bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Des)interesse por escutar histórias: a fragmentação dos nexos de significação e a importância do contador
Authors: Souza Soraya , Archangelo Ana , Mendonça Lilian Cardoso de
Published: December 2021

Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir o desinteresse de algumas crianças em escutar histórias, evidenciado em atividades de “contação de histórias”, desenvolvidas em uma escola municipal de Campinas – SP como parte do Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência – Pibid/CAPES. Na análise de registros feitos pelos pesquisadores ao longo do desenvolvimento do projeto constata-se a ausência de nexos de significação entre a magia do contador e as histórias na vida das crianças. Em diálogo com a filosofia de Walter Benjamin e alguns conceitos da psicanálise, a reflexão problematiza a forma como a criança se relaciona com a atividade de contar e escutar histórias na contemporaneidade. Tudo indica que contar histórias é mais uma das artes em via de extinção, pois faz falar um passado sem memórias, de um sujeito de histórias fragmentadas, multifacetado, que muitas vezes se manifesta apenas através dos traços daquilo que resta de uma experiência coletiva e/ou individual. A partir do conceito de transferência, conclui-se que o impacto da contação se apresenta proporcionalmente à intensidade da relação transferencial entre as crianças e o contador, na qual possa comparecer a escuta, atitude em que o contador e a criança necessitam silenciar para elaborar os conteúdos psíquicos. Apenas quando a escuta e o silêncio são possíveis, o interesse pela história aparece e se converte em momento de construção da narrativa e do narrador no espaço escolar.
O currículo escolar sob enfoque histórico-crítico: aspectos ontológico, epistemológico, ético-político e pedagógico
Authors: Martins Lígia Márcia , Pasqualini Juliana Campregher
Published: December 2021

Toma-se como objeto de análise teórica o currículo escolar sob enfoque crítico, caracterizando-o como ferramenta do ato educativo a serviço do desenvolvimento omnilateral dos estudantes. Examinam-se seus aspectos ontológico, epistemológico e ético-político e, em segundo momento, encaminha-se a discussão para o âmbito pedagógico, colocando em tela o ensino desenvolvente, seus requisitos e resultados. Discute-se a natureza dos conhecimentos a serem convertidos em conteúdos escolares com vistas à formação do pensamento rigorosamente abstrato, entendido como condição para a efetiva inteligibilidade do real, abordando a formação processual de sistemas conceituais que superem a captação da realidade pela via das representações.
Base Nacional Comum Curricular: algumas reflexões a partir da Pedagogia Histórico-crítica
Authors: Pina Leonardo Docena , Gama Carolina Nozella
Published: December 2021

O presente artigo objetiva analisar a versão da Base Nacional Comum Curricular aprovada pelo bloco no poder durante o governo Temer, e continuada pelo governo Bolsonaro. Defende-se a tese de que a BNCC incorpora os interesses de uma fração da classe empresarial, a “direita para o social” (DPS), e, dessa forma, consolida mais uma etapa do processo de rebaixamento do nível de ensino destinado às camadas populares. Para tanto, explicita-se o processo de organização política da DPS para consolidar, na política educacional, o projeto empresarial de educação. Recupera-se quatro pilares que fundamentam tal projeto em curso, a saber: privatização, divisão técnica do trabalho, responsabilização pelo desempenho dos estudantes nas avaliações externas e patamar minimalista de formação escolar. Na sequência, aponta-se como o projeto empresarial de educação está expresso na BNCC, que centra a formação no desenvolvimento de competências e habilidades. Nas considerações finais, conclui-se que a aprovação da BNCC compõe o conjunto de iniciativas aprovadas pelo bloco no poder para administrar a crise do capital, que necessita fazer avançar os processos de precarização da força de trabalho, o que perpassa pelo rebaixamento da formação da classe trabalhadora, pelo ataque à educação pública e pela retirada de direitos sociais. Além disso, identifica-se nas elaborações da pedagogia histórico-crítica elementos fundamentais não apenas para tecer a crítica ao projeto empresarial de educação básica, mas, sobretudo, para fazer proposições que indicam possibilidades para enfrentá-lo nas condições históricas atuais. Em termos curriculares, isso significa oposição radical ao rebaixamento do processo de formação promovido pela BNCC.
A educação ambiental histórico-crítica: uma construção coletiva
Authors: Agudo Marcela De Moraes , Tozoni-Reis Marília Freitas de Campos
Published: December 2021

