bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gd/Y Hydroxide Nanosheets as Highly Efficient T1/T2 MRI Contrast Agents
Authors: Li Xin , Xue Zhenhai , Xia Jinfeng , Zhou Guohong , Jiang Danyu , Dai Mengting , Wang Wenhui , Miu Jiayan , Heng Yuerong , Yu Cuiyan , Li Qiang
Published: December 2020

To develop highly efficient T1/T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs), Gd/Y hydroxide nanosheets were synthesized by a simple exfoliation method from layer compounds using sodium polyacrylate (PAA) as a dispersant and stabilizer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results revealed the excellent performance of monolayer nanosheets with thicknesses of up to 1.5 nm. The MRI results of the T1 and T2 relaxation times showed that all of the Gd/Y hydroxide nanosheets have high longitudinal and transverse relaxivities (r1 and r2). In particular, the 10% Gd-LRH nanosheets exhibited excellent MRI performance (r1 = 103 mM−1 s−1, r2 = 372 mM−1 s−1), which is rarely reported. Based on the relationship between the structure of 10% Gd-LRH nanosheets and their MRI performances, and the highly efficient MRI of spaced Gd atoms in the nanosheets, a special model to explain the outstanding MRI performance of the 10% Gd-LRH nanosheets is suggested. The cytotoxicity assessment of the 10% Gd-LRH nanosheets, evaluated by CCK-8 assays on HeLa cells, indicated no significant cytotoxicity. This study presents a significant advancement in 2D nanomaterial MRI CA research, with Gd-doped nanosheets positioned as highly efficient T1/T2 MRI CA candidates.
Mechanism of Nano-Structuring Manipulation of the Crystallization Temperature of Superlattice-like [Ge8Sb92/Ge]3 Phase-Change Films
Authors: Qiu Qingqian , Wu Pengzhi , Hu Yifeng , Zhai Jiwei , Lai Tianshu
Published: December 2020

Superlattice-like (SLL) phase-change film is considered to be a promising phase-change material because it provides more controllabilities for the optimization of multiple performances of phase-change films. However, the mechanism by which SLL structure affects the properties of phase-change films is not well-understood. Here, four SLL phase-change films [Ge8Sb92(15 nm)/Ge (x nm)]3 with different x are fabricated. Their behaviors of crystallization are investigated by measuring sheet resistance and coherent phonon spectroscopy, which show that the crystallization temperature (TC) of these films increases anomalously with x, rather than decreases as the interfacial effects model predicted. A new stress effect is proposed to explain the anomalous increase in TC with x. Raman spectroscopy reveals that Raman shifts of all phonon modes in SLL films deviate from their respective standard Raman shifts in stress-free crystalline films, confirming the presence of stress in SLL films. It is also shown that tensile and compressive stresses exist in Ge and Ge8Sb92 layers, respectively, which agrees with the lattice mismatch between the Ge and Ge8Sb92 constituent layers. It is also found that the stress reduces with increasing x. Such a thickness dependence of stress can be used to explain the increase in crystallization temperature of four SLL films with x according to stress-enhanced crystallization. Our results reveal a new mechanism to affect the crystallization behaviors of SLL phase-change films besides interfacial effect. Stress and interfacial effects actually coexist and compete in SLL films, which can be used to explain the reported anomalous change in crystallization temperature with the film thickness and cycle number of periods in SLL phase-change films.
Dietary Intake of Red Meat, Processed Meat, and Poultry and Risk of Colorectal Cancer and All-Cause Mortality in the Context of Dietary Guideline Compliance
Authors: Mejborn Heddie , Møller Sanne Pagh , Thygesen Lau Caspar , Biltoft-Jensen Anja
Published: December 2020

Meat intake has been linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and mortality. However, diet composition may affect the risks. We aimed to estimate associations between red and processed meat and poultry intake and risk of CRC and all-cause mortality and if they are modified by dietary quality using Cox regression analyses. Baseline dietary data were obtained from three survey rounds of the Danish National Survey on Diet and Physical Activity. Data on CRC and all-cause mortality were extracted from national registers. The cohort was followed from date of survey interview—or for CRC, from age 50 years, whichever came last, until 31 December 2017. Meat intake was analysed categorically and continuously, and stratified by dietary quality for 15–75-year-old Danes at baseline, n 6282 for CRC and n 9848 for mortality analyses. We found no significant association between red and processed meat intake and CRC risk. For poultry, increased CRC risk for high versus low intake (HR 1.62; 95%CI 1.13–2.31) was found, but not when examining risk change per 100 g increased intake. We showed no association between meat intake and all-cause mortality. The association between meat intake and CRC or mortality risk was not modified by dietary quality.
Effect of Ingestion of Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Substrate Oxidation during Aerobic Exercise Could Depend on Sex Difference in Middle-Aged Sedentary Persons
Authors: Nosaka Naohisa , Tsujino Shougo , Honda Kazumitsu , Suemitsu Hiromi , Kato Kazuhiko , Kondo Kazuo
Published: December 2020

