bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser phototherapy
Authors: Bogdanovich U. Y.
Published: November 2021

For the purpose of laser phototherapy, helium-neon lasers with a wavelength of 632.8 nm and an output power of 15-25 mW are most often used today. For the treatment of patients with long-term healing wounds, trophic ulcers and bone fractures, the "Clinic" device was made on the basis of a carbon dioxide laser with a wavelength of 10.6 m, in which two LG-23 generators are used, which makes it possible to simultaneously irradiate two affected areas of the body or two sick.
Isolated damage to the gallbladder in blunt trauma of the abdominal cavity
Authors: Sukhodolov V. P.
Published: November 2021

We present two observations of isolated damage to the gallbladder in blunt abdominal trauma. 1. K., 24 years old, fell out of the 5th floor window. Delivered to the trauma department in 30 minutes by the ambulance service with a diagnosis of blunt trauma to the abdomen with damage to internal organs: Fracture of the right hip; alcoholic intoxication.
P.N.Demidkin, A.I.Shnirelman. X-ray diagnostics in obstetrics and gynecology. M., Medicine, 1980, 424 p. Circulation 10,000 copies.
Authors: Mikhailov M. K. , Gilyazutdinova Z. S.
Published: November 2021

The book consists of 18 chapters, a preface and a conclusion. It describes various X-ray methods for examining the genitals: hysterosalpingography, pneumopelvigraphy, phlebography, lymphography, etc. In our opinion, one should not include X-ray research methods that are not directly related to obstetric and gynecological practice, especially since they are described briefly and relate more to general pathology or pathology of the urinary system.
Prioritizing Positivity Scale: Psychometric Properties of the Polish Adaptation (PPS-PL)
Authors: Machlah Jaśmina , Zięba Mariusz
Published: November 2021

Prioritizing positivity means making decisions and choices about everyday activities to increase the chances of experiencing positive emotions. People have different levels of prioritizing positivity (PP), and the Prioritizing Positivity Scale is used to capture such individual differences. Past research indicates that prioritizing positivity is conducive to well-being. The following article presents the Polish adaptation of the Prioritizing Positivity Scale (PPS) and its psychometric properties. There were three samples in this study (n1 = 229, n2.= 253, n3 = 226). The method has a single-factor structure and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .84 to .87). Prioritizing positivity measured with the Polish version of the Prioritizing Positivity Scale was associated with several indicators of well-being.
“CRAZY ZOOM MAKES EVERYONE TO FIND HIMSELF IN A DOUBLE ROLE OF A SPECTATOR AND AN ACTOR”
Authors: Bulgakova O , Maksimova E.S.
Published: November 2021

Oksana Bulgakowa is a researcher of visual culture, a film critic, a screenwriter, a director, and a professor at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. She has taught at the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Leipzig Graduate School of Music and Theater, the Free University of Berlin, Stanford University and the University of California Berkeley. Author of the books “FEKS: Die Fabrik des exzentrischen Schauspielers” (1996), “Sergei Eisenstein – drei Utopien. Architekturentwürfe zur Filmtheorie” (1996), “Sergej Eisenstein. Eine Biographie” (1998), “The Gesture Factory” (2005, a renewed edition to be published by NLO publishing house in 2021), “The Soviet hearing eye: cinema and its sensory organs” (2010), “The Voice as a cultural phenomenon”(2015), “SINNFABRIK/FABRIK DER SINNE” (2015), “The Fate of the Battleship: The Biography of Sergei Eisenstein” (2017). Author of the network projects “The Visual Universe of Sergei Eisenstein” (2005), “Sergei Eisenstein: My Art in Life. Google Arts and Culture” (in collaboration with Dietmar Hochmuth, 2017–2018), and the films “Stalin – eine Mosfilmproduktion” (in collaboration with Enno Patalas, 1993), “Different Faces of Sergei Eisenstein” (in collaboration with Dietmar Hochmuth, 1997). In this issue of P&I, Oksana Bulgakowa talks about medial giants and midgets, obscene gestures of Elvis Presley, “voice-over discourse” of TV presenters, and the birth of Eisenstein’s “Method” from psychosis and neurosis. Interview by Ekaterina Maksimova. Photo by Dietmar Hochmuth.
Vpliv pandemije covida-19 na izvajanje policijske dejavnosti v Sloveniji: pogled slovenskih policistov
Authors: Lobnikar Branko , Prislan Kaja
Published: November 2021

Pandemija, ki se je začela marca 2020, je policijo prisilila k prilagajanju na hitro spreminjajoče se okolje. Nobena predhodna študija do zdaj še ni raziskala, kaj se je v slovenski policiji dejansko spremenilo in kako so te spremembe vplivale na policijsko dejavnost. Z raziskavo, izvedeno junija 2021, v kateri je sodelovalo 355 slovenskih policistov, želimo preseči manko vedenja o vplivu pandemije na spremembe v izvajanju policijskega dela. Anketiranci so ocenjevali vpliv organizacijskih sprememb zaradi pandemije na njihovo operativno delo, na njihove odnose s prebivalci, ocenili pa so tudi odziv policijske organizacije za zmanjševanje tveganj za njihovo zdravje, povezanih s pandemijo. Policisti poročajo, da so se poslabšali tako odnosi znotraj policijske organizacije kot odnosi policistov s skupnostjo. Po oceni anketirancev je, v nasprotju z odnosi, ostala kakovost večine policijskih postopkov nespremenjena v primerjavi s časom pred nastopom epidemije. Anketirani policisti so zaznali poslabšanje na področju upoštevanja zakonov in predpisov pri prebivalcih – prednjačijo neupoštevanje zakonov in predpisov za zajezitev epidemije virusa SARS-CoV-2 in posledično nepripravljenost prebivalcev, da bi policistom pomagali pri uveljavljanju te zakonodaje in pravil.
Reminiscenca o policijskem delu v skupnosti, raziskovanju in razvoju policijskega dela v skupnosti v Sloveniji
Authors: Meško Gorazd
Published: November 2021

