bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-HER2 PLGA-PEG polymer nanoparticle containing gold nanorods and paclitaxel for laser-activated breast cancer detection and therapy
Authors: Wang Yanjie , Pasternak Maurice , Sathiyamoorthy Krishnan , Kolios Michael C.
Published: March 2021

Phase-transition nanoparticles have been identified as effective theragnostic, anti-cancer agents. However, non-selective delivery of these agents results in inaccurate diagnosis and insufficient treatment. In this study, we report on the development of targeted phase-transition polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) for the imaging and treatment of breast cancer cell lines over-expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These NPs contain a perfluorohexane liquid interior and gold nanorods (GNRs) stabilized by biodegradable and biocompatible copolymer PLGA-PEG. Water-insoluble therapeutic drug Paclitaxel (PAC) and fluorescent dye were encapsulated into the PLGA shell. The NP surfaces were conjugated to HER2-binding agent, Herceptin, to actively target HER2-positive cancer cells. We evaluated the potential of using these NPs as a photoacoustic contrast agent. The efficacy of cancer cell treatment by laser-induced vaporization and stimulated drug release were also investigated. The results showed that our synthesized PLGA-PEG-GNRs (mean diameter 285 ± 29 nm) actively targeted HER2 positive cells with high efficacy. The laser-induced vaporization caused more damage to the targeted cells versus PAC-only and negative controls. This agent may provide better diagnostic imaging and therapeutic potential than current methods for treating HER2-positive breast cancer.
Fast implicit active contour model for inverse lithography
Authors: Shen Yijiang , Zhou Yanzhou , Zhang Zhenrong
Published: March 2021

We combine the ideas from level-set methods in computer vision and inverse imaging to derive a generalized active contour model for inverse lithography problems endowed with a locally implemented semi-implicit difference scheme. We introduce a cognitive analogy to move an initial guess of the interesting pattern contour by image-driven forces to the boundaries of the desired layout pattern. We develop an efficient semi-implicit numerical scheme implemented in the vicinity of the zero level-set and apply additive operator splitting (AOS) with respect to coordinate axes to solve consecutive one-dimensional linear systems of equations with the Thomas method. We demonstrate with simulation results that computation and convergence efficiency are jointly improved with reduced optimization dimensionality and a sufficient large step-size.
Long-range quasi-non-diffracting Gauss-Bessel beams in a few-cycle laser field
Authors: Stoyanov Lyubomir , Zhang Yinyu , Dreischuh Alexander , Paulus Gerhard G.
Published: March 2021