Fat oxidation (FAO) during aerobic exercise and whole-body FAO via lipid intake are thought to be important for the maintenance of health, such as the prevention of type 2 diabetes and obesity in sedentary persons in their 40s and 50s. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) ingestion has been attracting attention. However, the effects of difference of sex and the composition of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are unclear, so we examined the effects of these factors on FAO during aerobic exercise. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-arm, within-participants crossover trial. FAO during low- to moderate-intensity exercise was compared when octanoate-rich MCTs (C8R), decanoate-rich MCTs (C10R), or carbohydrate (control) was ingested. Three 2-week interventions were separated by two 2-week washout periods. An increase of FAO during exercise after the C8R diet was found in males, but not in females. An increase of carbohydrate oxidation (CAO) and oxygen uptake during exercise after the C10R diet was found in females, but not in males. In a pooled estimate of the effect of MCTs (C8R and C10R) in women and men, FAO increased during exercise. In conclusion, short-term ingestion of MCTs by middle-aged sedentary persons could increase FAO during aerobic exercise compared to carbohydrate ingestion, but the enhancing effect of MCTs on substrate utilization and oxygen uptake might vary, depending on sex and the composition of MCFAs.
Mexican Ganoderma Lucidum Extracts Decrease Lipogenesis Modulating Transcriptional Metabolic Networks and Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Mice Fed with a High-Cholesterol Diet
Authors: Romero-Córdoba Sandra L. , Salido-Guadarrama Ivan , Meneses María E. , Cosentino Giulia , Iorio Marilena V. , Tagliabue Elda , Torres Nimbe , Sánchez-Tapia Mónica , Bonilla Myrna , Castillo Ivan , Petlacalco Beatriz , Tovar Armando R. , Martínez-Carrera Daniel
Published: December 2020

Prevention of hyperlipidemia and associated diseases is a health priority. Natural products, such as the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Gl), have demonstrated hypocholesterolemic, prebiotic and antidiabetic properties. However, the underlying transcriptomic mechanisms by which Gl exerts bioactivities are not completely understood. We report a comprehensive hepatic and renal transcriptome profiling of C57BL/6 mice under the consumption of a high-cholesterol diet and two standardized Gl extracts obtained from basidiocarps cultivated on conventional substrate (Gl-1) or substrate containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; Gl-2). We showed that Gl extracts modulate relevant metabolic pathways involving the restriction of lipid biosynthesis and the enrichment of lipid degradation and secretion. The Gl-2 extract exerts a major modulation over gene expression programs showing the highest similarity with simvastatin druggable-target-genes and these are enriched more in processes related to human obesity alterations in the liver. We further show a subset of Gl-modulated genes correlated with Lactobacillus enrichment and the reduction of circulating cholesterol-derived fats. Moreover, Gl extracts induce a significant decrease of macrophage lipid storage, which occurs concomitantly with the down-modulation of Fasn and Elovl6. Collectively, this evidence suggests a new link between Gl hypocholesterolemic and prebiotic activity, revealing thereby that standardized Mexican Gl extracts are a novel transcriptome modulator to prevent metabolic disorders associated with hypercholesterolemia.
Adipose MSCs Suppress MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Metastasis and EMT Pathways Leading to Dormancy via Exosomal-miRNAs Following Co-Culture Interaction
Authors: Mohd Ali Norlaily , Yeap Swee Keong , Ho Wan Yong , Boo Lily , Ky Huynh , Satharasinghe Dilan Amila , Tan Sheau Wei , Cheong Soon Keng , Huang Hsien Da , Lan Kuan Chun , Chiew Men Yee , Ong Han Kiat
Published: December 2020

Globally, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and it remains a substantial clinical challenge due to cancer relapse. The presence of a subpopulation of dormant breast cancer cells that survived chemotherapy and metastasized to distant organs may contribute to relapse. Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a significant role as a niche in inducing cancer cells into dormancy as well as involves in the reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) into aggressive phenotype responsible for cancer-related mortality in patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to migrate to TME and interact with cancer cells via secretion of exosome- containing biomolecules, microRNA. Understanding of interaction between MSCs and cancer cells via exosomal miRNAs is important in determining the therapeutic role of MSC in treating breast cancer cells and relapse. In this study, exosomes were harvested from a medium of indirect co-culture of MCF7-luminal and MDA-MB-231-basal breast cancer cells (BCCs) subtypes with adipose MSCs. The interaction resulted in different exosomal miRNAs profiles that modulate essential signaling pathways and cell cycle arrest into dormancy via inhibition of metastasis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Overall, breast cancer cells displayed a change towards a more dormant-epithelial phenotype associated with lower rates of metastasis and higher chemoresistance. The study highlights the crucial roles of adipose MSCs in inducing dormancy and identifying miRNAs-dormancy related markers that could be used to identify the metastatic pattern, predict relapses in cancer patients and to be potential candidate targets for new targeted therapy.
Optimized Icariin Cubosomes Exhibit Augmented Cytotoxicity against SKOV-3 Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Fahmy Usama A. , Fahmy Omar , Alhakamy Nabil A.
Published: December 2020

