bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“As Old as Man”
Authors: Chajes Julie
Published: March 2021

This paper explains the perennialist doctrines of Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891), the main theorist of Theosophy, a form of occultism whose heirs include New Age and contemporary Pagan spirituality. The analysis is restricted to her first major work, Isis Unveiled (1877). In that treatise, Blavatsky argued that a single Pagan tradition lay at the basis of all historical religions and that this ancient wisdom had been corrupted by the Catholic and Protestant churches to gain power over the blind masses. Providing a fine-grained understanding of such influential heterodox perspectives of the nineteenth century, the article contributes to a historicization of religious universalism and other ideas that have become popular in modern and post-modern times, such as the claim that a perennial “mysticism” lies at the heart of all “true spirituality,” the idea that “spirituality” is something different from “religion,” and the theory that monotheism is an inherently intolerant form of religion whereas mystical, Pagan, or polytheistic spiritualities are inherently peaceful.
Rise of the Fourfold Goddess Construct among Western Goddess Women and Feminist Witches
Authors: Feraro Shai
Published: March 2021

Most contemporary writers and groups who practice forms Goddess Spirituality and Wiccan-based Paganism relate to the Divine Feminine in the form of a Threefold Goddess (Maiden, Mother, Crone)—a concept popularized during the mid-twentieth century by writers such as Robert Graves (1895–1985). This article examines the recent rise of a Fourfold Goddess concept among certain Goddess women and proponents of feminist Witchcraft. It surveys the proliferation of this view, with an emphasis on its embryonic emergence among the 1970s-1980s British matriarchal and Pagan milieus, and discusses the ways in which the concept is used by various groups and individuals (each with their own unique construct of the four aspects of the Goddess) in challenging patriarchy in general, and the perceived reduction of the Goddess (and woman) by the male gaze in particular.
Rina Talgam, Mosaics of Faith: Floors of Pagans, Jews, Samaritans, Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land
Authors: Simms Norman
Published: March 2021

Rina Talgam, Mosaics of Faith: Floors of Pagans, Jews, Samaritans, Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land (University Park, Pa.: Penn State Press and the Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Institute, 2014). 600 pp. +360 colour + 44 b+w illustrations, US $129 (hardcover).
Lesões músculo-esqueléticas em jovens desportistas: estudo da prevalência e dos fatores associados
Authors:   Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Martins Rosa , Saramago Tiago , Carvalho Nélia
Published: March 2021

Introdução: As lesões músculo-esqueléticas são frequentes e exercem forte impacto na saúde dos jovens desportistas. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência e fatores associados a lesões músculo-esqueléticas em jovens desportistas. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo quantitativo, transversal, com uma componente analítica, que utilizou uma amostra do tipo não probabilístico por conveniência, constituída por 108 jovens desportistas de dois clubes desportivos das zonas Centro e Norte de Portugal. O instrumento de recolha de dados integrava variáveis de caracterização: sociodemográfica, antropométrica e contextual à prática desportiva. Integrava ainda o Questionário Nórdico Músculo-Esquelético para avaliar as lesões. Resultados: Verificou-se uma prevalência de 43,5% de lesões músculo-esqueléticas, localizando-se estas nos ombros (34,3%), pernas/joelhos (34,3%), coluna lombar (23,1%), coluna cervical (15,7%), tornozelos/pés (12,0%) e cotovelos (11,1%). Os fatores associados com significância estatística (p<0.005) foram: o habitar em meio rural, possuir índices de massa corporal mais elevados, usar a mochila apenas num ombro, pertencer ao grupo de juvenis, ter histórico de lesões anteriores, e existência de paragens no percurso do desportivo. Discussão: os valores de prevalência de lesões são superiores aos de outros estudos, tendo variáveis multifatoriais como fatores associados que necessitam de um maior enfoque no cuidar especializado da enfermagem. Conclusões: A prevalência das LME nos jovens desportistas é de facto elevada e está associada a alguns fatores sociodemográficos, antropométricos e contextuais à prática desportiva, o que justifica a implementação de programas de prevenção das lesões e promoção da qualidade de vida dos jovens desportistas por parte dos profissionais de saúde.
Reversing orientation homeomorphisms of surfaces
Authors: Kuznietsova Iryna , Maksymenko Sergiy
Published: March 2021