Prispevek predstavlja avtorjevo razmišljanje o več kot dvajsetletnem preučevanju policijskega dela v skupnosti in njenem uvajanju in razvoju v slovenskem okolju. Razpravlja o dilemah izvajanja policijskega dela v skupnosti v Sloveniji ter izpostavi ovire na poti k idealnemu modelu policijskega dela v skupnosti. Skozi besedilo povezuje svoje raziskovalne izkušnje in izkušnje pri delu s praktiki. Razvoj policijskega dela v skupnosti umešča v polje profesionalizacije policijskega poklica in specializacije vodij policijskega okoliša. Čeprav obstaja še veliko izzivov glede izvajanja policijskega dela v skupnosti, obstajajo primeri dobre prakse. Celostno gledano je proklamirano policijsko delo v skupnosti v praksi daleč od tega, kar naj bi bilo. Policijsko delo v skupnosti je treba razumeti v kontekstu politike izvajanja policijske dejavnosti in družbenoekonomskih dejavnikov.
Policijsko delo v ruralnih skupnostih – ključne ugotovitve tujih raziskav
Authors: Erčulj Vanja , Modic Maja
Published: November 2021

Približno polovica svetovnega prebivalstva prebiva v ruralnih okoljih, pa vendar se študije večinoma osredotočajo na proučevanje policijske dejavnosti v urbanih okoljih. Narava izvajanja policijskega dela v skupnosti bi morala biti v veliki meri vezana prav na specifične značilnosti skupnosti, zato nas zanima, kaj kažejo študije, osredotočene na policijsko delo v skupnosti v ruralnem okolju. Analiza raziskovalnih člankov pokaže, da jih lahko po tematiki uvrstimo v štiri skupine: mnenja prebivalcev o policiji, narava policijskega dela v skupnosti, odnos med policijskim delom v skupnosti in stopnjo kriminalitete, način opravljanja in izzivi policijskega dela v skupnosti. Ugotovitve kažejo, da je policijsko delo v skupnosti v ruralnem okolju po eni strani velik izziv zaradi kadrovske podhranjenosti, nedostopnosti terena in centralizacije policije, po drugi pa ključni element prevencije in odkrivanja kriminalitete. Narava policijskega dela v skupnosti je v ruralnih okoljih drugačna kot v urbanih, ruralni policist pa mora imeti drugačne lastnosti in obvladovati drugačne veščine kot njegov urbani kolega.
Submandibular Gland Tumours: A South African Perspective
Authors: Atiya Yahya , Modi Pradip , Torres-Holmes Marco
Published: November 2021

Background: Reports relating to submandibular gland neoplasms are sparse in the literature and the epidemiology of these neoplasms is variable in different parts of the world. Some studies suggest different patterns of tumour types in Black/Negroid patients, as compared to White Caucasian patients. There is no clarity about the origins of these tumours nor its distribution.

Aim: This research paper audits the histopathological types of tumours and their clinical presentations at two central referral academic hospitals in South Africa.

Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken, using retrospective clinical data from two large academic public hospitals over a 7-year period from January 2005 to December 2011. All patients who had a submandibular gland resection at the two hospitals were included. A total of 61 patient records were examined, of which 26 met the inclusion criteria, being that of true neoplasms of the submandibular triangle.

Results: Of the 26 patients 54% were males. The ages ranged from 22 to 65 years, with a mean of 42.5 years. Benign disease was found in 65.4% of patients, while 34.6% had malignancy. Black patients had a higher ratio of benign disease than White patients, and Black males were more likely to have benign disease (83.33%) than Black females (50%). On histopathology, pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign tumour (82%), while adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common epithelial or glandular malignancy (22%). There was also a high rate of lymphoma (56% of patients) in the malignant group. Clinically, local pain (p=0.03) and peripheral nerve involvement (p=0.05) were found to be significantly associated with malignant infiltrating epithelial disease.