Many applications ranging from nonlinear optics to material processing would benefit from pulsed ultrashort (quasi-)non-diffracting Gauss-Bessel beams (GBBs). Here we demonstrate a straightforward yet efficient method for generating such zeroth- and first-order GBBs using a single reflective spatial light modulator. Even in the sub-8-fs range there are no noticeable consequences for the measured pulse duration. The only effect is a weak "coloring" of the outer-lying satellite rings of the beams due to the spectrum spanning over more than 300 nm. The obtained beams have diffraction half-angles below 40 μrad and reach propagation distances in excess of 1.5 m.
A study on social big data analysis using text clustering
Authors: HeeKu Jin , Su Jeong Yoon
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives: As the use of big data increases in various fields, the use of social big data analysis for social media is increasing rapidly.This study proposed a method to apply text clustering for analysis by related topics of texts extracted using text mining of social big data.Methods/Statistical analysis: R was used for data collection and analysis, and social big data was collected from Twitter. The clustering model applicable to the related subject analysis of Twitter text was compared and selected and text clustering was performed. Text clustering is analyzed through a cluster dendrogram by generating a corpus, then grouping similar entities from the term-document matrix, and removing the sparse words.Findings: In this study, text clustering improves the difficulty in analyzing by word association and subject in text mining methods such as word cloud. Especially, in the text clustering model for the related topic analysis of social big data, the hierarchical clustering model based on the cosine similarity was more suitable than the non-hierarchical model for identifying which terms in the tweet have an association with each other. In addition, cluster dendrogram has been found to be effective in analyzing text contexts by grouping several groups of similar texts repeatedly in the visualization process.Improvements/Applications: This study can be used to confirm ideas and opinions of various participants by using Social Big Data, and to analyze more precisely the complex relationship between the prediction of social problems and the phenomenon.
DTV broadcasting failover switching system using PCR information
Authors: Hyung Kim Chang , Jeong Seong , Hak Lee Kyoung , Bong Sohn Chae
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives: Major Terrestrial broadcasters, MSO (Multi-System Operator), IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) Operators have been putting effort to prevent the transmission stops such as transmission interruption.Methods/Statistical analysis: The main and spare signals of the digital broadcasting are monitored. If a problem occurs in the main signal, it automatically switched to a preliminary signal, preventing a broadcast accident before a failover switch is performed.In this paper, we propose a method that can automatically switch signal to minimize the resulting impacts on a broadcasting accident caused by a disconnection from the input or an accident from the network. Digital broadcasts transmission abides by MPEG-2 (Moving Picture Expert Group) TS (Transport Stream) standardization.Findings: This paper proposes a method to maintain the quality of broadcast such as transmission interruption within ETSI TR 101 290 (European Telecommunications Standards Institute Technical Report) standardization. Furthermore, with this proposed method, it would be possible to minimize the error from an automatically transferred stream that sent from the emergency link within ETSI TR 101 290 standardization.Improvements/Applications: A method for preventing broadcast transmission accidents
Measuring image sharpness using modulation transfer function in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Taek Lim Woo , Jeong Kim Ki , Hee Hong Dong , Hwan Lim Cheong , Ryang Jung Hong
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose a method to maintain the objectivity and validity of measuring image sharpness by changes of ETL using MTF in MRI quantitatively and provide fundamental data for future evaluation and management of magnetic resource imaging quality.Methods/Statistical analysis: We conducted phantom test using ACR MRI phantom. ImageJ and OriginPro programs were used for MTF measurement. For MTF measurement using edge method, after achieving ESF by using ImageJ, LSF was calculated by differentiation in OriginPro. Finally, MTF value was obtained through conversion. Image sharpness was defined based on 50% of MTF value.Findings: Results of sharpness measurement by ETL increase revealed that MTF 50% was decreased when ETL was increased. Sharpness comparison between 1ch head coil and 8ch brain coil at 1.5T showed that it was higher for 1ch head coil, although the difference between the two was not statistically significant. However, sharpness of 1ch head coil at 3.0T MRI was found to be significantly higher than that of 8ch brain coil at 3.0T MRI.Improvements/Applications: This study confirms the theoretical concept that MTF measured by ACR standard phantom can be used as a quantitative evaluation method for spatial resolution in the magnetic resonance medical image quality management. It can be considered a meaningful objective evaluation method.
Effects of the exhaust gas heat recovery system with a plate heat exchanger on the warm-up performance characteristics of the gasoline engine
Authors: JungKim Chan , Wook-Han Sank , Hyun Kim Ki , Yeon Lee Moo , Soo Lee Gee
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives: To meet the regulations for the fuel economy, an EHRS (Exhaust gas Heat Recovery System, which was installed within the vehicle exhaust system and recovered the heat from the exhaust gas, were needed. The EHRS enabled the engine to achieve the fast warm-up performance for reducing friction loss during the cold start.The objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of the design parameters of the EHRS with a plate heat exchanger on the warm-up performance of a gasoline engine.Methods/Statistical analysis: The EHRS with the plate heat exchanger was manufactured and installed behind the catalyst in the exhaust system of the gasoline direct injection engine. The experimental study and multi-disciplinary analysis were carried out to investigate the effects of the EHRS on the warm-up performance of the engine, such as the coolant temperature, the exhaust gas temperature and the recovery heat at idle condition and the step-load condition.Findings: Because the recovery of heat was about 1. 7 kW at idle condition, the effect of the EHRS on the warm-up performance was negligible. However, due to 17.2 kW of the recovery of heat at the stepload condition of T=140 Nm at N=2,400 rpm, the EHRS enabled to shorten the warm-up time by 548 s comparison that of the base engine.Improvements/Applications: The fuel economy will be expected to be improved through an EHRS, which provides the improved combustion in the warm-up phase and a decrease in friction loss.
A study on the range & deflection distance observation based on latitude position of artillery gun system
Authors: I Kang Hwan , In Kim Gun , Soo Kim Hyun
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives: In this paper, instead of using the six degree of freedom trajectory for a projectile, we consider itsfour degree of freedom trajectory which is the NATO standard trajectory model. We consider the range and deflection distance observation based on latitude position of Artillery Gun System due to Coriolis acceleration.Methods/Statistical analysis: We obtain the trajectory of a projectile with 155 mm diameter using the Runge-Kutta method. We obtain the range and deflection distances associated with fire elevation angle when the launch position is located at differentposition of the artillery gun system. Its position is a function of the latitude.Findings: By changing the latitude of gun position, variation of range and the deflection distances are measured due to Coriolis force. Under the condition that the fire elevation is fixed, the range and deflection distances are calculated by numerical analysis. The maximum of the range is achieved at the equator. The minimum of deflection distance is observed near the Antarctic while the maximum valueof the deflection is observed at the North Pole.Improvements/Applications: This approach will be a good resource for analysis of delivery accuracy of the artillery gun system based on its position which is a function of latitude.
An improved design of reversible adder/subtractor
Authors: P Gowthami , V. S. Satyanarayana R
Published: March 2021

Reversible logic has gained an importance in the fields such as Quantum computing, DNA computing, Bio informatics, Nanotechnology and Optical computing etc. This paper presents a new design of reversible adder/subtractor circuit. The proposed design has better performance than the existing counterpart in terms of reversible gates, garbage outputs and quantum cost.
Power quality improvement of a PV and fuel cell connected microgrid
Authors: P Saisrinivas , Kalavathi. M Surya , V Varunrohit
Published: March 2021

