bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota alterations in response to sleep length among African-origin adults
Authors: Fei Na , Choo-Kang Candice , Reutrakul Sirimon , Crowley Stephanie J. , Rae Dale , Bedu-Addo Kweku , Plange-Rhule Jacob , Forrester Terrence E. , Lambert Estelle V. , Bovet Pascal , Riesen Walter , Korte Wolfgang , Luke Amy , Layden Brian T. , Gilbert Jack A. , Dugas Lara R.
Published: September 2021

Sleep disorders are increasingly being characterized in modern society as contributing to a host of serious medical problems, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Changes to the microbial community in the human gut have been reportedly associated with many of these cardiometabolic outcomes. In this study, we investigated the impact of sleep length on the gut microbiota in a large cohort of 655 participants of African descent, aged 25–45, from Ghana, South Africa (SA), Jamaica, and the United States (US). The sleep duration was self-reported via a questionnaire. Participants were classified into 3 sleep groups: short (<7hrs), normal (7-<9hrs), and long (≥9hrs). Forty-seven percent of US participants were classified as short sleepers and 88% of SA participants as long sleepers. Gut microbial composition analysis (16S rRNA gene sequencing) revealed that bacterial alpha diversity negatively correlated with sleep length (p<0.05). Furthermore, sleep length significantly contributed to the inter-individual beta diversity dissimilarity in gut microbial composition (p<0.01). Participants with both short and long-sleep durations exhibited significantly higher abundances of several taxonomic features, compared to normal sleep duration participants. The predicted relative proportion of two genes involved in the butyrate synthesis via lysine pathway were enriched in short sleep duration participants. Finally, co-occurrence relationships revealed by network analysis showed unique interactions among the short, normal and long duration sleepers. These results suggest that sleep length in humans may alter gut microbiota by driving population shifts of the whole microbiota and also specific changes in Exact Sequence Variants abundance, which may have implications for chronic inflammation associated diseases. The current findings suggest a possible relationship between disrupted sleep patterns and the composition of the gut microbiota. Prospective investigations in larger and more prolonged sleep researches and causally experimental studies are needed to confirm these findings, investigate the underlying mechanism and determine whether improving microbial homeostasis may buffer against sleep-related health decline in humans.
Psychometric properties and longitudinal measurement invariance of the drug craving scale: Modification of the Polish version of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS)
Authors: Opozda-Suder Sylwia , Karteczka-Świętek Kinga , Piasecka Małgorzata
Published: September 2021

Background

The Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) is an instrument with good psychometric properties that is widely used to assess alcohol craving. Based on the assumption that the experience of craving is independent of substance type, the Polish version of the PACS was modified to measure drug craving, thus creating the Penn Drug Craving Scale (PDCS). The analyses presented in the paper aim to verify the hypothesis that the PDCS has a unidimensional structure, is highly reliable and features longitudinal measurement invariance.

Methods

The research was conducted in 14 inpatient and 13 outpatient randomly selected facilities that provide psychosocial therapy to people with substance use disorder (SUD) in Poland, during June 2018 –July 2019. The data used for the analyses came from 282 patients diagnosed on the basis of ICD-10 criteria (F11.2-F19.2). The paper presents analyses with the application of: [1] confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted on the basis of a polychoric correlation matrix and the WLSMV estimator; [2] a reliability estimate using Cronbach’s alpha and coefficient omega; [3] verification of longitudinal measurement invariance between the beginning and end of therapy; [4] evaluation of criterion validity; [5] normalisation of the raw scores.

Results

The CFA results confirmed a unidimensional PDCS structure (RMSEA = 0.047, 95% CI: 0.000–0.103; CFI = 0.999; TLI = 0.999) and a high reliability of the scale (ω = 0.93). Moreover, a strict longitudinal measurement invariance of the instrument was confirmed.

Conclusions

Accurate assessment of craving is possible only with valid and reliable instruments. Therefore, the psychometric properties of the PDCS were verified based on the latest statistical approaches. The scale is a valid and highly reliable tool featuring longitudinal measurement invariance and can be usefully used for research and clinical purposes. Thus, the Polish version of the PACS has been modified and successfully applied to the population of people with SUD.
A Late Cretaceous dinosaur and crocodyliform faunal association–based on isolate teeth and osteoderms–at Cerro Fortaleza Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtian) type locality, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Authors: Paulina-Carabajal Ariana , Barrios Francisco T. , Méndez Ariel H. , Cerda Ignacio A. , Lee Yuong-Nam
Published: September 2021