Conclusion: The rate of malignancy and age at presentation for Black patients was found to be lower than that reported in the Western literature. Pain and local/peripheral nerve involvement were clear clinical markers of malignant infiltrative disease.
Obraz pensjonarki w literaturze popularnej początku XX wieku na podstawie powieści „Płomyk. Z pamiętnika instytutki” Eugenii Żmijewskiej
Authors: Kępa Sylwia
Published: November 2021

The aim of this paper is to present the character and mentality of adolescent girl from a family of landowners, on the example of the heroine of a novel “Płomyk. Z pamiętnika instytutki” of 1907, originating from the mainstream of so-called ‘trivial’ literature. This novel (in the form of a diary) could be regarded as an interesting example to follow, set in the second half of the 20th century patterns of realistic positivist prose. Eugenia Żmijewska, the author of that piece, on one hand, refers to the positivist model under the sign of Orzeszkowa and Sienkiewicz, on the other hand, Żmijewska deftly combines the aesthetics of the novel with a plot of schoolgirl. The result of this syncretism is the character of Dola Żalińska. In the personality of that heroine — passing a difficult period of adolescence — interweare and collide patterns of landowner education, strict school education and dilemmas of adolescence. This paper will pose a question of pararrels between literary portrait of young lady and cultural image of schoolgirl raised in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Wariacje na temat starości w opowiadaniach Brunona Schulza
Authors: Smusz Aleksandra
Published: November 2021

The article raises, so far overlooked in the gerontological literature, question of old age based on the compositions: “Pensioner”, “Loneliness” and “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass” by Bruno Schulz. According to the aforementioned concept, the author of “The Cinnamon Shops” unites poetic prose with broadly defined and still valid social issues. Schulz depicts the autumn of life as having numerous faces — it is associated with various experiences such as returning to childhood and youth at all costs, loneliness, lack of care and interest on the part of loved ones, finally leading to isolation and social exclusion. However, the writer describes these aspects without any pathos, often using irony and reviving presented images with a use of fantastic elements.
„W młodości byłem Tezeuszem”. Perspektywa senilna w twórczości Jacka Kaczmarskiego
Authors: Dźwinel Kamil
Published: November 2021

The subject of the article is the issue of senility present in the artistic output of Jacek Kaczmarski from its beginning (“Old People in the Bus” from his debut programme “Walls”) to its end (“The Old Age of Theseus”, from the volume “The Tunnel”, which became an inspiration for taking up this topic). Consequently, I discuss the poems in which the communication perspective can be observed with regard to the subject experiencing the old age (“The Old Age of Ovid”, the above mentioned “The Old Age of Theseus”, “Old Michelangelo and Pieta Rondanini”, “The Sleeping Old Poet” and other poems), including the texts, in which the old age or an old man are the subjects of reflections (for instance “The Old Age of Piotr Wysocki”). The chosen topic is supplemented with a consideration of the figure of returning and transformation the innocence to experience — this is where the actual and indispensable comparison of the old age and youth is going to participate.
„Żyje się tylko chwilę” — czy Halina Poświatowska zmarła młodo?
Authors: Marczak Ewa Joanna
Published: November 2021

The poet Halina Poświatowska for the most of her 32-years life overcame limitations associated with acquiring a mitral valve defect. She spent many months in hospitals, nursing homes and in the family home. In spite of common opinion she was not living for a very short time indeed when taking into account the state of cardiac surgery in the middle of the last century. The length of her life as a woman with serious heart defect, which caused additional complications in the functioning of the circulatory system, can not be compared to the life length of healthy people.
Opinions of disabled university students on the distance education process
Authors: Stambekova Assel , Shmidt Mariya , Kydyrbaeva Galiya , Kydyrbaeva Galiya , Yerzhanova Gulnur , Issabayeva Zauresh
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the views of university students with disabilities, regarding the distance education process. The data collection tool of this qualitative research carried out in a phenomenological design is a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher, which aims to get the opinions of the disabled students studying at the university on the distance education process. The study group of the research consists of 30 students with visual, hearing and orthopedic disabilities who are studying at various universities in the cities of Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Aktobe and Karaganda in Kazakhstan, and have agreed to participate in the research voluntarily. As a result of the research, it was revealed that university students with disabilities found distance education inadequate in terms of teacher-learner, learner-learner, learner-content and learner-technology relations in line with the answers they gave in the semi-structured interview form. Improving teacher and peer relations in the distance education process of disabled university students, reorganizing the educational content and creating the technological infrastructure suitable for their needs are among the important tasks of the education approach of contemporary higher education.

Keywords: Distance education, hearing impaired students, higher education. orthopedically impaired students, visually impaired students
A note on the configuration of the digital ecosystem in Latin America
Authors: Ács Zoltán J. , Lafuente Esteban , Szerb László
Published: November 2021

We evaluate the main characteristics of the digital ecosystem of North American (USA and Canada) and 16 Latin American economies for 2019. By employing the ‘benefit of the doubt’ model rooted in non-parametric techniques to scrutinize a composite indicator designed to assess the digital ecosystem (i.e., the Digital Platform Economy (DPE) index), the analysis allows the computation of endogenous (country-specific) weights that can be used for developing more informed policy making. The results show that countries prioritize different aspects of their digital ecosystem which confirms that, contrary to homogeneous prescription, tailor-made policy is a more desirable approach if the objective is to optimize the resources deployed to enhance the countries’ digital ecosystem.
Iglesia cristiana con servicio comunitario para centros poblados rurales de Pachacamac
Authors:   , Cueva Lujan Julio Constante
Published: November 2021