Este ensaio teórico busca discutir a necessária construção coletiva que envolve a educação ambiental histórico-crítica. A educação ambiental fundamentada na Pedagogia Histórico Crítica vem se constituindo nos últimos anos enquanto uma perspectiva crítica radicalmente sustentada pelo materialismo histórico-dialético. O Grupo de Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental (GPEA), vinculado ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência da Faculdade de Ciências, da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Bauru, em sua produção, individuais e coletivas, vem se dedicando ao aprofundamento da educação ambiental histórico crítica. Com isso, neste contexto, buscaremos tratar de alguns pontos da educação ambiental fundamentada na Pedagogia Histórico Crítica, enquanto processo de construção coletiva que vem se dando nos últimos anos de maneira mais intensa, como a relação entre a pedagogia histórico crítica e os conteúdos escolares/curriculares; a relação sociedade e natureza como objeto interdisciplinar da educação ambiental; e reflexões iniciais sobre os conteúdos da educação ambiental histórico crítica. Assim, a relação sociedade e ambiente como objeto interdisciplinar de pesquisa e a unidade entre conteúdos e forma da educação ambiental são pontos-chave para a construção coletiva da educação ambiental crítica, fundamentada no materialismo histórico-dialético e na pedagogia histórico-crítica. Portanto, destacamos e enfatizamos a necessidade de continuarmos no processo de produção do conhecimento no sentido de aprofundamento sobre a relação entre conteúdo e forma na prática pedagógica histórico-crítica.
Учет развития мартенситных элементов в объединенной модели деформирования сплавов с памятью формы в случае трансляционного упрочнения
Authors:   ФГБОУ ВО Московский государственный университет им. М.В. Ломоносова, г. Москва, Россия, Гаганова Н. В.
Published: December 2021

В сплавах с памятью формы макроскопические неупругие деформации могут быть вызваны как фазовыми переходами, так и переориентацией ранее образованных мартенситных ячеек при структурном превращении. Несмотря на то, что процессы фазового и структурного деформирования взаимосвязаны, между ними существуют значительные различия. В отличие от фазовых деформаций, для структурных деформаций характерно явление деформационного упрочнения: в пространстве девиаторов напряжений упругую область ограничивает поверхность нагружения, на размеры и положение центра которой влияют неупругие деформации. В отличие от структурных деформаций, для фазовых деформаций явление упрочнения не характерно, фазовые переходы могут происходить при нулевых напряжениях, а рост фазовых деформаций может наблюдаться как при уменьшающихся напряжениях, так и при их отсутствии. В данной работе исследуется объединенная модель фазового и структурного деформирования сплавов с памятью формы, учитывающая упомянутые свойства этих механизмов. Модель описывает как фазовый, так и структурный механизмы изменения неупругой деформации, а также влияние первого механизма на второй. Приращение неупругих деформаций, обусловленное структурным переходом в активном процессе, определяется ассоциированным законом. Формулируется дифференциальное условие активного нагружения и появления структурных деформаций, которое выражает требование сонаправленности тензора приращений структурных деформаций внешней нормали к поверхности нагружения и положительности параметра упрочнения, связанного со структурным переходом. В большинстве существующих моделей учитывается только процесс образования новых мартенситных мезо-элементов, но не учитывается процесс развития мезо-элементов, образованных ранее. Между тем, эксперименты показывают, что развитие мартенситных элементов может заметно влиять на значения деформаций. Учет этого фактора необходим, чтобы модель правильно описывала явление ориентированного превращения, а также процессы, в которых прямое термоупругое превращение происходит при ступенчато или плавно уменьшающихся напряжениях. В данной статье исследуется распространение объединенной модели деформирования сплавов с памятью формы на соотношения, позволяющие учесть развитие мартенситных элементов при фазовом и структурном переходе. Рассмотрен процесс пропорционального нагружения линейно возрастающими напряжениями. Проведено сравнение результатов, полученных с учетом развития мартенситных элементов и без него.
Модель высокоскоростного соударения жесткого осесимметричного ударника с деформируемой полубесконечной преградой
Authors:   Московский технологический университет, г. Москва, Россия, Головешкин В. А. ,   ФГБУН Институт прикладной механики РАН, г. Москва, Россия, Беклемишев С. А. ,   Московский технологический университет, г. Москва, Россия,   ФГБУН Институт прикладной механики РАН, г. Москва, Россия, Выборнов А. Н. ,   Московский технологический университет, г. Москва, Россия,   ФГБУН Институт прикладной механики РАН, г. Москва, Россия, Мягков Н. Н. ,   ФГБУН Институт прикладной механики РАН, г. Москва, Россия, Юшманова О. О. ,   ФГБУН Институт водных проблем РАН, г. Москва, Россия
Published: December 2021

