bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The roles of housing, financial, and food insecurities in understanding the relationship between childhood neglect and violence in adulthood
Authors: Schuck Amie M. , Widom Cathy Spatz
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study is to determine whether basic housing, financial, and food insecurities in part explain the relationship between childhood neglect and violence as documented in the “cycle of violence” literature. Using a prospective cohort design, neglected children (under the age of 12) with court substantiated histories (1967–1971) in one metropolitan Midwest area and demographically matched non-neglected children were followed into adulthood. Housing, financial, and food insecurities were assessed in 2003–2005 interviews at mean age 41. Official arrest data were used to measure violence ever and from 2003 through 2013. Mediation was tested using probit structural equation modeling. Controlling for age, sex, and race, childhood neglect predicted violent arrests and housing, financial, and food insecurities in middle adulthood. Housing and financial securities predicted violent arrests ever and after 2003, whereas food insecurity only predicted any violent arrest ever. Housing and financial insecurities partially mediated the relationship between childhood neglect and violent criminal behavior. Greater attention and efforts need to focus on providing basic housing, financial, and food support for neglected children to reduce their risk for violent criminal behavior.
Association between reduced visual-motor integration performance and socioeconomic factors among preschool children in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Hairol Mohd Izzuddin , Nordin Naufal , P’ng Jacqueline , Sharanjeet-Kaur Sharanjeet , Narayanasamy Sumithira , Mohd-Ali Manisah , Ahmad Mahadir , Kadar Masne
Published: March 2021

Visual-motor integration (VMI) is related to children’s academic performance and school readiness. VMI scores measured using the Beery-Bucktenicka Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI) can differ due to differences in cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. This study compared the VMI scores of Malaysian preschoolers with the corresponding US norms and determined the association between their VMI scores and socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 preschoolers (mean age: 5.95±0.47 years; age range: 5.08–6.83 years) from randomly selected public and private preschools. VMI scores were measured using Beery-VMI in the preschools’ classrooms. Information on the socioeconomic characteristics of the preschoolers was obtained using a parent-report questionnaire. One sample t-test was used to compare their VMI scores with the corresponding US norms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on the preschoolers’ VMI scores. Overall, Malaysian preschoolers’ VMI performance was similar to the US standardized norms (p>0.05). Children from low-income families were twice likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those from higher-income families (OR = 2.47, 95%CI 1.05, 5.86). Children enrolled at public preschools were more likely to obtain a lower than average VMI score than those who enrolled at private preschools (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Children who started preschool at the age of six were more likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those who started at an earlier age (OR = 4.66, 95%CI 1.97, 11.04). Low maternal education level was also associated with lower than average VMI score (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Malaysian preschoolers’ Beery-VMI performance compared well to their US counterparts. Some socioeconomic factors were associated with reduced VMI scores. Those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have reduced VMI performance, potentially adversely affecting their school readiness, cognitive performance, and future academic achievements.
Social distancing beliefs and human mobility: Evidence from Twitter
Authors: Porcher Simon , Renault Thomas
Published: March 2021

We construct a novel database containing hundreds of thousands geotagged messages related to the COVID-19 pandemic sent on Twitter. We create a daily index of social distancing—at the state level—to capture social distancing beliefs by analyzing the number of tweets containing keywords such as “stay home”, “stay safe”, “wear mask”, “wash hands” and “social distancing”. We find that an increase in the Twitter index of social distancing on day t-1 is associated with a decrease in mobility on day t. We also find that state orders, an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, precipitation and temperature contribute to reducing human mobility. Republican states are also less likely to enforce social distancing. Beliefs shared on social networks could both reveal the behavior of individuals and influence the behavior of others. Our findings suggest that policy makers can use geotagged Twitter data—in conjunction with mobility data—to better understand individual voluntary social distancing actions.
Potential interactions between Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers in the Western Mediterranean: The geochronological data revisited
Authors: Perrin Thomas , Manen Claire
Published: March 2021

In the Western Mediterranean, the Neolithic mainly developed and expanded during the sixth millennium BCE. In these early phases, it generally spread through the displacement of human groups, sometimes over long distances, as shown, for example, by the Impressa sites documented on the northern shores. These groups then settled new territories which they gradually appropriated and exploited. The question of their potential interaction with groups of Late Mesolithic hunter-gatherers living in the area prior to their arrival is therefore crucial. Were their encounters based on conflict and resistance or, on the contrary, on exchange and reciprocity? Many hypotheses have been put forward on this matter and many papers written. Before we can consider these potential interactions however, we must first ascertain that these different human groups really did meet—an implicit assumption in all these studies, which is, in reality, much less certain than one might think. The population density of the Late Mesolithic groups varied greatly throughout the Mediterranean, and it is possible that some areas were relatively devoid of human presence. Before any Neolithization scenarios can be considered, we must therefore first determine exactly which human groups were present in a given territory at a given time. The precise mapping of sites and the chronological modeling of their occupation enriches our understanding of the Neolithization process by allowing high-resolution regional models to be developed, which alone can determine the timing of potential interactions between Mesolithic and Neolithic groups. Various international research programs have recently produced several hundred new radiocarbon dates, based on selected samples from controlled contexts. The geochronological modelling of these data at the scale of the Western Mediterranean shows contrasting situations, probably related to different social and environmental processes. These results suggest that we should consider a varied range of Neolithization mechanisms, rather than uniform or even binary models.
Spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging of cervical tissue composition in excised human samples
Authors: Yan Yan , Basij Maryam , Garg Alpana , Varrey Aneesha , Alhousseini Ali , Hsu Richard , Hernandez-Andrade Edgar , Romero Roberto , Hassan Sonia S. , Mehrmohammadi Mohammad
Published: March 2021

