bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amphiphilic Molecular Brushes with Regular Polydimethylsiloxane Backbone and Poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline Side Chains. 2. Self-Organization in Aqueous Solutions on Heating
Authors: Rodchenko Serafim , Amirova Alina , Kurlykin Mikhail , Tenkovtsev Andrey , Milenin Sergey , Filippov Alexander
Published: December 2020

The behavior of amphiphilic molecular brushes in aqueous solutions on heating was studied by light scattering and turbidimetry. The main chain of the graft copolymers was polydimethylsiloxane, and the side chains were thermosensitive poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline. The studied samples differed in the length of the grafted chains (polymerization degrees were 14 and 30) and, accordingly, in the molar fraction of the hydrophobic backbone. The grafting density of both samples was 0.6. At low temperatures, macromolecules and aggregates, which formed due to the interaction of main chains, were observed in solutions. At moderate temperatures, heating solutions of the sample with short side chains led to aggregation due to dehydration of poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline and the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In the case of the brush with long grafted chains, dehydration caused the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the compaction of molecules and aggregates. The lower critical solution temperature for solutions of the sample with long side chains was higher than LCST for the sample with short side chains. It was shown that the molar fraction of the hydrophobic component and the intramolecular density are the important factors determining the LCST behavior of amphiphilic molecular brushes in aqueous solutions.
Representative Cell Analysis for Damage-Based Failure Model of Polymer Hexagonal Honeycomb Structure under the Out-of-Plane Loadings
Authors: Khan Muhammad Salman , Abdul-Latif Ainullotfi , Koloor Seyed Saeid Rahimian , Petrů Michal , Tamin Mohd Nasir
Published: December 2020

The honeycomb (HC) core of sandwich structures undergoes flexural loading and carries the normal compression and shear. The mechanical properties and deformation response of the core need to be established for the design requirements. In this respect, this article describes the development of the smallest possible representative cell (RC) models for quantifying the deformation and failure process of the Nomex polymer-based hexagonal HC core structure under the out-of-plane quasi-static loadings. While the hexagonal single and multi-cell models are suitable for the tension and compression, a six-cell model is the simplest RC model developed for shear in the transverse and ribbon direction. Hashin’s matrix and fiber damage equations are employed in simulating the failure process of the orthotropic cell walls, using the finite element (FE) analysis. The FE-calculated load–displacement curves are validated with the comparable measured responses throughout the loading to failure. The location of the fracture plane of the critical cell wall in the out-of-plane tension case is well predicted. The wrinkling of the cell walls, leading to the structural buckling of the HC core specimen in the compression test, compares well with the observed failure mechanisms. In addition, the observed localized buckling of the cell wall by the induced compressive stress during the out-of-plane shear in both the transverse and ribbon direction is explained. The mesoscale RC models of the polymer hexagonal HC core structure have adequately demonstrated the ability to predict the mechanics of deformation and the mechanisms of failure.
Alpha Amylase from Bacillus pacificus Associated with Brown Algae Turbinaria ornata: Cultural Conditions, Purification, and Biochemical Characterization
Authors: Alonazi Mona , Karray Aida , Badjah-Hadj-Ahmed Ahmed Yacine , Ben Bacha Abir
Published: December 2020

We aimed in the current study, the identification of a marine bacterial amylase produced by Bacillus pacificus, which was associated with Turbinaria ornata. Cultural conditions were optimized for the highest amylase production on Tryptic soy broth media supplemented with starch 1% at initial pH 9, 55 °C for 24 h. The newly purified amylase was characterized for a possible biotechnological application. Data indicated that the obtained amylase with a molecular weight of 40 kD and the N-terminal sequence of the first 30 amino acids of amBp showed a high degree of homology with known alpha amylase, and was stable at 60 °C of pH 11. Among the tested substrate analogs, amBp was almost fully active on Alylose and Alylopectine (97%), but moderately hydrolyzed glycogen < sucrose < maltose < lactose. Therefore, the current amylase mainly generated maltohexaose from starch. Mg2+ and Zn2+ improved amylase activity up to 170%. While ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) similarly induced the greatest activity with purified amylase, PCMB had the least effect. Regarding all these characteristics, amylase from marine bacterial symbionts amBp has a new promising feature for probable therapeutic, industrial, and nutritional applications.
Using Intersectional Perspectives in the Studies of Non-Religion Ritualization
Authors: Jarnkvist Karin
Published: December 2020

In the 21st century, the Church of Sweden has lost its dominant position regarding the ritualization of births, marriages, and deaths in Sweden. Above all, name giving ceremonies, civil weddings, and civil funerals have become more common. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how intersectional perspectives can improve the understanding of the construction of non-religion in life-cycle ritualization, such as name giving ceremonies and civil funerals, performed beyond religious or non-religious organizations. This article presents the intersectional analyses of two non-religion ritual narratives as examples of how intersectional analyses could be conducted. The analysis clarifies the impact of power in non-religion ritualization, and how non-religion is constructed in relation to other discursive categories, in this case gender, sexuality, social class and nationality. The conclusion is that the use of intersectional perspectives is relevant for gaining a complex understanding of the construction of non-religion as well as knowledge of ritualization beyond religious or non-religious organizations nowadays.
The Khatim an-Nabiyyin (The Seal of the Prophets) and Its Inclusive Abrahamic Perspective: Muhammad and ‘Isa ibn Maryam in Dialogue
Authors: Demichelis Marco
Published: December 2020

“Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men; he is God’s messenger and the Seal of the Prophets: God knows everything.” (33:40). The deconstruction of the concept of “the Seal of the Prophets” through identifying its different spiritual-historical meanings is particularly important and partially analyzed through an inter-religious methodological approach. If indeed the Prophet Muhammad is undoubtedly the last of the prophets in order of time in the Abrahamic tradition, and thus in a literal sense “the Seal of the Prophets”, the background of the 7th-century pre-urban Hijaz reflects a different cultural-economic and historical development in comparison with the Mediterranean-Mesopotamian basin. This article aims to reflect on the meanings that “the Seal of the Prophets” assumed in the Qur’anic verse 33:40, as the adoption of different narratives to establish an Abrahamic prophetic continuity with a clear emphasis on Islamic–Christian dialogue; the significance of these meanings reflects the opportunity for reciprocal understanding between the two most important global religions and their awareness of prophets and prophecy, i.e., on relations with God, the pact with human beings and eschatological predictions.
The NASA MODIS-VIIRS Continuity Cloud Optical Properties Products
Authors: Platnick Steven , Meyer Kerry , Wind Galina , Holz Robert E. , Amarasinghe Nandana , Hubanks Paul A. , Marchant Benjamin , Dutcher Steven , Veglio Paolo
Published: December 2020

The NASA Aqua MODIS and Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) climate data record continuity cloud properties products (CLDPROP) were publicly released in April 2019 with an update later that year (Version 1.1). These cloud products, having heritage with the NASA Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD06 cloud optical properties product and the NOAA GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG) Cloud Height Algorithm (ACHA), represent an effort to bridge the multispectral imager records of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) and NOAA’s current generation of operational weather satellites to achieve a continuous, multi-decadal climate data record for clouds that can extend well into the 2030s. CLDPROP offers a “continuity of approach,” applying common algorithms and ancillary datasets to both MODIS and VIIRS, including utilizing only a subset of spectral channels available on both sensors to help mitigate instrument differences. The initial release of the CLDPROP_MODIS and CLDPROP_VIIRS data records spans the SNPP observational record (2012-present). Here, we present an overview of the algorithms and an evaluation of the intersensor continuity of the core CLDPROP_MODIS and CLDPROP_VIIRS cloud optical property datasets, i.e., cloud thermodynamic phase, optical thickness, effective particle size, and derived water path. The evaluation includes analyses of pixel-level MODIS/VIIRS co-locations as well as spatial and temporal aggregated statistics, with a focus on identifying and understanding the root causes of individual dataset discontinuities. The results of this evaluation will inform future updates to the CLDPROP products and help scientific users determine the appropriate use of the product datasets for their specific needs.
Exploratory Analysis of Driving Force of Wildfires in Australia: An Application of Machine Learning within Google Earth Engine
Authors: Sulova Andrea , Jokar Arsanjani Jamal
Published: December 2020

Recent studies have suggested that due to climate change, the number of wildfires across the globe have been increasing and continue to grow even more. The recent massive wildfires, which hit Australia during the 2019–2020 summer season, raised questions to what extent the risk of wildfires can be linked to various climate, environmental, topographical, and social factors and how to predict fire occurrences to take preventive measures. Hence, the main objective of this study was to develop an automatized and cloud-based workflow for generating a training dataset of fire events at a continental level using freely available remote sensing data with a reasonable computational expense for injecting into machine learning models. As a result, a data-driven model was set up in Google Earth Engine platform, which is publicly accessible and open for further adjustments. The training dataset was applied to different machine learning algorithms, i.e., Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, and Classification and Regression Tree. The findings show that Random Forest outperformed other algorithms and hence it was used further to explore the driving factors using variable importance analysis. The study indicates the probability of fire occurrences across Australia as well as identifies the potential driving factors of Australian wildfires for the 2019–2020 summer season. The methodical approach and achieved results and drawn conclusions can be of great importance to policymakers, environmentalists, and climate change researchers, among others.
Preliminary Research on a Comparison and Evaluation of FY-4A LMI and ADTD Data through a Moving Amplification Matching Algorithm
Authors: Li Pengfei , Zhai Guofu , Pang Wenjing , Hui Wen , Zhang Wenjuan , Chen Jing , Zhang Liting
Published: December 2020

In this study, a new moving amplification matching algorithm was proposed, and then the temporal and spatial differences and correlation were analysed and evaluated by comparing the FengYun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager (FY-4A LMI) data and the China Meteorological Administration Lightning Detection Network Advanced TOA and Direction (CMA-LDN ADTD) system data of southwest China in July 2018. The results are as follows. Firstly, the new moving amplification matching algorithm could effectively reduce the number of invalid operations and save the operation time in comparison to the conventional ergodic algorithms. Secondly, LMI has less detection efficiency during the daytime, using ADTD as a reference. The lightning number detected by ADTD increased from 5:00 AM UTC (13:00 PM BJT, Beijing Time) and almost lasted for a whole day. Thirdly, the trends of lightning data change of LMI and ADTD were the same as the whole. The average daily lightning matching rate of the LMI in July was 63.23%. The average hourly lightning matching rate of the LMI in July was 75.08%. Lastly, the mean value of the spherical surface distance in the matched array was 35.49 km, and roughly 80% of the matched distance was within 57 km, indicating that the spatial threshold limit was relatively stable. The correlation between LMI lightning radiation intensity and ADTD lighting current intensity was low.
Urban Fire Severity and Vegetation Dynamics in Southern California
Authors: Mathews Lauren E. H. , Kinoshita Alicia M.
Published: December 2020

