bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart Green Prefabrication: Sustainability Performances of Industrialized Building Technologies
Authors: Gallo Paola , Romano Rosa , Belardi Elisa
Published: April 2021

There is an urgent need to increase the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of buildings. Indeed, construction has one of the lowest rates of sustainability among productive sectors, associated with high energy demand and pollutant emissions, frequent cost increase and time delays, and poor and unsafe working conditions. Building prefabrication is a construction technique that can enhance the sustainability of buildings, in terms of predictability, product and process quality, and increased safety for workers. Recently, new approaches and concepts such as Industry 4.0 (Construction 4.0) and circularity of resources emerged in the field of prefabrication to potentiate the benefits of off-site construction. In this scenario, the scope of the work is to analyze the state of the art in the field of prefabricated building technologies in the light of these innovations and to evaluate their performances from a sustainability perspective. The work has been developed in two phases: (1) analysis of 13 case studies of prefabricated technologies in Europe; (2) comparative assessment of their sustainability performances according to 21 qualitative parameters. Based on the results of the work, a set of guidelines is proposed as the outcome, i.e., suggested strategies and approaches for designers and industry professionals that can be used to enhance the sustainability of prefabrication.
Lagrangian Relaxation Based on Improved Proximal Bundle Method for Short-Term Hydrothermal Scheduling
Authors: Yan Zhiyu , Liao Shengli , Cheng Chuntian , Medellín-Azuara Josué , Liu Benxi
Published: April 2021

Short-term hydrothermal scheduling (STHS) can improve water use efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and increase economic benefits by optimizing the commitment and dispatch of hydro and thermal generating units together. However, limited by the large system scale and complex hydraulic and electrical constraints, STHS poses great challenges in modeling for operators. This paper presents an improved proximal bundle method (IPBM) within the framework of Lagrangian relaxation for STHS, which incorporates the expert system (ES) technique into the proximal bundle method (PBM). In IPBM, initial values of Lagrange multipliers are firstly determined using the linear combination of optimal solutions in the ES. Then, each time PBM declares a null step in the iterations, the solution space is inferred from the ES, and an orthogonal design is performed in the solution space to derive new updates of the Lagrange multipliers. A case study in a large-scale hydrothermal system in China is implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results in different cases indicate that IPBM is superior to standard PBM in global search ability and computational efficiency, providing an alternative for STHS.
Damage Assessment of Historical Masonry Churches Subjected to Moderate Intensity Seismic Shaking
Authors: Ruggieri Nicola
Published: April 2021

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 MW struck Cosenza (Calabria region, South Italy) and its immediate area on 24 February 2020. Although no damage was reported to ordinary masonry buildings, the ancient masonry churches suffered widespread damage. The herein article presents an analysis of the failures suffered by monumental buildings (e.g., churches) following a moderate seismic action. The contribution is based on the in situ damage observation of 14 churches, with a dating ranging from the 12th to 20th century. The study consists of a first phase, in which the different damage modes are identified, describing their causes and effects, and a second phase that correlates the damage detected to the main parameters that influence the seismic response of the churches (geometric characteristics, boundary condition, masonry and floor organization, past interventions, etc.), regardless of the state of conservation that was discrete for all buildings before the telluric event. From the rapid visual survey, the “weight” of each seismic parameter on the type of damage detected was then established. The past “retrofitting” interventions were decisive in the response of the ancient structure, with particular regard to those that made an aggravation of seismic mass and an increase in stiffness.
Users’ Evaluation of a New Web Browser Payment Interface for Facilitating the Use of Multiple Payment Systems
Authors: Tounekti Oussama , Ruiz-Martínez Antonio , Skarmeta-Gómez Antonio F.
Published: April 2021

The availability of multiple (mobile) electronic payment systems ((M)EPS) has led to the development of web browser payment interfaces that support various payment systems, facilitate the transaction, the choice of the payment system, and perform the payment. However, so far, no in-depth study on user satisfaction determinants with these interfaces has been conducted. Our work aims to cope with this issue. Thus, based on the analysis of payment literature and Google Chrome web browser (GCWB) payment interface, we propose a new web browser payment interface that considers users’ preferences to support multiple payment systems. Furthermore, we have developed a theoretical model to determine users’ preferences to support multiple payment systems. Our model is based on the extension of technology acceptance models. Finally, we evaluated both the theoretical and proposed payment interface through a survey research approach (n = 266); data were collected, and the hypotheses were tested via statistical analysis (chi-square test, regression coefficients). Our experimental results revealed that our proposed interface is accepted, easy to use, and satisfies users’ needs. The key factors for accepting a new web browser payment interface are ease of use, usefulness, security, confidentiality, privacy, payment method preferences, visual interface design, and credibility.
Persistent Airway Hyperresponsiveness Following Recovery from Infection with Pneumonia Virus of Mice
Authors: Limkar Ajinkya R. , Percopo Caroline M. , Redes Jamie L. , Druey Kirk M. , Rosenberg Helene F.
Published: April 2021