La necesidad de un espacio de culto para la comunidad siempre ha sido un factor vital para el desarrollo de la misma. Hecho que puede ser corroborado mediante el estudio de las diversas culturas que han existido a lo largo de la historia en el planeta. Tomando como punto de partida la premisa anterior, es que se justifica el presente proyecto, el cual busca satisfacer la demanda de un espacio para la comunión de los creyentes dado que, con el constante crecimiento de esta comunidad en la zona, los espacios actualmente usados para este propósito cada vez se ven con mayores dificultades para albergarlos a todos. Además, el proyecto no solo buscará ser un lugar de reunión para la comunidad evangélica, sino que también brindará espacios para el uso y apoyo de la comunidad, teniendo como base el rol de la comunidad cristiana como un agente de ayuda para su entorno Finalmente, para el desarrollo de la propuesta se hará un énfasis en la implementación de conceptos de arquitectura sensorial en los espacios religiosos, debido a que se considera que es un concepto compatible con la tipología presentada. Y se estudiará la arquitectura local, poniendo especial importancia en las edificaciones históricas como lo es el Templo del Sol, para así respetar el lenguaje arquitectónico histórico de la zona.
Propuesta de vivienda modular sostenible mediante la utilización de paneles de quincha prefabricada para atención de las demandas de refugio en Sondorillo, Huancabamba, Piura
Authors:   , Chavez More Jordys David , Cueva Sandillan Jhon Julio
Published: November 2021

En el presente documento se propone el proceso constructivo de una Vivienda Modular en respuesta a la demanda de refugios por parte de la población afectada por el Fenómeno El Niño de Sondorillo, Huancabamba, Piura, mediante el uso de materiales como el bambú, carrizo y barro disponibles en la zona de estudio. Con el sistema modular propuesto se ha logrado ajustar a un plazo de 7 días para su ejecución mediante la sectorización acorde al número de cuadrillas y a los metrados para un área total de 41.00 𝑚2; así mismo, mediante la planificación de partidas en paralelo para incrementar su ejecución in situ, a través de los procesos constructivos propuestos para el proyecto. Además, se demuestra la factibilidad del proyecto por su baja inversión y ahorro a través del tiempo en comparación a otras propuestas de vivienda. Finalmente, se realizó una simulación en 4D con el programa Navisworks obteniéndose una visualización virtual de los procesos constructivos para una adecuada capacitación de la mano de obra del proyecto y un mayor entendimiento de los procesos de trabajo respecto a la programación previamente realizada.
Uma paisagem abstrata: Fargo, o erro e a imagem-mental
Authors: Martins Ladeira João
Published: November 2021

Analisa-se Fargo, filme de Joel e Ehan Coen, na expectativa de interpretá-lo a partir do conceito de Deleuze de imagem-mental. A despeito de seu formato aparentemente convencional de comédia de crime, a obra é aqui entendida como exemplo de um trabalho localizado na fronteira do cinema clássico, sem nunca romper com seus limites. Compreende-se o filme como indício de um deslocamento na imagem-ação, recorrendo menos ao synsigno/binômio, recurso intrínseco à segundidade. Em Fargo, torna-se dispensável a contraposição entre os eventos e os atos que os guiariam de uma situação a outra. Ao se subordinar os gestos a uma ideia, faz-se com que tal filme opere segundo uma terceiridade, introduzindo pensamento na imagem e conferindo centralidade a um conceito que se define pelo erro, do qual a obra se torna sua ilustração. Fargo explora essa mecânica, em gestos fadados a conduzirem à destruição de tudo que compõe a trama.
Prosodic boundary incongruences in oral reading
Authors: Leite André Luiz de Faria , Lima Aveliny Mantovan
Published: November 2021

Background: Characteristics of oral readings are well studied in school-aged children and teenagers, but not in educated adults. Objectives: Assess the prevalence of prosodic boundary incongruences in oral readings of adult, native, educated, Brazilian Portuguese speakers and analyze their correlations with specific linguist features. Design, settings, and participants: We studied an online video corpus of political speeches delivered by house members of the Brazilian parliament between 2017 and 2018, and their respective written texts. Measurements: We assessed a) prosodic boundary incongruences between oral readings and written texts, b) actor prototypicality of the subjects, c) thematic continuity of the sentences, and d) a variable called 'sufficiency', related to the concept of argumenthood, assorting each word according to its need for complementary words. The inter-rater reliability of the author's perceptions of incongruences underwent Cohen's Kappa test. Results: In 5 hours of oral readings, we found a median of 1.4 prosodic boundary incongruences per minute (interquartile range: 0.766 - 2.212). 80% of the incongruences were insertions of non-terminal or terminal boundaries. Prosodic boundary incongruency correlated positively with a) thematic continuity of the incongruent sentences (p-value = 0.0006345), b) the concept of 'sufficiency' (p-value < 2.2e-16); and correlated negatively with c) first-person subjects (p-value = 0.0002584). Limitations: The assessment of the variables was subjective, and we did not control sentences for their lengths when analyzing variables 'b' and 'c'. Conclusions: Prosodic boundary incongruences were relatively common in our corpus. We introduced some hypotheses to explain the results.
The Epoch of Reionization in Warm Dark Matter Scenarios
Authors: Romanello M. , Menci N. , Castellano M.
Published: November 2021