Objective

Cervical remodeling is an important component in determining the pathway of parturition; therefore, assessing changes in cervical tissue composition may provide information about the cervix’s status beyond the measurement of cervical length. Photoacoustic imaging is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technology that captures acoustic signals emitted by tissue components in response to laser pulses. This optical information allows for the determination of the collagen-to-water ratio (CWR). The purpose of this study was to compare the CWR evaluated by using spectroscopic photoacoustic (sPA) imaging in cervical samples obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Methods

This cross-sectional study comprised cervical biopsies obtained at the time of hysterectomy (n = 8) and at the scheduled cesarean delivery in pregnant women at term who were not in labor (n = 8). The cervical CWR was analyzed using a fiber-optic light-delivery system integrated to an ultrasound probe. The photoacoustic signals were acquired within the range of wavelengths that cover the peak absorption of collagen and water. Differences in the CWR between cervical samples from pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed. Hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius Red stains were used to compare the collagen content of cervical samples in these two groups.

Results

Eight cervix samples were obtained after hysterectomy, four from women ≤41 years of age and four from women ≥43 years of age; all cervical samples (n = 8) from pregnant women were obtained after 37 weeks of gestation at the time of cesarean section. The average CWR in cervical tissue samples from pregnant women was 18.7% (SD 7.5%), while in samples from non-pregnant women, it was 55.0% (SD 20.3%). There was a significantly higher CWR in the non-pregnant group compared to the pregnant group with a p-value <0.001. A subgroup analysis that compared the CWR in cervical samples from pregnant women and non-pregnant women ≤41 years of age (mean 46.3%, SD 23.1%) also showed a significantly higher CWR (p <0.01). Lower collagen content in the pregnancy group was confirmed by histological analysis, which revealed the loss of tissue composition, increased water content, and collagen degradation.

Conclusion

The proposed bimodal ultrasound and sPA imaging system can provide information on the biochemical composition of cervical tissue in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Photoacoustic imaging showed a higher collagen content in cervical samples from non-pregnant women as compared to those from pregnant women, which matched with the histological analysis. This novel imaging method envisions a new potential for a sensitive diagnostic tool in the evaluation of cervical tissue composition.
AB569, a non-toxic combination of acidified nitrite and EDTA, is effective at killing the notorious Iraq/Afghanistan combat wound pathogens, multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter spp.
Authors: Bogue Amy L. , Panmanee Warunya , McDaniel Cameron T. , Mortensen Joel E. , Kamau Edwin , Actis Luis A. , Johannigman Jay A. , Schurr Michael J. , Satish Latha , Kotagiri Nalinikanth , Hassett Daniel J.
Published: March 2021

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) and Acinetobacter spp. present monumental global health challenges. These organisms represent model Gram-negative pathogens with known antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming properties. Herein, a novel, nontoxic biocide, AB569, consisting of acidified nitrite (A-NO2-) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), demonstrated bactericidal activity against all Ab and Acinetobacter spp. strains, respectively. Average fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) of 0.25 mM EDTA plus 4 mM A-NO2- were observed across several clinical reference and multiple combat wound isolates from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Importantly, toxicity testing on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) revealed an upper toxicity limit of 3 mM EDTA plus 64 mM A-NO2-, and thus are in the therapeutic range for effective Ab and Acinetobacter spp. treatment. Following treatment of Ab strain ATCC 19606 with AB569, quantitative PCR analysis of selected genes products to be responsive to AB569 revealed up-regulation of iron regulated genes involved in siderophore production, siderophore biosynthesis non-ribosomal peptide synthetase module (SBNRPSM), and siderophore biosynthesis protein monooxygenase (SBPM) when compared to untreated organisms. Taken together, treating Ab infections with AB569 at inhibitory concentrations reveals the potential clinical application of preventing Ab from gaining an early growth advantage during infection followed by extensive bactericidal activity upon subsequent exposures.
Analysis of adherence to treatment of patients with osteoporosis in the Omsk region (based on materials from the regional Center for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
Authors: Vilms Elena A. , Dobrovolskaya Evgeniya V. , Turchaninova Maria S. , Bykova Elena A.
Published: March 2021

Background.Non-adherence to treatment, especially in chronic conditions, is a significant problem facing clinical medicine. Failure to adhere to treatment recommendations is often noted in the treatment of osteoporosis, which reduces the effectiveness of anti-osteoporotic drugs and a set of measures to prevent the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures.