Respiratory virus infections can have long-term effects on lung function that persist even after the acute responses have resolved. Numerous studies have linked severe early childhood infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to the development of wheezing and asthma, although the underlying mechanisms connecting these observations remain unclear. Here, we examine airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) that develops in wild-type mice after recovery from symptomatic but sublethal infection with the natural rodent pathogen, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM). We found that BALB/c mice respond to a limited inoculum of PVM with significant but reversible weight loss accompanied by virus replication, acute inflammation, and neutrophil recruitment to the airways. At day 21 post-inoculation, virus was no longer detected in the airways and the acute inflammatory response had largely resolved. However, and in contrast to most earlier studies using the PVM infection model, all mice survived the initial infection and all went on to develop serum anti-PVM IgG antibodies. Furthermore, using both invasive plethysmography and precision-cut lung slices, we found that these mice exhibited significant airway hyperresponsiveness at day 21 post-inoculation that persisted through day 45. Taken together, our findings extend an important and versatile respiratory virus infection model that can now be used to explore the role of virions and virion clearance as well as virus-induced inflammatory mediators and their signaling pathways in the development and persistence of post-viral AHR and lung dysfunction.
Superiority of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry over Real-Time PCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection
Authors: Rybicka Magda , Miłosz Ewa , Bielawski Krzysztof Piotr
Published: April 2021

At present, the RT-PCR test remains the gold standard for early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence demonstrating that this technique may generate false-negative results. Here, we aimed to compare the new mass spectrometry-based assay MassARRAY® SARS-CoV-2 Panel with the RT-PCR diagnostic test approved for clinical use. The study group consisted of 168 suspected patients with symptoms of a respiratory infection. After simultaneous analysis by RT-PCR and mass spectrometry methods, we obtained discordant results for 17 samples (10.12%). Within fifteen samples officially reported as presumptive positive, 13 were positive according to the MS-based assay. Moreover, four samples reported by the officially approved RT-PCR as negative were positive in at least one MS assay. We have successfully demonstrated superior sensitivity of the MS-based assay in SARS-CoV-2 detection, showing that MALDI-TOF MS seems to be ideal for the detection as well as discrimination of mutations within the viral genome.
A Novel E2 Glycoprotein Subunit Marker Vaccine Produced in Plant Is Able to Prevent Classical Swine Fever Virus Vertical Transmission after Double Vaccination
Authors: Park Youngmin , Oh Yeonsu , Wang Miaomiao , Ganges Llilianne , Bohórquez José Alejandro , Park Soohong , Gu Sungmin , Park Jungae , Lee Sangmin , Kim Jongkook , Sohn Eun-Ju
Published: April 2021

The efficacy of a novel subunit vaccine candidate, based in the CSFV E2 glycoprotein produced in plants to prevent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vertical transmission, was evaluated. A Nicotiana benthamiana tissue culture system was used to obtain a stable production of the E2-glycoprotein fused to the porcine Fc region of IgG. Ten pregnant sows were divided into three groups: Groups 1 and 2 (four sows each) were vaccinated with either 100 μg/dose or 300 μg/dose of the subunit vaccine at 64 days of pregnancy. Group 3 (two sows) was injected with PBS. Groups 1 and 2 were boosted with the same vaccine dose. At 10 days post second vaccination, the sows in Groups 2 and 3 were challenged with a highly virulent CSFV strain. The vaccinated sows remained clinically healthy and seroconverted rapidly, showing efficient neutralizing antibodies. The fetuses from vaccinated sows did not show gross lesions, and all analyzed tissue samples tested negative for CSFV replication. However, fetuses of non-vaccinated sows had high CSFV replication in tested tissue samples. The results suggested that in vaccinated sows, the plant produced E2 marker vaccine induced the protective immunogenicity at challenge, leading to protection from vertical transmission to fetuses.
Pneumonia and Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases: The Role of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in the Era of Multi-Drug Resistance
Authors: Scelfo Chiara , Menzella Francesco , Fontana Matteo , Ghidoni Giulia , Galeone Carla , Facciolongo Nicola Cosimo
Published: April 2021

Streptococcus pneumoniae related diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in children and in the elderly population. It is transmitted to other individuals through droplets and it can spread to other parts of the human host, causing a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes, affecting between 10 and 100 cases per 100,000 people in Europe and the USA. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by this agent, pneumococcal vaccines have been developed over the years and have shown incredible effectiveness in reducing the spread of this bacterium and the development of related diseases, obtaining a significant reduction in mortality, especially in developing countries. However, considerable problems are emerging mainly due to the replacement phenomenon, multi-drug resistance, and the high production costs of conjugated vaccines. There is still a debate about the indications given by various countries to different age groups; this is one of the reasons for the diffusion of different serotypes. To cope with these problems, significant efforts have been made in the research field to further improve vaccination serotypes coverage. On the other hand, an equally important commitment by health care systems to all age group populations is needed to improve vaccination coverage.
#Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Baines Annalise , Ittefaq Muhammad , Abwao Mauryne
Published: April 2021