Clinical application of icariin (ICA) is limited, despite its activity against cancer growth, because of the low solubility of ICA in an aqueous environment. Therefore, the present study attempted to develop and optimize ICA-loaded cubosome delivery and to explore its efficacy and possible mechanism of action against ovarian cancer. The optimization of the cubosome formulation was performed using the Box‒Behnken statistical design; during the characterization, the particle sizes were in the range of 73 to 183 nm and the entrapment efficiency was 78.3% to 97.3%. Optimized ICA-loaded cubosomes (ICA-Cubs) exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptotic potential, compared with ICA-raw, against ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV-3 and Caov 3). The optimized ICA-Cubs showed a relatively non-cytotoxic effect on normal EA.hy926 endothelial cells. Further analysis of cell cycle arrest suggested a potential role in the pre-G1 and G2/M phases for ICA-Cubs in comparison with ICA-raw. ICA-Cubs increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the overexpression of p53 and caspase-3 in the SKOV-3 cell line. In conclusion, the cubosomal delivery of ICA might provide a prospective approach towards the superior control of ovarian cancer cell growth. Its improved efficacy compared with that of the free drug might be due to the improved solubility and cellular permeability of ICA.
Water Tree Propagation in a Wide Temperature Range: Insight into the Role of Mechanical Behaviors of Crosslinked Polyethylene (XLPE) Material
Authors: Lin Siyan , Zhou Kai , Li Yuan , Meng Pengfei
Published: December 2020

To understand the propagation characteristics of water trees at a wide temperature range, this paper presents the effect of mechanical behaviors on the sizes of water trees. An accelerated water tree aging experiment was performed at −15 °C, 0 °C, 20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C for crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) specimens, respectively. Depending on the micro observations of water tree slices, water tree length is not always increasing with the increase in temperature. From 0 °C to 60 °C, water tree length shows a trend from decline to rise. Above 60 °C, water tree length continues to reduce. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows that the glass transition temperature of the new XLPE specimen is about −5 °C, and the α-relaxation is significant at about 60 °C. With the increase in temperature, the XLPE material presents different deformation. Meanwhile, according to the result of the yield strength of XLPE at different temperatures, with the increase in temperature, the yield strength decreases from 120 MPa to 75 MPa, which can promote the water tree propagation. According to the early stage in the water tree propagation, a water tree model was constructed with water tree branches like a string of pearls to calculate electric field force. According to the results of electric field force at different expansion conditions, with the increase in temperature, due to expansion of the water tree branches, the electric field force at water tree tips drops, which can suppress the water tree propagation. Regardless of high temperature or low temperature, the water tree propagation is closely related to the mechanical behaviors of the material. With the increase in temperature, the increased deformation will suppress the water tree propagation, whereas the decreased yield strength will promote water tree propagation. For this reason, at different temperatures, the promotion or suppression in water tree propagation is determined by who plays a dominant role.
Optimal Artificial Neural Network Type Selection Method for Usage in Smart House Systems
Authors: Teslyuk Vasyl , Kazarian Artem , Kryvinska Natalia , Tsmots Ivan
Published: December 2020

In the process of the “smart” house systems work, there is a need to process fuzzy input data. The models based on the artificial neural networks are used to process fuzzy input data from the sensors. However, each artificial neural network has a certain advantage and, with a different accuracy, allows one to process different types of data and generate control signals. To solve this problem, a method of choosing the optimal type of artificial neural network has been proposed. It is based on solving an optimization problem, where the optimization criterion is an error of a certain type of artificial neural network determined to control the corresponding subsystem of a “smart” house. In the process of learning different types of artificial neural networks, the same historical input data are used. The research presents the dependencies between the types of neural networks, the number of inner layers of the artificial neural network, the number of neurons on each inner layer, the error of the settings parameters calculation of the relative expected results.
Fetal Movement Counting Using Optical Fibre Sensors
Authors: Abeywardena Chalani L. , Vanheusden Frederique J. , Walker Kate F. , Arm Richard , Zhang Qimei
Published: December 2020

Daily fetal movement counting based on maternal perception is widely deployed to monitor fetal wellbeing. However, the counting performed by the mother is prone to errors for various reasons. There are limited devices on the market that can provide reliable and automatic counting. This paper presents a prototype of a novel fetal movement monitoring device based on fibre Bragg grating sensors. Deformation of the skin caused by a fetal movement can lead to a change of the strain and stress on the optical fibre sensors, therefore can induce distortions to the breathing pattern of the mother. In the study data was gathered by the sensors through strain measurement and was post-processed using independent component analysis (ICA) and high-pass filtering to show the instances of the fetal movements. Information gathered during user trials with the prototype suggests that the system detects significantly higher numbers of fetus movements than that observed based on the mother’s perception. Among the various techniques available for fetal movement monitoring, fibre optic sensing provides many advantages including multiplex capability, flexibility and minimal size, making the concept an attractive solution for reliable monitoring of antenatal fetal movements.
Few Percent Efficient Polarization-Sensitive Conversion in Nonlinear Plasmonic Interactions Inside Oligomeric Gold Structures
Authors: Busleev Nikolay , Kudryashov Sergey , Saraeva Irina , Danilov Pavel , Rudenko Andrey , Zayarny Dmitry , Maier Stefan A. , Minh Pham Hong , Ionin Andrey
Published: December 2020