A combination of satellite image indices and in-field observations was used to investigate the impact of fuel conditions, fire behavior, and vegetation regrowth patterns, altered by invasive riparian vegetation. Satellite image metrics, differenced normalized burn severity (dNBR) and differenced normalized difference vegetation index (dNDVI), were approximated for non-native, riparian, or upland vegetation for traditional timeframes (0-, 1-, and 3-years) after eleven urban fires across a spectrum of invasive vegetation cover. Larger burn severity and loss of green canopy (NDVI) was detected for riparian areas compared to the uplands. The presence of invasive vegetation affected the distribution of burn severity and canopy loss detected within each fire. Fires with native vegetation cover had a higher severity and resulted in larger immediate loss of canopy than fires with substantial amounts of non-native vegetation. The lower burn severity observed 1–3 years after the fires with non-native vegetation suggests a rapid regrowth of non-native grasses, resulting in a smaller measured canopy loss relative to native vegetation immediately after fire. This observed fire pattern favors the life cycle and perpetuation of many opportunistic grasses within urban riparian areas. This research builds upon our current knowledge of wildfire recovery processes and highlights the unique challenges of remotely assessing vegetation biophysical status within urban Mediterranean riverine systems.
Coastal Sand Dunes Monitoring by Low Vegetation Cover Classification and Digital Elevation Model Improvement Using Synchronized Hyperspectral and Full-Waveform LiDAR Remote Sensing
Authors: Frati Giovanni , Launeau Patrick , Robin Marc , Giraud Manuel , Juigner Martin , Debaine Françoise , Michon Cyril
Published: December 2020

Due to the coastal morphodynamic being impacted by climate change there is a need for systematic and large-scale monitoring. The monitoring of sandy dunes in Pays-de-la-Loire (France) requires a simultaneous mapping of (i) its morphology, allowing to assess the sedimentary stocks and (ii) its low vegetation cover, which constitutes a significant proxy of the dune dynamics. The synchronization of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with full-waveform (FWF) LiDAR is possible with an airborne platform. For a more intimate combination, we aligned the 1064 nm laser beam of a bi-spectral Titan FWF LiDAR with 401 bands and the 15 cm range resolution on the Hyspex VNIR camera with 160 bands and a 4.2 nm spectral resolution, making both types of data follow the same emergence angle. A ray tracing procedure permits to associate the data while keeping the acquisition angles. Stacking multiple shifted FWFs, which are linked to the same pixel, enables reaching a 5 cm range resolution grid. The objectives are (i) to improve the accuracy of the digital terrain models (DTM) obtained from an FWF analysis by calibrating it on dGPS field measurements and correcting it from local deviations induced by vegetation and (ii) in combination with airborne reflectances obtained with PARGE and ATCOR-4 corrections, to implement a supervised hierarchic classification of the main foredune vegetation proxies independently of the acquisition year and the physiological state. The normalization of the FWF LiDAR range to a dry sand reference waveform and the centering on their top canopy echoes allows to isolate Ammophilia arenaria from other vegetation types using two FWF indices, without confusion with slope effects. Fourteen HSI reflectance indices and 19 HSI Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) indices based on 2017 spectral field measurements performed with the same Hyspex VNIR camera were stacked with both FWF indices into a single co-image for each acquisition year. A simple straightforward hierarchical classification of all 35 pre-classified co-image bands was successfully applied along 20 km, out of the 250 km of coastline acquired from 2017 to 2019, prefiguring its systematic application to the whole 250 km every year.
Determination of Terrain Profile from TLS Data by Applying Msplit Estimation
Authors: Wyszkowska Patrycja , Duchnowski Robert , Dumalski Andrzej
Published: December 2020

This paper presents an application of an Msplit estimation in the determination of terrain profiles from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. We consider the squared Msplit estimation as well as the absolute Msplit estimation. Both variants have never been used to determine terrain profiles from TLS data (the absolute Msplit estimation has never been applied in any TLS data processing). The profiles are computed by applying polynomials of a different degree, determining which coefficients are estimated using the method in question. For comparison purposes, the profiles are also determined by applying a conventional least squares estimation. The analyses are based on simulated as well as real TLS data. The actual objects have been chosen to contain terrain details (or obstacles), which provide some measurements which are not referred to as terrain surface; here, they are regarded as outliers. The empirical tests prove that the proposed approach is efficient and can provide good terrain profiles even if there are outliers in an observation set. The best results are obtained when the absolute Msplit estimation is applied. One can suggest that this method can be used in a vertical displacement analysis in mining damages or ground disasters.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Opposite Influence of Dielectric Anisotropy and Substrate Bending on Planar Radiators and Sensors
Authors: Dankov Plamen I. , Sharma Praveen K. , Gupta Navneet
Published: December 2020