This study aims to understand public discussions regarding COVID-19 vaccine on Parler, a newer social media platform that recently gained in popularity. Through analyzing a random sample (n = 400) of Parler posts using the hashtags #COVID19Vaccine and #NoCovidVaccine, we use the concept of echo chambers to understand users’ discussions through a text analytics approach. Thematic analysis reveals five key themes: reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine (40%), side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (28%), population control through the COVID-19 vaccine (23%), children getting vaccinated without parental consent (5%), and comparison of other health issues with COVID-19 (2%). Textual analysis shows that the most frequently used words in the corpus were: nocovidvaccine (348); vaccine (264); covid (184); covid19 (157); and vaccines (128). These findings suggest that users adopted different terms and hashtags to express their beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Further, findings revealed that users used certain hashtags such as “echo” to encourage like-minded people to reinforce their existing beliefs on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and vaccine acceptance. These findings have implications for public health communication in attempts to correct false narratives on social media platforms. Through widely sharing the scientific findings of COVID-19 vaccine-related studies can help individuals understand the COVID-19 vaccines efficacy accurately.
The Emerging Role of Immunotherapy in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Fiste Oraianthi , Ntanasis-Stathopoulos Ioannis , Gavriatopoulou Maria , Liontos Michalis , Koutsoukos Konstantinos , Dimopoulos Meletios Athanasios , Zagouri Flora
Published: April 2021

Biliary tract cancer, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) in particular, represents a rather uncommon, highly aggressive malignancy with unfavorable prognosis. Therapeutic options remain scarce, with platinum-based chemotherapy is being considered as the gold standard for the management of advanced disease. Comprehensive molecular profiling of tumor tissue biopsies, utilizing multi-omics approaches, enabled the identification of iCC’s intratumor heterogeneity and paved the way for the introduction of novel targeted therapies under the scope of precision medicine. Yet, the unmet need for optimal care of patients with chemo-refractory disease or without targetable mutations still exists. Immunotherapy has provided a paradigm shift in cancer care over the past decade. Currently, immunotherapeutic strategies for the management of iCC are under intense research. Intrinsic factors of the tumor, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and mismatch repair (MMR) status, are simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg with regard to resistance to immunotherapy. Acknowledging the significance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in both cancer growth and drug response, we broadly discuss about its diverse immune components. We further review the emerging role of immunotherapy in this rare disease, summarizing the results of completed and ongoing phase I–III clinical trials, expounding current challenges and future directions.
Analysis of the Deviation Factors between the Actual and Test Fuel Economy
Authors: Tanishita Masayoshi , Kobayashi Takashi
Published: April 2021

The Worldwide harmonized Light duty Test Procedure saw its light first as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Global Technical Regulation in 2017. However, it remains unclear how much the deviation is between the actual and test fuel economy. In this study, we analyzed the deviation between the actual and test (JC08 and WLTC) fuel economy and examined how well regional characteristics such as average travel speed and temperature could explain the deviation using 182–1035 drivers and 19–52 car models data in Japan. As a result, (1) more than a 30% discrepancy was observed between the actual and JC08 mode test fuel economy, and the higher the test fuel economy, the larger the deviation; (2) regarding WLTC mode fuel economy, the deviation is 19% and constant regardless of the test fuel economy; (3) average travel speed and temperature can explain approximately 8% of the discrepancy.
Evaluation of Climate Change Impact on Groundwater Recharge in Groundwater Regions in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Shih-Jung , Lee Cheng-Haw , Yeh Chen-Feng , Choo Yong Fern , Tseng Hung-Wei
Published: April 2021

Climate change can directly or indirectly influence groundwater resources. The mechanisms of this influence are complex and not easily quantified. Understanding the effect of climate change on groundwater systems can help governments adopt suitable strategies for water resources. The baseflow concept can be used to relate climate conditions to groundwater systems for assessing the climate change impact on groundwater resources. This study applies the stable baseflow concept to the estimation of the groundwater recharge in ten groundwater regions in Taiwan, under historical and climate scenario conditions. The recharge rates at the main river gauge stations in the groundwater regions were assessed using historical data. Regression equations between rainfall and groundwater recharge quantities were developed for the ten groundwater regions. The assessment results can be used for recharge evaluation in Taiwan. The climate change estimation results show that climate change would increase groundwater recharge by 32.6% or decrease it by 28.9% on average under the climate scenarios, with respect to the baseline quantity in Taiwan. The impact of climate change on groundwater systems may be positive. This study proposes a method for assessing the impact of climate change on groundwater systems. The assessment results provide important information for strategy development in groundwater resources management.
Removal of Cationic Organic Dye from Aqueous Solution by Chemical and Pyrolysis Activated Ulva lactuca
Authors: M’sakni Nour Houda , Alsufyani Taghreed
Published: April 2021