The Late Cretaceous dinosaur record in southern South America has been improved recently; particularly with findings from Chorrillo and Cerro Fortaleza formations, both bearing ankylosaur remains, a clade that was not previously recorded in the Austral Basin. The dinosaur fauna of the type locality of Cerro Fortaleza Formation is known from -and biased to- large-sized sauropod remains and a single described taxon, the titanosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani. Here, we report the taxonomic composition of a site preserving thirteen isolated teeth and several osteoderms belonging to three dinosaur clades (Abelisauridae, Titanosauria, and Nodosauridae), and at least one clade of notosuchian crocodyliforms (Peirosauridae). They come from sediments positioned at the mid-section of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, which is Campanian-Maastrichtian in age, adding valuable information to the abundance and biodiversity of this Cretaceous ecosystem. Since non-titanosaur dinosaur bones are almost absent in the locality, the teeth presented here provide a window onto the archosaur biodiversity of the Late Cretaceous in southern Patagonia. The nodosaurid tooth and small armor ossicles represent the first record of ankylosaurs for this stratigraphic unit. The peirosaurid material also represents the most austral record of the clade in South America.
Impact of the collaboration mechanism of PPP projects based on consumer participation: A system dynamics model of tripartite evolutionary game
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Xiaoli , Guo Qian
Published: September 2021

Developing countries need a large number of social infrastructure projects (e.g. schools, medical care, nursing homes). But the government’s finance to invest in these projects is limited. By using the public–private partnership (PPP) mode to attract social capital to invest in PPP projects, it can relieve the financial pressure and improve the operation efficiency. The cooperation between government and consumer can ensure the sustainable development of the project operation. A system dynamics model of tripartite evolutionary game is developed to analyze the interaction of participant’s strategies and simulate the corresponding evolution process. We employ the scenario analysis method to investigate the impact of the key parameters in relation with PPP projects based on realistic scenario assumptions. The results reveal the effect of some policies including reverse effect, blocking effect and over-reliance effect. Specifically, the results show that high penalty can prevent social capital from providing low-quality services, the low cost of government regulation can promote social capital to provide high-quality services, compensation to consumer can increase the enthusiasm of consumer participating in supervision, appropriate difference between price and cost of high-quality service as social capital’s profit can encourage social capital to provide high-quality service. These policy suggestions will contribute to the sustainable development of social infrastructures in PPP mode.
Pet primates for sale in the United States
Authors: Seaboch Melissa S. , Cahoon Sydney N.
Published: September 2021

Our research goal was to investigate the primate pet trade in the United States. While dogs and cats are the most common type of pet, there are an estimated 15,000 pet primates in the United States and the demand for exotic pets in general has been rising. Most research on pet primates occurs in habitat countries and little is known about these pets in the United States. We collected data from six exotic pet-trade websites twice a month for 12 months. We recorded the type of primate for sale, sex, age, location, and price. We used Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit tests to compare whether the number of male and female pet primates for sale and the number of different age categories of pet primates for sale differed from equality and Spearman Correlation to examine associations between price and size and price and supply. We recorded 551 pet primates for sale between June 2019-June 2020, with 69.1% platyrrhines, 21.6% strepsirrhines, and 8.9% catarrhines. Marmosets were sold most often (36.7%, N = 202) followed by lemurs (21.6%, N = 119), capuchins (11.3%, N = 62), and squirrel monkeys (10.5%, N = 58). Almost two-thirds of the pet primates for sale were male (Chi-Square = 16.056, df = 1, P = 0. 00006) and 78.7% were under one year old (Chi-Square = 440.264, df = 2, P<0.00001). The median price was $3,800 though price was highly variable, even for the same taxa. There are several potential drivers for the primate pet trade, including media influence, fashion/status, and profitable breeding though these are not mutually exclusive. Primates do not make good pets and even when captive-bred, pet primates impact the conservation of their wild counterparts. Advertisement campaigns focusing on disease transmission and legal consequences and a federal ban on pet primate ownership are two avenues to pursue to end the ownership of pet primates in the United States.
Marriage and quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Purba Fredrick Dermawan , Kumalasari Asteria Devy , Novianti Langgersari Elsari , Kendhawati Lenny , Noer Afra Hafny , Ninin Retno Hanggarani
Published: September 2021

COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people around the globe. Countries, including Indonesia, implemented large-scale social restrictions. Since marriage is found to be beneficial to people’s quality of life (QoL), the study aimed to examine the QoL of married people in Indonesia during a large-scale social restriction of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online cross-sectional survey using Qualtrics was conducted in June 2020. Respondents’ sociodemographic data, spouse data (as reported by the respondents), and pandemic-related data were collected, followed by QoL data, measured by WHQOOL-BREF. WHOQL-BREF consists of 26 questions grouped into four domains: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H and Spearman correlation analyses were employed to compare QoL between groups of sociodemographic characteristics. In total, 603 respondents were recruited. The respondents’ mean age is 35.3 years (SD = 7.61), most are females (82%), bachelor degree graduate (95%), Islam (78%), employed (69%), and assigned to work from home during the pandemic (76%). Married men reported better QoL in almost all domains than women; employed respondents reported higher QoL scores than unemployed; higher educated respondents reported higher QoL than those with lower education; respondents with higher income reported higher QoL than those with lower income. We found significant positive correlations between the QoL scores and age, spouse’s age, and marriage length, although they were considered small. Compared to Indonesian population normative scores pre-pandemic, our sample reported no difference in physical and social domains, lower in the psychological domain, but higher in the environmental domain. Indonesian married people, especially women, those with low level of education, currently out of work, and below-average financial condition are the ones who reported worse quality of life during the lockdown. These results can help direct the Indonesian government efforts in dealing with psychosocial problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for married couples.
Analysis of electric cigarette liquid effect on mouse brain tumor growth through EGFR and ERK activation
Authors: Kwon Hyung Joon , Oh Young Taek , Park Saewhan , Kim Sung Soo , Park Jinju , Yin Jinlong , Hong Jun Hee , Kim Chan Il , Ryu Haseo , Park Jong Bae , Lim Min Kyung
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Recently, electric cigarettes with liquid (e-liquid) were introduced as an alternative to tobacco smoking. They were promoted as possible cessation aids and were considered to be potentially less harmful than traditional tobacco-based cigarettes. However, there is little information on the toxicants present in e-liquids and their possible carcinogenic effects.