Построена аналитическая механическая модель проникания жесткого цилиндрического ударника при высокоскоростном ударе в полубесконечную преграду. Ударник характеризуется тремя параметрами - линейным поперечным размером, массой и начальной скоростью. Относительно механических свойств материала преграды принята гипотеза идеально-жестко-пластического тела с условием несжимаемости. Материал преграды характеризуется двумя параметрами - плотностью и пределом текучести. Задача рассматривается в осесимметричной динамической постановке. Целью работы является получение приемлемых инженерных оценок следующих параметров - глубины внедрения ударника, массы материала, выброшенного из преграды, и эффекта усиления импульса, вызванного выбросом (эжекцией) фрагментов преграды в направлении, противоположном направлению полета ударника. Предложен следующий метод исследования. Строится осесимметричное поле скоростей в трех зонах. Первая зона - это материал преграды «прилипший» к ударнику и движущийся с ним, как твердое недеформируемое тело. Моделируется, как сегмент шара. Второе поле скоростей - фрагмент шарового слоя, примыкающий к первой зоне. Скорость определяется из условия несжимаемости. Третья зона - цилиндрическая зона, движущаяся как твердое тело в направлении противоположном движению ударника. На границе зон предполагается условие непрерывности нормальной составляющей скорости. Параметры зон определяются из условия минимума мощности внутренних сил. Уравнение движения заменяется уравнением баланса энергии - изменение кинетической энергии равно мощности внутренних сил. Сделанные предположения позволили определять параметры зон как функцию глубины внедрения ударника. Это дало возможность построить сравнительно простую аналитическую инженерную модель, которая позволяет определить глубину внедрения ударника, массу выброса, усиление импульса. Фактически полученное решение определяется двумя безразмерными параметрами.
Применение метода зондирующих отверстий и метода корреляции цифровых изображений для определения остаточных напряжений
Authors:   ФГБОУ ВО ", Бабайцев А. В. ,   Московский авиационный институт (национальный исследовательский университет)",   , г. Москва, Россия, Насонов Ф. А. ,   ФГБОУ ВО "Московский авиационный институт (национальный исследовательский университет)", г. Москва, Россия,   ПАО "Компания "Сухой", Рабинский Л. Н. ,   ФГБОУ ВО "Московский авиационный институт (национальный исследовательский университет)", г. Москва, Россия, Мин Ян Наин ,   ФГБОУ ВО "Московский авиационный институт (национальный исследовательский университет)", г. Москва, Россия
Published: December 2021

Остаточные напряжения могут появиться из-за технологических особенностей процесса изготовления, из-за конструктивных особенностей (несимметричности укладки), вследствие длительных силовых или температурных воздействий, и т.п. В работе исследуется применение корреляции цифровых изображений в методе зондирующих отверстий для определения остаточных напряжений в композиционных материалах. Исследовались образцы, вырезанные из панели полимерного композиционного материала с несимметричной укладкой, в которых определялись деформации, появившиеся после просверливания отверстия в образце. Фиксация деформаций проводилась бесконтактно, с использованием метода корреляции изображений. Для повышения точности фиксации деформации на образцы наносился паттерн. В рамках данной работы рассматривались два варианта паттерна: крупный (размер маркера 0,05-0,8 мм) и мелкий (размер маркера 0,02-0,2 мм). Так как остаточные деформации был небольшими, то крупный паттерн не дал показательных результатов. Полученные экспериментальные деформации сравнивались с численным расчетом методом конечных элементов. Решение обратной задачи теории упругости для идентификации остаточных напряжений проводилось в системе Comsol с использованием численного конечно-элементного моделирования, метода Монте-Карло и Нельдера-Мида. Метод Монте-Карло применялся для поиска глобального минимума функции невязок, а метод Нелдера-Мида для уточнения локального минимума. Функция невязок расчетных и экспериментальных данных вычислялась в среднеквадратичном приближении. Для уточнения среднего поля деформаций в эксперименте и игнорирования неустранимых погрешностей, связанные с неточностью экспериментальных данных, вводились малые значения поправки. В результате исследования было получено достаточное совпадение численных и экспериментальных результатов. Отличием реализованного метода от других методов измерения деформаций вокруг зондирующих отверстий является получение полной картины для всех компонент деформаций.
Development of Integrated Farming Businesses Based on Zero Waste Agriculture in Parigi Moutong Regency
Authors: Nasir Burhanuddin , Lakani Irwan , Najamudin Najamudin , Sabariyah Sitti , Lasmini Sri Anjar , Asdar Moh. Syahrul , Astawa I Putu Suci , Akbar Ilham , Tiana I Kadek Duis
Published: December 2021

Zero waste agriculture is an agricultural concept oriented around the decomposition cycle of organic materials which integrates agricultural and livestock systems to reprocess waste material. Agricultural waste is used as animal feed while livestock waste/excrement is reprocessed into organic fertilizers. The Regional Partnership Service Program (PKW) aims to assist farmers in developing integrated farming businesses based around zero waste agriculture. PKW was held between May and July 2021 in Tindaki Village, South Parigi District, Parigi Moutong Regency. The implementation of this regional partnership program was carried out through a Participatory Action Programs approach, where partners are directly involved in the adoption and application of the various skills that had been developed. The procedure for activity implementation was carried out through several stages, namely: (a) counseling on zero waste agriculture, (b) training in and application of zero waste agriculture technology in the form of demonstration plots for the application of technological products, (c) coaching and mentoring, and (d) the utilization stage of technology product. The findings from the implementation concluded that the agricultural development training based on zero waste agriculture was a success, and the technology had been adopted by the community, marked by the ability to make and develop compost and liquid organic bio-urine fertilizers. Both types of organic fertilizers had been applied in the demonstration plots to assess their effectiveness in reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers. Rice production is equivalent to 5.6 tons/ha and 6 tons/ha in conventional land. These results show potential benefits for farmers, particularly regarding lower production costs compared to the usage of conventional land. Zero waste agriculture is a method of farming and livestock raising that utilizes their waste products for energy production.
Advances in Biomarkers for Lung Disease
Authors: Kimber Evan
Published: December 2021