Ulva lactuca has been used to remove many toxic substances from industrial wastewater. In the present study we tried to optimize the efficiency of U. lactuca as an adsorbent of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. U. lactuca was chemically treated with sulfuric acid (UL-H) and sodium hydroxide (UL-OH) and by a slow pyrolysis process (carbonization process) at high temperature T = 600 °C (UL-T) and compared to the nonactive Ulva (UL-NA) and the water insoluble substance (UL-WIS). Several spectroscopic analyses were carried out to detect the biosorption mechanisms of Ulva to remove MB in solution. The effects of different parameters on the adsorption process were studied, i.e., pH (2–10), mass concentration (1–10 g L−1), and contact time (0–120 min). The results showed that the best adsorption of MB by Ulva was at pH = 8, with 5 g L−1 of biomass at 75 min; the best adsorption capacity was 625.0 mg g−1 for UL-OH, which was able to remove more than 89% of MB compared to UL-T, whose removal rate did not exceed 5%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the presence of oxygenated functional groups with a highly porous surface. The kinetic studies confirmed that the majority of treatments follow the pseudo-second-order type. The mathematical models showed that Langmuir model is favorable to UL-OH, UL-WIS, and UL-NA. According to the experimental results, the primary treatment for U. lactuca is a promising environmentally friendly method and an economical strategy for removing MB from aqueous solution. This method can help address the growing demand for adsorbents used in environmental protection processes and the resultant increase in their price.
Prioritizing Design Parameters for Stepped Chutes and Shear Stress Distribution
Authors: Morovati Khosro , Ghaedi Hosein , Tian Fuqiang , Akbari Saeed , Homer Christopher
Published: April 2021

Stepped chutes offer high efficiency in decreasing flow velocity due to roughness; however, negative impacts may still be experienced by the receiving water body into downstream. These effects might be mitigated if geometric and hydraulic parameters governing the structure are well addressed. Herein, five influential parameters were developed, i.e., longitudinal slope S (S = tan θ), discharge (Q), pool height above steps (hp), chute width (W), and chute height (H), employing a three dimensional (3D) numerical model. Through 600 simulations, two regression models were developed for predicting depth-averaged velocity at the last step Vd (m/s) and critical length Lc (cm) at the downstream where the maximum velocity occurs, using response surface methodology (RSM) based on the mixed-level full factorial design. The prediction data obtained by developed regression models were agreeable with actual data with coefficient determination (R2) of about 0.95, highlighting the accuracy and ability of the models for the prediction of Vd and Lc. Additionally, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to prioritize the impact of the studied parameters on Vd and Lc. Results highlighted that among geometric parameters, W and S had a significant influence on Vd and Lc; however, the impact of W was more pronounced. Using a regression model for Lc, a cross section was obtained, and the shear stress distribution of the downstream was compared with that of the last step and sidewalls. The shear stress patterns showed that the maximum value shifted from the side walls to the downstream between the lower and higher slopes. Further, the longitudinal distribution of shear stress at the downstream revealed that geometric and hydraulic characteristics played a negligible role in the changing pattern of shear stress. The results of this study reveal the dynamic behavior of the given structure where different geometric options are available for structure design.
Hydrochemical Zoning and Chemical Evolution of the Deep Upper Jurassic Thermal Groundwater Reservoir Using Water Chemical and Environmental Isotope Data
Authors: Heine Florian , Zosseder Kai , Einsiedl Florian
Published: April 2021

A comprehensive hydrogeological understanding of the deep Upper Jurassic carbonate aquifer, which represents an important geothermal reservoir in the South German Molasse Basin (SGMB), is crucial for improved and sustainable groundwater resource management. Water chemical data and environmental isotope analyses of δD, δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr were obtained from groundwater of 24 deep Upper Jurassic geothermal wells and coupled with a few analyses of noble gases (3He/4He, 40Ar/36Ar) and noble gas infiltration temperatures. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three major water types and allowed a hydrochemical zoning of the SGMB, while exploratory factor analyses identified the hydrogeological processes affecting the water chemical composition of the thermal water. Water types 1 and 2 are of Na-[Ca]-HCO3-Cl type, lowly mineralised and have been recharged under meteoric cold climate conditions. Both water types show 87Sr/86Sr signatures, stable water isotopes values and calculated apparent mean residence times, which suggest minor water-rock interaction within a hydraulically active flow system of the Northeastern and Southeastern Central Molasse Basin. This thermal groundwater have been most likely subglacially recharged in the south of the SGMB in close proximity to the Bavarian Alps with a delineated northwards flow direction. Highly mineralised groundwater of water type 3 (Na-Cl-HCO3 and Na-Cl) occurs in the Eastern Central Molasse Basin. In contrast to water types 1 and 2, this water type shows substantial water-rock interaction with terrestrial sediments and increasing 40Ar/36Ar ratios, which may also imply a hydraulic exchange with fossil formation waters of overlying Tertiary sediments.
ALIENACIÓN PARENTAL A LA LUZ DE LA LEGISLACIÓN DEL ESTADO DE TABASCO, MÉXICO
Authors: Lara-Andrade Isi Verónica , Mora-Fonz Genny Guadalupe , Castellanos-Suárez Viviana
Published: April 2021