Let $M$ be a connected compact orientable surface, $f:M\to \mathbb{R}$ be a Morse function, and $h:M\to M$ be a diffeomorphism which preserves $f$ in the sense that $f\circ h = f$.
We will show that if $h$ leaves invariant each regular component of each level set of $f$ and reverses its orientation, then $h^2$ is isotopic to the identity map of $M$ via $f$-preserving isotopy.
This statement can be regarded as a foliated and a homotopy analogue of a well known observation that every reversing orientation orthogonal isomorphism of a plane has order $2$, i.e. a mirror symmetry with respect to some line.
The obtained results hold in fact for a larger class of maps with isolated singularities from compact orientable surfaces to the real line and the circle.
Canada’s Participation in the Imperial Military Bodies in the First World War
Authors:   Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Simonenko Ekaterina
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The paper is devoted to the participation of Canada in the creation and activities of the Imperial War Cabinet and two Imperial War Conferences of 1917 and 1918 to explain the evolution of the foreign and political status of Canada as a part of the British Empire after the end of the War. Methods and materials. The paper is based on the British and Canadian Parliamentary Debates, Reports, Minutes of Proceedings and Meetings of the Imperial War Conferences 1917/1918 and the Imperial War Cabinet. To study them, it uses the method of historical criticism of sources. The author also uses the historical-genetic, comparative and the narrative methods to investigate the causes, the process of creating and activities of imperial military bodies for the unified management of the war. Analysis. The paper analyzes the reasons for the creation of imperial military organizations in the British Empire during the war. It reveals the organizational and functional differences between the two imperial military bodies: Cabinet and Conference. The author studies the activities of imperial military bodies during the war in detail, determines the role of the Canadian delegation in this process. The article analyzes the decisions of the imperial military bodies, reveals their domestic and foreign policy consequences for Dominion of Canada. Results. Canada’s active participation in the creation and activities of the imperial military bodies during the First World War was one of the factors in the transformation of the Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations, the formation of its own national identity, political and foreign independence within the Empire.
Involvement of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the Events in Afghanistan in the Late 1970s
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, Rabush Taisiуa
Published: March 2021

Introduction. In this article, the author examines the position of the countries of the Middle East region in the late 1970s with regard to the armed conflict in Afghanistan. The emphasis is on the period on the eve of the entry of the Soviet troops to Afghanistan – from the April Revolution of 1978 until December 1979. The author’s focus is on two states: Pakistan directly bordering on Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, which is a major geopolitical actor in the region. Methods and materials. The author relies on documentary sources such as “Department of state bulletin”, documents of secret correspondence of the U.S. foreign policy agencies, documents of the U.S. National Security Archive, and special volumes on Afghanistan and the Middle East in “Foreign Relations of the United States. Diplomatic Papers, 1977–1980”. Thanks to these sources, it is possible to prove that the involvement of the states of the region in the Afghan armed conflict and its internationalization began even before the Soviet troops entered Afghanistan. Analysis. First, an overview of the objectives pursued by these states in Afghanistan and in the internal Afghan armed conflict is given. Following this, the author consistently reveals the position of these states in relation to the April Revolution of 1978, the ever-increasing Soviet involvement in the Afghan events (1978–1979) and the civil war that started against the Kabul government. Results. In conclusion the article reveals the role of these states in the process of internationalization of the Afghan armed conflict, which, according to the author, began before the Soviet troops entered Afghanistan.
Tradition in Conditions of Military Extremeness: Folk Ways of Understanding and “Overcoming” the Great Patriotic War
Authors:   Federal Research Center Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ryblova Marina , Arkhipova Ekaterina ,   Volgograd State University
Published: March 2021

Introduction. In the study the authors consider the ways of understanding and overcoming the extreme conditions of the Great Patriotic The task is to define the forms and ways of “overcoming” the war conditions and its traumatizing consequences developed by Russians and to identify their connection with traditional types of worldview and folk ritual practices. Methods and materials. The analysis of folk stories recorded among different generations and rural Russian areas as well as memories about the wartime and the period after the Great Patriotic War compose the base of the article. According to the main task the authors use the method widely used in the Russian Ethnography which is called the “inside the tradition” view, or analysis from the position of its bearers. Analysis. The natural alternation of periods of prosperity and crises explains the inevitability of war, but according to popular beliefs, the impoverishment of the sacred sphere of life is the main factor of a tragedy. On the contrary, human turning to God and his / her repentance determine the possibility of overcoming a tragedy. The concept of “a rule” (and its violation) as well as the concept of “a destiny” (a shared fate) which must be restored and redistributed under the crisis according to popular beliefs play an important role in the mechanism of developing ways to “overcome” the war among the Russians during the wartime. Wartime ritual practices including baking and cutting bread, redistributing it to the front line, organizing joint meals, etc. confirm the statement. The process of the revival of religious (Orthodox) practices, and the formation of a collective memory of the war and the fallen heroes was inspired from below, from the masses. This initiative included folk forms of veneration and remembrance of the dead, the creation of sacred places associated with the war and the memory about it. Women, who became the main keepers of the tradition, who took upon themselves the functions of harmonizing the socio-psychological situation in rural areas during the difficult war and postwar years, were especially active in these processes. Results. The authors confirm the particular role of traditional types of worldview influencing the modern collective memory as well as social practices during both extreme conditions and everyday life. Ordinary people preferred to turn to centuries-old spiritual traditions of overcoming war traumas and to use the experience of preserving collective memory of them formed in the pre-revolutionary time within the peasant and Cossack communities.
Frontier Army of the Late Roman Empire in the Mid-4th c. A.D. (Case of Isauria and the Rhine Frontier): on the Ways of Territorial Deployment of Military Units
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Mekhamadiev Evgeniy
Published: March 2021