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the adherence of patients of the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis to treatment with anti-osteoporotic drugs of pathogenetic action.

Materials and methods.This continuous observational study analyzed the adherence to long-term anti-osteoporotic therapy of patients observed at the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis, the reasons for discontinuing treatment, doctors’ preferences in prescribing anti-osteoporotic therapy, reasons for changing the anti-osteoporotic drug. The study period is from July to December 2019.

Results.During the analyzed period, 625 patients turned to the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. The preferences of doctors when prescribing anti-osteoporotic therapy have changed: the proportion of prescriptions for zoledronic acid and denosumab increased, mainly due to a reduction in the prescriptions of strontium ranelate, as well as risendronic acid, teriparatide, and calcitonin was no longer prescribed. Among 370 patients who received a therapeutic appointment (with an already known outcome of a therapeutic appointment), 40.0 ± 2.5% were non-compliant. Including: 9.7 ± 1.5% did not start taking the drug, interrupted the course ahead of schedule — 28.7 ± 2.4%. The termination of the course of therapy in 57.7% of cases was unauthorized, in another 42.3% it was associated with side effects. Patients started and continued further therapy with the initially prescribed drug in 53.8% of cases. As expected, the best adherence rates were found for drugs with parenteral administration once a year (zoledronic acid).

Conclusions.Comparative analysis of the prescriptions of the main drugs of the pathogenetic action of patients of the center for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis showed low compliance.
High-doses of cholecalciferol for vitamin D deficiency treatment: results of an open-label, multicenter, comparative, randomized trial
Authors: Rozhinskaya Liudmila Y. , Pigarova Ekaterina A. , Bagretsova Anastasia A. , Verbovoy Andrey F. , Kondratyeva Natalia G. , Vasilevskaya Olga A. , Vasilyuk Vasily B. , Manko Maria V. , Shunkov Victor B. , Grebennikova Tatiana A.
Published: March 2021

Background: Vitamin D deficiency have serious medical, social and economic consequences for human health and require timely diagnosis and adequate correction.

Aim: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of therapy with Fortedetrim soft capsules (MEDANA PHARMA AO, Poland) using saturating and maintenance doses compared to therapy with Vigantol®, an oily solution for oral administration (Merck KGaA, Germany) in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Materials and methods: The study included 150 patients with vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/ml) aged 18 to 75 years, who were randomized into 3 groups in a 1:1:1 ratio (50 people each). Fortedetrim capsules were used in two groups during the first four weeks 50,000 IU once a week (5 capsules 10,000 IU each) and 56,000 IU — 8,000 IU daily (2 capsules 4000 IU), and Vigantol® was used in the comparison group 1000 IU daily (2 drops). Over the next 12 weeks, patients received supportive therapy — in the first group, Fortedetrim 10,000 IU was used once a week, in the second — Fortedetrim 2,000 IU daily (14,000 IU per week); the comparison group continued to take Vigantol® 1000 IU daily.

Results: As a result of evaluating the data on the results of stages I and II of the clinical study Fortedetrim in comparison with Vigantol®, the hypothesis was proved that the high-dose drug Fortedetrim (capsules of 2000, 4000 and 10000 IU) is superior to the drug Vigantol® (drops, 1000 IU daily). Nevertheless, it should be noted that long-term intake of colecalciferol at a dose of 1000 IU daily by 20 weeks allowed 36% of participants to reach a level of 30 ng/ml, but this is significantly less than in groups using high-dose drugs. There were no differences in the number of adverse events during the study, their degree and the relationship with drug intake between the treatment and comparison groups.

Conclusion: The use of the drug Fortedetrim in saturating doses is effective and safe for the treatment of adult patients with vitamin D deficiency. However, an individual approach to its replenishment is required (taking into account compliance, the degree of obesity, impaired absorption of calcium and vitamin D), since not all patients in the applied saturation regimes, the target values of vitamin D in the blood were reached.
Сборник тезисов VII Российского конгресса по остеопорозу. Часть 2
Authors: Editorial Article
Published: March 2021

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When Immigration Becomes a Necessity. ROC Immigration Policy – Lessons for Europe
Authors: Potyrała Anna
Published: March 2021

Migration issues have been at the forefront of international discussions since 2015. They have been considered from the perspective of both human rights and the interests of individual states. The latter seem to have prevailed, leading to a kind of offensive against admittance of third-country nationals. Restrictive regulations introduced into national legislations, combined with reluctance towards international legal initiatives promoting concerted efforts to assist and protect migrants and eliminate the underlying causes of migrations, have resulted in adoption of zero-tolerance immigration policies. In this paper, the author sets out to assess the immigration policy of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Having recognized that its labor shortages cannot be compensated for by internal migration, the country has significantly remodeled its approach to immigration. The answer to the question about the relevance and efficiency of the proposed legal solutions will be used to indicate possible solutions for EU Member States planning to reform the common migration and asylum policies. The analysis uses methods commonly applied in social studies in general, and legal and political studies in particular. While legal analysis and systems analysis are the key research methods, comparative analysis has been used as well.
Europejska inicjatywa obywatelska – wyzwanie czy zmarnowana szansa?
Authors: Kużelewska Elżbieta
Published: March 2021