The backscattering spectra of a 500 nm thick gold film, which was excited near the 525 nm transverse localized plasmon resonance of its constituent, self-organized, vertically-aligned nanorods by normally incident 515 nm, 300 fs laser pulses with linear, radial, azimuthal and circular polarizations, revealed a few-percent conversion into Stokes and anti-Stokes side-band peaks. The investigation of these spectral features based on the nanoscale characterization of the oligomeric structure and numerical simulations of its backscattering response indicated nonlinear Fano-like plasmonic interactions, particularly the partially degenerate four-wave mixing comprised by the visible-range transverse plasmon resonance of the individual nanorods and an IR-range collective mode of the oligomeric structure. Such oligomeric structures in plasmonic films may greatly enhance inner nonlinear electromagnetic interactions and inner near-IR hotspots, paving the way for their engineered IR tunability for broad applications in chemosensing and biosensing.
Highly Sensitive Levodopa Determination by Means of Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry on Ruthenium Dioxide-Carbon Black-Nafion Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Górska Anna , Paczosa-Bator Beata , Piech Robert
Published: December 2020

A new, highly sensitive Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric method for levodopa determination was developed. As a working electrode, the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with carbon black (CB), RuO2·xH2O (RuO2) and Nafion was used (CB-RuO2-Nafion GCE). Levodopa signal obtained on the modified electrode was 12 times higher compared to GCE. During research, instrumental parameters were optimized: sampling time ts = 10 ms, waiting time tw = 10 ms, step potential Es = 5 mV and pulse amplitude ΔE = 50 mV. Preconcentration potential Eprec was equal to 0 mV. The best results were obtained in 0.025 M perchloric acid (approx. pH 1.4). Signal repeatability measured on the CB-RuO2-Nafion modified electrode for 0.2 µM of levodopa was equal to 2.1% (levodopa concentration 1 µM, n = 5). Linearity of the method was achieved in the concentration range from 1 to 8 µM. Limit of detection was equal to 17 nM. Recoveries calculated for pharmaceutical products and tap water measurements were in the range 102–105%, which confirms the accuracy of the developed. The applicability of the method was confirmed by analysis of pharmaceutical products and tap water samples. Based on obtained results, it might be concluded that the developed voltammetric method could be a useful tool in routine drug analysis.
Mobile Technologies to Promote Physical Activity during Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Meinhart Florian , Stütz Thomas , Sareban Mahdi , Kulnik Stefan Tino , Niebauer Josef
Published: December 2020

Promoting regular physical activity (PA) and improving exercise capacity are the primary goals of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Mobile technologies (mTechs) like smartphones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers might help patients in reaching these goals. This review aimed to scope current scientific literature on mTechs in CR to assess the impact on patients’ exercise capacity and to identify gaps and future directions for research. PubMed, CENTRAL, and CDSR were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These RCTs had to utilize mTechs to objectively monitor and promote PA of patients during or following CR, aim at improvements in exercise capacity, and be published between December 2014 and December 2019. A total of 964 publications were identified, and 13 studies met all inclusion criteria. Home-based CR with mTechs vs. outpatient CR without mTechs and outpatient CR with mTechs vs. outpatient CR without mTechs did not lead to statistically significant differences in exercise capacity. In contrast, outpatient CR followed by home-based CR with mTechs led to significant improvement in exercise capacity as compared to outpatient CR without further formal CR. Supplying patients with mTechs may improve exercise capacity. To ensure that usage of and compliance with mTechs is optimal, a concentrated effort of CR staff has to be achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented lack of patient support while away from institutional CR. Even though mTechs lend themselves as suitable assistants, evidence is lacking that they can fill this gap.
Assessment of Biomechanical Response to Fatigue through Wearable Sensors in Semi-Professional Football Referees
Authors: Truppa Luigi , Guaitolini Michelangelo , Garofalo Pietro , Castagna Carlo , Mannini Andrea
Published: December 2020

Quantifying muscle fatigue is a key aspect of everyday sport practice. A reliable and objective solution that can fulfil this task would be deeply important for two main reasons: (i) it would grant an objective indicator to adjust the daily training load for each player and (ii) it would provide an innovative tool to reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries. Available solutions for objectively quantifying the fatigue level of fatigue can be invasive for the athlete; they could alter the performance or they are not compatible with daily practice on the playground. Building on previous findings that identified fatigue-related parameters in the kinematic of the counter-movement jump (CMJ), this study evaluates the physical response to a fatigue protocol (i.e., Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1) in 16 football referees, by monitoring CMJ performance with wearable magneto-inertial measurement units (MIMU). Nineteen kinematic parameters were selected as suitable indicators for fatigue detection. The analysis of their variations allowed us to distinguish two opposites but coherent responses to the fatigue protocol. Indeed, eight out of sixteen athletes showed reduced performance (e.g., an effective fatigue condition), while the other eight athletes experienced an improvement of the execution likely due to the so-called Post-Activation Potentiation. In both cases, the above parameters were significantly influenced by the fatigue protocol (p < 0.05), confirming their validity for fatigue monitoring. Interesting correlations between several kinematic parameters and muscular mass were highlighted in the fatigued group. Finally, a “fatigue approximation index” was proposed and validated as fatigue quantifier.
Forensics at the Port: Can Diagnostic Testing Benefit Trade?
Authors: Gleim Savannah W. , Gray Richard S. , Smyth Stuart J.
Published: December 2020