Methods

Western blot analysis was performed to identify the protein levels of cancer progression related signal transducers. Patient-derived brain tumor cells (CSC2) were injected into mouse brains and tumor growth was then observed by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of the whole brain. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and Immunofluorescence staining were performed to study the expression of pEGFR and pERK.

Results

Western blotting revealed that e-liquids increased pEGFR and pERK expression in a dose dependent manner. Animal experiments revealed that the e-liquid treated group had accelerated tumor growth and poor prognosis compared to the vehicle group. Histological staining showed activation of pEGFR and pERK in the e-liquid treated group.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that e-liquid activates pEGFR and pERK, leading to accelerated brain tumor growth and poor prognosis.
The significance of pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Borneo peat core for the reconstruction of fire history
Authors: Kong Sher-Rine , Yamamoto Masanobu , Shaari Hasrizal , Hayashi Ryoma , Seki Osamu , Mohd Tahir Norhayati , Fadzil Muhammad Fais , Sulaiman Abdullah
Published: September 2021

The reconstruction of fire history is essential to understand the palaeoclimate and human history. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been extensively used as a fire marker. In this work, the distribution of PAHs in Borneo peat archives was investigated to understand how PAHs reflect the palaeo-fire activity. In total, 52 peat samples were analysed from a Borneo peat core for the PAH analysis. Pyrogenic PAHs consist of 2–7 aromatic rings, some of which have methyl and ethyl groups. The results reveal that the concentration of pyrogenic PAHs fluctuated with the core depth. Compared to low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs, the high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs had a more similar depth variation to the charcoal abundance. This finding also suggests that the HMW PAHs were mainly formed at a local fire near the study area, while the LMW PAHs could be transported from remote locations.
Modelling the effects of the repellent scent marks of pollinators on their foraging efficiency and the plant-pollinator community
Authors: Verrier Elise , Baudry Emmanuelle , Bessa-Gomes Carmen
Published: September 2021

Pollinator insects forage in complex and unpredictable resource landscapes, often using social information from congeneric individuals to acquire knowledge about their environment. It has long been recognized that this process allows them to exploit floral resources more efficiently and thus increase individual fitness. However, by creating correlations between the behaviors of pollinators within a population, this could also indirectly influence the entire plant-pollinator community. One type of social information used by pollinators is the scent mark left on the corolla of flowers by previous visitors, which can be used as a cue to avoid recently depleted resources. We developed a spatially explicit agent-based model to examine the effects, at both individual and community levels, of pollinators using these scent marks. The model simulates a population of pollinators foraging on flowers in a continuous 2D space in which we can vary the density of pollinators. We showed that the use of scent marks as a source of information significantly increased the foraging efficiency of pollinators except when competition between pollinators was very low. At the community level, this also resulted in a marked homogenization between floral resources within the landscape: in the absence of scent marks, the coefficient of variation of the remaining nectar quantity per flower strongly increased with greater pollinator competition, but it remained low at all levels of competition when scent marks were used by the pollinators. Finally, the use of scent marks markedly decreased the number of pollinator flower visits, especially at high levels of pollinator competition, which can potentially reduce the pollination service.
Is impaired energy production a novel insight into the pathogenesis of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to biallelic variants in ALDH7A1?
Authors: Minenkova Anastasia , Jansen Erwin E. W. , Cameron Jessie , Barto Rob , Hurd Thomas , MacNeil Lauren , Salomons Gajja S. , Mercimek-Andrews Saadet
Published: September 2021

Background

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is due to biallelic variants inALDH7A1(PDE-ALDH7A1).ALDH7A1encodes α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase in lysine catabolism. We investigated the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism and energy production pathways in human PDE-ALDH7A1and its knock-outaldh7a1zebrafish model.

Methods

We measured GABA pathway, and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites and electron transport chain activities in patients with PDE-ALDH7A1and in knock-outaldh7a1zebrafish.

