bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
About the Dating of the Christianization of Caucasian Albania
Authors: Hakobyan Aleksan H.
Published: October 2021

The article is devoted to the issues of clarifying the Chronology of official Christianization of Caucasian Albania, which took place in the beginning of 4th century AD. The study of the information from the “Life of Gregory” (a variant of Agathangelos’ “History”), “Letter of Giut to Saint Vachē”, “Tale of Vachagan”, “History of Albania” by Movses Daskhurançi and other Armenian sources suggest that Christianity in the Albanian kingdom was officially adopted in 313 or 315 years. The king of the country then was the founder of the Arsacid dynasty of Albania Vachagan I the Brave (but not his grandson Urnayr), and the king of Armenia was Tiridat III the Great, also Arsacid. As M.-L. Chaumont established in 1969, the latter, with the help of Gregory the Illuminator, adopted the Christian faith at the state level in June 311, two months after the publication of the Edict of Sardica “On Tolerance” by Emperor Galerius (293–311). In 313, after the appearance of the Edict of Milan, Tiridat attracted the younger allies of Armenia Iberia-Kartli, Albania-Aluank' and Lazika-Egerk' (Colchis) to the process of Christianization. In the first half of 315, Gregory the Illuminator baptized the Albanian king (who had arrived in Armenia) and ordained the first bishop Tovmas (the founder of the Albanian church, with the center in the capital Kapalak) for his country: he was from the city of Satala in Lesser Armenia. Probably, at the same stage, Christianization covered the whole of antique Albania, i.e. territory north of the Kura River, to the Caspian Sea and the Derbend Pass.
Biafra: the Revival and Proliferation of Separatism
Authors: Kostelyanets Sergey V.
Published: October 2021

The weak cohesion of African societies, predetermined by their ethnic, linguistic and religious heterogeneity, leads to a great propensity for the spread of separatist sentiments in Africa. The overwhelming majority of existing scholarly works note the continent's tendency towards separatism and irredentism. Indeed, the number of separatist movements in Africa is constantly growing; currently there are more of them than there were in the first postcolonial decades, although only a few of them have been “successful”.
The present paper analyzes the reasons for the revival of a secessionist movement in southeastern Nigeria several decades after the end of the 1967-1970 Biafran War. The authors consider activities of separatist organizations that emerged in Biafra in the 2000s-2010s, the reaction of the government of Muhammadu Buhari, and factors hindering the establishment of a new “sovereign state” in the region. The relevance of the present paper is determined both by the growing threat of separatism in Africa and by the lack of research on the current situation in Biafra in Russian-language literature.
The authors employ theoretical-analytical and systemic-historical methods to analyze the threat of separatism in Nigeria and conclude that the creation of a new “Republic of Biafra” will remain a utopian project for at least the next decade, yet separatist sentiments will spread and hinder the achievement of internal political stability in the country, which is already experiencing conflicts due to the activities of Boko Haram, tensions between farmers and pastoralists, and militancy in the Niger Delta.
Identification and Self-Identification Terms of Udi-Christians Based on Materials of Armenian and Udi Written Sources
Authors: Kharatyan Hranush S.
Published: October 2021

After the abolition of the second kingdom of Caucasian Albania, accompanied by the process of Islamization of its peoples, the remaining Christian Albanians, who retained their Albanian identity until the 18th century, were concentrated on the territory of the historical regions of Shaki and Kabala. Created in the 7th century, the myth about the Apostle Yeghishe contributed to the “nationalization” of Christianity in the Shaki–Kabala region in Albania. In parallel with islamization and the loss of a common Albanian identity, among the islamized Caucasian-speaking groups of Albanians, processes of the formation of a narrow ethnic “me”, “we”, and a significant number of various names close to ethnonyms gradually emerged. The Christian-Albanian identity of the Christian part of the population was concentrated among the worshipers of the Apostle Yeghishe Albanian Christianity up to the 18th century. The most visible group with the Albanian identity were the Udins. During the 18th century most of them were forcibly islamized and assimilated. Among the remaining Christian Udins, the cultural and political importance of the “Albanian national-religious dissidence” disappeared, and new processes of self-determination emerged, leading to multi-level group ethno-religious loyalties. Religious commonality with the Armenian Church and the Armenian people was reflected in the common Udi word գshton and the literary Armenian word lusavorchakan. Ethnonymic designations “uti/udi”, “Udin-speaking tribe”, “Udin-speaking nation” reflected their own narrow ethnic belonging. In the Udi language, there is no word that marks ethnicity – the equivalent of the words “people”, “nation”, they are replaced by words xalq, milleti borrowed from the Turkic language.
The Role and Place of the Middle Persian Language and Writing in Caucasian Albania
Authors: Gadzhiev Murtazali S.
Published: October 2021