A growing pool of genomic knowledge and remarkable reductions in the cost of genetic sequencing is revolutionizing the identification of plant pathogens and phytosanitary risks. This article examines available technologies of plant testing for genetics, residues, and contamination that can be imposed at port locations for the trade of bulk commodity crops. Access and deployment of lower-cost detection technologies could fundamentally change phytosanitary practices with potential consequences for agricultural trade. Investment in testing for the presence of transgenic dockage or plant and soil diseases will likely decrease time and arbitration costs. Implementation of diagnostics testing could not only protect the exporters’ position, but it could also lead to future implications of trusted trade or higher standards of phytosanitary policy. The lack of rigorous export testing creates the opportunity for trade protectionist countries to claim that commodity imports fail to meet import standards, which can either lower the price or result in shipment rejection. The failure of commodity shipments to comply with import thresholds is a regular occurrence, yet resolutions are achieved that do not disrupt international trade. This rise in the ability to accurately test for pathogen detection provides the opportunity for safer commodity trade, but also the rise in protectionism.
The Urban Blight Costs in Taiwan
Authors: Hu Chich-Ping , Hu Tai-Shan , Fan Peilei , Lin Hai-Ping
Published: December 2020

Urban blight is not only an eyesore for city residents, but also a threat to health, psychological well-being, and safety. It not only represents substantial economic decline, but also spreads through urban space. As well as the loss of personal property value, urban blight also harms public interests in the public domain. This study finds that danger and age are the two main factors of urban blight. Ignoring these two factors causes housing prices to fall. The decline in population due to long-term economic stagnation and the exodus of residents and industries, coupled with the long-term decline in income and spending on maintenance of old houses, has led to major visual and physical economic blight. This investigation adopts the hedonic model to analyze the correspondence of house prices with urban blight, based on real estate prices and related township variables announced by the government in Taiwan in 2017, and applies the spatial regression model to investigate the direct and indirect effects of real estate prices. The following conclusions can be drawn from the analytical results. 1. The spatial lag model finds that urban blight has a spatial spillover effect. 2. The government must not disregard the blight, due to its detrimental effect on housing prices and spatial diffusion effect. 3. The factors that affect the blight are age of residents, age of buildings, poverty, and danger.
Indoor Lighting Customization Based on Effective Reflectance Coefficients: A Methodology to Optimize Visual Performance and Decrease Consumption in Educative Workplaces
Authors: Peña-García Antonio , Salata Ferdinando
Published: December 2020

The importance of accurate lighting has been proven to be essential for good performance in all kinds of buildings, where most of the professional activities are carried out. National regulations and international standards dealing with indoor lighting establish the technical requirements of lighting installations to ensure the performance of their users. These requirements deal with illuminance on the working plane, uniformity, glare, color temperature of light and some other parameters. However, regulations and technical documents on indoor lighting are mainly referred to standard conditions that are sometimes far away from the reality. Hence, some installations can fulfill the technical requirements, whilst being uncomfortable for task development, impairing user’s performance and are oversized in terms of energy consumption. This work departs from a field study in highlighting the regulatory limitations in the matter of reflectance, to propose a quasi-Lambertian approach to real conditions in indoor workplaces with a special aim in educative environments. It consists of the introduction of “effective reflectance” coefficients for some key visual tasks and furniture carried out by users in certain typical positions and working planes. Based on this coefficient, it is proposed to implement a simple measurement and luminary programming methodology adapted to each particular workplace, especially in educational centers. The final target is to improve visual performance and save energy.
ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКИЕ УСЛОВИЯ ПОДГОТОВКИ БУДУЩИХ
СПЕЦИАЛИСТОВ
Authors:   Абдыбекова Н.А., Добаев К.Д.
Published: December 2020

В данной статье рассматриваются результаты проведенного
эксперимента на занятиях английского языка. Предметно-языковое интегрированное
обучение CLIL внедрен в процесс обучения английскому языку. Обсуждается интегрированное
занятие со студентами экспериментальной группы. Педагогические условия формирования
речевой деятельности разработана на основе компетентностного подхода
Trace and Heavy Metal Contamination Status of Soil and Water in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining Vicinity in Kuchiko-Hausa, Gurara LGA, Niger State, Nigeria
Authors: Haruna Sani Aliyu , Musa Amanabo , Ayinla Gbodi Timothy
Published: December 2020