Celem artykułu jest analiza modyfikacji regulacji prawnych europejskiej inicjatywy obywatelskiej w kontekście efektywności i trafności nie tylko proponowanych rozwiązań prawnych, ale przede wszystkim skutecznego zastosowania jej w praktyce. Siedmioletnie doświadczenie funkcjonowania inicjatywy dowiodło jej nieskuteczności i potrzeby zmiany przepisów prawnych. Nowe rozporządzenie w tym zakresie wychodzi naprzeciw oczekiwaniom zwolenników inicjatywy. Pozostaje pytanie o skuteczność nowych przepisów prawnych w kontekście nowych perspektyw dla sprawnego funkcjonowania inicjatywy jako rzeczywistego wpływu obywateli UE na proces stanowienia prawa.
Suwerenność państw w międzynarodowych organizacjach integracyjnych
Authors: Popiuk-Rysińska Irena
Published: March 2021

Artykuł wpisuje się w nurt badań dotyczących suwerenności państw w międzynarodowych organizacjach integracyjnych, w których uczestnictwo wiąże się z największymi ograniczeniami w zakresie kompetencji i autonomii państw, w porównaniu z udziałem w innego typu organizacjach. Zostaje wyjaśnione pojęcie suwerenności, zwracając uwagę na jej wymiar prawny i polityczny, jak również międzynarodowej organizacji integracyjnej, która występuje tylko w grupie organizacji regionalnych. Artykuł zawiera analizę zróżnicowanego, z punktu widzenia suwerenności, usytuowania państw w organizacjach integracyjnych, w których stosowane są nowego typu rozwiązania instytucjonalne, w tym ponadnarodowe. Badania odnotowują znaczące zróżnicowanie rozwiązań instytucjonalnych, pokazujące, że modele zastosowane w Europie nie znajdują uniwersalnego zastosowania. Widoczne jest odmienne podejście do suwerenności w procesach integracyjnych i organizacjach międzynarodowych na Zachodzie oraz wśród państw rozwijających się, które większą wagę przywiązują do ochrony i zabezpieczenia suwerenności w ramach organizacji.
Survival and pleurodesis outcome in patients with malignant pleural effusion – a systematic review
Authors: Hassan Maged , Harriss Elinor , Mercer Rachel M. , Rahman Najib M.
Published: March 2021

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common condition that presents with progressive breathlessness. Long term solutions are often required due to recurrence of effusion after simple drainage. Pleurodesis is one of the main options resorted to for long term control of MPE. There is data to suggest there may be a survival benefit for patients with MPE who achieve successful pleurodesis. A systematic review was carried out to explore this correlation and results suggest that there could be a survival difference according to pleurodesis outcome in patients with MPE. Fifteen studies (reported in 13 papers) were included; 13 (86.6%) of the studies showed survival difference in favour of pleurodesis success. The median [interquartile range] difference in survival between the two groups among the different studies was five [3.5–5.8] months. Most of the included studies suffered moderate to severe risk of bias and, thus, large prospective studies of patients undergoing pleurodesis are required to ascertain this effect.
Mining historical texts for diachronic spelling variants
Authors: Graliński Filip , Jassem Krzysztof
Published: March 2021

The paper describes a method for finding diachronic spelling variants in a corpus that consists of historical and modern Polish texts. The procedure applies the Levenshtein distance and the similarity measure determined with a Word2vec model. The method was applied for both words and sub-word units. A sample of spelling variants was manually evaluated and compared against an existing morphological analyser for Polish historical texts. The resulting lists of spelling variants and spelling modernisation rules were used in a text modernisation tool and their contribution was evaluated.

The paper also presents an analogous method for finding spelling variants that result from erroneous OCR. The obtained lists of OCR variants and rules may serve for the correction of OCR output.
Microsphere-assisted interference microscopy for resolution enhancement
Authors: Hüser Lucie , Lehmann Peter
Published: March 2021

In order to push the limitations of optical measurement technology further and to measure finer structures, various systems have been published in current research. It has been shown that microspheres applied in the near-field can improve the resolution of an interferometric measuring system and make structures below Abbe’s resolution limit visible. In this study, measurement results obtained with a high-resolution Linnik interferometer show structures with lateral dimensions below the resolution limit. Furthermore, the analysis of the transfer behavior in the spatial frequency domain provides information about the mechanisms in nearfield-assisted interference microscopy by microspheres.
Discovery of novel obovatol-based phenazine analogs as potential antifungal agents: synthesis and biological evaluation in vitro
Authors: Yang Chun , Song Lili , Miao Zhong , Jiang Lingyun , Li Ting , Zhi Xiaoyan , Hao Xiaojuan , Cao Hui
Published: March 2021