In this paper we investigate how the Reionization process is affected by early galaxy formation in different cosmological scenarios. We use a semi-analytic model with suppressed initial power spectra to obtain the UV Luminosity Function in thermal Warm Dark Matter and sterile neutrino cosmologies. We retrace the ionization history of intergalactic medium with hot stellar emission only, exploiting fixed and variable photons escape fraction models ( fesc). For each cosmology, we find an upper limit to fixed fesc, which guarantees the completion of the process at z <6.7. The analysis is tested with two limit hypothesis on high-z ionized hydrogen volume fraction, comparing our predictions with observational results.
MicroRNAs in Valvular Heart Diseases: Biological Regulators, Prognostic Markers and Therapeutical Targets
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Iervolino Adelaide , Avtaar Singh Sanjeet Singh , Chello Massimo
Published: November 2021

miRNAs have recently attracted investigators' interest as regulators of valvular diseases pathogenesis, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutical targets. Evidence from in-vivo and in-vitro studies demonstrated stimulatory or inhibitory roles in mitral valve prolapse development, aortic leaflet fusion, and calcification pathways, specifically osteoblastic differentiation and transcription factors modulation. Tissue expression assessment and comparison between physiological and pathological phenotypes of different disease entities, including mitral valve prolapse and mitral chordae tendineae rupture, emerged as the best strategies to address miRNAs over or under-representation and thus, their impact on pathogeneses. In this review, we discuss the fundamental intra- and intercellular signals regulated by miRNAs leading to defects in mitral and aortic valves, congenital heart diseases, and the possible therapeutic strategies targeting them. These miRNAs inhibitors comprise of antisense oligonucleotides and sponge vectors. The miRNA mimics, miRNA expression vectors, and small molecules are instead possible practical strategies to increase specific miRNA activity. Advantages and technical limitations of these new drugs, including instability and complex pharmacokinetics, are also presented. Novel delivery strategies, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, are described to improve knowledge on future personalized treatment directions.
Towards the de Novo Design of HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors Based on Natural Products
Authors: Chávez-Hernández Ana L. , Juárez-Mercado K. Eurídice , Saldívar-González Fernanda I. , Medina-Franco José L.
Published: November 2021

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a public health problem. In 2020, 680,000 people died from HIV-related causes, and 1.5 million people were infected. Antiretrovirals are only a way to control HIV infection but not to cure AIDS. As such, effective treatment must be developed to control AIDS. Developing a drug is not an easy task, and there is an enormous amount of work and economic resources invested. For this reason, it is highly convenient to employ computer-aided drug design methods, which can help generate and identify novel molecules. Using the de novo design, new novel molecules can be developed using fragments as building blocks. In this work, we develop a virtual-focused compound library of HIV-1 viral protease inhibitors from natural product fragments. Natural products are characterized by a large diversity of functional groups, many sp3 atoms, and chiral centers. Pseudo-natural products are a combination of natural products fragments that keep the desired structural characteristics from different natural products. An interactive version of chemical space visualization of virtual compounds focused on HIV-1 viral protease inhibitors from natural product fragments is freely available at https://figshare.com/s/ceb58d58e8f5585ce67e.
Application of the Catecholaminergic Neuron Electron Transport (CNET) Physical Substrate for Consciousness and Action Selection to Integrated Information Theory
Authors: Rourk Christopher John
Published: November 2021

A newly-discovered physical mechanism involving electron tunneling in layers of the protein ferritin that are found in catecholaminergic neurons (catecholaminergic neuron electron transport or CNET), is hypothesized to support communication between neurons. Recent tests further confirm that these ferritin layers can also perform a switching function (in addition to providing an electron tunneling mechanism) that could be associated with action selection in those neurons, consistent with earlier predictions based on CNET. While further testing would be needed to confirm the hypothesis that CNET allows groups of neurons to communicate and act as a switch for selecting one of the neurons in the group to assist in reaching action potential, this paper explains how that hypothesized behavior would be consistent with Integrated Information Theory (IIT), one of a number of consciousness theories (CTs). While the sheer number of CTs suggest that any one of them is not sufficient to explain consciousness, this paper demonstrates that CNET can provide a physical substrate that is consistent with IIT and which can also be applied to other CTs, such as to conform them into a single explanation of consciousness.
Apoptosis in Type 2 Diabetes, Can It be Prevented?
Authors: Kilanowska Agnieszka , Ziółkowska Agnieszka
Published: November 2021

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disease of complex etiology and pathogenesis. Hyperglycemia leads to many serious complications, but also directly initiates the process of β cell apoptosis. A potential strategy for the preservation of pancreatic β cells in diabetes may be to inhibit the implementation of pro-apoptotic pathways or to enhance the action of pancreatic protective factors. The HIPPO signaling pathway is proposed and selected as a target to manipulate the activity of its core proteins in therapy - basic research. MST1 and LATS2 as major upstream signaling kinases of the Hippo pathway are considered as target candidates for pharmacologically induced tissue regeneration and inhibition of apoptosis. Manipulating the activity of components of the HiPPO pathway offers a wide range of possibilities, and thus is a potential tool in the treatment of diabetes and the regeneration of β cells. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the processes involved in apoptosis in diabetic states and to fully characterize the role of this pathway in diabetes. Therapy consisting in slowing down or stopping the mechanisms of apoptosis may be an important direction of diabetes treatment shortly.
Laser 3D Printing of Inorganic Free-Form Micro-Optics
Authors: Gonzalez Hernandez Diana Laura , Varapnickas Simonas , Merkininkaite Greta , Ciburys Arunas , Gailevičius Darius , Sakirzanovas Simas , Juodkazis Saulius , Malinauskas Mangirdas
Published: November 2021