Mining activities have long been recognized as a major source of environmental contamination associated with heavy metals. In this study, ten (10) trace metals namely As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were analysed from water (stream, river and borehole) and soil (surface and sub-soil) samples collected from around the artisanal and small scale gold mining site within the vicinity in Kuchiko-Hausa, Gurara LGA, Niger State, Nigeria using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The result from the water and soil samples showed the while all the investigated trace metals were absent from all the water samples, Hg was only found with concentration of 0.006 and 0.0053 mg/mL for the stream and river water samples, the soil samples showed the presence of all the trace metals except Cd and Co with As and Cr found only in the surface soil. All detected trace metals in the samples were all lower than the WHO permissible limits. Periodic and systematic study of the investigated and other metals concentrations is therefore recommended since long-term exposure of these metals poses significant health risk for human, animals and plants.
Implication of Mn concentration on the properties of cerium oxide thin films
Authors:   Department of Physics, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore-641 020, Tamil Nadu, India, R Suresh , K Thirumal Valavan ,   Department of Physics, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore-641 020, Tamil Nadu, India, M Justin Paul ,   Department of Physics, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore-641 020, Tamil Nadu, India, T Indira Priyadharshini ,   Department of Physics, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore-641 020, Tamil Nadu, India
Published: December 2020

Uniform and adhesive Manganese doped cerium oxide (MDC) films are successfully deposited by Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis (NSP) technique. The MDC films are characterized by XRD, FT-IR, UV-ViS, PL and I-V analysis. X-ray diffraction peaks reveal the single-phase polycrystalline cubic fluorite structure with preferential orientation along (2 0 0) direction. The broad bands observed at 695, 659, 538 and 517 cm-1 are due to the envelope of (Ce=O) symmetric, asymmetric terminal stretching and phonon band of metal oxide (Ce-O) network from FT-IR spectra. The transmittance decreases with Mn concentration due to the increase in scattering of photon by crystal defects created by doping and lower ionic size of Mn. The electrons in the outer orbits have travelled to the higher energy levels and have occupied vacant positions in energy bands. Some of the NBE emission and green emission peaks are vanished at higher doping level of Mn. The occurrence of a strong and broad blue emission peak at 15% for MDC films has been confirmed from emission spectra.
Introduction
Authors: Peroni Caterina , Rodak Lidia
Published: December 2020

This monographic issue aims at analysing, from different perspectives, the 4th wave of feminism, in the frame of the rise of the new populism. Several issues characteristic of the second wave of feminism re-emerged during the contemporary worldwide mobilization of women: gender-based violence, abortion, sisterhood and self-determination. These topics, while characteristic of previous waves of feminism, are framed by the 4th wave in the backlash against women’s freedom and rights achieved in the last decades. The papers describe genealogies and changes in feminist repertoires, action and subjectivation: the emerging of “Hashtag Feminism” and the “call-out” culture focus on vulnerability as a socially shared condition, challenging the relationship with law and building new forms of recognition and solidarity between women. As a result, sisterhood came back to the discussion as an anti-essentialist bond based on trust and an expression of free will, with a potential of converting new mutual practices into common action.
Sisterhood and the 4th wave of feminism
Authors: Rodak Lidia
Published: December 2020

This article aims at contributing to the discussion on sisterhood in the theoretical framework of the feminist debate. In particular, it advances the discussion on sisterhood with respect to the three waves of feminism, by providing a description of the new approach to sisterhood framed by the categories of the fourth wave of feminism. Drawing on an empirical qualitative study on the circles of women (CW) in Poland, this research explores the changing quality of sisterhood by investigating women’s mutual relationships, and the development of women’s subjectivity. Specifically, the evolution of mutual relationship among women is demonstrated by the increased trust and development of solidarity while the strengthening of subjectivity by the increase of self-acceptance.
Attempted copulatory behaviour between two phylogenetically unrelated alien species (Coypu, Myocastor coypus, and Pond slider, Trachemys scripta): first evidence
Authors: Grillo Giancarlo , Sartorii Giancarlo , Battisti Corrado , Ferri Vincenzo , Luiselli Luca , Amori Giovanni , Carpaneto Giuseppe M.
Published: December 2020

We report the first case of sexual interaction between two phylogenetically unrelated species (coypu Myocastor coypus and pond slider Trachemys scripta, a freshwater pond turtle), both of them non-native in the study area, a remnant coastal wetland of Tyrrhenian, central Italy (41°57'34.0''N 12°02'58.0''E). We inductively propose two different hypotheses (masturbatory act due to intense sperm competition, or behaviour induced by female pheromones) to explain this peculiar observation.
Cultural Values and Perceived Audit Quality: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Dunakhir Samirah , Idrus Mukhammad
Published: December 2020

Objective – This paper aims to propose a framework for cultural values and perceived audit quality
Methodology/Technique – The methodology used in this study is the content analysis of the published papers in relation to cultural values and perceived audit quality
Findings – There is a strong relationship between cultural values and accounting values in the judgement process of auditing and they determine the quality of audit.
Novelty – There is not much information published in the area of the roles of cultural values and perceived audit quality. Therefore, this paper offers a conceptual framework on cultural values and perceived audit quality.
Type of Paper: Review
Keywords: Culture; Cultural Values; Perception; Audit Quality
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Dunakhir, S; Idrus, M. (2020). Cultural Values and Perceived Audit Quality: A Conceptual Framework, J. Fin. Bank. Review, 5 (3): 78 – 83. https://doi.org/10.35609/jfbr.2020.5.3(2)
JEL Classification: M4, M42.
A Conjoint Analysis of Consumer Preferences for Chili Products: A Case Study on Chili Sauce
Authors: Jitkuekul Premruedee , Khamtanet Sirinna
Published: December 2020