Results

We report results of three patients with PDE-ALDH7A1: low paired complex I+II and complex II+III and individual complex IV activities in muscle biopsy in patient 1 (likely more severe phenotype); significantly elevated CSF glutamate in the GABA pathway and elevated CSF citrate, succinate, isocitrate and α-ketoglutarate in the TCA cycle in patient 3 (likely more severe phenotype); and normal CSF GABA pathway and TCA cycle metabolites on long-term pyridoxine therapy in patient 2 (likely milder phenotype). All GABA pathway metabolites (γ-hydroxybutyrate, glutamine, glutamate, total GABA, succinic semialdehyde) and TCA cycle metabolites (citrate, malate, fumarate, isocitrate, lactate) were significantly low in the homozygous knock-outaldh7a1zebrafish compared to the wildtype zebrafish. Homozygous knock-outaldh7a1zebrafish had decreased electron transport chain enzyme activities compared to wildtype zebrafish.

Discussion

We report impaired electron transport chain function, accumulation of glutamate in the central nervous system and TCA cycle dysfunction in human PDE-ALDH7A1and abnormal GABA pathway, TCA cycle and electron transport chain in knock-outaldh7a1zebrafish. Central nervous system glutamate toxicity and impaired energy production may play important roles in the disease neuropathogenesis and severity in human PDE-ALDH7A1.
Branched chain fatty acid synthesis drives tissue-specific innate immune response and infection dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Chen Xi , Teoh Wei Ping , Stock Madison R. , Resko Zachary J. , Alonzo Francis
Published: September 2021

Fatty acid-derived acyl chains of phospholipids and lipoproteins are central to bacterial membrane fluidity and lipoprotein function. Though it can incorporate exogenous unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes branched chain fatty acids (BCFA), not UFA, to modulate or increase membrane fluidity. However, both endogenous BCFA and exogenous UFA can be attached to bacterial lipoproteins. Furthermore, S. aureus membrane lipid content varies based upon the amount of exogenous lipid in the environment. Thus far, the relevance of acyl chain diversity within the S. aureus cell envelope is limited to the observation that attachment of UFA to lipoproteins enhances cytokine secretion by cell lines in a TLR2-dependent manner. Here, we leveraged a BCFA auxotroph of S. aureus and determined that driving UFA incorporation disrupted infection dynamics and increased cytokine production in the liver during systemic infection of mice. In contrast, infection of TLR2-deficient mice restored inflammatory cytokines and bacterial burden to wildtype levels, linking the shift in acyl chain composition toward UFA to detrimental immune activation in vivo. In in vitro studies, bacterial lipoproteins isolated from UFA-supplemented cultures were resistant to lipase-mediated ester hydrolysis and exhibited heightened TLR2-dependent innate cell activation, whereas lipoproteins with BCFA esters were completely inactivated after lipase treatment. These results suggest that de novo synthesis of BCFA reduces lipoprotein-mediated TLR2 activation and improves lipase-mediated hydrolysis making it an important determinant of innate immunity. Overall, this study highlights the potential relevance of cell envelope acyl chain repertoire in infection dynamics of bacterial pathogens.
Endemism in flora of Northeastern-Transbaikalia orobiome
Authors: Bocharnikov M. V.
Published: September 2021

The characteristic of floristic diversity’s endemism of vascular plants is given for Northeastern Transbaikaliaorobiome. The summary level of species diversity’s endemism is defined as well as comparative evaluation of endemismis given in different altitudinal floristic complexes and in connection with the geography of botanical diversity reflectedin three variants of orobiome. The ecological and geographic patterns in endemism are identified through altitudinal-beltstructure.
Listera ovata in the conditions of forest and meadow ecotones of the southern taiga
Authors: Egorova N. Yu. , Suleimanova V. N.
Published: September 2021

Data on the vital structure of the cenopopulation of the rare species from the family Orchidaceae Juss –Listera ovata (L.) R. Br. in the conditions of ecotonic type of habitat has been given. The prevalence of individuals withthe highest class of vitality in the vital spectrum was revealed – 40 %. The studied cenopopulation belongs to a thrivingvital type, and its state at the time of research is not of concern.
The change in vegetation of the floodplain’s natural communities in the course of the middle Oka under different anthropogenic pressure
Authors: Egorova V. N.
Published: September 2021

This article examines the long-term influence of the anthropogenic pressure complex on the floodplaincommunities of the Middle Oka. It has been established that as a result of prolonged application of high doses of mineralfertilizers during the change in the eco-topic conditions of the floodplain landscape, in connection with the interruptionof the regimes within the floodplain and alluviality, a pivotal change occurs in the structure of the plant communities under all analysed parameters.
Parasitic micromycetes of the Poaceae family in the Chui Valley and the northern slope of the Kirghiz ridge
Authors: Mosolova S. N. , Bavlankulova K. D
Published: September 2021