Introduction. During the whole 4th c. the Late Roman frontier military units constantly took part in military campaigns against different enemies of the Empire, hovewer the author of this paper asks the question how precisely frontier military units managed their service, i.e. which functions they exercised and how they interacted to local civilian population of the province where they stood in. The author believes that a set of functions depended foremost on the location landscape. Methods and materials. The author applies the comparison approach, i.e. compares the peculiarities of two regions where the frontier armies stood: Isauria at the southeast of Asia Minor (mountain landscape) and Upper Germany at the Rhine frontier (mainly plain territory). The source accounts are “The Life of St. Conon of Isauria” (hagiography), an important inscription of Julian the Caesar (future Emperor Julian the Apostate) from Upper Germany (epigraphy) and the work of Ammianus Marcellinus “The Deeds” (Res gestae). Analysis. The author compares evidence on the military arrangement of two provinces and considers how their frontier units defended these lands from external and internal enemies, how they interacted to local population and how precisely they located in its forts. Conclusions. As a result the author concludes that the Roman administration could not place a large number of regular military units in Isauria, because this province had not enough fertile plain lands, this region suffered from the lack of food supply. The hard and cruel mountain landscape enforced to make the bands of irregular city militia – in the case of Isaurian assaults citizens formed military detachments, which were temporarily attached to regular units called vexillations. In contrast, at the Rhine frontier, where there were enough fertile flat lands, the Roman administration might place many regular units and, moreover, this region received detachments from expeditionary troops. In other words, the Roman administration had enough food supply to maintain a high number of regular frontier garrisons.
On Damages Inflicted upon the Stalingrad Section of the Lower Volga Steamship Line in the Great Patriotic War
Authors:   Volgograd State University, Gomanenko Olesya
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The paper reviews the Lower Volga shipping industry before the Great Patriotic War and after the Battle of Stalingrad. The goal is to establish the loss inflicted by the invaders upon the facilities of the Stalingrad section of the Lower Volga Steamship Line that suffered most from the hostilities. Methods and materials. The study is based on the objectivity principles and applies general scientific as well as specific historical methods. The paper is based on unpublished archival materials as well as on scientific publications on the Lower Volga Steamship Line. Analysis and results. The Lower Volga Steamship Line was created in 1934. It was a big economic entity. The territory of its operation stretched along the Volga from Kamyshin down to Lagan. The Steamship Line comprised two basic sections – the Stalingrad and Astrakhan ones. Before the Second World War the Steamship Line included five production establishments (ship repairing yards and workshops), 17 transit piers, a passenger river-boat station, two local piers with registered fleet, three crossings and other facilities. The Stalingrad section was the largest. Within its boundaries the principal Steamship Line unit was situated – the Stalingrad transit pier. 90 percent of it was destroyed in the Battle of Stalingrad. The Stalingrad section of the Steamship Line suffered most from the hostilities. The total amount of damage of the Steamship Line has been established.
Features of Fortifications of the Tsaritsyn Defense Line in the 20s of the 18th Century
Authors:   The State Historical and Memorial Museum “Battle of Stalingrad”, Ivanyuk Sergey
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Extending from the walls of the fortress of Tsaritsyn to the Don river, the Tsaritsyn defense line reliably protected this area from the systematic raids of nomads, gave an impetus to the active settlement of the region and its economic development. A number of research papers are devoted to the history of the Tsaritsyn line, but some aspects are still insufficiently studied. This article reveals the features of fortification and military engineering characteristics of the Tsaritsyn defense line defensive structures, its technical condition during the reign of Peter I. Methods and materials. The research is based on both published documents and ones stored in archives, which allow us to understand the principles that formed the fortified Tsaritsyn defense line, which fortifications were part of its complex in the 20s of the 18th century. Methods of the study: the principles of historicism and objectivity, analysis, synthesis, systematic approach. Analysis. The comparison of the evidence of participants in the construction of the Tsaritsyn defense line (1719–1720) and cartographic plans of its fortifications made it possible to determine the main characteristics of military engineering facilities located at it. Additionally, the analysis of cartographic sources, the manuscript division of the Library of the Academy of Sciences and the documents of the Main Office of Artillery and Fortification helped to determine the time frame and the author of the map “of the defensive line between the Volga and the Don” of 1723, which has not previously been used by researchers when working on the issue of fortification of the Tsaritsyn defense line in the first years of its operation. Results. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that since the beginning of commissioning in 1720, the main fortification objects were formed at the Tsaritsyn defense line, which were part of the complex of its defensive structures, which remained the main fortifications during the entire time of its operation until the abolition of service on it.
Training of Army Reserves in the Educational Structures of Military Settlements in the First Half of the 19th Century
Authors:   Russian State University for the Humanities, Kandaurova Tatiana
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The article considers the development of military educational structures of the Russian military settlement organization at various stages of their activity. In the 1810s and 1850s, training battalions, squadrons, batteries, and combat reserve units trained children of Cantonese military settlers to serve in the army as Junior and non-commissioned officers. Specialized educational institutions taught topographers, builders, doctors, veterinarians, agronomists and other training specialists to serve in the settlement districts. Methods and materials. The author explores models of developing military educational institutions on the basis of materials of complexes of legislative, statistical and reporting documents applying methods of quantitative analysis (trend models, grouping method), comparative analysis using source-oriented, problem-oriented, and system-structural approaches. Analysis. All this made it possible to trace the evolution of government policy aimed at training army personnel and noncommissioned officers based on changing historical realities (the army’s needs for trained personnel, the reform of the military settlement organization), and the results of its implementation, as well as to show the numerical corps of graduates of training units of military settlements and its growth in time and space. Results. The main stages of the development of military educational structures of settlements and periods of their quantitative growth are also defined, which resulted in the multiplication of the number of graduates for the army service. The formation and expansion of the entire educational system of settlements was carried out as the need for special-profile personnel arose in the settled regiments. In the 1820s – 1850s, new special educational institutions were integrated into it, and primary education developed along a transformed vector.
Environmental impact and genetic expressions of new drought tolerant maize genotypes in derived savannah agro-ecology
Authors: INYANG Paul , ENE Chikezie O. , EMMANUEL Ankrumah , CHUKWUDI Uchechukwu P. , IKEOGU Ugochukwu N.
Published: March 2021