Bringing together a collection of the most forward-thinking approaches to lung disease, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 hosted a virtual session on imaging biomarkers. Four insightful presentations discussed the shift towards more longitudinal imaging approaches for lung disease and provided an overview of quantitative analyses with computer-trained algorithms. Alongside this was a discussion of the use of novel biomarkers such as pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis.
The Role of Vitamin D in Disease Activity in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Brown Geraint , Nikiphorou Elena
Published: December 2021

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which predominantly involves the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints. The aetiology remains unknown but is thought to be immune driven. Vitamin D is a focus for research in numerous autoimmune conditions, especially because it is now thought to have an important role in immunoregulation. It has been hypothesised that low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of autoimmune disease. Considering that vitamin D is implicated in immune regulation and autoimmunity, a question that arises is whether vitamin D deficiency can lead to increased disease activity in axSpA. Through this narrative review of the literature the authors explore potential links between vitamin D and axSpA. This review highlights that larger and more methodologically robust prospective longitudinal studies are required to answer this key question. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies, including in the definition of vitamin D deficiency, latitude where the study took place, and seasonal variation. Another clinically relevant aspect to address is whether correcting vitamin D deficiency leads to improved makers of disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. This may justify mandatory food fortification and specific supplementation programmes in countries at risk. For example, in Finland there is a low prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the general population because of food fortification.
EULAR COVID-19 Recommendations
Authors: Donnison Rachel
Published: December 2021

TREATING patients with autoimmune diseases, the rheumatology community is naturally concerned with the spread of COVID-19; as Prof Robert Landewé of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands stated: “immunosuppression and infection do not go along very well.” On April 3rd 2020, EULAR President-Elect Prof Hans Bijlsma founded a task force to create a comprehensive set of guidelines for clinicians treating patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19, though not in a typical manner. Using Microsoft Teams and teleconferences, the newly founded committee set out to create a comprehensive set of recommendations. Time was of the essence, as the virus continued to spread and rheumatologists looked to EULAR for guidance. Exactly 3 months later the guidelines were presented at the EULAR 2020 virtual congress on 3rd June 2020.
The Interplay of Genes with the Gut Microbiota in the Aetiopathogenesis of
Spondyloarthropathies and Crohn’s Disease: Implications for Future Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Stebbings Simon , Roberts Rebecca
Published: December 2021

The phenotypical overlap between the spondyloarthropathies (SpA) and Crohn’s disease (CD) has long been recognised. More recently, the co-inheritance of these diseases and the existence of a plethora of shared genetic risk loci have been demonstrated by genealogic databases and genome-wide association studies. Now there is mounting evidence to suggest that the interplay between the gut microbiota and host genetics is central to the shared aetiopathogenesis of SpA and CD. The clinical management of patients with both SpA and CD can be challenging. Preliminary studies seeking to understand this interplay have identified novel therapeutic targets and approaches, which may, in the future, significantly advance patient care. This review provides an overview of the role of host genetics and the intestinal microbiota in the shared aetiopathogenesis of SpA and CD, and explores how this interplay can advance the search for new therapeutic targets.
BARCAROLE PRINCIPLE IN A GENRE-COMPOSITIONAL ORGANIZATION OF “BERESTECHKO” BY LINA KOSTENKO
Authors: Saіenko Valentyna
Published: December 2021

The paper deals with a historical novel in verse by the celebrated modern Ukrainian writer Lina Kostenko, for the first time analyzing it totally in a synesthetic way — through the component of musicality (namely barcarole principle of poetic creativity). The folklore origins of barcarole in the world culture have been traced, as well as the peculiarities of the absorption of the genre by professional music and literature, especially Ukrainian. Formation of the genre in the creative work of the author of “Berestechko”, who is the poet of a special musical feeling, deserves special attention. Barcarole is one of the forms of modernity in the creative thinking of Lina Kostenko; it is a natural writer’s way of perceiving reality and transforming it into an aesthetic system of artistic work (both in poems and the novel in verse). Being inclined to poetically adopt chamber and solo musical genres, the poetess creates a special voice polyphony in “Berestechko”, where each sense construct of a modern unity, i. e. novel lyric epos and barcarole, sounds both separately and complementarily, and the part of a protagonist merges into “I” of a speaker. The compositional function of barcarole in “Berestechko” is the modeling of a central character of the text. It is hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, spiritually undermined by the recent defeat. The barcarole elements are used for constructing the author’s version of this failure and its consequences, which spread around Ukraine as circles on water; absorbing a soothing rhythm of a song, which can cure the soul with love; shaping the architectonics of the text in the form of 'splashes'-'circles' with poly-functional titles and subtexts. In the genre structure of the novel, barcarole is essential both in the development of the theme and its stylistic implementation. In the unity of the work, one may notice “prelude”, the main part, and “postlude”, each part with its artistic sense. The images typical for a barcarole — water, boat, song, woman, love, etc. — are designed in accordance with the agrarian microcosm of the main character and its symbolic senses. Time flow, self-immersion, and love do not only spiritually heal hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, but give his life a direction and endow his figure with grandeur. The neoromantic potential of barcarole and the novel in verse correspond well and join in the final coda about the unshakable courage and heroism of the Ukrainian warriors.
LINEAR AND NONLINEAR FREE VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF RECTANGULAR PLATE
Authors: Adah Edward , Onwuka David , Ibearugbulem Owus , Okere Chinenye
Published: December 2021