The article presents data on parasitic micromycetes on representatives of Poaceae family. On cultivatedand wild plants of 26 genera of the Poaceae family in the Chui valley and on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz mountainrange 66 species of parasitic fungi from 25 genera have been registered, many of which cause great economic losses.Marsupial mushrooms are represented by 30 species from 17 genera of 3 classes; Dothideomycetes, Sordariomycetes andLeotiomycetes. Basidial fungi constitute 36 species from 8 genera of 2 classes; Ustilagomycetes, Pucciniomycetes. Themost susceptible fungal diseases are wild cereals: Agropyrum – 12 species of fungi, Poa – 12, Dactylis – 9, Bromus – 8,Festuca – 7. Representatives of the genera Agrostis, Cynodon, Eremopyrum, Stipa, Taenistherum, Trisetum are affectedby 1–2 species of fungi.
Assessment of the state of coenopopulations Neottianthe cucullata (L.) Schlechter in the Kasmalinsky stripe pine forest (Altai Krai)
Authors: Speranskaya N. Yu. , Lyashchenko A. D. , Zembrovskaya T. A.
Published: September 2021

The impact of environmental factors on the demographic characteristics of coenopopulations of Neottianthecucullata (L.) Schlechter growing on the territory of the Kasmalinsky stripe pine forest were estimated. Humidity andlight exposure are factors that have the greatest impact on the state of the population. High humidity during the growingseason has an adverse effect, the number of individuals is reduced. Neottianthe cucullata does not tolerate either fulllighting or complete shading. In general, the species has a wide ecological amplitude.
Improved Evaluation of The Wind Power Potential of a Large Offshore Wind Farm Using Four Analytical Wake Models
Authors: Hassoine Mohammed Amine , Lahlou Fouad , Addaim Adnane , Madi Abdessalam Ait
Published: September 2021

The objective of this paper is to investigate the ability of analytical wake models to estimate the wake effects between wind turbines (WTs). The interaction of multiple wakes reduces the total power output produced by a large offshore wind farm (LOFWF). This power loss is due to the effect of turbine spacing (WTS), if the WTs are too close, the power loss is very significant. Therefore, the optimization of turbine positions within the offshore wind farm requires an understanding of the interaction of wakes inside the wind farm. To better understand the wake effect, the Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farm has been studied with four wake models, Jensen, Larsen, Ishihara, and Frandsen. A comparative study of the wake models has been performed in several situations and configurations, single and multiple wakes are taken into consideration. Results from the Horns Rev1 offshore wind farm case have  been evaluated and compared to observational data, and also  with the previous studies. The power output of a row of WTs is sensitive to the wind direction. For example, if a row of ten turbines is aligned with the 270° wind direction, the full wake condition of WTs is reached and the power deficit limit predicted by Jensen model exceeds 70%. When a wind direction changes only of  10° (260° and 280°), the deficit limit reduces to 30%. The obtained results show that a significant power deficit occurs when the turbines are arranged in an aligned manner. The findings also showed that all four models gave acceptable predictions of the total power output. The comparison between the calculated and reported power output of Horns Revs 1 showed that the differences ranged from - 8.27 MW (12.49%) to 15.27 MW (23.06%) for the Larsen and Frandsen models, respectively.
Probabilistic model predictive control for extended prediction horizons
Authors: Brüdigam Tim , Teutsch Johannes , Wollherr Dirk , Leibold Marion , Buss Martin
Published: September 2021

Detailed prediction models with robust constraints and small sampling times in Model Predictive Control yield conservative behavior and large computational effort, especially for longer prediction horizons. Here, we extend and combine previous Model Predictive Control methods that account for prediction uncertainty and reduce computational complexity. The proposed method uses robust constraints on a detailed model for short-term predictions, while probabilistic constraints are employed on a simplified model with increased sampling time for long-term predictions. The underlying methods are introduced before presenting the proposed Model Predictive Control approach. The advantages of the proposed method are shown in a mobile robot simulation example.
Constrained stochastic predictive control of linear systems with uncertain communication
Authors: Hahn Jannik , Stursberg Olaf
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a scheme of model predictive control for single-loop networked control system (NCS) with probabilistically modeled communication channel and disturbances. Uncertainties of the communication network are projected onto a tailored probability for the satisfaction of state and input constraints. The proposed receding horizon control scheme uses a probabilistic terminal state and set to establish a balance between control performance and state probability distribution, while satisfying the given constraints. In addition to describing the control approach, its properties are discussed, and it is illustrated by an example.
Flachheitsbasierte Trajektorienfolgeregelung von Flachwasserwellen in einer Röhre mit bewegtem Kolben
Authors: Wurm Jens , Woittennek Frank
Published: September 2021

Der Beitrag behandelt die Folgeregelung von Flachwasserwellen in einer partiell gefüllten Röhre, in der der Flüssigkeitspegel durch einen beweglichen Kolben variiert werden kann. Zur Beschreibung der Flachwasserwellen werden die Saint-Venant-Gleichungen in Euler-Koordinaten verwendet, ein quasilineares hyperbolisches Differentialgleichungssystem zweiter Ordnung. Der Beitrag fasst bereits in Vorarbeiten erzielte Ergebnisse zur Flachheit und zum darauf basierenden Steuerungsentwurf zusammen und erweitert diese Resultate um eine einfache auf den linearisierten Modellgleichungen beruhende flachheitsbasierten Folgeregelung. Die Leistungsfähigkeit der entworfene Folgeregelung wird anhand von Simulationen und experimentellen Studien nachgewiesen.
Shi-nematic afterimages: semiocapitalism and Chinese cine-cities
Authors: Fleming David H. , Harrison Simon
Published: September 2021