Reduced water resources in sub-Saharan Africa will not only pose threat to the livelihood of poor resource farmers, but also food security in the region. Drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties hold promise to reducing poor resourced farmers’ vulnerability and improve food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten maize genotypes obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), were evaluated in 2015 and 2016 using a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications to estimate their genetic variability and predict their genetic advances in the derived savannah agro-ecology. Growth, phenological and yield data were collected from 10 middle row plants. Genetic advance, genotypic, phenotypic and environmental coefficients of variations and their variances were estimated. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses were also performed. The dendrogram showed that at 80% dissimilarity point, the genotypes were grouped into clusters A, B and C in both years. The first two principal components explained 91.8% and 93.3% of the total variation in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Number of grains cob-1, plant height and number of days to physiological maturity were consistent in explaining the variations observed in the maize population. Heritability estimates in broad sense ranged from 1.35% for number of leaves to 87.43% for grain yield per hectare. The genetic parameters studied showed significant variations among the growth, phenological and yield data collected that warrants selection and maize improvement program using the DT maize inbred lines in derived savannah agro-ecology.
Seasonal arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization dynamic displays genotype-specific pattern in Iris sibirica L.
Authors: CRIȘAN Ioana , STOIE Andrei
Published: March 2021

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiotic association between plants and Glomeromycota fungi, that brings nutritional-derived benefits for phytobiont. Influence of plant breeding on arbuscular mycorrhiza susceptibility is a topic of current interest that can have many practical implications. Insights into whether new cultivars have a lower mycorrhizal potential, are critical for optimization of AM use. Aim of this research was to conduct a comparative assessment of AM colonization across a phenophase gradient in two Iris sibirica genotypes: one displaying the wild traits versus a modern reblooming cultivar with double flowers. Analysis showed that both Iris sibirica genotypes developed Paris-morphotype. Results indicated that on average the genotype with simple flowers had a higher AM colonization frequency (84.44±2.15) compared to the new cultivar with double flowers (52.22±6.09). Significant influence was exercised both by genotype (p<0.001) as well as by phenophase (p=0.0013), over colonization frequency. The genotypes displayed contrasting colonization dynamics: highest AM frequency level occurred in spring for the genotype with simple flowers, and in autumn for the one with double flowers. Results suggest that host metabolic state has regulating role over functionality of established AM-symbiotic association according to plant nutritional requirements, while fungi might also respond to increased or decreased carbon flux in the plant, associated with geophyte phenology.
Explants selection for in vitro propagation of Pachyrhizus erosus L.
Authors: OBISESAN Idowu A. , SAKPERE Ayobola M. A. , AMUJOYEGBE Bamidele J. , AKINROPO Michael S.
Published: March 2021

Pachyrhizus erosus tuber is rich in protein asides its agronomical value as a legume, but the seeds by which it is propagated have very low viability. This study established sterilization protocol and effect of various concentrations of auxins and cytokinins on callus production and shoot regeneration from explants of P. erosus. Explants and seeds were sterilized using sodiumhypochlorite (NaClO) solution (5, 10 and 15% v/v) for 5 and 10 mins. Nodal, stem and leaf explants from in vitro germinated P. erosus and tuber from field grown plant were sterilized and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (control) and MS combined with different concentrations of auxins (NAA and 2, 4-D) and cytokinin (BA and Kinetin) and the cultured explants were monitored in terms of degree of callus formation, morphology and colour of callus and also for shoot induction. The results showed that seeds of P. erosus sterilized with 10% NaClO solution for 10 mins and germinated in vitro is the best way of getting sterile nodal, stem and leaf explants for the in vitro propagation of the plant, while tuber explants could be sterilized with 15% NaClO for 10 minutes. Nodal explants inoculated in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA gave the highest shoot regeneration response, while stem explants inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA also gave the highest amount of friable callus. The study concluded that in vitro germinated seeds were the best way of getting explant for P. erosus.
By-product hydrosol of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil distillation as source of botanical insecticides: wealth from waste
Authors: SHARMA Arun D. , KAUR Inderjeet
Published: March 2021