La Alienación Parental (AP) es una forma sutil de violencia que se da sobre todo con la separación o el divorcio. Desacreditación y rechazo de forma abierta o encubierta al hablar o actuar de una manera descalificante o destructiva del otro progenitor. Mientras que el Síndrome de Alienación Parental (SAP) se ha entendido como conducta de denigración o rechazo por parte del niño a un progenitor, producto de la influencia maliciosa de alguno de sus padres o incluso de terceros. El Código Civil del Estado de Tabasco, menciona en tres ocasiones la noción “alienación parental”, no como síndrome, sino a la acepción más amplia, sin que coloque a las niñas, niños y adolescentes en estado de indefensión y vulnerabilidad previendo que los padres desarrollen conductas que vayan en detrimento del o los infantes.
Mecanismos y factores asociados a la participación parental en la educación en zonas rurales
Authors: Franco Vega Ignacio
Published: April 2021

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo explorar y describir las formas en las que se manifiesta la participación de los padres en la educación escolar en zonas rurales y los factores que se asocian a ella. A través de entrevistas con familiares de estudiantes, docentes, directores de escuelas y el director de una Unidad de Gestión Educativa Local en la región de La Libertad, se genera un inventario extenso de las diversas formas a través de las cuales los padres participan de la educación de sus hijos, entre las que se encuentran el trabajo en faenas de construcción y en la preparación de desayunos escolares, y el aporte con dinero de forma directa o indirecta, o el apoyo en casa con las tareas de sus hijos. Los principales factores asociados a la participación están relacionados con la búsqueda de mejores condiciones de vida para sus hijos y con el desarrollo de sus habilidades (especialmente, en relación con la lectoescritura) para que puedan migrar a zonas urbanas y continuar su formación, idealmente, siguiendo una carrera profesional. Estos deseos de profesionalización están muchas veces acompañados de una fuerte desvaloración del estilo de vida de los propios padres de familia.
Wick technique in subscleral and subconjunctival Ologen™ implantation with trabeculectomy in patients with high risk of failure
Authors: Rajamani Muralidhar , Ramamurthy Chitra
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Ologen™ is traditionally placed subconjunctivally during trabeculectomy, which limits its area of action. Subscleral implantation of Ologen has been described involving fashioning a gutter beneath the scleral flap. This, however, would not prevent fibrosis at the margins of the scleral flap. We describe a modified technique of Ologen® placement that has the potential to prevent scarring at the margins of the flap withoutthe need to fashion a gutter.

Materials and methods: The study involved a retrospective review of patients who had undergone trabeculectomy with Ologen implantation by the wick technique between January 2015 and August 2016. Patients judged to be at high risk of trabeculectomy failure were operated with this technique.

Results: A total of six patients with median age of 38.5 years were included in the study. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 30.8 ± 7.3 mmHg, which reduced to 10.6 ± 2.2 mmHg 18 months after surgery. By 18 months postoperative, all patients had IOP in the low teens (two patients required additional topical medication). One patient had two episodes of hypotony that responded to steroids and cycloplegics. Another patient required two needlings to bring IOP under control. No other complications were noted. Ultrasound biomicroscopy done 3 months after surgery showed two pieces of Ologen in one patient.

Conclusions: The results of our study show that this technique may be used effectively in patients at high risk of trabeculectomy failure. Further studies in a larger number of patients with diverse high-risk conditions are required before this technique is recommended for general use.
A City Divided: “Fragmented” Urban and Literary Space in 20th-Century Buenos Aires
Authors:   University of California, Berkeley, D'Aprile Marianela
Published: April 2021

When analyzing the state of Latin American cities, particularly large ones like Buenos Aires, São Paolo and Riode Janeiro, scholars of urbanism and sociology often lean heavily on the term “fragmentation.” Through the 1980s and 1990s, the term was quickly and widely adopted to describe the widespread state of abutment between seemingly disparate urban conditions that purportedly prevented Latin American cities from developing into cohesive wholes and instead produced cities in pieces, fragments. This term, “fragmentation,” along with the idea of a city composed of mismatching parts, was central to the conception of Buenos Aires by its citizens and immortalized by the fiction of Esteban Echeverría, Julio Cortázar and César Aira. The idea that Buenos Aires is composed of discrete parts has been used throughout its history to either proactively enable or retroactively justify planning decisions by governments on both ends of the political spectrum. The 1950s and 60s saw a series of governments whose priorities lay in controlling the many newcomers to the city via large housing projects. Aided by the perception of the city as fragmented, they were able to build monster-scale developments in the parts of the city that were seen as “apart.” Later, as neoliberal democracy replaced socialist and populist leadership, commercial centers in the center of the city were built as shrines to an idealized Parisian downtown, separate from the rest of the city. The observations by scholars of the city that Buenos Aires is composed of multiple discrete parts, whether they be physical, economic or social, is accurate. However, the issue here lies not in the accuracy of the assessment but in the word chosen to describe it. The word fragmentation implies that there was a “whole” at once point, a complete entity that could be then broken into pieces, fragments. Its current usage also implies that this is a natural process, out of the hands of both planners and inhabitants. Leaning on the work of Adrián Gorelik, Pedro Pírez and Marie-France Prévôt-Schapira, and utilizing popular fiction to supplement an understanding of the urban experience, I argue that fragmentation, more than a naturally occurring phenomenon, is a fabricated concept that has been used throughout the twentieth century and through today to make all kinds of urban planning projects possible.
Vertical Urbanism: Re-conceptualizing the Compact City
Authors:   University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Lin Zhongjie
Published: April 2021