In this essay, we revisit our interdisciplinary approach to the “becoming-cinema” of Chinese life and cities in the contemporary era, while critically revisiting our notion of “shi-nema” (which combines the Chinese concept of “shi” (势) with a detoured notion of “cinematicity”) which we forward as a provocative “image for thought” that explodes the concerns of modern film studies. Revisiting our multi-scalar fractal method, on this outing we specifically engage with a nexus of new semiocapitalist images and urban sites/sights that foreground how rapidly the psychogeographic circumstances in post-socialist Chinese cine-cities evolve and mutate. Our essay opens with a fresh film-philosophy conceptualisation of “afterimages”, blending cinematic, city and conceptual varieties before moving on to critically engage with a new constellation of interviews and images drawn from Chinese film, television, streaming platforms, social media and commercial real estate apps.
Exfoliated Bi2Te3nanoparticle suspensions and films: morphological and nonlinear optical characterization
Authors: Ganeev Rashid A. , Popov V. S. , Zvyagin A. I. , Lavrentyev N. A. , Mirofyanchenko A. E. , Mirofyanchenko E. V. , Shuklov I. A. , Ovchinnikov O. V. , Ponomarenko V. P. , Razumov V. F.
Published: September 2021

Bismuth telluride nanoparticles (NPs) attract attention due to the growth of sensitivity of the Bi2Te3NPs-containing registrars in the near- and mid-infrared ranges. We describe the synthesis and characterization of these structures and analyze the low-order nonlinear optical properties of the colloidal suspensions and thin films containing Bi2Te3NPs using 1064 and 532 nm, 10 ns pulses. Colloidal Bi2Te3NPs demonstrate saturable absorption and positive nonlinear refraction (saturation intensity 7 × 108 W cm−2, nonlinear absorption coefficientβSA = −7 × 10−8 cm W−1, nonlinear refractive indexγ = 9 × 10−12 cm2 W−1), while at stronger excitation by 532 nm, 10 ns pulses the reverse saturable absorption dominates over other nonlinear optical processes. We achieved significant growth of the nonlinear optical parameters of the thin films containing these NPs (film thicknessl = 60 nm,βSA = −1.2 × 10−4 cm W−1,γ = 5 × 10−7 cm2 W−1in the case of 532 nm probe radiation andβ = −5 × 10−5 cm W−1,γ = 6 × 10−8 cm2 W−1in the case of 1064 nm probe radiation) compared with colloidal Bi2Te3NPs and discuss the observed peculiarities of the nonlinear response of Bi2Te3nanostructures.
Bound states in the continuum in strong-coupling and weak-coupling regimes under the cylinder – ring transition
Authors: Solodovchenko Nikolay , Samusev Kirill , Bochek Daria , Limonov Mikhail
Published: September 2021

Bound states in the continuum (BIC) have been at the forefront of research in optics and photonics over the past decade. It is of great interest to study the effects associated with quasi-BICs in the simplest structures, where quasi-BICs are very pronounced. An example is a dielectric cylinder, and in a number of works, quasi-BICs have been studied both in single cylinders and in structures composed of cylinders. In this work, we studied the properties of quasi-BICs during the transition from a homogeneous dielectric cylinder in an air environment to a ring with narrow walls while increasing the diameter of the inner air cylinder gradually. The results demonstrate the quasi-BIC crossover from the strong-coupling to the weak-coupling regime, which manifests itself in the transition from the avoided crossing of branches to their intersection with the quasi-BIC being preserved on only one straight branch. In the regime of strong-coupling and quasi-BIC, three waves interfere in the far-field zone: two waves corresponding to the resonant modes of the structure and the wave scattered by the structure as a whole. The validity of the Fano resonance concept is discussed since it describes the interference of only two waves under weak coupling conditions.
Mechanisms, influencing factors, and applications of electrohydrodynamic jet printing
Authors: Cai Shuxiang , Sun Yalin , Wang Zhen , Yang Wenguang , Li Xiangyu , Yu Haibo
Published: September 2021

E-jet printing is a micro- and nano-manufacturing technique that utilizes electric field-induced fluid jet printing for achieving better control and resolution than traditional jet printing processes. In addition to high printing resolution, E-jet printing has advantages in some aspects such as wide material applicability, which has been successfully applied in numerous applications that include sensors, transistors, tissue engineering scaffolds, and photonic devices. This article reviews the electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) printing technology, which mainly relies on the principle of electrohydrodynamic-induced fluid movement. At the same time, the process of jet formation and droplet deposition is described. The parameters, nozzle design, and ink characteristics of the jet printing process are summarized. Then, a number of concrete applications based on E-jet printing processes are described in this article. Finally, the future development of this technology has been prospected.
Development and characterization of bioglass incorporated plasma electrolytic oxidation layer on titanium substrate for biomedical application
Authors: Sukrey Nur Athirah , Rizwan Muhammad , Bushroa Abd Razak , Salleh Siti Zuliana , Basirun Wan Jefrey
Published: September 2021