A pilot study on laser 3D printing of inorganic free-form micro-optics is experimentally validated. Ultrafast laser nanolithography is employed for structuring hybrid organic-inorganic material SZ2080TM followed by high-temperature calcination post-processing. The combination allows production of 3D architectures and the heat-treatment results in converting the material to inorganic substance. The produced miniature optical elements are characterized and their optical performance demonstrated. Finally, the concept is validated for manufacturing compound optical components such as stacked lenses. This is opening for new directions and applications of laser made microoptics under harsh conditions such as high intensity radiation, temperature, acidic environment, pressure variations, which include open space, astrophotonics, and remote sensing.
Molecular Typing and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus uberis Isolated From Sheep Milk
Authors: Rosa Nives Maria , Dupre Ilaria , Azara Elisa , Longheu Carla Maria , Tola Sebastiana
Published: November 2021

Intrammary infections are a major problem for dairy sheep farms, and Streptococcus uberis is one of the main etiological agents of ovine mastitis. Surveys on antimicrobial resistance are still limited in sheep and characterization of isolates is important for acquiring information on resistance and for optimizing therapy. In this study, a sampling of 124 S. uberis isolates collected in Sardinia (Italy) from sheep milk was analysed by multilocus-sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for genetic relatedness. All isolates were also subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility analysis by the disk diffusion test using a panel of 14 antimicrobials. Resistance genes were detected by PCR assays. MLST analysis revealed that the isolates were grouped into 86 sequence types (STs), of which 73 were new genotypes, indicating a highly diverse population of S. uberis. The most frequently detected lineage was the clonal complex (CC)143, although representing only 13.7% of all characterized isolates. A high level of heterogeneity was also observed among the SmaI PFGE profiles, with 121 unique patterns. Almost all (96.8%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, while all exhibited phenotypic susceptibility to oxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ceftiofur. Of the antimicrobials tested, the highest resistance rate was found against streptomycin (93.5%), kanamycin (79.8%) and gentamicin (64.5%), followed by novobiocin (25%) and tetracycline-TE (19.3%). Seventy-four (59.7%) isolates were simultaneously resistant to all aminoglycosides tested. Seventeen isolates (13.7%) exhibited multidrug resistance. All aminoglycosides-resistant isolates were PCR negative for aad-6 and aphA-3’ genes. Among the TE-resistant isolates, the tetM gene was predominant, indicating that the resistance mechanism is mainly mediated by the protection of ribosomes and not through the efflux pump. Three isolates were resistant to erythromycin, and two of them harboured the ermB gene. This is the first study reporting a detailed characterization of the S. uberis strains circulating in Sardinian sheep. Further investigations will be needed to understand the relationships between S. uberis genotypes, mastitis severity, and intra-mammary infection dynamics in the flock, as well as to monitor the evolution of antimicrobial resistance.
Metric Dimension in Fuzzy Graphs and Neutrosophic Graphs
Authors: Garrett Henry
Published: November 2021

In this study, the term dimension is introduced on fuzzy graphs and neutrosophic graphs. The classes of these specific graphs are chosen to obtain some results based on dimension. The types of crisp notions and fuzzy notions are used to make sense about the material of this study and the outline of this study uses some new notions which are crisp and fuzzy.
The Bipolar Logic of Feedforward and Feedback Circuits
Authors: Tozzi Arturo
Published: November 2021

Instead of the conventional 0 and 1 values, bipolar reasoning uses -1, 0, +1 to describe double-sided judgements in which neutral elements are halfway between positive and negative evaluations (e.g., “uncertain” lies between “impossible” and “totally sure”). We discuss the state-of-the-art in bipolar logics and recall two medieval forerunners, i.e., William of Ockham and Nicholas of Autrecourt, who embodied a bipolar mode of thought that is eminently modern. Starting from the trivial observation that “once a wheat sheaf is sealed and tied up, the packed down straws display the same orientation”, we work up a new theory of the bipolar nature of networks, suggesting that orthodromic (i.e., feedforward, bottom-up) projections might be functionally coupled with antidromic (i.e., feedback, top-down) projections via the mathematical apparatus of presheaves/globular sets. When an entrained oscillation such as a neuronal spike propagates from A to B, changes in B might lead to changes in A, providing unexpected antidromic effects. Our account points towards the methodological feasibility of novel neural networks in which message feedback is guaranteed by backpropagation mechanisms endowed in the same feedforward circuits. Bottom-up/top-down transmission at various coarse-grained network levels provides fresh insights in far-flung scientific fields such as object persistence, memory reinforcement, visual recognition, Bayesian inferential circuits and multidimensional activity of the brain. Implying that axonal stimulation by external sources might backpropagate and modify neuronal electric oscillations, our theory also suggests testable previsions concerning the optimal location of transcranial magnetic stimulation’s coils in patients affected by drug-resistant epilepsy.
Diversity and Career Progression in Dental School Staff in the UK and Ireland
Authors: Shazada Khaleel , Freeman Zoe , Fathi Hawa , Waterhouse Paula , Penlington Chris
Published: November 2021