Although the term “compact city” appears frequently in academic accounts on sustainable urbanism as well as in professional descriptions of planning projects, it is often used in a general manner to indicate such ideas as high density, mixed uses, walkability, and transit oriented development, all linking to the common principles of New Urbanism. Unfortunately this misses some important points, as the concept of compact city possesses the power to generate dynamic urban forms, utilize cutting-edge technologies, address pressing environmental issues, and respond to distinctive geographical and cultural contexts, thus challenging conventional notions of urbanism. The awareness of the limitations of the current practice leads to the introduction of Vertical Urbanism as an alternative discourse on the compact city responding proactively to the state of contemporary metropolises characterized by density, complexity, and verticality. The reinvented concept of Vertical Urbanism moves away from the Modernist notion promoting tall buildings as dominant urban typology to explore physically interactive and socially engaged forms addressing the city as a multi-layered and multi-dimensioned organism. Informed by complex systems ranging from underground mass transit to futuristic ecology of vertical urban farm, this experimental urban design approach envisions a holistic organization of infrastructure, space, and ecology ina three-dimensional framework. This paper derives from a series of urban design research studios under the common theme of Vertical Urbanism conducted in four different cities in the United States and China during 2010-2014 and recently shifted to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. These studio stook on various sites and design questions such as urban infrastructure, transit system, and urban waterfront redevelopments, testing the concept in different geographic and cultural settings. Sensitivity to locality in both ecological and cultural terms was emphasized across these studios although the schemes often engaged speculative and innovative modes of design production. This paper examines a number of issues around the urban design approach of Vertical Urbanism, including the drive for density and vitality, the relationship between horizontal and vertical dimensions, space of flow and scalar shift, as well as ecological and social adaptability of mega forms; but above all, it tries to explore the capacity of global urban tactics in providing localized design solutions.
Urban Farming: Localizing Narratives
Authors:   Washington State University, Rahmani Ayad
Published: April 2021

This paper will look at the historical and contemporary narratives behind urban farming. It will start with the transcendentalists (for this short paper limited to Thoreau) and their manner of seeing in the return to the land the capacity for social reform, and end with an examination of the ideas that have not only blurred the distinction between the urban and the rural, but that in doing so have spawned a new awareness and appreciation in local culture, including local food and slow food movements. Today community gardens across the United States are busy forging relations with nearby outfits, including restaurants and schools, serving as stewards of social, economic and intellectual growth.
Maquiladoras, movimientos de capitales y migración
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Veltmeyer Henry
Published: April 2021

La actual ola de globalización libera el comercio internacional y los movimientos de capitales, no los movimientos de mano de obra. Los economistas del desarrollo consideran que la globalización ocurre a expensas del Estado-nación, que pierde la capacidad de dictar y ejercer el poder político, determinar y legislar la política macroeconómica, ante el poder de los gobiernos y organizaciones internacionales. Esto no fue así en el caso del trabajo. Los países del Norte son los principales receptores de flujos migratorios, refugiados económicos ( familias y personas que buscan mejorar su empleo e ingresos) y refugiados políticos (personas que migran por razones políticas). Los gobiernos de los países receptores no han renunciado al poder de regular el flujo de migrantes; tampoco han sido presionados para hacerlo, como lo han sido en el caso del capital y el comercio, pues el Banco Mundial, el Fondo Monetario Internacional y la Organización Mundial del Comercio han impuesto “la reforma estructural” en la política gubernamental.
BILATERAL GIANT ADRENAL MYELOLIPOMA: A RARE CASE OCCURRENCE
Authors: Dey Soumya , Sarfaraj S M , Datta Chhanda
Published: April 2021

Myelolipoma is a combined lesion involving mature adipose tissue and bone marrow elements. Adrenal gland is the commonest site of
myelolipoma. Usually these lesions are asymptomatic, unilateral and small in size. Occasionally myelolipomas become enormous and
symptomatic depending on the location. Here we describe a case of bilateral giant adrenal myelolipoma presenting with abdominal pain. The case
was managed surgically without any post-operative complications.
LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR OF MORGAGNI HERNIA – A PROSPECTIVE SINGLECENTER EXPERIENCE
Authors: Akela Ankur , Kumar Singh Prashant
Published: April 2021