Increasing demands of 21st century gain the need for sustainable energy. Non-conventional energy sources like solar, wind, fuel cell etc. are attaining much importance because of increasing environmental issues like Global Warming, Increase in Carbon foot prints etc. But, Non-conventional energy sources are not controllable. Hence, there is a need of sophisticated control of energies available to use them collectively. This can be made possible by the concept of Microgrid.This paper presents the work done on a typical grid connected Microgrid, with Solar and Fuel cell as non-conventional energy sources, using MATLAB (Simulink). A variable irradiance is considered for PV array designed with an MPPT based on Perturb & Observe Algorithm. A fuel cell stack with constant Hydrogen and air is considered. Here, the non-conventional energy sources are connected to Conventional grid. The variable DC obtained after Solar array is converted to three phase A.C by means of a three-phase inverter. The pulses for the inverter are generated by taking voltage and current both from grid side and PV side respectively as reference. Here, the control strategy to produce pulses for inverter is based on Phase locked loop (PLL) with a PI controller. One of the most important power quality indices like Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is measured at various points and the power quality is improved by using a Cascaded LC filter.
Early quantification of reliability for a safety critical and control system: a case study of reactor core cooling system
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Gupta Suraj , Kumar Tripathi Anil
Published: March 2021

Using Probabilistic Reliability analysis for Quantifying reliability of a system is already a common practice in Reliability Engineering community. This method plays an important role in analyzing reliability of nuclear plants and its various components. In Nuclear Power Plants Reactor Core Cooling System is a component of prime importance as its breakdown can disrupt Cooling System of power plant. In this paper, we present a framework for early quantification of Reliability and illustrated with a Safety Critical and Control System as case study which runs in a Nuclear Power Plant.
Optimisation of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Condition of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) Tempeh Protein Hydrolysate Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Saidatul Syida Wan Kamarudin Wan , Abdullah Noriham , Ismail Normah , Yusuf Maskat Mohamad
Published: March 2021

The beneficial properties of overripe tempeh as a functional ingredient protein isolate are overlooked by most food manufacturers. The present study aims to optimise the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions to obtain tempeh protein hydrolysate (PH) that can be used as potential functional foods. The enzymatic hydrolysis (using Flavourzyme) conditions, namely, temperature (°C), enzyme to substrate concentration (%) and hydrolysis time (min) on both total flavonoid content (TFC) and glutamic acid content (GAC), as responses, were optimised using response surface methodology (RSM) by employing three factors, 3-level, and central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Enzyme inactivation was successfully performed by keeping the hydrolysate at 85°C in a water bath for 10 min. Based on the results, the optimum conditions for the hydrolysis of 6.0 g of soy protein isolate (SPI) from soybean tempeh were at temperature 55°C with 2.6% enzyme to substrate concentration heated for 128 min which resulted in 8.93 g QE/100 g DEW of TFC and 12.96 g/100 g DEW of GAC. The results also showed that TFC and GAC were significantly influenced by all the factors studied. Therefore, the results suggested that soybean by-product such as overripe tempeh can be converted into hydrolysate which is a good source of protein fortification of various food products as well as a potential functional food ingredient.
Kinetic Modelling of Solid-Liquid Extraction of Anthocyanins of Gynura Crepioides Leaves
Authors: Mei Lin Wong , Zainal Abidin Zurina
Published: March 2021

Gynura crepioides is one of the natural resources of flavonoid compounds, including anthocyanins (ACs) that provide a lot of nutritional values to human and use as a natural colourant. For efficient extraction, optimization and kinetic data is very essential. In this investigation, optimization and kinetic modelling focusing on temperature effect on solid-liquid extraction of freeze-dried anthocyanins leaves of Gynura crepioides was performed. Freeze drying material was used in extraction to ensure high recovery of useful bioactive compounds in subsequent process. It was found that the rate of extraction was very fast at the beginning, but it began to slow down until it remained constant and reached the plateau after 45 minutes for all temperatures. As temperature increases, the initial extraction rate (h) and extraction rate constant (k) values also increased. The highest initial extraction rate and extraction rate constant were calculated to be 16.64 mg L-1 min-1 and 17.8 x 10-3 L mg-1 min-1 at 333K.However, after 60 minutes of extraction time, degradation of anthocyanins can be seen at 333K and thus reduce the yield. Higher temperature is known to reduce the quantity and quality of bioactive compound. Hence temperature of lower than 333K is desirable for industrial application. The kinetics of extraction data were corresponding well to second-order reaction. The activation energy is calculated as 18.45 kJ mol-1, which is an indication of an endothermic process. An empirical correlation was also done to establish the relationship of extraction rate constant and initial extraction rate with respect to temperature. Both parameters were found to increase with increase temperature. Finally, a three-dimensional model was predicted to show the capacity of extraction at all times and temperatures of extraction. This predicted model exhibited good fitting to experimental values with low standard deviation.
Macroeconomic Risk Factor in Fuzzy Present Value of Highway Development
Authors: Salihah Shaffie Siti , Hafizah Jaaman Saiful , Mohamad Daud
Published: March 2021