The major assumption of the analysis of plates with large deflection is that the middle surface displacements are not zeros. The determination of the middle surface displacements, u0 and v0 along x- and y- axes respectively is the major challenge encountered in large deflection analysis of plate. Getting a closed-form solution to the long standing von Karman large deflection equations derived in 1910 have proven difficult over the years. The present work is aimed at deriving a new general linear and nonlinear free vibration equation for the analysis of thin rectangular plates. An elastic analysis approach is used. The new nonlinear strain displacement equations were substituted into the total potential energy functional equation of free vibration. This equation is minimized to obtain a new general equation for analyzing linear and nonlinear resonating frequencies of rectangular plates. This approach eliminates the use of Airy’s stress functions and the difficulties of solving von Karman's large deflection equations. A case study of a plate simply supported all-round (SSSS) is used to demonstrate the applicability of this equation. Both trigonometric and polynomial displacement shape functions were used to obtained specific equations for the SSSS plate. The numerical results for the coefficient of linear and nonlinear resonating frequencies obtained for these boundary conditions were 19.739 and 19.748 for trigonometric and polynomial displacement functions respectively. These values indicated a maximum percentage difference of 0.051% with those in the literature. It is observed that the resonating frequency increases as the ratio of out–of–plane displacement to the thickness of plate (w/t) increases. The conclusion is that this new approach is simple and the derived equation is adequate for predicting the linear and nonlinear resonating frequencies of a thin rectangular plate for various boundary conditions.
ASSESSMENT OF LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF PAKISTAN
Authors: Salah Alaloul Wesam , Musarat Muhammad Ali , Mehmood Hussain , Altaf Muhammad
Published: December 2021

Road construction in Pakistan is booming because of China’s One Belt One Road program. Pakistan is in a developing stage and facing a lot of challenges in construction projects, primarily in labour productivity. This research focuses on the factors affecting labour productivity in road construction projects of Pakistan. A questionnaire was developed to observe the impact of critical factors on labour productivity. Based on the gathered responses, the factors were ranked using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The analysis shows that out of thirty (30) factors, the most important five (5) factors that affect labour productivity on road construction are unskilled workforce, payment delays to labour, tools and equipment shortages, poor communication of supervisor with labours and financial difficulties of owner/contractor. By focusing on these critical issues’ betterment can be made in labour productivity which will directly enhance the projects’ performance.
ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC INJURIES DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING OF SMARTPHONE USAGE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors: Abd Rahman R. , Sakim N. , Lim W. M. , Mohd Masirin M. I. , Hassan M F
Published: December 2021

This study provides the behaviour of university students using smartphone on daily basis and while driving, and exploring their perception towards the road safety of such habits. World Health Organisation states that distracted driving due to smartphone usage has been the uprising cause of road traffic injuries especially among young drivers. This study will provide knowledge in enforcing the right mitigation measures in preventing such behaviour from growing. The results from this study can also be integrated in intelligent transportation system in traffic accident prevention programme. This survey is conducted at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia with a sample size of 371 respondents with majority of them aged 21 to 25 (86.6%) who own smartphone (100%) and private vehicle (59.1%). Results found that university student are dependent of their smartphone on daily basis for alarm (94.3%), communication and socialisation (73.9%). They tend to use their smartphone while driving, at traffic light (68.4%) and during traffic congestion (61.0%), often for maps navigations (69.8%) and to make call (57.4%) in hands-free mode. Despite knowing the danger of this behaviour (97.3%), they ignored the risks and committed such offenses. Hence, the need for education and enforcement are significant and relevant among university students to prevent such behaviours from growing.
ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: CASE STUDY AT MALAYSIA UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA, JOHOR
Authors: Abd Rahman R. , Mazle H. A. , Lim W. M. , Mohd Masirin M. I. , Hassan M. F.
Published: December 2021