IntroductionDiversity is known to be important but diversity of staff working in dental schools in the UK and Ireland is low in comparison with the dental profession and the overall population. AimsTo provide a detailed snapshot of the diversity of dental academic staff in 2021 including staff working in academic and clinical roles.MethodsAn online survey was circulated to dental schools by Dental Schools Council. Questions included dates of graduation and key career milestones, demographics and indicators of esteem. Free text questions were also included.ResultsThere was a high degree of variability in dental academic careers which made direct comparisons difficult. Neither gender nor race appeared to be associated with a faster career progression. Females and those of racialised minority were less represented at the most senior grades. For those who had completed specialty training, racialised minority staff were far less likely to be working at consultant grade than their White equivalents.ConclusionThere are differences in career progression between staff in dental schools. The high amount of individual variability makes these difficult to quantify except at the most senior positions. Qualitative information is needed to contextualise the results and provide additional information.
Kalman Filter Implementation of Subglottal Impedance-Based Inverse Filtering to Estimate Glottal Airflow during Phonation
Authors: Cortés Juan P. , Alzamendi Gabriel A. , Weinstein Alejandro J. , Yuz Juan I. , Espinoza Víctor M. , Mehta Daryush D. , Hillman Robert E. , Zañartu Matías
Published: November 2021

Subglottal Impedance-Based Inverse Filtering (IBIF) allows for the continuous, non-invasive estimation of glottal airflow from a surface accelerometer placed over the anterior neck skin below the larynx, which has been shown to be advantageous for the ambulatory monitoring of vocal function. However, during long-term ambulatory recordings over several days, conditions may drift from the laboratory environment where the IBIF parameters were initially estimated due to sensor positioning, skin attachment, and temperature, among other factors. Observation uncertainties and model mismatch may result in significant deviations in the glottal airflow estimates, but are very difficult to quantify in ambulatory conditions due to a lack of a reference signal. To address this issue, we propose a Kalman filter implementation of the IBIF filter, which allows for both estimating the model uncertainty and adapting the airflow estimates to correct for signal deviations. One-way ANOVA results from laboratory experiments using the Rainbow Passage indicate a an improvement on amplitude-based measures for PVH subjects compared to IBIF which shows a statistically difference with respect to the reference oral airflow (p=0.02,F=4.1). MFDR from PVH subjects is slightly different to the oral airflow when compared to IBIF (p=0.04, F=3.3). Other measures did not have significant differences with either Kalman or IBIF, with the exception of H1H2, whose performance deteriorates for both methods. Overall, both methods show similar flottal airflow measures, with the advantage of Kalman by improving amplitude estimation. Moreover, Kalman filter deviations from the IBIF output airflow might suggest a better representation of some fine details in the ground-truth glottal airflow signal. Other applications may take more advantage from the adaptation offered by the Kalman filter implementation.
Stochastic Computing Emulation of Memristor Cellular Nonlinear Networks
Authors: Camps Oscar , al Chawa Mohamed-Moner , Stavrinides Stavros G. , Picos Rodrigo
Published: November 2021

Cellular Nonlinear Networks (CNN) are a concept introduced in 1988 by Leon Chua and Lin Yang as a bio-inspired architecture, capable of massively parallel computation. Later on, CNN have been enhanced by incorporating designs that incorporate memristors to profit from their processing and memory capabilities. In addition, Stochastic Computing (SC) can be used to optimize the quantity of required processing elements; thus it provides a lightweight approximate computing framework, quite accurate and effective, though. In this work, we propose utilization of SC in designing and implementing a memristor-based CNN. As a proof of the proposed concept, an example of application is presented. This application combines Matlab and a FPGA in order to create the CNN. The implemented CNN has then been used to perform three different real-time applications on a 512x512 gray-scale and a 768x512 color image: storage of the image, edge detection, and image sharpening. It has to be pointed out that the same CNN has been used for the three different tasks, with the sole change of some programmable parameters. Results show an excellent capability with significant accompanying advantages, like the low number of needed elements further allowing for a low cost FPGA-based system implementation, something confirming the system’s ability for real time operation.
Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Cifci Mehmet Akif
Published: November 2021

The complication of people with diabetes causes an illness known as Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). It is very widespread among middle-aged and older people. As diabetes progresses, patients' vision may deteriorate and cause DR. People to lose their vision because of this illness. To cope with DR, early detection is needed. Patients will have to be checked by doctors regularly, which is a waste of time and energy. DR can be divided into two groups: non-proliferative (NPDR) while the other is proliferative (PDR). In this study, machine learning (ML) techniques are used to diagnose DR early. These are PNN, SVM, Bayesian Classification, and K-Means Clustering. These techniques will be evaluated and compared with each other to choose the best methodology. A total of 300 fundus photographs are processed for training and testing. The features are extracted from these raw images using image processing techniques. After an experiment, it is concluded that PNN has an accuracy of about 89%, Bayes Classifications 94%, SVM 97%, and K-Means Clustering 87%. The preliminary results prove that SVM is the best technique for early detection of DR.
Physics-Based Graphics Models in 3D Synthetic Environments Enabling Autonomous Vision-Based Structural Inspections
Authors: Hoskere Vedhus , Narazaki Yasutaka , Spencer Jr. Billie F.
Published: November 2021