Highway developments are the backbone for the society and economic growth. It is part of the capital investment in infrastructure developments that require high spending, long term commitment and prognosticated with numbers of risks. This is because the investment is associated with uncertainty and vagueness due to long term duration of construction and operation of the project. Hence, the valuation of the investment requires accommodated model to present more accurate estimation of the project. This study proposed to evaluate fuzzy present value of a highway project with anticipated risk assessment in its valuation using fuzzy present value. The risk assessment is part of the estimation of fuzzy cash flow to represent better present value of the project. The results show an estimated value comprise with risk assessment of macroeconomic factor to portray better estimation that can assist decision maker to make decision towards the project.
3D Robot Vision System through 2D Shape Based Matching Using Gaussian Smoothing for Gluing Application
Authors: Haniff Harun Mohamad , Shahrieel Mohd Aras Mohd , Firdaus Mohd Ab Halim Mohd , Azha Mohd Annuar Khalil , Hadi Azahar Arman , Faizal  Yaakub Muhamad , Faiz Zainal Abidin Amar
Published: March 2021

This investigation is solely on the adaptation of a vision system algorithm to classify the processes to regulate the decision making related to the tasks and defect’s recognition. These idea stresses on the new method on vision algorithm which is focusing on the shape matching properties to classify defects occur on the product. The problem faced before that the system required to process broad data acquired from the object caused the time and efficiency slightly decrease. The propose defect detection approach combine with Region of Interest, Gaussian smoothing, Correlation and Template Matching are introduced. This application provides high computational savings and results in better recognition rate about 95.14%. The defects occur provides with information of the height which corresponds by the z-coordinate, length which corresponds by the y-coordinate and width which corresponds by the x-coordinate. This data gathered from the proposed system using dual camera for executing the three dimensional transformation.
A New Conjugate Gradient Method with Exact Line Search
Authors: Bani Yousef Mouiyad , Mamat Mustafa , Rivaie Mohd
Published: March 2021

The nonlinear conjugate gradient (CG) method is a widely used approach for solving large-scale optimization problems in many fields, such as physics, engineering, economics, and design. The efficiency of this method is mainly attributable to its global convergence properties and low memory requirement. In this paper, a new conjugate gradient coefficient is proposed based on the Aini-Rivaie-Mustafa (ARM) method. Furthermore, the proposed method is proved globally convergent under exact line search. This is supported by the results of the numerical tests. The numerical performance of the new CG method better than other related and more efficient compared with previous CG methods.
Thermal Properties of the Graphene Composites: Application of Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Mohamed Mazlan , Nazri Omar Mohd , Shaiful Ashrul Ishak Mohamad , Rahman Rozyanty , Y.N Zaiazmin , Ismael Rizman Zairi
Published: March 2021

Epoxy mixed with others filler for thermal interface material (TIM) had been well conducted and developed. There are problem occurs when previous material were used as matrix material likes epoxy that has non-uniform thickness of thermal interface material produce, time taken for solidification and others. Thermal pad or thermal interface material using graphene as main material to overcome the existing problem and at the same time to increase thermal conductivity and thermal contact resistance. Three types of composite graphene were used for thermal interface material in this research. The sample that contain 10 wt. %, 20 wt. % and 30 wt. % of graphene was used with different contain of graphene oxide (GO).  The thermal conductivity of thermal interface material is both measured and it was found that the increase of amount of graphene used will increase the thermal conductivity of thermal interface material. The highest thermal conductivity is 12.8 W/ (mK) with 30 w. % graphene. The comparison between the present thermal interface material and other thermal interface material show that this present graphene-epoxy is an excellent thermal interface material in increasing thermal conductivity.
Big Data Analysis of Web Data Extraction
Authors: Ibrahim Nadia , Hassan Alaa , Nihad Marwah
Published: March 2021

In this study, the large data extraction techniques; include detection of patterns and secret relationships between factors numbering and bring in the required information. Rapid analysis of massive data can lead to innovation and concepts of the theoretical value. Compared with results from mining between traditional data sets and the vast amount of large heterogeneous data interdependent it has the ability expand the knowledge and ideas about the target domain. We studied in this research data mining on the Internet. The various networks that are used to extract data onto different locations complex may appear sometimes and has been used to extract information on the web technology to extract and data analysis (Marwah et al., 2016). In this research, we extracted the information on large quantities of the web pages and examined the pages of the site using Java code, and we added the extracted information on a special database for the web page. We used the data network function to get accurate results of evaluating and categorizing the data pages found, which identifies the trusted web or risky web pages, and imported the data onto a CSV extension. Consequently, examine and categorize these data using WEKA to obtain accurate results. We concluded from the results that the applied data mining algorithms are better than other techniques in classification and extraction of data and high performance.
Effect of Spot-Welding Current-Cycle for Medium Carbon Steel And Stainless Steel on Mechanical Properties
Authors: J.Mahmod Nawzad , Sh. Hasan Aysha , A.Hussein Ahmed , M. Ali Obed
Published: March 2021