To explore candidate fungicides from plant secondary metabolites, 16 novel obovatol-type phenazine derivatives were semi-synthesized from obovatol isolated from the leaves of Magnolia obovata Thunb. The antifungal activity of synthesized compounds was investigated in vitro against four phytopathogenic fungi using the spore germination method. The bioassay results showed that eight derivatives (8b, 8g, 8h–k, 8i′, and 8k′) exhibited better antifungal activity against Fusarium solani than two positive controls, especially compounds 8b (IC50 = 64.61 μg mL−1) and 8i′ (IC50 = 79.97 μg mL−1) showed pronounced inhibition of spore germination activity against F. solani. They could be used as lead compounds for further structural optimization. Additionally, the preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) illustrated that the introduction of a benzene ring monosubstituted with electron-withdrawing groups into the obovatol scaffold could lead to potentially antifungal compounds.
Understanding How Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in China Cope With HIV Care-Related Stressors
Authors: Li Chunyan , Giovenco Danielle , Dong Willa , Smith M. Kumi , Golin Carol E. , Fisher Edwin B. , Lei Gang , Jiang Hua , Tang Patrick Y. , Muessig Kathryn E.
Published: March 2021

Understanding how Chinese gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) cope with HIV care-related stressors could improve their care engagement. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 GBMSM living with HIV recruited through clinics and a community-based organization (CBO) in Chengdu, China. Interviews focused on treatment-related stress, coping strategies, social support, and well-being. Half reported symptoms consistent with mild or moderate depression as measured by the PHQ-9 scale. HIV care-related stressors included side effects, difficulty with adherence, and fear of drug resistance. Challenges to coping include navigating contradictory information about HIV and treatment, experiencing stigma and discrimination within medical and nonmedical settings, and managing financial concerns. CBOs, peer groups, and providers were salient sources of social support benefitting coping. To improve sustained HIV care that meets the needs of Chinese GBMSM living with HIV, tailored interventions that address the above-mentioned stressors and coping challenges are likely needed.
Indonesia in 2020
Authors: Buehler Michael
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus dominated Indonesian politics in 2020. Rather than propelling Indonesia in new directions, however, the pandemic amplified existing political and societal dynamics.
The United States and Asia in 2020
Authors: Roehrig Terence
Published: March 2021

In 2020, the United States sought to implement its policy of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific to address the challenge of a rising China. US–China antagonism increased, spurred on by economic tensions and concerns for Beijing’s actions with respect to Hong Kong, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Uighurs, with all this occurring in the context of the global pandemic. As the Trump administration came to a close, the most pressing question was how the turn to great power competition, which intensified in 2020, would evolve under a Biden administration.
Laos in 2020
Authors: High Holly
Published: March 2021

In 2020, Laos successfully contained the spread of COVID-19, with very few cases and no deaths. The key elements of the COVID-19 response reflect not only public health advice but also the core values of the political culture promoted by the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. These include unity, solidarity, struggle, respect for science, guidance by a strong center, and the extension of the state into everyday life in the form of designated roles, committees, and organizations. These significantly shaped the social fabric drawn on in the COVID-19 response. This success, then, can be read as a reaping of some of the benefits of this political culture. More ominously, the global pandemic exacerbated Lao PDR’s public debt crisis. Born of years of government backing of megaprojects such as hydropower, this debt is the dark harvest of the LPRP’s reign.
Singapore in 2020
Authors: Er Lam Peng
Published: March 2021

In July 2020, Singapore went to the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the People’s Action Party remained the perennial party-in-power, the opposition Workers’ Party made modest electoral gains. The rise of the Workers’ Party may usher in a one-and-a-half-party system in the city-state within the next decade or two.
Timor-Leste in 2020
Authors: Gunn Geoffrey C.
Published: March 2021

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Timor-Leste in 2020 was great, and the ripple effects may be felt for years. Paradoxically, it was not that the population was directly impacted—indeed, the small half-island nation stands out with only a score or so of cases, and no deaths—but that the oil-dependent economy and the status of financial reserves took a major hit with the collapse of oil and stock prices. In the interest of managing the pandemic, the incumbent prime minister declared a state of emergency, withdrawing his earlier resignation and thus averting a political crisis. Still, as the new economic realities surrounding oil-related mega-infrastructure projects hit home, we see churn among the concerned ministers and technocrats, amid a major rethink of the way ahead, and with many of the choices invidious in the challenging new economic environment.
Brunei in 2020
Authors: Izzuddin Mustafa
Published: March 2021

In common with other countries around the world, Brunei Darussalam has had to deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid19) pandemic and its consequences. By the end of 2020, Brunei had navigated the pandemic storm successfully by keeping its social compact intact, achieving a relatively buoyant economy, exhibiting a balanced foreign policy through strategic hedging, and keeping the country secure through defense diplomacy. Ending 2020 in great shape places Brunei in good stead for assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN and future royal succession.
India in 2020
Authors: Sridharan Eswaran
Published: March 2021