Worldwide use of chemical pesticides is on rise which is creating a big problem to environment and human health. Hence great interest has been generated to find out botanical leads having anti-pest properties from medicinal plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the insecticidal potential of Eucalyptus globulus waste hydrosol obtained after essential oil distillation. Samples of Eucalyptus globulus genus were collected from near-by areas of study, and were hydro-distilled and their by-product ‘hydrosol was analyzed for phenolics and tannin determination. UV-VIS, FT-IR and fluorescent study was also conducted of by-product hydrosol. In addition, insecticidal activity of by-product hydrosol was also monitored against mealy bug. Substantial amount of phenolics and tannins were detected in the by-product hydrosol. UV and fluorescent spectroscopy revealed the presence of secondary metabolites. Significantly higher insecticidal activity was observed of by-product hydrosol against mealy bug. The results suggested that by-product hydrosol from Eucalyptus globulus essential oil distillation can be considered as potential candidates for bio-control of pests.
Silene thymifolia Sibth. et Sm. (Caryophyllaceae) – A vulnerable species in Romania: Anatomical aspects of vegetative organs
Authors: JIANU Loreley D. , BERCU Rodica , POPOVICIU Dan R.
Published: March 2021

Silene thymifolia (Caryophyllaceae) is considered a rare, near-threatened species in Romania, growing only on Black Sea coastal dunes.  Anatomical aspects of the root, stem and leaf of this species are presented in this study. Root, stem and leaves were analysed by brightfield microscopy, with specific staining. The root in cross section exhibited a secondary structure, generated by the activity of phellogen, and vascular cambium, with thick cork, continuous secondary xylem rings. no pith rays, but with cortical air lacunes. The stem had a primary structure with a number of collateral vascular bundles arranged on a single circle, with thick cortical schlerenchymal layers and oxalate crystals in pith cells. The epidermis showed stomata and glandular hairs. The leaf was amphystomatic leaf, with a heterogeneous mesophyll (equifacial type) and embedded vascular bundles, with a rounded mid rib surrounded by a parenchyma sheath. The spongy tissue has some large intercellular air spaces with druses. The mechanical tissue is well developed in the root and stem and poorly developed, represented by few collenchyma elements in the mesophyll, being represented by a continuous schlerenchyma fibers band present in root and stem and collenchyma in the leaf. The secretory histological elements were represented by epidermal glandular hairs and oxaliferous cells (druses) present in stem and leaf.
Health risk assessment and heavy metal bioaccumulation in vegetables irrigated with waste water in Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: HABU M. A. , BAWA Usman , MUSA Saheed I.
Published: March 2021

Intake of vegetables grown in heavy metals contaminated soils is one of the most common food chain routes for exposure of human. For this purpose, this research aimed at evaluating the concentration of heavy metals (cadmium-Cd, lead-Pb and zinc-Zn) in vegetables such as spinach (S), lettuce (L), and onion (O), irrigated with two different wastewater sources in Kano State Nigeria. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric analysis (AAS) was used in this research to determine the metal levels. Zn (0.17-0.12 mg/l) was detected in the wastewater, as well as in the irrigated soil (8.36-33.64 mg/kg), while Cd and Pb were not detected in both the wastewater and irrigated soils. Furthermore, between (1.50-27.05 mg/kg) of Zn was detected in the assayed vegetables (S, L and O). However, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the Zn content of the two wastewater sites.  Lactuca sativa was observed to have the highest Zn concentration (27.5 mg/kg) in site A, while Spinacia oleracea had the lowest Zn concentration (1.5 mg/kg). Zn levels in all the samples analysed in this study were below the permissible limit of 100 mg/kg in vegetables, 50 mg/kg in soil and 5mg/l in wastewater set by FAO/WHO. However, Pb and Cd were not detected in all the samples. Bioaccumulation factor was found ranging from 0.32-41.17 mg/kg and the pollution index ranged from (0.46-1.80 µg g-1). This indicated potential health risk from Zn in people who are consuming these vegetables for long period of time due to biomagnification. This research suggested that frequent test should be carried out to monitor the accumulation and, farmers should be sensitized on the importance of treating irrigation water before agricultural usage.
Blast response of laminated glass panels: a critical review of analysis and design methods
Authors: Angelides Socrates C. , Talbot James P.
Published: March 2021