Spot welding involves the joining of two or more plate metals in localized areas where melting and jointure of a little volume of fabric happens from heating caused by resistance to the passage of an electrical current. This process is typically used for obtaining a lap joint of plate metal parts. In this work, stainless steels and medium carbon steel were used. Three rules for welding set-up, lowest tap on the fastening electrical device, highest % current setting on the weld management and shortest weld time setting on the weld management were adopted. Experiments conducted to show the effect of these variables on the welding diameter and tensile strength for each sample for medium carbon steel and stainless steel separately and joining both metals together by spot welding. The results show that the utmost durability was at stainless steel specimens and minimum tensile strength was at medium carbon steel specimens. Furthermore, the obtained results showed that the maximum heat generated was at stainless steel specimens and minimum heat generated values was at medium carbon steel specimens for all current dependent in this work. Meanwhile, slight effect of heat generated on the spot diameter for the current of 10.6 & 5.3 kA, and so significant effect on the spot diameter for the last current (2.3kA).
An evolutionary design of weighted minimum networks for four points in the three-dimensional Euclidean space
Authors: Zachos Anastasios N.
Published: March 2021

We find the equations of the two interior nodes (weighted Fermat–Torricelli points) with respect to the weighted Steiner problem for four points determining a tetrahedron in

R
3

\mathbb{R}^{3}

.
Furthermore, by applying the solution with respect to the weighted Steiner problem for a boundary tetrahedron, we calculate the twist angle between the two weighted Steiner planes formed by one edge and the line defined by the two weighted Fermat–Torricelli points and a non-neighboring edge and the line defined by the two weighted Fermat–Torricelli points.
By applying the plasticity principle of quadrilaterals starting from a weighted Fermat–Torricelli tree for a boundary triangle (monad) in the sense of Leibniz, established in [A. N. Zachos, A plasticity principle of convex quadrilaterals on a convex surface of bounded specific curvature, Acta Appl. Math.
129 (2014), 81–134], we develop an evolutionary scheme of a weighted network for a boundary tetrahedron in

R
3

\mathbb{R}^{3}

.
By introducing the inverse weighted Steiner network with two interior nodes built by two different quantities of the subconscious (remaining weights) for boundary tetrahedra, we describe the evolution of a weighted network with two nodes that have inherited a subconscious.
The cancellation of the dynamic plasticity of these weighted networks may be applied to the creation of evolutionary scenarios, in order to prevent the development of a quadrilateral or tetrahedral virus (a monad that has got a subconscious) and the cancerogenesis of quadrilateral cells.
We continue by giving the plasticity equations for a generalized weighted minimum network with two nodes that have got a subconscious whose vertices are replaced by Euclidean spheres.
This evolutionary approach may be applied to the determination of the bond strengths of molecular structures between atoms in the sense of Pauling.
We obtain the analytical solutions of the weighted Fermat–Torricelli problem for the case of pairs of equal weights or one pair of equal weights.
We consider as a DNA-like chain a sequence of tetrahedra whose vertices possess some symmetrical weights.
By calculating the twist angles of each sequence and by applying the weighted Fermat–Torricelli tree structures with symmetrical weights or weighted Steiner tree structures, we may approximate the curve axis of a DNA-like tree chain.
Finally, we construct a minimum tree, which is not a minimal Steiner tree for some boundary symmetric tetrahedra in

R
3

\mathbb{R}^{3}

, which has two interior nodes with equal weights having the property that the common perpendicular of some two opposite edges passes through their midpoints.
We prove that the length of this minimum tree may have length less than the length of the full Steiner tree for the same boundary symmetric tetrahedra, under some angular conditions.
Synthesis of amides and esters containing furan rings under microwave-assisted conditions
Authors: Janczewski Łukasz , Zieliński Dariusz , Kolesińska Beata
Published: March 2021

In this work, we present a novel method for the synthesis of ester and amide derivatives containing furan rings (furfural derivatives) under mild synthetic conditions supported by microwave radiation. N-(Furan-2-ylmethyl)furan-2-carboxamide and furan-2-ylmethyl furan-2-carboxylate were produced using 2-furoic acid, furfurylamine, and furfuryl alcohol. The reactions were carried out in a microwave reactor in the presence of effective coupling reagents: DMT/NMM/TsO− or EDC. The reaction time, the solvent, and the amounts of the substrates were optimized. After crystallization or flash chromatography, the final compounds were isolated with good or very good yields. Our method allows for the synthesis of N-blocked amides using N-blocked amino acids (Boc, Cbz, Fmoc) and amine. As well as compounds with a monoamide and ester moiety, products with diamides and diester bonds (N,N-bis(furan-2-ylmethyl)furan-2,5-dicarboxamide, bis(furan-2-ylmethyl) furan-2,5-dicarboxylate, and furan-3,4-diylbis(methylene) bis(furan-2-carboxylate)) were synthesized with moderate yields in the presence of DMT/NMM/TsO– or EDC, using 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and 3,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan as substrates.
Basics of teaching electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of electrolytes for ion-rechargeable batteries – part 1: a good practice on estimation of bulk resistance of solid polymer electrolytes
Authors: Abdul Halim Suhaila Idayu , Chan Chin Han , Apotheker Jan
Published: March 2021