The year 2020 was one of multiple challenges for India and for the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government. The year began with mass protests against the Citizen (Amendment) Act, which minority Muslims saw as threatening their citizen rights and was widely felt to be unconstitutional, and ended with mass protests by farmers against market-oriented farm reforms. The coronavirus pandemic arrived in January and by the end of the year had caused the world’s second-largest caseload (10.3 million infections) and 149,000 deaths. The government responded with a strict lockdown, resulting in a severe economic contraction, although the economy and foreign investment picked up in the last quarter, buoyed by vaccine hopes and a partial economic recovery. On the foreign front, Chinese incursions in June along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border, led to a tense standoff that remained unresolved at year-end. Politically, the BJP remained not only entrenched but somewhat further empowered against a weak and divided opposition, with Modi’s popularity ratings high.
Nepal in 2020
Authors: Eck Kristine
Published: March 2021

Internal party rifts in the Nepali government preoccupied leaders, who squandered opportunities to prepare a coherent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic resulted in a four-month lockdown, with widespread economic and social consequences. The government’s response to criticism was to propose legislation restricting citizens’ rights, prompting accusations of creeping authoritarianism. Continued tensions along Nepal’s borders led to escalated rhetoric. The crises of 2020 exacerbated existing problems with governance, social inequality, and poverty.
Sri Lanka in 2020
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nira
Published: March 2021

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa set in motion a process aimed at consolidating their family’s control of the executive, cabinet, and legislature. The global coronavirus pandemic gave them an opportunity to further militarize the administration of the country. The ruling party, the Sri Lanka People’s Front, won a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections, which allowed them to enact decisive constitutional change and overturn crucial legislation that curbed the power of the executive. The government’s ability to withstand the economic crisis and control the pandemic will be key to their complete blunting of any opposition forces.
North Korea in 2020
Authors: Delury John
Published: March 2021

North Korea slogged through 2020 in an effort to maintain public health and state power. Kim Jong Un’s hopes for an economic breakthrough were dashed by the COVID-19 outbreak in neighboring China, which posed an existential threat given the DPRK’s limited healthcare resources. Although swift sealing of borders helped prevent a crisis, keeping the country on national quarantine took a heavy toll. Information about internal developments was scarce this year, as demonstrated by the global media’s frenzied speculation in the spring that Kim Jong Un had died. Kim did scale down his public appearances, but convened frequent sessions of the ruling Politburo, often to complain about Party failings, and his sister Kim Yo Jong elevated her profile with tough messages for Seoul and Washington. North Korea remained inwardly focused to the end of the year, rebuffing South Korean entreaties at cooperation and ignoring the presidential election in the United States.
Finding “Hidden Heroines”
Authors: Helgren Jennifer
Published: March 2021

This article explores girls’ participation in 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial celebrations through their national organizations. Members of the Girl Scouts and the Camp Fire Girls were deeply involved in the nation’s displays of civic pride. Girls’ organizations linked their ordinary service projects to the Bicentennial and created new projects as they caught the national bandwagon. To some extent, these efforts emphasized unquestioning patriotism, but each organization, propelled by second-wave feminism and social history, also absorbed and advanced efforts to recover multiple perspectives. Girls’ organizations became public history spaces and girls in them saw the understanding of and dissemination of history as an important part of female citizenship.
A Ciência na Ciência Política brasileira
Authors: Leite Fernando , Feres Jr. João
Published: March 2021