A significant political influence of Sasanian Iran on Caucasian Albania gives reasons to consider the spread of the Middle Persian language and writing among the Albanian nobility and authorities. This process contributed by the existence of close dynastic ties between the Arsacids of Albania and the Sasanian royal family at least since from the reign of King Urnayr (ca. 350–375) up the abolition of Albanian kingdom at the beginning of the 6th century. Written sources provide the correspondence of the rulers of Albania, Armenia, Iberia with the Sasanians and the written decrees of the shāhanshāhs sent to the Transcaucasian provinces of Iran, which indirectly indicates the spread of the Middle Persian language and writing here.
Currently, there are three known unique gem-seals that date back to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 6th century and belonged to the representatives of higher secular and church authorities. These are the seals of the King of Albania Aswahen, Crown Prince Asay and the Great Catholicos of Albania and Balasakan. They are of great interest for the study of cultural and political ties between Sasanian Iran and Albania, Albanian sphragistics. The title inscriptions on these official seals are made in pārsīg (pahlavi), which shows the role of the Middle Persian languages and writing among the highest Albanian nobility and the highest Christian clergy of the country, clearly indicates the huge political and cultural influence of Sasanian Iran on the Caucasian Albania. These monuments of glyptics show that the Middle Persian language and writing had the official status in the Early Medieval Albania.
Russia – Mongolia – China: Historical and Contemporary Transformations
Authors: Luzyanin Sergey G.
Published: October 2021

The history of the expansion of “Russian Asia” in the 17th – 19th centuries is associated with the formation of a transboundary space that has absorbed migration flows and energy of Russian (Orthodox), Mongolian (Buddhist-nomadic) and Chinese (Taoist-Confucian) civilizations. The Russians were mentally and politically perceived by the Mongol elite as saviors. In the 19th– early 20th centuries Mongolia, turned into the Mongolian People’s Republic, which was under the formal suzerainty of China. International legal “inconsistencies” in the status of the MPR were eliminated by the decisions of the Yalta Conference of the Allies (February 1945), the Mongolian referendum followed by the recognition of its results by Chiang Kai-shek in 1946. The triangle “USSR – MPR – China” acquired a complete form with full international legal registration.
The post-Soviet outlines were largely determined by the signing in 1993 of the Russian-Mongolian and in 1994 the Mongolian-Chinese Treaties of Friendship and Cooperation, the emergence of a “third neighbor”, the strengthening of China on trade and investment platforms. The signing in 2019 of the Russian-Mongolian Treaty on Friendly Relations and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has politically strengthened the Russian-Mongolian vector, strengthening the overall strategic foundation of the triangle. The Mongolian sector, in terms of increasing China’s economic share and its influence in general, remains the “weak link” of the tripartite structure.
The article analyzes the historical and modern realities of the interactions of the three states, the Russian and Chinese components, their political, financial and economic dimensions, the strengths and weaknesses of bilateral relations in the triangle.
Reminisces of Participants in the Struggle against Apartheid about Studying in the USSR (1960s–1980s)
Authors: Turianitsa Daria A.
Published: October 2021

This article is a review of South African cadets’ and students’ memoirs that received political or/and military education in the Soviet Union as a part of Soviet assistance in solidarity against the apartheid. Most of them were fighters of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) “Umkhonto we Sizwe”.
This paper examines and cites the curious aspects of Soviet life noted by the arriving students, among whom was the ex-President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, as well as many former and current high-ranking authorities of this country. It is worth saying that the authors of the published recollections highlighted not only the positive aspects of their stay in the Soviet Union, but also did mentioned some negative sides, thus providing a more “complete” picture. However, one should not forget that in many ways the description of certain events was directly related to the student’s outlook and could differ from the real state of affairs.
The authors of this article were especially interested in what trainees expected to see in the USSR, how their relations with Soviet citizens were built, and what experience they kept in mind at the end of their studies. The authors tried, partially quoting the memoirs of some freedom fighters, to answer these questions.
It is worth pointing out that as one of the main results of cooperation Soviet officers and other instructors, by their own example, were able to change the racial perceptions of South Africans by showing how “white” people could be.
The Caucasian Territorial Churches and the Sāsānid Commonwealth
Authors: Schleicher Frank
Published: October 2021

At the beginning of the sixth century, the kingships in Caucasian Iberia and Albania were eliminated by the Sāsānids. Thus, the system of vassal kings that served well for centuries was suddenly replaced by direct rule across the board. In this study, we want to ask why this change suddenly became possible. For the Sāsānian administration always needed a central contact person in the countries who could control the local nobility. It is striking that the establishment of a strong church structure always preceded the end of kingship. This can be seen particularly well in the example of Armenia, whose kingship had already been eliminated a century earlier. It is therefore reasonable to assume that after the end of kingship in Armenia as well as in Iberia and Albania, the regional churches took over its central functions of cooperation with the Sāsānian central administration. Now the church served the administration as an important local power factor, and allowed it he control of the powerful dynastic clans. Despite occasional conflicts, the churches cooperated with the Sāsānids and they were able to benefit greatly from this cooperation. Their advantages consisted in access to financial resources and, above all, in strengthening their position of power vis-à-vis the leaders of the local noble clans. Ecclesiastical power reached its peak when the Katholikoi finally also led their countries politically, as Kiwrion did in the case of Iberia at the beginning of the seventh century. Thus, the church became the state-forming institution in the Caucasian countries.
Study of the dynamics for gas accumulation in the annulus of production wells
Authors: Urazakov Kamil , Belozerov Viktor , Latypov Bulat
Published: October 2021