In this publication, we present the basic to characterize the electrical properties of electrolytes that are widely used in ion-rechargeable batteries using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This simplified yet insightful background provided may be used for educational purposes, especially for beginners or young researchers for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. We start with introduction of electrolytes and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) instrumentation, following with the step-by-step guidelines using three different procedures to estimate the bulk resistance (R
b) of the electrolytes, which is inversely proportional to the conductivity (σ
DC) of the materials

R
b

∝
1
/

σ
DC

$\left({R}_{\mathrm{b}}\propto 1/{\sigma }_{\mathrm{DC}}\right)$

. Several examples and exercises on estimation of quantity R
b are supplemented for educational purposes. Comparison was made on estimation of R
b using manual graphical procedures, mathematical regression procedures using commercial graphical software and equivalent circuit fitting procedures using exclusive EIS software. The results suggest that the manual graphical technique may serves as a useful approach for beginners before venturing to exclusive software. Besides, the instructors may use the procedures to coach the users to extract reliable and reproducible data before data interpretation. Lastly, the phenomenological approach on dielectric relaxation for solid polymer electrolytes [poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) + lithium salt] and non-solid polymer electrolytes [poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) + lithium salt], in the classic sense will be addressed in terms of impedance (Z*), permittivity (ε*), tangent loss (tan δ), modulus (M*) and conductivity (σ*) spectra in Part 2.
Clinical presentation of COVID-19 – a model derived by a machine learning algorithm
Authors: Yousef Malik , Showe Louise C. , Ben Shlomo Izhar
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 pandemic has flooded all triage stations, making it difficult to carefully select those most likely infected. Data on total patients tested, infected, and hospitalized is fragmentary making it difficult to easily select those most likely to be infected. The Israeli Ministry of Health made public its registry of immediate clinical data and the respective status of infected/not infected for all viral DNA tests performed up to Apr. 18th, 2020 including almost 120,000 tests. We used a machine-learning algorithm to find out which immediate clinical elements mattered the most in identifying the true status of the tested persons including age or gender matter, to enable future better allocation of surveillance policy for those belonging to high-risk groups. In addition to the analyses applied on the first batch of the available data (Apr. 11th), we further tested the algorithm on the independent second batch (Apr. 12th to 18th). Fever, cough and headache were the most diagnostic, differing in degree of importance in different subgroups. Higher percentage of men were found positive (9.3 vs. 7.3%), but gender did not matter for the clinical presentation. The prediction power of the model was high, with accuracy of 0.84 and area under the curve 0.92. We provide a hand-held short checklist with verbal description of importance for the leading symptoms, which should expedite the triage and enable proper selection of people for further follow-up.
(Un)Entgeltliche Zahlungsversprechen und die Pflicht zum Reisen
Authors: Schmitz Leonard , Senftl Martin
Published: March 2021

Der Beitrag setzt sich mit einer Entscheidung des Amtsgerichts München auseinander, die nicht nur aufgrund ihres kuriosen Sachverhalts besondere Aufmerksamkeit verdient. An ihr lassen sich eingängig Bedeutung und Funktionsweise des Internationalen Privatrechts in Sachverhaltskonstellationen mit Auslandsbezug nachvollziehen. Zudem stellt sich eine der grundsätzlichen Fragen des deutschen Schenkungsrechts: Wann kann eine Leistung als unentgeltlich angesehen werden? Schließlich lädt der Fall noch dazu ein, über die Reichweite des Rechtsbindungswillens in Gelegenheitsgesellschaften nachzudenken. Gibt es eine Plicht zum Reisen?
Crystal structure of 1H-imidazol-3-ium poly[aqua-(μ4-glutarato-κ6
O,O′:O′:O′′,O′′′:O′′′)-(nitrato-κ2
O,O′)strontium(II)], C8H13N3O8Sr
Authors: Dridi Rawiya , Bouhali Amira , Boudaren Chaouki , Bouraiou Abdelmalek , Merazig Hocine
Published: March 2021

C8H13N3O8Sr, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 8.0945(2) Å, b = 15.7091(5) Å, c = 20.6169(6) Å, β = 96.807(2)°, V = 2603.11(13) Å3, Z = 8, R

gt
(F) = 0.021, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0494, T = 273(2) K.
SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie in Deutschland: Ökonomische Bedeutung für das deutsche Gesundheitssystem
Authors: Greß Stefan , Jesberger Christian
Published: March 2021

Das deutsche Gesundheitssystem war nicht optimal auf die Krise im Rahmen der Pandemie vorbereitet. Strukturdefizite in der GKV-Finanzierung machen diese besonders anfällig in Krisen. In der stationären Versorgung setzen die Fallpauschalen keine ausreichenden Anreize zur Vorhaltung von Reservekapazitäten. Die kurzfristigen Maßnahmen des Gesetzgebers in diesem Zusammenhang haben bei der Behandlung besonders erfahrene Zentren benachteiligt.
Wissen generieren: Das „Kompetenznetz Public Health zu COVID-19“
Authors: Evers Sinah , Zeeb Hajo , Gerhardus Ansgar
Published: March 2021