Resumo: Embora fundamental para sua identidade, não foram feitos estudos sistemáticos para identificar a concepção dominante de ciência na Ciência Política brasileira e, a partir dela, o grau de cientificidade da produção acadêmica. Essa lacuna torna-se tanto mais crítica quando se estabelece uma identidade profissional que incorpora uma concepção específica de ciência. Para suprir essa lacuna, o artigo emprega uma abordagem pragmatista para identificar a concepção dominante de ciência na Ciência Política brasileira e, a partir dela, reconstruir a cientificidade da disciplina. Para fazer isso, analisou-se a produção de 23 periódicos nacionais A1, A2 e B1 listados no Qualis de Ciência Política. Em primeiro lugar, verificou-se que o valor dos periódicos, medido com o Qualis, do fator de impacto e do vínculo com a Ciência Política, varia em função de uma concepção ortodoxa de ciência, composta por orientação empírica, natureza das evidências, uso de estatística, apresentação e teste de hipóteses, causalidade e orientação nomotética. Em segundo lugar, a partir dessa concepção de ciência, é analisada a cientificidade de periódicos, áreas temáticas, tradições e abordagens disciplinares. Por fim, discute-se alguns riscos desse estado de coisas: (i) ao entronizar-se uma concepção de ciência particular na identidade disciplinar e (ii) ao conjugar-se positivismo lógico e instituições políticas formais.
Characterization of Pseudomonas bacteria of Piper tuberculatum regarding the production of potentially bio-stimulating compounds for plant growth
Authors: OLIVEIRA Danyllo Amaral de , FERREIRA Solange da Cunha , CARRERA Daiany Larissa Ribeiro , SERRÃO Cleyson Pantoja , CALLEGARI Daihany Moraes , BARROS Nicolle Louise Ferreira , COELHO Francinilson Meireles , SOUZA Cláudia Regina Batista de
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT Despite advances in the identification and characterization of endophytic bacteria in various plant species worldwide, little is known about such microorganisms in plants from the Amazon region. Previous studies reported that Piper tuberculatum endophytic Pseudomonas (isolates Pt12 and Pt13, identified as Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas sp., respectively) were able to inhibit the in vitro growth of Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis, which causes root rot in black pepper (Piper nigrum), and that Pt13 promoted the growth of P. nigrum. Therefore, the aim here was to characterize these bacteria regarding their ability to produce plant growth-promoting substances [siderophores, indol acetic acid (IAA) and soluble phosphate]. Chrome azurol S assays were performed for the detection of siderophores. For qualitative and quantitative assays of IAA production and phosphate solubilization, Salkowski´s reagent and NBRIP medium with molybdenum blue reagent, respectively, were used. Results revealed that Pt12 and Pt13 were able to synthesize IAA, mainly under a high concentration of L-tryptophan, indicating that they are IAA-producing bacteria, probably through a tryptophan-dependent biosynthesis pathway. The presence of P. nigrum extract positively influenced the IAA production by Pt12 and Pt13, with highest values of 125 and 90 µg mL-1, respectively. In addition, Pt12 was positive for the production of siderophores and produced 56.56 µg mL-1 of soluble phosphate. In contrast, Pt13 showed no ability to produce siderophores or to solubilize phosphate. Besides their potential in controlling plant diseases, Pt12 and Pt13 have potential as biofertilizers, favoring sustainable agriculture.
Aspects of the reproductive ecology of Trachycephalus cunauaru (Anura: Hylidae) in the southern Amazon
Authors: NORONHA Janaina da Costa de , PRADO Cynthia P. A. , HERO Jean-Marc , CASTLEY Guy , RODRIGUES Domingos de Jesus
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT Trachycephalus cunauaru is an Amazonian hylid that uses phytotelmata to reproduce. There is relatively little information about the species, mainly due to the difficulty of accessing their reproductive sites. In this study, we gathered data on the ecology and natural history of T. cunauaru in the southern Amazon, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In addition to natural phytotelmata, we used buckets installed at a height of 10 m as artificial phytotelmata. We compared physical and chemical characteristics, as well as the presence of tadpoles between natural and artificial phytotelmata. We also collected data on the reproductive behavior of the species through the use of camera traps. We recorded a density of 14.1 reproductive sites per km². Environmental parameters differed significantly between artificial and natural phytotelmata. In artificial sites, the presence of tadpoles was directly related to trees with a larger diameter. We registered oophagy for the first time for the species and observed that males can use more than one phytotelm. We also recorded the presence of snakes within the reproductive sites. We determined that artificial sites and digital camera traps are a satisfactory alternative for behavioral observations of T. cunauaru and possibly for other species with a similar habit.
A Weibull-based damage model for the shear softening behaviours of soil–structure interfaces
Authors: Guo Chengchao , Guo Panfeng , Zhao Liguo , Lin Peiyuan , Wang Fuming
Published: March 2021

The shearing mechanical properties of an interface are of great significance to the stability analysis of soil–structure interaction in practice. Based on the theory of damage mechanics, an interface subjected to shearing conditions can be divided into two parts: damaged and undamaged, together bearing the entire shear load. Under the action of shear load, the damaged part gradually increases and the area of the undamaged part simultaneously decreases. Eventually, the interface is completely damaged. The damage variable modelled as a Weibull distribution is introduced to describe the damage evolution of the interface. According to the principle of force equilibrium on the interface, the shear damage softening model is established, which can describe the shear softening behaviours as well as estimate the residual strength of the interface. The physical meaning of each parameter in the model is elaborated and the relationship with normal stress is established. A method to determine each parameter is proposed. Based on the Abaqus software platform, the model is coded into the friction subroutine, and numerical simulation is carried out with reference data. The shear damage model is validated using experimental data and numerical simulation results.
Study on characteristics of turbine wake and the effect of array arrangement
Authors: Hou Erhu , Du Min , Jiang Bo , Han Linsheng , Wu Guowei , Wang Xiaoyong
Published: March 2021

A prerequisite in undertaking large-scale developments and utilisation of tidal current energy is to comprehend the hydrodynamic characteristics of the wake field of tidal current turbines. The wake of an upstream turbine can strongly affect the power output of downstream turbines and their arrangement. The structure of turbine wakes was investigated. One experiment was conducted on a two-bladed horizontal turbine in a laboratory flume. Actuator disc momentum theory, combined with Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, was used to parameterise the tidal turbine. The numerical model was validated using experimental data. The degree of wake mixing improved when the axial distance was eight times the turbine diameter (8D) or larger. The influence of the arrangement and spacing of turbines was investigated at two tidal farms, one with three aligned turbines and one with seven staggered turbines. The incoming flow velocity of the downstream turbine was reduced by 31% when turbines were linearly aligned. The extent of influence of the third column was larger than that of the second column, indicating an expanding wake. Different lateral spaces of staggered turbines were analysed. Different distances between rows strongly influenced both the incoming velocity of downstream turbines and the expansion of the whole wake. The incoming flow of the third column reduced by 31, 17 and 16% with increasing lateral space. The flow velocity increased as water passed over the turbine tip. For staggered turbines, a centreline spacing of up to 1.5D for adjacent rows is recommended.
Theoretical calculation and test of airborne sound insulation for wooden building floor
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Huang Yujie , Wang Zheng , Li Minmin , Adjei Patrick
Published: March 2021