Accumulation of associated petroleum gas in the annulus is one of the negative factors that impede the intensification of mechanized oil production. An increase in annular gas pressure causes growth of bottomhole pressure, a decrease in back pressure to the formation and the inflow of formation fluid. In addition, accumulation of gas in the annulus leads to displacement and a decrease in the liquid level above the submersible pump. Insufficient level of the pump submersion (rod or electric submersible) causes a number of complications in the operation of mechanized production units associated with overheating of the elements in pumping units. Therefore, the development of technologies for optimizing the gas pressure in the annulus is relevant. Method for calculating the intensity of gas pressure increase in the annulus of production wells operated by submersible pumps has been developed. Analytical dependence for calculating the time interval of gas accumulation in the annulus, during which the dynamic level decreases to the pump intake, is obtained. This value can be used to estimate the frequency of gas withdrawal from the annulus using compressors. It has been found that the rate of increase in annular gas pressure in time increases non-linearly with a rise in the gas-oil ratio and a decrease in water cut, and also linearly increases with a rise in liquid flow rate. Influence of the operating (gas-oil ratio) and technological (value of the gas pressure maintained in the annulus) factors on the flow rate of the suspended reciprocating compressor driven by the beam engine, designed for forced withdrawal and redirection of the annular gas into the flow line of the well is analyzed.
Prospects for the use of modern technological solutions in the flat-lying coal seams development, taking into account the danger of the formation of the places of its spontaneous combustion
Authors: Zubov Vladimir , Golubev Dmitrii
Published: October 2021

Spontaneous combustion of coal remains an important problem for coal mines, which can lead to an explosion of methane and coal dust. Accidents associated with spontaneous combustion of coal can cause significant economic losses to coal mining companies, as well as entail social damage – injuries and loss of life. Accidents are known at the Kuzbass mines, which occurred as a result of negligent attitude to the danger of spontaneous combustion of coal, the victims of which were dozens of people. The analysis of emergency situations associated with spontaneous combustion of coal shows that the existing wide range of means of preventing endogenous fires does not provide complete safety when working out coal seams prone to spontaneous combustion, therefore, spontaneous combustion places continue to occur in mines. The consequences that may arise as a result of a methane explosion initiated by a self-ignition place indicate the need to improve the used technologies.

The purpose of the work is to determine the impact of modern technological solutions used in functioning mines during underground mining of flat-lying coal seams prone to spontaneous combustion, and to develop new solutions that reduce endogenous fire hazard.

Conclusions on the influence of leaving coal pillars in the developed space, isolated air removal from the stoping face through the developed space, the length of the stoping face and the excavation pillar, and other factors on the danger of the formation of spontaneous combustion places are presented. Conclusions about the possibility of using modern technological solutions in future are also drawn.
Critical Illness Polyneuropathy in Children with Infectious Diseases
Authors:   Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 197022, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Voitenkov V.B. , Klimkin A.V. , Skripchenko N.V. , Vilnits A.A.
Published: October 2021

Our goal was to establish electrophysiological features of critical illness polyneuropathy in children with infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: We evaluated peripheral nervous system involvement in 67 critically ill children, admitted in ICU with different types of infectious diseases (viral encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, meningitis, acute gastroenteritis). Age of the group varied from 4 months to 17 years. All patients underwent conduction studies and neurological investigation. Sensory and motor fibers of n. ulnaris et n. medianus, motor fibers of n. Tibialis and sensory fibers of n. Suralis were tested. Lowering of the amplitudes, conduction velocity slowing and asymmetry were accounted for the motor and sensory fibers. Results: In 47 cases (n=71) diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) was established. Lesions mostly involved lower limbs nerves. According to our data, severe course of CIP was seen in 40% of all cases. Average time of CIP onset in children was 5-7 days from the beginning of mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Critical illness polyneuropathy in children with infectious diseases is a severe condition which may lead to the disability of the patients. Average time of its onset is the 5-7 days from the beginning of the mechanical ventilation in 71% of the patients. More often sensory and motor fibers of lower limbs nerves are affected. Conduction studies is a valuable tool in diagnostic process in establishing the critical illness polyneuropathy in children with infectious diseases. Keywords: Critical illness, critical illness polyneuropathy, children, electromyography.
Wrist Arthrodesis with Vascularized Fibular Graft after Failed Allograft Replacement for Giant-Cell Tumor Resection
Authors:   C.O.O., Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Gaetano Pini, Milan, Italy, Lucattelli Elena , Bastoni Stefano , Delcroix Luca , Sciancalepore Fabio , Andrea Daolio Primo , Innocenti Marco
Published: October 2021