Um die wissenschaftliche Basis für Maßnahmen gegen COVID-19 zu schaffen, ist eine interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit notwendig. Im März 2020 wurde das „Kompetenznetz Public Health zu COVID-19“ gegründet, um evidenzbasierte Erkenntnisse zu sammeln, aufzubereiten und zu disseminieren. Im Juni waren bereits über 30 Fachgesellschaften an der Bereitstellung abgestimmter Informationen beteiligt: Bis November wurden fast 50 „Policy Briefs“ und Hintergrundpapiere in fachübergreifender Zusammenarbeit verfasst.
THE FORMATION OF FISCAL SPACE WHILE OVERCOMING VACCINE NATIONALISM AND ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Геєць Валерій , Луніна Інна , Степанова Олена
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the worst global economic and social crisis in recent decades. In such circumstances, the global community has been developing and taking measures to overcome the pandemic, one of which should be a rapid and unprecedented by scale vaccination of the population.
Problem Statement. Under conditions of intensive spread of the coronavirus infection, vaccination can halt it and become a factor of gradual economic recovery.
Purpose. Analysis of the preconditions and features of the development of fiscal space to ensure vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine, as one of the most important factors of this country’s economic recovery in the current conditions of the global vaccine market.
Materials and Methods. Comparative analysis and theoretical generalization of developments and trends in the global market of vaccines against COVID-19 in current scholarly research and practical publications, as well as analysis of official statistics and analytical materials of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the United Nations, the World Health Organization.
Results. The authors have identified the current trends in the global market of vaccines against COVID-19, which have signs of fierce competition in conditions of insufficient production capacity and shortage of vaccines. The research has shown the contradictions between the emergence of the vaccine’s status of a global public good and the vaccine nationalism. The authors have assessed the needs to expand Ukraine’s fiscal space in order to carry out a successful vaccination of this country’s population against COVID-19 in various alternative scenarios, with due consideration of the priorities of the coverage of particular population groups.
Conclusions. Creating a proper fiscal space for vaccination is one of the central elements of the fight against COVID-19. Such a vaccination would allow carrying out a gradual phased preventive immunization, breaking the chain of contagion, and attaining an economic recovery without repeated lockdowns.
DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPES OF THERAPEUTIC AND PROPHYLACTIC ANTIOXIDANT AGENTS BASED ON NATURAL BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF TROPICOGENIC REPRESENTATIVES OF ORCHIDACEAE JUSS.
Authors: Іванніков Роман , Лагута Ірина , Ставинська Оксана , Буюн Людмила
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Plant extracts and bioactive substances (BAS) of natural origin possess a high biological activity and a low toxicity, therefore they are widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Problem Statement. Nowadays, about 50% of all medical drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal medicines is produced from natural sources, so the search for plants with a high content of BAS, the development of biotechnologies for BAS production, and the design of composites providing the most effective use of BAS are of great importance.
Purpose. The purpose is to study tropical orchid collection for identification of plants with a high BAS content; to develop a procedure for growing promising species in vitro; to design drug prototypes on the basis of plants extracts, nanosized silica, and gelatin biopolymer.
Materials and Methods. The extracts prepared from orchids leaves, silica, and gelatin have been used as auxiliary components for composites synthesis. Spectrophotometric, chromatographic, quantum-chemical, anatomo-morphological, physiological-biochemical, and biotechnological methods have been used in the research.
Results. The species of orchids, which contain a significant amount of BAS with high antioxidant properties have been identified, the main components of orchids extracts have been distinguished. Sterile cultures of selected species have been obtained; protocols for their cultivation in vitro have been developed. Two types of bioactive composites have been prepared; the interaction of extracts components with silica surface and gelatin molecules has been studied. It has been shown that the materials composed of silica and orchid extracts possess a high storage stability and a prolonged desorption of several BAS, while the materials based on extracts, silica, and gelatin ensure gradual release of all the extracts components.
Conclusions. The orchids are valuable sources of natural antioxidants. The designed composites are promising in terms of producing drug formulations for prolonged release of antioxidants.
Wendy J.N. Lee (Director), Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey
Authors: Folmar Steve
Published: March 2021

Wendy J.N. Lee (Director), Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey (Pad Yatra Film LLC, New York City, 2013), 1 hour 10 minutes.
Enterosgel role in neurodegenerative changes in the retina rats under the influence of Cr (VI) - induced retinopathy by study morphological changes in dynamic
Authors: Kuzenko Olena , Kuzenko Yevhen , Demin Yuri
Published: March 2021