Objective – This study aimed to investigate Thai customers’ preference to chili sauce using conjoint analysis (henceforth CA).
Methodology/Technique – The participants of the study were residents of Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan, Thailand. Data were collected with a stratified sampling technique and 420 usable questionnaires were considered.
Findings –The participants of the study were residents of Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan, Thailand. Data were collected with a stratified sampling technique and 420 usable questionnaires were considered. Conjoint Analysis indicates that consumers attach the most importance to a reasonable price, which is 45 baht. Since price is related to quality, good quality products must have a reasonable price. The flavor is the second priority. Consumers tend to prefer a hot & sweet flavor, yet too hot is not ideal, hot should be combined with a sweet flavor to make it smoother. In addition, consumers prefer a combination of herbal ingredients with organic chili, given the growing healthy trend in Thailand. Consumers then prefer an organic chili sauce with herbal ingredients that promotes good health. In terms of packaging, consumers prefer a squeezable product, rather than a bottle.
Novelty - This paper will study the preferences of consumers with regards to the product; not much research on these topics has been undertaken. It could assist the company in knowing how to produce the product to respond to the customer’s demand.
Type of Paper: Empirical.
JEL Classification: M31, M39.

Keywords: Chili sauce; Conjoint analysis; Consumer preferences; Customer satisfaction; New product development
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Jitkuekul, P; Khamtanet, S. (2020). A Conjoint Analysis of Consumer Preferences for Chili Products: A Case Study on Chili Sauce, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review, 5(4) 226 – 233. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2020.5.4(4)
Toward Islamic Anthropology
Authors: Ahmed Akbar S.
Published: December 2020

I. IntroductionA. The Science of AnthropologyThis study is speculative and concerns a difficult and complex subject.Its task is made more difficult as it defends a metaphysical position, advancesan ideological argument, and serves a moral cause. It will therefore remainan incomplete part of an on-going process in the debate on key issues in contemporaryMuslim society.The major task of anthropology' -the study of man-is to enable us tounderstand ourselves through understanding other cultures. Anthropologymakes us aware of the essential oneness of man and therefore allows us toappreciate each other. It is only quite recently in history that it has come tobe widely accepted that human beings are fundamentally alike; that they sharebasic interests, and so have certain common obligations to one another. Thisbelief is either explicit or implicit in most of the great world religions, butit is by no means acceptable today to many people even in "advanced" societies,and it would make no sense at all in many of the less-developed cultures.Among some of the indigenous tribes of Australia, a stranger who cannotprove that he is a kinsman, far from being welcomed hospitably, is regardedas a dangerous outsider and may be speared without compunction. Membersof the Lugbara tribe of northwestern Uganda used to think that all foreignerswere witches, dangerous, and scarcely human creatures who walked aboutupside-down and killed people by magic. The ancient Greeks believed thatall non-Hellenic peoples were barbarians and uncivilized savages whom itwould be quite inappropriate to treat as real people. Many citizens of modemstates today think of people of other races, nations, or cultures in ways notvery different from these, especially if their skin is differently colored or if ...
Commodity Exchange and Stock Exchange in Islamic Economy
Authors: Khan Muhammad Akram
Published: December 2020

IntroductionThe main objective of this paper is to review contemporary practicesin commodity, currency and corporate stock trading in the light of Islamiceconomic framework and to suggest bare outlines of the Islamic alternativesin these areas. Trade in commodities, currencies and stocks involves forwardand htures contracts. Arbitrage, hedging and speculation are also essentialelements of these markets. We shall try to examine these practices to determinetheir compatibility with the Islamic law. We shall also try to find out theexact point where they deviate from the Islamic framework and suggest somemechanism to perform the same economic function in the Islamic economy.Our main conclusions are summarized below:First, by and large the trade in spot and forward markets iscovered by the Islamic law.Second, futures trading is alien to the Islamic law as it involvestrading without actual transfer of the commodity or stock to thebuyer which is explicitly prohibited by the Prophet (SAAS).Third, speculation by itself is not unlawful in Islam but theIslamic economic framework does not allow professional speculatorsto thrive.Fourth, the Islamic condition of transfer of the commoditystock to the buyer is a mechanism to boost the real sector.Fifth, stability in the foreign exchange market can be achievedby cooperation of the international community. It would necessitateabolition of al riba and scrapping of trade restrictions over bordersbesides accepting money as a medium of exchange only, ratherthan a commodity.Sixth, to discourage negative effects of speculation, informationregarding commodities and corporations needs to be widely andfreely disseminated. No amount of restrictive regulations can ...
Nilai Religius Dalam Novel Tuhan, Aku Kembali Karya Haidar Musyafa
Authors: Rusli Sri Mulyani
Published: December 2020