Giant-cell tumor (GCT) is locally aggressive bone neoplasm, with an unpredictable pattern of biological aggressiveness. The optimal treatment had to achieve a negligible local recurrence rate while maximizing musculoskeletal function. Numerous options for reconstruction are available, but in the literature there is a lack of salvage surgery data. We present a case of a 67-year-old woman who underwent complete wrist arthrodesis with vascularized fibular graft as salvage procedure for allograft necrosis, after excision of a distal radius GCT. The patient did not complain of any impairment in daily use, and the functional score was 22 points (73%) at latest follow-up of 14 months. Despite joint salvage remains the most favorable treatment with regard to functional outcome for aggressive tumors of the distal radius, vascularized fibular grafts is a valuable alternative especially in salvage procedures, where the use of another allograft could lead to higher complications rate. Keywords: Vascularized fibular graft, Wrist arthrodesis, Giant-Cell Tumor, Fibula free flap.
Analysis of the Histopathological Profile and Surgical Margins Resulting from Resection of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
Authors:   School of Medicine - Centro Universitario Municipal de Franca (Uni-FACEF), Sao Jose, Brazil, Vinícius Jardini Barbosa Marcus , Rita de Cascia Carvalho Barbosa Anna , Alonso Sabino de Freitas Frederico
Published: October 2021

: Introduction: Non-melanoma skin cancer is a group of malignant neoplasms composed basically by sarcomas, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Its etiology is multifactorial with specificity for each of the two types, except for exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is a common factor between both. When detected early, it has a high cure rate, and surgical excision with safety margins being the treatment of choice in most cases. Thus, it is important to recognize the profile of the patients, as well as the histopathological characteristics of the lesions and the medical approach used to avoid recurrences. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the histopathological profile and surgical margins resulting from the resection of non-melanoma skin cancers in patients treated at a plastic surgery facility in Brazil. Methods: The cases of squamous cell carcinoma and the histopathological types of the basal cell carcinoma were individually analyzed for compromised margins, and later divided into a low-risk group and a high-risk group. Results: 228 lesions were resected from 141 patients. Gender distribution was 55.3% female and 44.6% male. The most affected age group was over 70 years old. The predominant histological type was basal cell carcinoma (74.6%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (25.4%); the most affected site was the cephalic-cervical segment (71.92%). Surgical margins were compromised in 12.3% with no significant difference between the two types of carcinoma. Conclusion: There was a predominance of basal cell carcinoma (nodular type) in women over 40 years old, predominantly in the cephalic-cervical region. The number of recurrences was proportionally higher in the BCC, unrelated to the presence of positive margins. Keywords: Skin Neoplasms, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Recurrence, Margins of Excision.
Time decay for several porous thermoviscoelastic systems of Moore–Gibson–Thompson type
Authors: Bazarra Noelia , Fernández José R. , Magaña Antonio , Quintanilla Ramón
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we consider several problems arising in the theory of thermoelastic bodies with voids. Four particular cases are considered depending on the choice of the constitutive tensors, assuming different dissipation mechanisms determined by Moore–Gibson–Thompson-type viscosity. For all of them, the existence and uniqueness of solutions are shown by using semigroup arguments. The energy decay of the solutions is also analyzed for each case.
A favorable donor site in microsurgery: Nerve and vein graft harvest from the dorsum of the foot
Authors: Wenzel C. , Brix E. , Heidekrueger P. , Lonic D. , Lamby P. , Klein S.M. , Anker A. , Taeger C. , Prantl L. , Kehrer A.
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In complex hand traumas nerves and vessels are often destructed without the possibility for primary repair. For bridging defects of nerves, veins and arteries grafts are necessary. Commonly nerve and vein grafts from adjacent donor sites as the wrist, forearm or cubital region are harvested. METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study. Between 2017 and 2019, 10 patients with complex hand injuries were treated. There were 8 males and 2 females, with an average age of 39 years (range 8–63 years). In all cases grafts were used of the dorsum of the foot for reconstructing of the severed digital nerves and arteries. All donor sites could be closed primarily. RESULTS: In 100% of cases nerves and veins of the dorsum of the foot showed a good size match as well as adequate length for a sufficient repair. The overall Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS) was determined with a median of 86 (range 57 to 286). In the area of the donor site no relevant complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: In complex hand injuries the dorsum of the foot is a favorable donor site for nerve and vein graft harvest.
Validation of the Korean Quick Dementia Rating System (K-QDRS)
Authors: Ryu Hui Jin , Moon Yeonsil , Kim Minyoung , Kim Hee-Jin , Galvin James E. , Han Seol-Heui
Published: October 2021