Morgagni hernia occurs after a congenital retrosternal diaphragmatic defect; it is a rare form of diaphragmatic hernia (1-3% of cases). In general,
this pathology is diagnosed in children; in adults it is frequently discovered in emergency or incidentally.
Methods: We prospectively evaluated a series of 6 patients admitted to department of surgery IGIMS.
Results: Out of 6 patients the laparoscopic approach was used in all cases: one conversion was recorded due to the tight adherences of the herniated
viscera (gastric, colon, epiplon). In 4 cases, the surgical cure of hernia was performed by suture and in 2 cases with prosthesis: dual mesh in one
case and polypropylene mesh in another case. We did not register morbidity and the mean postoperative stay was 4 days (range 2-6 days).
Conclusions: Hernia Morgagni betrays a rare pathology. The most common is asymptomatic but in complicated cases it is a cause of acute surgical
abdomen. Surgical treatment is indicated even for asymptomatic cases due to serious complications Morgagni hernia may develop. The
laparoscopic approach is ideal, as reduction of viscera in the abdomen is easy and the defect will be repaired by suturing or using a prosthesis,
depending on its size.
ETIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SEIZURE IN CHILDREN ADMITTED IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTHERN INDIA
Authors: Kumari Nikki , Kumar Rajesh , Saran Gopal , Jaiswal A. K.
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Convulsions are one of the most common paediatric neurological disorder worldwide. It could either be idiopathic or secondary to
disease process of brain. Incidence of convulsion is highest among children younger than 3 yrs.
Aims And Objectives: Current study was done to know the proportion of idiopathic epilepsy and secondary seizures. It further aimed to identify
various aetiologies of convulsion in children between 1month to15years of age.
Materials And Methods: It was a descriptive study conducted in patients admitted in emergency and indoor of department of paediatrics, Patna
Medical College and Hospital, over a period of 2 years from October 2014 to September 2016. Children from 1 month to 15 years of age with
seizures were studied to know the various aetiologies and proportion of idiopathic or secondary seizures.
Results: During study period, 200 children between ages 1 month to 15 years, with convulsion, were enrolled. Seizures were found to be more
common in males (67.5%). Secondary seizures were present in 90% cases and idiopathic epilepsy accounted only for 10%. GTCS was the
commonest type of seizure both in idiopathic epilepsy (100%) as well as in secondary seizure group (87.77%). Family history of seizure disorders
was present in 13% of cases. Developmental delay was found in 11.5% cases, whereas 88.5% children were developmentally normal. Infective
aetiologies were the commonest cause followed by febrile seizures. Febrile seizures were commonly seen in age group between 1yr - 5yrs
(23.75%). Hypocalcemic seizures were mostly seen in the age group of 1month to 1 year (17.5%). Japanese encephalitis virus and dengue virus as a
cause of viral meningoencephalitis were found in 10% and 5% respectively.
Conclusion: Incidence of idiopathic epilepsy was less common than secondary seizures. GTCS was the commonest seizure type. CNS infection
and febrile seizures were common causes of convulsion in this age group. Bacterial infections were the commonest CNS infections. Serum
electrolytes, lumbar puncture, neuroimaging, EEG were important tools in reaching diagnosis
A Deep Learning Approach Using Graph Convolutional Networks for Slope Deformation Prediction Based on Time-series Displacement Data
Authors: Ma Zhengjing , Mei Gang , Prezioso Edoardo , Zhang Zhongjian. , Xu Nengxiong
Published: April 2021

Slope deformation prediction is crucial for early warning of slope failure, which can prevent property damage and save human life. Existing predictive models focus on predicting the displacement of single monitoring points based on time series data, without considering spatial correlations among monitoring points, which makes it difficult to reveal the displacement changes in the entire monitoring system, and ignores the potential threats from nonselected points. To address the above problem, this paper presents a novel deep learning method for predicting the slope deformation, by considering the spatial correlations between all points in the entire displacement monitoring system. The essential idea behind the proposed method is to predict the slope deformation based on the global information (i.e., the correlated displacements of all points in the entire monitoring system), rather than based on the local information (i.e., the displacements of a specified single point in the monitoring system). In the proposed method, (1) a weighted adjacency matrix is built to interpret the spatial correlations between all points, (2) a feature matrix is assembled to store the time-series displacements of all points, and (3) one of the state-of-the-art deep learning models, i.e., T-GCN, is developed to process the above graph-structured data consisting of two matrices. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by performing predictions based on a real dataset. The proposed method can be applied to predict time-dependency information in other similar geohazard scenarios, based on time-series data collected from multiple monitoring points.
Orpha disease – FRASER syndrome (ORPHA:2052) in children: phenotype and genotype characteristics
Authors: Leviashvili J. G. , Savenkova N. D.
Published: April 2021

Fraser syndrome (OMIM # 219000; ORPHA: 2052; ICD-10: Q87.0) is a rare, disease with an autosomal recessive type of inheritance is characterized by abnormalities in the development of the eyes, kidneys, larynx, ears, and bone systems (cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, abnormalities of the kidneys, urogenital tract, and respiratory system). The article presents current literature data on the phenotypic and genotypic features of Fraser syndrome, the management of patients with new opportunities for genetic diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome, described by D. Fraser in 1962, is caused by mutations in the FRAS1, FREM2, GRIP genes. The diagnosis of the Fraser syndrome phenotype is established in the presence of the main criteria (cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, abnormalities of the urinary and respiratory system, genitals, family history indicating a closely related marriage) and secondary (congenital malformations of the nose and ears, skull ossification defects, anorectal abnormalities, umbilical hernia, etc.). Molecular genetic testing proves a rare disease, requires genetic counseling. The management of patients is carried out jointly by an ophthalmologist, an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, a nephrologist, a urologist, a maxillofacial surgeon and other specialists.
IgA nephropathy: analysis of progression in pediatric patients
Authors: Kazyra I. A. , Sukalo А. V.
Published: April 2021