The simultaneous influences of the substrate anisotropy and substrate bending are numerically and experimentally investigated in this paper for planar resonators on flexible textile and polymer substrates. The pure bending effect has been examined by the help of well-selected flexible isotropic substrates. The origin of the anisotropy (direction-depended dielectric constant) of the woven textile fabrics has been numerically and then experimentally verified by two authorship methods described in the paper. The effect of the anisotropy has been numerically divided from the effect of bending and for the first time it was shown that both effects have almost comparable but opposite influences on the resonance characteristics of planar resonators. After the selection of several anisotropic textile fabrics, polymers, and flexible reinforced substrates with measured anisotropy, the opposite influence of both effects, anisotropy and bending, has been experimentally demonstrated for rectangular resonators. The separated impacts of the considered effects are numerically investigated for more sophisticated resonance structures—with different types of slots, with defected grounds and in fractal resonators for the first three fractal iterations. The bending effect is stronger for the slotted structures, while the effect of anisotropy predominates in the fractal structures. Finally, useful conclusions are formulated and the needs for future research are discussed considering effects in metamaterial wearable patches and antennas.
Fast File Transfers from IoT Devices by Using Multiple Interfaces
Authors: Mostarda Leonardo , Navarra Alfredo , Nobili Francesco
Published: December 2020

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is a modern technological revolution that enables communication amongst a plethora of different devices. To date, about 30 billion devices have been connected to the internet and more than 75 billion devices are probably to be connected worldwide by 2025. These can range from small sensors and actuators to larger devices such as smartphones, drones or even buildings and interconnected cars. Devices are often mobile and battery powered thus their communication requires fast and energy efficient solutions. To this end, this paper studies the use of multi-interface communication for fast and energy efficient communication. In particular, we consider the basic operation of data transfer between smartphones in the form of files. This task can be performed for backup purposes, and hence it represents a useful and frequent operation that users perform. Our aim is to provide a new and easy means that optimises file transfers with respect to time and energy consumption. In particular, as smartphones are endowed with various connecting interfaces like Bluetooth, WiFi and 4G, we conduct experimental studies by varying different parameters in order to understand the best setting, including which interface is more appropriate to accomplish file transfer. To this respect, we also implemented an innovative and light app that allows the use of two or more interfaces concurrently. The experimental results show how the coupling of some interfaces might be effective in terms of time, while consuming a negligible amount of energy. Actually, such results become more and more interesting as the size of the file to be transferred grows. The best combination experienced is by making use of WiFi at 5 GHz concurrently with 4G, whereas WiFi at 2.4 GHz caused interference complications.
Teaching Environmental Sustainability while Transforming Study Abroad
Authors: McLaughlin Jacqueline S.
Published: December 2020

Environmental issues are of especially great importance to younger individuals, such as university students. Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are a proven methodology for transforming short-term study abroad to yield higher impact and quality student outcomes, especially as they relate to teaching environmental sustainability. This paper offers a review of tested pedagogical frameworks, provides evidence to substantiate this statement from assessment data, and offers insights on how to develop and implement an international CURE. It also shares how embedding CUREs into innovative and high-quality short-term study abroad experiences can work to positively transform the post COVID-19 era of short-term study abroad. Several case studies are presented that document how students’ hands-on involvement in developing questions about real-world sustainability issues, devising and carrying out group research, and presenting their findings affect their acquisition of scientific skills and a sustainability-oriented mindset.
Differentiating Two Closely Related Alexandrium Species Using Comparative Quantitative Proteomics
Authors: Subong Bryan John J. , Lluisma Arturo O. , Azanza Rhodora V. , Salvador-Reyes Lilibeth A.
Published: December 2020

Alexandrium minutum and Alexandrium tamutum are two closely related harmful algal bloom (HAB)-causing species with different toxicity. Using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomics and two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), a comprehensive characterization of the proteomes of A. minutum and A. tamutum was performed to identify the cellular and molecular underpinnings for the dissimilarity between these two species. A total of 1436 proteins and 420 protein spots were identified using iTRAQ-based proteomics and 2D-DIGE, respectively. Both methods revealed little difference (10–12%) between the proteomes of A. minutum and A. tamutum, highlighting that these organisms follow similar cellular and biological processes at the exponential stage. Toxin biosynthetic enzymes were present in both organisms. However, the gonyautoxin-producing A. minutum showed higher levels of osmotic growth proteins, Zn-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase and type-I polyketide synthase compared to the non-toxic A. tamutum. Further, A. tamutum had increased S-adenosylmethionine transferase that may potentially have a negative feedback mechanism to toxin biosynthesis. The complementary proteomics approach provided insights into the biochemistry of these two closely related HAB-causing organisms. The identified proteins are potential biomarkers for organismal toxicity and could be explored for environmental monitoring.
Clinical Features and Mortality Associated with Severe Malaria in Adults in Southern Mauritania
Authors: Boushab Boushab Mohamed , Ould Ahmedou Salem Mohamed Salem , Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary Ali , Parola Philippe , Basco Leonardo
Published: December 2020