Background: The Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS) is a brief and rapid dementia staging tool that does not require a trained rater. Objective: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the validity, reliability, and diagnostic usefulness of the Korean version of the QDRS (K-QDRS). Methods: We collected a total of 411 subject-informant dyads including cognitively unimpaired (CU, n = 22), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 198), and dementia (n = 191). The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of instrumental activity of daily living (K-IADL), Short Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale, Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CGA-NPI), and detailed neuropsychological tests were administered as gold standards of dementia staging, cognition, function, mood, and behavior. Results: Internal consistency of the K-QDRS was excellent with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.933. Concurrent validity was also satisfactory, with the K-QDRS correlating highly with the CDR Sum of Boxes (Pearson’s r = 0.791), K-MMSE (Pearson’s r = –0.518), K-IADL (Pearson’s r = 0.727), and CGA-NPI (Pearson’s r = 0.700). The K-QDRS was highly correlated with the global CDR, K-IADL, and CGA-NPI. We suggested two types of comparisons (for initial diagnosis and for follow-up evaluation). The cutoff scores for follow-up were 1.0 for MCI, 3.5 for very mild dementia, 6.5 for mild dementia, and 11.0 for moderate dementia. Conclusion: The K-QDRS is a valid and reliable dementia rating questionnaire and can be used, briefly and rapidly, in various settings like clinical practices, longitudinal cohort studies, and community primary care.
Geroprotective effects of ×Sorbaronia mitschurinii fruit extract on Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Platonova Elena Y. , Zemskaya Nadezhda V. , Shaposhnikov Mikhail V. , Golubev Denis A. , Kukuman Daria V. , Pakshina Natalya R. , Ulyasheva Natalia S. , Punegov Vasily V. , Patov Sergey A. , Moskalev Alexey
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND:

× Sorbaronia mitschurinii (also known as Aronia mitschurinii) is an intergeneric hybrid of× Sorbaronia fallax and Aronia melanocarpa. × S. mitschurinii berry is a rich source of phytochemicals such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, which have a broad range of health benefits and a great geroprotective potential.

OBJECTIVES:

The goal of the present study was to investigate the geroprotective effects of Sorbaronia berry ethanolic extract (SBE) in Drosophila melanogaster and whether these effects depend on the concentration of SBE, duration of treatment, age, and sex.

METHODS:

SBE was used to supplement a diet of Drosophila imagoes throughout life, during 2 weeks after the imago hatching, and from 4 to 6 weeks of age. The relationship between the SBE effects on lifespan, stress resistance and the expression of stress response genes were examined.

RESULTS:

SBE treatment at 1-2 and 4-6 weeks of life increased the lifespan, while treatment throughout life reduced lifespan. SBE treatment increased Drosophila resistance to oxidative stress and starvation, but not to hyperthermia. A statistically significant effect of SBE treatment on the expression level of per, keap1, hif1, hsp27, hsp68, hsp83, and sirt1 genes in flies of both sexes and on sod1 expression only in female flies was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS:

The observed relationship between SBE concentration and lifespan effects suggests that the life-extending effect of SBE may be associated with the mechanism of hormesis.
Blueberry bud freeze damage detection using optical sensors: Identification of spectral features through hyperspectral imagery
Authors: Gao Zongmei , Zhao Yanru , Hoheisel Gwen-Alyn , Khot Lav R. , Zhang Qin
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND: Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), the species primarily grown in the state of Washington, U.S., is relatively cold hardy. However, low temperatures in winter and early spring can still cause freeze damage to the buds. OBJECTIVE: This study explored hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for detecting freeze induced bud damage. Blueberry buds (c.v. Duke) were collected over two seasons and tested in the laboratory to detect damage at four typical phenological stages. METHODS: The HSI data was acquired via line scan HSI system with spectral wavelength ranging from 517 to 1729 nm for buds grouped into either normal or injured mortalities. The successive projection algorithm was employed for pertinent feature wavelength selection. Analysis of variance and linear regression were then applied for evaluating sensitivity of feature wavelengths. RESULTS: Overall, five salient wavelengths (706, 723, 872, 1384, and 1591 nm) were selected to detect bud freeze injury. A quadratic discriminant analysis method-based analysis verified reliability of these five wavelengths in bud damage detection with overall accuracy in the ranges of 64 to 82%for the test datasets of each stage in two seasons. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated potential of optical sensing to identify the injured buds using five salient wavelengths.
Opportunities of hybrid random access protocols for M2M communications in LTE/LTE-A networks
Authors: Althumali Huda , Othman Mohamed , Noordin Nor Kamariah , Mohd Hanapi Zurina
Published: October 2021

