcinoma metastases from IHCC.

Conclusions

The present study results suggest that ADC values have a potential role for differentiation between IHCC and GIS adenocarcinoma liver metastases which may be valuable for patient management.
Design for learning in the third space: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Ferrari Simona , Triacca Serena , Braga Gianluca
Published: December 2021

Many educational agents offer paths that allow school to turn itself into a ‘third space’. Caritas Ambrosiana, based on a ‘pedagogy of facts’, proposes interventions to promote soft skills in schools. This non-formal education agency committed Research Center about Media Education, Innovation and Technology (CREMIT) of Catholic University for a project to improve their school programme and training effectiveness. We chose the participatory action research paradigm to verify how to design an educational path by applying third-space principles in the school context and how digital media can be embedded into the practice to enable a more porous exchange of experiences and expertise between students, educators and the school curriculum.

The accompanying plan was designed on the basis of the initial questionnaire data analysis: sociomateriality was the main focus because it was considered by Caritas educators as one of the least important elements to include in the design process. The second reason is the need to rethink on-site training formats to face the challenges of the Covid-19 emergency.

As expected, after the training intervention, sociomateriality had a significant growth in the design practices. The other third-space pedagogy elements (peering, experiential orientation, motivation, pleasure of making together) are maintained and reinforced, thanks to digital literacy.
Stress-weighted spatial averaging of random fields in geotechnical risk assessment
Authors: Brząkała Włodzimierz
Published: December 2021

Effects of spatial fluctuations of soil parameters are considered in a new context – considering variability of soil parameters in conjunction with non-uniform stress fields, which can locally amplify (or suppress) subsoil inhomogeneities. In this way, several design situations for the Coulomb frictional material with random tan(φ(x)) reveal a reduction of variance, which is less significant than for the standard volume averaging. When looking for an ‘effective’ random variable [tan(φ)]a – that is, a random variable, which is equivalent to the random field tan(φ(
x
)) – the Vanmarcke averaging by simple volume integrals is insufficient; it systematically overestimates effects of variance reduction, thus causing potentially unsafe situations. The new proposed approach is coherent, formally defined and more realistic.
Divagations on the Appropriate Satellite System from GNSS for Aviation
Authors: Fellner Andrzej , Konieczka Robert
Published: December 2021

American military satellite GPS system is an element of the global GNSS. It emits two codes: the precise and civil one. As late as in 2000, intentional interference that decreased precision of localization was introduced, allowing navigation accuracy of 20 m. GPS was made available to civil users, however, at their own responsibility. So, if we use GPS for our own goals, we must consider the errors that occur and their consequences. Nonetheless, commercial and operational needs determine the necessity of permanent access to satellite signal with appropriate consistency, accessibility, reliability and precision. Hence, natural and intentional errors are compensated for, using appropriate methods, based on a given activity.
Possibilities of Building Connection of M.R. Štefánik Airport to the ŽSR Network
Authors: Bulková Zdenka , Gašparík Jozef , Zitrický Vladislav
Published: December 2021

The current conditions of the railway infrastructure near the M. R. Štefánik Airport is analysed as unsatisfactory. The current form of the railway infrastructure of the monitored area is not adapted to the creation of a suitable place for boarding and alighting of passengers. The point determined for boarding and alighting of passengers must be at a reasonable distance from the M. R. Štefánik Airport terminal. This distance must be able to be overcome by walking so that it is not necessary to use another mode of transport to move between these places. The article deals with the possibilities of connecting of M. R. Štefánik Airport to the ŽSR network. The basis for the proposal to connect M. R. Štefánik Airport with a suitable infrastructure ŽSR network within the framework of railway passenger transport is the determination of a suitable transfer point. One of the logical priorities is to place the transfer point as close as possible to the air transport terminal of the M. R. Štefánik Airport within the space possibilities and technical conditions.