Laminated glass panels are often used to enhance the blast resilience of buildings by replacing the inherently brittle, monolithic glass that has historically been used in building façades. These composite ductile panels offer superior blast resistance and result in reduced glass-related injuries due to the interlayer's ability to provide residual resistance following fracture of the glass layers and to retain glass fragments. The various analysis methods that have been developed to support the blast design of laminated glass panels and reduce the need for expensive blast testing are reviewed in this paper. The focus is on panels with polyvinyl butyral, as this is the most commonly used interlayer in building façades. The methods identified are categorised into empirical design guidance, analytical models, finite-element analysis and equivalent single-degree-of-freedom methods, thereby enabling a comparison of the modelling principles adopted and the material properties assumed within the different categories. This is informed by first presenting a brief overview of the material properties of laminated glass under blast conditions. The consistency of the underlying structural mechanics principles is discussed by comparing the methodologies across the different categories. Finally, the ease of application is considered, highlighting the methods that are often preferred by practitioners.
Formación en Psicología: Debates en Antioquia
Authors:   Universidad EAFIT
Published: March 2021

Profesores de diversas orientaciones conceptuales, con trayectorias académicas disímiles, formados en diferentes épocas y generaciones, y vinculados a múltiples instituciones del Valle de Aburrá, confluyen en este texto alrededor de un foco común: la formación en psicología. Este libro nos desafía a pensar en los múltiples asuntos que la compleja labor de la formación de psicólogos implica: esa diversidad constitutiva de la psicología, dimensión estructural que la define, que la hace por definición ciencia multiparadigmática, y que, antes de constituirse en un obstáculo, es la fuente de su riqueza.
Voluntary Delivery of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances or their Analogues: Criminal Procedural Aspects of Absolute Discharge
Authors:   Ryazan Branch of V. Ya. Kikot Moscow University  of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Ryazan, Russia, Pudovkin A. A. , Tyotkin D. V. ,   Ryazan Branch of V. Ya. Kikot Moscow University  of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Ryazan, Russia
Published: March 2021

The process of voluntary delivery of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues has been investigated. The article considers the mechanism for absolute discharge of a person who committed drug crimes in compliance with the criminal legislation of the Russian Federation. The conditions for voluntary drug delivery have been studied. The criminal procedure aspects of the absolute discharge of a person from criminal liability are also determined. The regulations for the distribution of drugs were analyzed when the employees of operational divisions carried out operational-search measures to seize them, as well as during the inspection of the scene. The article presents the problems that, in practice, when deciding on the termination of a criminal case, investigative and inquiry bodies may face. The article provides an interpretation of the criminal law norms of the Criminal Code, which affect the decision-making on the absolute discharge of a person who voluntarily expressed a desire to deliver drugs.
Globalization as Interaction Through Collision (“Testing for Coronavirus”)
Authors:   Tambov State Technical University, Tambov, Russia, Pugina O. A.
Published: March 2021

The article examines the structure of the concepts of globalization, integration, internationalization, convergence. The world is entering a new geopolitical phase, when it becomes not only multipolar, but also multi-conceptual. Globalization has been “put on pause”. Instead, collision of ideas, interests, methods, actions are observed. Such concepts as reception, harmonization, and unification of law are losing their meaning. The article deals with the relations between the USA and the European Union, which have turned from allies into competitors. Destructive clashes are also being observed within the European Union. Human rights are only being proclaimed, but in reality each state is trying to survive in its own way. As a result of the study, a conclusion is made about the onset of a stage of new globalization, without the participation of supranational formal institutions, the identification of real leaders of the world order.
Road Safety Week: Past and Present
Authors:   Rostov Institute (Branch) of All-Russian State University of Justice  (RPA of the Ministry of Justice of Russia) in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Tishakov M. P.
Published: March 2021

The relevance of the presented research is determined by insufficient knowledge from the historical and legal standpoint of conducting operational and preventive measures, such as a week (decade, month) of road safety, but at the same time their high significance and effectiveness. In this paper, on the basis of previously unknown archival documents and materials, organizational and legal measures are considered for the first in domestic practice decade of road safety in the territory of Donbass. The attention is focused on the key areas of preparation and implementation of the Decade plan by local authorities and public organizations. The nature of the preparation and implementation of the planned road safety decade plan does not lose its relevance at the present stage. Today, the road safety week has gained international importance and is being implemented with the support of the United Nations. At the regional level, as in the past, a week (decade, month) of road safety is actively being held, while the nature of the activities and their intended purpose, for the most part, have remained unchanged, but at the same time, the urgent problem is the lack of a unified procedure for carrying out these events.
The Retrospective Analysis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Cases in Aydin Adnan Menderes University Research and Training Hospital Parasitology Laboratory
Authors: YILDIZ İbrahim , MALATYALİ Erdogan
Published: March 2021

Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the most common form of Leishmania infection, is endemic in our country. The study aimed to evaluate CL casesnand infection-related factors in the last six years in Aydin Adnan Menderes University Research and Training Hospital Parasitology Laboratory.

Material and Methods: Our study included CL cases in Aydin Adnan Menderes University Research and Training Hospital Parasitology Laboratory from January 2015 to October 2020. The definitive diagnosis of CL was performed with direct microscopy (DM) or culture. Demographic characteristics of the

cases (gender, age and residence), and localization, number, duration of skin lesions, period of diagnosis was analysed.