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications on Long-term evolution (LTE) networks form a substantial part for the Internet-of-things (IoT). The random access procedure is the first step for M2M devices to access network resources. Many researchers have attempted to improve the efficiency of the random access procedure. This work revisits the performance of the hybrid random access protocols which combine congestion control techniques with collision resolution techniques. In particular, we investigate two hybrid protocols. The first one combines the pre-backoff (PBO) with tree random access (TRA), and the second one combines dynamic access barring (DAB) with TRA. The probability analysis is presented for both protocols. The performance is evaluated based on the access success rate, the mean throughput, the mean delay, the collision rate and the mean retransmissions. The simulation results show that the hybrid protocols achieve the highest success rate and throughput with moderate delay and low collision rates with a lower mean number of retransmissions compared to three benchmarks that apply either a congestion control or a collision resolution. The opportunities of future developments of hybrid protocols are listed at the end of this paper to highlight the issues that could be investigated to improve the performance of hybrid random access protocols.
Research on low-quality waste heat recovery system based on fuzzy proportion integration differentiation control
Authors: Yanjun Xiao , Yameng Zhang , Nan Gao , Kai Peng , Wei Zhou , Weiling Liu
Published: October 2021

In the current industrial production process, waste heat of low quality is seriously wasted. In order to effectively recover low-quality waste heat, the research group developed a small energy conversion device –Roots power machine. On this basis, the research group designed a low-quality waste heat efficient utilization system with the equipment as the core and successfully applied it to low-quality waste heat recovery. However, in the actual operation process, the system can not run stably due to the occasional fluctuation of the input gas source. In view of this, after the study of waste heat recovery system, the fluctuation of gas source can be controlled by different grades according to the degree of change. Fuzzy rules also divide variables into different grades to solve problems, and fuzzy control can convert continuous changes of airflow into discrete changes, which greatly reduces the complexity of the control system. Therefore, the research group proposed a control strategy based on fuzzy PID. The simulation results show that the adjustment time of fuzzy PID is within 7 s, and the adjustment effect is obviously better than that of traditional PID. The experimental results show that the speed deviation under the condition of air source fluctuation is within the speed fluctuation rate (±5%), and the speed deviation under the condition of sudden disturbance load is within the steady speed adjustment rate (±3.5%), both of which meet the requirements of indexes. Therefore, the fuzzy PID control strategy can further improve the stability of output speed, reduce airflow pulsation, and provide the possibility for grid-connected power generation.
Evidential classification of incomplete instance based on K-nearest centroid neighbor
Authors: Ma Zong-fang , Liu Zhe , Luo Chan , Song Lin
Published: October 2021

Classification of incomplete instance is a challenging problem due to the missing features generally cause uncertainty in the classification result. A new evidential classification method of incomplete instance based on adaptive imputation thanks to the framework of evidence theory. Specifically, the missing values of different incomplete instances in test set are adaptively estimated based on Shannon entropy and K-nearest centroid neighbors (KNCNs) technology. The single or multiple edited instances (with estimations) then are classified by the chosen classifier to get single or multiple classification results for the instances with different discounting (weighting) factors, and a new adaptive global fusion method finally is proposed to unify the different discounted results. The proposed method can well capture the imprecision degree of classification by submitting the instances that are difficult to be classified into a specific class to associate the meta-class and effectively reduce the classification error rates. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method has been tested through four experiments with artificial and real datasets.
An Investigation into the Impact of COVID-19 on the Relationships Between Parents of Children Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Multi-Disciplinary Team
Authors: Jones Steve , Smith Leanne , Ainsworth Katie
Published: October 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen working practice in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) move to more remote clinical models. This study assesses the impact of shifting working models on the relationships between families of young people with CF and CF Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDT) as well as parents perceptions of working remotely. Methods: Six semi-structured interviews with parents of young people under the care of a regional UK CF specialist centre were analysed using Inductive content analysis. Results: Three domains emerged: Interpersonal Relationships, Remote Clinics and CF in the Context of COVID-19. The enduring and close relationships between the MDT and families were discussed as well as the acceptability of remote clinics moving forwards. Conclusions: The importance of the quality in the relationship between families and CF MDTs is vital to enhance ongoing care. Remote working was acceptable in the context of COVID-19 and with some considerations could be useful moving forwards.
Can the water quality influence the chemical composition, sensory properties, and oxidative stability of traditionally extracted argan oil?
Authors: Boukyoud Zaineb , Ibourki Mohamed , Gharby Said , Sakar El Hassan , Bijla Laila , Atifi Hajar , Matthäus Bertrand , Laknifli Abdelatif , Charrouf Zoubida
Published: October 2021