Manual visual inspections typically conducted after an earthquake are high-risk, subjective, and time-consuming. Delays from inspections often exacerbate the social and economic impact of the disaster on affected communities. Rapid and autonomous inspection using images acquired from unmanned aerial vehicles offer the potential to reduce such delays. Indeed, a vast amount of re-search has been conducted toward developing automated vision-based methods to assess the health of infrastructure at the component and structure level. Most proposed methods typically rely on images of the damaged structure, but seldom consider how the images were acquired. To achieve autonomous inspections, methods must be evaluated in a comprehensive end-to-end manner, incorporating both data acquisition and data processing. In this paper, we leverage recent advances in computer generated imagery (CGI) to construct a 3D synthetic environment for simulation of post-earthquake inspections that allows for comprehensive evaluation and valida-tion of autonomous inspection strategies. A critical issue is how to simulate and subsequently render the damage in the structure after an earthquake. To this end, a high-fidelity nonlinear finite element model is incorporated in the synthetic environment to provide a representation of earthquake-induced damage; this finite element model, combined with photo-realistic rendering of the damage, is termed herein a physics-based graphics models (PBGM). The 3D synthetic en-vironment with PBGMs provide a comprehensive end-to-end approach for development and validation of autonomous post-earthquake strategies using UAVs, including: (i) simulation of path planning of virtual UAVs and image capture under different environmental conditions; (ii) au-tomatic labeling of captured images, potentially providing an infinite amount of data for training deep neural networks; (iii) availability of the ground truth damage state from the results of the finite-element simulation; and (iv) direct comparison of different approaches to autonomous as-sessments. Moreover, the synthetic data generated has the potential to be used to augment field datasets. To demonstrate the efficacy of PBGMs, models of reinforced concrete moment-frame buildings with masonry infill walls are examined. The 3D synthetic environment employing PBGMs is shown to provide an effective testbed for development and validation of autonomous vision-based post-earthquake inspections that can serve as an important building block for ad-vancing autonomous data to decision frameworks.
Numerical Modeling of High Conversion Efficiency Mo/CZTS/CdS/ZnO/ FTO Thin Film – Based Solar Cells
Authors: Zyoud Samer H. , Zyoud Ahed H. , Ahmed Naser M. , Prasad Anupama R. , Khan Sohaib Naseem , AbdelKader Atef , Shahwan Moayed J
Published: November 2021

This article describes in detail the numerical modeling of a CZTS (copper zinc tin sulfide) based kesterite solar cell. The Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator -one-dimension (SCAPS-1D) software was used to simulate MO/CZTS/CdS/ZnO/FTO structured solar cells. The parameters of different photovoltaic thin-film solar cells are estimated and analyzed using numerical modeling. The effects of various parameters on the performance of the photovoltaic cell and the conversion efficiency are discussed. Since the response of the solar cell is also contingent on its internal physical mechanism, J-V characteristic measures are insufficient to characterize the behavior of a device. Different features, as well as different potential conditions, must be considered for simulation, disregarding the belief in the modeling of a solar cell. With a conversion efficiency of 25.72%, a fill factor of 83.75%, a short-circuit current of 32.96436 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage of 0.64V, promising optimized results have been achieved. The findings will be useful in determining the feasibility of fabricating high-efficiency CZTS-based photovoltaic cells. The efficiency of a CZTS-based experimental solar cell is also discussed. First, the effects of experimentally developed CZTS solar cells are simulated in the SCAPS-1D environment. The experimental results are then compared to the SCAPS-1D simulated results. The conversion efficiency of an optimized system increases after cell parameters are optimized. Using one-dimensional SCAPS-1D software, the effect of system parameters such as the thickness, acceptor and donor carrier concentration densities of absorber and electron transport layers, and the effect of temperature on the efficiency of CZTS-based photovoltaic cells is investigated. The proposed results will greatly assist engineers and researchers in determining the best method for optimizing solar cell efficiency, as well as in the development of efficient CZTS-based solar cells.
Honey production competitiveness between the Visegrad countries analysis based on the relative comparative advantages indices
Authors:   Hungarian University of Agriculture  and Life Sciences, Illés Bálint Csaba , Oravecz Titanilla ,   Budapest Business School, Žufan Pavel ,   Mendel University in Brno, Šedík Peter ,   Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Mucha László ,   Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Published: November 2021

Honey has beneficial physiological effects, it is a valuable agricultural export product and widely used worldwide as food and medicine also. The primary aim of this present study is to demonstrate the honey production and trade of the EU member states known as Visegrad Four between 2000 and 2018. Also an objective of this article is the calculation of the actual comparative advantages of the Visegrad Four in foreign trade in natural honey using the RCA (relative comparative advantages) indices. During the research and analysis, different international and EU Databases were used. Secondary data used in the analysis derive from the reports of National Apiculture Programmes, the European Commission and the European Committee and from the databases of Faostat, Trademap and the United Nations Comtrade Database. V4 countries account for about 25% of the total EU apiculture sector, and the cooperation of Visegrad Four countries in the field of beekeeping could make a major contribution to the competitiveness of the sector. Examining the import and export data, using RCA indices it was proved that Hungary has a comparative advantage in terms of natural honey, however the competitiveness of the beekeeping sector in the region depends on the common performance of all four countries. Due to the stability of the sector and the positive externalities, authors suggest the further support of the apiary in the region.