Severe malaria in adults is not well-studied in Sahelian Africa. Clinical features and mortality associated with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adult patients hospitalized in Kiffa, southern Mauritania, were analysed. Patients over 15 years old admitted for severe malaria between August 2016 and December 2019 were included in the present retrospective study. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used to define severe malaria. The presenting clinical characteristics and outcome were compared. Of 4266 patients hospitalized during the study period, 573 (13.4%) had a positive rapid diagnostic test for malaria, and 99 (17.3%; mean age, 37.5 years; range 15–79 years; sex-ratio M/F, 2.1) satisfied the criteria for severe malaria. On admission, the following signs and symptoms were observed in more than one-fourth of the patients: fever (98%), impairment of consciousness (81.8%), multiple convulsions (70.7%), cardiovascular collapse (61.6%), respiratory distress (43.4%), severe anaemia ≤ 80 g/L (36.4%), haemoglobinuria (27.3%), and renal failure (25.3%). Patients were treated with parenteral quinine or artemether. Fourteen (14.1%) patients died. Multiple convulsions, respiratory distress, severe anaemia, haemoglobinuria, acute renal failure, jaundice, and abnormal bleeding occurred more frequently (p < 0.05) in deceased patients. Mortality due to severe falciparum malaria is high among adults in southern Mauritania. An adoption of the WHO-recommended first-line treatment for severe malaria, such as parenteral artesunate, is required to lower the mortality rate associated with severe malaria.
Editing of the TRIM5 Gene Decreases the Permissiveness of Human T Lymphocytic Cells to HIV-1
Authors: Désaulniers Kevin , Ortiz Levine , Dufour Caroline , Claudel Alix , Plourde Mélodie B. , Merindol Natacha , Berthoux Lionel
Published: December 2020

Tripartite-motif-containing protein 5 isoform α (TRIM5α) is a cytoplasmic antiretroviral effector upregulated by type I interferons (IFN-I). We previously showed that two points mutations, R332G/R335G, in the retroviral capsid-binding region confer human TRIM5α the capacity to target and strongly restrict HIV-1 upon overexpression of the mutated protein. Here, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) to introduce these two mutations in the endogenous human TRIM5 gene. We found 6 out of 47 isolated cell clones containing at least one HDR-edited allele. One clone (clone 6) had both alleles containing R332G, but only one of the two alleles containing R335G. Upon challenge with an HIV-1 vector, clone 6 was significantly less permissive compared to unmodified cells, whereas the cell clones with monoallelic modifications were only slightly less permissive. Following interferon (IFN)-β treatment, inhibition of HIV-1 infection in clone 6 was significantly enhanced (~40-fold inhibition). TRIM5α knockdown confirmed that HIV-1 was inhibited by the edited TRIM5 gene products. Quantification of HIV-1 reverse transcription products showed that inhibition occurred through the expected mechanism. In conclusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of potently inhibiting a viral infection through the editing of innate effector genes. Our results also emphasize the importance of biallelic modification in order to reach significant levels of inhibition by TRIM5α.
Peripheral Blood Immune Profiling of Convalescent Plasma Donors Reveals Alterations in Specific Immune Subpopulations Even at 2 Months Post SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Orologas-Stavrou Nikolaos , Politou Marianna , Rousakis Pantelis , Kostopoulos Ioannis V. , Ntanasis-Stathopoulos Ioannis , Jahaj Edison , Tsiligkeridou Eleni , Gavriatopoulou Maria , Kastritis Efstathios , Kotanidou Anastasia , Dimopoulos Meletios-Athanasios , Tsitsilonis Ourania E. , Terpos Evangelos
Published: December 2020

Immune profiling of patients with COVID-19 has shown that SARS-CoV-2 causes severe lymphocyte deficiencies (e.g., lymphopenia, decreased numbers, and exhaustion of T cells) and increased levels of pro-inflammatory monocytes. Peripheral blood (PB) samples from convalescent plasma (CP) donors, COVID-19 patients, and control subjects were analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry, allowing the identification of a wide panel of immune cells, comprising lymphocytes (T, B, natural killer (NK) and NKT cells), monocytes, granulocytes, and their subsets. Compared to active COVID-19 patients, our results revealed that the immune profile of recovered donors was restored for most subpopulations. Nevertheless, even 2 months after recovery, CP donors still had reduced levels of CD4+ T and B cells, as well as granulocytes. CP donors with non-detectable levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in their serum were characterized by higher Th9 and Th17 cells, which were possibly expanded at the expense of Th2 humoral immunity. The most noticeable alterations were identified in previously hospitalized CP donors, who presented the lowest levels of CD8+ regulatory T cells, the highest levels of CD56+CD16− NKT cells, and a promotion of a Th17-type phenotype, which might be associated with a prolonged pro-inflammatory response. A longer follow-up of CP donors will eventually reveal the time needed for full recovery of their immune system competence.
Isolation and Characterization of Salmonella Jumbo-Phage pSal-SNUABM-04
Authors: Kwon Jun , Kim Sang Guen , Kim Hyoun Joong , Giri Sib Sankar , Kim Sang Wha , Lee Sung Bin , Park Se Chang
Published: December 2020

The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance has become a global issue. Therefore, many researchers have attempted to develop alternative antibiotics. One promising alternative is bacteriophage. In this study, we focused on a jumbo-phage infecting Salmonella isolated from exotic pet markets. Using a Salmonella strain isolated from reptiles as a host, we isolated and characterized the novel jumbo-bacteriophage pSal-SNUABM-04. This phage was investigated in terms of its morphology, host infectivity, growth and lysis kinetics, and genome. The phage was classified as Myoviridae based on its morphological traits and showed a comparatively wide host range. The lysis efficacy test showed that the phage can inhibit bacterial growth in the planktonic state. Genetic analysis revealed that the phage possesses a 239,626-base pair genome with 280 putative open reading frames, 76 of which have a predicted function and 195 of which have none. By genome comparison with other jumbo phages, the phage was designated as a novel member of Machinavirus composed of Erwnina phages.
Significant Baseflow Reduction in the Sao Francisco River Basin
Authors: Lucas Murilo Cesar , Kublik Natalya , Rodrigues Dulce B. B. , Meira Neto Antonio A. , Almagro André , Melo Davi de C. D. , Zipper Samuel C. , Oliveira Paulo Tarso Sanches
Published: December 2020