Argan oil (AO) is an appreciated vegetable oil thanks to its high nutritional and cosmetic values. AO extraction technology has evolved to meet the market demand. However artisanal production is still widely practiced. The present study aimed at highlighting the influence of water quality on the physicochemical and sensory properties of artisanally extracted AO. To meet this objective, AO was prepared using various water types namely: well water (AOWW), tap water (AOTW), mineral water (AOMW), distilled water (AODW), and ultra-pure water (AOUW). The obtained AOs were evaluated in terms of routinely measured quality indices: iodine, peroxide, acidity, and anisidine values, UV specific extinction coefficients, refraction index, and moisture content. Chemical composition (fatty acids, sterols content, and tocopherols content) was investigated together with oxidative stability (OS) and sensory properties. As revealed by the statistical test used, water quality impacted significantly mainly on AO chemical composition, OS, and sensory properties. Obtained results of almost studied quality attributes were consistent with the Official Moroccan Norm. The greatest values of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were recorded in AOMW and OAWW, respectively, while AOUW together with AOTW displayed the best record of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the highest values of tocopherols were found in AOTW and AOUW. AODW and AOUW presented greatest values of sterols content, OS, and shelf life. Likewise, sensory analysis was satisfactory in almost obtained AOs. Principal component analysis confirmed these results and allowed a good separation among AOs especially with sterols and tocopherols. Based on these outcomes, it could be concluded that water quality is an important parameter to consider by AO producers, ultra-pure and distilled water seemed to exert an ameliorative effect on quality, stability, and shelf life of AOs.
The Building Blocks of Information Are Selections – Let’s Define Them Globally!
Authors: Orthuber Wolfgang
Published: October 2021

Digital information consists of sequences of numbers that are selections. So far, these are defined by context. We can globalize this by using an efficient global pointer (UL) as “context”. The article explains new globally identified and defined “Domain Vectors” (DVs) for transporting digital information. They have the structure “UL plus sequence of numbers”, where UL is an efficient identifier and global pointer (link) to the unified online definition of the sequence of numbers. Thus, the format of the number sequence and its meaning is defined online. This opens up far-reaching new possibilities for the efficient exchange, comparison and search of information. It can form the basis for a new global framework that improves the reproducibility, search, and exchange of data across systems, borders, and languages.
A NLP Pipeline for the Automatic Extraction of Microorganisms Names from Microbiological Notes
Authors: Mora Sara , Attene Jacopo , Gazzarata Roberta , Parruti Giustino , Giacomini Mauro
Published: October 2021

According to the “Istituto Superiore di Sanita‘” (ISS), hospital infections are the most frequent and serious complication of health care. This constitutes a real health emergency which requires incisive and joint action at all levels of the local and national health organization. Most of the valuable information related to the presence of a specific microorganism in the blood are written into the notes field of the laboratory exams results. The main objective of this work is to build a Natural Language Processing (NLP) pipeline for the automatic extraction of the names of microorganisms present in the clinical texts. A sample of 499 microbiological notes have been analysed with the developed system and all the microorganisms names have been extracted correctly, according to the labels given by the expert.
Prerequisites of Personal Health Record for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review and Evaluation of the Content Validity
Authors: Salehi Fatemeh , Bastani Peivand , Ahmadian Leila , Samadi Katayoon , Yazdani Azita , Sharifian Roxana
Published: October 2021

Background: It is obvious that the Personal Health Record (PHR) is a major cornerstone for “improving the self-management of patient”. However, lack of an effective and comprehensive personal health record system prohibits the widespread use of PHRs. The aim of this study was to identify the core data sets and required functionalities for designing a PHRs for chronic kidney disease (CKD) management and assess their validity. Methods: It was a study including two phases. In the initial phase, a scoping review was conducted with the aim of determination the core data sets and required functionalities for designing PHRs. Then in the second phase, the validity of data items and functionalities was determined by 25 multidisciplinary experts. Results: 22 studies were eligible after screening 1335 titles and abstracts and reviewing 88 full texts. We determined 20 core data set and 8 required functionalities of PHRs. From the perspective of experts, ‘health maintenance’ and ‘advance directives’ were most often marked as useful but not essential, while ‘test and examination’, ‘medication list’ and ‘diagnosis and comorbid conditions” were predominantly considered as essential by all experts (n=25,100%). Conclusion: This research is a step that we have taken to identify prerequisites that could be used for the design, development, and implementation of an effective and comprehensive electronic personal health record.
Psychological Stress Is a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in College Students
Authors: Tudpor Kukiat , Saisawai Chatcharida , Kaewpho Sasina , Jitseeda Amaraporn
Published: October 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is multifactorial disease. This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate relationship between stress and risk for T2DM in college students. Seven-hundred participants (350 T2DM risk and 350 non-T2DM risk groups). Stress index levels and heart rate variability (HRV) were respectively measured as primary and secondary outcomes. Results showed that both T2DM-risk and non-T2DM-risk groups had temporary stress, but the T2DM-risk group had significantly higher level of psychological stress (P < .001). For the HRV, the T2DM-risk group had significantly lower levels of parasympathetic proxies (lnHF, SDNN, and RMSSD) (P < .001). Chi-square (χ2) test showed significant correlation of the stressful state with T2DM risk (χ2 = 159.372, P < .001, odds ratio (OR) = 9.326). In conclusion, psychological stress is a risk factor for T2DM in college students. Early detection, monitoring, and treatments of psychological stress should be implemented in this group of population.
A new generic method to improve machine learning applications in official statistics
Authors: Kloos Kevin
Published: October 2021