This research motivated by the existence of Islamic religious values in novel God's I Back by Haidar Musyafa. The value of Islamic religion in terms of the value of aqidah, sharia values and moral values by Haidar Musyafa. The purpose of this research to describe the values of aqidah, shari'a and morals in novel by Haidar Musyafa. The type of research is qualitative research. The method used in this research descriptive method of analysis. The data of this research are religious data about the value of creed, morals and characters contained in the novel by Haidar Musyafa. Based on the analysis of research data can be concluded that the value of aqid contained in the novel Haidar Musyafa's, namely (a) faith to Allah SWT (belief in Allah) seen on the character Umi stating that God's promise that His pleasure depends on the pleasure of both parents. (b) faith in the books of Allah swt reflected on the character of Jefry who likes to read the holy verses of the Qur'an in the race. Sharia value is depicted on Apih figures who ordered their children to perform congregational prayers and chips in order not to leave the prayer. Furthermore, the moral values are (a) morals towards Allah (khalik) is depicted on the character of Jefry who initially have habbit not good then repent to be good people. (b) morals towards humans depicted on the character Jefry who like do something not good, being rude and not obeying the words of parents.
Crypt-OR:A privacy-preserving system for exemplar-based object-removal over the cloud
Authors: Tanwar Vishesh Kumar , Raman Balasubramanian , Bhargava Rama
Published: December 2020

Object removal is a technique for removing the undesired object(s) and then fill-in the empty region(s) in an image such that the modified image is visually plausible. The existing algorithms are unable to provide promising results when the region to be removed - has varying textured-neighborhood, is small in size and the depth of the image and, is of specific geometric shapes such as triangle

and rectangle. In this paper, we proposed a new algorithm by incorporating the merits of partial differential equations (PDEs) and exemplar-based schemes to address these challenges. The data term, which measures the continuity of

isophotes in exemplar-based methods, is modified by incorporating a regularizer term and partial derivatives up to second order of the input image. This regularizer enhances the strength of isophotes striking the boundary and boosts

the information propagation in an unbiased manner, in terms of pixel intensity values. Additionally, the low-cost, agility, and accessing flexibility benefits of cloud services have attracted user’s attention today. Besides, users are concerned about utilizing them for their data, as they are supported by untrusted third parties. Addressing these privacy concerns for object-removal in an image over the cloud server, we extended and modified our algorithm to make it compatible for (T; N)-threshold Shamir secret sharing scheme (SSS). This privacy-preserving system is an end-to-end system for object-removal in the ED over the cloud server namely Crypt-OR. Crypt-OR is evaluated by removing synthetically imposed objects in real-images. Further, Crypt-OR has proved to be secure under various pixel-based cryptographic attacks such as frequency-known attack and pixel-correlation attack.
The longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of National Park «Kremenetski Hory»
Authors: Dovganyuk Iryna , Zamoroka Andrew M.
Published: December 2020

The fauna of the longhorn beetles of ecoregion of Kremenetski Hory and the eponymous National Park was studied very poorly. In the most recent catalogue of Cerambycidae of Western Podillya it was listed only 13 species for the ecoregion. Including other sources, to date, it was known 17 species of the longhorn beetles. In the current study we identified 59 species of the longhorn beetles, 42 of which are reported for the first time for National Park «Kremenetski Hory» and the ecoregion in general. Under our proposed prediction the Cerambycidae species richness should reach 100-120 species. We also presented result of quantitative study of the longhorn beetles within different types of ecosystems of National Park «Kremenetski Hory». We revealed that 10 species are the most abundant on the studied territory.
Puntas de proyectil líticas de la cuenca media e inferior del río Coyle (Santa Cruz): aportes al uso del espacio regional y a la distribución espacial del diseño Magallanes IV
Authors: Espinosa Silvana , Belardi Juan Bautista , Marina Flavia Carballo
Published: December 2020

Se presenta el análisis tecnotipológico de 39 puntas de proyectil líticas registradas en la cuenca media e inferior del río Coyle. Se reconocen cinco subgrupos tipológicos manufacturados en rocas locales de alta disponibilidad. Las puntas fueron abandonadas con potencial de reactivación; predominan aquellas del sistema de armas arrojadizas, y 31 son semejantes al diseño Magallanes IV. La información complementa discusiones sobre el uso del espacio por parte de grupos cazadores del Holoceno tardío y suma la cuenca al análisis suprarregional de la distribución del diseño Magallanes IV. Los resultados son concluyentes con la propuesta que sostiene su circulación ininterrumpida desde el estrecho de Magallanes hasta el norte del río Santa Cruz.
Coronavirus Outbreak: Health Care Measures taken by Pakistan
Authors: Nadeem Danish
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus pandemic is affecting the whole world. The number of cases have been sharply increased in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan have taken multiple measures in order to control the epidemic. National actionplanhasbeendesignedtotackletheoutbreak.Smartlockdownwasimposedinmanydistricts. Thirty- five tertiary hospitals were declared treatment centers for the corona virus patients, 2942 isolation beds were specified and 57 quarantine facilities were provided in 139 districts of Pakistan. Diagnostic facilities all across the country took up to forty-six thousand test per day. Massive public awareness campaigns regarding prevention were introduced. All these timely measures resulted in remarkable control of coronavirus cases. The purpose of this short communication is to review the healthcare measures taken at national level to combat against the pandemic.