Water scarcity is a key challenge to global development. In Brazil, the Sao Francisco River Basin (SFB) has experienced water scarcity problems because of decreasing streamflow and increasing demands from multiple sectors. However, the drivers of decreased streamflow, particularly the potential role of the surface-groundwater interaction, have not yet been investigated. Here, we assess long-term trends in the streamflow and baseflow of the SFB during 1980–2015 and constrain the most likely drivers of observed decreases through a trend analysis of precipitation (P), evapotranspiration (ET), and terrestrial water storage change (TWS). We found that, on average, over 86% of the observed decrease in streamflow can be attributed to a significant decreasing baseflow trend along the SFR, with a spatial agreement between the decreased baseflow, increased ET, and irrigated agricultural land in the Middle SFB. We also noted a decreasing trend in TWS across the SFB exceeding –20 mm year−1. Overall, our findings indicate that decreasing groundwater contributions (i.e., baseflow) are providing the observed reduction in the total SFR flow. A lack of significant P trends and the strong TWS depletion indicate that a P variability only has likely not caused the observed baseflow reduction, in mainly the Middle and Sub-middle SFB. Therefore, groundwater and surface withdrawals may likely be a driver of baseflow reduction in some regions of the SFB.
Water Availability for Cannabis in Northern California: Intersections of Climate, Policy, and Public Discourse
Authors: Morgan Betsy , Spangler Kaitlyn , Stuivenvolt Allen Jacob , Morrisett Christina N. , Brunson Mark W. , Wang Shih-Yu Simon , Huntly Nancy
Published: December 2020

Availability of water for irrigated crops is driven by climate and policy, as moderated by public priorities and opinions. We explore how climate and water policy interact to influence water availability for cannabis (Cannabis sativa), a newly regulated crop in California, as well as how public discourse frames these interactions. Grower access to surface water covaries with precipitation frequency and oscillates consistently in an energetic 11–17 year wet-dry cycle. Assessing contemporary cannabis water policies against historic streamflow data showed that legal surface water access was most reliable for cannabis growers with small water rights (<600 m3) and limited during relatively dry years. Climate variability either facilitates or limits water access in cycles of 10–15 years—rendering cultivators with larger water rights vulnerable to periods of drought. However, news media coverage excludes growers’ perspectives and rarely mentions climate and weather, while public debate over growers’ irrigation water use presumes illegal diversion. This complicates efforts to improve growers’ legal water access, which are further challenged by climate. To promote a socially, politically, and environmentally viable cannabis industry, water policy should better represent growers’ voices and explicitly address stakeholder controversies as it adapts to this new and legal agricultural water user.
Microbial Carbon Metabolic Functions in Sediments Influenced by Resuspension Event
Authors: Wu Miao , Zhang Ming , Ding Wei , Lan Lin , Liu Zhilin , Miao Lingzhan , Hou Jun
Published: December 2020

Microorganisms in sediments are an important part of the aquatic ecosystem, and their functional activities are sensitive to external environmental pressure. Shallow lakes are characterized by frequent sediment resuspension events, leading to large amounts of nutrients being released. However, information about the potential impacts of sediment resuspension events on the functional activities of microbial communities is limited. In this study, the responses of microbial carbon metabolism in sediments under different wind–wave disturbance were analyzed by BIOLOG ECO microplates. The results showed that under four disturbance conditions (wind speeds of 0, 1.60, 3.62, and 14.10 m/s), the total carbon metabolism function of the sediment microbial community (represented as average well-color development, AWCD) remained unchanged (p > 0.05), and the final total AWCD value stabilized at about 1.70. However, compared with the control group, some specific carbon sources (e.g., amines and carboxylic acids) showed significant changes (p < 0.05). We found that short-term (8 h) resuspension events did not affect the total carbon metabolism of sediment microbial communities, while it affected the microbial utilization ability of some specific types of carbon sources. For example, we found that the microbial utilization capacity of polymers in the 14.10 m/s group was the best. This study provides a new insight into the carbon cycle process of shallow lake sediments that resuspension events will affect the carbon cycle process of sediments.
Integration of Wave Power Farms into Power Systems of the Adriatic Islands: Technical Possibilities and Cross-Cutting Aspects
Authors: Šljivac Damir , Temiz Irina , Nakomčić-Smaragdakis Branka , Žnidarec Matej
Published: December 2020