The use of machine learning algorithms at national statistical institutes has increased significantly over the past few years. Applications range from new imputation schemes to new statistical output based entirely on machine learning. The results are promising, but recent studies have shown that the use of machine learning in official statistics always introduces a bias, known as misclassification bias. Misclassification bias does not occur in traditional applications of machine learning and therefore it has received little attention in the academic literature. In earlier work, we have collected existing methods that are able to correct misclassification bias. We have compared their statistical properties, including bias, variance and mean squared error. In this paper, we present a new generic method to correct misclassification bias for time series and we derive its statistical properties. Moreover, we show numerically that it has a lower mean squared error than the existing alternatives in a wide variety of settings. We believe that our new method may improve machine learning applications in official statistics and we aspire that our work will stimulate further methodological research in this area.
Long-duration head down bed rest as an analog of microgravity: Effects on the static perception of upright
Authors: Harris Laurence R. , Jenkin Michael , Herpers Rainer
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND: Humans demonstrate many physiological changes in microgravity for which long-duration head down bed rest (HDBR) is a reliable analog. However, information on how HDBR affects sensory processing is lacking. OBJECTIVE: We previously showed [25] that microgravity alters the weighting applied to visual cues in determining the perceptual upright (PU), an effect that lasts long after return. Does long-duration HDBR have comparable effects? METHODS: We assessed static spatial orientation using the luminous line test (subjective visual vertical, SVV) and the oriented character recognition test (PU) before, during and after 21 days of 6° HDBR in 10 participants. Methods were essentially identical as previously used in orbit [25]. RESULTS: Overall, HDBR had no effect on the reliance on visual relative to body cues in determining the PU. However, when considering the three critical time points (pre-bed rest, end of bed rest, and 14 days post-bed rest) there was a significant decrease in reliance on visual relative to body cues, as found in microgravity. The ratio had an average time constant of 7.28 days and returned to pre-bed-rest levels within 14 days. The SVV was unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that bed rest can be a useful analog for the study of the perception of static self-orientation during long-term exposure to microgravity. More detailed work on the precise time course of our effects is needed in both bed rest and microgravity conditions.
High-energy high-dose microfocus X-ray computed tomography driven by high-average-current photo-injector
Authors: Hu Dongcai , Zhou Zheng , Wang Jianxin , Xiao Dexin , Zhou Kui , Li Peng , Li Shigen , Shan Lijun , Wang Hanbin , Liu Yu , Shen Xuming , Lao Chenglong , Luo Xing , He Tianhui , Zhang Peng , Yan Longgang , Liu Jie , Ding Yushou , Cai Zhe , Li Lei , Zhang Chengxin , Liu Qinghua , Li Jing , Wang Yuan , Yang Xingfan , Li Ming , Wu Dai , Chen Menxue , Zhao Jianheng
Published: October 2021

High-energy, high-dose, microfocus X-ray computed tomography (HHM CT) is one of the most effective methods for high-resolution X-ray radiography inspection of high-density samples with fine structures. Minimizing the effective focal spot size of the X-ray source can significantly improve the spatial resolution and the quality of the sample images, which is critical and important for the performance of HHM CT. The objective of this study is to present a 9 MeV HHM CT prototype based on a high-average-current photo-injector in which X-rays with about 70μm focal spot size are produced via using tightly focused electron beams with 65/66μm beam size to hit an optimized tungsten target. In digital radiography (DR) experiment using this HHM CT, clear imaging of a standard 0.1 mm lead DR resolution phantom reveals a resolution of 6 lp/mm (line pairs per mm), while a 5 lp/mm resolution is obtained in CT mode using another resolution phantom made of 10 mm ferrum. Moreover, comparing with the common CT systems, a better turbine blade prototype image was obtained with this HHM CT system, which also indicates the promising application potentials of HHM CT in non-destructive inspection or testing for high-density fine-structure samples.
Informe Socioeconómico del Maule (ISOMA)
Authors: Riquelme Silva Guillermo Manuel
Published: October 2021

El presente documento técnico, altamente especializado, se constituye en el fruto de una gestión colaborativa entre el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) de la Región del Maule y el Instituto Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible (IIDS) de la Universidad Autónoma de Chile. El informe constituye una aproximación a la realidad social y económica de la región del Maule desde el análisis de datos de fuentes oficiales de gobierno, en una primera instancia, en el diálogo de relevantes agentes locales, por otro, y de la generación de información in- situ mediante la aplicación de instrumentos de medición a fin de obtener una panorámica territorial. Los ámbitos caracterizados mediante el presente trabajo investigativo son considerados especialmente relevantes para la gestión territorial tendiente a mejorar los niveles de desarrollo en su consideración multidimensional, y con orientación a la sustentabilidad y sostenibilidad, con lo que se provee a los agentes decisionales de importantes insumos para el diseño de intervenciones orientadas a la mejora de la calidad de vida de sus habitantes en general, como a las condiciones laborales objetivas y subjetivas en lo particular en la ya descrita configuración situacional.