In this research, the growth of bioglass (BG) (45S5) incorporated oxide layer via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method was studied with respect to different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 M). The voltage response during the deposition process was highly dependent on the electrolyte concentration. Large sparks were recorded at the lowest electrolyte concentration. The result also showed that the increment of electrolyte concentration improved the thickness and mechanical properties of BG-coated pure titanium (TI) surfaces via the PEO process. However, the morphological investigation showed that the coating formation and the uniformity of coating distribution are dependent on the optimum concentration of the electrolyte. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the PEO method in producing a uniform bio-functional coating for biomedical applications.
Capacidad de innovación en empresas mexicanas: mediación en la relación orientación al aprendizaje-rendimiento empresarial
Authors: Demuner Flores María del Rosario
Published: September 2021

La innovación ayuda a lidiar con entornos turbulentos; asimismo, conjuntar estratégicamente su dinamismo con el conocimiento como su antecedente intensificará el rendimiento empresarial. El objetivo fue analizar relaciones entre la orientación al aprendizaje, la capacidad de innovación y el rendimiento empresarial, así como analizar el rol de la capacidad de innovación como mediador entre orientación al aprendizaje y rendimiento en empresas mexicanas. El resultado mediante el modelado de ecuaciones estructurales (PLS-SEM) sugiere que potencializar el aprendizaje promueve la innovación y mejora el rendimiento empresarial, y que gestionar estratégicamente la capacidad de innovación influye directa e indirectamente en el rendimiento. El resultado incita a las empresas a apostar por el conocimiento para impulsar el desarrollo de la innovación y gozar de sus beneficios, da luz a las instituciones interesadas en la competitividad empresarial para continuar promoviendo el avance científico y tecnológico, además de que contribuye empíricamente a la comprensión del efecto mediador que origina la innovación.
Implementing an Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement Program During a Softball Season for Young Female Athletes
Authors: Brooks Toby , Dendy Doug
Published: September 2021

Female athletes are up to 6 times more likely than males to sustain a significant noncontact knee injury. Although many reasons for this difference have been discussed, neuromuscular variances are trainable and strength programming can reduce the risk of injury and enhance performance for such athletes. Unfortunately, although such programming exists, injury rates remain largely unchanged over the past 2 decades, meaning there is a need for practical integration. This article describes a specific plan intended to be highly practical that can be used in softball practices and games to enhance the delivery of injury prevention and sport performance training.
Effect of Coating of Carbon Nanotubes on Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites: A Review
Authors: Bedi Deepa , Sharma Sumit , Kango Saurabh , Sharma Nitin , Rakt Patel Pramod
Published: September 2021

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess superior mechanical properties in addition to other functional features. The last decade has seen rapid growth in the usage of CNTs in polymer matrix composites. This has led to the development of novel dispersion and functionalization techniques. Though the CNTs exhibit excellent properties, their use in commercial applications has been restricted by the problem of dispersion in polymers. Perfect bonding of CNTs and polymer interphase with uniform distribution of CNTs are required for fully utilizing the reinforcement effect of the CNTs. In this review, the techniques and principles of CNT dispersion and functionalization/coating have been discussed in depth. The readers will be able to further their understanding of the field of CNT-reinforced polymer composites. Functionalization of CNTs and their dispersion effects are highlighted for polymer-based composites to observe the changes that occur in their mechanical behavior. The issues that require further work include the need to develop the tools and techniques to analyze the extent of dispersion or cluster of CNTs in a matrix of polymer, the need to optimize the process variables, and the need to resolve the inconsistency among the studies involving functionalization of CNTs. Comprehensive studies are needed to determine the association between different variables, such as surface treatment, degree of functionality, conditions of processing, and thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties.
The One with All the Netflix
Authors: Nair Kartik
Published: September 2021

Workplace lawsuits bring work cultures into view by writing into the record what usually “goes without saying.” This essay examines a lawsuit filed by Canal Productions against an employee over “bingeing, loafing, and theft of time,” as well as a counter-suit filed by the employee, Chase Robinson, claiming she only binged the television show Friends while falling asleep at home. Using these suits as its case study, this article points to the methodological and political challenges that are raised in asking how, where, and when an alleged binge happened. First: In the moral and political economy of loafing, what kind of loafing is it if someone binges television at their office desk? Second: What does sleep do to accounts of bingeing? Nair argues that Robinson’s binge-sleep-stream was generating value for Netflix, for the showrunners and stars’ residual contracts, for Canal—and for her.
Ethno-Cultural Characteristics of the Educational System of Pedagogical University: Experience of Comprehension
Authors:   Voronezh State Pedagogical University, Shakurova Marina Viktorovna , Dobrynina Elena Anatolyevna ,   Voronezh state pedagogical university, Akimova Galina Mikhailovna ,   Department of Education Science and Youth Policy of the Voronezh Region
Published: September 2021