Wave energy is of interest for regions with high wave power potential, as well as for regions with modest wave power potential such as the Adriatic/Mediterranean coastlines and islands. In the present paper, the possibility of integrating a wave power farm with the power system of an island in the Adriatic Sea, combining the wave power with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and solar photovoltaics (PVs) is explored and its impact on the local weak low voltage grid is investigated. The load profile is typical of the demand (consumption) of an Adriatic island, in which the demand substantially increases during summer (the tourist season). The wave power technology is a point-absorbing wave energy converter (WEC) with a direct drive linear permanent-magnet synchronous generator power take-off device. Wave power farms (WPFs) consist of two to ten WECs. In this study, we show that the integration of a WPF consisting of two WECs into the grid is optimal and helps to reach zero grid exchange, and a BESS reduces the intermittency of the power flow into the grid. Since a potential wave power farm is to be installed in a populated recreational area, the technical study is complemented by discussion on cross-cutting aspects such as its environmental and social impact.
ЭНЕPГЕТИЧЕСКИЕ СПOСOБНOСТИ И УВЕЛИЧЕНИЕ
ЭФФЕКТИВНOСТИ ТЕПЛOВOГO PЕЖИМA ЖИЛЫХ ЗДAНИЙ
Authors:   Муканбет к. Э., Кенешбек у. Т., Кароолбек к. А., Усенбаев И.
Published: December 2020

Paссмoтpены энеpгетические oсoбеннoсти жилых здaний. Пpиведены
эффективные спoсoбы энеpгoсбеpежения, a тaкже спoсoбы oбеспечивaющие
энеpгoсбеpегaющие функции.
Также рассмотрено естественнoе теплoвoе сoстoяние здaния, что хapaктеpизуется
тем, чтo здaние не испытывaет нa себя теплoвые вoздействия искусственных истoчникoв
энеpгии, биoлoгически aктивных opгaнизмoв (включaя теплoкpoвных живoтных и сoчнoгo
paстительнoгo сыpья), энеpгетически oщутимых пpoцессoв изменения aгpегaтнoгo
сoстoяния и химическoгo сoстaвa физических тел. Сooтветственнo теплoвые вoздействия
нa здaние фopмиpуются лишь зa счет теплoвoгo эффектa сoлнечнoй paдиaции и oкpужaющей
сpеды.
Пpивoдятся oснoвные исследoвaния в oблaсти энеpгoсбеpегaющих кoнстpукций, дaн
aнaлиз существующим нaучным paзpaбoткaм и пеpдлoжен эффективный спoсoб в дaннoй
oблaсти
ОСОБЕННОСТИ СОВРЕМЕННОГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО
ЯЗЫКА ЭКОНОМИСТОВ
Authors: Жусупкелдиев К.К.
Published: December 2020

Статья раскрывает особенности современного языка экономистов с
помощью анализа требований речевого поведения специалистов данной отрасли. Основная
идея статьи связана с утверждением зависимости специфики экономического языка от
современных требований профессиональной деятельности. Таким образом, мы полагаем,
что не существует экономического языка, универсального для всех специалистов, имеющих
квалификационную характеристику «экономист». Однако мы можем говорить о единстве
экономического языка как сумме тезаурусов профессиональной лексики всех специалистов
экономического профиля.
RUSSIAN WOOD ARCHITECTURE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOUSEHOLD BUILDINGS
Authors: Shopina E. , Drobot A.
Published: December 2020

In terms of state-of-art cultural development the deeper understanding and study of Russian heritage with centuries-old knowledge and skills for a designer and architect becomes important. Object of the study is Russian wooden architecture of household buildings, including storehouses.

Research methodology consists of the following: a challenge problem; review of specialized literature; generalization and interpretation of the term; historical and cultural analysis.

Results of the study: it was found that the specificity of the wooden architecture of the Russian North is authenticity and relation with natural feature of area where the buildings are located.

According to the author’s opinion, understanding of relevance to study the history of Russian people and the knowledge accumulated by them in relation to wooden architecture will greatly affect the further development of the architectural mentality of a modern designer.
DIGITAL DESIGNING APPLYING GENERATIVE DESIGN
Authors: Anciferov S. , Lyutenko A. , Sychev E. , Sivachenko L.
Published: December 2020

In this paper the two principal design methods applying in industry such as industrial design and computer-aided design and differences between them were studied. Design technology applying a generative design was considered. The most popular soft ware allowing a generative design realization is a Siemens Software – CAD/CAE-system Solid Edge with a wide range of tools for designing and analysis of new products. Procedure of generative design realization was carried out to determine an optimal geometrical shape of product taking into account specified boundary conditions and load using a CAD/CAE-system Solid Edge. The main goal of generative design is a rational using of source material for a final products manufacturing. When realization of generative design the preliminary analysis of loaded console to refine the values of strength and stiffness took place. Also, with the tool "Generative analysis" the generative analysis for geometrical model was made. As a result was two versions of generative analysis meeting a different requirements of customers. The main tendencies of generative analysis application for designing of a new product with less production and release time were presented.
Bir Komutan ve Müfettiş Olarak Muhammed b. Mesleme
Authors: ÖNER Abdulkerim
Published: December 2020