This descriptive study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of road safety among university students. The study was conducted among students in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia by means of questionnaire disseminated online via social media with shareable link to a Google form. The respondents were self-selected to participate in this study where their responses were self-administrated. Questionnaire consisted of 3 sections included demographic information, knowledge on road signs and road safety law, and road safety awareness. 371 students participated in this study, 66% of them age 23 to 27 years old, 61% were female, 92.5% of respondents have at least one type of license with majority agreed that occurrence of accidents resulted in an increase in road safety awareness. The study found that more than half of the participants could not recognise road sign like parking totally prohibited and speed limit ends here. While, 38% of them correctly identified posted speed limit for expressway. Overall, participants have fair understanding on road safety. Therefore, road safety programmes and education are still relevant to university students as young drivers on the road which is important to increase safety awareness.
STUDY INFLUENCE OF LAND COVER CHANGE IN WETLAND AND VEGETATION ON LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE
Authors: Kemarau Ricky Anak , Eboy Oliver Valentine
Published: December 2021

Wetlands are a vital component of land cover in reducing impacts caused by urban heat effects and climate change. Remote sensing technology provides historical data that can study the impact of development on the environment and local climate. The studies of wetland in reducing Land Surface Temperature (LST) in a tropical climate are still lacking. The objective of the study is to examine the influence of land cover change wetland and vegetation on land surface temperature between the years 1988 and 2019. First of all, step, pre-processing, namely geometric correction, atmosphere correction, and radiometric correction, were performed before retrieval of the LST dataset from thermal band Landsat 5 and 8. Then, Iso Cluster, unsupervised was chosen to produce the land cover map for 1988 and 2019. Geographical Information System (GIS) technology was utilized to determine changes to land cover and LST change between the years 1988 and 2019. With GIS technology, a study of the impact of wetland deforestation on local temperatures at a local scale was carried out. Next to that, correlations between LST and the wetland were analyzed. The results indicated the different land cover between the years 1988 and 2019. The areas of land cover for wetland and vegetation decrease and while area of urban increased. The land cover changed the influences of LST significantly in the study area. The LST increased with the decreasing in areas wetland areas for every 5-kilometer square (km²) wetland lost an increase in 1-degree Celsius of LS was estimated. The size of wetland influence on LST was significant. Wetland and vegetation function in reducing the urban heat island effect was vital in providing a comfortable environment to the Kuching population and indirectly reduce the demand for power energy.
The Riemann Hypothesis Is True
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: December 2021

The Riemann hypothesis is a conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part $\frac{1}{2}$. The Riemann hypothesis belongs to the David Hilbert's list of 23 unsolved problems. Besides, it is one of the Clay Mathematics Institute's Millennium Prize Problems. This problem has remained unsolved for many years. The Robin criterion states that the Riemann hypothesis is true if and only if the inequality $\sigma(n)< e^{\gamma } \times n \times \log \log n$ holds for all natural numbers $n>5040$, where $\sigma(x)$ is the sum-of-divisors function and $\gamma \approx 0.57721$ is the Euler-Mascheroni constant. The Nicolas criterion states that the Riemann hypothesis is true if and only if the inequality $\prod_{q \leq q_{n}} \frac{q}{q-1}>e^{\gamma} \times \log\theta(q_{n})$ is satisfied for all primes $q_{n}>2$, where $\theta(x)$ is the Chebyshev function. Using both inequalities, we show that the Riemann hypothesis is true.
SYMBIOTIC PROPERTIES OF BLACK MEDIC OF THE MIRA VARIETY
Authors: Stepanova Galina
Published: December 2021

The first Russian variety of black medic of the Mira was created and included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. The study of the symbiotic properties of this variety showed that the most promising strains for pre-sowing inoculation were LX1 and 412b, the first increased the collection of dry matter and seeds by 96 and 115%, and the second – by 81 and 73%, respectively. Both strains can be used when cultivating this variety for feed and seeds. Inoculation with the LX6 strain increased seed productivity by 84%. Strains LX2, LX5 and LX6 increase the adaptive ability of varieties of the Mira, shifting the metabolism of the alfalfa-rhizobial system towards increasing seed productivity. The proportion of seeds in plants inoculated with the above-mentioned strains increases to 24–31% of the total plant weight, and in other symbiotic systems this indicator was 19–22%. Strain LX1 was isolated from nodules of plants belonging to the same population on the basis of which the Mira variety was created and it is the most genetically complementary to this variety. The yield of black medic of the Mira variety without inoculation for two years of use was 3.3 t/ha of dry matter, 0.67 t/ha of seeds. Pre-sowing inoculation of seeds with the LX1 strain increased the yield of this variety to 6.48 t/ha (+96%) of dry matter and seeds – to 1.44 t/ha (+115%). In the vegetation experiment, inoculation with the rhizobium strain LX1 significantly increased the height of plants by 4.2 cm, the leaf area by 0.69 cm2 (+49%), productivity by 176%. The total nitrogen content in the aboveground part of the plants reached 3.63%, the roots 3.31%, the control indicators were 3.02 and 2.77%, respectively.
CREEPING CLOVER (Trifolium repens L.): BIOLOGICAL FEATURES, ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE, VARIETIES AND METHODS OF SEED PRODUCTION WHEN GROWN IN GRASS MIXTURES WITH A CEREAL COMPONENT
Authors: Trukhan Olga
Published: December 2021