Results: In the last six years, 79 cases were diagnosed with CL, 42 (53.2%) were male, and 37 (46.8%) were female. The average age of cases was 37.4±23.3, most (55.7%) live in rural areas, and immigrants from Syria accounted 15.2% of the cases. Most lesions were on face (63.3%) and average period from lesion

and diagnosis was 3.6±2.7 months. Positive results were obtained with both methods 59 (74.7%) of the cases, 16 (25.3%) with culture method, and four (5%) with DM.

Conclusion: Our study reveals that CL is still an important public health problem for Aydin. In addition, immigrants from Syria may have a role in the spread of the disease. It is thought that it is necessary to use culture method in addition to DM in the laboratory diagnosis of the disease.
Carotenogenesis in Nannochloropsis oculata under Oxidative and Salinity Stress
Authors: Zainal Abidin Aisamuddin Ardi , Yokthongwattana Chotika , Balia Zetty Norhana
Published: March 2021

Nannochloropsis oculata is a unicellular microalgae which is vastly found throughout the environment and have been widely studied due to its high productivity of secondary metabolites and oil content. It is majorly cultured in the aquaculture sector as fish feed and for industries for its polyunsaturated fatty acids. This work aims to study the impact of salinity and oxidative stress on the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and the accumulation of their products in N. oculata via qPCR and HPLC analyses. Three genes responsible for production of high value carotenoids namely lycopene beta-cyclase (CrTL-B/LCYB), beta-carotene oxygenase (CrTO)and beta-carotene hydroxylase (CrTR) under different stresses and time points were identified and quantified, and the amount of their products namely β-carotene, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin was measured. N. oculata was treated with different concentrations of Cu2+ ion (1, 2, and 5 ppm) and NaCl (50, 150, 250 mM) which resembles conditions of oxidative and salinity stress, respectively. RNA and carotenoids extraction, RT-PCR, qPCR and HPLC was carried out in order to identify the correlation of carotenogenesis genes expression with carotenoids production. Under exposure of both treatments, the carotenoids biosynthesis genes were upregulated up to 6-fold compared to control and targeted carotenoids were overexpressed up to 7-fold. Results from this study gave insights which are beneficial in understanding microalgae’s responses towards abiotic stress via the synthesis of carotenoids.
Physiochemical and in-vitro Cytotoxicity Properties of Biocompatible Palm Fatty Acid-Based Polyesters
Authors: Ling Yvonne Tze Qzian , Yap Yiing Jye , Heng Yi Xin , Lee Siang Yin , Koh Rhun Yian , Ang Desmond Teck Chye , Chia Chin Hua , Gan Seng Neon
Published: March 2021

With the sharp rise in global interest in sustainability and environmental concerns, there is a growing demand in replacing petroleum-derived raw materials with renewable plant-based raw materials in the production of polymers. In this study, two palm fatty acid polyesters were synthesized from palmitic and stearic acids. Their chemical structures were identified by FTIR and 1H-NMR analysis. Both polyesters showed a moderately high conversion rate from the acid value determination. DSC analysis showed that the palmitic acid polyester (PAP) had a lower Tg than that of stearic acid polyester (SAP), where PA P had a Tg of 1.8 °C, while SAP had a Tg of 31.9 °C. TGA demonstrated that thermal decomposition of both polyesters took place via two-stage processes, which occurred above 200 °C. GPC analysis showed that PAP (1031 g/mol) had a higher Mn value than SAP (972 g/mol). MTT assays were performed to determine the cytotoxicity of these polyesters against human keratinocytes (HaCaT), mouse fibroblasts (3T3), mouse hepatocytes (H2.35), and canine kidney cells (MDCK) in both dose- and time-dependent manners, with SDS serving as the experimental benchmark. Comparative cytotoxicity test showed that both PA P and SAP were biocompatibility and non-cytotoxic with the cell viability well above 80%, except SAP demonstrated a moderately low cytotoxicity on fibroblasts with cell viability remaining as 50.4% following 72 h exposure at 100 μg/mL of concentration. These findings suggest that the natural-sourced palm fatty acid polyesters have high potential to be used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Penghasilan Asid Laktik D daripada Hidrolisat Sabut Kelapa Tua dan Muda
Authors: Muhamad Nor Nur Nadhirah , Teo Pui Leng , Din Nur Akmal Solehah , Mohd Zaini Nurul Aqilah
Published: March 2021