Allah Resulü’ne peygamberlik görevi verilmeden önce Medine’de dünyaya gelen Muhammed b. Mesleme, Medine’ye yapılan hicretten sonra onun yanından hiç ayrılmamıştır. Onun yerine vekil tayin edildiği Tebük Seferi hariç, Hz. Peygamber’in bizzat katıldığı savaşların tümüne iştirak etmiştir. Allah Resulü, yazdığı şiirleriyle Müslümanlara hakaret eden Ka’b b. Eşref’in öldürülme görevini ona verdi. Allah Resulü’nün katılmadığı askerî birliklerin bazılarında komutan olarak görevlendirildi. Râşid Halifeler Dönemi’nde önemli görevlere getirildi. Özellikle vali ve vergi memurlarını denetlemesindeki üstün yeteneğinden dolayı Hz. Ömer’in vazgeçemediği bir müfettişi hâline geldi. Sa’d b. Ebî Vakkas’ın Kûfe’deki kabilelerle yaşadığı sıkıntı ve yaptırdığı saray hakkında çıkan dedikoduların içyüzünü araştırmak amacıyla görevlendirildi. Mısır valisi Amr b. Âs’ın fazla mal biriktirdiği ile ilgili söylemler üzerine oraya gönderilerek Amr’ın malına müsadere uyguladı. Hz. Ömer tarafından zekât âmili olarak görevlendirildi. Müslümanlar arasında çıkan fitnelerden uzak durdu.
Fârâbî’de Bireysel Mutluluktan Toplumsal Düzene: Özne ve Nesne Olarak Nefsin Onto-Epistemolojisi
Authors: ORUK Zehra
Published: December 2020

İnsanlık, ilgisini araştırmaya ve düşünmeye yönelttiği dönemlerden itibaren, görünürde bulunan bazı olguları, duyumlarının ötesinde bulunan türlü uzantılar vasıtası ile açıklama girişiminde bulunmuştur. Bu açıklamalara konu olanlardan biri de kendini arayan insanın, kendisine içkin olduğunu varsaydığı “nefs/ruh” düşüncesidir. Eski çağlardan beri düşünürler bir şekilde nefsi tanımlama yoluna gitmiş kimisi nefsi hareketin kaynağı olarak nitelendirirken, kimisi de nefsin varlığın en küçük yapıtaşı olduğunu öne sürmüştür. İnançlarının etkisi ile olsa gerek, İslam filozofları arasında da popülaritesini yitirmeyen konulardan biri olan nefs, bir sistem düşünürü olan Fârâbî’nin, sisteminin kilit noktası mesabesindedir. Zira mekanik bir sistem içerisinde işleyişini sürdüren Fârâbî’nin Ay-üstü ve Ay-altı evren şeklinde kategorize ettiği ontolojik sisteminde bulunan varlıklar, bir tür hizmet-fayda ilişkisi çerçevesinde döngüsel olarak birbirlerini etkilerler. Nihaî gayenin mutluluk olduğunu belirten Fârâbî ’de, Ay-altı alemde bulunan her bireyin nefsi, mutluluğu elde etmek maksadıyla Ay-üstü aleme dönük olarak maddi niteliklerinden arınıp, asıl zevk alacağı ruhanî bir yaşamı arzular. Söz konusu arzu doğrultusunda nefs, maddi olandan mufarıklaşarak yepyeni bir alemin kapısını aralamak niyetindedir. Bu çalışmada Fârâbî’nin fikir dünyasında, nefsin bedeninden mufarıklaşma gayesi, araçları ve aşamaları incelenecektir. Nefsin bu değişim sürecinin, bireysel ruhun olduğu kadar toplumsal düzenin de temel nedeni ve sonucu olduğu irdelenecek ve böylece bireysel hayat ile toplumsal düzen arasında ontolojik bir paralellik olduğu gösterilmeye çalışılacaktır.
Sabiduría y apoliticidad en el pensamiento de Epicuro
Authors: Divenosa Marisa
Published: December 2020

Entre las cartas y fragmentos conservados de Epicuro queda claro que, en su concepción, el sabio debe apartarse de la vida política (SV 58, fr.8). Por otro lado, los filósofos necesitan de una comunidad de amistad en el marco de la cual sus reflexiones se desarrollen máximamente. Nos ocuparemos aquí de revisar la manera en que deben entenderse las modulaciones de la pretendida apoliticidad, en conjunción con la philía. Propondremos que, entre las preocupaciones de Epicuro, no estuvo la el esclarecer el tipo de vínculo que debe haber entre la comunidad de amistad y la pólis en su conjunto, procurando sólo señalar el perjuicio que causa al sabio este último ámbito, y algunas vías por las cuales puede mantener su relación con él, en orden de favorecer su tranquilidad.
Una osadía de Sarmiento. Autobiografía y novela en Recuerdos de provin
Authors: Fontana Patricio
Published: December 2020

Las circunstancias de la escritura y la publicación de Recuerdos de provincia, en diciembre de 1850, son más o menos conocidas. Sin embargo, el paso del tiempo ha tendido a hacer olvidar o a diluir el riesgo que implicó para Sarmiento escribir y publicar su autobiografía. En este artículo, a partir de diferentes abordajes teóricos del género autobiográfico (entre otros los de Judith Butler o Jean Starobinski), se analiza dónde radicaba específicamente el riesgo que corrió Sarmiento al escribir y publicar su autobiografía. En igual sentido, a partir de ciertas afirmaciones de Lionel Gossman sobre las Confesiones de Rousseau, se propone además que ese riesgo implicaba, muy especialmente, la puesta en crisis de lo que en ese momento se consideraba con derecho a ser escrito y publicado y qué no. Una hipótesis central, entonces, es que Recuerdos de provincia buscó, acaso impensadamente, romper con lo que se consideraba como escribible y publicable. Finalmente, en relación estrecha con lo anterior, y a propósito de ciertas ideas de Jacques Rancière sobre el “régimen estético”, se elucubra sobre la posibilidad de que estas características del texto se vinculen con la presencia en él de lo novelesco, y se propone pensar Recuerdos de provincia como una entonación de la Bildungsroman, género central de la novela en el siglo XIX.