Chromium galvanic production have leaded to biosphere pollution. Therefore advisable to study of role in the neurodegenerative development in retinal diseases under experimental conditions.
The aim is to study the Enterosgel effect on morphological changes in rats retina with Cr(VI) – induced retinopathy.
Materials and methods. An experimental study had carried out on 72 outbred white male rats. The rats had divided into 3 groups: I – control group of intact rats (n = 24). Control rats were received drinking water, II group – rats (n = 24), were received drinking water with Cr (VI) (K2Cr2O7) – 0.02 mol/L, III group – animals (n = 24) were received drinking water with K2Cr2O7– 0.02 mol/L and hydrogel methylsilicic acid (Enterosgel) at a dose of 0.8 mg/kg per day as a corrector. The animals had been decapitated under ether anesthesia. The retina had been studied on days 20, 40 and 60 of the experiment. Morphologically and morphometrically they had analyzed.
Results. According to histological studies, it has proved that Cr (VI) causes dystrophic and degenerative changes in all rats retina layers. They increase as the duration of the experiment. The use of Enterosgel as a corrective therapy showed positive results in restoring the morphological structure of rats retina. After Enterosgel 20 days using as a corrector of Cr (VI) exposure, there is a barely noticeable swelling of the outer and inner nuclear layers. Other layers of the retina, morphologically, look undamaged. Forty days Enterosgel treatment have outer and inner nuclear layer edema of retina of animals persists but does not increase. It is easy noticeable swelling of the outer and inner layers of mesh, but no signs of damage processes of cell populations nuclear layers. State ganglionic layer and nerve fiber layer entirely satisfactory. These pathological changes are not critical. After 60 days from the beginning of loading of Cr (VI) and application of Enterosgel in the retina of rats there are initial degenerative changes in the photosensory layer. Cystic dilated outer segments of rods and cones were visible throughout, and areas of their fragmentation were observed. Ganglion neurons are not damaged, but their axons appear somewhat thickened and fluffy. But in general, the typical structure of the retina is preserved.
Conclusions. Chromium-induced toxicity in rats is characterized by pronounced histological and morphometric changes and retinal thickness, which appear after 20 days, increase by 40 days and acquire maximum transformations after 60 days of the experiment. The use of Enterosgel improves picture morphological structures of the retina in rats under the influence of Cr (VI). The changes were expressed on days 20 and 40, which indicates the presence of protective properties for the retina
Cell-molecular mechanisms of progression of ophthalmological pathology on the background of influence of environmental factors. Literature review
Authors: Nedtzvetskaya Olga , Bagmut Irina , Soboleva Irina , Pastukh Irina , Goncharova Natalia
Published: March 2021

Modern scientists are increasingly paying attention to the molecular mechanisms of diseases of the visual organ in conditions of anthropogenic pollution. Environmental pollution is mainly due to atmospheric emissions from the metallurgical, automotive, aviation and petrochemical industries, waste from livestock farms and due to the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. Ukraine ranks one of the first in Europe in terms of the amount of industrial dirt per capita.
The aim of this literature review was to analyze the role of extra- and intracellular protein structures and molecular mechanisms of some pathological processes of the visual organ that occur under the influence of anthropogenic stress on the human body.
Material and methods. Scientific publications in foreign and Ukranian journals on relevant topics in the last 5 years, the Internet resources.
Research results and their discussion. The literature review expanded the scientific understanding of the role of reparative enzyme (MGMT), vascular endothelial growth factor, Bcl-2 family proteins, p53 and Ki 67 proteins, matrix metalloproteinases in some ophthalmic pathology. Anthropoecological environmental factors have been shown to cause oxidative stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, which are a component of a complex pathophysiological process in the most common diseases of the visual analyzer.
Conclusions. The study of molecular mechanisms of occurrence and progression of diseases of the visual organ with the participation of protein factors makes it possible to expand the understanding of the pathogenetic links of their development in order to predict the course of the pathological process, adequate treatment and prevention
Gastroesophageal reflux disease and autoimmune thyroiditis: features of pathomorphological manifestation in young people
Authors: Pasiieshvili Tamara , Zhelezniakova Natalia , Bocharova Tetiana , Pasiyeshvili Lyudmila
Published: March 2021

The aim of the work. To study the effect of concomitant autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) on the pathomorphological features of lesions of the esophageal mucosa in young patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Material and research methods. The study included 165 individuals. The contingent of the surveyed was students of Kharkov higher educational institutions. The main group consisted of 120 patients with a combined course of GERD and AIT, the comparison group included 65 individuals with an isolated GERD. The morphological form of the GERD was revealed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (“Fuginon” system). A histomorphological study of the obtained biopsy material from the mucous membrane of the esophagus was carried out. Samples were studied on an Olympus BX-41 microscope. Morphometric study of the esophageal mucosa was performed using the Olympus DP-Soft.
Research results. Histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed that the main pathomorphological signs of GERD in both groups were hyperplasia of the basal zone, lengthening of epithelial papillae, leukocyte infiltration, intercellular edema, expansion of the intercellular space, dystrophic changes, submucous fibrosis, the presence of severe inflammatory infiltration in the submucosal layer. Presence of concomitant AIT was associated with a statistically higher frequency of occurrence of certain signs: hyperplasia of the basal layer of the epithelium, elongation of the papillae, epithelial edema, expansion of the intercellular space, dystrophic changes in the epithelium (p<0.05).
Conclusions. The presence of concomitant AIT in young patients with GERD does not affect the incidence of erosive GERD, but is associated with a significant increase in the severity of erosive esophagitis. The comorbid course of GERD and AIT in the student population is accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence and statistically significant intensification of the severity of hyperplasia of the basal layer of the epithelium, elongation of connective tissue papillae and leukocyte infiltration compared with isolated GERD