Penghasilan asid laktik D semakin mendapat perhatian kerana sifat polimernya, poli asid laktik D, yang termostabil. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menghasilkan asid laktik D daripada sisa pertanian yang tidak bernilai tinggi seperti sabut kelapa tua (SKT) dan sabut kelapa muda (SKM) melalui teknologi fermentasi. Peringkat pertama kajian, SKTdan SKM dikenakan pra-rawatan beralkali menggunakan 5% larutan natrium hidroksida pada suhu 121 °C selama 15 minit untuk menyingkirkan komponen lignin dan hemiselulosa. Kemudian, dua kaedah hidrolisis dikaji, iaitu hidrolisis berenzim dengan menggunakan enzim Acellerase 1500 (1, 5 dan 10%, i/i) dan hidrolisis berasid dengan menggunakan asid sulfurik (1, 3 dan 5%, i/i). Keputusan menunjukkan hidrolisis berenzim dengan kepekatan 10% enzim Accellerase 1500 (11.09 mg/mL) lebih cekap menukarkan selulosa kepada gula penurun berbanding hidrolisis berasid (0.87 mg/mL) dalam hidrolisat SKT. Manakala, bagi hidrolisat SKM, 5% enzim Accellerase menghasilkan kepekatan gula penu-run yang lebih tinggi berbanding hidrolisis berasid dengan 15.00 dan 1.02 mg/mL. Kadar penukaran gula penurun yang maksimum didapati daripada hidrolisis berenzim SKT dan SKM dengan 55% dan 60%. Pada peringkat kedua, hidrolisat yang mengandungi gula penurun yang tinggi digunakan sebagai sumber karbon untuk penghasilan asid lak-tik D oleh Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquen melalui proses fermentasi (48 jam, 37 ºC, 150 rpm). Pada akhir proses fermentasi, sebanyak 4.93 g/L penghasilan asid laktik D direkodkan dalam kaldu hidrolisat SKT dan 3.98 g/L asid laktik D terhasil dalam kaldu hidrolisat SKM dengan pH kaldu fermentasi tidak dikawal. Kesimpulannya, selulosa dalam kedua-dua sampel SKT dan SKM boleh diuraikan kepada gula penurun melalui hidrolisis berenzim dan seterus-nya berpotensi untuk digunakan sebagai substrat bagi menghasilkan asid laktik D melalui proses fermentasi.
Aqueous Polyphenol Semi-Purified Fractions from Galls of Quercus infectoria Increase ALP Activity and Mineralisation of hFOB 1.19 Cells
Authors: Hapidin Hermizi , Mazlan Fairuza Munirah , Abdullah Hasmah , Soelaiman Ima Nirwana
Published: March 2021

The galls of Quercus infectoria (QI) have been reported to possess numerous medicinal values and give a positive effect on bone metabolism. This study investigated the effects of semi-purified fractions of QI gall extract on the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralisation of human foetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB1.19). The semi-purified fractions (fraction A and B) were prepared by column chromatography methods. MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation activity to obtain half maximal concentration (EC50) of the cells treated with fraction A (phenolic components and contained amide), fraction B (phenolic components with the presence of alkene), and pamidronate (drug control). The most potent or lowest EC50 was further used to measure ALP activity in the treated and untreated cells at day 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 by ELISA. Cell mineralisation was determined by von Kossa staining for phosphate depositions and Alizarin Red S staining for calcium depositions. The EC50 values for fraction A and B were 8.86 and 9.92 μg/mL, respectively, which showed a greater effect compared to the pamidronate (15.27 μg/mL). The ALPactivity of both fractions in the treated cells were also greater compared to the two control groups (cells treated with pamidronate and untreated cells), starting from day 3 onwards. The calcium depositions appeared as red spots, while phosphate depositions appeared as black spots. Interestingly, the calcium depositions of cells treated with both fractions were higher than those of the two control groups. In conclusion, semi-purified fractions of QI gall extract enhanced proliferation, improved mineralisation, and increased ALP activity of hFOB 1.19 cells.
Image Reversal Resist Photolithography of Silicon-Based Platinum and Silver Microelectrode Pattern
Authors: Daud Nurulhaidah , Razak Nor Farhah , Abd Rahman Normahirah Nek , Mohd Zahidi Azizah , Chin Siew Xian , Tengku Muda Tengku Elmi Azlina , Syono Mohd Ismahadi
Published: March 2021

Silicon-based platinum (Pt) and silver (Ag) microelectrodes are constructed using photolithography technique and used in detecting arsenic activity in different electrolytes. Pt and Ag have good properties either as a working, a counter, or a reference electrode due to their low electrical resistance, high melting point, and high chemical stability. This chemical sensor has the ability to detect the changes in the level or activity of arsenic in electrolytes. Patterning these metals by wet chemical or dry etching is not a feasible process as these metals cannot be etched properly. The lift-off process can be applied to ease the etching process, but it has a major problem whereby the metal particles or ears may remain at the edges at the end of the process. The process variables, particularly the resist slope, were investigated to reduce possible defects using an image reversal resist. The thickness and angle of the resist side wall were measured by SEM. The effects of many factors that may influence or resist steep angle formation were analyzed and optimized with the Design of Experiment (DOE) technique to achieve the target recipe of resist angle < 60°. The lower angle of the resist side wall resulted in a better percentage yield of good electrode pattern after the lift-off process. The ability of fabricated microelectrode and influence of supporting electrolytes in arsenic determination were discussed.