Creeping clover (Trifolium repens L.) is one of the best crops for creating meadow and pasture agrophytocenoses of long-term use. The biological features of this crop, such as durability, good yield, resistance to grazing, high leafiness, along with good feed quality indicators, its high protein nutritional value, make it indispensable when creating pastures not only in Russia, but also abroad. Creeping clover is one of the main components of grass mixtures for improving pastures and developing fallow lands; it is also an excellent phyto-meliorative crop that restores soil fertility. The most important problem of creeping clover seed production is harvesting due to the short stature of pasture varieties. Therefore, it is recommended to grow creeping clover for seeds in a mixture of grass together with cereal components such as perennial ryegrass, reed fescue, meadow fescue, etc. Due to the use of biological nitrogen of the legume component, energy consumption for the production of 1 kg of cereal grass seeds is reduced by 20–30% in comparison with uncoverless single-species crops. In addition to clover seeds, growing in grass mixtures allows you to get high yields of grass seeds in the second year of use without the use of nitrogen fertilizers.
Matricellular Protein Periostin Promotes Pericyte Migration in Fibrotic Airways
Authors: Bignold Rebecca E. , Johnson Jill R.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Periostin is a matricellular protein that is currently used as a biomarker for asthma. However, its contribution to tissue remodeling in allergic asthma is currently unknown. We have previously demonstrated that tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells known as pericytes are a key cell type involved in airway remodeling. This is thought to be caused the uncoupling of pericytes from the microvasculature supporting the large airways, facilitated by inflammatory growth factors and cytokines. It is hypothesized that periostin may be produced by profibrotic pericytes and contribute to the remodeling observed in allergic asthma.

Methods: Lung sections from mice with allergic airway disease driven by exposure to house dust mite (HDM) were stained using an anti-periostin antibody to explore its involvement in fibrotic lung disease. Human pericytes were cultured in vitro and stained for periostin to assess periostin expression. Migration assays were performed using human pericytes that were pretreated with TGF-β or periostin. ELISAs were also carried out to assess periostin expression levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as the induction of periostin production by IL-13.

Results: Immunostaining indicated that pericytes robustly express periostin, with increased expression following treatment with TGF-β. Migration assays demonstrated that pericytes treated with periostin were more migratory. Periostin production was also increased in HDM exposed mice as well as in cultured pericytes treated with IL-13.

Conclusion: Periostin is produced by pericytes in response to TGF-β or IL-13, and periostin plays a key role in inducing pericyte migration. The increase in periostin expression in TGF-β or IL-13 treated pericytes suggests that IL-13 may trigger periostin production in pericytes whilst TGF-β modulates periostin expression to promote pericyte migration in the context of tissue fibrosis.
Influence of Menisci on Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics in Human Knees: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sukopp Matthias , Schall Florian , Hacker Steffen P. , Ignatius Anita , Dürselen Lutz , Seitz Andreas M.
Published: December 2021

Purpose: Menisci transfer axial loads, while increasing the load-bearing tibiofemoral contact area and decreasing tibiofemoral contact pressure (CP). Numerous clinical and experimental studies agree that an increased CP is one predominant indicator for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) of the knee joint. However, due to the immense variability in experimental test setups and wide range of treatment possibilities in meniscus surgery, it is difficult to objectively assess their impact on the CP determination, which is clearly crucial for knee joint health. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to investigate the influence of different meniscal injuries and their associated surgical treatments on the CP. Secondly, the influence of different test setups on CP measurements is assessed. On the basis of these results, we established the basis for recommendations for future investigations with the aim to determine CPs under different meniscal states.

Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were identified through a systematic literature search in Cochrane, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Literature was searched through pre-defined keywords and medical subject headings.

Results: This review indicates a significant increase of up to 235% in peak CP when comparing healthy joints and intact menisci with impaired knee joints, injured or resected menisci. In addition, different test setups were indicated to have major influences on CP: The variety of test setups ranged from standard material testing machines, including customized setups via horizontal and vertical knee joint simulators, through to robotic systems. Differences in applied axial knee joint loads ranged from 0 N up to 2,700 N and resulted unsurprisingly in significantly different peak CPs of between 0.1 and 12.06 MPa.