To meet objectives such as the sound insulation characteristics of timber structures and the comfort of residents, this study assessed an ordinary floor and three kinds of floating floors (Portuguese cork, graphite polystyrene sound insulation boards and expanded polypropylene plastic foam boards) in the same bedroom of a two-storey light wooden building. Adopting standard white noise and music noise excitation, structural design, theoretical checks and sound insulation tests of the floors were conducted. For the four floor structures, the sound insulation volume, sound pressure distribution characteristic spectrum of the building floor under different noise source environments, the frequency characteristics of the noise source, the multiple relationship of the sound insulation sound pressure level and the sound insulation mechanism were analysed. It was found that the sound pressure multiple of the space separating the upper and lower floors of the building was 8–18 times greater than that of the light wooden floor structure. The airborne sound insulation volume–frequency curves of the four floors, calculated by the transfer matrix method, were consistent with the actual measured values. The sound insulation effect was better in the low and middle frequencies.
Seismic and axial compression performance of insulated concrete sandwich wall
Authors: Zhang Xiaomeng , Zhang Xueyong , Liu Wenting , Zhang Xiaowei , Ding Weilun , Li Sen
Published: March 2021

A new type of composite insulated concrete sandwich (ICS) wall is proposed. The wall consists of a three-dimensional spatial steel wire mesh skeleton, insulating core material and inner and outer concrete layers, all of which form a synergistic composite wall panel to work as the main stress-bearing member in the construction of multistorey high-rise buildings. To analyse the mechanical properties of the wall body, its failure mode was investigated. The wall's hysteresis curve, strength, stiffness and deformation were all analysed through a low reversed cyclic load test on two specimens, followed by an evaluation of its seismic performance. The deformability, failure mode, strain and ultimate bearing capacity of the specimens under the action of axial compression were also studied through an axial compression test on three specimens. The hysteresis test indicated that, in comparison with an ordinary shear wall, the ICS wall, connected through effective construction measures, had superior overall working performance under the same reinforcement ratio and its ductility and energy-dissipating capacity were improved. The results of the axial compression test also confirmed that the ICS wall had excellent axial compressive resistance, bending and deformation resistance, and high stability.
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON TURKISH CONSUMERS’ ATTITUDE AND PURCHASE INTENTION TOWARDS GREEN PRODUCTS
Authors: MİDİLLİ Fulya , KUŞÇU Aslı
Published: March 2021

Green marketing has become a fast-developing research field in recent years, even though the term “green product” is still new for consumers in developing and socially-constructed economies like Turkey. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of collective self-esteem and social influence on the green product purchase intention of Turkish consumers while delineating other factors that may play a role within this relationship. According to the results of the study which were gathered from 370 consumers, the effects of collective self-esteem, social influence and attitudes towards green products significantly influence green product purchase intention. It can be seen from the results that collective self-esteem and social influence positively affect consumers’ green product purchase intention and the relationship between collective self-esteem and social influence on green product purchase intention is partially mediated by attitude toward green products. In addition, generational cohort differences play a significant role. While the impact of social influence on green product purchase intention is stronger for Gen X’ers, there was no generational difference on influence of collective self-esteem on purchase intention. Findings and implications are discussed.
Практические рекомендации по лекарственному лечению метастатических опухолей головного мозга
Authors: Насхлеташвили Д. Р. , Банов С. М. , Бекяшев А. Х. , Борисова Т. Н. , Ветлова Е. Р. , Голанов А. В. , Зайцев А. М. , Кобяков Г. Л. , Смолин А. В.
Published: March 2021

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Практические рекомендации по лекарственному лечению злокачественных трофобластических опухолей
Authors: Мещерякова Л. А. , Карселадзе А. И. , Кузнецов В. В. , Мещеряков А. А. , Чекалова М. А.
Published: March 2021

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Практические рекомендации по лекарственному лечению рака ободочной кишки и ректосигмоидного соединения
Authors: Федянин М. Ю. , Ачкасов С. И. , Болотина Л. В. , Гладков О. А. , Глебовская В. В. , Гордеев С. С. , Карачун А. М. , Козлов Н. А. , Любченко Л. Н. , Малихова О. А. , Мамедли З. З. , Медведева Б. М. , Обухова О. А. , Петров А. С. , Подлужный Д. В. , Проценко С. А. , Рыжков А. Д. , Рыков И. В. , Сидоров Д. В. , Трякин А. А. , Цуканов А. С. , Шелыгин Ю. А.
Published: March 2021

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Практические рекомендации по лечению герминогенных опухолей у мужчин
Authors: Трякин А. А. , Гладков О. А. , Матвеев В. Б. , Проценко С. А. , Тюляндин С. А. , Федянин М. Ю.
Published: March 2021

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