The aim of the study was to analyze the rate of progression of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in childhood and factors affecting prognosis. The study included 54 children with a morphologically verified diagnosis of IgAN (36 boys, 18 girls) aged 2 to 17 years, who were under observation in the nephrology department of the "2nd Children's City Clinical Hospital" of the National Center for Pediatric Nephrology and Renal Replacement therapy in Minsk in the period from 2013 to 2020. The participation of deGal-IgA1, markers of T- and B-lymphocyte activation, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic molecules in the development of the disease has been shown. AG was registered in 18 of 54 (33,3 %) children, nocturnal AG in 11/43 (23,4 %), signs of cardiac remodeling in 10/49 (20,4 %). A decrease in the level of adiponectin, vitamin D, an increase in obestatin in comparison with healthy children makes it possible to attribute patients with IgAN to the risk group for the development of cardiovascular disorders, which implies the need for timely monitoring and correction. In most cases in childhood IgAN is characterized by a benign course without signs of progression. The prognostic significance of highly active nephritis, impaired renal function at the onset of the disease, T1 (tubular atrophy / interstitial fibrosis in 25–50 %) by MEST, proteinuria over 0,8 g/24 hours as risk factors for progression was shown.
Alport syndrome: our knowledge update
Authors: Aksenova M. E.
Published: April 2021

Alport syndrome is a progressive multisystem disease associated with variants in genes COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5.The syndrome is an important genetic cause of kidney failure, including women with X-linked disease. Given the unfavorable natural history of Alport nephropathy and benefit from early treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, it is necessary to change our diagnostic approach in patients with persistent glomerular hematuria and management of patients with Alport syndrome. This review presents the ethiology, pathogenesis, genotype and phenotype heterogeneity of the syndrome and expert clinical practice recommendations to enhancing early diagnosis and achieving optimal outcomes in Alport syndrome.
Vesicoureteral reflux as a manifestation of CAKUT-syndrome in children: the problem of late diagnosis
Authors: Makarova T. P. , Samoilova N. V. , Melnikova Yu. S. , Poladova L. V. , Akhmedgareeva N. V. , Takhautdinov Sh. K.
Published: April 2021

CAKUT-syndrome includes combined congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract and is a complex problem in pediatrics, requiring an interdisciplinary approach of doctors of various specialties. One of the most severe manifestations of CAKUT-syndrome is vesicoureteral reflux, which is often the main manifestation of a congenital abnormality of the kidneys and urinary tract. Structural and urodynamic disorders in the organs of the urinary system in vesicoureteral reflux can lead to the formation of reflux nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. Low-symptom clinical manifestations of reflux nephropathy make it difficult to diagnose it early. Vesicoureteral reflux leads to intrarenal reflux, repeated attacks of pyelonephritis and sclerosis of the renal tissue, which in 25-60 % of cases causes end-stage chronic renal failure due to vesicoureteral reflux. Given the absence of specific pathognomonic clinical manifestations of reflux nephropathy, laboratory indicators are of fundamental importance in the diagnosis-levels of albuminuria, leukocyturia, urinary sediment fermenturia, urine osmolarity, daily urinary excretion of β2 – microglobulin and a wide arsenal of methods for diagnosing reflux nephropathy and scarring of the renal parenchyma: ultrasound with dopplerography of the renal blood flow, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, radioisotope scanning. The imperfection of instrumental methods for visualizing the initial stages of kidney fibrosis dictates the need to develop alternative, more sensitive methods for early diagnosis of reflux nephropathy. One of the directions of this search is molecular diagnostics, which allows you to detect possible damage to the renal tissue at the subcellular level long before the clinical manifestations of pathology, personify nephroprotective therapy and prevention of reflux nephropathy. The article presents clinical observations from our own practice of late diagnosis of reflux nephropathy, in which renal pathology was first detected at stages 5 and 3 of chronic kidney disease in two boys aged 10 and 16 years, respectively, who were on inpatient treatment in the Nephrology Department of the Children's Republican clinical hospital.
THE ROLE OF INVESTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MACROECONOMICS
Authors:   Doctor of Economics, Professor, Financial University under the Government of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, BOROBOV V. N.
Published: April 2021

The scientific article reveals the essence of investment at the macroeconomic level. Investments in various fields of activity, regions, and the national economy as a whole are considered. The stages of the historical development of investment theory, the role of investment in macroeconomics, the dynamics of investment, and the prospects for investment development in Russia are described in some detail. A set of measures is proposed to stabilize the economy and improve the investment climate.