Conclusion: It was shown that untreated traumatic meniscal tears result in an increased CP. Surgical repair intervention were able to restore the CP comparable to the healthy, native condition. Test setup differences and particularly axial joint loading variability also led to major CP differences. In conclusion, when focusing on CP measurements in the knee joint, transparent and traceable in vitro testing conditions are essential to allow researchers to make a direct comparison between future biomechanical investigations.
Overground Walking in a Fully Immersive Virtual Reality: A Comprehensive Study on the Effects on Full-Body Walking Biomechanics
Authors: Horsak Brian , Simonlehner Mark , Schöffer Lucas , Dumphart Bernhard , Jalaeefar Arian , Husinsky Matthias
Published: December 2021

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology offering tremendous opportunities to aid gait rehabilitation. To this date, real walking with users immersed in virtual environments with head-mounted displays (HMDs) is either possible with treadmills or room-scale (overground) VR setups. Especially for the latter, there is a growing interest in applications for interactive gait training as they could allow for more self-paced and natural walking. This study investigated if walking in an overground VR environment has relevant effects on 3D gait biomechanics. A convenience sample of 21 healthy individuals underwent standard 3D gait analysis during four randomly assigned walking conditions: the real laboratory (RLab), a virtual laboratory resembling the real world (VRLab), a small version of the VRlab (VRLab−), and a version which is twice as long as the VRlab (VRLab+). To immerse the participants in the virtual environment we used a VR-HMD, which was operated wireless and calibrated in a way that the virtual labs would match the real-world. Walking speed and a single measure of gait kinematic variability (GaitSD) served as primary outcomes next to standard spatio-temporal parameters, their coefficients of variant (CV%), kinematics, and kinetics. Briefly described, participants demonstrated a slower walking pattern (−0.09 ± 0.06 m/s) and small accompanying kinematic and kinetic changes. Participants also showed a markedly increased gait variability in lower extremity gait kinematics and spatio-temporal parameters. No differences were found between walking in VRLab+ vs. VRLab−. Most of the kinematic and kinetic differences were too small to be regarded as relevant, but increased kinematic variability (+57%) along with increased percent double support time (+4%), and increased step width variability (+38%) indicate gait adaptions toward a more conservative or cautious gait due to instability induced by the VR environment. We suggest considering these effects in the design of VR-based overground training devices. Our study lays the foundation for upcoming developments in the field of VR-assisted gait rehabilitation as it describes how VR in overground walking scenarios impacts our gait pattern. This information is of high relevance when one wants to develop purposeful rehabilitation tools.
Modifications of Parylene by Microstructures and Selenium Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Bacterial and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Viability
Authors: Pekarkova Jana , Gablech Imrich , Fialova Tatiana , Bilek Ondrej , Fohlerova Zdenka
Published: December 2021

Parylene-based implants or coatings introduce surfaces suffering from bacteria colonization. Here, we synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as the antibacterial agent, and various approaches are studied for their reproducible adsorption, and thus the modification of parylene-C–coated glass substrate. The nanoparticle deposition process is optimized in the nanoparticle concentration to obtain evenly distributed NPs on the flat parylene-C surface. Moreover, the array of parylene-C micropillars is fabricated by the plasma etching of parylene-C on a silicon wafer, and the surface is modified with SeNPs. All designed surfaces are tested against two bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). The results show no antibacterial effect toward S. aureus, while some bacteriostatic effect is observed for E. coli on the flat and microstructured parylene. However, SeNPs did not enhance the antibacterial effect against both bacteria. Additionally, all designed surfaces show cytotoxic effects toward mesenchymal stem cells at high SeNP deposition. These results provide valuable information about the potential antibacterial treatment of widely used parylene-C in biomedicine.
Facile Cell-Friendly Hollow-Core Fiber Diffusion-Limited Photofabrication
Authors: Savelyev Alexander G. , Sochilina Anastasia V. , Akasov Roman A. , Mironov Anton V. , Kapitannikova Alina Yu. , Borodina Tatiana N. , Sholina Natalya V. , Khaydukov Kirill V. , Zvyagin Andrei V. , Generalova Alla N. , Khaydukov Evgeny V.
Published: December 2021

Bioprinting emerges as a powerful flexible approach for tissue engineering with prospective capability to produce tissue on demand, including biomimetic hollow-core fiber structures. In spite of significance for tissue engineering, hollow-core structures proved difficult to fabricate, with the existing methods limited to multistage, time-consuming, and cumbersome procedures. Here, we report a versatile cell-friendly photopolymerization approach that enables single-step prototyping of hollow-core as well as solid-core hydrogel fibers initially loaded with living cells. This approach was implemented by extruding cell-laden hyaluronic acid glycidyl methacrylate hydrogel directly into aqueous solution containing free radicals generated by continuous blue light photoexcitation of the flavin mononucleotide/triethanolamine photoinitiator. Diffusion of free radicals from the solution to the extruded structure initiated cross-linking of the hydrogel, progressing from the structure surface inwards. Thus, the cross-linked wall is formed and its thickness is limited by penetration of free radicals in the hydrogel volume. After developing in water, the hollow-core fiber is formed with centimeter range of lengths. Amazingly, HaCaT cells embedded in the hydrogel successfully go through the fabrication procedure. The broad size ranges have been demonstrated: from solid core to 6% wall thickness of the outer diameter, which was variable from sub-millimeter to 6 mm, and Young’s modulus ∼1.6 ± 0.4 MPa. This new proof-of-concept fibers photofabrication approach opens lucrative opportunities for facile three-dimensional fabrication of hollow-core biostructures with controllable geometry.