It raises the question of the necessity and importance of retaining the ethno-cultural component in the educational systems of pedagogical universities in the context of the dialectics of unification and differentiation, originality, as well as the specifics of dual professionalization in the educational process of a pedagogical university. The purpose of the article is to consider the ethno-cultural conditionality of the educational system of a pedagogical university, to justify the relevance and ambiguity of retaining the ethno-cultural characteristics of educational systems in modern conditions. The research methodology is based on systematic, socio-cultural and ethno-cultural approaches. The methods used are a set of methods of theoretical research (analysis, synthesis, generalization, analogy, interpretation), as well as included observation, comparative analysis of information and video series presented on the websites of universities. Attention is drawn to the essential inconsistency of the characteristic “ethno-cultural”, the meaning of personal choice and the process of forming ethno-cultural identity. It is emphasized that ethno-cultural characteristics are objectively present in the educational system, since they are set both essentially (characteristics of the external environment and the environment of the university, attitudes, preferences, experience and identity of subjects) and purposefully (in the process of goal-setting and choosing system-forming activities). Due to the retention of ethno-cultural identity, it becomes possible to maintain the balance of globalization and glocalization at the level of local organizations and communities; to protect the growing personality (due to the effect of “double professionalization” of both the student mastering the teaching profession and his future pupils) from the threat of cultural marginalization and the destruction of ethnic (ethno-cultural) identity; to provide additional driving forces for the development of the educational system itself, oriented by its nature not on standardization, but on the cultivation of uniqueness.
The importance of the course "School Medicine" in the training of future teachers
Authors:   Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Aizman Roman Idelevich , Lysova Natalya Fyodorovna ,   Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Subotyalov Mikhail Albertovich ,   Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University
Published: September 2021

Introduction, problem statement. The article actualizes the problem of health of school-age children in Russia and the need for future teachers to master basic information on school medicine. The purpose of the article is to present the significance of the introduction of the discipline “School Medicine” in the educational process in a pedagogical university. Review of the scientific literature on the problem. The problem of deterioration of the state of student’s health is highlighted. The role of teachers in health-saving issues is revealed. Research methodology and methods. Theoretical research strategies included the analysis of normative legal documents, pedagogical, methodological and medical literature on the problem of preserving and developing the health of the younger generation in the learning process. Empirical strategies included the development of the course “School medicine” and its testing in the educational process of the university. Research results, discussion. The content of the course “School Medicine” for the master’s degree program “Safety and Health” of the pedagogical direction is presented, the meaning of each section is revealed. The main reasons for the deterioration of the health status of students in Russia are analyzed. The article substantiates the need to organize a new level of interaction between medical-biological and psychological-pedagogical structures in educational organizations based on the ideology of a healthy lifestyle, prevention of violations and recovery. The normative documents defining the place of teachers in the organization of health-saving activities and monitoring the health of students, which are important components of the system of school medicine in educational organizations, are considered. The main issues of hygiene of children and adolescents, necessary for the development of this discipline by master’s students, are highlighted. The structure of diseases of school-age children is presented, which allows undergraduates to learn about the main deviations in the state of health of school-age children, learn to identify signs (symptoms) of the main diseases and master the techniques of their primary prevention. Conclusion. To improve the health of students, it is necessary in the future to interact with teachers who know the basics of school medicine, with doctors and social workers.
From Collegiality to Managerialism in Lithuanian Higher Education
Authors: Želvys Rimantas , Leišytė Liudvika , Pekşen Sude , Bružienė Rūta , Rose Anna-Lena
Published: September 2021

In this paper we focus on the development and academics’ perceptions of managerialism in Lithuanian higher education (HE). We systematically investigate historical changes in HE governance and policies in Lithuania and conduct an analysis of data collected through the APIKS Lithuania project survey of academics at Lithuanian public universities (N=389). We find that Lithuanian HE policies shifted to a rather market-oriented paradigm. The survey results reveal that the majority of respondents perceive their university as highly managerial, which points out to high managerialism in practice in line with the policies. Based on our key findings, we discuss theoretical and practical implications.
Internationalisation of Higher Education in Central and Eastern Europe: Conceptualisation of the Definition Inside the Region
Authors: Orechova Monika
Published: September 2021

The article sets out to analyse previous research on the internationalisation in higher education in Central and Eastern Europe with a particular focus on the conceptualisation of ‘internationalisation’. While there is quite a lot of research regarding both theory and implementation of internationalisation, the majority of it is conducted in the West and the most commonly accepted definition hails from the research traditions of the Anglophone world. This literature review shows that when researchers in Central and Eastern European countries use the term ‘internationalisation’, they either refer to a policy change encouraged (or necessitated) by a supranational institution or global education discourse, or an education process through which an international or intercultural dimension is integrated into higher education.